Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. Takes One to Know One is a fun romance set on the gorgeous beaches of Puerto Rico between an up and coming reggaeton artist and the record executive tasked with helping make his first solo album.

The scenery for this novel is absolutely gorgeous. Puerto Rico truly is a character in this story (it doesn’t hurt that I read this while also in Puerto Rico myself!!) with her beauty and charm jumping off the page. The story was engaging and the author did a great job of portraying Dani as the Latina eldest daughter determined to solve every problem even where there may not be one. The last third of the book did drag on for me a bit and some of the conflict of the novel felt a little unrealistic (how are you this in love with him and can’t have a single conversation with him girl??) but overall it was very enjoyable. 3.5 (rounded to 4) stars!

Cute story of forced proximity, enemies to lovers trope. It was incredible to see representation of Puerto Rico and the beauty of the island and its people. I will say, I struggled a little with the lack of chemistry and tension. It just didn’t feel like it was there throughout the story. Tbh I think this book was great in exploring grief, eldest Latina daughter struggles, and how to redefine identity and belonging after losing a parent.

Thank you NetGalley, Publisher, and author for a copy of this eARC.

This is a review of the audiobook.

Many thanks to Forever, Dreamscape, and NetGalley for early access to ebook and audio copies in exchange for my honest opinion. I listened/read on a Sunday while running errands around town, and I enjoyed the story. It's not related to Ana Takes Manhattan, Lissette's debut.
Takes One to Know One starts in Miami, where Dani works for a record company and gets a new reggaeton client. She is not a fan of the music, unlike her sister, but she lies to her boss to make her seem like the best fit for this client. Rene, the star, is described as super sexy, and he convinces Dani and her boss to record the new album in Puerto Rico, specifically in Culebra. While Dani has Puerto Rican roots, she has never been there, and her father is actually from Culebra.
I was swept away by the beautiful descriptions - I could vividly picture the beaches and the recording studio and everything. I breezed through the book (11.5 hours/400 pages) in one day because I was enjoying it too much to turn it off. If you've ever been to Puerto Rico (or the Caribbean in general), I think you'll enjoy the setting. And if you know reggaeton, I bet you'll enjoy the music portion. For me, the book felt like a mini getaway from a cold, gross weekend in Boston! While this is categorized as a romance, I felt like that plotline could/should have been emphasized more, because this read as more women's fiction than romance.

Takes One to Know One by Lissette Decos
Contemporary diverse romance.
Daniela is a publicist at a record label. She loves her job but when the company is bought by a larger conglomerate, she has to put everything on the line and agree to work with a reggaeton band in Puerto Rico. She’s not a fan of the music but she needs the job so she will figure out who Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez is behind the sound and what it means to him. She’s never been to Puerto Rico before although that’s where her father grew up. Rene takes it upon himself to show Dani around to his favorite places, his childhood home, and more.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The narration is performed by Ramona Master who does an excellent job with the Spanish accent and dialogue. The emotional expression is great, in particular Dani’s desperation, dislike and uncertainty. There are clear and distinct voices for Dani and Rene and the dialog is easy to follow. The audiobook really brought to life Dani’s personality as well as her heritage.
I listened to the playback at 1.5 to more closely match my reading and conversation speed.

I’m a fan of “fake it until you make it” attitude but not so much lying. I didn’t connect with the characters at first and took at break at 25% for a few days. They seemed to have no respect for each other and argue a lot. When I restarted the story, I tried to remember it’s a romance and I can trust there will be a connection between the two soon. Dani and Rene did connect as Dani began to appreciate the music and not just the job, and Rene found all the places mentioned in her father’s music which also helped to connect them.
I was surprised by some of the decisions near the end and ultimately happy for the hea.

I was gifted a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.

in this story we follow daniela, who we see is struggling with processing the grief of her father while simultaneously trying to keep her job by following Rene (a reggaeton celebrity) to Puerto Rico to record his newest album label.
Throughout the story i feel like daniela is constantly having to prove herself to everybody, especially rene. and while this was fun at first it was tiring towards the end and had me asking if this was actually a romance.
i feel like rene was so wish-washy with her it hurt MY head to think if he was really flirting or what his motives were. we were also introduced to side characters that had me questioning where they were going with the plot because it lasted almost towards the end.
the romance wasn’t romantic enough for me.
he did do some cute gestures but it felt like two steps back for every step forward, or like a cold shoulder whenever she said something he didn’t agree with.
i wanted to love this story as someone who is latinx, but i just didn’t love the characters 😭

This was a nice read. It had a slower start, and at times it felt more like contemporary fiction than romance. In the romance aspect, it was the slowest burn. While I do love those, I was craving more chemistry, tension and sazón! Given that it is set in Puerto Rico, and around reggaeton. I enjoyed the Culebra setting, though it was a bit unrealistic how the small island was portrayed. As a puertorrican reggaeton lover, I had such high expectations for this one. It left me a bit underwhelmed, but it was overall an ok read.

Takes One to Know One by Lissette Decos is a captivating tale of a scandal-ridden musician who finds himself at odds with a buttoned-up label representative tasked with restoring his tarnished reputation. I found this book impossible to set aside, as I was thoroughly engrossed from start to finish. Decos' storytelling is both engaging and entertaining, making for an unforgettable reading experience.

"I know I’ve been hiding, but now I’m done
You’ve been hiding too, takes one to know one
Can we meet away from the shadows
Where I’ve come to write you a love song”

This book is essentially a love letter to all the ELDER DAUGHTERS who fret too much, over think too much, worry too much and just in general think they are too much. Who forgets that it's okay to let someone hold them. Who becomes a parent to their siblings without realising it. Who comes off as Cold and closed off when it's just them trying to hold on and survive the way they know the best, the way they think will hurt less.

I absolutely adore Dani's journey. And I loved that this book is only in her POV, because you get to see her internal monologues change. In the beginning she actually believes that she is living the best way she can manage and then with time, with Rene, she actually unlearns it all and learns to let go. Her conversations with her mother in the beginning and in the end are monumentally different. Her relationship with her sister shifts so much and it is a beautiful reminder.

I also loved that this book is mostly Dani's story, her falling in love is a part of it, but I won't necessarily call it a love story. It's a story that features a love story. And it is MY FAVOURITE PART about this book. Rene acts as the pivotal point that defines Dani's life in a before and after, and it made me enjoy the book so much more. I read it in under 24 hours.

The only thing that bugged me was how dani felt insulted by her interpretation of the song, and yet without a conversation/confrontation was also having feelings for Rene. I couldn't wrap my head around it. That plot line could have been written a little better.

The last 20 percent of the book is absolute perfection. Dani taking a lead on her own life, making decisions for herself, making friends and then talking to Rene - it made my heart warm. And the last chapter with Rene was so sweet it had me squealing and giggling fr.

I definitely want to read more from the author.

This book made me want to pack my bags and escape to Puerto Rico!

Daniela has built her life around control and careful planning, so when she lands a job as a publicist for a reggaeton star, it is the last place she expects to thrive.

While there is romance, this story is really about Daniela’s journey! There is a deep exploration of grief and self discovery. Watching Dani learn to let go, both on and off the dance floor, was just as satisfying as the slow burn romance between her and Rene.

This is a heartfelt read with a setting that steals the show!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the gifted ARC.

This week saw the release of Lissette Decos‘s second novel, Takes One to Know One. Set primarily in Puerto Rico, this enemies-to-lovers romance follows up-and-coming reggaetonero Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez… and Daniela, the reggaeton-hating record label executive working with him while he records his debut album.

Why I Chose This Book:
I never pass up to read a book about music, and Takes One to Know One instantly captured my interest not only for its focus on reggaeton (a genre I haven’t yet seen featured in a book), but also for its setting in Puerto Rico. I also loved that it was between a musician and a label exec. Fun fact: With my degree in music business, my original career plan was to work at a record label. So I already liked Dani going into this!

What I Liked:
- Reggaeton and peek into making music. I admit that, like Dani, I don’t really listen to reggaeton. But I enjoyed getting to know it here and loved the behind-the-scenes into how Rene crafted the songs for his debut album. I especially loved the song he writes for Dani and the one her dad had previously written.
- Artist-label dynamics. As a hardcore music fan, I know a fair amount about the complications that can exist between the music business side of things versus the artists. Dani falls into the former category, and it takes some time for her and Rene to see eye to eye. At least she genuinely cares about music and telling his story right.
- Puerto Rico is on fully display! I loved getting to know Puerto Rico here! From frogs and wild horses and waterfalls to their delicious food and warm culture, it’s portrayed beautifully here.
- Dani’s dealing with her grief over her late father. I can completely relate to her feelings of grief after losing her father six years prior to this novel. But I loved getting to see her connect with him again through his song, getting to know his Puerto Rican home, and learning to talk about him again.
- Perfectly done relationship. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is built up so well, and I love how Rene eventually shows his hand by writing a song about Dani. Omg! And showing her around the island? Loved it all!

Final Thoughts
Takes One to Know One is a fabulous romance for anyone who loves music (especially reggaeton), Puerto Rico, and a slightly workaholic main character. It was such a fun, emotional, beautiful book! I will absolutely be reading more from Lissette Decos!

Thank you Forever books and Hatchette Audio for review copies! I really loved the premise and promise of this read, and the voice acting for the audiobook was strong, but the themes and romance never quite got to can't put this down, loved it level. For me some of the premise felt a little rushed and the chemistry for the main characters was hard to connect with, I wasn't quite there with the emerging feelings and relationship as much as I wanted to be. What does work is the exploration of culture and music, even the ideas of professional growth and challenges and perhaps the push /pull of themes made for a less than cohesive read.

I loved Ana Takes Manhattan!
And was super excited to start a new title by Lissette Decos! Which did not disappoint.
Takes One to Know One by Lissette Decos
A light-hearted story that had me laughing out loud throughout.
This fun enemies-to-lovers rom-com was both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, Takes One to Know One is a delightful read that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.

4 stars

A fun beach read about an uptight music executive and the sexy reggaeton singer who loosens her up! Primarily set in Puerto Rico - makes me want to run out and buy some plane tickets! Not only does the locale sound beautiful, the food sounds amazing!

Thank you Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ thank you netgalley and forever for this e-arc! i have a strong obsession for all things bad bunny, and so when my friend recommended this book to me, i said hold my phone.

dani is half cuban, half puerto rican and works at a music label that recently acquired a reggaeton label. she isn’t a fan of reggaeton, but in order to stay on at the company, she has been assigned to represent a reggaeton artist - el rico (aka, rené).

they definitely butt heads from the jump to put it lightly. dani doesn’t like his music, and it is abundantly obvious to rené (she didn’t even recognize him when she first went to meet him). she’s also a bit uptight and rené tries to get her to loosen up.

dani is the classic older sister that takes on everyone else’s problems and puts her own wants and needs on the back burner. she also pushes down her grief after losing her dad and lives her life not getting emotionally invested in anything to protect her heart. rené comes off as a playboy that flirts with anything and anyone, but you soon come to realize that he may have been unfairly judged.

i absolutely love a slow burn and this one hit the spot. i also loved reading about dani going back to her dad’s country and seeing all of the places he held close to his heart to help her work through the grief she’s suppressed for years. my one qualm was i wished there was more time with rené and dani one on one - sometimes it was a bit TOO slow. but overall, i recommend this and loved reading their story.

'Takes One to Know One' was listed as one of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers) but instead only delivered a frustrating "not-like-other-girls" narrative. The FMC was way too judgmental and the animosity toward both reggaeton and the MMC feels forced rather than compelling. Not liking someone because you just don't is valid, but that doesn't make them enemies.

I also had went in with the expectation of romance, but it felt much more as if in the women's fiction territory. The primary focus seemed to be more heavily on Dani's personal journey with grief and heritage while neglecting chemistry development. What could have been a vibrant cultural exploration and passionate romance is ultimately overshadowed by the protagonist's grating personality and repetitive disdain, making it difficult to invest in either her growth or her relationship with the comparatively inoffensive Rene.

✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‼️‼️TW|CW‼️‼️
- Mentions death of a parent
- Some use of alcohol
- MMC is rumored to have cheated on a previous partner
💕💕Tropes💕💕
- Miscommunication
- He falls first
- Workplace romance
❤️❤️Quotes I loved❤️❤️
- When you’re going through hell, don’t pitch a tent.
- Life. It’s all just a matter of perspective, isn’t it? Whether something is good or bad depends on how you look at it.
- “When they stop us, we’ll just say, ‘Sorry, Officer, we thought this property was only private for people who walked slowly. Not us quick walkers.’”
- bomba es el latido de mi corazón Playa Resaca, mi pulmón en el muelle bajo el mar encontré la fé y aprendí a amar
- “What are you doing to me?” “Whatever you want,”
- But if the road ever leads me back to you I’ll never leave, ’cause wherever you are is my country Wherever we are is home
✨✨ONTO THE REVIEW✨✨
Thank you forever publishing and NetGalley for sending me this wonderful EARC!
I was so excited to read this book! I love me some Reggaeton, especially Bad Bunny and so I was excited to read a book where the MMC was basically him!
I’m one of those weirdos who kinda like a miscommunication trope and this book is one huge miscommunication trope until the last few chapters. But I loved seeing these two characters come together! The history book is currently available on Amazon and I think if you want a fun workplace romance where he’s an upcoming music artist and she’s Newley promoted to her position managing him and knows nothing of his music genre definitely go give this book a read!

I absolutely loved this book and followed along with the audiobook, which was chef's kiss—the narrator did an incredible job! Their performance really brought the story to life, making it feel like I was actually in Puerto Rico. There’s so much to love about both the book and the audiobook, especially the way the author, Deco, developed each character. The descriptions of Puerto Rico were so vivid—it felt like you were right there on the island, experiencing the culture, the music, and the food. Everything was so well-described, it truly transported me.

Dani’s job at a record label is on the line, so in an effort to save her position, she takes on a project for a genre she doesn’t usually listen to—reggaeton. She heads to Puerto Rico to collaborate with singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez. This is where her journey begins, and it’s such a fun ride!

The chemistry between Dani and Rene is undeniable. Things don’t start off smoothly between them, and the tension kept me hooked throughout. There are so many amazing moments between these two, from their initial misunderstandings to the development of their relationship. And the ending? Absolutely heartwarming!

This wasn’t just a romance story; it was also a journey of self-discovery and self-love. I particularly loved how music played such an important role in Dani and Rene’s story. As a huge fan of reggaeton, it was a treat to see how much it was woven into the narrative. Music really does have a way of giving you life!

Takes One to Know One is a must-read. With irresistible chemistry, vibrant settings, and a romance that’ll make your heart skip a beat, this book belongs on your TBR list! Oh, and let’s not forget—if you’re a fan of music, especially reggaeton, you definitely won’t want to miss this!

I loved Takes one to Know one by Lissette Decos! Dani is a publicist for a record label and in order to maintain her job lies and says she’s familiar with and a fan of reggaeton music, her least favorite genre. Enter Rene ‘El Rico’ who will be making his debut reggaeton album. The story takes us to Puerto Rico, where Rene will be recording his album. It’s Dani’s first time on the island she heard so much about from her dad, who has since passed. I loved seeing Dani discover the island, the core memories she unlocked when eating the food on the island, how much the island changed Dani’s attitude and the relationship with her mother and sister and how it helped her grieve her father and heal her. Depicted as a romance novel, I found it to be so much more than that and felt it was actually lacking when it came to the romance. I would’ve also loved to have had Rene’s POV. It was so fun to read the behind the scenes of the making of an album and the music business.. This was my first novel by Lissette Decos and I’m looking forward to discovering & reading more of her work.

Imagine being sent to interview a hip new and upcoming reggaeton artist and you have no idea who he is, you have not done your homework, and oh, by the way, you hate reggaeton to the point you seriously considered getting an extra job to buy your little sister her own car so you wouldn’t have to listen to the beat. That’s Dani, and she immediately dislikes Rene, the scandal-ridden reggaeton musician.

I really enjoyed the setting of this novel, Culebra island in Puerto Rico. A year ago we made it to Vieques, but its neighboring Culebra sounded so similar in the book, with its quiet beach vibe, wild horses and mosquito nets.

This enemies-to-lovers romance was emotional and at times even heartwrenching! Closed door, kissing only, it was right up my alley. I also enjoyed the side theme of going back to your roots and Dani visiting her late father’s home island and sharing the songs that he wrote with Rene. Dani’s love and care for her younger sister and mother was also such great theme in this book. Capturing sound vs. image was an interesting concept as well.

I love Lissette Decos’s writing and her real relatable characters! The author’s love for music, Latin culture and family traditions shines through. What a great read! The audiobook was amazing and I highly recommend it because of the accents and Spanish in the book.

Takes One to Know One is the sophomore romance novel from Lissette Decos. Although romance is part of this novel, it wasn't the main focus. I feel like it was a novel about our main character finding herself with a splash of romance. Daniela (Dani) is all about work. She works to survive and keep her mind off of other things. With a merger at work, Dani takes a job helping to create and market the upcoming album for reggaeton musician, Rene (El Rico). When Dani and Rene meet their first interaction isn't pleasant. When Rene wants to record the album near his home in Puerto Rico, Dani follows him to make sure everything stays on course and to create behind-the-scenes content to be released with the album. Dani's deceased father was from Puerto Rico, but she has never been. With a recording of a song her father wrote, Dani sets to find out her lineage, overcome her past, and be content with her present.

This wasn't a sophomore slump at all. If you enjoyed Lissette's previous novel, Ana Takes Manhattan, I think you'll really enjoy it. Although they give off very different feelings, I really enjoyed Lissette's writing. I found myself looking up reggaeton artists too while I was reading it. Her writing helped to transport me to somewhere I've never been before, but heard a lot about thanks to a co-worker who's from Puerto Rico. I can't wait to see what Lissette will write next.

Rating: 3.5

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.