Dani meets Rene through work. A great setting, and as they spend more time together you learn more about them both.

✨New Release ✨

It’s a good thing I have off from work this week! If I wasn’t able to binge this 24/7, I would not have been able to get on with my life!

I DO believe this is my favorite book of the year so far!

This is a relationship that’s grown by sweet and thoughtful gestures. It’s about pushing outside of comfort zones, breaking down walls, and veering off from staying “professional”.

Dani makes A LOT of mistakes and is very strict on her professionalism. She was frustrating at times, and you really want her to give HERSELF the chance to break free of her self-imposed “role”.

René was the heart of this book. He saw through Dani’s rigidness. He took the connection of her dad and Puerto Rico, and made special-moment after special-moment WITH her, not just FOR her.

The anticipation from this book came in wanting to see when feelings shifted for each of them. What was the moment they allowed themselves to want more? When was she going to set herself free? Were his feelings real or an alter ego?

You’ll have to read and find out!! This was SO SO good!

#takesonetoknowone #lissettedecos

What a light fun read. As a half-puerto rican, a lot of what Dani goes through resonated with me. It's my dream to be able to experience the island with my grandmother one day. Overall the music descriptions, culture and personal growth journey that Dani went on was entertaining to read. Dani had a lot that she was dealing with given this new opportunity to prove herself while carrying the weight of the world on her shoulder. Grappling with the grief of losing her father and feeling the responsibilities as the oldest daughter to have it all together. Dani has to learn to let it all go before she's left with a life that she does not love. There were a lot of messages of not being afraid of going for what you really want. Many good take aways.

I will say something about the romance did not click for me. I was just left wanting more. I wish there were more romantic interactions between Rene and Dani. Actually getting to experience their falling in love. Maybe having from his perspective would have made a difference? There were a lot of elements of the book that I thought were unnecessary. Especially Camila and Natalia's inclusion as Rene ex lovers. Dani never truly confronted Rene about anything and they never had real conversations it felt like. The story for me lacked in romance and was more focused on Dani's personal journey. Rene could have been taken out the story as a romantic love interet and it would have been the same story.

I really liked the authors writing style and the descriptive language of the culture. As a contemporary novel 4.5/5 stars, As a romance 3/5 stars. I would be interested to read another book by Lissette Decos.

Takes One To Know One is a fun and heartfelt story about finding out who you are and being pushed outside your comfort zone. These main characters are forced to spend time together in Puerto Rico while the MMC records his new album. The FMC hold a lot of weight on her shoulders of taking care of her family, doing well at her job, and being on top of her game. The MMC couldn’t be more opposite - a go with the flow kind of guy who is becoming a super star. I found this story had relatable pieces and I loved diving deep into the culture of Puerto Rico. I wish we got to see the deeper parts of the relationship more. there is a scene that is talked about when the MC’s have a night in a tent and talk about everything in their life. as a reader we don’t get the inside of that scene we are just told it happens. I wish we got to read the connection that formed during that conversation. All in all I would read another book by this author. thank you for the e-arc!

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.

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.