This book features Puerto Rico and its culture so beautiful in the way Rene and Dani get to experience it. Rene has this mysterious aura about him that had me wanting to see what he'll reveal of himself to Dani. The music descriptions really brought the melody off the page for me. It was like I could imagine hearing the songs. There's also a side plot in my opinion of Dani connecting with her father through this trip to Puerto Rico. This book has a fiery enemies to lovers with a blazer baddie and musician in an ultimate slow burn. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

Instagram post will be live 28Mar25

I know I've been struggling with long book reviews but this one felt important to me to do it now before it's release next week.

I had a couple of issues with this book, from the narrator to be my least favorite narrator to the way Culebra was used as the setting for the guy to record his album to it being promoted as a reguetonero romance and it's barely a romance.

This book very much felt like women's fiction than romance, the romance is not the main point of this book. It very much is all about the female main character with her grief, learning to love the land of her deceased father and her place at her job. I did not feel there was a lot of chemistry with Rene and she is so fucking annoying. I don't know if my hate for the narrator affected my hate for the character. She was so annoying and so pick me. "I don't like regueton"

Can I also talk about how they used the FMC like a token latine persona and it's not addressed. Like so many little things just made me want more of this book.

I really try to not criticize the way second language speakers speak the second language, but this narrator really made me role my eyes so much!!!!! When she tried to make the coqui sound had me laughing so hard.

The way Culebra was used in this really made me uncomfortable because if you know about the issues with the power grid in Puerto Rico, you should know that Viequez and Culebra (the smaller island) suffer the brunt of it because its not the metro area. They get lots of power outages and they do treat tourist better than the people that live there. There is no hospital in Culebra. There are small restaurants and small supermarkets there, it's not like you can walk up to a small DONUT shop on the corner.

These are some of my issues with this book, and I'm not saying don't read it. Overall it was an okay book.

4.25⭐️
This was a sweet and touching romance novel. Very much a slow burn romance, but it was also a detailed love story about the culture of Puerto Rico, with a mixture of grief and self discovery.

Dani is a very strait laced, by the book publicist for a major record label. She is made the team lead for a major international reggaeton bad boy singer.
René “El Rico” Rodriguez is trying to release his first solo album, after only being a collaborator with other artists.
René wants to go home to Puerto Rico to record his album, to help his creativity. But Dani is still dealing with major grief after the loss of her father. René helps Dani see that her own Puerto Rican heritage will help her remember her father, not cause her pain. Dani starts to realize there may be a lot more under the El Rico persona René hides under as well.

This was more than a slow burn love story. Decos writes a love story to Puerto Rico in this novel. I felt I was there experiencing everything alongside Dani, from the ocean, the music, the food, and then Dani’s grief as she lets herself experience all the places her father used to talk about.

I do wish the reader experienced a few more scenes one on one with Dani and René. It was a slow burn, but I personally would have enjoyed a little more connection between the characters prior to the 60% point.

I would still definitely recommend picking this one up. I absolutely loved the self discovery of Dani and the author did an amazing job portraying what grief can look like when you need to step into the role as the caregiver for the household.

Thank you to NetGalley & Forever publishing, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

QUE TEMAZO!!!!!!! Takes One To Know One written by Lissette Decos was such a phenomenal banger. In my honest opinion, Takes One To Know One was honestly one of the best musical romance novels I have ever read, but it's so much more than just a story about romance and music, it's about grief, self discovery, and moving forward in life. I have never read a book written by Lissette Decos before, but this certainly won't be my last because I had the best time. After reading this lovely book, it made me want to pack my bags immediately and go off the grid and spend months in Puerto Rico. I picked up this book for a few different reasons, the cover is just stunning, the musical aspect, of course, and the self discovery. Takes One To Know One is an enemies-to-lovers rom-com. I absolutely applaud when characters are at their lowest and watching them overcome their obstacles is just a special moment, it's so hard not to root for characters when their life is in shambles, but as their self growth takes place it's just beautiful to witness. For my musical lovers, please mark your calendars for April 1st, 2025 to get your hands on Takes One To Know One. I know this book won't be for everyone, but I truly thought it was so well written and captures the beauty of music. I adore how the aspect of music can bring so many people together, it can often bring you life long friendships.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND FOREVER GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

You Had Me At Hola meets Dirty Dancing in this musical romance set in Puerto Rico's music industry.

"I don't just care about music, I care about people and how music changes their lives".

"Tomorrow is a new day. Buck it up, Buttercup".

"feel the heartbeat of a hidden waterfall
give up fear for flying".

For anyone who isn't too familiar with Reggaeton, like myself, the characters describe it as Salson on ecstasy. It's sexy dance music that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms. Daniela is a risk adverse, blazer obsessed, and a people pleaser workaholic. Daniela has been a marketing coordinator at Ocean Records in Miami, Florida for seven years. Daniela is half Puerto Rican and half Cuban, she grew up on salsa and merengue. Daniela is now grieving the loss of her father, he died at work from a heart attack, so work has always been Daniela's safe place. Daniela's father wrote a song about Puerto Rico which was truly beautiful. Daniela is the type of person who puts other people before herself. Daniela hates Reggaeton, it's supposed to inspire sensual hip swinging dance moves, and Dani's hips do not swing. Despite hating Reggaeton, Daniela lands an interview for a publicist position at a record label, out of desperation, Dani says she loves Reggaeton which lands her a plane ticket to Puerto Rico to clean up the scandalous image of international Reggaeton singer René "El Rico" Rodriguez. Ocean Records has never worked with a Reggaeton artist before, so it's Dani's job to ace this interview. My heart goes out to Daniela, it was so hard watching her hit rock bottom meanwhile grieving the loss of her father, I often wanted to reach into my kindle and give her the biggest hug, this poor girl.

René "El Rico" Rodriguez is best described as an asshat, he's not much of a talker, but he asks so many questions. René is a thirty-one year old Reggaeton artist. René is so handsome, he's covered in tattoos, he even has a Puerto Rican flag tattooed on his heart. René has a roller coaster of a personality, one minute he's sweet, the next minute he's a jerk. René is as big as a jerk in his songs and he is in real life, but behind his tough exterior, he's really a sweetheart. There's one thing about René, he never takes off his designer sunglasses. As an artist, René wants to capture his culture and Puerto Rico for his first ever album. René and Daniela showcase the musical nuance, culture, and beauty of Puerto Rico. Daniela is assigned to work on promoting René's album, but René wants to have his first ever solo album to be recorded in Puerto Rico. As Daniela and René spend time together doing interviews, René takes Daniela to all of the places her father wrote about in his song, which was truly precious. All René has ever wanted to do was make music that melts away people's troubles and lose their inhibitions. René might seem like a jerk, but as you get to know him, you will see that he has one of the biggest hearts despite what other people say about him or what his own music says. I loved watching Daniela and René work together, their interactions and banter were truly wholesome. Despite saying she loves Reggaeton, René can see right through Daniela's lies, but now it's his mission to make Daniela appreciate what this genre of music has to offer.

This book is perfect if you want something to set the mood for spring/summer! The descriptions of Puerto Rico, the beaches, and the food were so vivid. Based on the cover and first few chapters, I thought this would be a rom-com, but it is more of a mix of contemporary/women's fiction. This is a single POV, so we learn a lot about Dani's journey of grieving her father, as well as other issues with her mother and sister. This book is also a slow burn! I usually like slow burns, but this lacked tension and chemistry between the FMC and MMC. I think I would have enjoyed this more if Rene's POV was included. Read this if you enjoy:

-Slow burns
-Closed door romances
-Latinx leads
-Romances with hints of contemporary and women's fiction!

Dani lies about knowing who René is to get a work assignment (we’ve all been there!) at her music label, and then has to follow him to Puerto Rico to get a behind-the-scenes feature as he works on his new solo album.

I genuinely can’t think of one thing I didn’t enjoy in this book: the pacing was great, I loved that it was set in Puerto Rico, and I loved both main characters in Dani and René. I love when I read characters that I feel like I could be friends with in real life, and Dani was one of those.

I really, really enjoyed this one! I finished it in a day, I was so engrossed in the story and am now officially a big fan of Lissette Decos’s writing.

This is a great example of the women's lit type of books I adore. Where the romance is the central idea and point, but the development of the maun character is most important. This close look at a woman who has had to hold it together and provide for her family for years, this is a tue breakdown taking its time.
I love the double Latinx leads and I love that it takes place on the island too.
I just want to gently request fact checking. Beaches in PR are not private no matter what rich people say. There were other PR slang discrepencies as well.
Diversity editor and or sensitivity readers are pivitol when writing outside of your experience.
It is still such a great book that i will be recommending to many!

Okay, I’ll admit it—I went into Takes One to Know One fully relating to Dani’s anti-reggaeton stance. My hips? They do not lie… because they do not move. But then along came Rene El Rico Rodriguez, and suddenly, I (like Dani) was questioning all my life choices.

This book is the perfect mix of sizzling tension, hilarious banter, and the kind of slow-burn romance that makes you want to shake your Kindle and yell, “JUST KISS ALREADY!” Dani is a relatable, buttoned-up queen who thrives on structure (respect), and Rene is her exact opposite—charismatic, cocky, and way too handsome for his own good. Naturally, their enemies-to-lovers dynamic is pure chef’s kiss.

Puerto Rico practically becomes a character in itself, with vibrant descriptions of the music scene, the food (warning: do not read this hungry), and the island’s magic. The only reason this isn’t a full five stars? There were moments when I wanted Dani to relax just a tiny bit sooner. But honestly? Watching her learn to let go (with Rene’s help, of course) made it all worth it.

If you love grumpy/sunshine energy, forced proximity, and a hero who’s secretly a softie, grab this book. And who knows? By the end, you might just find yourself adding some reggaeton to your playlist.

3.75 stars!
Did I inhale this book over two days? Yes. BUT, I wanted more romance! Loved the short chapters, and the writing had an easy flow.
This reminded me of a Mariana Zapata book (in a good way) where it's single POV from the FMC's part, and it's a slow, slow burn. René is tight-lipped and definitely shows his affection for Daniela through the things he does for her. While there are some romantic moments, this story mainly focuses on Daniela's grief over her dad who passed away six years ago. The feelings she's been running from come to the surface when she spends a month in Culebra working to document René's upcoming solo Reggaeton album. She's surrounded by places her dad talked about, and said they would visit together. In the moments where René actually opens up, we're told and not shown — I just wanted more conversations between them, and more moments where René was talking about himself (there are a few) instead of Daniela learning about his true character behind the 'El Rico' façade from his stylist, mom, people he collaborated with, and his producer.
I often see questions about 'do you think these characters would make it?' and for René and Daniela? I don't see it. Their foundation is so rocky, and while her character arc is strong, the writing around his is weak, and needed more development. I've seen people describe this as a 'rom-com' and while there are some funny moments, that doesn't meet my definition of the term.

Thank you to Forever for making this Read Now on NetGalley!

- slow burn
- single POV
- Puerto Rican MCs
- closed door
-WDTK? Ch. 38

This was a sweet slow burn romance. Dani works in the music industry and gets very nervous when there is talk of mergers and possible layoffs at her label. So when her boss calls her into her office she lies and says she knows all about reggaeton and an artist named El Rico in an effort not to lose her job. That all comes back to bite her in the butt when she then meets with him and obviously immediately lets him know she doesn’t know him or his music at all. With everything on the line, she is forced to follow Rene (El Rico) to Puerto Rico to record him creating his new album and to try desperately to get him to open up and do promo and an interview. Her career depends on this, but that is tricky when he doesn’t like or trust someone who doesn’t know his music. The scenery was beautiful, and I loved all the music, food, and cultural elements thrown in. I enjoyed this book and slow buildup between Dani and Rene, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more interactions between the two main characters, or if part of the story was told from Rene’s perspective. But it was still a fun easy read. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This book started out a little slow for me, but once the story got going and the characters were a bit developed, I was intrigued with how this book was going to play out.

This book follows Rene, a famous musician who is coming out as a solo artist and Daniela, who works as his new PR team. The story starts out a little awkward, with Daniela not knowing any of his work.. and you can see the banter between the two characters. The author did a good job both characters being enemies and seeing them fall into each other. I was really rooting for these two... and at one point.. I was holding my breath as the chapters unfolded.

If you are looking for a light hearted, very sweet, low spice romance, pick this one up. 4 stars!

This book made my heart happy. As a proud Latina, I felt so connected to these characters. I am not Puerto Rican but I still felts so seen. There were so many parts of this book where I was so surprised that other people did that. Like the egg situation lol. Rene and Dani were just so understanding of each other. This was a romance but it felt like so much more. I’ve been to Puerto Rico once so I could actually feel and see the scenes that Lissette did so well of explaining. It makes me want to go back!

Thanks to Forever and Netgallery for the E-ARC of Takes One to Know One in exchange for an honest review.

I think that this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year for many reasons. For starters, there are not enough books by Latinx authors, with Latinx main characters, specially puertoricans. So it pains me to say that this book didn't hit the mark for me. For starters, the chemistry between our main characters was NON-EXISTENT. 60% of the book and they barely have conversations or anything that could make me believe they liked each other or could have everlasting love. To me, saying this was a romance, is just not real.

While I appreciate the setting, it felt off. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and while some descriptions were beautiful, it just didn't feel authentic. It lacked heart IMO and it felt like it was just a plot device. I understand the apprehension of the FMC on going to the island, and I appreciated the exploration of grief, but it just felt flat. Everything on the story felt all over the place.

Again, I am sorry I didn't enjoy the book and I really hope that if you give the book the chance you end up loving it. But is a no for me.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of Takes One to Know One by Lissette Decos.

Dani’s job at a record label is on the line. In hopes of keeping her job, she takes on a project for a genre of music that she doesn’t listen to - reggaeton. She travels to Puerto Rico to work with singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!! Dani and Rene have such incredible chemistry. Things do not start off well between these two and the tension between them kept me so engaged. There are so many incredible moments between these two, from the beginning when they’re not on the same page and as their relationship develop. I loved the detail incorporated about Dani’s job. Dani’s a professional who knows what she’s doing and I enjoyed getting into her mind. And the ending was so lovely!

I highly recommend checking out this forced proximity, workplace romance!!

Thank you Forever for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a very loose review, and probably will be subject to change in the upcoming days/months.

I think the novel had strong potential, having a romance set up in the spanish music industry (Puerto Rico's industry specifically) piques your interest but was is executed well? Not really.

Rene and Dani lack immense chemistry, the romance was simply not there. You have them interact a bare couple of times and each time it feels forced. The marketing team fell short because "Enemies to Lovers" was not the vibe. It was just more one sided dislikeness.

to be honest...The reggaeton hate and "I don't dance" characteristics was not my cup of tea and that's okay. Dani grows to see reggaeton more than face value but it still wasn't enough to sway me.

As for the music artist component, For Rene "El Rico" is an alter persona that he wears. Personally, I'm not really a fan of this decision. It paints the MMC in a light that just makes you feel confused about who he really is as a person and artist. The book taking in PR and having the album be recorded in PR is supposed to bring out this authentic version of himself but it felt limited because we only see Dani's perspective. I would've loved to see this be further explored with a dual perspective for us to feel more connected with Rene but unfortunately that's not the case.


Dani is half Cuban & Half Puerto Rican. This is essential to the storyline because as she's in Puerto Rico, she's connecting to her dad's roots and is falling in love with the island. Seeing her explore her culture and also accepting the grief she's experiencing via her father is really heartwarming because of this, I think that the book fell into the wrong genre.

This book as a contemporary novel would've held better than within the romance genre because adding the romance didn't add anything.

In reading this book, you don't stick for the romance but rather the elements of self discovery and grief.

This felt like a trip back home! Both the tourist sites and the locals-only places are beautifully described in this story of two people who both have some internal struggles to overcome and manage to help each other do that together. The plot and pacing start off strong, and they never let up. The setting is a character in its own right, as well as the cuisine. While there is Spanish woven into the book, the author includes translations where necessary. (When not, the context translates easily.) If you're looking for spicy romance, this isn't the book for you. But if you're looking for a romance with a slow build, a focus on companionship and intimacy, and helping each other grow as people against a gorgeous backdrop, while also learning a bit about reggaeton, you'll love it!

There was so much to enjoy about this book. The setting and the atmosphere felt vibrant to me, and I felt a connection through Dani as she experienced it all.

Dani was a very complex character who was incredibly well-developed from background history to present day. I felt like I got a good sense of who she was deep down and why she had developed certain parts of her personality. She was someone who was dedicated and talented, and she showed real care for the work she was doing regardless of her personal opinions or tastes. I loved seeing her get to explore the island where her late father grew up and gain that sense of a bond to him and the culture that was so important to him. She had so many moving experiences as she connected with the Puerto Rican side of her heritage. It was touching to feel a part of that as a reader. I also loved seeing her rediscover herself and her own passions and realize she could let some of her worries for her mom and sister go.

As far as the romance went, I was less invested in that than I was in Dani’s personal journey. René had some very charming moments, but he also confused me. I often felt just as confused as Dani about him. He was a bit of an enigma, which was fine for his celebrity persona but less so when it came to me wanting to feel him and Dani having a deeper connection. That said, I did love the way their HEA played out.

Thank you to Forever via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I recently finished reading this book and I must say, it was a captivating and refreshing experience. From the moment I started the book, I was hooked by its grounded and relatable portrayal of romance.
The plot is incredibly realistic, which is something I truly appreciated. The love story unfolds at a pace that feels true to life—there are no unrealistic twists or melodramatic moments that often plague romantic novels. Instead, the characters face real-life challenges, personal growth, and emotional struggles that anyone can relate to. The story touches on themes of trust, vulnerability, and the importance of self-discovery before fully opening up to someone else.
What stood out most to me was the character development. The protagonist evolve throughout the book, and their emotional growth is depicted with such care. Their flaws, strengths, and vulnerabilities are portrayed in a way that makes them feel like real people, not just characters on a page. It’s rare to find a romance where the characters' emotional journeys are as important as their romantic connection, and [Book Title] does this beautifully. Their interactions felt authentic, and the relationship built naturally over time, making it all the more rewarding by the end.
This book made me reflect on my own experiences and left me with a sense of hope that love can grow in the most unexpected ways. It's a novel about finding love not just with someone else, but also with yourself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romance that feels real, with characters that are fully realized and a plot that keeps you invested from start to finish.

As a Puerto Rican reader, Takes One to Know One by Lisette Decos felt like coming home. Decos transports you to the heart of the island — you can hear the rhythmic sounds of the coquí frogs at night, see the lush green mountains and crystal-clear beaches, and practically taste the alcapurrias. In "Takes One to Know One" we meet Dani- a music label executive who struggles to find herself amidst always prioritizing her family and her job. Her job takes her to Puerto Rico to oversee a behind the scene view of Rene "El Rico"s new album. I am a fan of reggaetón music so I enjoyed that this story followed a reggaeton artist and how their album was being developed. I loved that the artist wanted to create an album that celebrated Puerto Rican culture & identity.

Overall this was a fun read & am so thankful to have received a arc copy from Forever & the publisher!

This was a cute, classic enemies-to-lovers love with Puerto Rico as a backdrop - a light, summer read, if any. I breezed by this quickly and I appreciated that Lisette Decos weaved in other more serious elements, such as Dani coming to terms with her grief, to build more layers into the story. However, to critique the romance book itself, I did find myself having difficulty connecting with the chemistry between the characters and personally felt that there was always more potential than where we were taken to in the story throughout my read. That said, this was a lovely opportunity to diversify those romance bookshelves and I found myself transported to Puerto Rico with the characters.