You Had Me at Hola was just what I was looking for in a summer read - sexy, funny, sweet, and something a little different. Also, that cover! I was rooting for Ash and Jasmine the whole time and I especially loved Jasmine's relationship with her cousins. This was my first book by Alexis Daria, but it won't be my last!

This was a great book, don't get me wrong. And while I COMPLETELY enjoyed the first half, I more than lost interest in the second half.

Jasmine was such a wonderful heroine! I want to get that out there first. While I tend to usually dislike female leads in books due to their annoying-ness, I 100% adored Jasmine! All she wants is to be a great leading lady who doesn't have to depend on a man. After a bad break-up before the book starts, she is left reeling. But, telling yourself that you don't need a man or love, while simultaneously falling for a new man, especially when that man is your new co-star, is rough. She tells herself not to, but the heart wants what the heart wants. And through all of this, she does remain pretty true to herself. She is giving and kind, but she loves love... and that is okay. She is strong and brave, especially when it comes to how badly she is dragged through the mud at every turn in the tabloids. That stuff was rough. But she goes on with her head held high even when she is dying inside. That was AMAZING!

Ashton, on the other hand... While I didn't dislike him through the whole book, his character as a whole was whiny and just absolutely annoying. He is constantly standing in the way of his own happiness. He sought out a career in the public eye, yet he absolutely HATES being in the public eye and acts like the world does him a disservice when they inquire about him or his personal life. I do understand, to an extent, of why he wants to keep certain aspects of his life under wraps, but he is just insufferable. And, when he is on the brink of losing everything, even though it is all his fault and he knows it (he admits to it), still all I could envision was him - a grown man - throwing himself down on the ground in a fit of temper tantrum pounding his fists and kicking and screaming that (yet again, yes, it is his fault, but) HE is still the one unhappy. It's very much all about him all the time.

I loved all of the family in this book. Both Jasmine's family and Ashton's were a pure delight. Coming from a big family myself where there are so many different dynamics, this was really fun to see. And all of the representation was wonderful.

I love me some juicy drama and this book was packed full of it. I really did enjoy it for the most part. I loved everything about the families and all of the working on the set parts. But the relationship between Jasmine and Ashton, while was wonderful for me at first, was something that by the time the end happened and we learn if the two can really put everything behind them and make things work, I didn't even care anymore.

Not only is this cover absolutely stunning, but the story is equal parts funny, heart-achingly sweet, and STEAMY! Our main characters are both in the entertainment business and have their share of baggage.

Jasmine Rodriguez is avoiding social media after a very public and humiliating breakup. She adopts a new Leading Lady plan to focus on her career instead of falling for another co-star. But her resolve is tested when filming for a new bilingual romantic comedy series involves working on her chemistry with telenovela heartthrob Ashton Suárez.

Sparks are flying and camera lenses are steaming as these two toe the line between professional and romantic relationship. An amazing read! Look for our podcast review on August 26th.

What I loved about You Had Me at Hola was how this dual POV novel focused on the main characters, Ashton and Jasmine, but also on their families. There was a fabulous balance of their lives and struggles with ambition and heartbreak, while also being grounded in their roles in their families. Jasmine and Ashton aren't just Telenovella actors, or love interests, they're also their son's father, their mother's middle child, and all of their different roles combine to form their pressures and expectations.

Their personalities jumped off the pages immediately. You Had Me at Hola was so richly steeped in Latinx culture and I loved how it tackled issues of representation, colorism, and racism in Hollywood. While it was a story about Jasmine and Ashton as individuals, it was also very clear how much their roles/representation and their supportive work environment meant to everyone. It enforces the importance of having the roles for Latinx families more accessible and more prominent especially in Hollywood, while also discussing the desire to make it big.

If Jasmine Lin Rodriguez has learned anything from her string of loser exes it's that she’s better off alone. Take her latest breakup from a superstar musician - it’s gotten her splashed across tabloid covers, blown up her social media accounts and left her hounded by paparazzi . None of those things are the hallmark of a serious actor and Jasmine is desperate to make the leap from soap operas to meatier, more meaningful roles. Being cast as the heroine Carmen in a bilingual ScreenFlix (think Netflix) telenovela is just the break she needs.

Ashton Suárez needs this telenovela, too. He’s been playing heartthrob heroes in telenovelas for years but his last gig not only had him playing the villain, they killed him off before the final episode. He has always been in the finale, and his early death in the last show has him wondering if he’s also looking at the death of his employment. Too many people depend on him for him to be a has-been at this point in his life. Fortunately, a last minute cast shakeup has landed him the male lead Victor, a role that could re-launch his career.

The last thing either of them needs is a workplace romance with all its attendant possible problems but sometimes the last thing we need is the one thing we desperately want.

You Had Me at Hola is a steamy showbiz romantic-comedy with a plot worthy of a soap opera.  Brimming with charming, eccentric secondary characters and Latinx culture and pride this is an entertaining tale of love and television which will delight fans of the author.

Reviewers Maggie and Caroline had a socially distanced conversation about the novel and are here to share their thoughts.

Maggie: I’ll admit it - I’m not a fan of soap operas or telenovelas. Do you watch either of them?

Caroline: I don’t watch them, but I love them as a setting. My favorite romance of all time, Again, by Kathleen Gilles Seidel, is set on a soap. I love how the cast is in it together for a long haul, and how the drama the characters go through gives interesting things for the actors to work with.

Maggie: I loved that book! I picked up this one because I’ve heard great things about Alexis Daria and also because I love verbal plays on famous movie lines. What drew you to the novel?

Caroline: I read Daria’s Dance-Off books and loved them. Stone and Gina from Take the Lead are one of my favorite slow-burn couples.

Maggie: If I had to pick one word to describe heroine Jasmine it would be sweet. She struck me as a genuinely nice, friendly, caring person. The meet cute moment (Ashton spills coffee on her!) displayed that so perfectly - she could have been angry at what happened but she handled it with such grace. What did you think of her?

Caroline: I liked Jasmine and her professional competence. I appreciated that she handled the coffee spill rationally, not by flipping out, like a lot of heroines seem to do these days. I felt like the device of a list is overused, though.

Maggie: True - I’ve read two list books in the last month, where the heroine writes a life goals/relationship goals list and then immediately breaks it because of luv.

I kept picturing actor Diego Luna whenever I read about Ashton, even though Diego is Mexican and Ashton is Puerto Rican. Ashton started out as a very strong character. I loved how he could be awkward, the way he wore old man (guayabera) shirts and his love for his family. I was especially impressed with Ashton’s take on life in show business, the way his career had had ups and downs, and his having to balance his need for a steady income with his desire to do this work and his attempts at balancing a personal and private life. What did you think of him?

Caroline: I don’t typically picture people, but I got a very “silver fox” vibe off of Ashton. Maybe like Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente with his beard? Ashton does start as a strong character, but for me, his concerns about his son’s safety came across as irrational rather than protective. It became deeply frustrating to watch Ashton freak out about his fame endangering his son while simultaneously pursuing prominent roles. Did this bother you?

Maggie: I did feel he overreacted to what the text refers to as The Incident, although I could certainly appreciate his fears. And I’ve certainly read enough interviews with celebrities who aren’t necessarily fearful but who are intensely private and who will often say that they are selling their work, not themselves.

It takes a while for our two leads to move into a romantic relationship. Once they did I would call it more heat than sweet - meaning they were moving more on chemistry than they were on a deep, emotional connection. Would you agree with that?

Caroline: Generally, I love slow burns, but I agree that their slow-burn time wasn’t spent well enough. The author didn’t use that time to build a strong foundation.

Maggie: I’m Puerto Rican and could relate to Jasmine’s experience with her culture a lot. The big family, the way traditional roles are venerated, the part food plays in celebrations and even in everyday life. The cousin relationship tends to be an important one in Hispanic families. In this story, Ava and Michelle, Jasmine’s cousins aka The Primas of Power, are her closest confidants and the primary secondary characters.

I also know people like Ashton and his family, who are all about the Island and the importance being there plays in their lives. While we don’t see as much of Ashton’s family I loved what little we got to know of his father Ignacio. I thought this aspect of the text was handled very well.

Caroline:  I appreciate that Daria transcends the stereotypes of ‘sassy girl squad’ and ‘zany old lady’ with Jasmine’s cousins and grandma, who could easily have been crammed into those niches. His dad’s great! (I’m getting old when the heroes’ dads start doing it for me…)

The most interesting representation element was the language. Recently, bilingual/multicultural authors have advocated for treating non-English words the same as English words, which means not italicizing unless the English word would be italicized, too: “Hola, Ashton,” not “Hola, Ashton,” or the Primas (not Primas) of Power you mentioned.

I liked it. Non-native English speakers play a major role in my life, and I’ve lived as a non-native speaker in other countries, and this felt natural and authentic. Did you like it, or did it bother you?

Maggie: It works fine for me either way.

Ultimately, You Had Me at Hola had charming moments but in spite of its meet-cute start, the romance didn’t work for me. I never felt a strong connection between Ashton and Jasmine, and some of her behaviors at the end of the book - especially those regarding her professional life - had me thinking she wasn’t quite mature enough to be in the kind of relationship Ashton needed. I also felt the resolution was rushed. I’m giving it a B-.

Caroline: I think B- is fair. I actually had fewer concerns about Jasmine than I did about the superficiality of Ashton, who concealed his son from the woman he was in love with and clung for decades to The Incident without introspection. His sudden 'Oh, wait! I could do this differently!’ felt too abrupt. Also, the romance/chemistry aspect wasn’t what it needs to be to warrant a higher grade.

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This one lands as a 3.5 stars for me, rounded to a four because I am nothing if not generous.

This was a solid romance novel! I loved the casual diversity of the cast of characters and the more overt discussions of being Latinx in the entertainment industry. The discussions of the importance of diversity on screen and behind the camera was absolutely fabulous.

The story follows serial monogamist Jasmine who swears off dating after a particularly disastrous tabloid incident post-breakup. Ashton is an older telenovela star looking to make his break into Hollywood. Together they’re starring in an English language remake of a telenovela for a major streaming service, and when the sparks fly between them both on and off-screen it complicates everything.

I loved the characters in this and if I don’t see companion novels about the rest of the Primas of Power I will feel CHEATED. I felt that the flaws and strengths of both Jasmine and Ashton were particularly well-drawn and made them incredibly lovable. I also enjoyed how their flaws drove the conflict of the book, rather than random drama or excessive external circumstances. I also totally believed the chemistry of the two main characters and the steamy scenes were quite well done.

I also loved the TV behind-the-scenes aspects of the plot and enjoyed having scenes written from the perspective of the characters acting as the show. It all came together to create a really engaging plot.

However, after the first intimate scene it felt like less attention was given to building the relationship between Jasmine and Ashton. So while I really believed their attraction to one another the jump to love felt a lot less earned. This felt particularly egregious when both main characters have really well-drawn reasons to have attachment issues. There was a lot of talk about how intimacy with one another was “different” but not as much demonstrating of why or how. And for a romance that was otherwise so well-drawn in regards to character development, this feels like a pretty significant flaw.

Ultimately, this book is still so stinking cute and one I will definitely be recommending to romance lovers. Especially for the lovely Latinx and casual queer representation.

This was really cute and fun. Liked the main characters and their story. Similarities to Jane the Virgin throughout and you ended up loving the characters in the same way. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

For fans of Jane the Virgin with a side of steam!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved jasmine and her fiery personality. I also loved Ashton and his more reserved nature. During the acting scenes you could see more and more of his personality come out! The two of them were such a great pair!

This was actually the first book I've read by Alexis Daria, believe it or not. Her other books are on my TBR but I haven't gotten around to it yet. This one was really enjoyable.

The chemistry between the two in this book was awesome. I also want to say that the use of lubrication during the intimate scenes was a plus for me. I want those types of mechanical stuff to be talked about more in contemporary romances. Let's normalize that!

One thing I didn't care for was the interludes that were basically the scenes they were filming and they were written in the characters they were playing perspective. I don't know, it just felt like it did nothing for me.

Did find them both to be frustrating in their stubborness at different parts. But I was glad that it all worked out in the end.

*I received a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You Had Me At Hola is very sweet. I appreciate that, and I like the fact that both main characters are so so deeply involved in their families. The author also does an good job with their characters and their chemistry. The love scenes are lovely. But the conflict at the center of the narrative didn't work as well, so I was not as charmed by this book as I expected to be.

Every reader has their pet peeves and for me it's a lack of communication and the exaggeration of obstacles that could be easily dispatched. The male love interest is suffering from some historic trauma and that hampers the relationship quite a bit. His emotional difficulties aren't really dealt with until the very end, however, and the female protagonist is dealing with her own blocks. There's a lot of melodrama as a result but the underlying causes aren't given the attention needed for me to see them as real.

I was so lucky to have gotten an ARC of this on NetGalley. You Had Me at Hola drew me in from the first page. My family are big into telenovellas and this was a such a fun premise for a modern romance. The diverse Latinex cast of characters, the unapologetic Spanish, the humor, the discussions about Hollywood culture, consent, the cost of fame, and representation were *chef's kiss.*

The side characters were just as funny, punchy, and vibrant as the protagonists and I was just as invested in them as I was the main characters. It was such a fun book with substance behind it and a great love letter (and not so subtle hint) as to all of the reasons WHY we need more representation on screens, in books, and (for the love of all that is holy) more Latinex romances and romance writers.

I can't wait to read more by the author. 4.5 well earned stars!

This book is glorious. That’s it. End of review.

Okay, okay. Here’s more…You Had Me at Hola is witty and emotional. It’s full of nuanced characters and vibrant, interconnected families. It’s layered and complex but it’s also bright and fun. Jasmine and Ashton are telenovela/soap opera stars who play love interests in a new series they each hope with launch their careers. The glamour and the drama and the gossip and on-set life…it’s really fun to read. In fact, I was nearly as into the story of Carmen and Victor (their TV roles) as I was the rest of the book. It was like a two-for-one romance within a romance. But the heart of this book in grounded in the emotional work of each MC as they make their way to each other.

Loved this book. The cover is pure, colorful FIRE. And it comes out on August 4th which happens to be my mom’s birthday so *maybe* it’s going to magically arrive on her doorstep that day. Don’t miss this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading about characters that reminded me of myself. I loved visiting the world of Telenovellas. It reminded me of so many afternoons watching them with my grandma!

I didn't really like that the book switched between real life and the script from the show. It was also pretty disappointing that each character only had their issues (PTSD and alcoholism) mentioned in the epilogue. It just felt like throwaway facts.

The book was hilarious though, definitely earned its rom-com description.

My favorite rom-com of 2020 so far!

I grew up watching telenovelas with my family practically on a daily basis, and while I don't watch them anymore since moving to the U.S., I still think back fondly to this often melodramatic but inescapable part of Latinx culture. When I first heard that Alexis Daria was coming out with a telenovela-inspired rom-com, I knew I would love it. Jasmine and Ashton are so great together, and their steamy scenes were HOT (seriously -- some of the best I've read in traditionally published romance). That being said, they also function as solidly individual people with great character development -- I loved both of their arcs equally! Honestly, I can't recommend this book enough. Read it (especially if you enjoy shows like Jane the Virgin)! Also, I'd like to point out that this book wins the award for best cover of the year -- it's gorgeous and I can't take my eyes off it.

I was super duper excited for this because I loved the TV Series Jane the Virgin and Ugly Betty AND I loved Alexis' previous series, Dance Off. She just has a talent for writing compelling characters and addicting romances.

This was a great read for me! Honestly, I couldn't put it down because I got so absorbed in the story. It felt like I was binge-watching a TV show--which is exactly what I wanted out of this.

It is easy to see how this series is inspired by telenovelas and shows like Jane the Virgin. You've got the focus on family roots; highlighting the prejudices Latin Americans face; and those highly entertaining moments of comedy laced throughout a story about love and all the drama it brings about.

It has a steady slow burn romance between Ashton and Jasmine that sucked me in. They take their time to get comfortable with each other. And I really thought their love scenes together were refreshing in the sense that they communicate about what they need intimately from a partner by talking and seeking consent. It isn't just hot and heavy but rather it is sensual and romantic.

My only negative is that I wish they had a few more interactions to really cement that deeper bond at the start. Ashton was maybe a little too aloof at the start? While the attraction is slow burn, those deeper feelings just seemed to happen pretty quickly once these two give into the attraction and I wasn't entirely sure the intensity was warranted.

This reads like a great rom-com movie and it's perfect for fans of contemporary romance looking for diverse, well written reads.

Totally adorable!

Jasmin Lin is a Nuyorican soap star starring in a new series and working towards being a "Leading Lady." She is done making mistakes with the wrong men. She is done being in tabloids for the wrong reasons. She is ready to boost her career.

Ashton Suarez is a native Puerto Rican, telenovela galán, who needs this new series to take him to Hollywood. He is ready to bust into the movie business while also trying to maintain his low profile with the media. Ashton has secrets to protect.

Will Jasmin and Ashton connect on and off the screen? Will they stick to their plans? Read You Had Me at Hola to find out.

I just finished You Had Me At Hola and what I'm left feeling is the importance of culture, your roots and the strength and love of your family. At the heart of You Had Me At Hola is a love story between two co-stars, Ashton and Jasmine that is intertwined with their respective cultures and background.

Jasmine Lin needs a break from the LA scene. She's in the tabloids (not for a good reason) and wants to get away from working on soap operas. Ashton Suarez has been working on telenovas and is eager to try his hand at something new. When both of them are cast as the main stars - Carmen and Victor - in a new show on a paid service called Carmen In Charge, they both jump at the opportunity.

I really enjoyed learning about the diverse backgrounds of both Jasmine and Ashton. They each had their own challenges that were equally important to both of them. Jasmine faced the challenge of not knowing Spanish as fluently even when she was starring in a mainly Latinx show. Ashton had his own difficulties because English is his second language and he wasn't used to the new environment/set.

I will admit that the relationship between Ashton and Jasmine didn't immediately have me rooting for them as a couple. Ashton was a bit cold towards Jasmine, but as I kept reading I understood his motives. But once these two did decide to take their relationship to the next level - the steamy scenes were so damn hot!

Some of my favorite scenes were the chapters that were dedicated to Carmen In Charge. I loved the way Alexis Daria transformed the book so seamlessly into the show and I found myself really enjoying those scenes between Carmen and Victor.

I really enjoyed You Had Me At Hola! If you're looking for a sweet and sexy romance that is interwoven with family dynamics then pick up this book when it releases August 4th!

Reviewed for Shelf Awareness (shelf-awareness.com). Full review will be posted around release date.

This is an excellent romance. Alexis Daria managed to ramp up the tension and drama without unnecessary miscommunications while creating two characters who are as kind as they are ambitious. Loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. It was incredibly hot and sweet all at the same time. I’ve always been a big soap opera fan and I’ve also said that telenovelas always look so good and I need to get into them. Well this book just proved that I know what I’m talking about. The drama, the passion, the love, the emotion, THE FEELS!! This book has it all and a gorgeous cover to boot.

Jasmine is trying to make a fresh start for herself with a new show on a popular streaming network. It’s definitely what she needs after finding out she’s be dumped by her singing sensation boyfriend via a tabloid. Carmen in Charge is her opportunity for a telenovela/soap crossover starring Latinx actors and her opportunity to make a name for herself as a leading lady. She’s determined to stick to her Leading Lady plans which means no love life and all focus. Of course fate has other plans and they show their gorgeous head when she literally runs into her slightly older, but completely hot co-star Ashton. After a disastrous first meeting, Jasmine is convinced that Ashton wants nothing to do with her off set. He’s standoffish and secludes himself from the rest of the cast. That certainly doesn’t stop her from being attracted to him, but she’s not so sure he feels the same.

Jasmine’s got Ashton all wrong. Ashton is a bucket of nerves after being killed off of his last telenovela and he’s getting older and seeing his chance to break into Hollywood slipping away. After a literal run in with Jasmine, Ashton’s convinced that he’s sabotaging himself. He wants nothing more than to make this work, but it’s not just his nerves standing in his way. Ashton has a big secret (which we find out about pretty early on) that he’s been keeping for years. It’s the biggest source of his anxiety because keeping his personal life underwraps is just as important as furthering his career, if not more important. His best bet is to keep his distance like he’s done on every set, but that’s hard when his attraction to Jasmine is out of this world. Will he be able to balance his life or will it all come crashing down?

There was just so much to love about this book. We follow both characters on their journey to figure their lives out, dealing with being in the spotlight, and all of the insecurities that arise because of the media. Not only are they dealing with insecurities from the media, but their families as well. Both Jasmine and Ashton deal with the feelings of not being enough for their families, but for very different reason. Their trials were so relatable, even though I’ve never been famous. Families can bring out the worst of us, whether they mean to or not. There is especially a big emphasis on families and family expectations in this book because both lead characters are Puerto Rican (Jasmine is Puerto Rican and Filipina, but we see her interact mainly with the Puerto Rican side of her family). POC family dynamics are unique in their own way and it was great seeing those dynamics come into play. Jasmine is also dealing with the fallout of her serial monogamy and her eagerness to always be in a relationship, while Ashton is dealing with PTSD and anxiety revolving around an incident in his past. All of this only adds to their dynamics with one another and their families.

The other aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the fact that we got to see the actual show scenes play out. It’s like getting a peek at the script during filming, so we’re not just reading about Jasmine and Ashton interacting as themselves, we’re seeing how their characters influence their actions as well. How did this scene lend itself to their relationship on set? Their chemistry bubbles over into the show and it was so interesting to see.

Oh and we can’t forget the romance. The chemistry jumped off the page and the sex scenes were…..WHEW. Listen nothing is sexier than consent, communication, and hot sex, okay? Okay. Jasmine and Ashton are drawn to one another from day one and after fighting it for awhile, they eventually can’t stay away from one another. They slowly begin to break down each other’s walls, which leaves them vulnerable and we all know how difficult that can be.

I’m so happy that this novel delivered everything the cover promised and I cannot wait to add it to my physical collection when it’s released on August 4th. There also seems to be some wiggle room as far as future books. Jasmine is very close to her cousins and we get a glimpse of them and their personalities in this book, so I really hope we get to see them up close and personal in the future. Okay, let me stop rambling. Go ahead and plan to add it to your shelves when it’s released. You won’t be disappointed. Happy reading!

This book is everything I wanted out of it and more. I can't wait until everyone can fall in love with Alexis Daria's words, characters, and story.