Alexis Daria has done it again with this warm and vibrant romance. A Lot Like Adiós perfectly balances childhood friends to lovers and second chance to create a deeply felt story that basically wrecked me.

Daria is so skilled at writing confident and successful characters that are simultaneously the most lovable and deeply flawed. Both Michelle and Gabe needed to work through a lot to find their way back to each other and Daria was able to balance that growth with a super sexy romance. She also weaves in family in way that makes her books and characters feel full and layered.

I’m also just constantly impressed with how Daria succeeds at weaving casual inclusiveness into her books. It’s something I want to see more and more and throughout romance and just makes me impossibly excited for Daria’s next book!

I am at a lack for words at how beautifully this was written. Gabe and Michelle are my Latinx second chance romance life goals. Seriously. The representation in this book was amazing, the story was fun, nerdy, and super steamy and the authenticity of the latinx community was so on point from the family feuds to the 30 person gathering that is considered small. Michelle and Gabe were best friends that could have been more if Gabe hadn't left without looking back years ago. I loved how their complicated backstory and old online chats helped move the current story forward. Michelle was such a powerful character that I respected and want to be friends with and Gabe for all his success still had so much to unpack in this story. Their story was fun and easy to read while also being emotionally charged and exciting.

4.5 stars

The Primas of Power are back! This time Michelle is our leading lady and she's in no hurry to find a man to settle down with. After Gabriel Aguilar walked out of her life over a decade before, she finds it a little hard to trust. Well, not only is Gabe finally back, but they also have to work together. Obviously, nothing could go wrong.

If you loved You Had Me at Hola, you will not be disappointed this time around. I think it's safe to say I loved this one even more. Second chance romance isn't always my favorite but when you mix that with a touch of fake dating, a ton of chemistry, and broken family relationships, can you really go wrong?

Alexia Daria writes romance and intimacy SO well. It's steamy, it's mature, and the characters are pleasantly open with their needs. There's even some wonderful bisexual rep involved. As they revisit this first love, they have to figure out how to open up about past hurt, family drama, and figure out if they can make it work as adults.

I love the nostalgia factor as they relive their high school friendship and the beginning of their love affair. Plus, we even get some really fun fan fic chapters interspersed along with texting conversations they had in high school.

I just read You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adios and whoa, just whoa. 🔥 The steam hits you immediately with a bam! They do not hold back. But setting aside the steam, these books are so much more than just hot romances. You Had Me At Hola is the story of Jasmine, a Latinx telenovela star trying to get over a messy breakup but her new co-star gets in the way. And then A Lot Like Adios is the story of Jasmine’s cousin who reunites with her first love, years after he broke her heart into a million pieces. These books are funny with so many quick zingy one-liners. And they are both so heartfelt in their explorations of second chances, prioritizing yourself and finding true happiness. I absolutely love the role the large extended family members play in all of their lives, emphasizing the importance of the support and love of family. Both books are such fun romances to spice things up a little. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series.

In this second book of the series, Michelle, cousin of Jasmine from Book 1, reconnects with her childhood neighbor and best friend who left her behind at age 18 when he decided to go to college across the country in LA. Gabriel always felt stifled and oppressed by his father's rules and expectation that Gabe would always put the family stationary store ahead of his desire to choose his own career and prioritize his passion for baseball. Gabe felt that the only way to escape was to make a clean break with everyone from his past, hence after he left for UCLA, he ghosted Michelle, and later ghosted his parents as well, fearing that he wouldn't be able to stand up to their pressure.

Now, at 30, Gabe is a licensed physical therapist who owns a successful gym focusing on motion and wellness, but his main investor is insisting that he open another location in NYC. Gabe agrees to go back and hires Michelle, now a successful marketing whiz, to do the marketing plan for the new location. She agrees because she wants some closure over the events of the past and wants some answers about why he ghosted her. However, neither of them expect the sparks that ignite as soon as they see each other.

Whew, this book was pretty sexy - no slow burn here, as Gabe and Mich fall right back into a close friendship with the added intimacy of lots of sex. However, there are still lots of unresolved feelings and issues for Gabe that he needs to work through if he's going to finally move forward in his relationship with his family and with Mich.

Although the book was fast paced and enjoyable, I found Gabe to be a bit lacking. His actions toward his family and Michelle in the past showed he had a lot of growing to do. In the present, whenever he had any difficulties, he regressed back to running away rather than facing his issues. I also didn't understand why Gabe and Mich didn't at least consider the possibility of a long-distance relationship once they reconnected. I did love all of the Latinx cultural references and the glimpses of both Gabe and Mich's families. I'd rate this 3.5 stars and will be looking forward to the final book.

We have had numerous conversations on this site about how a readers’ ‘mileage’ may vary in terms of suspension of disbelief. I’ve always thought that contemporary romances had the hardest row to hoe in that regard because people who live in the country/time the story takes place in can always spot the only-in-a-romance novel tropes used. A Lot Like Adíos is a novel that fell into this category for me.

A Lot Like Adíos includes characters from You Had Me at Hola, but you do not need to have read that book to enjoy this one.

Michelle Amato and Gabe (Gabriel) Aguilar have been BFFs and next-door neighbors for most of their lives, but in the summer of their senior year, that friendship takes on the added tenor of sexual tension. After waiting for months for Gabe to pick up on her subtle come-hither moves, Michelle, high, giggly and horny, turns to the equally under-the-influence Gabe and asks, “You got a big dick?” Somehow this clumsy attempt at flirting works and they’re hot and heavy and half-naked in minutes.

Everything implodes though when she sees a ticket to Los Angeles sticking out of his pants pocket and demands to know if he is planning to leave New York, even though he’s been assuring her for months he plans to stay. Now, Gabe admits that his home situation is untenable and that he does indeed intend to go to college all the way across the country. Michelle tears up the ticket, says some things she will later regret and kicks him out of her house and her life. After several months Michelle manages to work through her anger and reach out, but Gabe never responds.

The one person who could have convinced Gabe to go back to New York and stay was Michelle, which is why Gabe never responded to her. Gabe left home because his father wanted him to take over the family’s failing stationary store and they’d fought bitterly when Gabe told him shops selling pretty papers and cards were no longer a viable business. Instead, Gabe wanted to play pro-baseball, a dream that is destroyed when he suffers a career-ending injury. The silver lining is that he developed a deep interest in rehabilitative sports medicine and became a physical therapist as well as a fitness trainer as a result. Along with his best friend, who studied sports medicine, he opens a health club that doesn’t just provide a great place to work out but can also help clients on their road to recovery. Agility Gym has been a great success and now they are looking to expand into New York. Gabe dreads going back there ,but since his business partner is about to become a dad, Gabe knows it will have to be him that makes the trip. When it turns out that Michelle is the graphic designer he will be working with on the promotions, he mans up and reaches out to her in an attempt to make their business transactions as comfortable as possible.

Michelle’s having none of that. She wants answers as to why Gabe has been ghosting her for the last decade and makes it a condition of her working with Agility that he stay with her rather than in a hotel. Gabe agrees – because as a romance novel character he really has no other choice. They are both still totally hot for each other and naturally haven’t moved on to other relationships, so after he arrives in NY and gets settled in her place, when Michelle says, “Let’s fuck” they totally do.

Romance readers will recognize pretty much everything about this novel from the eye-rolling setup to the big, nosy families who are all up in the hero/heroine’s business. A few things are unique: the author does add cultural flavor, including Puerto Rican/Mexican/Italian customs, foods and traditions and her cast of characters is extremely diverse. The text uses Spanish language phrases and I wish I could tell you whether they are distracting or not, but being an Island born Puerto Rican, I recognized them all so they in no way disrupted my own reading. (Although the use of tía as opposed to tití tripped me up some.) The author does have the characters who are being spoken to respond in English, so I think the context will help with the comprehension.

Gabe is the quintessential hero with daddy issues, who flees home to make a success of life by following his own dreams. Coming back to New York, living next door to his parents and with Michelle means dealing with all the people he left behind and deciding whether the success he has is really what he wants or if his dreams have changed as he’s matured.

Michelle had a great position in a big marketing firm but the man she was having an affair with there used her to forward his own career. She left the company after that and is doing freelance work. Michelle is close to her family and loves her life in New York but realizes her love life has suffered because of the unresolved issues with Gabe. She’s determined to work through that and scratch the itch he started all those years ago. Naturally this means copious amounts of sex and of course that does result in her feelings becoming involved. But she’s not sure she can really trust Gabe with her heart.

Along with the cultural diversity, the author also includes sexually diverse characters. Both Michelle and Gabe identify as bisexual, and having same sex attractions/partners is casually mentioned in an early conversation, but the subject is not explored further. Gabe also has a niece Lucy “who was nine and had transitioned two years earlier.”

Because Gabe and Michelle have a pre-existing relationship that occurs prior to the start of the current narrative, a lot of their connection took place in the backstory. What they deal with in the present is mostly the big breakup they had at the end of high school, figuring out if there is room for each other in their lives again and if so, what shape they want that room to take. We do see some old communications they had through Windows Messenger and work they’d done on some fanfiction for a sci-fi show they loved as teens, but I felt like we missed a lot because their friendship is presented to us as a fait accompli rather than something we actually get to watch develop. That leaves their romance feeling a bit emotionally underdeveloped as well.

If you are a fan of smexy, mildly humorous contemporaries which emphasize diversity and have a feisty heroine at their heart, you will probably thoroughly enjoy A Lot Like Adíos. If you don’t like books laden with tropes, struggle with heroes who flee from their problems rather than dealing with them and want a lot of emotional connection in your love stories, this probably won’t work quite as well for you.

A fantastic second installment in the Primas of Power series!

This book has everything: childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, fake dating, only one bed, TWO BISEXUAL MAIN CHARACTERS!!, forced proximity, fanfiction, fan-your-face sex -- everything, folks.

And of course, because it's Alexis Daria, it's also beautifully written, well paced and plotted, diverse and inclusive (listen to the Fated Mates podcast about You Had Me At Hola for some really interesting discussion of bilingualism among children of immigrants), and that cover... that cover!

I particularly love the fanfiction interludes; if you're looking for something a bit like Spoiler Alert before the second book comes out next month, this might scratch that itch for you. This book is not an exact match for the series, but I can tell you I enjoyed it miles more than I did All the Feels.

Gabe in particular does a lot of work on himself in this book, which seems to be a through line for Dariaverse heroes. I would have loved to know more about the work his father has done on improving his personal relationship with masculinity, more out of curiosity than anything else. I think the story suffers a bit for having no details (in particular, I would have loved to know that he went to therapy rather than seeming to rely on his daughter to understand toxic masculinity). Truly, truly a delight, though, and I am dying for Ava's story.

Oh my goodness, this book! I loved You Had Me at Hola and was really looking forward to this one and it absolutely did not disappoint!

Michelle and Gabriel are fantastic characters. They're well-developed, funny, endearing, and you can't help but root for them. Their history is so well-done, we get the important parts but at no point does it ever feel like too much information.

Michelle is driven but purposely holding herself back while Gabriel is driven to the point of putting his work above everything else. It's so interesting to see them realize this about themselves and see how they help balance each other out.

And this book is steamy! Alexis wastes no time and does not beat about the bush with the love scenes. The passion and emotion between Michelle and Gabriel is evident from the start and just feels right for these characters.

Gabriel Aguilar has been successfully building one of LA’s most popular celebrity gyms for more than a decade. An investor is pushing him to expand to NYC--a place he ran away from at eighteen to escape his parents’ expectations. He also left behind Michelle--his childhood best friend, neighbor, and lifelong crush.

Michelle left a corporate marketing career to build up her own freelance graphic design business. She’s perfectly content in her solo life, despite her meddling Puerto Rican-Italian family’s best intentions to find her a partner. Now Michelle is unexpectedly part of the team helping out on the East coast expansion, and Gabe and Mich are forced to confront a past that’s left them both a little wary.

I like that this story flips the script on a formulaic slow-burn, tension-filled buildup to romance. We get pieces of their friendly teenage past together, when the pair worked together on fanfic for one of their favorite series. It was super sweet to see how they built the foundation to solidify something stronger later on in their lives. Gabe and Mich reconnect pretty quickly, and the story really focuses on the pair working together to be more open, vulnerable, and willing to communicate effectively. One of their biggest hurdles to overcome is the willingness to let another person in. Each thinks they’re content living a successful, but single, life, but they’re trying to make space for each other in their hearts and in their lives. Gabe is also trying to patch up his past with his parents.

This is a sweet, sexy, and steamy read. Those steamy scenes will make your eyeballs sweat! The sexy parts are written so well. I liked You Had Me at Hola, and catching back up with the Primas of Power (Jasmine and Ava) in A Lot Like Adios was even more fun this time around! Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for an eARC!

I had high hopes for this book after really enjoying You Had Me at Hola. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. It’s definitely a spicy read, even more so than it’s predecessor, which caught me off guard a bit since the heat starts pretty quickly. I prefer more of a slow burn. I didn’t feel connected to the main character or feel invested in their relationship. I did enjoy the Latinx family part of the story and I especially loved Michelle’s ideas for the campaign. It just didn’t wow me though.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Alexis Daria for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A friends to lovers/second chance romance with Puerto Rican representation? Presente!

This is my first book by this author and I have to say that I came away from it impressed by it. The writing was superb with the right mix of elements that helped move the story along without taking away from the characters or their journey into romance. Finally a Latinx story that captures the true expectations and realistic experiences of growing up in a Puerto Rican household without the pre-conceived notions and stereotyping that has become the norm.

I liked getting to know both Gabriel and Michelle. There were both great characters in their own right, but getting to know them together was a treat in itself. I appreciated the way the author re-established their connection as adults and how she went about showcasing their connection as teens by integrating their fanfic writing project as part of the story. Although the reader already knows that they have a shared history, it is through these little interludes that we get a real look at how deeply connected they truly were in the past.

I really enjoyed this story, not only because of the Puerto Rican rep, but because it had the right amount of sweetness and steam with plenty humor, flirty banter and range of emotions that kept me engaged and invested in the outcome.

I could continue signing the book its praises, but I think this is one of those stories that you have to experience for yourself to fully understand how fantastic the story truly was. Now, excuse me while 1-click YOU HAD ME AT HOLA. 😀

All in all, an awesome read not to be missed.

This was such a fun read, and I gobbled it up in one day of supreme relaxation. I loved all the different kids of rep going on here- LGBTQIA+, generational trauma, anxiety, body positivity, etc. Boundaries, consent. Everything I love in a romance.

I also really enjoyed the nerdy and meta interstitials- good for a few chuckles!

All of the characters were lovable, and the writing really kept things moving at a quick pace.

Chef's kiss!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria (Primas of Power #2) 4 stars

By the best selling author of last years "You Had Me at Hola", we get a tale of second chance romance with some growth and maturity thrown in. Gabe and Michelle are childhood friends with a lot of attraction thrown in. Due to some parental issues and the need to follow his dreams, after high school Gabe leaves New York for California and became a talented physical therapist and gym owner with celebrity clientele. An investor in the gym requires an expansion to New York,. Gabe meets with Michelle to create a brand identity for the New York gym. With an attraction that still sizzles and family issues outstanding, Gabe and Michelle have to navigate their new circumstances and the changes in each other.

I'll confess that I liked this one better than "You Had Me at Hola". Maybe it was the character's occupation or their background, I just found it easier to understand their lives. As a rom-com, this book can take a victory lap, I laughed a lot while reading this book. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next one from this author.

Thank you William Morrow/Custom House for this ARC.
(Received through an Avon "From The Heart Newsletter" Promotion in July)

I got a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
The national bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola returns with a seductive second-chance romance about a commitment-phobic Latina and her childhood best friend who has finally returned home.
After burning out in her corporate marketing career, Michelle Amato is a freelance graphic designer. She’s perfectly fine being the only anti-marriage girl in her marriage-obsessed Puerto Rican-Italian family. Besides, the only guy who ever made her want a happily-ever-after disappeared thirteen years ago.

Gabriel Aguilar left the Bronx at eighteen to escape his parents’ expectations, but he also had to leave his best friend/dream girl, Michelle. Now, he’s a successful co-owner of LA’s hottest celebrity gym, with an investor who insists on opening a New York City location. Now he has to go back home and it brings him face to face with Michelle, everything Gabe’s been running from catches up with him.

Michelle is torn between holding Gabe at arm’s length or picking up right where they left off—in her bed. As they work on the campaign, old feelings resurface, and their reunion takes a sexy turn. Facing mounting pressure from their families—who think they’re dating—and growing uncertainty about their futures, can they resolve their past mistakes, or is it only a matter of time before Gabe says adiós again?

Michelle and Gabe have that life-long friend turned lovers quality that makes a story so fun to dive into. Their families are so loud and busy but its so interesting and complicated. I liked that all their problems don't just solve themselves because they are together, but I hated how they seemed to hurt each other. It's a thing that happens when you know someone so well, but everytime it hurt my soul.

I love the Primas of Power and I want Ava's story so badly.

I really enjoyed this!! I think I even liked it more than book 1. Friends to lovers is one of those tropes I love to read and I think Alexis did a great job here. Gabe and Michelle's friendship didn't end on the best of terms and now that she's working with him on his new gym, they're in each other's orbit again.

I loved seeing them them reconnect and talk through their baggage, the ones they have with each other and Gabe with his parents. He eventually actually talks to them too.

And the chemistry is just off the charts here!!! Whew. The sex scenes are steamy but we get so much insight into their personalities. Every scene felt fresh and really brought the heat.

As with book 1, Michelle's Primas of Power are very present. I always say this that seeing the romance unfold is always great but when we get the MCs interacting with their friends and family???? always bonus for me. Show me their support systems!

The messenger chats between teenage Gabe and Michelle was also another insight into their relationship/friendship over the years. That format really worked here.

Also let me shout about the character growth???? Superb. They both needed to figure out their career moves and this was done really well and how they sorted out their romantic conflicts too. :)

Now, is Ava's book next cuz...*eye emoji*

4.5/5 stars!

A Lot Like Adios follows childhood best friends, Michelle and Gabe, and what happens when they meet again after a decade apart.

After leaving New York as a teenager for college, Gabe finds himself back in town to open a New York branch of his gym/physical therapy center, Agility. His partner in California, Fabian, has helpfully contacted Gabe’s childhood best friend (and the one who got away), Michelle, to work on branding and marketing. Gabe burned bridges when he left - not only with Michelle, but with his family. Can he repair them? Will sparks still fly between Gabe and Michelle?

Alexis Daria knows how to write some truly spicy scenes! She’s also really good at fleshing out her characters and making you really care about them. I only knocked off a half a star because I skipped through the interstitials - I didn’t think they were really needed.

I hope there is a book for Ava on tap! The third Prima needs her story told!

I give this book is 5 HOT stars, Daria is a master at writing sexy novels! Gabe and Michele’s or “Mich” romance is not only filled with steam but angst and true friendship.
Gabe has been estranged from his family for 9 years and his best childhood friend Mich as well. Well now he has to fly to NYC for work and hire Mich as their marketing coordinator.
Even though there was some angst in the book (I’m frilly and don’t like too much angst)
and I just wanted to slap the hero upside the head, it was well written and I love the foreshadowing and how the story came full circle.
Very well written story and absolutely enjoyed it!!

Michelle and Gabe grew up together in the Bronx; however, while Michelle stayed and made a name for herself, Gabe had to escape the trappings of his family and moved to California. Now Gabe owns a successful gym that is opening a franchise in New York City. Unknown to him, Gabe’s partner queries Michelle’s availability to help with the NYC marketing plan. Rather than turning Gabe down and letting him walk away again, Michelle decides to keep him close, hoping to get answers to why he left and never looked back.

A Lot Like Adiós is an absolute wonderful romance! My favorite things about the story are the deep connections the author creates between many of the characters; the ties to family, friendship, and work. Ms. Daria develops three-dimensional characters with real issues and successes. She allows readers inside her characters’ hearts and minds, giving insight and allowing us to see their growth, one step at a time. I appreciate the way we get to see Michelle and Gabe literally connect the dots as the realize what is truly important and where they want their lives heading. It’s so intimate and creates a bond between the reader and the characters.

Although their relationship moves quickly due to the years of pent up desire, the entire story takes a slow pace and meandering journey. Michelle and Gabe both need a lot of time to figure out what they need from each other and from life. A Lot Like Adiós really pulled on my heart, as I know that Michelle and Gabe are meant to be - Michelle knows it, even Gabe recognizes it, but he refuses to believe he can have it all. He is so caught up in seeing himself as either NY Gabe or LA Gabe, that he doesn’t realize there isn’t a need to keep them separate. He needs a lot of thoughtful reflection so he can move forward. I love that I get to witness this transformation every step along the way. And although Michelle has her act together a bit more that Gabe, she also needs to move beyond the hurt and anger from the past, both with Gabe and her career.

In the end, I absolutely adored this second chance romance. Ms. Daria writes fantastic characters with meaningful stories. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

My Rating: A-

4.5. I liked this one about as much as I liked You Had Me at Hola--there's plenty of chemistry and steam, and the banter is hilarious. (Plus, there's some excellent #ownvoices Latinx rep here.) Aside from some slightly annoying communication issues, I really enjoyed reading this; I also finished it in a day, so it will be a quick read (especially if you enjoyed the first book in the series).

Grab this and get ready to laugh and get teary!

Gabe has lived in LA for almost a decade now, and it’s about time for him and his business partner Fabian to open up a new gym in New York because of their agreement with their investor. They have their eye on a specific person to run their new marketing campaign since they were impressed with a similar campaigns success. When Fabian tracks down the person responsible it turns out to be none other than Gabe’s childhood best friend, Michelle. Michelle, who he hasn’t spoken to since he left New York for college, and essentially ghosted.

When he reaches out to talk to her about working for them she agrees to meet with him in New York, but she has a few conditions, one of them being that he stays with her while he is there. Gabe is hesitant, but agrees, until Michelle surprises him with making them stay at her parents who still live next to his. Gabe doesn’t have the best relationship with his parents anymore, and when they see him he recruits Michelle to help him lie about why he is in town.

💙M/F Relationship
💙Childhood Best Friends, Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Fake Dating
💙Both MC’s are Bisexual
💙Dual POV
💙Fan Fiction Story Line

Alexis Daria does a great job of putting different representation into her books, and touching on subjects that many people deal with but aren’t talked about, like anxiety. I loved You Had Me at Hola, but I think I loved Michelle and Gabe’s story even more. Their relationship felt so organic and realistic. During their time as they relearned each other and opened up again, they talked about subjects such as not wanting children or feeling the pressures that can come from having a large family. All of her main characters are successful, but face very real issues anyone could face in their careers.

The chapters bounce between them in the present, and their past conversations about a fan fiction they wrote together in high school. I loved the fan fiction element, and I thought it was a great way to add depth to their relationship, and an insight to them when they were younger. There was some cameos from the other Primas of Power, and a lot of crazy, too involved family.
This story was super adorable, and will have you grinning while you read. I didn’t feel like it was very angsty, but it was two people who use their time together to let down walls and reevaluate their lives, making changes for the better.

The spice in this book is not fade to black. There was descriptive scenes, but it did not get overly derogatory, and I felt it was an organic part of the story and their passion for each other without being too much or overly frequent.

⭐️4.5/5
🌶2.25

Thank You Netgalley, and Harper Collins for the ARC for an honest review.