Member Reviews
I absolutely loved this one! And I may have even liked it more than West Side Love Story. This story was spicy! You could feel the sexual tension between Catalina and Patricio on every page. I definitely need more books from the Capuleta sisters because this has become a new favorite series.
I absolutely adored this book and can’t wait for it to hit the shelves! I felt like I was watching a telenovela, in the best way possible. Catalina is on tour with Mariachi heartthrob Patricio Galán… and let me tell you, he certainly IS a galán.
This book just didn’t get all the way there for me. I think the Spanish was integrated in a way that felt clunky and unnatural to me - one of my pet peeves is someone saying something in the non-English language and then repeating themselves in English, which never feels like something people actually do, and this book falls prey to that. And while I really liked Cat and Patricio as separate characters, I didn’t always buy their chemistry. It’s meant to be kind of a forbidden romance, but I think Cat’s reasons are flimsy, and Patricio is all in on her from day one (which I do love). This would have been 4 stars for me, but the ending is a ridiculous miscommunication, and that knocked it down to three stars for me.
This was the first ever book I read by this author and I have to say I enjoyed it immensely! The sense of family, the love of food and the love of music was so well brought to life. The romance had me from the moment it got going, which is always important! The story didn’t fall into any cliches that would have bothered me, it was just a sweet sort of enemies-to-lovers story which put a big smile on my face!
Kiss Me, Catalina is the perfect follow up to West Side Love Story. Catalina is a fierce and confident woman who is determined to make a name for herself (and her family) and to pave the way for other women in the male dominated world of mariachis. There is only one man standing in her way and it is none other than mariachi superstar Patricio Galán. As they are sent on tour together they must learn how to work together and how to remain professional when they both seem to catch feelings for the other,
This passionate love story is the perfect blend of romance and comedy. The chemistry between the musicians is fire and the writing is top notch. Fingers crossed for another Capuleta love story in the future!
I really enjoyed this book! Kiss Me, Catalina had lovable characters, I was super hooked by the plot, and it was truly the perfect escape. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I got started, I couldn't put it down.
I absolutely loved loved loved Kiss Me, Catalina! The characters? CHEF'S KISS! Absolutely loved Catalina and Patricio. I really loved that while this was an easygoing read but was still so full of thought provoking ideas! The insertion of music was so so much fun the writing itself was so lovely. This definitely wasn't my last read by Priscilla Oliveras! :)
A Mariachi romance?!?! Yes please! Catalina Capuleta is a fierce leader of the all girl Mariachi group Las Nubes. When they win a battle of the bands competition she is thrown into the spotlight and receives recognition from THE infamous Patricio Galan. She is hired to co write with Patricio for creative inspiration. While Catalina is excited for this opportunity she will not let the machismo Mariachi culture dampen her rise to the top.
I love love love that this story is set in my home state of Texas more specifically San Antonio. It’s always fun to read a book and know the exact context of the setting. I also really love Mariachi music because it reminds me so much of my Papo Rey (aka my grandfather). Need less to say the nostalgia the book gave me was chef’s kiss. My only issue was the slow burn because the steam doesn’t hit until about 80% in. If you’re looking for a slow burn romance with Mexican American culture and music check this one out.
I'm so happy I got to read this before it hit the shelves (even if this review comes rather late) and to discover this cute series!
The romance feels like a telenovela in best way possibile! The characters, both main and side, are perfect and super lovable, the plot is convincing and realistic.
I'll be back for more! <3
The story of Catalina and Patricio. They are both mariachi, and she is on tour with him. She is supposed to be also helping him with songs for his new album, but he has other plans, so what will happen when she learns the truth?
A great read, and good to learn about something i had no knowledge of previously.
Kiss Me, Catalina is a slow-burn romance with a not-so-subtle pinch of forced proximity, inspired by passion and packed with the delightful tension and drama of a Telenovela. And it’s a must-read for those who love music, romance blooming on the road, and fierce female leads!
I adored the chemistry and charged tension Oliveras captured between Catalina and Patricio. Their passion, their dreams, the cheeky banter, and even their wounds; It captured everything realistically and collided with the perfect tease that kept those pages turning.
The acknowledgment of a woman’s uphill battle in a male-dominated industry was something that I admired and expressed Cat’s journey and determination well. She was fiery, passionate, and bold, and I found her confidence to be inspiring as she continued to pave her way into this world of Mariachi. Her stubbornness was equally met in Patricio and, paired with the drive they both exhibited and an understanding they shared, made for a perfect match in which they pushed one another to be the best they could be, on and off the stage. Neither was without their flaws or mistakes, but these made them more likable and relatable to the audience. And those moments stolen behind the scenes during their Puerto Vallarta getaway - magnificent!
The incorporated Spanish and the clever method by which the translations wove into the surrounding text created an immersive and enjoyable experience of the Latinx culture, complimented beautifully by Oliveras’ voice and perspective.
Passionate flames and the embers of a love unstoppable burned within this fierce performance, and I can already see how Cat will go on inspiring and empowering many through this beautiful collaboration of music, family, and tradition, and the art it creates when combined.
I received an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley and Montlake, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Kiss Me, Catalina brings all the heat and humor that readers expect from a Priscilla Oliveras novel!
In Kiss Me, Catalina, rising mariachi star Catalina gets the career break she's been waiting for. Catalina is a no-nonsense mariachi player who is willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top-- even if that means working with Patricio Galan's arrogant self. These two butt heads during their tour together, but could it be because they are too similar? As they spend more and more time on their road trip together their relationship deepens. The only question is can they make it last?
I burn, I pine, I perish
I was sent an advanced copy in exchange of my honest opinion
First of all, no manches! Priscilla, qué pedo? This story omg, I can’t even explain
I am from a town so close to the border that going to Texas was like breathing and all the references to this state that I also call home had me swooning and laughing so much
You can’t get over the fact that I am also a sucker for enemies to lovers stories and this delivered… alpha-hole? you got it
I couldn’t help to imagine Patricio like a young Alejandro Fernandez
Thank you for this
Gracias, de veras
I was excited to see another book with the Capuleta family was coming out and it did not disappoint! Catalina is a strong and fierce woman who is trying to make a place for herself in the male dominated world of Mariachi music. I enjoy reading about the Mariachi music world and the in-depth look at touring as described in detail. Catalina and Patricio have quite the chemistry and it made this story fast-paced. Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
At first I was super into this story but after a while all the pining got to me. I liked the natural infusion of Spanish. It made it a more interesting read. Even though they both were in the same business and had issues with family I didn’t see much else they connected on. We don’t get to see much of their interaction on stage which I was hoping for. I wanted to see Catalina push her way into his world and shake things up but I’d say that was minimal. They mostly bickered but I wasn’t feeling any deeper bond through their conversations.. Overall, it was just an okay read. I’d still others read it but it didn’t stand out to me.
Kiss Me, Catalina is a cute, albeit formulaic contemporary romance set in the world of mariachi music. Catalina goes on tour with Patricio and their chemistry ignites. This is a second part of a series and I’ll admit, I should have read the first one as I was definitely missing some pieces from it. I did love the background of Mexican culture and mariachi music. Overall, it was a cute romance and if you read and liked the first book, you will probably like this one as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for this eARC. Kiss Me, Catalina is out now.
Over the summer, I was introduced to Priscilla Oliveras’ writing through West Side Love Story. I fell in love with the sisters’ Mariachi Las Nubes band through Mariana and Antonio’s story. With Kiss Me Catalina, it was so fun revisiting the mariachi world again with Cat and Patricio! Cat is a fiery and talented singer-songwriter, who knows what she wants and will not settle for less than her own worth. Patricio is struggling – not only creatively for his next album but also living in the shadows of his talented mariachi father – and invites Catalina to tour with him and write new music. Patricio and Cat both have rules to protect their hearts, but their chemistry is palpable both on stage and off and has them both questioning if there is more to life than running away from their pasts and chasing the limelight.
While I enjoyed the book, there were parts where I felt like I wasn’t as engaged in the story and other times when moments felt rushed, including the ending which didn’t feel fully resolved. With that said, I think this book was a lot of fun to read and Priscilla Oliveras writes captivating characters in her Latinx romance novels. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really love how Oliveras has used Maríachi as the theme for this series. It is a unique and fresh opportunity to share culture and romance.
If you like slow burn then this is the book for you. It actually was slower than I expected, but at least there were sparks throughout.
There was a fair amount of family drama in this story. I actually felt like it was really realistic but at times felt a little overpowering.
Overall a great continuation of the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Priscilla Oliveras comes back strong with a rockstar romance, mariachi-style in Kiss Me, Catalina.
Where I felt like book 1 sometimes lagged, Kiss Me, Catalina serves up snappier pacing and a little more steam than Priscilla usually writes. I loved the chemistry and dynamic between Cat and Patricio -- we shouldn't-we shouldn't-we shouldn't, to hell with it, we should. The 3rd act conflict finally hits pretty late (in the 90% range) making the super quick forgiveness a bit of a stretch. But I can't be mad -- the ending is :chefs kiss.
Both Catalina have issues with their dads -- Cat's with her bio dad who abandoned her and her sister, Patricio's with his mariachi superstar father who's a bit of a narcissist. There's some progress for both of them, but I appreciated that years held resentments weren't all magically resolved overnight.
The second installment here surpasses the first and for sure, I'll be back for book 3.
CW: Bio dad abandoned his kids, narcissist parent
ay dios mío!! que libro tan hermoso. what a beautiful book!! i'm not gonna lie, i definitely let the cover sway me on this read, but it was so good! i fell in love with the capuleta sisters and their mariachi band in west side love story. i was so excited for catalina & patricio's book! it was just *chef's kiss* 🥰 i obviously loved the representation of mexican culture. 🇲🇽❤️ but most of all, i loved the important discussions on machismo (toxic masculinity) in the latinx community. oh and of course the español weaved into the books with subtle translations for non-spanish speakers. taming of the shrew adaptations are always some of my favorites so i'm not even shocked i'm obsessed with this book. 😂😅 definitely will be talking about this book until further notice