GREAT CHARACTERS IN A PREDICTABLE STORY

I was so ready to like this. Especially because Cat really excited me. I loved how fiery, confident, self-assured and dedicated she was. She fought to break the glass ceiling and give women a place in mariachi music. And Patricio was so supportive of her and her goals, it was really nice to experience. But the overall story was just predictable and slightly flat. I wasn't swept away - not even a bit. So while the characters really thrilled me, I need more than that to enjoy a book.

Romance, mariachi, and Shakespeare echos. Catalina and Patricio are both talented and now they are on tour together. It's a slow burn romance between two people are trying not to succumb to their feeling but, well, you know what's going to happen. Know that there are Spanish phrases (all easily understandable in context). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Definitely not school friendly, but one to recommend to my teacher friends! Telenovellas in book form have been a love of mine since reading You Had Me at Hold and West Side Story Love. For fans of Shakespeare and slow burns

4 stars! Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is such a good story! I really enjoyed the characters. The banter and the joking made me smile! I love the women in the male dominated mariachi music industry.

Cat is such a strong character and I love the relationship she had with her sisters. You can tell how much she truly cared for her sisters and the Capuletas! Every part related her breaking out on her own music journey was so good and I love how she didn’t step down. She knew exactly what she wanted and she didn’t let anything get in her way!

Every scene with Cat and Patricio was so sweet! My heart hurt reading about Patricio’s dad but I liked how supportive and encouraging Cat was❤️ they were so good and supportive together and it made me smile when Patricio found his muse. The music started coming back to him 🥹

The storyline did feel a little repetitive at times but still this was a cute story!

Cute read about a strong, sassy, and talented female mariachi who gets the chance to tour with her mariachi hero, the gorgeous and talented Patricio. Of course, sparks fly, both romantically and musically, but the two work hard to stay focused on the job at hand. We'll see how long that lasts. ;)

I'm going to be honest, I've never read Taming of the Shrew, so I can't compare this story to that one, but this one was an enjoyable meeting of two solid individuals who each can complete the other's life in positive ways... (Which makes the whole breakup thing a bit annoying, but....) Kiss Me, Catalina is written by an Own Voice author and has spicy closed door action. I received an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to give. My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley.
#KissMeCatalina

Priscilla Oliveras has a way of creating Latinx that are relatable. Kiss Me, Catalina captures the essence of mariachi music and how these romantic songs will help you fall in love.

WARNING: please get ready to board the unpopular opinion train again!!

Well... Shoot. I sure didn't expect to be in this situation back when I added Kiss Me, Catalina to my shelves, because the premise sounded like music to my ears. The focus on mariachi culture and music, the concert tour and the promise of two strong and passionate characters and sparks flying seemed like a perfect match, and I fully expected to have a great time with this book. Especially since I enjoy reading stories with latinx influences in the first place... But in the end sadly this story ended up being a total dud for me. I'll try to explain briefly why.

First of all, I do have to say that I still love the premise of this story. The focus on Mexican and mariachi culture is a true pleasure to have, and it's probably the only reason I kept reading. There were many references to mariachi music and culture as well as Mexican culture in general, and I liked the focus on the importance of family as well as the descriptions of Mexican food. There is also quite a lot of Spanish incorporated into the plot, giving the characters a more authentic feel. As a Spanish philologist, I usually love the incorporation of Spanish in my stories, but I do have to say that there was something about the use here that didn't work as well for me. The use itself wasn't incorrect or anything, but the switches felt too random at times and I also think readers without any knowledge of the Spanish language will struggle to understand everything just relying on the context.

One of my main issues was probably with the main characters though. I have to confess that I didn't like Catalina AT ALL. She came over as extremely arrogant and having to spend time seeing the world through her eyes became very frustrating very soon. The whole feminist rant all the time about the mariachi world being too macho got old fast as well... However right she might be about things. I also couldn't care less about the male lead Patricio, and there was just something about their connection and interactions that felt off. I just never bought their romance, our at least I wasn't invested to see where things would lead.

I also struggled considerably with the writing itself. There was just something about the writing style and tone that irked me so much that I came close to DNFing more than once. Not only the 'forced' sassy tone, but also the seemingly random Spanish words thrown in as well as the awkward similes and metaphors used. And then I'm not even talking about the extremely cringeworthy descriptions of the attraction between Catalina and Patricio and what they would like to do to each other... Which mostly made me feel like I wanted to vomit instead of rooting them on. I confess that I started skimreading way before the halfway mark, and I probably should have just thrown in the towel instead.

I know that I'm in the minority when it comes to this one, because most people seem to love Kiss Me, Catalina. It's probably simply not the right fit for me, but I decided to throw in my two cents just in case I'm not the only one struggling with this story. Definitely don't give up on my account if you think this story could be for you though! I blame my fickle reading mood.

Witty banter, shameless flirting and a growing fondness would definitely describe the relationship with Catalina and Patricio. I really enjoyed reading their story. Watching them both grow and become closer. Wanting to take care of each other while protecting themselves.

I love when authors put a new twist on Shakespeare and this is what Priscilla Oliveras has done in her Queens of Mariachi series. Taming of the Shrew is one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies and I loved the first book in the series, West Side Love Story, so I was very excited to read this book. It can be read as a stand alone, but we first meet the two MCs in WSLS, and that where we first see the animosity start between them.

They both antagonize each other, but they need each other. Catalina's dream is to be a singer/songwriter and touring with and writing with Patricio will help her career. Patricio is having a severe case of writer's block and needs her help. Catalina uses humor as a defense mechanism, so there's A LOT of banter, which I love.

The more they're together, the more their walls come down and they realize their true feelings. They want each other, but Cat doesn't want anyone to think she got on tour by using Patricio. She's made a name for herself, not needing anyone, especially a man who reminds her of the birth father who abandoned her and her sister. She doesn't want her or her sister to be involved with someone like their father, who was also a Mariachi. Patricio doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, also a Mariachi, who slept around with his back up singers.

Overall, I loved it. It definitely has the Taming of the Shrew vibe, but the author has successfully made it her own and has fit it into this world. If you've read the Shakespeare play or have watched 10 Things I Hate About You, you'll see some quotes and "Eater Eggs". The names of the other Capuleta sisters are similar to those of other Shakespeare heroines, so I'm excited to see what comes next.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

4.5 Stars

Enemies to lovers, slow burn, popstar romance that has sexual tension and banter in spades.

Catalina is coming off from the high of winning the Mariachi competition with her sisters and has been signed by a label. She joins pop sensation Patricio Galan on tour to help him get past writers block for his next album. Writing with Patricio proves to be difficult, tensions are high in all senses, will they give in to the desire building between them?

The banter and sexual tension in this book had me sweating. Cat is so feisty and independent and Patricio had no chance against her. The complicated family relationships really gave this story substance. How supportive Cat and Patricio are of each other and how no matter what they have the others back made me melt.

I went into this book not having read the previous one, so my background of Catalina, her family, and band was nothing. I was extremely lost for the first few chapters, but after reading on into the book, I began to immerse myself into the story of Cat and Patricio.

I didn’t like Patricio at first, but I grew to understand and like his character. If that was the author’s intention, she did her job. Unfortunately, I never really connected with Catalina. I emphasized with her, but I just didn’t care for her.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kiss Me, Catalina is like watching your favorite cozy telenovela while wrapped up in your favorite fluffy blanket, with a plate of nachos and a warm drink. A cute, unique romance.

Kiss Me, Catalina is set to be published on November 1, 2022. Thank you to Montlake, NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

DNF at 15%

As a Shakespeare nerd and a lover of romance books, I fully expected to love Kiss Me, Catalina. However, as I began reading it, it became clear to me that I wanted a lot more than this book had to give. I understand that it is not the easiest thing to adapt Taming of the Shrew for a 21st century audience, but there was so much potential for a prime enemies-to-lovers storyline here that just was not hitting for me. I'm not sure if it is a case of there having been exposition to this couple in the first book that I missed, but this Taming adaptation was just too tame and slow for my taste.

Ms Oliveras is a new-to-me author, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up. The cover is cute, and drew my attention and when I read the blurb, I definitely became interested in reading it. I was not disappointed! The story was cute, fun, and flirty with just the right amount of spice. It does include a bit of bilingual writing, so it also gave me a chance to brush up a bit on my Spanish! I loved Cat's character, she had a lot of spunk and was not afraid to stand up for herself. Patricio was arrogant and demanding and was definitely not easy on her, but Cat was up to the challenge. The two complemented each other so well artistically and it was so great to see them together in their element. The chemistry really sizzled between them, and even with this closed door romance the spice was definitely strong!
The author does a great job of immersing you in the Latin culture, not overly much, but enough to get a real feel for the story and the characters. Cat and Patricio's dynamic was great and I enjoyed watching their relationship blossom. This was an enjoyable read and I hope to read more by this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

thank you to the author and the publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

it was sooooo cute and fun!!! had me giggling and all shit! i adore how their interaction is so flirtatious and entertaining. kiss me, catalina centers on catalina capuleta and renowned mariachi musician, patricio galán (also known as el prinicpe). both of them have musical talent, and when catalina is given the chance to collaborate with patricio on creating songs for his next albums, she feels as though all of her efforts are finally paying off. during their travels and time spent together, catalina and patricio discover much more than they had anticipated. i love how brave and respectful patricio is. not in an unlikable way, he was flirtatious and a little haughty. it was impossible not to support them both individually and collectively because of how sweetly they interacted. the series has a strong family at its center and is quite culturally diverse, incorporating both mariachi and mexican traditions. the capuleta sisters and these swoon-worthy males will be featured in subsequent books, which I can't wait to read.

The slow burn tension between the main characters, set amidst the glitz and glamour of the music industry makes for a seriously fun romp through the world of mariachi. Both Catalina and Patricio are working their way through long held beliefs about family and trust, as they learn how to love each other well. Priscilla Oliveras’ books often center around the ties that bind, and with a little nod to Shakespeare, Kiss me, Catalina does not disappoint! Thanks to #NetGalley and Montlake publishing for my gifted ARC!

Catalina and Patricio light up every page of this book with their passion, their humor, their devotion, their warmth, and their love. They shared a great love of music and performing, but they also shared disappointment and conflicting feelings for their fathers. How the sparks flew between these two! Whether they were writing music, singing duets, fighting, or loving, there was never a doubt that what they had was fiery and filled with longing and heart. My heart fluttered time and time again with these two!! I adored the first book about the Capuleta sisters, West Side Love Story; I was captivated by this story; dare I hope that there will be more books featuring this wonderful family?!

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I really liked the dynamic between the two main characters. I do think that the thing with her dad at the end was underdeveloped but I had a fun time.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I enjoyed this book more than the first one in the series and that has a lot to do with Cat!! She is one of my favorite leading ladies!! Her fierce attitude won me over immediately! This book definitely had all of the mariachi love and more that we had in the first book since the leading man is in the entertainment industry but this story was also a lot more original.

I really enjoyed how it delved into Cat's and Patricio's past with their fathers not only to show their similarities and how it has affected them their whole lives but also on how they've done their work to move past it. The character development shows them ultimately having to move past it in order to move on with their lives in the end without necessarily having to forgive their fathers for their indiscretions.

It was a beautiful love story, a very original story, there was some angsty scenes but it wasn't such a slow burn as I was expecting which was a good thing, sometimes those just go on forever. Again Oliveras did a great job with this one.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, as always all words are my own.

Kiss Me, Catalina is Priscilla Oliveras’ next fantastic mariachi romance. It’s a wonderful opponents to friends to lovers story with a slow burn and a completely satisfying HEA.

4.5/5 stars

Catalina Capuleta is writing songs and touring with the famous Patricio Galán after her family’s all female mariachi ensemble won the battle of the bands. She is excited for the opportunity, but is skeptical about leaving her close knit family and working with the patriarchy that rules traditional mariachi music. Patricio is struggling with writer’s block, issues with his famous dad, and his increasing attraction to Cat. Now that the two are working and touring together, will their undeniable pull grow stronger? And if it does, will it hurt Cat’s burgeoning career?

I really enjoyed this story! Cat and Patricio are both strong, stubborn and likable characters. They both make mistakes, but they always have good intentions. It’s also clear that the image Patricio presents to world is very different than his reality.

There is also a massive attraction beneath their banter and bickering, and the forced proximity of touring makes it tough to ignore. This book is a very slow burn, which I sometimes find frustrating. But, it makes sense for these characters who put their careers above everything else lives.

And, an additional thank you to Priscilla Oliveras for introducing me to the world of mariachi music, which I didn’t know much about. Kiss Me, Catalina is a follow up to West Side Love Story, but both interpretations of famous stories (Taming of the Shrew/Kiss Me, Kate and Romeo and Juliet/West Side Story, of course) can easily be read as stand alones.

I adored Kiss Me, Catalina. Cat and Patricio are strong characters who care about their found familia and mariachi music. It’s a slow burn, and their chemistry makes this fantastic romance a winner.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.