In that moment I wanted to tell her. That I'd do anything for her. That I loved her. That I'd loved her probably since I'd laid eyes on here. I wished I could remake the world so nothing bad ever touched her. So nothing bad ever happened in her life to make her think that she deserved anything less than the entire world at her feet."

Alba Duarte has reached her tipping point. As the eldest daughter in Dominican, New York family, she carries the responsibility of being there to balance out the constant chaos. Between working her dream job designing rooms that are inspired by books, and working as a PA to the pain in the a** Theo Ganas, something has to give.

Alba is ready to finally put all of herself into her dream of being a full time bookish decorator and take off to Texas for a much needed break. Except when her vacation opens some big doors that could push her dream in the right direction, she's not returning to New York for finish off her two weeks. Life was finally looking like it was working in her favor, so she really didn't expect to see her grumpy ex boss in Texas of all places. Worst of all, he's come with an offer she can't really turn down.

I AM HEAD OVER HEALS FOR THEO GANAS AND ALBA DUARTE!! The enemies-to-lovers is just *chefs kiss*. Theo is an absolute bag of d**** at the beginning, but once you get to that first Theo POV chapter you're like okay yes yep I'm in love. I am an absolute sucker for that long term secret pining/ he falls first.

I love both of them. Alba is everything you love in your leading lady. She is head strong, and driven to succeed while still loving her family and culture. Reading her lean into her dreams and do something for herself after being the support system for her family for so long made me sooo proud. And Theo, sweet sweet sexy Theo, wanted nothing more than to be there for her and help her reach her dreams. Nothing better than a love interest that is there to be unconditional support for their counter part.

The forced proximity was excellent and my god does Adriana Herrera turn up the heat. I think I was actually blushing while reading this. Despite the long term bickering and Alba's general irritation toward Theo, there is undeniable chemistry and underlying feelings between the two. Theo is the right type of persistent and patient when it comes to winning her over.

Loved this book so much!! I loved being able to read about our "Gotham Exiles" from the first book, Here to Stay. I am such a fan of books that have strong female leads with ambitions and career focus, but also good ties to their family and culture. Adriana Herrera delivers a hilarious, swoony, steamy, satisfying and heart warming romance.

Thank you Netgalley, Adriana Herrera, and Carina Trade for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

↠ 5 stars

WOW! Go out and get yourself this book asap!! I am obsessed with Alba and Theo!!! I love them! I also want to be friends with this found family. They are just so tight knit and always there for each other. It's just what makes this book beyond perfect.

Leaving New York Alba realized she's able to finally realize her own passions and dreams, she comes to the realization that she doesn't want to go back. Theo finally realizes he can admit he's in love with her. When he arrives in Dallas he feels lighter and it's not just because of Alba it's because he also can follow in Alba's footsteps and pursue his own passions.

These are 2 perfectly flawed human beings but Alba is so relatable because the immigrant struggle is real, code switching is real and I really liked how it was highlighted in the book. Theo needed to be needed and Alba just needed to let go and have someone take care of her.

Thank you Net Galley/ Carina Press for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review as always all words are my own.

I am soooo thankful that I decided to go back to this story and give it another chance. I started with the Preview version of this book (first 5 chapters) from NetGalley and I had decided to not finish it after reading the first 3 chapters. But, the author already planted the seed in my head and had me wondering what in the world was Alba going to get into after quitting her job in NY and moving to Texas.

Give this book a first and even a second chance - you’ll fall in love with a Theo just like I did!

Enemies to lovers rom-com perfection! The main characters Alba and Theo are smart, driven, and HOT. The ancillary characters are fleshed out just the right amount and help to round out the story beautifully. The author did a wonderful job pacing the story, too.

I want to read this again.

10/10 definitely recommend!

On the hustle, has it's lead character Apna as the hustler. She's a girl with too many eggs in her basket on top of having sizzling hots simmering under her breath for her Boss.

This is a hot, hot, hot story with some explosive chemistry between the lead pair and a generous sprinkling of sweet and filthy nothings in Spanish.

This was such a fun read! Loved switching perspectives from Alba and Theo, and loved getting to know the characters! This was a really refreshing take on tropes that can sometimes lag. I would definitely seek out other titles from this author.

On the Hustle by Adriana Herrera follows Alba Duarte, an up-and-coming interior designer, and Theo Ganas, real estate magnate, former Olympic swimmer, and her former boss, as they host an interior design show... and inevitably fall in love.

There is a lot to love about On the Hustle: the chemistry between Alba and Theo, the confection of a book boyfriend that is Theo Ganas, and of course, Bookish Boudoirs, which is such an incredible idea that I truly hope exists in real life.

That said, this is one of those "enemies" to lovers romances where it's very clear to the reader from the beginning that there's no real reason these characters are enemies. In the first third, whenever Alba and Theo talk, Theo just doesn't seem as objectionable as Alba makes him -- she will get mad about things that seem reasonable -- and it made me root for them a lot less, despite their chemistry. This also makes the novel feel as if it's slow to get going, because their "enemies" time feels perfunctory.

All around, though, this is an enjoyable novel that fans of Adriana Herrera should not miss.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

"She looked so fucking tired. Like the weight of the world was on her chest, and I wanted to take it all from her. Take off every brick she carried on her back and smash them into a million pieces."

Alba Duarte chooses to spread herself thin. She's always hard at work and puts 100% of her time and attention into everything she does, including her time as Theo Ganas' personal assistant. The grumpy, scowly real estate heir that she's worked for the past 3 years isn't her preferred cup of coffee, but she can definitely appreciate him and his Olympian swimmer body from afar.

In order to finally dive headfirst into her bookish-themed interior design business, Alba has to quit her job with Theo. The demanding, knit-picky boss she's learned to work for has nothing to say after she puts in her two weeks, labeling her as "easy to replace" and sends her off with no well-wishes after 3 years of hard work.

After some much needed time off, Alba's weeklong vacation in Texas to visit her best friend is extended, as she's been offered a temporary position to renovate a library. After fully quitting her personal assistant job, the last person she ever expected to see in Texas is Theo, with an offer to be the designer on a renovation show. As they spend time together, Alba learns that she much prefers Texas-Theo over his cold demeanor as her boss.

BE STILL, MY BEATING HEART. I love Alba and Theo. I feel like my ass was struck by Cupid. This enemies-to-lovers story was everything I needed it to be and MORE.

Alba is such a queen. Such a FANTASTIC, strong-willed, go-getter that wanted to succeed for everyone in her life. She felt the constant need to be there for/take care of everyone at all times. Reading her character growth was so special, as she learned to put herself and her own happiness first for a change.

I loved Theo being in it for the long haul to win Alba's affection, knowing he had to remain professional and distant while she was still working for him. ALL this man wanted to do was take care of Alba and be the one she relied on. I ATE! THAT! UP! ✨✨

I ADORED this book. THE DATING IN DALLAS SERIES IS SO MUCH FUN. I highly recommend reading the first book to get the full effect, but this can definitely be read as a stand-alone! If you're looking for a book filled to the brim with QUALITY banter, amazing character development, coffee snobbery, and bookish appreciation, look no further!

RATING: 50000 out of 5

Adriana did not come to play!!!!!! THEO GANAS has me on a chokehold. The way he ate up Alba every other chapter and worshipped the ground she walked on was sexy AF. The pool, the kitchen counter, the shed, the massage table .. whew!! Alba’s character and personality was so relatable for me. The immigrant grind is hard and is something that can eat us up. I wish Bookish Boudoir was a real business because it sounds brilliant. I loved the way Alba eventually opened up to Theo and came to realizations about the way she’s carried so much on her plate for so many year. Albas dialogue and banter with Theo was absolutely everything! I loved being back with the Dallas crew. This will be one of the best releases this fall!

I loved this book! Theo and Alba were everything! I loved that Alba’s defenses never scared him off or changed his thoughts on her. Their chemistry was electric! The pool scene is one of my favorites. I loved getting a second look at Julia and Rocco and the other friends.

I am obsessed with Alba and Theo's relationship - They are relationship goals.

Alba has dreams and she is unable to achieve those while being Theo's assistant - she hates working for the cold Theo but why is she hesitant to take this step - it cant b Theo

meanwhile, Theo is waiting for the right moment to make a move on Alba - he's had a thing for her since their first meeting

I was absorbed in Alba and her determination to make her dreams come true. Her insecurities and need to please is working against her in the past with relationships and Theo seems to be a whole new person and she has feelings to work through

Theo needs to take care of Alba. He is struggling to find a balance between his feelings and helping Alba with her process.

It was great reading these two find each other and the spicy scene was fire. This will be a re-read for me in the future.

Excuse me as I go back and read book number 1

This book made me realize that I don't like grumpy-sunshine dynamics in books. This is the second book I've read from the author with this trope/dynamics and the way the grumpy character was written, they were just plain on rude and irredeemable in my eyes. Theo doesn't have any personality aside from being a grumpy and rude person and Alba was just a chaotic character who thirsts after Theo despite him treating her like piece of shit. There's no chemistry between them and I don't get why they liked each other in the end. This one is also heavy on description and paragraphs of just unimportant things that could've been cut or written

I received an eARC from NetGalley and Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. Alba Duarte is going to quit her job. She is finally jumping into her passion project, designing bookish rooms, with both feet. The only thing standing in her way is her uptight, perfectionist, former Olympian, gorgeous boss, Theo Ganas. Now she’s in Dallas, taking a break from her New York life, with a new opportunity to give her business more visibility. The last thing she expects is Theo flying in, pitching a reality tv that puts her spot of visibility on steroids. But the Theo she knew seems to have stayed in New York. Who is this Dallas Theo? This fun, flirty, kind man who she barely recognizes. Now that his cold demeanor is gone, how long can she deny the attraction she feels?

I was so excited to get this book and it did not disappoint, five stars is not enough! Herrera writes wonderful characters. Alba is a strong, independent, driven woman. She puts everyone before herself. She doesn’t need someone to swoop in and save her, but she might need a cheerleader. I love the Latinx representation in both Alba and Theo, the little bits of Spanish sprinkled throughout. Theo is the man I never knew I always wanted. I don’t want to give anything away other than to say he has a way with words, and my new love language may be food. This book captured me from the start and while I couldn’t stop reading I didn’t want it to end. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys workplace romance, forced proximity, Latinx reads, and steamy novels. But honestly, I’d recommend this to everyone.

Fun well written book! Couldn't put it down and loved the characters and the romance between them.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own

On the Hustle is the 2nd book in the Dating in Dallas series and just like the first book, Here to Stay, I was immediately sucked in and couldn't stop reading. This book follows Julia's best friend, Alba, and her love interest Theo. Theo is Alba's stern, inflexible, frowny boss, at least for the first few chapters. She quits to pursue burgeoning business opportunities in design and it's then that when we discover some hidden truths. Truth #1: Unbeknownst to Alba, Theo has had the hots for since basically day 1. Truth #2: Alba definitely has the hots for him but is in total denial because he was such a dick when he was her boss. Truth #3: He's not really a dick; he just tried to enforce boundaries and be respectful. And Truth 4: Alba has some serious trust and work/life balance issues. One by one these truths are revealed and it all happens in Dallas where Julia and her wonderful and hilarious friends can witness it all go down.



Alba is fantastically stubborn, which makes watching her resist the Theo so much fun. She really wants to keep him the box that she'd built around him in NYC: a hot, dickish, boring, by the book, by the minute boss. As he charms her and accommodates her and shows her who he really is, she's flummoxed by him and wants to resist him but just can't seem to. It's his move to Dallas to help her (and, honestly, his family's company), his openly friendly demeanor with her friends, his support on their job site and of her passions that are impossible to ignore; and who'd want to? It's while he's doing everything to show her who he is, and also trying to make a new path for himself that we also get to see how overloaded Alba is. She almost never refuses a job, no matter how busy she is. She rarely sleeps, somehow churns out great work, and is admired by everyone (...except one dickwad--you'll see, and he's such an a-hole). It's in Theo's concern for her running herself ragged that Alba has some very real conversations about privilege and power and why she does and puts up with the things she does. I appreciated Herrera making a point to show those aspects of the hustle life and the choices that Alba made to make her passions her full time job.



I enjoyed all aspects of this novel: Alba's creative projects, Theo's relationship with his step-mother, Alba's fierceness and ambition, Theo's drive to make the world a better place, every interaction with Julia & Co, the teasing, the hotter than hot sex scenes (so hot!), and I even liked the conflicts and how they were resolved. I am loving this series and hope there are more novels to come.

On the Hustle is an enemies to lovers romance, but more than that, it goes from 0 to 100 on the spiciness. For two people that have worked together for years, aspiring interior designer Alba Duarte and former Olympian and real estate mogul Theo Ganas have barely been able to keep their chemistry hidden from each other. It takes a change of scenery, some new job opportunities, and a group of supportive friends, to make them realize what they had been missing (with a move from New Year City to Dallas). I adored reading about Alba's burgeoning bookish design business (what reader wouldn't???) and seeing some familiar faces from the first entry in the Dating in Dallas series, and can't wait for future entries. I devour absolutely everything Herrera writes! Thanks to NetGalley for the early review copy, all opinions are my own.

I discovered Adriana Herrera last year when I came across Here to Stay. It was one of the best books I read last year, so I was excited that she had written a long awaited second book in the Dating in Dallas series.

First and foremost, Adriana Herrera is really good at writing strong women and nice guys with dirty mouths.

Alba (Julia's bestie from Here to Stay) has been working her behind off for three years so that she can start her own interior design business. Theo is her boss and is gone for her, but has wanted to keep it professional, so he distances himself from her. When an opportunity arises in Dallas for Alba, she quits before Theo can tell her how he actually feels about her. Theo is determined to tell her, so he ends up meddling his way into her life so that they're forced to be in close proximity for 4-6 weeks.

I love books where the MMC falls first because I love the pining. Alba thinks the Dallas version of Theo is a completely different Theo than she's used to and over time gets to know the real him. Theo really had to put in the work with Alba. He needed to prove that he's someone she can count on and that he wants her, chaos and all. Alba is too busy taking trying to get her company off the ground and taking care of everyone else, back at home, that she's not ready for a relationship, especially from her former boss she thinks isn't interested in her.

Prepare yourselves for a spicy one. Their sexual tension and chemistry was fire and the flirtatious banter was hot. I thought I loved Rocco from Here to Stay, but Theo just pushed him out of the top spot. Dirty talk in Spanish is not something I knew I needed, but I am here for it!

This is one of the best books I've read this year. If you haven't started this series, you need to. I am becoming a huge fan of Herrera's.

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

5 Stars

This. Book. I don't even think I can post a coherent review for this because it was EVERYTHING. I love Adriana Herrera as is but this? THIS? A masterpiece. I started swooning at 2% in and could not put it down. A fierce, hustling, bisexual Dominican Woman who doesn't wear size 0 and does bookish design make overs? This was everything I needed in life. Alba is probably one of my very favourite characters I have ever read and I love her something fierce. I am also such a sucker for heroes who fall in love first as well and reading Theo's POV was delicious. The amount of pining just made me giggly and happy, as did this whole book. As always, the writing style is impeccable, the characters beyond lovable, I want to live in this world with these characters forever. Side note: the fact that this doesn't end with children but a pack of dogs made me happier than is decent.

Rated 4.5 Stars

On The Hustle was a great read. I loved it. It was an absolute treat and a joy to read this story. I loved the characters both main and secondary, the relationship dynamics, the banter between Alba and Theo, their chemistry. It just all worked for me. I’m definitely looking forward to more of these characters. I highly recommend it.

* Received a copy for review.*.
This book hits so many sweet spots.
Theo is a 1/2 Dominican 1/2 Greek former Olympian who is set to take over his fathers real estate empire. He has had a thing fir his PA for years. Now that she’s leaving his employ, he is ready to make his move.
Alba is a strong, determined Donovan goddess. She has been working 3 jobs while she tries to chase her dream. She’s ready to step into building her own design firm and leave her sexy, asshole boss behind.
I loved that Theo is so together but is a big dumb dummy when it comes to Alba. He is head over heels for her and is all in from the start. Both have family baggage. The sexual tension is off the charts.
I loved both of them. I loved watching them dance around one another. This book is full of found family without losing family of origin. It is not exactly a slow burn. It’s a simmer that when it boils is fire.