4.5 stars

This series keeps getting better and better. The author has woven such a rich tapestry with not only the Vega family but their whole community. Of course, my love of this story was helped by the knowledge from previous books that Sofi and Leo had a secret love story and I wanted to know more. This book can be read as a standalone, but even if you can’t read them in order I would suggest you read them all. As I said, the world being built is bright and beautiful.

Both of these characters are stubborn. So, so stubborn! To the point of frustration. They may be grown adults with years of on-again/off-again with each other, but they both have so much to learn about themselves and a lot of self-reflection to do. Through it all their chemistry is palpable and I wanted to mush their faces together. They have a connection when bickering, in bed, or just sitting in the same room.

One of the things I love and appreciate about this book is the many aspects of family that are woven into the story. Big families, single-parent families, made families, and multi-generational families; are all represented in a positive light. To Sofi, the Vegas are her family. She was raised by her single mom and is very close to her, but she loves the extended community she gets with the Vegas. That is one of the things that has always held her back in her relationship with her best friend’s brother. In this story, Sofi learns that blood doesn’t negate love.

I’m not a fan of a couple who fights more than talks and, I’ll be honest, I was afraid this book would end up like that. It didn’t. Sure, Leo and Sofi had their fights. And their third act break up was a doozy that had my heart hurting. Yet they also had a lot of fun and tender moments.

With as much as I’m seeing this author grow as this series progresses, I cannot wait to see which couple gets their HEA next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

rounded up from a 4.25-4.5 star

Sleeping with the Frenemy is the third book in Natalie Caña’s Vega Family Love Stories which means we finally get to see what Leo and Sofi have been up to.

When we last saw Sofi, she was reeling from the fact that Kamilah, her best friend and Leo’s sister, lied to her for years about a decision that ultimately changed the course of her life. The hurt she feels leads her to call it quits with the entire Vega family and puts an end to the secret on-again, off-again relationship she and Leo have been in for years. After a year abroad, Sofi is back home and ready to mend things with the Vega family. And now that she’s back in Leo’s life he is determined to get a real chance at a relationship with her.

I love a second chance romance and Natalie Caña delivered with this one!! Leo and Sofi have hurt each other in the past and some of that pain still lingers between them but their chemistry is undeniable. The Spanish dirty talk is perfection 🥵 and their character arcs are beautifully done.

And we can’t forget the stars of the show; Papo and his new partner in crime Abuela Fina (Sofi’s abuela). Papo is always a scene stealer but these two are so fun together!

I love the Vega family and this community that Natalie Caña has created and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

I LOVE the Vega family and the richness of the culture represented. The characters are full fledged and I enjoyed spending time with them. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like I got enough time with the couple alone. There’s was too many side characters constantly around with the dog, and the wedding plans. I ended up losing interest and skimming the rest. 2.5 ⭐️ rounded up.

I will go back to read the second one though since I loved the first one.

Normally I'm a complete sucker for a second chance romance but sadly this one sort of missed the mark for me. I definitely can understand how people loved this book and I will still recommend it to a lot of my friends but unfortunately the miscommunications, the characters egos, and what I felt like were really poor choices took away from me really loving this story. I was glad to see Leo and Sofi get their love story I just didn't really enjoy the journey. I will add as a side note I really thought the author did a beautiful job discussing Leo's ADHD within the story!

Secretly former on-again-off-again lovers turned frenemies forced to room together while preparing for the best friend's/little sister's wedding? It's the perfect recipe combined with the author's strong storytelling skills that made this entertaining and spicy romance so enjoyable.

Leo and Sofia were likable and well-developed main characters. Their desire to find a career that made them happy and feel like they had a purpose was relatable. As independent and self-assured as MCs may seem, their personal, familial, romantic, and professional journey has been anything but smooth sailing. But I loved how the deep, close-knit bonds and unwavering support between the Vegas and Santanas helped Sofia and Leo discover what they truly wanted for their lives and each other.

A story of reconciliation and forgiveness, "Sleeping with the Frenemy" will leave readers believing in the unmatched power of love, friendship, and family.

Thanks again Mira, HTP Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

Sleeping with the Frenemy was a sweet story; full of pleasant surprises and swoon-worthy moments, but also very thought provoking. I loved getting to experience the culture and different family dynamics. The main characters, Leo and Sofi, had an interesting history with each other, but taking things to the next level was more challenging than they expected, imo. I found myself equally frustrated with Sofi but also empathizing with her dilemma - she was broken, seeking validation from her father, which poured over into her relationships. Leo was patient, I think he wanted Sofi in any form she would allow but he too was in need of validation. Leo always felt that he was handled with kiddie gloves from his parents, even going as far as almost injuring himself to be a firefighter to prove a point. The book was easy to follow, and the characters were developed throughout the story. I felt the love and chemistry between them - and the spice was much appreciated. I enjoyed this story so much and brownie points for Leo and Sofi taking in the doggie, I was swooning!

I did not expect this spice from Leo and Sophi. They def brought what was needed. I was really happy to see the growth from Leo, even tho he was still a pest at times, he def grew up a lot from the previous books. I didn’t think I would love him and Sophi together but I actually did. They brought out something good from each other. Of course the grandparents always gone bring the funny lol. They def make the Vega series sooooo much better. This book did not disappoint at all.

I am simply obsessed with the Vega Family, this series, and all of the characters. Natalie has built such a rich, diverse, funny, sweet, spicy world in Humboldt Park and this was such a great addition to the collection.

Leo and Sofia are on fire! Their young adult frenemies, best friend's brother, with benefits to lovers is literally to die for. Both characters are also kind of a hot mess, so there's that too 😅They help each other grow up and find themselves during some pivotal changes and moments in their life. I loved their chemistry, the bickering, the way they can read each other's minds 🥵🥵💀 It has all the dynamics of why falling in love with someone you knew since you were kids is my absolute favorite trope!

The Vega Family, and specifically Papo Vega's meddling, is just as present in this book, if not the most of all 3, and it's one of the biggest reasons I come back to this series with each new book. As a white, cys woman, being able to learn about Puerto Rican history, some fun Spanish phrases (thanks Kindle translate), the Puerto Rican community in Chicago, Latino family dynamics, while reading a fun and steamy romance is why I love reading, this genre, and why representation matters.

I highly recommend this whole series for anyone who wants to add more diverse writers and stories to their TBR, or who like most of us, just enjoys sweet, sexy, funny, romances ❤️

I enjoyed this book. It was sweet, fluffy and romantic to be a great palette cleanser. I will be checking out more titles from their author

Natalie Caña’s Vega Family series has grown on me. Centered around a Puerto Rican family and community in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, the books in this series feel alive. The romance is the central relationship in each book, but they happen with in the context of family and friendships. A Proposal They Can’t Refuse sets the scene with the family restaurant, El Coquí, meddling grandparents, and the younger generations’ mission to fight gentrification and strengthen the existing community. A Dish Best Served Hot continues the theme of community building and meddling elders. Sleeping With the Frenemy wraps up some of the loose ends from Proposal, but I hope we get many more Vega Family love stories.

Sofi declared herself done with the Vega family when Kamilah revealed that she had lied about why she didn’t go to Paris a decade earlier. In cutting off the Vega family, Sofi also ended her secret off and on situationship with Leo Vega. And then she took a year to do the world traveling she had thought she would do with Kamilah years before. While she was abroad, Leo was shot, damaging his shoulder and possibly ending his career as a firefighter.

I’ve been anticipating Sofi and Leo’s story and was so happy to read it. Sofi and Leo are both at points where their lives aren’t going the way they wanted. Sofi quickly makes amends with Kamilah and is welcomed back into the Vega family, though Leo is unwilling to jump back in to their secret situationship. Enter the meddlesome elders, Papo Vega (a three time offender as a meddling matchmaker) and Sofi’s Abuela Fina. These two know that Sofi and Leo have feelings for each other, and need to be thrown together repeatedly in order to acknowledge it. Meanwhile, there are professional futures to sort out, family expectations to work through, fears to face, and a puppy to raise.

Be prepared for all the feelings. A bad father gets dealt with, family misunderstandings are worked through, and friendships are healed. Caña is not afraid to go hard on the third act break up. And she needed to get some stubborn character to look beyond their noses. It’s fantastic.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I was ready to LOVE this couple because I just knew they would be so entertaining and overall, I did enjoy this addition to the series, but I didn't love it.

I think my biggest issue was that it often felt like we weren't really getting enough time with Leo and Sofi actually being together. There was a lot of drama around things going on in Leo's life and there was drama around things going on in Sofi's life and of course their dealing with the wedding but all of this this never left time for just Leo and Sofi establishing and relearning each other after their year+ apart.

Overall, I love this series and there are some really great things here:
-Afrolatine rep
-ADHD Rep
-Chronic Pain Rep
-Best friends brother
-Secret relationship
-Papo Vega's excellent meddling

Thank you to Netgalley and Mira for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I always love when you get to check in with couples from past books, so that was an added bonus. Sofi and Leo's story was spicy and sweet and the tension between them was chef's kiss. I didn't love the third act break up, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book overall!

I have been waiting for Leo's book. Natalie Cana knows how to write a rom-com. This second chance romance is filled with banter and tension. I had so much fun reading this book

The Vega family finale !!
Sofi & Leo are my fave couple in this series. They are messy & chaotic. Reckless & passionate. Relatable & real af.
I love me a childhood sweetheart second chance romance! This was so well done with many complex layers of friendships, family, heritage & even some professional development.

I saw myself in Sofi more than any of the other ladies & I loved how much she grew over the three books! Her growth felt intentional & I want to see her win. Leo is such a loverboy. His smoldering moodiness & sexy little tantrums scream Scorpio. lol

I laughed. I cried. I had to fan myself from the spice. This was so well done. If you don’t know the Vega family. It’s time to get acquainted.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin for this ARC!

Another fantastic book by Natalie! The banter, the secret, the plotting grandparents!! Everything I love in a romance

First off, thank you to the publisher, Harlequin, MIRA and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

As soon as I finished reading the second book in the Vega Family Love Stories series, I immediately went to check when the next book was coming out. I saw that it was coming out soon, but I still tried my luck with requesting an e-arc, and I was so excited when I got approved! Leo is one of my favorite characters in this series, and I could already tell that his love story with Sofi was going to be very interesting. Apart from that, I was really wondering how Sofi would come back into the Vegas’ lives since she and Kamilah had a falling out. I really liked that the prologue brought us back to that night but showed us what happened after. I knew there was something between them even without having read the summary or the ending of the second book because of how their dynamic had been, but I was shocked that Leo and Sofi had been seeing each other on and off for so long!

Leo and Sofi have so much chemistry, and they so obviously love each other! Leo was so down bad for her that he really agreed to work with not only his grandfather, Papo, but also Sofi’s grandmother, to find a way to show her that they are meant to be. I loved the flashback scenes because it gave us a look into how their relationship developed over the years and the ways that they complement each other. Sofi has a lot of commitment issues though, and learning more about her and her relationship with her father helps with understanding why. I really liked the scenes with her mom and her grandmother, and I think the conversations that they had were so important. Being an independent woman doesn’t mean never letting anyone in or refusing to lean on your family. One scene near the end with her family was so important for her as a character, and I think it will really resonate with readers who have dealt with having a parent like her father.

The scenes with Leo and the rest of Vegas were also so important. He’s really been struggling ever since he had to accept a desk job at the fire station instead of being out there, fighting fires and helping people. He worked so hard to get back out there, and his family didn’t understand his desire to do so. They had some conversations that I feel were pretty overdue, and I really felt for Leo. He has changed as a character, and he acknowledges this in the book, wanting to change and be better.

There were so many scenes that I loved with Leo and Sofi (and Tostón!). Something as mundane as grocery shopping can really turn into something fun if you’re with the right person, and scenes like this helped show that what was between them was not just physical, despite what Sofi said at the beginning of the book. They had been doing this for years, and they both didn’t want to repeat the same toxic cycle anymore, but it really was different this time. I honestly ended up feeling a little bad for Leo because it was so obvious that he was devoted to her and only her, but she was scared to trust and believe in him and in them as a couple. But at the same time, I understand why this is really hard for her. It’s what made the ending pretty satisfying overall, and we saw the growth that happened with not just them as individual characters, but also them as a couple. The only thing is that I wish there was a bit more of a discussion about Leo’s job situation in the end, but other than that, I did enjoy how it ended! Also, I love that we got to see Kamilah and Liam’s wedding! If you’ve read the first book, it’ll definitely make your Kamilah and Liam shipper heart happy. Seeing where Saint and Lola are at as a couple a year later was also really nice to see!

And of course, you can’t help but love Papo in this book and his meddling ways! I really hope the series continues and we get to see more of him meddling in his grandkids’ lives.

Overall, I had a fun time reading this book and look forward to more Vega Family Love Stories!
4.5 rounded up to 5!

Sofi Santana and Leo Vega have been on-again, off-again for over a decade, but only in secret. When Sofi uncovers a lie told by her best friend Kamilah, who is also Leo’s sister, she washes her hands of the whole family. A year and seven months later, Sofi returns to Chicago from Paris to find that running from her feelings didn’t make them go away. Leo’s grandfather Papo and Sofi’s grandmother Abuela Fina conspire to get their stubborn grandchildren back together.

This is book three in the Vega Family Love Stories series and it might just be my favorite yet! The push and pull between Sofi and Leo was so fantastic, and their connection truly leapt off the page. I loved the focus on the family here, and how integrated Sofi was even before anyone really knew she was with Leo. Her fear of losing them was palpable and made her reluctance to really go all in make sense.

I loved the way both Leo and Sofi grew further into themselves here too. Life hadn’t gone the way either of them had planned, but their resilience shone through. The scene with the Vega family and Leo after his firefighter exam had me sobbing. Sofi standing up to her dad made me want to cheer.

I recommend this entire series, starting with A Proposal They Can’t Refuse. You won’t regret meeting this family and diving in to their love stories!

3.5 ⭐️


This was a cute romance book! Leo and Sofi’s chemistry and attraction is undeniable. They had cute and cheesy moments as well as parts where they were a bit vulnerable.

I liked the Hispanic representation and the Spanish in the book! I thought it was sweet seeing how close they both were to their families.

At times the book felt a bit slow so it took me a bit to get into and but overall I did it enjoy it.


Read if you like:

- dual pov
- second chance romance
- forced proximity


Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the arc!

SLEEPING WITH THE FRENEMY – Natalie Cana
Vega Family Love Stories, Book 3
Mira
ISBN: ‎ 978-0778305460
October 29, 2024
Contemporary Romance

Chicago, Illinois – Present Day

Sofi Santana was stunned a year ago to learn that her best friend Kamilah Vega was faking a relationship with Liam. Her friend didn’t even trust her with the information! Their friendship fractured, which also meant that the on-and-off friends-with-benefits relationship with Kamilah’s brother, Leo, also ended. A lot has changed over the past year. Kamilah and Liam are really involved with each other and now engaged, while Leo suffered a debilitating gunshot wound that is threatening his career with the Chicago Fire Department. Sofi wanted to check in to see how Leo was, but that would mean restarting their friendship. She’s not quite there yet. Then, Kamilah comes back into Sofi’s life and asks her to not only be her maid of honor but also be the wedding planner. All is well between the two women, but what about Leo? Through a series of happenstances, Sofi ends up moving into the four-bedroom apartment above the Vega family business. She needed a place to stay, and Leo had extra bedrooms. They can keep it platonic, right? Not when there is still a lot of passion burning between these two.

Sofi and Leo are soon circling each other, but it takes a rescue dog to finally have them on the same page in SLEEPING WITH THE FRENEMY. They had what they thought was a secret affair for years and when her friendship ended with Kamilah, so did theirs. Yet, even as she vows not to end up in bed with him, there is no denying that the attraction between them is still sizzling. Sofi had been sleeping on her mother’s couch so an offer to finally have a bed of her own is tempting. Of course, that means sharing the space with Leo. He is still recovering from his injury while helping at Liam’s distillery. Late one night while taking out garbage, Sofi and Leo find a dirty abandoned dog that takes a liking to Sofi. They take it home and later learn it is part of a recent drug bust and they decide to keep the dog. Nothing like doggy love to help bring love between a couple.

Sofi and Leo’s relationship is cute and endearing as it is clear they still have feelings for each other. Even after they do hit the sheets once again, they still want to deny things are deeper than sex for them. Meanwhile, they aren’t aware that their family and friends are conspiring to push them together. Sofi is also dealing with her father, who she works for. He thinks she should go along with what he wants, with little input from her. The truth is, Sofi is not happy working for her father. She is happy, however, planning Kamilah and Liam’s wedding. Will things go off without a hitch? Leo is also hoping to get back at the fire department working fires instead of sitting at a desk. But he keeps having setbacks. By the end of this tale, will they realize their goals, and be happy together?

This tale is an interesting read about a couple who don't believe in love at first, but they soon are involved romantically—and are pet parents! Fall in love with Sofi and Leo as you read SLEEPING WITH THE FRENEMY.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

3.5⭐️3🌶️

Interconnected stand-alone
Book 3
Chicago setting
Bipoc romance
On again-off again romance
Secret relationship
Forced Proximity


This was a fun read! I really adore the Vega family, and especially Abuelo. The side characters in this series so far steal the show.

This was a good 3rd book for the series. The couple was heavily hinted at in book 1, so it wasn’t a surprise pairing.

I can’t praise enough, the amount and care for detail that is put into the cultural aspect of this series. As someone who doesn’t speak Spanish, the language is flawlessly implemented and translated in a way that doesn’t detract or distract from the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.