This week saw the release of Lissette Decos‘s second novel, Takes One to Know One. Set primarily in Puerto Rico, this enemies-to-lovers romance follows up-and-coming reggaetonero Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez… and Daniela, the reggaeton-hating record label executive working with him while he records his debut album.

Why I Chose This Book:
I never pass up to read a book about music, and Takes One to Know One instantly captured my interest not only for its focus on reggaeton (a genre I haven’t yet seen featured in a book), but also for its setting in Puerto Rico. I also loved that it was between a musician and a label exec. Fun fact: With my degree in music business, my original career plan was to work at a record label. So I already liked Dani going into this!

What I Liked:
- Reggaeton and peek into making music. I admit that, like Dani, I don’t really listen to reggaeton. But I enjoyed getting to know it here and loved the behind-the-scenes into how Rene crafted the songs for his debut album. I especially loved the song he writes for Dani and the one her dad had previously written.
- Artist-label dynamics. As a hardcore music fan, I know a fair amount about the complications that can exist between the music business side of things versus the artists. Dani falls into the former category, and it takes some time for her and Rene to see eye to eye. At least she genuinely cares about music and telling his story right.
- Puerto Rico is on fully display! I loved getting to know Puerto Rico here! From frogs and wild horses and waterfalls to their delicious food and warm culture, it’s portrayed beautifully here.
- Dani’s dealing with her grief over her late father. I can completely relate to her feelings of grief after losing her father six years prior to this novel. But I loved getting to see her connect with him again through his song, getting to know his Puerto Rican home, and learning to talk about him again.
- Perfectly done relationship. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is built up so well, and I love how Rene eventually shows his hand by writing a song about Dani. Omg! And showing her around the island? Loved it all!

Audiobook:
Ramona Master goes beyond simply narrating Takes One to Know One and fully into voice acting here. She really brings Dani’s character to life, infusing her with so much personality! It was almost like listening to a movie adaptation. This was one of the most vibrantly done audiobooks I’ve had the pleasure of listening to.

Final Thoughts
Takes One to Know One is a fabulous romance for anyone who loves music (especially reggaeton), Puerto Rico, and a slightly workaholic main character. It was such a fun, emotional, beautiful book! I will absolutely be reading more from Lissette Decos!

Thank you Forever books and Dreamscape Audio for review copies! I really loved the premise and promise of this read, and the voice acting for the audiobook was strong, but the themes and romance never quite got to can't put this down, loved it level. For me some of the premise felt a little rushed and the chemistry for the main characters was hard to connect with, I wasn't quite there with the emerging feelings and relationship as much as I wanted to be. What does work is the exploration of culture and music, even the ideas of professional growth and challenges and perhaps the push /pull of themes made for a less than cohesive read.

This was such a fun listen! The story follows Daniela, a blazer-loving marketing executive. She was recently assigned a reggaeton singer, Rene ‘El Rico.’ The only problem is that Daniela doesn't know anything about Rene or reggaeton. Rene makes it very clear he did not want to work with her. I enjoyed their journey of getting to know each other. We also followed Daniela's journey to learning more about her father and healing. The narrator, Ramona Master, did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. Highly recommend. It is giving ALL of the spring/summer vibes.

Takes One to Know One was so much fun!! I loved watching uptight Dani's layers of control slowly unravel, loved the Puerto Rican setting, and I'm obsessed with the fact that Rene took her around to see all the places mentioned in her dad's song. It was a lovely, light-hearted read that I devoured in under 2 days (a feat for me!).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.



This was a very cute romance. I personally think that "Ana Takes Manhattan" by Lissette Decos was better than this book of hers, but I still enjoyed it. I think anyone who is looking for a swoonworthy romance will enjoy this book!


I also think the audiobook narrator did a good job with the narration and how she brought the characters to life.

A fun rom-com set in the reggaeton world in Puerto Rico, with Dani and Rene butting heads and falling in love in a flirty slow burn. Dani is also confronted with her father’s birthplace in Puerto Rico, six years later she is still grieving him. Rene takes it upon himself to show her the island and help her connect with her dad. This was a heartfelt read but also fun and flirty.

I absolutely loved this book and followed along with the audiobook, which was chef's kiss—the narrator did an incredible job! Their performance really brought the story to life, making it feel like I was actually in Puerto Rico. There’s so much to love about both the book and the audiobook, especially the way the author, Deco, developed each character. The descriptions of Puerto Rico were so vivid—it felt like you were right there on the island, experiencing the culture, the music, and the food. Everything was so well-described, it truly transported me.

Dani’s job at a record label is on the line, so in an effort to save her position, she takes on a project for a genre she doesn’t usually listen to—reggaeton. She heads to Puerto Rico to collaborate with singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez. This is where her journey begins, and it’s such a fun ride!

The chemistry between Dani and Rene is undeniable. Things don’t start off smoothly between them, and the tension kept me hooked throughout. There are so many amazing moments between these two, from their initial misunderstandings to the development of their relationship. And the ending? Absolutely heartwarming!

This wasn’t just a romance story; it was also a journey of self-discovery and self-love. I particularly loved how music played such an important role in Dani and Rene’s story. As a huge fan of reggaeton, it was a treat to see how much it was woven into the narrative. Music really does have a way of giving you life!

Takes One to Know One is a must-read. With irresistible chemistry, vibrant settings, and a romance that’ll make your heart skip a beat, this book belongs on your TBR list! Oh, and let’s not forget—if you’re a fan of music, especially reggaeton, you definitely won’t want to miss this!

I loved this romance! It was very unique with factoring in Puerto Rican characters, culture and influence! Diverse music lovers will love the peek into the music industry that this book gives! I also really enjoyed how it centered around a Reggaeton artist, something I’ve never read before! Decos has descriptive and flowing writing that will be sure to leave the reader swooning!!!! I am so excited for the pub day tomorrow! A great read! I also enjoyed the focal point of family as well throughout the novel.

Imagine being sent to interview a hip new and upcoming reggaeton artist and you have no idea who he is, you have not done your homework, and oh, by the way, you hate reggaeton to the point you seriously considered getting an extra job to buy your little sister her own car so you wouldn’t have to listen to the beat. That’s Dani, and she immediately dislikes Rene, the scandal-ridden reggaeton musician.

I really enjoyed the setting of this novel, Culebra island in Puerto Rico. A year ago we made it to Vieques, but its neighboring Culebra sounded so similar in the book, with its quiet beach vibe, wild horses and mosquito nets.

This enemies-to-lovers romance was emotional and at times even heartwrenching! Closed door, kissing only, it was right up my alley. I also enjoyed the side theme of going back to your roots and Dani visiting her late father’s home island and sharing the songs that he wrote with Rene. Dani’s love and care for her younger sister and mother was also such great theme in this book. Capturing sound vs. image was an interesting concept as well.

I love Lissette Decos’s writing and her real relatable characters! The author’s love for music, Latin culture and family traditions shines through. What a great read! The audiobook was amazing and I highly recommend it because of the accents and Spanish in the book.

Did I enjoy it? Yes, I really did. I Would I categorize as a romance novel, No. Hear me out. I think this had the potential to be a truly great romance novel. however it felt more of a contemporary novel rather than a romance. The romance aspect didn't really contribute much to the overall story. What truly holds your attention in this book isn't the romance, but the powerful themes of self-discovery and processing grief.
Dani’s Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage is central to the story. As she spends time in Puerto Rico, she reconnects with her father’s roots and begins to fall in love with the island. It’s deeply moving to see her not only embrace her culture but also navigate the grief connected to her father.

The romance felt like it could have benefited from more build-up. I wish it had been explored in more depth. While the chemistry between Daniella and Rene is undeniable, and the moments between were sweet but they lacked that tension and longing that make you believe they characters have chemistry besides physical attraction.

Overall, I’m so grateful I had the chance to read this book. It’s a beautiful love letter to music, reggaeton, Puerto Rico, and the Latinx community.

NOW TO THE AUDIOBOOK review, I honestly did not enjoy the narrator for this book. I may have a small bias being Latina/Spanish speaking, but I didn't not like the choice for the accents, voices and Spanish speaking lines. It sounded very forced. I know it may be nitpicking but a Spanish speaking narrow who actually knew how to speak Spanish correctly may have done this justice given that this a a book with MANY LATIN characters and the accents sounded SOOO bad. I normally love this narrators work. I think she did the best she could it did not sound very good to me.

I think I was able to actually enjoy the book because I had both the e=arc and the audiobook format and I choose to only do half audiobook given that i was not enjoying it via audio.

Risk-averse publicist Daniela lands her dream job—promoting a reggaeton star she clashes with from the first time they meet. A trip to Puerto Rico, a secretive artist, and sizzling island heat force her to confront her prejudices and embrace unexpected passion. Will she find the rhythm of love?

This book is brilliant. It’s romantic and smart, heart-wrenching and funny. The attraction between Dani and Rene is strong, the romance a slow-burn, the setting vibrant and immersive. The audiobook narration added to the enjoyment of this wonderful, joyous book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I absolutely loved Rene and Dani! Their fiery enemies-to-lovers tension, the opposites-attract dynamic, and their undeniable chemistry had me hooked from page one. Rene is so sexy (seriously, swoon-worthy), and I adored how the Puerto Rican vibes and atmosphere brought the story to life. The music, the culture, the energy—it all made this book feel so immersive and vibrant.

Beyond the romance, the character arcs were so well done. Dani’s journey of learning to let go and embrace the music, and Rene’s depth beyond his public persona, made this story more than just a swoony rom-com—it had real heart. The audiobook added an even greater layer to the story and brought it to life in such a fantastic way.

If you love sizzling chemistry, vibrant settings, and a romance that will make you swoon, Takes One to Know One is the perfect read. Add it to your TBR now!

This was so much more than I expected!

Not only this was a romance but also a journey of discovery and self love. Dani is doing so much for others, she has a hard time letting go and doing things for herself.

Rene (Luis Fonsi in my head), also had walls up but them together was truly an explosion of thoughts, feelings and emotions.

It also secretly felt like a love letter to first born daughters who struggle with or feel like they have all the weight of their family on their shoulders! Especially after the loss of a parent.

Can we hope for a part 2?

Audiobook Review 🎧 | NetGalley ARC

4.75⭐️ rated up

Narration Overall: 4.75

Voice: 5
Energy: 5
Pacing: 4
Emotions: 5

Story/Writing Overall: 4.75

Prose: 4
Entertainment: 5
Emotions: 5
Storyline: 5

Spice level: 🍦

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for providing an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

#TakesOnetoKnowOne #NetGalley

Takes One to Know One follows Dani, a marketing coordinator at a record label who was about to be laid off. Desperate to keep her job , she lies about being a reggaeton fan , which works since her boss assumed she was (read: she is presumably the only Puerto Rican on staff) It’s actually kinda micro aggressive now that I think about it.

She is then assigned to promote popular features artist El Rico’s debut solo record, which he plans to produce in Puerto Rico. Problem is: she hates reggaeton. I hypothesize that it’s because she lacks the ability to shake some ass so she resorts to being a hater of those who can (more on that later)

I always try to give FMCs the benefit of the doubt and even defend their “unlikability” from other reviewers because that critique—more often than not—is thinly veiled misogyny, but I fear that I might pull that card for one aspect of Dani’s character.

She’s very uptight about reggaeton in a way that was more disrespectful than charming in a dry humor way, especially in a professional setting. She was condescending, often implying that it’s nothing but surface level ass shaking music to René’s face. As she got more involved in the production of the album and documentary, she did grow to appreciate the genre but whatever . She didn’t hold herself accountable or apologize .

Rene was no angel either, with his own set of flaws, but his fatal one was being boring. His project was reminiscent of Bad Bunny’s newest album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which paid homage to Puerto Rican history and culture. But for a rebrand about self-discovery, we know little about Rene. In fact, we know little about him and Dani together as a couple.

I would’ve been more invested if they had more on-page scenes together or the book was dual POV. Their romance was a subplot and I wish I knew beforehand because marketing suggested otherwise.

In actuality, the book focuses on Dani’s grief journey, since her father had ties to Culebra, the island where the album is being produced. The descriptions of the landscape and fauna were vivid and I loved how that was incorporated into Rene’s music. It was easily my favourite part of the book and if it were a real documentary, I would watch it.

At a certain point, I was just bored after the third-act conflict . it was about flat side characters who had fabricated drama , which did not interest me. The resolution was so cute and showed that there could’ve been a great romance in there somewhere. I swooned!

I also enjoyed Ramona Masters’ narration.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Lissette Decos for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Forced proximity, opposite attraction and a connection to our FMC's heritage brought these two together so well. I enjoyed being along for the journey of the recording of the MMC's album and all the emotion that came with it. This book shares pieces of the Puerto Rican culture that I've never learned of before- and now I want to listen to the music, eat the food and visit!

As I often say when I'm reading a book with a culture and language that are outside of my own- I LOOOOVE narration with pronunciation. It's like listening to a song. The narration was so well done.

Takes One to Know One is a delightful, witty rom-com that expertly balances humor, heart, and a vibrant exploration of music and self discovery. Set against the lively backdrop of Puerto Rico, the book follows Daniela, a risk-averse music industry professional who unexpectedly finds herself working with the very genre she despises! reggaeton.

Dani’s journey is both hilarious and heartfelt as she struggles to navigate a world that is far outside her comfort zone. Her forced proximity to the charming yet scandal-ridden Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez makes for plenty of tension, banter, and undeniable chemistry.

Takes One to Know One is a fun and fresh romance that blends humor, music, and self-discovery into an irresistible story. Fans of contemporary rom-coms, particularly those with a strong cultural backdrop, will find this novel a highly entertaining and satisfying read.

I want to visit Puerto Rico so badly after reading this book!! Good enemies to lovers romance. There is a bit miscommunication but it works for the story. Love watching the growth of the FMC. Narrator did a wonderful job.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was a heartfelt opposites attract, forced proximity, workplace romance that sees type A music exec Daniela being roped into traveling to her father's homeland of Puerto Rico to help develop a popular reggaeton star's new album.

Sparks fly as singer Rene 'El Rico' Rodriguez tries to thwart Dani's attempts to interfere while also challenging her to confront the assumptions she's made about the genre of music he loves and the country she's never been to before.

I really enjoyed the contrast between the two main characters and the Puerto Rican setting. There was a lot of emotional depth involving Dani's sister and her memories about her dead father. Rene was a bit of mysterious figure throughout much of the book but you could tell he was intrigued by all of Dani's contradictions and truly wanted to help her reconnect with her roots.

The narration by Ramona Master was excellent and while I always prefer dual POV love stories, this single pov from Dani's perspective worked for how much of it was about her own personal growth and journey. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Takes One to Know One, is about a record producer, Dani, who while trying to save her job, ends up getting herself into a sticky situation with Rene. While this book is labeled as a romance book, I didn’t really feel like there was enough romance for it to qualify as such. I felt that the book focused more on Dani and her self discovery journey. Even though there was a lack of chemistry, the story of self discovery and following family roots was worth the read.

This is a super cute enemies to lovers rom com.
What made this book special for me was the audio book version.
The narrator perfectly captured the atmosphere of it. I found myself transported to a different place. It was almost like I could hear the music, smell the food, take a walk by the sea. I didn't mind the long inner monologue (I am usually not a fan of while reading), or longer descriptions. It fits. It's perfect book to listen to- the accents were amazing! And the quality of the recording, too.
I wish I could see more chemistry between the main characters, longer scenes of them discovering together, instead of the descriptions. I wish there were few more chapters after the ending.
Overall, I am so happy I could be transported to an amazing place and be surrounded with the beautiful scenery.
I highly reccomend the audio book version of it!


Thank you to the net gallery shelf for arc of audio book.