National Bestseller
“I could not get enough of Jasmine and Ashton! I adored Jasmine–her ambition, her confidence, her attacks of self-doubt, and especially her hilarious, snarky, and loving cousins. She and Ashton have such a steamy, swoony, love story that I didn’t want the book to end!”–Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author
RITA® Award Winning author Alexis Daria brings … author
RITA® Award Winning author Alexis Daria brings readers an unforgettable, hilarious rom-com set in the drama-filled world of telenovelas—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin and The Kiss Quotient.
Leading Ladies do not end up on tabloid covers.
After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy for the number one streaming service in the country, Jasmine figures her new “Leading Lady Plan” should be easy enough to follow—until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez.
Leading Ladies don’t need a man to be happy.
After his last telenovela character was killed off, Ashton is worried his career is dead as well. Joining this new cast as a last-minute addition will give him the chance to show off his acting chops to American audiences and ping the radar of Hollywood casting agents. To make it work, he’ll need to generate smoking-hot on-screen chemistry with Jasmine. Easier said than done, especially when a disastrous first impression smothers the embers of whatever sexual heat they might have had.
Leading Ladies do not rebound with their new costars.
With their careers on the line, Jasmine and Ashton agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera. While their on-screen performance improves, the media spotlight on Jasmine soon threatens to destroy her new image and expose Ashton’s most closely guarded secret.
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Audiobook Review
Overall 3 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 2.5-3 stars
This was an entertaining slow burn/forced proximity romance, but sadly, it never quite hit the mark for me. I think it could definitely be a “it’s me, not you” situation though, because the majority of reviews are positive.
What I enjoyed:
– The strong female and family relationships was the heart of this story. The Primas of Power group was the best and I loved how supportive and loyal they were to each other.
– The story within a story, with the Carmen in Charge chapters mirroring what was going on in real life.
– The sexy times were delectable and will have you fanning yourself. Especially the Spanish dirty talk.
– The narration by Seraphine Valentine was amazing and she voiced each character so wonderfully. I didn’t have difficulty differentiating between characters and thought she was perfectly cast for this novel.
What didn’t quite work for me:
– The story started off fairly slow and I struggled to keep going at first. The pacing made the book feel overly long.
– I didn’t fully understand the struggles that Ashton and Jasmine were going through and why it held them back the way that it did. They had great chemistry, but even though it was a slow burn, their love/relationship seemed to go from zero to sixty right away.
– The drama that occurred throughout the book was predictable and felt forced.
Overall, You Had Me at Hola was an enjoyable novel, but it wasn’t love for me.
From the beginning to “El Fin”, Daria’s Hola pulls readers into a vibrant world where our beloved Latinx culture thrives and charming, charismatic characters woo you… once again she’s penned a show-stopper novel that leaves you breathless and craving more.
Clever, heartfelt, and five fire-emojis sexy, You Had Me at Hola is a must-read! Daria excels at the craft of writing larger-than-life characters with believable fears and relatable desires; the result is a captivating romance that readers won’t soon forget.
You Had Me at Hola is a gorgeous escape, a book you think “just one more chapter” to yourself and then before you know it, you’ve devoured the entire thing! Hot, joyful, and real, Hola is packed with unforgettable leads, celebrity fun, and swoons upon swoons (upon swoons!!)
Love in the limelight could not be harder to navigate in this book that conjures images classic Hollywood in a contemporary setting.
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I loved this book for so many reasons. I loved all the telenovelas it referenced Maria de la Barrio, one that I remember my mom always referencing. I love how she mirrors the Latinx experience— diverse. Ranging from various mixes, shades of brown, and competency levels with the Spanish language, big families and small, etc. I could relate to Jessica’s struggle to learn and be a fluent Spanish speaker.
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Ashton and Jasmine meet on the set of new telenovela made for and in the US. Ashton is a seasoned star and Jasmine is a fresher face in the scene. They are both guarded and have been burned by being overly exposed to the world.
This isn’t an enemies to lovers per se, but it’s not far off as their first leave the tension high and the mood impossible to read. But thanks to time and an Abuela with a crush on Ashton, the two get closer until they can no longer hold onto their walls and fall face first into each other.
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A must read especially if you love the glamour that goes along with the film industry
I could not get enough of Jasmine and Ashton! I adored Jasmine — her ambition, her confidence, her attacks of self doubt, and especially her hilarious, snarky, and loving cousins. She and Ashton have such a steamy, swoony, love story that I didn’t want the book to end!
SO GOOD! Latinx costars with crazy chemistry trying not to fall for one another behind the scenes of their new show – is it any surprise I loved it? Fabulous own-voices read, and awesome female friendships with the Primas of Power.
There’s nothing I like more than to read books about actors, acting and a behind-the-scenes set up about a movie (in this case, a telenovela) production.
Getting to know Jasmine and Ashton was as fun and funny as it was romantic.
I want to give this book a thorough review because I think there were so many fantastic, fresh takes in it!
I loved the diversity here! I often think about how whitewashed the romance genre is. I feel like until recently we hardly saw a POV in a lead romance role! I don’t think I have read books with leads from Mexico and Cuba, but Puerto Rico was a new POV for me and I’m grateful for a fresh take. I am born and raised in Iowa and I know Puerto Rico citizens are far too often left out of the United States narrative. I will admit, before Maria, I hadn’t known much about Puerto Rico, but I quickly did what I could to educate myself. I can’t help thinking these kinds of miseducations wouldn’t happen if we gave the Latin community the same opportunities in the media… t.v., movies, music and books! There are so many stories to be told and way too many people who aren’t hearing them.
One thing, in my opinion, that Alexia Daria got very right were the intimate scenes. There were great conversations about consent throughout the entire book. On the show set, they brought in a intimacy coach, something that we only really started hearing about about the #MeToo movement. The characters went on to use the communication skills they learned there to connect outside of work. The sex scenes in this one were just the right blend of steamy without sliding into the erotica hole. Condos are a very standard staple of most romance sex scenes, but I don’t think i’ve read many that talked about lube. I just appreciated the very real look at a typical sex life for some! Too often there is a lack of sexual diversity.
I have to admit, I didn’t totally feel the love here. Lust? Yes. Like? Definitely. But I just wish the leads in romances didn’t feel the need to declare their undying love after such a short time dating. Instant love has never been my thing, though there is a large audience for this troupe! I just didn’t really feel a deep connection between these two. I was about 30% through the book before I realized that Ashton was almost 40, I was picturing them much younger based on their romantic maturity.
When the book started, their meet-cute had instant chemistry and great banter. I loved Jasmine’s wit. Sadly I feel like we lost that as soon Jasmine started to crush on Ashton. She starts the book in the midst of a messy breakup and creates a Leading Lady list with her girlfriends. But she was a pretty weak character, something she knew about herself and really didn’t do anything to change in my opinion! Ashton never grew on me, but we never really got to know him. I would’ve liked to see more of his life in Puerto Rico and see him open up more. I think Jasmine deserved better at the time, but I have hope Ashton’s character was working toward being that better.
I appreciated the mention of PTSD, anxiety, and therapy. I appreciate authors feeling comfortable being open and honest about mental health! I do wish we’d gotten a little more of that then the bit we did in the epilogue, but any exposure is good exposure!
All in all, Alexis Daria’s book You Had Me At Hola is a feel-good, contemporary romance that brings you to the fast paced and drama filled world of Telenovelas and the people behind the scenes of bringing those stories to life. Alexis Daria should be on your must-read list!
Before I review, a few questions: Did I buy this book entirely on a whim? Yes. Was this the best romance I’ve read this year? Bsolutely. Was this the best BOOK I’ve read this year? Quite possibly. There are ten days left in 2020, but I don’t think I’ll find anything more enjoyable, entertaining, informative, romantic in that span of time. So let’s just answer yes to that last one.
As I said, I saw this book on a shelf, the cover caught my eye and the summary made me put it into my basket immediately. The premise sounded cute and original. I had no idea I would love this book as much as I do. The characters are so well rounded. The chemistry builds in an organic way that makes sense. Daria writes families in such a heartwarming way; they’re never a distraction from the romance, if anything it adds to it. There is not a word out of place or a scene I didn’t enjoy. And even though I’m not Latinx myself, I felt a deep connection to the characters and their struggles and a representation that many authors could learn from.
I feel impelled to read everything she’s written now.
I really enjoyed this read. Jasmine and Ashton have chemistry immediately and you can feel it radiating off of both of them. This was a great diverse read and it was refreshing. Jasmine is a pap magnet and Ashton is super private, so how will this work? Ashton has secrets that he is trying to protect and getting involved with a castmate is off limits, but he can’t stay away from Jasmine. He is drawn to her and can’t let her go even if he knows he should. Stolen kisses and stolen moments make him believe he can have more, until everything comes crashing down. I really loved their story.
I loved everything about You Had Me at Hola, from the fictional story within the story to Ashton’s devotion to his son to Jasmine’s journey to love herself. This contemporary romance is set in the acting world, with Ashton and Jasmine starring in a new streaming service Latinx telenovela Carmen in Charge. She’s fresh off a breakup with a world-famous singer who dumped her via tabloid, while Ashton is looking to make the leap from soap operas to a bigger audience. There’s sexual tension and attraction between them from day one when the title introduction literally comes true, despite Ashton spilling coffee on Jasmine.
From there, they at first dance around their interest in each other, despite their curiosity, before finally indulging in an affair they keep hidden, which Ashton is used to. He’s a single father of eight-year-old Yadiel, who lives in Puerto Rico with Ashton’s dad and grandparents, and nobody else knows he exists. With alternative viewpoints, Daria gives a very personal look at the toll this secrecy takes on Ashton, who’s scarred by a break-in at his home when Yadiel was a baby. I kept thinking about the enormity of trying to be an actor, such a public-facing profession, and have this gigantic secret you can’t tell anyone. Ashton is tormented by this for most of the book, only getting a break when he’s with Jasmine or acting.
For her part, Jasmine is a wonderful, very modern heroine, the kind of woman who’s strong and ambitious and outspoken, who goes after what she wants, but still has a heart and still gets her heart broken. She relies on the Primas of Power, her two cousins Ava and Michelle, to prop her up, especially in the face of what she sees as her family’s disdain for her acting career.
I was drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover and hearing good things, but it surpassed even my high expectations. I raced through it, but also savored the slow relaxing of Ashton’s guard, and what I’m pretty sure was Ashton’s first time going all the way sexually since the break-in. That fact also stayed with me, and made me think about just how much he sacrificed for his son, including being away from him most of the time (the show shoots in New York and he would fly home to Puerto Rico on weekends). Daria’s portrayal of family dynamics for both of them added a lot to the story, from Ashton’s kind and understanding family who just want him to be happy to Jasmine’s grandmother, who kickstarts her Leading Lady plan by putting the tabloid breakup cover on her fridge. There are times when they somewhat exist in the vacuum of the show, with the Carmen in Charge plotline mirroring their own struggles, and times when it’s clear that as independent as they try to be, their families are so important to them. This was such a wonderful, swoon-worthy romance, with a strong dose of Latinx empowerment and jefa moves. Highly recommend it!
4/5 Stars
4/5 Steam Rating
Jasmine & Ashton are about to begin filming a brand new show with a crew of predominantly Latinx individuals. The sparks start to rise for these costars from the very second they stumble into each other; the only problem is that neither of them feel like this attraction is the smart move. Sometimes though, our hearts have other ideas…
First off, I loved that this book gave representation to cultures that are not widely seen in Hollywood. All of the characters in this book were Latinx, including one trans character. From the beginning, I really liked Jasmine’s character. She loved her family, she had real insecurities even though she was a “soap star”, and she showed her kind personality when she didn’t throw Ashton under the bus for the blunder of their first meeting. You can tell that there’s some sizzling chemistry between Jasmine & Ashton all throughout the book, which leads to some pretty steamy scenes. I also really loved experiencing some of the “behind the scenes” parts of filming a show. I enjoyed that not only were Jasmin & Ashton characters in this book, but so were their own characters of Carmen & Victor.
Here were two main things that prevented me from giving this book a 5. First, I wish that there was a little more build up in the attraction between Jasmine & Ashton. Yes, there was sexual attraction from the very beginning but I wanted there to be a bit more build up in the genuine connection. Second, I found Jasmine’s reaction at the end to be extremely immature and selfish on her part; it honestly felt unfitting of the character she had been throughout the book. In the end though, I thought that these two things weren’t enough to dampen my overall enjoyment of the story.
Alexis Daria has swept us up in a telenovela with vibrant, jump-off-the-page, evocative characters and a steamy, palpable love story. Anytime you can take soapy tabloids, a coffee mishap, crazy cousins, and actors playing bitter exes, and blend them into romantic fiction, it’s a must-read!
One thing I’m loving in romance today is in the increase in visibility of Latinx books. I kept hearing about Alexis Daria’s and couldn’t wait to read it. I’m so glad I did.
The book focuses on two celebrities who are working together on a new show for a streaming video channel. Jasmine has been primarily working in the world of the soap opera while Ashton has been a long time regular in the telenovela world. Both are wanting to elevate their careers through the role of being leading characters int he show.
In addition to the great chemistry these two had together, there are so many smart things about this book. There is a parallel storyline with the characters each are playing in filming their show. I loved way the Spanish language was handled throughout the book…you could still understand what you were reading without a literal translation in the very next line (which I can find a bit jarring and repetitive at times). I loved the cultural pieces to the book as well as both of the main characters’ families who were both loving and fun. Finally, I liked how the real logistical challenges of being a celebrity were handled.
I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a fun, steamy read and would love to read more for Daria in the future. Definitely recommend!
At first I was a little underwhelmed by this novel, mostly because I have no natural interest in actors and actresses and their problems (though I do get a kick out of telenovelas), but then I decided to read it as something my Nuyorican (Jerseyrican?) granddaughter, an aspiring actress, might enjoy. That helped, but it also eventually hooked ME. Turns out it’s way too sexy to share with my nieta yet, but I sure enjoyed that aspect of it (and I also appreciate that the author took some pains to normalize some things you seldom see in love scenes in novels). Daria does a really clever job of integrating the TV show’s story line with her characters’ story line. It’s a smart, warm-hearted, very entertaining novel grounded in genuine affection for Puerto Rican culture on the mainland. Highly recommended if any of that interests you.
A romantic escape grounded with an insightful look at diversity in the entertainment industry. Enjoyed watching Jasmine and Ashton fall for each other, from the cute moments dancing in the grocery store to the steamy moments (including an extra spicy scene in front of a mirror). Also loved the discussion of learning to be vulnerable with those you love.
As wonderful as the romance was though, my favorite part of this story was the PRIMAS OF POWER!
I adore stories with strong female friendships at the center and Jasmine & her cousins Michelle and Ava are a fantastic, supportive trio. Really looking forward to Michelle’s book, coming next!
The story of Jasmine and Ashton is a wonderful romcom full of telenovela style drama. The steam is hot in this one! Jasmine and Ashton are playing two tv show characters (Carmen & Victor) who have a second-chance romance. I enjoyed the way Daria wrote the chapters of Carmen & Victor’s scenes being filmed so that it feels like the reader is watching the show. It makes it feel like you are following two stories intertwined. Jasmine’s cousins (Primas of Power) are so fun and I loved their basement dish sessions. This story is of course a romance but it’s also a story about family connections, community, and supporting those you care about.
I loved this book!! I could probably write a 5 page essay about why this book means so much to me as a Latina. I absolutely loved feeling connected to the characters. Spanish phrases are spread throughout the book and I am proud that I understood them all. I appreciated that Jasmine wasn’t shamed for not speaking fluent Spanish. I also appreciated the celebration of diversity within the Latinx culture. “They were a mix of immigrants, first generation, and those whose heritage went further back. Lily’s family had lived in Arizona for multiple generations.” Thank you, Alexis, for this simple but important recognition!
I feel like there is a parallel between the pride that the cast has in filming a mainstream show consisting of a Latinx cast and crew and the pride in excitedly reading a mainstream romcom book written by a Latinx author and consisting of Latinx characters.
“This work is important. We’re normalizing people who look and sound like us being happy and successful.”
“Maybe because it was for a mainstream streaming service, but there was a fierce pride in what they were doing here, a shared determination to make Carmen in Charge the very best it could be.”
I truly enjoyed the way that Latinx culture is celebrated in this book, as well as the glimpse into the world of acting (and tabloids), as well as the exploration of family dynamics. I enjoyed both Jasmine and Ashton as characters (though they both got on my nerves at various points, but that’s what makes them realistic). While I did enjoy whenever they were on page together (and the steamy bits were quite good), I also don’t think the reason for their mutual attraction is explained or explored enough. And while the chapters that featured Carmen (the show that they are filming) are fun, they also felt a little jarring and out of place; it was hard to tell if I was supposed to be reading it as a script (complete with the characters’ motivations and inner monologues – so not really script-like), or as if I was watching the show (which would also make the details that were included a bit odd). Every time we came to a Carmen chapter, it just took me out of the main story, even though I could sort of see the parallels between it and the main plot, but it always took me a minute to orientate myself between the shifts. I do look forward to reading more from Alexis Daria and I think I’ll go back and read her dancing series. To be honest though, I think my favorite part of the book (besides the fire hot steamy bits), is this FANTASTIC cover!
This book is ridiculously good. I couldn’t put it down. It’s set in the world of telenovelas, and this couple burns it up on screen . . .and in real life. I loved the way the telenovela was woven into the story, progressing the relationship between the main characters, even while acting. This was original and fresh and a definite MUST READ.