Name: Lauren Sullivan's review of You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
Item: You Had Me at Hola
Rating: 4
Author: Lauren Sullivan

Alexis Daria

"Soapy, smart and so sexy... with vibrant characters and electric chemistry comparable to the telenovelas that inspired it, you'll be thrilled You Had Me At Hola doesn't come with commercials!"--Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling 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.

A Novel

You Had Me at Hola

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.

As someone who lived in Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria passed, this is 100% accurate. Many people had to leave the island.

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

After Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on the island, the federal government’s absolute failure to provide resources and aid and unwillingness to treat the people of Puerto Rico as the American citizens they were by right of birth had prompted Ashton to move his family to Miami for a time.

Lauren Sullivan

"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 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.

This was so cute. As someone who hates the miscommunication trope I just decided to ignore it because I liked the story.

Tsu 💙

Kaitlin Simpson

Wow!! 

I think this was my favorite romance novel I read this year. The story was so great and the writing was electric. I could not put this book down. I would absolutely love a sequel to this!! It left me wanting so much more, but the ending is truly satisfying.

Bria

This book was really cute, but there was just something off about the characters. We got a lot of information about them, but I still felt like I didn’t know anything about them. Jasmine and Ashton just felt like characters in a book when I envision most characters I read about as real people.

This book saved me from a dire book slump. The writing was perfect. The tension between Ashton and Jasmine 👩‍🍳💋 I get every bit of emotion from the characters. And those sex scenes?? 🥵🔥 damn. The chemistry in this book on phenomenal.

Emma

Joana da Silva

There's nothing new or original about this storyline, but boy, did I enjoy it! Goodreads said this was perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin and The Kiss Quotient, and I happen to be big fan of both, so I was bound to love this. So much fun, so cute and steamy. Uff, the steamy scenes in this book are - chef's kiss -. I could really relate to Jasmine, specially with the quote - “Because you’re an Aries,” Michelle said matter-of-factly. “You love love.” I'm not an Aries, but my Venus is, so I love love. (Can you tell by the abnormal number of rom-coms that I devour?)

Mika Chavarria

Super cheesy.
Super cutesy.
But an adorable storyline!
Dialogue was pretty vanilla. 
The main characters weren't super relatable but was interesting enough to keep reading. 
I love reading LatinX stories and although the whole book itself was on the predictable side, it was easy to follow through and finish!
Also I listened to this audiobook and I loved the choice of narrator!! So I highly recommend listening!!!

Shareca

You Had Me at Hola (Primas of Power #1)
Alexis Daria
BR — @tiniawritesbooks 💓
★★★★★ + 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

Y'all did not inform me that I would be in love with Alexis Daria as much as I am 💘 I have been left with a feeling of emotional PTSD, in the best way. I may have fallen in love with a novel and its characters 🥺

🌙
Ashton and Jasmine are my favorite, and the way in which 'You Had Me At Hola' is crafted is one of the most memorable ways to read a romance novel. In terms of the balance of their relationship, both the episodes in the telenovela between Carman and Victor as well as Ashton and Jasmine, in real-time, parallel so perfectly.

🍂
Having the dual points of view was a wonderful experience; I enjoyed being in the male protagonists' shoes. As a woman, it is quite enjoyable to see how men view situations and love. But as much as I enjoyed being in Ashton's mind, being in Jasmine's was on a completely different emotive level. Upon hearing her mention 'Passions,' I was hooked. I watched 'Passions' with my sister when I was younger, and as Jasmine stated, it had *something* for everyone. At that moment, I felt too exposed.

🍄
Through its representation of culture, language, and struggles, this novel made me feel so seen and understood. Ashton and Jasmine's conversations, as well as Ava and Michelle's, and the cast as a whole, were very authentic. Being able to appreciate and understand both the universal as well as the individual struggle was extremely rewarding.

☄️
The sex was hot; it is not often that novels or even larger popular culture depict a man cleaning up after having done some 'you-know-what' on a woman. The sensuality that was added made this action one of the most intimate. Throughout the story, Ashton and Jasmine go through their individual difficulties, but it is apparent how much they care for one another by the end of the novel. Each time I sat down to read, I felt the love, I absorbed the love, and it leaped off the page. 💫

Sequel, anyone? 🤔

Ashley

This book just brought me so much joy. I’m not Puerto Rican, but I am Cuban and I do love telenovelas, and seeing this representation was just so lovely. Plus I just absolutely love a good romance novel, and this was a great one.

Becca

You Had Me at Hola was such a nostalgic read. I grew up watching telenovelas with my grandma and was so excited to see a book that kinda incorporated some of those elements into the story. 

I loved the idea of being behind the scenes of a major production and still being able to know what the project looked like. I loved reading the snippets of the show and how they prepared for it. 

I loved how the relationship between the characters developed from this awkward first encounter to being able to confide in each other. I also enjoyed the scandals and how they each handled everything, even though I wanted to yell at them for being dumb. The character growth shown in both MCs throughout the book was super satisfying for me. 

For Latinos, family is everything and I loved how they were included. I especially loved the Primas of Power because it reminded me of my relationship with my cousins and how we always have each other’s backs. It’s so nice to see those relationships in books because like a lot of Latinos, our cousins are our first friends and we keep those relationships for the rest of our lives. 

The only criticism I really had was that some sections were harder to get through than others. They were just super slow and I found myself having to take a break and then come back to finish. They felt like they were dragging on and I almost DNFd because of it, but I’m glad I kept up because I really ended up enjoying the book and I wouldn’t mind reading more from this author. 

Nataly

You Had Me at Hola was such a nostalgic read. I grew up watching telenovelas with my grandma and was so excited to see a book that kinda incorporated some of those elements into the story. 

I loved the idea of being behind the scenes of a major production and still being able to know what the project looked like. I loved reading the snippets of the show and how they prepared for it. 

I loved how the relationship between the characters developed from this awkward first encounter to being able to confide in each other. I also enjoyed the scandals and how they each handled everything, even though I wanted to yell at them for being dumb. The character growth shown in both MCs throughout the book was super satisfying for me. 

For Latinos, family is everything and I loved how they were included. I especially loved the Primas of Power because it reminded me of my relationship with my cousins and how we always have each other’s backs. It’s so nice to see those relationships in books because like a lot of Latinos, our cousins are our first friends and we keep those relationships for the rest of our lives. 

The only criticism I really had was that some sections were harder to get through than others. They were just super slow and I found myself having to take a break and then come back to finish. They felt like they were dragging on and I almost DNFd because of it, but I’m glad I kept up because I really ended up enjoying the book and I wouldn’t mind reading more from this author. 

Okay, I slept on this book for so long and I hate myself for it! It was so refreshing and fun! I was kind of scared when I saw there was Puerto Rican representation, but I LOVED it! It was done so well! All the Spanish included in it was also amazing. 

It was so interesting to me how the author included moments from the series the characters were filming. I got incredibly invested and wished it existed in real life. These characters brought two romances to life: the romance in the tv show and the romance from the actual book. Alexis Daria did a fantastic job managing both! And the romance was 

The narrator was great. She narrated the entire book herself and it was so easy to identify when it was Ashton's thoughts. And she barely had any accent when it came to speaking Spanish, especially Puerto Rican Spanish! I can't wait to listen to more of her books!

Unofficial Review:
Okay, I slept on this book for so long and I hate myself for it! It was so refreshing and fun! I was kind of scared when I saw there was Puerto Rican representation, but I LOVED it! It was done so well! All the Spanish included in it was also amazing. 

It was so interesting to me how the author included moments from the series the characters were filming. I got incredibly invested and wished it existed in real life. These characters brought two romances to life: the romance in the tv show and the romance from the actual book. Alexis Daria did a fantastic job managing both! And the romance was squeals! So cute and sexy! 

Also, he calls her, "Querida"!!! instant melt

The narrator was great. She narrated the entire book herself and it was so easy to identify when it was Ashton's thoughts. And she barely had any accent when it came to speaking Spanish, especially Puerto Rican Spanish! I can't wait to listen to more of her books!

The story was cute, I enjoyed that we get to follow these two characters working on a TV show together. It was interesting.

I do have mixed feelings on this though, Ashton wants to be a big Hollywood show but also have a private life...like really are you stupid that's impossible. I liked Jasmin who was pretty focused amd self aware of what she wanted. Sje didn't take no c**p . I enjoyed the dynamic between her and her two cousins. 

My biggest problem was the romance, I didnt feel the romance grow I was unsure of when these two characters were supposed to have fallen in love. To me it was more lust than love. I want to be invested with the romance and I didnt care.  It was enjoyable but I wanted to feel more.

Samantha King

The story was cute, I enjoyed that we get to follow these two characters working on a TV show together. It was interesting.

I do have mixed feelings on this though, Ashton wants to be a big Hollywood show but also have a private life...like really are you stupid that's impossible. I liked Jasmin who was pretty focused amd self aware of what she wanted. Sje didn't take no c**p . I enjoyed the dynamic between her and her two cousins. 

My biggest problem was the romance, I didnt feel the romance grow I was unsure of when these two characters were supposed to have fallen in love. To me it was more lust than love. I want to be invested with the romance and I didnt care.  It was enjoyable but I wanted to feel more.

This is a book I bought a year ago on a whim while I was shopping at Target. I love buying books and this cover immediately caught my attention. This romance novel centers around Jasmine Lin and Ashton Suarez. Two actors working on a remake of a telenovela. The setting on a New York film set makes for an interesting plot and sometimes corny scenes from the television series. The two protagonists had great chemistry and ultimately their romance made a lot of sense. The book is far from boring and includes quite a few explicit sexual situations. Though please note that i’m new to reading romance and i’m not sure how to describe how explicit the sexual content is to readers who are more familiar with the romance genre. This book is an easy read and is great for anybody looking for a fun romance.

Sydney Alston

Gisela Ayala 

Super fun and quick read! My favorite part was the Primas of Power and their relationship to one another. Their back and forth banter was relatable and added so many funny moments to the story.

Andrea

3.5

Me ha gustado mucho la representación latina que había en el libro pero la trama me la esperaba diferente y me ha decepcionado un poco. El final ha sido demasiado rápido, la autora tendría que haberle dado un poco más de tiempo.

Sheena

YAAAAAAS!
 
As a Latina (Puerto Rican) woman myself, I instantly gravitate towards this and I’m so happy to get my grubby little hands on it. It was a cute, fun read and even though the instant love vibes made me cringe more than I liked to admit, I actually enjoyed this.

The plot, the storyline, the unfolding drama that didn’t seem to stop with the constant misunderstandings, our leading actors and their sizzling romance made this an instant page turner plus the cover is absolutely gorgeous. The only cons I would point out was the instant love (for obviously reasons) and the flow of the story. The POV between the lead characters and the TV characters didn’t transition as smoothly as it should have with the constant back and forth. Despite that, I had a decent reading experience with Alexis Daria’s latest release.

Merve A. 

Nedu

This was a fun fast paced read and I really liked it but I wish the ending wasn't rushed. The resolution could also have been handled better. I really loved how it felt like I was reading two telenovela shows simultaneously and I really want the telenovela show to be a real show lol.

Grace Martinez

I’ve never felt so seen that it scared me. I felt so connected to Jasmine and her need for love that I thought I was reading my own story. And Ashton and his insecurities and need to keep his family protected was so much like my own. I didn’t know who I liked more. 

Perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin! 

The slow romance inspire of the instant attraction was so sweet and hot. This felt like an actual relationship. Not perfect by any means, not one side being right, not the other being wrong. Ups and downs and an emphasis on communication that was beautiful. 


It’s a nice short read with some hot spicy scenes. Latinx rep was immaculate. The normalization of dealing with PTSD and therapy was so nice. The connection of family. I loved it. And I will be rereading often. 


My only question is when can we see this being adapted to a tv series? I mean it’s an absolutely perfect book meant for a tv series. I need to know what happens next on Carmen in charge!!!

lauren carla

this book is stunning!! it was so freaking cute and funny, loved it so much!! ashton and jasmine have to be some of my favorite characters in contemporary romance up to this point. 🥺 it’s rare that I love both the protagonist and the love interest, but yep these characters were perfection. also loved how ashton was smol and not the brooding rude love interest type- it’s been awhile since i’ve read a cute male like that lmaoo. the book was fast-paced and the conflict wasn’t annoying or overbearing, so yeah definitely recommend!!

Caitlyn Hagen

I really liked this book. This one took me a bit to get through, it was missing something that made me reach for it. 

The second half went much smoother. 

I liked Ashton and Jasmine as a couple. They were opposites in a more unique way, in my opinion. I liked that she was so open and he was more guarded and that was a hurdle for Jasmine. It made their inevitable fight feel real. 

I loved the Carmen in charge chapters. I tend to do more K-Dramas the Telenovelas,this book may have changed my mind. 

All in all a solid read. I already have the second book.

First off, wow, this cover. This is the cover that all illustrated romance covers aspire to be. Plus, it fits the book perfectly, steamy and romantic and steeped in the author’s heritage. In my eyes, it’s the mark of a good author to make me care about something in a book that I know nothing about in real life. I knew Alexis Daria was capable of it; I loved her Dance Off series, which was centered around a reality dance competition. So when I saw she was writing a romance about a telenovela star and a soap opera star, well, ok, go! And my gosh, it was completely worth it.

When Jasmine finds out that her rock star boyfriend has dumped her (via tabloid no less), well, at least she’s back home in NYC with her cousins preparing for her next role. She’s spent the past few years acting in soap operas in LA, but the leading role in a new telenovela adaptation by the premier streaming service has the chance to make her a household name. Ashton, the other lead, is also staking his career on the show, as he fears he’s past his prime. After all, in his last telenovela shot in his homebase of Miami, he didn’t even make it to the finale – and he played the villain, not the leading man. This might be his last shot to break into Hollywood instead of fading into obscurity. He doesn’t have time for any distractions, even if his costar is gorgeous, talented, and kind. But despite his standoffishness, there’s an undeniable chemistry between them, and as their characters’ relationship heats up on screen, so does their own. But is their relationship doomed to end before they reach the end of the season?

“Later on, she was going to have to think about why she found his hellos and goodbyes so arousing.”

This is a book about two actors, so of course there’s lots of interesting show biz background. Plus, interspersed into the usual dual narrative are scenes from the show, written in the character’s third person, with bits of the actors’ thoughts peeking through. Despite the vast differences between the two relationships (their show characters’ relationship follows many of the divorced second chance romance tropes, while Jasmine and Ashton barely know each other) there’s a symmetry in the two relationships. Communication and trust are the biggest issues, and their characters acknowledge that their marriage failed because they stopped being there for the other person. Trust is an a humongous issue for Ashton, which makes others think he’s aloof and a bit of a diva. He only truly trusts his family, but he’s shaken by how much he wants to confide in Jasmine. But he knows he especially can’t get involved with her because she’s currently a hot gossip item due to her recent breakup and he avoids the press as much as possible in order to protect his family.

Jasmine is the poster middle child, hungry for attention and validation. She knows she has to break the chain of rebound relationships, so she and her cousins brainstorm a new set of goals for her. But, to be honest, her new character, Carmen, is basically #lifegoals – she’s successful, knows what she wants and goes for it. If only some of that can rub off on Jasmine… but instead she seems to share her attraction to Ashton. This has some ridiculously hot slowburn romance, infused with a lot of occasional touches and, gulp, on-screen kisses (choreography by an intimacy specialist, no less). But it’s their warmth with each other that really enchanted me, from Ashton’s gentle teasing about Jasmine’s Spanglish to dancing in grocery stores. And when they finally get together, oof, scorching.

“Crushes were fleeting. Family teasing was forever.”

While Jasmine’s big family can get on her nerves – especially her immediate family – her cousins are always there for her, whether that’s an encouraging text or showing up with pizza. I loved them and can’t wait for their books! Another thing I loved? This book is casually inclusive, with lots of Latinx representation on the show and a trans actor, plus someone who uses nonbinary pronouns.

Overall, an absolutely delightful new romance, full of heat and love. Highly recommended!

Content notes: (view spoiler)[death of mother (of an illness, before the book starts), home invasion with weapon (before book starts), grief, anxiety, panic attack (on-page), PTSD, alcohol use, child hurt via climbing accident (broken bones), discussion of colorism in media (hide spoiler)]

Aundreya Rich

I chose to listen to  You Had Me at Hola  after a friend reviewed and highly recommended it.

YHMAH did not disappointment as the story switched between the tv series being filmed and the real life romance between the two stars, Jasmine and Ashton.

The narrator was phenomenal, the writing was witty, fun and entertaining, and the story was SPICY!!!!

I also loved the spanglish and topics of culture, family, and what its like to be of hispanic descent in the Hollywood industry, even Jasmine being a mix brought up hard topics of being a woman of different race.

I swooned, I laughed, and I listened anytime I had a chance.

What I didn't like.... I hate the "P" word... lol I know I know weird to write that in a review right? But I felt like anytime there was a hot and heavy scene that's all I heard and I was CRINGING!!!!

Read/Listen if you like:
Tella Novella/ Soap Operas
Steamy Romances
a heavy dose of family

narrator:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
steam:🔥🔥🔥🔥/5

Lauren Sullivan &
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

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Lauren Sullivan &You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

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Lauren Sullivan &
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria