Reviews tagging 'Racism'

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

10 reviews

happyblkhippie's review

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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apolen's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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noellelovesbooks's review against another edition

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4.25

 Content Warnings: Sexual scenes, panic attacks, and stalking. Mention of: Home invasion, racism, parental abandonment, and toxic relationships.

This was a fun read, we get a somewhat slow-burn romance between two co-stars as well as getting to read some of the actual scenes their characters go through. I love when any book, involving actors, gives us bits of the script to read through instead of just mentioning the show/movie they're working on without giving us details.

I have to say though...I needed more groveling. Things were said that were harsh, hurtful, and just plain mean. I feel like the resolution just happened much too quickly. I would have liked to see a bit longer separation before the open heart that leads to total forgiveness and the HEA.

Really enjoyed getting to know these characters and I look forward to picking up the next book in the Primas of Power series to see what couple is next! 

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kfmcf's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book was a lot of fun to read. Jasmine is a fantastic MC and I was rooting for her 100%. Ashton could have used a bit more depth but was perfectly fine. 
I'm definitely excited to read the sequels (only one is out so far, I think?). Big fan of Daria's writing! 

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meremesch's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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shaipanda's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this one after it’s sequel and I loved them both so muchhhhh!!! These books are absolutely adorable and I love the characters omg 
I actually think I might have liked this one even more than the sequel (which tbh I now am so tempted to reread lol) cause I just believed in the couple so much and their chemistry was unbelievable 
Loved itttt 

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coacklebee's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book! My thoughts are so incoherent right now because Ashton and Jasmine both resonated so much with me and made me so emotional. Especially Ashton's anxiety and when Jasmine talks about just wanting to love and feel loved--ouch, I felt seen. But there were so many other things I loved about this book, like the peek in at the process of working with an intimacy director, adorable Yadiel, and the very clear love for telenovelas and Puerto Rican culture. I also really enjoyed the way the author handled the acting sections. I wish there could have been more about the other members of the cast, as some of them just felt like names listed on a page instead of real people, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely read more by this author!

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libbylou905's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5


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plumpaperbacks's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this on a whim because I was in the mood for a fun romance novel, and Daria absolutely delivered. While there were plenty of relevant topics discussed—including racism in Hollywood, the toxicity of gossip columns, and the struggle of being bilingual but not fluent in your second language—You Had Me at Hola was so much fun to read and I flew through it.

I loved Jasmine and Ashton from the very first chapter, and immediately sensed the chemistry between them. Seeing that grow as their relationship developed was delightful, and honestly, their entire dynamic was brilliant.

I also really liked the relationship Jasmine had with Michelle and Ava. Though they’re cousins, not sisters, their dynamic reminded me of Chloe, Dani, and Eve from Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters trilogy, which are some of my all-time favorite romance books. There’s plenty of banter and teasing between the three women, but also a strong friendship and unrelenting support. I love to see it.

Something that made this book stand out to me was the focus on Jasmine and Ashton’s roles in the new TV show that brought them together. She was cast as the protagonist and he as the love interest in Carmen in Charge, and a good portion of the story took place on set or involved learning lines and rehearsing. Daria even included the episodes they filmed, written like chapters, sprinkled in between regular chapters. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this aspect of the story, and became nearly as invested in the show’s romance as I was in the actors’ romance. If it was a real show, I’d totally watch.

What I look for in every romance novel I read is a good balance between the story and the steamy scenes. In this case, the latter didn’t overpower the former, and I appreciate that very much. I like seeing relationships built on more than just ridiculously frequent sexual activity.

I was totally surprised by just how much I enjoyed this book. I’ll absolutely purchase my own copy, and I look forward to reading Michelle’s story when A Lot Like Adiós releases in September. Daria has a new fan in me.

Representation
  • Puerto Rican-Filipino protagonist
  • Puerto Rican love interest
  • Latinx side characters (one is trans and in a m/m relationship, one is sapphic and in a f/f relationship)

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k_tiches's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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