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happyblkhippie's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
kyeruhh's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had a hard time getting through this. The side characters were great (Michelle was my favorite person in the entire story), but I didn't particularly love either MC. My biggest issue is that they both seemed a bit emotionally immature, especially toward the end. The setting was fun though, and I really liked the chapters describing scenes of the show interspersed throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking
iamsammie27's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Stalking, and Abandonment
wts_tiffany's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Stalking, Sexism, and Death of parent
mariajoy's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pretty standard romance novel, but I loved the diverse cast and the way they wove the characters narrative into the narrative of the TV show they were performing on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
nitya's review against another edition
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
Guess I am in an Alexis Daria phase
This was really great and I love the telenovela/Hollywood setting and commentary! I wanted more Jasmine and Ashton though 🥹 also DILFs as love interests 🫶🫶
This was really great and I love the telenovela/Hollywood setting and commentary! I wanted more Jasmine and Ashton though 🥹 also DILFs as love interests 🫶🫶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Stalking and Death of parent
apolen's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking and Alcohol
Minor: Racism and Death of parent
Break in Attempted kidnapping Anxiety PTSDisitcake's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
I'm glad Not Your Mom's Book Club also didn't love this book and they kind of tore it apart in their review. I also really didn't like:
-The secret child plot (Ashton's flaw/hang-up is that he had sex with a former co-star and it resulted in a child. The mom didn't want the child (wtf?) so he raised him. But when he was ~1 year old a crazed fan broke into his home. Rather than spend money on security, he sends his back to Puerto Rico to live with his family there and he hides the fact that he even has a child from the media. WTF?? He even lives in a separate home when he goes back to visit.). He hides this from Jasmine too which is pretty fucked up. And the child is 8 years old!
-Jasmine's "leading lady" goal: I love a strong, confident FMC but Jasmine is definitely not that. Her flaw is that she just wants to be loved and that's what got her in trouble, falling for her former co-star and now their breakup is all over the media. And then she falls for Ashton instantly when she barely even knows him!!! After their 80% conflict (the media uncovers Ashton and Jasmine's relationship, and his secret child) she gets back with him a little too easily. The stuff he said to her was fucked up IMO
-The chemistry between them had no buildup. We go from Ashton being like "oh wow she's Latina and she can't even speak Spanish" to them hooking up in her trailer.
Likes?
-Telenovela plot: Jasmine and Ashton are co-stars on this new telenovela and the actions of the characters in the show parallels their relationship. It also serves as a forced interaction device; there's a kiss scene early on in the show where a intimacy coach is brought in (I liked reading about their interactions during this scene, a little glimpse of Hollywood post #MeToo) and there's good buildup to their first kiss, but then Ashton gets a call that his secret child got hurt and it throws off their chemistry so that when they go to film they're forced to reshoot 17 times.
-Jasmine's "nemesis" Kitty (who writes about her in the media) turns out to be a big fan
-The secret child plot (Ashton's flaw/hang-up is that he had sex with a former co-star and it resulted in a child. The mom didn't want the child (wtf?) so he raised him. But when he was ~1 year old a crazed fan broke into his home. Rather than spend money on security, he sends his back to Puerto Rico to live with his family there and he hides the fact that he even has a child from the media. WTF?? He even lives in a separate home when he goes back to visit.). He hides this from Jasmine too which is pretty fucked up. And the child is 8 years old!
-Jasmine's "leading lady" goal: I love a strong, confident FMC but Jasmine is definitely not that. Her flaw is that she just wants to be loved and that's what got her in trouble, falling for her former co-star and now their breakup is all over the media. And then she falls for Ashton instantly when she barely even knows him!!! After their 80% conflict (the media uncovers Ashton and Jasmine's relationship, and his secret child) she gets back with him a little too easily. The stuff he said to her was fucked up IMO
-The chemistry between them had no buildup. We go from Ashton being like "oh wow she's Latina and she can't even speak Spanish" to them hooking up in her trailer.
Likes?
-Telenovela plot: Jasmine and Ashton are co-stars on this new telenovela and the actions of the characters in the show parallels their relationship. It also serves as a forced interaction device; there's a kiss scene early on in the show where a intimacy coach is brought in (I liked reading about their interactions during this scene, a little glimpse of Hollywood post #MeToo) and there's good buildup to their first kiss, but then Ashton gets a call that his secret child got hurt and it throws off their chemistry so that when they go to film they're forced to reshoot 17 times.
-Jasmine's "nemesis" Kitty (who writes about her in the media) turns out to be a big fan
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
renpuspita's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Written like a love letter to telenovelas and soap operas, surprisely I end up enjoy this one. Since telenovelas also shape my childhood, together with Chinese historical period drama (wuxia). A hero with emotional baggage is not my favorite since they can act as a jerk, but Ashton's vulnerability is well written. That his fear regarding his own guarded secret (his son) and his PTSD from having a stalker break into his house is somehow understandable. Jasmine who is desperate for any attention, craving for love and affection, therefore always end up in a messy breakup is somehow I can relate to. Although her own family is far from family of hell, she always think that she is not good enough. Which is weird, because if I have a daughter as an actress I will at least proud of her when she got award, not show it with somehow lukewarm reaction.
I also liked that both characters are in their 30-s with Ashton almost 40. Since all books I read from early this year (2023) mostly told from 1st PoV, it's nice to read romance that written with third PoV from both heroine and the hero. Therefore, we know their feelings to each other, their struggle and inner anguish and how they interact. Although, not much banter and snarkiness, maybe because Ashton is imho, pretty much down to earth and Jasmine respect him as one of her senior in telenovela worlds. The steaminess is off the chart, and although their romance can be perceived as insta-lust because of close proximity, I don't mind it at all. Another plus point is the family theme, with the sisterhood between Jasmine and her cousins, Michelle and Ava that support her (their chat group called Primas of Power). I'm really green with envy for Jasmine, because I'm never that close to my cousins (and my own sisters hahaha). Jasmine's reluctant about her Abuelita's campaign to wear eye cream everyday is almost like a comic relief, but also show that deep inside she love her grandmother.
I like the way Daria write about the film productions. One of the plus point is how she write about intimacy coordinator, since the tv series that Jasmine and Ashton starred, Carmen in Charge is a romance flix. Reading the way intimacy coordinator work is a blast, like how they try to coordinate the actors in romantic scene and sex scene, while reaffirm their consents to do it, even it just act. Through Ashton's narrative, Daria show that in the past the telenovela world didn't reconsider their actors feelings in filming romantic scene and just let go with the flow. I also like how diverse the casts, like Jasmine is biracial, mix of Puerto Rico and Filipino, and so on. The Spanish dialog kinda throw me aback since English is not my native languange, and I just understand one or two if spanish word (like hola, come estas or bueno noches/dias, etc). So thanks for google translate to help me to understand when Ashton speaking in Spanish. I never highlighted so much in my Kobo e-reader with new Spain vocabulary!
The downgrade is maybe the third act feel too dramatic for my sense and how they lashed to hurting each other just make me rolling my eyes, because..uhm..communication? Sure Jasmine and Ashton have heart to heart talk before, but with Ashton's secret, he's always guarded. One of reviewer also point out why they are afraid to see dating with each other, because co-stars dating everytime, and I kinda agree. Although I see the reason behind that, especially from Ashton's PoV. He's scared of his life. I do liked the way Daria handle both of character's redemption, although, you know this is contemporary romance, the mistake is pretty common in character relationship. I also feel that Daria's writing somehow clunky? When I see how much chapter in the book, I'm surprised because wtf, 40 chapters?? And then, oh, it's just short ones lol, since I finish reading the book under 4 hrs. I just hope when Daria writing about the filming scene between Jasmine (as Carmen) and Ashton (as Victor) is pretty much about the scene, not there are random sentences about what Jasmine or Ashton think. Or maybe she can write it in italic.
Con-rom novels about celebrity is not my forte, but I liked the way the story untold and reading the dynamics between Jasmine and Ashton, and their families (big and small). I also love the production process behind the scene, although the angst can be too much sometimes.
I also liked that both characters are in their 30-s with Ashton almost 40. Since all books I read from early this year (2023) mostly told from 1st PoV, it's nice to read romance that written with third PoV from both heroine and the hero. Therefore, we know their feelings to each other, their struggle and inner anguish and how they interact. Although, not much banter and snarkiness, maybe because Ashton is imho, pretty much down to earth and Jasmine respect him as one of her senior in telenovela worlds. The steaminess is off the chart, and although their romance can be perceived as insta-lust because of close proximity, I don't mind it at all. Another plus point is the family theme, with the sisterhood between Jasmine and her cousins, Michelle and Ava that support her (their chat group called Primas of Power). I'm really green with envy for Jasmine, because I'm never that close to my cousins (and my own sisters hahaha). Jasmine's reluctant about her Abuelita's campaign to wear eye cream everyday is almost like a comic relief, but also show that deep inside she love her grandmother.
I like the way Daria write about the film productions. One of the plus point is how she write about intimacy coordinator, since the tv series that Jasmine and Ashton starred, Carmen in Charge is a romance flix. Reading the way intimacy coordinator work is a blast, like how they try to coordinate the actors in romantic scene and sex scene, while reaffirm their consents to do it, even it just act. Through Ashton's narrative, Daria show that in the past the telenovela world didn't reconsider their actors feelings in filming romantic scene and just let go with the flow. I also like how diverse the casts, like Jasmine is biracial, mix of Puerto Rico and Filipino, and so on. The Spanish dialog kinda throw me aback since English is not my native languange, and I just understand one or two if spanish word (like hola, come estas or bueno noches/dias, etc). So thanks for google translate to help me to understand when Ashton speaking in Spanish. I never highlighted so much in my Kobo e-reader with new Spain vocabulary!
The downgrade is maybe the third act feel too dramatic for my sense and how they lashed to hurting each other just make me rolling my eyes, because..uhm..communication? Sure Jasmine and Ashton have heart to heart talk before, but with Ashton's secret, he's always guarded. One of reviewer also point out why they are afraid to see dating with each other, because co-stars dating everytime, and I kinda agree. Although I see the reason behind that, especially from Ashton's PoV. He's scared of his life. I do liked the way Daria handle both of character's redemption, although, you know this is contemporary romance, the mistake is pretty common in character relationship. I also feel that Daria's writing somehow clunky? When I see how much chapter in the book, I'm surprised because wtf, 40 chapters?? And then, oh, it's just short ones lol, since I finish reading the book under 4 hrs. I just hope when Daria writing about the filming scene between Jasmine (as Carmen) and Ashton (as Victor) is pretty much about the scene, not there are random sentences about what Jasmine or Ashton think. Or maybe she can write it in italic.
Con-rom novels about celebrity is not my forte, but I liked the way the story untold and reading the dynamics between Jasmine and Ashton, and their families (big and small). I also love the production process behind the scene, although the angst can be too much sometimes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Abandonment