Reviews tagging 'Grief'

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

7 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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brandie_abbie19's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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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renaaa_'s review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-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

Absolutely adored this book. The style of writing was very unique as was the format of the book. All the characters were very loveable but I felt a strong connection to Jasmine, as she is of mixed descent (latina & asian) which is the same background I have. The book was also very inclusive & diverse, which I appreciated. The main characters definitely challenged each other, but watching them grow and love each other was really inspiring 

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dolores_madil's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

 Here is my review of You Had Me at Hola. I really enjoyed this book it had great representation that I resonated with. As someone who is of Latinx heritage but can not speak Spanish. Also, there is a good representation for mental health I can not say that I am an expert on the issues the author choose to single out but I think it was not shown in a negative light. Also as this is a romance it definitely had plenty of spicy scenes. They were all very respectful and super hot. Also, there is plenty of teasing of us I felt like where the author had to hold them apart. I loved and hated it in the best way. I defiantly recommend it for good Latinx representation but also a good romance that is healthy. 

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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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