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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
fast-paced
There wasn’t anything really wrong with this book but i wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it to people. it was just I don’t know is very slow and I just felt like there was nothing going on I felt like the author was trying to shove the telanovella into the story because we would randomly get scenes from it, but we would get jumping scenes. They didn’t add anything to the story at all. The behind the scenes stuff was good, it added into he story but the scenes themselves I don’t understand why they were there. This book was sold to me as “if you loved Jane the virgin you’ll love this” and I just feel as though that’s false. I LOVED Jane the virgin but this fell 100% flat for me. The only thing that was the same was the character’s backgrounds, other then that there wasn’t anything really.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Fun, easy romance with a cast of Latinex characters. Warning: very open-door!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 - Such a great diverse book.
I thought the characters were okay, just not fleshed out enough. The main character, Jasmine, was great, and I was really happy with how confident she was unabashedly. The male lead Ashton was a little immature and some of his fears were realistic. I'm glad that it showed him as insecure, since we don't get that a lot in fiction, but I didn't enjoy reading his perspective all that much since he was whiny often.
The story was decent, just not paced well. I felt like the climax and resolution was too short. The climax wasn't thrilling or scary enough since it couldn't be fleshed out. The resolution was just a few pages and didn't feel fulfilling enough.
I thought the characters were okay, just not fleshed out enough. The main character, Jasmine, was great, and I was really happy with how confident she was unabashedly. The male lead Ashton was a little immature and some of his fears were realistic. I'm glad that it showed him as insecure, since we don't get that a lot in fiction, but I didn't enjoy reading his perspective all that much since he was whiny often.
The story was decent, just not paced well. I felt like the climax and resolution was too short. The climax wasn't thrilling or scary enough since it couldn't be fleshed out. The resolution was just a few pages and didn't feel fulfilling enough.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I thought I would love this book, but it just missed the mark for me.
I thought this book would be dramatic and OTT but I found myself feeling bored -obviously this book just wasn’t what I thought it was.
This was more of a romance novel than I anticipated, but the characters fell madly in love at some point, and I totally missed it. They went from not talking, to die for you love, with zero chemistry or build up.
I thought this book would be dramatic and OTT but I found myself feeling bored -obviously this book just wasn’t what I thought it was.
This was more of a romance novel than I anticipated, but the characters fell madly in love at some point, and I totally missed it. They went from not talking, to die for you love, with zero chemistry or build up.
4.5/5
OK, I know I tend to start every review like this, but this is not an exaggeration. I have LOTS OF THOUGHTS. I even found myself frantically typing out little notes on my phone so that I wouldn't forget not one single point I wanted to talk about. So, let's delve into the (extensive) list of points, shall we?
First, as you can tell by my rating, I loved this book. Within the first couple of pages, I realized how seamlessly Alexis Daria swept me into her narrative and gave my mind a break from the world. And I think we all need those mental breaks because things are bleak, to put it simply. Her writing doesn't try hard to be anything it's not–– it's simple, flowing, and I ate it up quickly.
Something I didn't expect was to feel so comforted. As a Latinx individual, I understand how important representation is, and I know that there is so much work to be done. But, growing up in Miami, a pocket where almost everyone has roots around the world and speaks Spanish (or another language), I never felt the pain or shadow of not being represented in my own community. I speak Spanish freely at the grocery store without strange glances from those around me, I can pick up a café con leche on any block corner, I can speak Spanglish and my friends will always understand me. These are little things that, while growing up, I had no idea could be hard to find in other places. For a while, my dad lived in Connecticut for work. I loved visiting and going on road trips to surrounding states and Canada, but I couldn't help but notice how there were moments that shocked me. A harsh glance when we spoke Spanish in public, the stare of someone listening to my dad's accented English. As I grew older, I would see videos of Latinx individuals being called slurs and yelled at for speaking their language, and it guts me. But, in the end, I grew up and am surrounded by my culture, and I never had to think twice about these types of things.
The point is that this book showed me how it felt to be represented in publishing. I didn't know I craved to see Spanish or modern slang I use with my friends littering a text. I didn't know I would feel a flutter in my chest to see the words Café Bustelo printed in a book. Even just the term Latinx being used spurred something up inside of me. It was really the little things that excited me so much.
Aside from the romance (which was great) and the lightheartedness of it all, there was also plenty of social commentaries. For one, Daria brought up colorism, which is extremely prevalent in Latinx communities, and the handling of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, which is close to my heart as I have family on the island.
"After Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on the island, the federal government's absolute failure to provide resources and aid an 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." Snaps all around.
Daria also briefly mentions emotional labor, and this is so important to discuss (and yes, I'm aware I keep saying how important everything is.)
"But after all he'd said, he had no right to ask her for any more emotional labor on his behalf." And this was thought by Ashton himself, which is also amazing because he's aware of his actions and actually acknowledges it. In these situations, if the topic is brought up, it's usually the female because the norms dictate that men don't even consider things like emotional labor. But Daria is proving otherwise!
Double standards and the portrayal of women in a certain light also plays a role in this novel, especially because Jasmine and Ashton are actors in the limelight.
"Slut-shaming and an offensive stereotype, all in one headline? Real classy." This quote from Jasmine's thoughts points to the way women's actions are often taken as negative even when men do the same things and are praised for their sexual prowess if you will. It's ridiculous, and it needs to stop. Something else that just popped into my head–– I really love how Jasmine finally meets Kitty Sanchez, who she considered her nemesis, and realizes she is actually an adoring fan just trying to make a name for herself in the industry. Jasmine acknowledges the struggle Kitty and herself have faced–– it's a really powerful moment, at least for me.
Something I appreciated was the fact that Jasmine didn't really speak Spanish. I loved that Alexis included this detail because it is relatable and realistic. There are many Latinx individuals who didn't grow up speaking the language and who have been made to feel as though they don't belong to the rich community of individuals. And this is so wrong. Although my Spanish is not perfect (not by a long shot), I know that my roots lie in the countries of my family. I am no less Latinx because I need to ask for help when speaking Spanish. Punto.
One line on page 142 also made me pause. It reads, "Whoa, wait a second. Why couldn't she be the doctor? And Ashton a...personal trainer, maybe." Here, Jasmine is envisioning what a normal life would look like with Ashton, without any fame or acting as a career. She catches herself fantasizing about Ashton possibly being a doctor and she a Pilates instructor, then backtracks. This sentence shows how ingrained society's social norms are in our minds, but Jasmine fights back against those gender norms and tells herself that she can be the doctor instead. I loved that because it's a constant inner monologue to try to banish those constricting norms from our heads.
Now, let's get into the romance. So, from early on, I felt as though Jasmine resigned herself to having to fall in love with Ashton. Almost like she was forcing herself to feel for him that way. It seemed more organic later on in the novel, but that bit at the beginning struck out to me. Their build-up was definitely a slow burn as most of the climax comes very close to the end of the book. On that note, I wish the climax had been spread out a bit more. Nothing was really happening and then everything did, right at the end. But when it did happen, let me tell you, I had all of the feels.
When Ashton confesses his love to Jasmine, I really loved how Daria included this sentiment,
"The same. She felt happy, but she no longer felt the sense of completion she used to feel when she was with a guy. No, she felt the same because...she was already complete. And wasn't that a lovely feeling?" Yes, yes, it is.
OK, I can probably continue, but I think it's time I stop here. I would definitely re-read this novel, and I'm excited to read more of Daria's work. This book had me at the first page.
OK, I know I tend to start every review like this, but this is not an exaggeration. I have LOTS OF THOUGHTS. I even found myself frantically typing out little notes on my phone so that I wouldn't forget not one single point I wanted to talk about. So, let's delve into the (extensive) list of points, shall we?
First, as you can tell by my rating, I loved this book. Within the first couple of pages, I realized how seamlessly Alexis Daria swept me into her narrative and gave my mind a break from the world. And I think we all need those mental breaks because things are bleak, to put it simply. Her writing doesn't try hard to be anything it's not–– it's simple, flowing, and I ate it up quickly.
Something I didn't expect was to feel so comforted. As a Latinx individual, I understand how important representation is, and I know that there is so much work to be done. But, growing up in Miami, a pocket where almost everyone has roots around the world and speaks Spanish (or another language), I never felt the pain or shadow of not being represented in my own community. I speak Spanish freely at the grocery store without strange glances from those around me, I can pick up a café con leche on any block corner, I can speak Spanglish and my friends will always understand me. These are little things that, while growing up, I had no idea could be hard to find in other places. For a while, my dad lived in Connecticut for work. I loved visiting and going on road trips to surrounding states and Canada, but I couldn't help but notice how there were moments that shocked me. A harsh glance when we spoke Spanish in public, the stare of someone listening to my dad's accented English. As I grew older, I would see videos of Latinx individuals being called slurs and yelled at for speaking their language, and it guts me. But, in the end, I grew up and am surrounded by my culture, and I never had to think twice about these types of things.
The point is that this book showed me how it felt to be represented in publishing. I didn't know I craved to see Spanish or modern slang I use with my friends littering a text. I didn't know I would feel a flutter in my chest to see the words Café Bustelo printed in a book. Even just the term Latinx being used spurred something up inside of me. It was really the little things that excited me so much.
Aside from the romance (which was great) and the lightheartedness of it all, there was also plenty of social commentaries. For one, Daria brought up colorism, which is extremely prevalent in Latinx communities, and the handling of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, which is close to my heart as I have family on the island.
"After Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on the island, the federal government's absolute failure to provide resources and aid an 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." Snaps all around.
Daria also briefly mentions emotional labor, and this is so important to discuss (and yes, I'm aware I keep saying how important everything is.)
"But after all he'd said, he had no right to ask her for any more emotional labor on his behalf." And this was thought by Ashton himself, which is also amazing because he's aware of his actions and actually acknowledges it. In these situations, if the topic is brought up, it's usually the female because the norms dictate that men don't even consider things like emotional labor. But Daria is proving otherwise!
Double standards and the portrayal of women in a certain light also plays a role in this novel, especially because Jasmine and Ashton are actors in the limelight.
"Slut-shaming and an offensive stereotype, all in one headline? Real classy." This quote from Jasmine's thoughts points to the way women's actions are often taken as negative even when men do the same things and are praised for their sexual prowess if you will. It's ridiculous, and it needs to stop. Something else that just popped into my head–– I really love how Jasmine finally meets Kitty Sanchez, who she considered her nemesis, and realizes she is actually an adoring fan just trying to make a name for herself in the industry. Jasmine acknowledges the struggle Kitty and herself have faced–– it's a really powerful moment, at least for me.
Something I appreciated was the fact that Jasmine didn't really speak Spanish. I loved that Alexis included this detail because it is relatable and realistic. There are many Latinx individuals who didn't grow up speaking the language and who have been made to feel as though they don't belong to the rich community of individuals. And this is so wrong. Although my Spanish is not perfect (not by a long shot), I know that my roots lie in the countries of my family. I am no less Latinx because I need to ask for help when speaking Spanish. Punto.
One line on page 142 also made me pause. It reads, "Whoa, wait a second. Why couldn't she be the doctor? And Ashton a...personal trainer, maybe." Here, Jasmine is envisioning what a normal life would look like with Ashton, without any fame or acting as a career. She catches herself fantasizing about Ashton possibly being a doctor and she a Pilates instructor, then backtracks. This sentence shows how ingrained society's social norms are in our minds, but Jasmine fights back against those gender norms and tells herself that she can be the doctor instead. I loved that because it's a constant inner monologue to try to banish those constricting norms from our heads.
Now, let's get into the romance. So, from early on, I felt as though Jasmine resigned herself to having to fall in love with Ashton. Almost like she was forcing herself to feel for him that way. It seemed more organic later on in the novel, but that bit at the beginning struck out to me. Their build-up was definitely a slow burn as most of the climax comes very close to the end of the book. On that note, I wish the climax had been spread out a bit more. Nothing was really happening and then everything did, right at the end. But when it did happen, let me tell you, I had all of the feels.
When Ashton confesses his love to Jasmine, I really loved how Daria included this sentiment,
"The same. She felt happy, but she no longer felt the sense of completion she used to feel when she was with a guy. No, she felt the same because...she was already complete. And wasn't that a lovely feeling?" Yes, yes, it is.
OK, I can probably continue, but I think it's time I stop here. I would definitely re-read this novel, and I'm excited to read more of Daria's work. This book had me at the first page.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Jasmine Lin is working hard to make more of a name for herself as a Latinx actress in Hollywood, just preferably not in association with break up headlines. Ashton Suarez is famous in Spanish speaking Telenovelas, but wants to break out as a Latinx star in Hollywood as well. Placed together as the new costars of Carmen In Charge, an American take on a telenovela, things begin to heat up between costars…
Okay, first of all - can someone make Carmen In Charge a real show for me??? Because I’m obsessed with these English speaking telenovelas. The family events for both main characters? In love! Who doesn’t love lightly meddling families? Sometimes the character connections could be a bit shallow, but I honestly loved this as a light fun rom-com and now need to devour all of Daría’s backlist! 😍
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No