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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
lighthearted
sad
medium-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:
Yes
The book cover and plot had me so interested in this story. Unfortunately, the love interests had the emotional maturity of pre-teens, despite being much older.
Ashton wanted everything his way without any of the drawbacks of his choices. It irritated me that they kept saying he was so much better than the ex-boyfriend. He was using Jasmine to get what he wanted without giving her anything- Ashton and the ex had more in common than the author lets on.He wanted to be a famous actor without any of the fame. He wanted to be a dad but didn’t take on the responsibilities.
Jasmine also acted like a child. She literally threw a temper tantrum when she didn’t get her way so bad she was willing to give up everything she (and many others) had worked so hard for.
There were some good parts of the story, I enjoyed the beginning a lot. I just really struggled to care about them because every time I would start to get invested, one of them would do something stupid again.
I also really hated all the skin cream and wrinkles comments. How dare a woman age! (Sarcasm)
Jasmine also acted like a child. She literally threw a temper tantrum when she didn’t get her way so bad she was willing to give up everything she (and many others) had worked so hard for.
There were some good parts of the story, I enjoyed the beginning a lot. I just really struggled to care about them because every time I would start to get invested, one of them would do something stupid again.
Honestly, this book was not as good as I expected it to be! It's been a minute since I read it, but the enemies to lovers was just not great because it started with an overused have one person spill coffee on the other and then it never goes deeper than that. Also, their chemistry fell a bit flat. The physical was there, but then the emotional scenes never seemed to work well. It was a fun afternoon read, but it didn't fully suck me in as much as I would've liked
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Okay so I finally finished this book. Honestly, I picked up this book because of the cover. I liked the title and witty switch up with 'hola' instead of 'hello.' And the characters looked hot. Ashton and Jasmine meet by the usual run-in, he pours coffee on her, she changes into the tiniest outfit imaginable, he can't control his boner, yadda yadda. The story is told in a dual, 3rd person POV which I liked but also didn't, only because I couldn't stand Ashton. 12% into the audio and I said "Ashton no me cae bien." I think mainly because he was supposed to be 40 or something but he didn't act his age. The author also kept reminding us of his age like she would forget he was supposed to be older. Because of this inconsistency, I just couldn't find Ashton attractive. He wasn't doing it for me and it wasn't because he was "old" but I will say the spicy scenes were well-written. They had me swooning for Ashton, or someone like him.
For the most part, I liked Jasmine. She was a well-drawn out character with real fears and desires like everyone else. I could relate when she said she just wanted to be loved and had a lot of love to give. I just know she's going to be a wonderful step-mom. Yadi is so adorable but goddamn does he go to hospitals often. The only thing that irked me about Jasmine was when the author had her not know what "confío" means, like that's a fucking stretch fr. I know Jasmine is supposed to be a second gen Nuyorican but if she's surrounded by some aspects of Spanish or Spanglish, confío should be a word she knows, y'know? I also think the Spanish used was overall basic and surface-level, nothing was too hard to understand except Jasmine was basically written as a "no sabo" kid with a "correct accent" which I don't even know what that means. The ending also didn't quite make sense to me because Jasmine suddenly came to the realization that she was enough and didn't need no man to feel whole so when Jasmine and Ashton get together at the end it's because she wants to and not because she needs him even though there was no indication that Jasmine was growing towards this realization. She was very much dependent on men for her happiness. I liked that in the epilogue we finally met Kitty Sanchez, the face behind all the messy tabloids. Her reasoning was far-fetched for why she did Jasmine dirty like that but the ending was satisfying enough, I guess.
Going back to Ashton real quick because I just have so much to say about that baboso of a man.
The only characters I really liked were Jasmine's cousins – the Primas of Power – Michelle and Ava (so I'll probably read the sequels), and the intimacy coordinator, Vera. Although her character fizzled out once she was no longer needed. I felt like aside from being mentioned in the beginning and when Ashton goes karaoking, the other cast members in Carmen in Charge were not memorable as side characters. Although I really appreciated when they went around and showed the vast representation of Latinos/as in the show/book. I think I ultimately picked up this book because I wanted to read about more characters like look like me and share similar cultural practices as me but sadly, the book fell short and honestly, left me wanting. I do appreciate what this book stands for and what it's trying to accomplish even though it did not check off my boxes and that's the only reason I gave it a 3 ⭐⭐⭐ rating. If I think about Ashton any longer I think I'm going to have an aneurysm and drop the rating to 2 stars.
Thank you and goodnight.
For the most part, I liked Jasmine. She was a well-drawn out character with real fears and desires like everyone else. I could relate when she said she just wanted to be loved and had a lot of love to give. I just know she's going to be a wonderful step-mom. Yadi is so adorable but goddamn does he go to hospitals often. The only thing that irked me about Jasmine was when the author had her not know what "confío" means, like that's a fucking stretch fr. I know Jasmine is supposed to be a second gen Nuyorican but if she's surrounded by some aspects of Spanish or Spanglish, confío should be a word she knows, y'know? I also think the Spanish used was overall basic and surface-level, nothing was too hard to understand except Jasmine was basically written as a "no sabo" kid with a "correct accent" which I don't even know what that means. The ending also didn't quite make sense to me because Jasmine suddenly came to the realization that she was enough and didn't need no man to feel whole so when Jasmine and Ashton get together at the end it's because she wants to and not because she needs him even though there was no indication that Jasmine was growing towards this realization. She was very much dependent on men for her happiness. I liked that in the epilogue we finally met Kitty Sanchez, the face behind all the messy tabloids. Her reasoning was far-fetched for why she did Jasmine dirty like that but the ending was satisfying enough, I guess.
Going back to Ashton real quick because I just have so much to say about that baboso of a man.
Spoiler
He was literally grinding my last nerves with his internal dialogue whiplash. He would go from "breaking up is the best" to "I didn't know it would hurt this bad." Obvio, I'm paraphrasing but still you get the gist. Like he didn't even understand his own emotions or algo así. Don't even get me started on that ugly-ass argument they had at her apartment where his dad calls and says Yadi is in the hospital and because he threw his phone at the sofa to be all like "you have my full, undivided attention," he gets all upset and instead of just leaving to get his son, he just HAS to get the last word and LITERALLY blames her for the media finding out about her son because she's always in the tabloids and whatnot. I just can't see him as the endgame love interest, like that's the dude Jasmine's supposed to end up with? Nah, you got me fucked up. He purposely verbally abuses her to make himself feel better!!! Hellooooooo, red flag much? I will concede that Jasmine should not have felt so entitled to Ashton’s secret about his kid but she eventually realized that and owned up to it. I'm not saying she's perfect but her apology and realization is so much better than Ashton wallowing in his self-pity about how he shouldn't have said that to her because he was wrong. Also, when he got to the mfing hospital, he started moping about how his family doesn't "need" him and he felt so dejected because no one "needed" him like be so fucking fr right now Ashton. Also, can I just say: if the media never found out about his son, he wouldn't be able to live with him WHICH HE HAS BEEN WANTING TO DO FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!!??? Like Ashton's literally always bitching about how he wants to be more involved in his son's life and he's missing out all these crucial moments in Yadi's life but when people find out about his son, he wants to keep him in PR with his dad??? UGH, I just needed Ashton to grovel more before accepting him as Jasmine's only love interest.The only characters I really liked were Jasmine's cousins – the Primas of Power – Michelle and Ava (so I'll probably read the sequels), and the intimacy coordinator, Vera. Although her character fizzled out once she was no longer needed. I felt like aside from being mentioned in the beginning and when Ashton goes karaoking, the other cast members in Carmen in Charge were not memorable as side characters. Although I really appreciated when they went around and showed the vast representation of Latinos/as in the show/book. I think I ultimately picked up this book because I wanted to read about more characters like look like me and share similar cultural practices as me but sadly, the book fell short and honestly, left me wanting. I do appreciate what this book stands for and what it's trying to accomplish even though it did not check off my boxes and that's the only reason I gave it a 3 ⭐⭐⭐ rating. If I think about Ashton any longer I think I'm going to have an aneurysm and drop the rating to 2 stars.
Thank you and goodnight.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Grief, Alcohol
YOU HAD ME AT HOLA by Alexis Daria is about two actors who fall (secretly) in love while playing exes-turned-lovers on a telenovela. And despite knowing nothing about telenovelas, I still blew through this book in a matter of days. It was THAT compulsively readable.
If you enjoy . . .
1) Secret romances
2) Stories set in the entertainment industry
3) Protagonists whose relationships with their families are as rich and complex and ultimately loving as their relationships with each other
4) Diverse characters of color (There might've been some white people in this book, but I can't come up with any off the top of my head . . .)
5) Scorching love scenes
. . . then you have to give YOU HAD ME AT HOLA a read.
If you enjoy . . .
1) Secret romances
2) Stories set in the entertainment industry
3) Protagonists whose relationships with their families are as rich and complex and ultimately loving as their relationships with each other
4) Diverse characters of color (There might've been some white people in this book, but I can't come up with any off the top of my head . . .)
5) Scorching love scenes
. . . then you have to give YOU HAD ME AT HOLA a read.
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
I really loved both these characters and the development of their relationship. Loved the relationship between the three cousins. Eager to read rest of the series.
4.5 You know the kind of stories that wrap you up in a fuzzy blanket and make all your troubles fade into the background? Yeah, this is one of those. You Had Me at Hola is fun, sweet, funny, at times downright adorable, and also steamy. Because really, any romance that begins with a snarky coffee spill meet cute is sure to have plenty more perfection in store. I loved the way that the telenovela plot directly played into the main plotline between Jasmine and Ashton. Also, can we talk about how wonderful it is to see mainstream telenovela portrayal and destigmatization of them and soaps? And intimacy coordinators? I really really hope that's a real thing.
Daria crafts beautiful, complex characters (Ashton's son made me melt), whose motivations extend far beyond wooing each other, thereby lending credibility to their actions, even when the relationship sometimes felt a bit clunky/cheesy. Ultimately though, the conversations surrounding what it means to trust someone, and balancing privacy in a public world made up for it, and somehow added to the swoon.
Daria crafts beautiful, complex characters (Ashton's son made me melt), whose motivations extend far beyond wooing each other, thereby lending credibility to their actions, even when the relationship sometimes felt a bit clunky/cheesy. Ultimately though, the conversations surrounding what it means to trust someone, and balancing privacy in a public world made up for it, and somehow added to the swoon.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
📖 - Jane the Virgin vibes but in a book? AMAZING. I ate this up. I loved the television scenes in between. Too bad the sequel is not about Jasmine and Ashton, though. But who am I kidding, I will read the sequel anyway.