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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
funny
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 will be back for more from this author. I had a lot of fun with this book, particularly the emotional intimacy and the way the main characters related to their families.
3.5 stars.
My feelings about this one are a bit all over the place. Overall, I loved how fun and rom-com-y this book was. I haven't gobbled up a book the way I did this one in a long time (thanks, life) and I missed the feeling of getting lost in a fun read. That said, I did have a few issues with this book; issues that impacted my enjoyment of the romance. Let's review:
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
So, yes. Lots of thoughts. And, despite how negative this review comes off, I liked it more than I didn't. As a book, it was a fun read with good writing and moments that had me laughing. I loved that I was able to understand all the Spanish haha. Even on 2x speed! I really want to start watching telenovelas more often, because they are a lot of fun. This book really captured that drama/soap-y feel without being over the top. I'll definitely check out the next book in the series. Michelle was one of the best characters of this book; I'd love to see how her love story goes.
My feelings about this one are a bit all over the place. Overall, I loved how fun and rom-com-y this book was. I haven't gobbled up a book the way I did this one in a long time (thanks, life) and I missed the feeling of getting lost in a fun read. That said, I did have a few issues with this book; issues that impacted my enjoyment of the romance. Let's review:
STRENGTHS
- The setting. I don't enjoy workplace romances, with one big exception: Characters who are involved in some type of performing art, such as TV, film, dance, theater, etc. I love the drama, the different roles and jobs it takes to put on a production, the audience, the creativity. It's all a blast. I especially loved learning about the relatively new role of intimacy coordinator. The scenes where Ashton and Jasmine worked with the director and coordinator to perfect their craft and put themselves in the minds of their characters were some of the best in the book. It had a great amount of tension, while showing our main characters knew how to keep things professional.
- The family. I've been going through a lot of shit in my life lately. A big part of that is losing family members, so I appreciated living vicariously through Jasmine and getting to know her big extended family. I'm glad her two favorite cousins will be getting their own book.
- The message. This book said great things about diversity, specifically Latinx diversity, in media and Hollywood. The cast and crew realize what a unique opportunity they have working on "Carmen in Charge," a bilingual show that is being produced by the country's biggest streaming platform (think Netflix), and do everything they can to ensure its success. I also loved the diversity of the Latinx characters portrayed, with characters from North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. At times, it felt like the book was hitting us over the head with the message a bit too strongly, but considering what was being said and how many people STILL need to hear it, I won't complain.
- The pace. To be honest, this could be considered a weakness, but given my current state of mind, which is basically "sad goldfish," it worked. I needed something that moved at a quick pace and had lots of emotion and romance. Ashton and Jasmine's relationship heats up quick and has its ups and downs before they settle as a couple. I finished this book in about a day, never felt board, and finished the book with a lot of emotions (a plus even if they weren't all 100 positive).
WEAKNESSES
- The hero and heroine. Ashton and Jasmine were good characters; but as romantic leads, they were two giant YIKES! I am in no way qualified to say this, but I don't think either of them are in a healthy enough place to begin a relationship. Ashton has too much trauma related with a past event and Jasmine's self-worth has been too badly beaten up by her family, ex-boyfriends and friends. I think the best thing for both of them is to be on their own for a while to work through their shit before they complicate their lives further with a relationship. The HEA mentions therapy and they share a kiss where Jasmine notes that it doesn't make her feel complete because she already is complete, but ... no. Their "I want to do better" realizations just come on too quickly and without any real catalyst. I want them to earn that HEA and it just feels like they have more work to do before that happens. I do wish their friends and family had pushed them a bit more and pointed out how maladaptive some of their behavior was. We get some of that with Ignacio, Ashton's father, but there could have been more. (Side note: I felt for Ignacio more than anyone in this book. Trying to care for his aging parents and a young child, while managing a full-time business. #SandwichGeneration)
Spoiler
Ashton, who has spent the past eight years as a long-distance parent, needs to focus on how he's going to balance his career and being a full-time father. Jasmine, who has just left a bad relationship and has come to realize she has a history of looking for validation from men, needs to learn how to love herself and develop appropriate boundaries with men. - Ashton. Okay. I lied. Ashton was not a good character. He was okay at best. He was so emotionally closed off and rigid; I just couldn't warm up to him. I don't understand how a man who has so many hangups surrounding privacy and relationships could have a 10-plus year career as an actor. Jasmine calls him out on it, but pointing out the contrivance doesn't make it go away. We're told Ashton is a very well-known telenovela star, yet he's comes off naive and petulant when it comes to this job. Yes, Ashton, you have to do press interviews to promote the show. Yes, Ashton, you have to smile and do promo photos at public events and parties. Yes, Ashton, reporters and tabloids are going to pick apart your life for gossip fodder. Rumors of a sexual flings with your attractive co-stars are pretty mild, all things considered. Try not to act so scandalized and spin the story to your advantage.
- The third-act blowup. A lot of reviewers have mentioned this, so I won't dwell on it, but REALLY rubbed me the wrong way. It was just so incredibly selfish. It also didn't fit with the New Jasmine that she supposedly becomes by the end of the novel. Leading ladies don't run away; they face up to their mistakes, fix their shit and keep moving toward their goals. This is what I mean when I say neither of them feel ready to take on a new relationship.
Spoiler
Jasmine's big dramatic "I'm going back to Cali" moment - The Carmen scenes. This is kind of minor, but the book included these fanfic-like write ups of scenes from the show Ashton and Jasmine starred in. They were very confusing! They were written as if the two characters, Carmen and Victor, where real, whole people onto themselves, with inner thoughts, motivations, wants, pasts, etc. But ... they're not. They're TV show characters. And, again, these are not scenes of Ashton and Jasmine playing these roles; they're scenes from Carmen and Victor's lives. Sometimes, they'd acknowledge a camera and crew were there, which made even less sense. These scenes also felt like a waste of time. Ashton and Jasmine's relationship could have benefited from having those pages to continue its development.
So, yes. Lots of thoughts. And, despite how negative this review comes off, I liked it more than I didn't. As a book, it was a fun read with good writing and moments that had me laughing. I loved that I was able to understand all the Spanish haha. Even on 2x speed! I really want to start watching telenovelas more often, because they are a lot of fun. This book really captured that drama/soap-y feel without being over the top. I'll definitely check out the next book in the series. Michelle was one of the best characters of this book; I'd love to see how her love story goes.
Sadly I felt this book was a bit of a let down. I spent much of the book feeling like the author was telling me about a story rather than showing me and bringing me along. I felt most of the time like I wasn’t meant to be part of the story and was generally disconnected. I wasn’t a fan of any of the story telling told through Carmen and Vincent (the TV characters). I had high hopes going into this book and as a fan of Jane the Virgin, maybe my hopes were too high. Overall it’s ok, but not a new favorite.
This book really gave me Xo and Rogelio vibes! I love that they're an older couple and not the traditional mid 20s. The mmc keeps his son a secret to the extent its kind of annoying sometimes. It's obviously burdensome to his aging parents and grandparents to some extent, though they are a big loving family.
Very charming romance about Latinx actors breaking out of telenovelas and soaps while learning how to balance their families and romance and dealing with past traumas.