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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Not as good as Caribbean Heiress in Paris but a fun and quick read.
Julia is in Dallas after her ex-boyfriend had them move there, but she has a wonderful- dream job for a foundation off a high-end clothing store. The foundation works for immigrants- which comes into play in the book and love how well the author put immigration into the story. Rocco is there to see the company can make an IPO- just falls for Julia right away. Loved the NYC group, loved all the Spanish woven into the story that lets even us non speakers understand what is going on. Its a slow burn but get super steamy once it hits! We even get an added kitten in this one!
This was my first Herrera novel and won't be my last! Loved it all and loved learning more about Dominican food! I also enjoyed how she had the two families in the books and how different they can be - along with shape you well into adult life.
Overall, 4 stars and 4 steam.
Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for the free review copy of Here To Stay.
This was my first Herrera novel and won't be my last! Loved it all and loved learning more about Dominican food! I also enjoyed how she had the two families in the books and how different they can be - along with shape you well into adult life.
Overall, 4 stars and 4 steam.
Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for the free review copy of Here To Stay.
Longer review upcoming nearer to the release of the book!
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this book, I just finished it yesterday so this review will be scattered since there's so much I loved from it. I'm super biased because I love anything and everything Adriana writes and this one especially was so hard to put down.
If you're interested in a co-workers hate to love with a dash of pining, an adorable/sometimes meddling family and friend group, sexy hot moments, a hero thats not afraid to be vulnerable, more pining, all the food mentions and baseball? then Here To Stay is the book for you :)
Julia and Rocco are adorable, cute, sexy, hot together, her family made me miss mine, all the dominican/boricua food references had me wanting to somehow find them at 2am (quipes are not an easy thing to find in the UK), i screamed at all the baseball mentions (Cano <3 yankees! <3). Overall it was such a fun book to read with many cute, sexy, pining moments.
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this book, I just finished it yesterday so this review will be scattered since there's so much I loved from it. I'm super biased because I love anything and everything Adriana writes and this one especially was so hard to put down.
If you're interested in a co-workers hate to love with a dash of pining, an adorable/sometimes meddling family and friend group, sexy hot moments, a hero thats not afraid to be vulnerable, more pining, all the food mentions and baseball? then Here To Stay is the book for you :)
Julia and Rocco are adorable, cute, sexy, hot together, her family made me miss mine, all the dominican/boricua food references had me wanting to somehow find them at 2am (quipes are not an easy thing to find in the UK), i screamed at all the baseball mentions (Cano <3 yankees! <3). Overall it was such a fun book to read with many cute, sexy, pining moments.
An excellent romance and found family story from Herrera. I always love the author's ability to make you feel like her characters could be part of your own friend group or family and this one did not disappoint. Although I was a bit worried to start off with because the potential for power dynamics related to Rocco and Julia's jobs, my mind was put at ease pretty quickly based not only on how it was actually written into the story and how both characters took that seriously within the story itself. I really appreciate how the characters are allowed to be unabashedly themselves, both with how they interacted with their friends, family and peers, but also their inner monologues. Definitely a slow burn, but also a great story of family and allowing someone to both leave on their own and still keep their friends and family close. Overall, it's a well written and relatable story that definitely needs to be told!
Merged review:
An excellent romance and found family story from Herrera. I always love the author's ability to make you feel like her characters could be part of your own friend group or family and this one did not disappoint. Although I was a bit worried to start off with because the potential for power dynamics related to Rocco and Julia's jobs, my mind was put at ease pretty quickly based not only on how it was actually written into the story and how both characters took that seriously within the story itself. I really appreciate how the characters are allowed to be unabashedly themselves, both with how they interacted with their friends, family and peers, but also their inner monologues. Definitely a slow burn, but also a great story of family and allowing someone to both leave on their own and still keep their friends and family close. Overall, it's a well written and relatable story that definitely needs to be told!
Merged review:
An excellent romance and found family story from Herrera. I always love the author's ability to make you feel like her characters could be part of your own friend group or family and this one did not disappoint. Although I was a bit worried to start off with because the potential for power dynamics related to Rocco and Julia's jobs, my mind was put at ease pretty quickly based not only on how it was actually written into the story and how both characters took that seriously within the story itself. I really appreciate how the characters are allowed to be unabashedly themselves, both with how they interacted with their friends, family and peers, but also their inner monologues. Definitely a slow burn, but also a great story of family and allowing someone to both leave on their own and still keep their friends and family close. Overall, it's a well written and relatable story that definitely needs to be told!
An incredible beginning to a new series! The story is so good, Julia and Rocco are a couple you’ll want to root for from the start, the twins are adorable. Basically, it’s just an awesome book!
She moved across country with her boyfriend, but Julia del Mar Ortiz is on her own after he picked up stakes. In Dallas, with a good job, she is determined to make things work. Julia misses her big, loving family, but she is not ready to throw in the cards and to head back to New York City.
The last thing Julia expected was to meet Rocco Quinn. He is a gorgeous consultant who might just end up being her arch enemy. Julia has a job at a fashion department store, and she is responsible for running charitable foundations that the store sponsors. However, what Julia does not quite realize is that Rocco's purpose there is to sort out the foundations and to actually remove them from the bottom line. End result? Julia's job and remaining purpose for staying in Dallas.
There is a deeper problem, however, and that is the sparks that fly between Julia and Rocco. However, with her past, the last thing she is thinking about is being in another relationship. Putting that aside, Julia is determined to put her best foot forward so that she can prove to Rocco that the programs she is involved with are critical.
There is no way to write this review and to not mention the stark differences between Julia and Rocco's families. Rocco's father was horrid, simply said. But Rocco's devotion to his sister and niece was very touching. With regard to Julia, her Dominican family was loud, brash and fun! I really loved them.
I also want to say that with current events, it is interesting that the various books I am reading lately include different cultures. It is great that this book made it to publication, because seeing a happy Dominican family in this book gives me a broader view in this difficult times. Adriana Herrera is a new name for me, and I love the way she wrote this book and this makes me eager to read more by her.
Many thanks to Carina Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The last thing Julia expected was to meet Rocco Quinn. He is a gorgeous consultant who might just end up being her arch enemy. Julia has a job at a fashion department store, and she is responsible for running charitable foundations that the store sponsors. However, what Julia does not quite realize is that Rocco's purpose there is to sort out the foundations and to actually remove them from the bottom line. End result? Julia's job and remaining purpose for staying in Dallas.
There is a deeper problem, however, and that is the sparks that fly between Julia and Rocco. However, with her past, the last thing she is thinking about is being in another relationship. Putting that aside, Julia is determined to put her best foot forward so that she can prove to Rocco that the programs she is involved with are critical.
There is no way to write this review and to not mention the stark differences between Julia and Rocco's families. Rocco's father was horrid, simply said. But Rocco's devotion to his sister and niece was very touching. With regard to Julia, her Dominican family was loud, brash and fun! I really loved them.
I also want to say that with current events, it is interesting that the various books I am reading lately include different cultures. It is great that this book made it to publication, because seeing a happy Dominican family in this book gives me a broader view in this difficult times. Adriana Herrera is a new name for me, and I love the way she wrote this book and this makes me eager to read more by her.
Many thanks to Carina Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Book Club Pick!
I will post my review after book club.
I will post my review after book club.
As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:
here to stay instagram pic
1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
I have to tell you that I really loved this steamy, contemporary romance.
There was a grittiness and real world feel to Adriana Herrera’s writing, making Here to Stay feel so far grounded in reality that it never strayed into the fantastical as some romance novels can.
The cultural references made me so happy. With so many ethinicities, cultures, and sexual orientations represented, this book feels true to life in the most basic ways. Relationships are not one size fits all, yet a lot of romance novels have a very narrow view of what their characters should be. Here to Stay tells it like it is in so many ways.
I also want to take a moment to talk about the food. Reading this book made me so hungry, because Adriana Herrera really gave us a great glimpse of the variety of Domincan food. I need to try some chimmichurri, pescado frito, and sancocho immediately. Looking these dishes up had my mouth watering.
Everything about Here to Stay just felt right, like the story fell into a pocket from the very beginning and didn’t let me go.
So good that any romance lover should snap this one up.
*Special thanks to Adriana Herrera and Carina Press for providing a copy of Here to Stay in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:
here to stay instagram pic
1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
I have to tell you that I really loved this steamy, contemporary romance.
There was a grittiness and real world feel to Adriana Herrera’s writing, making Here to Stay feel so far grounded in reality that it never strayed into the fantastical as some romance novels can.
The cultural references made me so happy. With so many ethinicities, cultures, and sexual orientations represented, this book feels true to life in the most basic ways. Relationships are not one size fits all, yet a lot of romance novels have a very narrow view of what their characters should be. Here to Stay tells it like it is in so many ways.
I also want to take a moment to talk about the food. Reading this book made me so hungry, because Adriana Herrera really gave us a great glimpse of the variety of Domincan food. I need to try some chimmichurri, pescado frito, and sancocho immediately. Looking these dishes up had my mouth watering.
Everything about Here to Stay just felt right, like the story fell into a pocket from the very beginning and didn’t let me go.
So good that any romance lover should snap this one up.
*Special thanks to Adriana Herrera and Carina Press for providing a copy of Here to Stay in exchange for an honest review.
here to stay instagram pic
1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
I have to tell you that I really loved this steamy, contemporary romance.
There was a grittiness and real world feel to Adriana Herrera’s writing, making Here to Stay feel so far grounded in reality that it never strayed into the fantastical as some romance novels can.
The cultural references made me so happy. With so many ethinicities, cultures, and sexual orientations represented, this book feels true to life in the most basic ways. Relationships are not one size fits all, yet a lot of romance novels have a very narrow view of what their characters should be. Here to Stay tells it like it is in so many ways.
I also want to take a moment to talk about the food. Reading this book made me so hungry, because Adriana Herrera really gave us a great glimpse of the variety of Domincan food. I need to try some chimmichurri, pescado frito, and sancocho immediately. Looking these dishes up had my mouth watering.
Everything about Here to Stay just felt right, like the story fell into a pocket from the very beginning and didn’t let me go.
So good that any romance lover should snap this one up.
*Special thanks to Adriana Herrera and Carina Press for providing a copy of Here to Stay in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:
here to stay instagram pic
1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
I have to tell you that I really loved this steamy, contemporary romance.
There was a grittiness and real world feel to Adriana Herrera’s writing, making Here to Stay feel so far grounded in reality that it never strayed into the fantastical as some romance novels can.
The cultural references made me so happy. With so many ethinicities, cultures, and sexual orientations represented, this book feels true to life in the most basic ways. Relationships are not one size fits all, yet a lot of romance novels have a very narrow view of what their characters should be. Here to Stay tells it like it is in so many ways.
I also want to take a moment to talk about the food. Reading this book made me so hungry, because Adriana Herrera really gave us a great glimpse of the variety of Domincan food. I need to try some chimmichurri, pescado frito, and sancocho immediately. Looking these dishes up had my mouth watering.
Everything about Here to Stay just felt right, like the story fell into a pocket from the very beginning and didn’t let me go.
So good that any romance lover should snap this one up.
*Special thanks to Adriana Herrera and Carina Press for providing a copy of Here to Stay in exchange for an honest review.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this book! I love, as many other reviewers have said, the way that Adriana excels at showing found family in her books and the Gotham Exiles group was amazing. I also related to moving to a new place and still having love for NYC while also realizing that you’re blossoming in a new way somewhere else. Rocco & Julia had CLEAR chemistry that sizzled and I enjoyed their story. Hated some of their communication mishaps, but I enjoyed how it all worked out in the end.