My Rating: 4/5 stars
Goodreads Summary: click here
This was such a fun fast paced, sexy, yet equally heart warming book. This book did so many things and ugh, I really enjoyed it. First thing first, This book is unapologetically Latinx. I love, love, how Daria casually incorporated culture and language through the book but didn’t stop to explain everything. There’s something so powerful and representative when a POC author doesn’t explain herself because for POC, this just a common part of their life. This is about them and if they can take the time to figure out how to survive and acclimate, so can the readers who don’t understand.
The concept of this book isn’t new but it’s the first of it’s kind that I stumbled upon. The story follows two actors, Ashton and Jasmin, who come together to act in a bilingual rom com. The whole fact that this movie is even being produced is a big deal for them, as it’s cultivating Latinx representation in main stream media. It’s also a big career step for both of them as it’s an opportunity they’re hoping is successful for both career and personal reasons.
I also appreciated how down to earth the entertainment aspect of this book was. Yes, this book features pretty big celebrities but the way the industry plays a role in this book is very comprehensible for us non-celebrities. It also gives a nice insight into the entertainment industry by placing us directly in the heads of these actors. I loved how the author weaved in scenes of the episodes they were filming from the perspective of the two characters the MC’s were playing. At times, I forgot that we were reading from Ashton and Jasmin and not their rom com counterparts until someone’s thoughts slipped from their character’s mindset.
My favorite part of this book was Ashton through and through. Ashton can step all over me and I’d let him. He’s the perfect combination of sweet and awkward, but also sexy and reserved. The way he’s romantic, quiet, reserved, intimidating, and so compassionate, made him such a multi-faceted character. He’s been through life experiences that aren’t commonly explored in romance novels. He’s a Puerto Rican actor and a single father who’s trying to rise in the ranks of entertainment despite his “older” age to make a better life for his son and family back on the island. Reading about his past and how much he wants to protect his son and family resulted in such an emotionally raw character who’s afraid to get close to someone. Which is where the incredibly sweet but equally broody and mysterious part of his personality comes out. His story made this book for me and why I binged it in two days.
And of course, the romance. The steamy scenes were so good. The tension between these two characters was so palpable. It was so fun seeing how Jasmin and Ashton were getting closer vs their rom com counterparts. Seeing Ashton balancing his desires, fears, and the desperate need to protect his family was so well done and I think that this really added to boosting the tension between the two love interests.
This isn’t a 5 star read for me is because while I did love Ashton’s story and the very, very, steamy/heart warming scenes between him and Jasmine Lin, I did feel like something was missing plot wise. I also think that because I loved Ashton’s character so much I wanted to have the same connection with Jasmin and unfortunately didn’t. I got so much from Ashton that I wanted just a bit more from Jasmin. While I do understand and love the importance behind Jasmin’s character, I think that this missing element resulted in me not being able to connect or care for her as much as I did for Ashton.
This is definitely going on my favorite romance books though and I’ll probably reread it sometime next summer. Have you read this book? What have you though of it?