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A review by nickoliver
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall, I found this really delightful! I loved Jasmine and Ashton - especially Ashton and especially the fact that he was a single dad, something I didn't know going into the book but was promptly obsessed with -, and seeing the TV industry so up and close was utterly fascinating. There was an entire scene where Jasmine and Ashton were being coached by an intimacy coordinator, which was so lovely and interesting to learn more about!
The family aspects were also strong in this book. Jasmine's immediate family could've been explored a bit more - they were portrayed as not valuing Jasmine much and downplaying her achievements, but it was never really dealt with properly? Which was a bit weird. But Ashton's family - his father, his son, his grandparents - were so supportive and endearing! I also liked that Yadiel - the son - was actually present in the story; I've read a lot of romance books with single fathers where the kids barely showed up physically, so this was a nice change for me.
I liked the romance between Jasmine and Ashton a lot (probably also because I genuinely loved Ashton and I'm not really used to loving straight men, even if they're fictional). I have read reviews that talked about how weird it was that their attraction for each other made work harder for them, considering they'd been in the industry for a while now, and I agree with that. And while their chemistry wasn't necessarily off-the-charts and I don't think they'll be one of my favourite couples ever, I did think they fit together well and were fun to read about.
The only thing that I truly didn't like was the third act. I could tell what it was going to be about from very early on, and the characters' reactions - especially Jasmine's - made me just frustrated. It didn't really portray them in a good light. So the inevitable break-up, which I usually don't enjoy but don't always hate, wasn't really done well and I could've done without it.
But like I said, I enjoyed the majority of this! I'll definitely read more by this author.
The family aspects were also strong in this book. Jasmine's immediate family could've been explored a bit more - they were portrayed as not valuing Jasmine much and downplaying her achievements, but it was never really dealt with properly? Which was a bit weird. But Ashton's family - his father, his son, his grandparents - were so supportive and endearing! I also liked that Yadiel - the son - was actually present in the story; I've read a lot of romance books with single fathers where the kids barely showed up physically, so this was a nice change for me.
I liked the romance between Jasmine and Ashton a lot (probably also because I genuinely loved Ashton and I'm not really used to loving straight men, even if they're fictional). I have read reviews that talked about how weird it was that their attraction for each other made work harder for them, considering they'd been in the industry for a while now, and I agree with that. And while their chemistry wasn't necessarily off-the-charts and I don't think they'll be one of my favourite couples ever, I did think they fit together well and were fun to read about.
The only thing that I truly didn't like was the third act. I could tell what it was going to be about from very early on, and the characters' reactions - especially Jasmine's - made me just frustrated. It didn't really portray them in a good light. So the inevitable break-up, which I usually don't enjoy but don't always hate, wasn't really done well and I could've done without it.
But like I said, I enjoyed the majority of this! I'll definitely read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Stalking