With Along Came Amor, Alexis Daria closes her vibrant and heartfelt Primas of Power trilogy with a bang, blending sizzling romance with deep emotional growth and a strong sense of cultural identity. This third installment follows Ava Rodriguez, a divorced schoolteacher determined to reclaim her life, and Roman Vasquez, a driven hotelier who stumbles into her world like a well-dressed hurricane. What begins as a no-strings-attached fling quickly morphs into something richer, more complicated, and undeniably real.
As in her previous books—You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós—Daria continues to showcase her signature blend of Latinx representation, emotional honesty, and irresistible chemistry. But Along Came Amor feels like the most mature and nuanced of the series, offering a refreshing perspective on second chances—not just in love, but in identity, ambition, and family.
A Quick Look Back: The Journey So Far
The Primas of Power series centers on three fiercely independent Latina cousins navigating life, love, and legacy:
- You Had Me at Hola – Jasmine Lin Rodriguez, a telenovela star, finds herself falling for her co-star while filming a bilingual romcom. The book explores fame, vulnerability, and cultural authenticity.
- A Lot Like Adiós – Michelle Amato reconnects with her childhood best friend, Gabe Aguilar, in a heartfelt second-chance romance laced with tension, longing, and familial expectations.
- Along Came Amor – Ava Rodriguez, the pragmatic cousin and schoolteacher, lets go of rules and control to embrace uncertainty, love, and a future on her own terms.
Each book can be read as a standalone, but reading them in sequence enriches the experience—especially when side characters from earlier books make delightful appearances.
The Spark of Along Came Amor
No Strings, No Feelings, No Falling in Love… Right?
Ava Rodriguez is recently divorced and reeling from a life that didn’t go according to plan. Roman Vasquez is a disciplined hotel mogul who thrives on control. Their one-night stand at a hotel rooftop should have been just that—one night. But in classic Alexis Daria fashion, fate intervenes when they meet again at a family event, upending their tidy boundaries.
Their chemistry? Immediate and electric. But what elevates this book from a typical fling-to-love story is how both characters evolve. Ava, the steady and responsible cousin, begins questioning her path—does safety mean settling? Roman, used to keeping emotions at bay, starts dismantling the walls he’s built around his heart.
This is a romance about two people learning to live (and love) outside of carefully curated expectations.
What Works Beautifully
- Emotional Maturity and Relatability: Along Came Amor excels at exploring emotional complexities in adult relationships:
- Ava’s divorce is treated with care and realism, not as a plot device but as a formative experience.
- Roman’s emotional detachment isn’t villainized but is carefully unpacked as a coping mechanism.
- Their evolving relationship shows how communication, vulnerability, and trust are earned over time—not assumed.
- Cultural Nuance and Community: Daria’s portrayal of Latinx culture continues to be a highlight. Family is omnipresent—in noisy group chats, in unsolicited advice, in the joyful chaos of parties. Ava’s struggle to establish independence from her family’s expectations mirrors many real-life narratives, making her journey deeply resonant.
Key elements include:
- Spanglish dialogue that flows naturally
- Intergenerational dynamics without caricature
- Respectful celebration of Puerto Rican heritage through food, rituals, and humor
- Natural, Smart Dialogue: A hallmark of Daria’s writing is how conversational and believable her characters sound. Whether it’s flirtatious banter, family squabbles, or internal monologues, the language is crisp and emotionally grounded.
- A Setting That Shines: From rooftop pools to engagement parties, the lush settings add romantic grandeur without overpowering the characters. Roman’s world of luxury hospitality contrasts with Ava’s grounded, everyday life as a teacher—and watching their worlds collide is half the fun.
A Few Shortcomings
- Pacing Dips in the Middle: While the opening and final acts of the book are propulsive and emotionally rich, the middle meanders slightly. Once Ava and Roman establish a rhythm, the story stalls a bit before the inevitable emotional conflict arises.
- Ava’s Career Arc Could Use More Closure: Although Ava’s journey is largely personal, readers may wish for more resolution in her professional storyline. Hints of her desire to reinvent herself outside of teaching are left underdeveloped, creating a gap in an otherwise complete character arc.
- Roman’s Backstory is Ripe but Underused: Roman’s rise as a self-made hotelier offers compelling backstory, yet much of it is told rather than shown. More flashbacks or grounded scenes from his climb could have added emotional depth and better explained his fear of emotional entanglement.
How Along Came Amor Stands Out in the Romance Genre
Unlike typical billionaire romances, Along Came Amor is infused with realism, self-reflection, and mature dialogue. There’s no cartoonish alpha male or damsel-in-distress trope here. Instead:
- The hero is vulnerable, careful, and growth-oriented
- The heroine is healing, courageous, and boundary-aware
- The tension comes not from miscommunication tropes, but from internal reckonings
This positions the book favorably among contemporary romance titles like:- The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
- Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Readers who value diversity, emotional growth, and sexy, thoughtful love stories will find much to admire in Daria’s writing.
Final Thoughts: A Strong, Steamy, and Satisfying Finish
Along Came Amor isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about rediscovery. It’s about what happens when the life you built collapses, and you’re forced to ask: who am I without the labels, without the roles, without the safety net?
Ava and Roman are not perfect people, and their love story doesn’t promise perfection. But what it does offer is something far more meaningful: a chance to rebuild, to choose again, and to be loved for exactly who you are.
Overall Takeaway
- Strengths: Exceptional chemistry, cultural depth, emotionally intelligent writing
- Weaknesses: Slight pacing lag, some underexplored threads
- Recommendation: Highly recommended for fans of character-driven, diverse, emotionally rich romance novels
