Alexis Daria, the RITA Award-winning author behind the beloved Dance Off series (Take the Lead, Dance with Me, and Dance All Night), delivers a stunning contemporary romance that feels like a warm embrace from your favorite tía. You Had Me at Hola, the first book in the Primas of Power trilogy, sets the stage for what promises to be an exceptional series exploring love, family, and professional ambition within the rich tapestry of Latinx culture.
Behind the Cameras: A Story of Reinvention and Risk
“You Had Me at Hola” follows Jasmine Lin Rodriguez, a talented soap opera actress whose career and heart are both in shambles after a humiliating public breakup with rock star McIntyre. Determined to rebuild her image with her self-created “Leading Lady Plan,” Jasmine returns to her beloved New York City to star in Carmen in Charge, a bilingual romantic comedy for a major streaming platform. Enter Ashton Suárez (born Ángel Luis), a devastatingly handsome telenovela star who’s been cast as her love interest after the original actor’s skiing mishap.
What begins as professional necessity—two actors needing to generate believable on-screen chemistry—slowly transforms into something far more complicated when rehearsals lead to genuine attraction. But as their behind-the-scenes romance heats up, tabloid scrutiny threatens to destroy everything they’re working toward, forcing both actors to confront what they’re truly willing to sacrifice for love and career success.
Character Development: Flawed, Real, and Utterly Compelling
Jasmine Lin Rodriguez: The Heart of the Story
Daria crafts Jasmine as a refreshingly authentic heroine who embodies the struggles many women face in balancing personal fulfillment with societal expectations. Her “Leading Lady Plan” serves as both a coping mechanism and a genuine attempt at professional growth, reflecting the very real pressure women in entertainment face to maintain perfect public images.
Jasmine’s relationship with her family—particularly her fierce cousins Ava and Michelle, the titular “Primas of Power”—provides the emotional backbone of the story. These relationships feel lived-in and authentic, complete with the gentle teasing, unwavering support, and occasional meddling that characterize real family dynamics. The scenes in her grandmother Esperanza’s Bronx kitchen are particularly touching, showcasing how food and family traditions serve as anchors during times of uncertainty.
In “You Had Me at Hola,” the author skillfully portrays Jasmine’s vulnerability without making her weak. Her struggles with self-worth, particularly her tendency to seek validation through romantic relationships, are handled with nuance and compassion. Jasmine’s growth throughout the novel feels earned rather than convenient.
Ashton Suárez: Layers Beneath the Telenovela Perfection
Ashton emerges as a complex leading man whose polished exterior masks deep insecurities and closely guarded secrets. His journey from telenovela heartthrob to potential Hollywood leading man mirrors many real actors’ experiences transitioning between different entertainment markets and languages.
The revelation of his secret—his eight-year-old son Yadiel—adds unexpected depth to his character. Daria handles this plot development with particular sensitivity, exploring how fame and privacy intersect, especially for actors who come from communities where family is paramount. Ashton’s fierce protectiveness over his son, stemming from a traumatic home invasion years earlier, provides genuine stakes for his reluctance to go public with any relationship.
Strengths: What Makes This Romance Irresistible
Authentic Cultural Representation
Daria’s portrayal of Latinx culture feels genuine and celebratory rather than performative. The bilingual dialogue flows naturally, and the cultural details—from Sunday family dinners to the importance of telenovelas in Latinx households—are woven seamlessly into the narrative. The author demonstrates deep understanding of diaspora experiences, particularly through Jasmine’s relationship with Spanish language learning and her connection to both her Puerto Rican and Filipino heritage.
The entertainment industry backdrop allows Daria to explore important themes about representation in media. The Carmen in Charge production becomes a symbol of progress in an industry that has historically marginalized Latinx voices, adding weight to both characters’ professional stakes.
Family as Foundation
The extended Rodriguez family serves as more than colorful background characters—they’re integral to the story’s emotional resonance. Each family member, from the wise Esperanza to the well-meaning but occasionally troublesome cousin Sammy, feels distinct and purposeful. The multi-generational dinner scenes buzz with authentic energy, capturing both the joy and complexity of large family gatherings.
Particularly effective is the way Daria uses family expectations to create internal conflict for Jasmine. The subtle pressure to conform to traditional relationship milestones provides realistic obstacles that many readers will recognize from their own lives.
Professional Ambition as Romance Catalyst
Unlike many contemporary romances where career conflicts feel artificially inserted, the professional elements in You Had Me at Hola are intrinsic to the romance. Both Jasmine and Ashton’s career ambitions feel authentic and urgent, making their eventual willingness to risk professional standing for love more meaningful.
The behind-the-scenes glimpses of television production, from table reads to publicity campaigns, add fascinating texture to the story. Daria’s research into the entertainment industry pays off in realistic details that enhance rather than overwhelm the romantic plot.
Areas for Growth: Where the Story Stumbles
Pacing in the Second Act
While “You Had Me at Hola” starts strong and builds to a satisfying conclusion, the middle section occasionally feels rushed. The transition from professional antagonism to genuine attraction could benefit from more detailed development. Some of their intimate moments feel slightly accelerated, particularly given Jasmine’s stated desire to avoid rebound relationships.
Secondary Plot Resolution
The handling of Ashton’s stalker backstory, while emotionally effective, feels somewhat disconnected from the main romantic conflict. This traumatic event shapes his character profoundly, but its resolution through simple passage of time rather than active confrontation may leave some readers wanting more closure.
Media Scrutiny Consequences
While the tabloid attention creates genuine tension, the long-term consequences for both characters’ careers feel somewhat minimized in the resolution. The entertainment industry’s notoriously short attention span may explain this, but more exploration of how they navigate ongoing public scrutiny would strengthen the ending.
Romance Elements: Chemistry That Sizzles
The romantic development between Jasmine and Ashton unfolds with satisfying tension and genuine emotional stakes. Their initial coffee-spilling meet-cute perfectly establishes both characters’ personalities while setting up their professional dynamic. The progression from antagonistic co-workers to reluctant allies to passionate lovers feels organic and well-paced.
Daria excels at writing intimate scenes that serve character development rather than existing purely for heat. The physical chemistry between the leads translates effectively to the page, with detailed attention to emotional vulnerability during intimate moments. The Spanish phrases Ashton uses during romantic scenes add sensual authenticity without feeling gratuitous.
The fake dating elements that develop into real feelings are handled with particular skill. Rather than relying on tired tropes, Daria grounds their relationship development in genuine compatibility and shared values, making their eventual commitment feel inevitable and earned.
Series Context: Setting Up Future Stories
As the foundation of the Primas of Power trilogy, “You Had Me at Hola” effectively establishes the Rodriguez family dynamics that will presumably feature in the subsequent books A Lot Like Adios and Along Came Amor. Ava and Michelle are already compelling characters with clear potential for their own romantic journeys, and the strong family bonds established here will likely provide continuity throughout the series.
You Had Me at Hola works perfectly as a standalone while leaving readers eager to spend more time with this vibrant family. The glimpses of Ava’s teaching career and Michelle’s graphic design business suggest interesting directions for future installments.
Comparative Reading: Finding Your Next Favorite
Readers who enjoyed Adriana Herrera’s American Dreamer series or Priscilla Oliveras’ Matched to Perfection novels will find similar themes of family, cultural identity, and professional ambition. The entertainment industry setting recalls Christina Lauren’s Love and Other Words, while the family dynamics echo Jasmine Guillory’s Flirting Lessons.
For those seeking more Latinx contemporary romance, Zoraida Córdova’s Star Crossed series offers similar cultural authenticity with fantasy elements, while Mia Sosa’s The Worst Best Man provides comparable humor and heart.
Final Verdict: A Romance That Honors Both Heart and Heritage
You Had Me at Hola succeeds brilliantly as both entertainment and representation. Daria creates a world where Latinx characters aren’t defined by trauma or stereotypes but by their ambitions, relationships, and very human struggles with love and self-acceptance. The novel’s strength lies in its authentic portrayal of how personal and professional lives intersect, particularly for people of color in industries that have historically excluded them.
While some pacing issues prevent it from reaching perfection, the emotional authenticity and cultural richness more than compensate for these minor flaws. This is a romance that trusts its readers to appreciate complexity alongside the requisite happy ending.
Recommendation Guide
Perfect for readers who love:
- Contemporary romance with authentic cultural representation
- Entertainment industry settings and behind-the-scenes details
- Strong family dynamics and found family themes
- Bilingual dialogue and cultural traditions
- Second-chance narratives and professional redemption
- Moderate steam levels with emotional depth
Consider alternatives if you prefer:
- Fantasy or paranormal romance elements
- Small-town or rural settings
- Minimal family involvement in romantic plots
- Single POV narratives
- Lower stakes professional conflicts
You Had Me at Hola captivates readers with exceptional character development, cultural authenticity, and genuine emotional stakes. It’s a novel that entertains while honoring the complexity of modern Latinx identity, setting a high bar for the rest of the Primas of Power series. Daria has created something special here—a romance that feels both aspirational and achievable, exotic and familiar, passionate and deeply rooted in family love.
