This book fizzes with sex, betrayal, lies, and family drama—but the good news is, it comes without an actual telenovela's requisite cliffhangers and tragedies ... Daria pulls readers into the telenovela, which acts as a framing narrative for the larger story. Much like its imaginary show, Hola is a triumph of Latinx joy and feminist agency. It thoughtfully explores gender roles and diversity in entertainment and the greater Latinx community, and challenges the Hollywood status quo ... It's through Daria's deep and nuanced exploration of these ideas that You Had Me at Hola says hello to new risks. It's a sensual choreography of romance, feminism, and identity that harmonizes the characters' relationships on and offscreen—while making all the jefa moves.

... for the reader at the start of this smart and engaging madcap romance, it’s certainly a lot of fun. Considering the usual telenovela twists, the story is actually surprisingly down-to-earth ... A few situations are dialed up for laughs, such as the infamous coffee incident during the meet-cute, but for the most part, Jasmine and Ashton face realistic challenges as they deal with their careers, their personal relationships and their blossoming feelings for each other ... Daria fills the story with palpable warmth and affection, not just for her hero and heroine but for the dual worlds they inhabit: the film industry and the Latin American community. If you enjoy behind the scenes peeks, the story includes plenty of fun details about the nuts and bolts of a working set ... And if you appreciate a media landscape that embraces diversity, you’ll love the chance to explore how Jasmine and Ashton carry their heritage with them, determinedly carving out opportunities not just for themselves but for all the gifted, undervalued Latinx performers searching for a place.

... thoughtfully explore[s] finding love in the aftermath of humiliating public breakups and show that even if the road to self-discovery has its share of bumps, the journey is better with friends ... [doesn't] just offer swoony and sexy romance, but also affirm the healing power of women supporting women ... reject[s] the idea that women can only exist as each other’s competition, and propose[s] that, on the contrary, a happy ending is always sweeter if you have your friends to celebrate with; that’s the kind of feminism I want in all my romance.

While the book definitely held up its promise to bring on a swoonworthy romance and all the drama, I think there was a lot more potential for more twists and a bit more development of the world outside of the romance. I’m holding out hope that Daria may give some of the secondary characters from this novel like Jasmine’s cousins Ava or Michelle a chance to shine in a spin-off novel. Daria’s writing style was beautiful and engaging and intrigued me to pick up more of hers soon! Sexy, dramatic and filled with will-they-won’t they vibes, this is a must read for any soap opera or telenovela lovers—or really, anyone who misses Rita Moreno (to whom this book is dedicated!) on their screens!

Daria has created extremely smart and appealing characters, and the scenes of their shooting the show are delicious fun. Fans of Susan Elizabeth Philips will enjoy the humor and chemistry Daria whips up.

Combining the drama-filled world of telenovelas with the hilarity of a romantic comedy, Alexis Daria’s You Had Me At Hola is an unforgettable romance perfect for fans of Beach Read and shows like 'Jane the Virgin' ... With both actors working through their own personal issues, Daria seamlessly weaves reality into fiction, with each element propelling the other forward ... But what truly sets You Had Me At Hola apart is Daria’s careful handling of consent and healthy, communicative sexual relationships. Even when the characters’ chemistry is practically leaping off the pages --- and believe me, it gets steamy --- she effortlessly incorporates issues like consent and enjoyment in ways that never once distract from the sensuality, reminding readers that, as the slogan says, 'Consent is sexy!' ... I would be remiss if I did not mention the equally stellar handling and inclusion of diversity, which is as encouraging and joy-fueled as the romantic aspects of the narrative ... though Daria doesn’t dwell on over-defining foreign language terms or over-explaining cultural celebrations, she still manages to invite readers of all races and backgrounds to delight in and groan at the main characters’ families. Once again, she shows her audience how easy it is to champion others and create safe spaces without distracting from the fun, professionalism or comfort of the plot ... a fully realized romance novel where each of the characters easily could stand alone in their own books. Both Jasmine and Ashton have completely fleshed-out and satisfying character arcs, and though I loved the romance, I found myself even more moved by the development of their personal careers and ambitions. This pitch-perfect work is searingly timely, bravely hopeful and out-of-this-world sexy, and I can’t wait to see what Daria comes up with next.

Ashton and Jasmine are imperfect but fully realized characters, and their differences aren’t easily solved. Daria makes the unusual narrative choice of writing some chapters from the point of view of the Carmen in Charge characters, but it pays off by cleverly illuminating the emotional journey of Jasmine and Ashton’s own romance. Sexy, compelling, and complex—a terrific romance from a rising star of the genre.

Daria...delivers a sexy showbiz love affair in this steamy rom-com ... the quirky choice to also include segments from the perspectives of Jasmine and Ashton’s on-screen alter egos is a puzzling one. Still, Daria breathes effortless life into a cast of messy, loving, talented, and downright hilarious characters readers will adore. A sense of Latinx culture and pride exudes from every page, elevating an already entertaining story. Romance fans won’t want to miss this.