You Had Me at Hola

“Sometimes the feeling of loss faded, more like a forgotten task nagging at his attention, or a misplaced item waiting to be found. But it never truly went away.” 

Author: Alexis Daria

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: August 2022

Number of Pages: 365

Geographical Setting: New York City

Time Period: Present Day

Series: Primas of Power, Book One

Plot Summary:

Both Jasmine, a soap opera star, and Ashton, a telenovela star, are hoping for big things from their roles on the new show Carmen in Charge. Jasmine hopes for this show to prove to her family (and herself) that she has value outside of the men that she dates. Ashton is running from his past and hopes this show will be his big break and the bridge to his future. Along with their own hopes, they find an undeniable spark in each other that threatens to consume both of them whole.

Subject Headings: Soap Operas; Actors and Actresses; Motion Picture Industry

Appeal:

Tone: There is familial love on almost every page of this novel. There is a clear love between Jasmine and her primas (cousins) and between Ashton and his family back in Puerto Rico. It is this love for their families that eventually strengthens Jasmine's and Ashton's love for each other. Throughout the novel, Jasmine works to create a little family out of her fellow actors and works even harder to make sure that Ashton comes out of his shell and joins them. 

Characterization: Since Jasmine and Ashton are the main characters of the story, the book is told from their points of view. This gives readers an intimate view of their emotions as they are experiencing them.  Jasmine has to overcome her lack of self-worth outside of a relationship while Ashton had to give up his lack of control. 

Storyline: This story follows the typical romance storyline. Man and woman meet, and they are thrown together, they find each other irresistible, they have a falling out, and then they affirm their love and walk a red carpet together. 

Language & Style: The novel was jam-packed with "lush and expressive language (Saricks, 2018)." Much of the novel relies on the subtle flirting that the main characters as they are trying to be covert, Daria accomplishes this in a way that is compelling and makes you want more. 

Frame & Setting: The novel was set in New York City and more specifically the Bronx. Large parts of the book were on a show set or in the hotel where the show's cast stayed. The story was framed around the months that Carmen in Charge, which was a show that was produced by ScreenFlix (the novel's version of Netflix) and was an Americanization of a Telenovela. 

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works

All My Life by Susan Lucci: Susan Lucci played Erica Kane on ABC's Soap Opera, All My Children, for 41 years. Nothing is off limits in this memoir, especially her time on the show. 

Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard: In August of this year, Benard will have played Sonny on General Hospital for 30 years. With this memoir, he opens up about his struggles with bipolar disorder, on and off the show. 

Growing Stronger by Thalia: The famed Telenovela star opens about her life experiences including the kidnapping of her sister and her marriage to Tommy Mottola. 

3 Relevant Fiction Works

Birds of California by Katie Cotungo: Once they worked on the same set together, but now she runs her family's print shop. When they reunite, sparks are bound to fly.

Snow Falling by Jane Gloriana Villanueva & Caridad Piñeiro (Ghost Writer): Influence heavily by telenovela tropes, this romance is the product of Jane the Virgin. 

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade: Also based around a famous show, God of Gates, (the ending of a long-running one, rather than the beginning of a new one). One of the lead actors falls for a fan when he saves her from online harassment. 

“Because you’re an Aries,” Michelle said matter-of-factly. “You love love.”

Reference:

Daria, A. (2020). You had me at hola. Avon Books.

Saricks, J. G. (2018). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction. Chicago: ALA