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You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria is a bookstagram darling, and now I understand why! Jasmine and Ashton meet on the set of their telenovela, Carmen in Charge. For Jasmine, it’s an opportunity to launch her career as a leading lady. For Ashton, it’s an opportunity to revive his image. But their attraction complicates things for Ashton, a single dad who wants to stay out of the spotlight, and for Jasmine, who’s become a bit of a paparazzi magnet. In addition to their evolving relationship, the book explores Latinx rep and colorism in the tv industry, the limited roles for Latinx actors, and the cost of celebrity and being a public figure. Jasmine’s family is a delight (I especially loved the Primas in Power group chat, which was such a fun detail). I also loved the way in which the cast and crew of the show become a community of varying backgrounds and sexual orientations, throwing down the gauntlet to real streaming services everywhere. As a big tv watcher, it was cool to see an intimacy coordinator as a character, emphasizing the importance of consent and clear communication for actors. My one gripe is that Daria breaks out the “where are they now?” reel at the end of the book to tie up everything left unresolved, which is a personal pet peeve. If I’m going to invest in these characters, I want to feel like I’ve followed them to some kind of conclusion instead of being told at the end what happened. Still, I enjoyed this book and the glimpse that it provided into a genre of tv I don’t know very much about, and I’m very much looking forward to the release of Daria’s new book later this year! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ TW: PTSD via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/COu9Bp4rHUd/