There’s nothing like the feeling of warmth one gets when they read a good romance novel. The tension, the yearning, the confessions, oh my! A great romance novel will have heat rising to your cheeks; you’ll be giggling to yourself, and of course, you’ll be longing for more. While mainstream romance tends to focus on white characters, Alexis Daria created the Primas of Power series, which ultimately revived the genre for me. Each book in the series focuses on the lives of one of the primas (cousins) and the beautiful complexity that comes with Latinx families. In following the Primas of Power, readers will find that there’s a piece of themselves within each story.
You Had Me At Hola
Set in the Bronx, the series begins with Jasmine Lin Rodriguez, a half-Puerto Rican half-Filipina actress. After a messy breakup with a musician, her personal life is splattered across headlines. She then vows to make jefa moves and not cry over boys. With a new show, with her as the leading lady, awaiting to start production, she has something to focus on, until her co-star, Ashton Suarez, comes into the picture.
Ashton is coming onto this production after just having been killed off of a telenovela.. Having been in the business for some time, he worries his acting days might be behind him. Being a part of this new show with Jasmine is what he hopes can gain the momentum in his career that he feels is lost. Both Ashton and Jasmine feel as though they have something to prove and decide to rehearse outside of the studio to make sure their new show goes perfectly. After all, their characters are love-interests.
However, as their private rehearsals continue, feelings start to stir that are beyond the page. Trying to fight their connection, Jasmine worries about what the tabloids will say next, and Ashton worries that a secret of his will be revealed.
The cover immediately caught my attention, and the plot further intrigued me. Jasmine is a middle child, and her family dynamic with her birth order bleeds into her personal and work life. Ashton’s secret is not one that most may expect, and as a reader, I felt my heartbeat quickening for his situation. As there are two books after, both cousins are introduced and the bond between the three is quickly seen; cementing their relationship as the heart of the series.
A Lot Like Adios
Calling all friends-to-lovers fanatics! The second novel follows the youngest child of a Puerto Rican-Italian family, Michelle Amato. Deciding she was too burnt out from corporate marketing, Michelle created a flourishing freelance business in graphic design in the Bronx. In the last few years, she hasn’t been much into dating, despite what her family wants for her. Enter Gabe Aguilar, former best friend, who left without saying goodbye thirteen years ago. Now, he’s at her doorstep.
Gabe Aguilar left the Bronx once he turned eighteen to escape family expectations. Over the years, he became the co-owner of the hottest celebrity gym in Los Angeles. The gym is so successful that there is going to be a branch opening in New York. Since he left the city for a reason, he’s not eager to go back. What changes his mind? A certain childhood best friend and crush who is brought onto the board to oversee the new marketing campaign.
Thirteen years is a long time to be away from someone you love, much less never having spoken to them during that time. Michelle’s world is thrown off balance when she realizes the company contracting her is the one Gabe works for. When they reunite, she suggests they scratch the itch they never got around to. Both must process their own feelings, past, and present to properly navigate their connection, as well as their personal lives.
This installment is my favorite of the three! While each book details all that comes with Latinx families, I felt more connected to Michelle’s story. In addition, I appreciated the route of Gabe’s personal story: dealing with the maschismo in the culture and talking things through with his dad. I was rooting for my babies!
Along Came Amor
The closing note in the series, Along Came Amor, ends with the Puerto Rican-Barbadian eldest cousin, Ava Rodriguez. When her worthless husband divorces her, she’s forced to endure comments from her family. Why are they getting a divorce? He’ll come back eventually. Did she try her best to keep him? Ever a perfectionist and people pleaser, Ava is determined to live her life the way she wants to. Thus, “New Ava” is born. “New Ava” doesn’t overthink and has a one-night stand with the handsome hotel owner, Roman Vazquez.
Roman is married to his work. Ever since he built his hotel from the ground up, he’s been determined to keep things afloat. After all, how else is he supposed to provide for his family? When he meets Ava at one of his hotels, whatever plans he had for the evening flew out the window, and she fell into his bed.
One night proved to not be enough. No-strings attached sounds easy enough, until Ava is the maid-of-honor at her cousin’s wedding, and Roman is the best man. She cannot believe how unlucky she is. He was supposed to be hers, with no ties or expectations from her family. Panicked, she asks that Roman keep their fling underwraps. He agrees, believing that he’d be able to remain unattached. However, he already caught feelings from the beginning, and the longer their relationship is kept a secret, the less he appreciates being hidden.
Ava gets the life she never thought she could live back, and Roman learns that work isn’t everything. They both learn and grow from each other, ultimately balancing each other out.
Alexis Daria wraps up the Primas of Power series in a beautiful bow of love and family. She takes time and care for her characters that much is plain to see. I hope you’ll pick up the Primas story and fall in love with them, the author, our community, and yourself.