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The Undoing of Alejandro Velasco
After Alejandro Velasco is found dead, a handsome stranger visits the family. But when this newcomer’s secrets collide with those of Alejandro’s sister, sparks fly—and blood is shed.
A handsome young man named Julian Villareal arrives at the opulent Velasco estate to pay his respects after the unexpected death of Alejandro Velasco, his close friend and tennis rival. But he soon becomes entwined in the Velasco family’s glamourous lifestyle—and their daughter Sofia’s mysterious allure. Mercurial and quick-witted, Sofia seems determined to give Julian a run for his money. And he’s prepared to play along—both on and off the tennis courts.
As the tension between Julian and Sofia sizzles, Julian hides a much darker Alejandro’s death was no accident. And the more Julian learns about the inner workings of the Velasco family, the greater the danger he uncovers. With power and status come opponents bent on toppling the empire, by blackmail, revenge, or even murder. Julian’s quest for answers will only lure him deeper into this den of vipers, but teasing out Sofia’s own intentions may be the steamiest—and deadliest—game of all.
A handsome young man named Julian Villareal arrives at the opulent Velasco estate to pay his respects after the unexpected death of Alejandro Velasco, his close friend and tennis rival. But he soon becomes entwined in the Velasco family’s glamourous lifestyle—and their daughter Sofia’s mysterious allure. Mercurial and quick-witted, Sofia seems determined to give Julian a run for his money. And he’s prepared to play along—both on and off the tennis courts.
As the tension between Julian and Sofia sizzles, Julian hides a much darker Alejandro’s death was no accident. And the more Julian learns about the inner workings of the Velasco family, the greater the danger he uncovers. With power and status come opponents bent on toppling the empire, by blackmail, revenge, or even murder. Julian’s quest for answers will only lure him deeper into this den of vipers, but teasing out Sofia’s own intentions may be the steamiest—and deadliest—game of all.
273 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2025
1506 people are currently reading
6070 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
May 7, 2025
An Amazon First Reads choice for April 2025
This was actually not the book I would have chosen but my puppy stepped on the iPad and here we have it. Thankfully, this debut novel was better than the publication blurb would suggest.
It’s full of gorgeous women, handsome men, the uber wealthy and those that cling on to them. They play, fight, carouse and are mostly obnoxious; not the deepest wells on the planet. Family is important to some but self is everything. This book is also full of dead bodies. It starts with Alejandro - son, brother, friend, tennis player, but is that all? It takes 95% of the story to find out; good restraint by author, Diego Boneta.
What else did Boneta do well? The sexual scenes also are done with some restraint; no graphic description. This also applies to violence. Language does include a full complement of expletives but not to excess. If you don’t have a little knowledge of Spanish, you’re going to miss a few phrases along the way because the following text doesn’t always provide enough context to clue you in. It was fine for me ‘cause I have the language.
Descriptions of landscapes, architecture, clothing, etc. are very good; better than emotional portrayals. I needed to hear more from the characters. What were they thinking or feeling rather than the omniscient narrator giving me the play-by-play. Tidbits to solving the mystery are dropped thru the text in a mostly subtle way but seasoned mystery readers will
most likely be clued in well in advance of the ending; or think they are. There are a few very slick twists near the ending.
Boneta should have gone with the “less is more” adage and left out the Epilogue, IMO. It’s too Lifetime TV and detracts from an otherwise smart finale. I was debating between 3-4 stars and that cliche pushed me down. Still in all, THE UNDOING OF ALEJANDRO VELASCO is a mildly Telenovela styled mystery, grammatically well written, fast moving, nicely constructed “who done it”; especially for an author’s first time📚
This was actually not the book I would have chosen but my puppy stepped on the iPad and here we have it. Thankfully, this debut novel was better than the publication blurb would suggest.
It’s full of gorgeous women, handsome men, the uber wealthy and those that cling on to them. They play, fight, carouse and are mostly obnoxious; not the deepest wells on the planet. Family is important to some but self is everything. This book is also full of dead bodies. It starts with Alejandro - son, brother, friend, tennis player, but is that all? It takes 95% of the story to find out; good restraint by author, Diego Boneta.
What else did Boneta do well? The sexual scenes also are done with some restraint; no graphic description. This also applies to violence. Language does include a full complement of expletives but not to excess. If you don’t have a little knowledge of Spanish, you’re going to miss a few phrases along the way because the following text doesn’t always provide enough context to clue you in. It was fine for me ‘cause I have the language.
Descriptions of landscapes, architecture, clothing, etc. are very good; better than emotional portrayals. I needed to hear more from the characters. What were they thinking or feeling rather than the omniscient narrator giving me the play-by-play. Tidbits to solving the mystery are dropped thru the text in a mostly subtle way but seasoned mystery readers will
most likely be clued in well in advance of the ending; or think they are. There are a few very slick twists near the ending.
Boneta should have gone with the “less is more” adage and left out the Epilogue, IMO. It’s too Lifetime TV and detracts from an otherwise smart finale. I was debating between 3-4 stars and that cliche pushed me down. Still in all, THE UNDOING OF ALEJANDRO VELASCO is a mildly Telenovela styled mystery, grammatically well written, fast moving, nicely constructed “who done it”; especially for an author’s first time📚
March 14, 2025
Free ARC from NetGalley! 3.75 ⭐ rounded up.
I'm a big fan of Diego Boneta as an actor, so when he announced he was writing his first book I was excited! This book surprised me. It was very romantic and almost even erotic (?), and I liked the character dynamics at play here. The writing did sometimes struggle to hold my interest, but the more I read the book the more I enjoyed the phrasing and the more intrigued by the story I was. The end definitely gets crazy, I was not expecting any of the reveals.
This book is also being turned into a limited series which I am sure will be amazing just based on the crazy plot of the novel.
I'm a big fan of Diego Boneta as an actor, so when he announced he was writing his first book I was excited! This book surprised me. It was very romantic and almost even erotic (?), and I liked the character dynamics at play here. The writing did sometimes struggle to hold my interest, but the more I read the book the more I enjoyed the phrasing and the more intrigued by the story I was. The end definitely gets crazy, I was not expecting any of the reveals.
This book is also being turned into a limited series which I am sure will be amazing just based on the crazy plot of the novel.
January 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for this free ARC. All views and opinions in this review are my own.
This book was wildly entertaining, I finished it in 2 days. As a fan of “The Talented Mr. Ripley”, I thought this book was right up my alley, since stories of “outsiders” trying to ingratiate themselves with the rich are always very fascinating to me. I love how the author showed the perspectives of both Julian and Sofia. Both characters are so complex, and their motives keep the reader guessing until the end.
I am hoping that the Amazon Prime Video series adaptation will be just as good, if not better, than the book.
This book was wildly entertaining, I finished it in 2 days. As a fan of “The Talented Mr. Ripley”, I thought this book was right up my alley, since stories of “outsiders” trying to ingratiate themselves with the rich are always very fascinating to me. I love how the author showed the perspectives of both Julian and Sofia. Both characters are so complex, and their motives keep the reader guessing until the end.
I am hoping that the Amazon Prime Video series adaptation will be just as good, if not better, than the book.
April 8, 2025
What a poorly written piece of garbage. DNF. Writing was bad. Characters were bad. Story was bad. Don’t waste your time reading this.
April 7, 2025
Life among the very wealthy involves mistrust, questioned loyalty, intentional deceit, cagey misdirection, and a whole lot of tennis.
Alejandro’s suicide is hushed by the family so as to not appear vulnerable to those who may take advantage of their wealth. But his best friend Julian is convinced this is murder and ingratiates himself into the Velasco compound to find the killer.
Cleverly written with cliffhangers at every chapters end. The first 70% of the novel is all building up to the wicked twists and turns revealed in the final chapters.
A bit too much romance/dalliances for my tastes. The story doesn’t need it! But I realize a bit of smut makes selling books more profitable.
Can recommend.
Alejandro’s suicide is hushed by the family so as to not appear vulnerable to those who may take advantage of their wealth. But his best friend Julian is convinced this is murder and ingratiates himself into the Velasco compound to find the killer.
Cleverly written with cliffhangers at every chapters end. The first 70% of the novel is all building up to the wicked twists and turns revealed in the final chapters.
A bit too much romance/dalliances for my tastes. The story doesn’t need it! But I realize a bit of smut makes selling books more profitable.
Can recommend.
April 22, 2025
potentially a me problem but i found the lack of distinct and stated point of views SO confusing. also i think im just trying to fill a challengers sized hole in my life and although this had tennis and drama it did not hit (kinda at all)
July 9, 2025
"En este mundo, una mujer no puede pedir poder así como así. No a los hombres. Tenemos que tomarlo".
April 29, 2025
thank you to netgalley for the arc!
soooo many thoughts! first off, finding out this was written by drew from the rock of ages movie slash spencer's tennis love interest from pretty little liars was crazy. multitalented king!! truly kind of in awe of all he can do, especially because the writing flow and style was one of the best parts of this book. the multilingual writing was a first for me, and it was done so incredibly well. no word for word translations were ever really given, but it all made sense in the context. the plot was pretty predictable in an hbo suspense mystery way, but that didn't mean that i didn't have a ball. it seems he already has a deal with amazon to make it a show lmao and it's definitely gonna be a great miniseries. only thing is i'm not sure how they're gonna pull off the big plot twist because i feel like it explicitly worked because of the writing and not being able to see faces lol but i will be sat and watching!!
soooo many thoughts! first off, finding out this was written by drew from the rock of ages movie slash spencer's tennis love interest from pretty little liars was crazy. multitalented king!! truly kind of in awe of all he can do, especially because the writing flow and style was one of the best parts of this book. the multilingual writing was a first for me, and it was done so incredibly well. no word for word translations were ever really given, but it all made sense in the context. the plot was pretty predictable in an hbo suspense mystery way, but that didn't mean that i didn't have a ball. it seems he already has a deal with amazon to make it a show lmao and it's definitely gonna be a great miniseries. only thing is i'm not sure how they're gonna pull off the big plot twist because i feel like it explicitly worked because of the writing and not being able to see faces lol but i will be sat and watching!!
April 24, 2025
Absolutely delicious book, completely devourable and leads you well to the answers without it seeming too overdone. Maybe in truth it’s closer to 4 stars, but the allure of the story and the shifting dynamics had me desperate to turn the page.
May 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was very well written! I think this would be a fun movie. Lots of rich people, looking over shoulders and scandal.
Alejandro haunted the narrative and I love characters like that. He was the most interesting to me even thought he wasn’t ever in it.
Julián and Sofia were such interesting characters! They were very headstrong and knew where to poke at people’s weaknesses. Their dynamic was so seductive and filled with tension. You could really feel that on the page.
All the characters seemed to know how to play the game and they all played really well off each other.
I loved how much Julián protected Alejandro. You could really tell how much he loved him when he wouldn’t let anyone talk poorly of him. I would have loved to see more flashbacks into their friendship.
One thing I did NOT like in this book was the bull fighting scene. It was short, but it made me very uncomfortable. No, it’s not just life when they died like Sofia thought. You’re killing an animal for human entertainment. That made me very upset. I had to skim over that part because I didn’t want to read about it. Thought I should mention it if someone doesn’t want to read that part either.
There were a couple of twists in there that were pretty good! Some of them some people probably could guess, but the story was good enough that I don’t really think that was a problem.
Even though this was a short book which I appreciated, it did start to drag at the end for me. Not that it was written poorly or boring, I just thought at a certain point the story was almost done, but it went on for a while after, and I mainly didn’t care what was going on.
I thought Julián and Sofia were perfect for each other, but I wasn’t very invested in their relationship. I was eating up the tension between them before they got together, but once things started happening between them I lost interest. It was more exciting when they were sneaking around or trying not be together. Maybe too because I mainly cared to know what happened to Alejandro, and their moments took away from that.
I wish the book focused a little more on him. As I said he definitely haunted the narrative which I appreciated, but a lot of the story got away from Julián trying to find out what happened to Alejandro and more so trying to navigate how to get by without getting people suspicious while also focusing more on Sofia, which that aspect I didn’t care as much about.
The business side of the story was important, but it kind of bored me. It ended up tying together really well, but there were a lot of parts I didn’t care to read because most of it went over my head because I’m not a big business person.
I can’t say exactly why without getting into spoilers, but I wish it didn’t have an epilogue and ended where it did before that, but again that’s probably just a me issue. It almost set it up where there could be another book, which I don’t hate, especially because I don’t think there will be one, but I liked more of the open ending that the chapter before it left on. I thought it made it more a complete story and tied better to the title of the book.
Since I had a couple of issues with it, I bumped it down to four stars, but I would still recommend reading this! The writing style was very captivating and it was a compelling story, enough to make on you edge and eager to find out what’s all happening!
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was very well written! I think this would be a fun movie. Lots of rich people, looking over shoulders and scandal.
Alejandro haunted the narrative and I love characters like that. He was the most interesting to me even thought he wasn’t ever in it.
Julián and Sofia were such interesting characters! They were very headstrong and knew where to poke at people’s weaknesses. Their dynamic was so seductive and filled with tension. You could really feel that on the page.
All the characters seemed to know how to play the game and they all played really well off each other.
I loved how much Julián protected Alejandro. You could really tell how much he loved him when he wouldn’t let anyone talk poorly of him. I would have loved to see more flashbacks into their friendship.
One thing I did NOT like in this book was the bull fighting scene. It was short, but it made me very uncomfortable. No, it’s not just life when they died like Sofia thought. You’re killing an animal for human entertainment. That made me very upset. I had to skim over that part because I didn’t want to read about it. Thought I should mention it if someone doesn’t want to read that part either.
There were a couple of twists in there that were pretty good! Some of them some people probably could guess, but the story was good enough that I don’t really think that was a problem.
Even though this was a short book which I appreciated, it did start to drag at the end for me. Not that it was written poorly or boring, I just thought at a certain point the story was almost done, but it went on for a while after, and I mainly didn’t care what was going on.
I thought Julián and Sofia were perfect for each other, but I wasn’t very invested in their relationship. I was eating up the tension between them before they got together, but once things started happening between them I lost interest. It was more exciting when they were sneaking around or trying not be together. Maybe too because I mainly cared to know what happened to Alejandro, and their moments took away from that.
I wish the book focused a little more on him. As I said he definitely haunted the narrative which I appreciated, but a lot of the story got away from Julián trying to find out what happened to Alejandro and more so trying to navigate how to get by without getting people suspicious while also focusing more on Sofia, which that aspect I didn’t care as much about.
The business side of the story was important, but it kind of bored me. It ended up tying together really well, but there were a lot of parts I didn’t care to read because most of it went over my head because I’m not a big business person.
I can’t say exactly why without getting into spoilers, but I wish it didn’t have an epilogue and ended where it did before that, but again that’s probably just a me issue. It almost set it up where there could be another book, which I don’t hate, especially because I don’t think there will be one, but I liked more of the open ending that the chapter before it left on. I thought it made it more a complete story and tied better to the title of the book.
Since I had a couple of issues with it, I bumped it down to four stars, but I would still recommend reading this! The writing style was very captivating and it was a compelling story, enough to make on you edge and eager to find out what’s all happening!
June 20, 2025
3.8⭐️Couple of good twists in this story, kept me interested to see how it ended.
July 10, 2025
Book/Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐⭐⭐
Trigger Warning(s):
Murder
Suicide
Death Of Child
Infidelity
Sexism
Death Of Sibling
POV: Dual, Third Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
First In Series: N/A
Trope(s): N/A
Spice: ️️N/A️️
Genre: Psychological Thriller/ Domestic Thriller
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Safe or Dark: Safe ️️️
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Holy crap! Diego Boneta knocked it out of the park with this dark and twisty thriller!
Oh man, what a fun and wild ride this one was!
Plot/Writing 📄
This book gripped me from the first sentence on the very first page and didn’t let me go until the last. I read the first chapter and immediately had to know what each character’s motives were. I needed to find out the details of their agendas because , OH, THEY ALL HAD ONE!
I personally found the pacing of this plot to be wonderful. It wasn’t too fast nor too slow. It was somewhere right in the middle. It moved fast enough to keep my interest and want to continue to find out what happened next but slow enough that it didn’t give too much away too soon. We just had to sit back, relax, and let things unfold.
The sexual tension between Sofia Velasco and Julian Villareal was done nicely. It wasn’t forced and developed naturally. It was believable in the sense that at one time or another I’m sure we’ve all met someone we have insane sexual tension with but nothing more. Oh, the push and pull between the two was fantastic. I ate it up. I can see how it was easy for Julian to get wrapped up in Sofia’s web. I know I certainly did.
Once the twists started coming, I felt like they didn’t stop! Oh, they were SO good and SO drama-filled. Everything got turned upside down, became unraveled, and spiraled out of control. Well done, Mr. Boneta. Very well done.
I did have an inkling as to what one of the twists might be at about the half way mark of the book but could never fully confirm if I was right or not until it was revealed.
The ending was great! I didn’t see it coming at all, and I LOVED it! I never figured out the truth behind Julian and his secrets. Actually, I never figured out the truth about any of the character’s secrets. However, looking back on it, Boneta sprinkled the tiniest breadcrumbs hinting as to what it might be from the jump. I never picked up on them, and that was part of the fun.
Diego Boneta’s writing is absolutely beautiful. It was very descriptive and engaging without being bogged down. The author was able to give us all the information we needed about the storyline and the key characters without being confusing. The writing was clear and easy to follow. The creepy and secretive vibes of this book were EVERYTHING!
This was a domestic thriller and mystery all rolled into one, and it was FABULOUS!
Despite pulling the reader in from the very start of the book, this is more of a slow burn. So, if you’re looking for something quick-paced and action-packed, this might not be for you. However, on the other hand, if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy a slow burn but is willing to give it a try, just stick with it until about 50% into the story when things really start to pick up. YOU WON’T REGRET IT!
Needless to say, this book had me locked in from start to finish. I just couldn’t put it down!
FIVE WELL-DESERVED STARS!
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Diego Boneta’s work.
Characters 👫
Julian Villareal – I really enjoyed Julian’s character. He felt like something was fishy with the Velascos and was on a mission to find out the truth. If only for the sake of his late friend, who he clearly loved dearly. He was very good at keeping cool, and his poker face hardly ever let people know what was going on in his mind. I often felt like he was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. (One of my husband’s favorite sayings is, “When everyone else is playing checkers, you have to be playing chess.”) There was so much more to Julian than meets the eye. He had no problem with possibly eliminating the ones who risked outing him and upending his carefully thought-out plan. Oh, the secrets he keeps.
Alejandro Velasco – Even though Alejandro’s the driving force behind the story, he is deceased, so we never get to meet him. What we learn about him is pieced together from other characters sharing memories of him and flashbacks. Therefore, we have to take everything we think we know about him at face value and with a grain of salt. Boneta made me really enjoy Ale’s character despite him not being a strong presence in the book. That’s often a hard feat for authors to pull off.
Sofia Velasco – I was torn when it came to Sofia’s character. On one hand, I found her to be a bit stuck-up and snotty. On the other hand, I understood that she was trying to show the world she was more than capable of making her way in the family business despite being a female who was offered fewer opportunities than her male counterparts. She was very strong-willed and was not afraid to share her opinions. She did what she had to do to make it to the top and get the credit she deserved. Sofia and Alejandro had a complicated sibling relationship, but in her own way, she loved him. Sofia did everything in her power to get what she wanted.
Gabriel Velasco – The sneaky and secretive patriarch of the family. He always seemed like he was up to no good, even if he hid it well in front of others.
Maria Velasco – The complex and grieving mother. She often stood in the background, silently being submissive to her more powerful husband. She was always willing to lend a helping hand when she was able to.
Elizabeth – A gossip who enjoyed sharing a secret with someone. It was clear she wasn’t against seducing a man to get the things she wanted, even the Velasco patriarch. Elizabeth clearly enjoyed having leverage against people, wielding power over them.
Lukas – A man with a Napoleon complex who flashed his feigned self-importance to make up for his small stature. Sofia’s little lap dog, who did her bidding without asking questions. Lukas too loved having dirt on others, airing it out, and using it to his advantage.
Mateo – He was clearly with and engaged to Sofia as some kind of power move after the merger between his family’s and the Velasco’s family’s business. Mateo felt as though he and Sofia were some sort of power couple. He flaunted his feigned self-importance like a badge of honor. Although he came off confident and secure in himself. He did feel slightly threatened by Julian’s arrival.
Eduardo – Julian and Alejandro’s friend. We meet him mainly through flashbacks like Ale. Also, like Alejandro, Boneta managed to get me fully invested in him without him even being a part of the current plotline. The author is two for two on that aspect.
Favorite Quotes 💕
“You were either prepared to get torn apart, or you were willing to do the tearing.”
“I love my family; I love this country. But the sexism runs deeper in both than I’d like it to.”
“Men tried to lord power over each other in so many unsubtle ways.”
“It felt like their eyes had locked long enough for her to haunt his dreams, long enough for her to have glimpsed some deep truth about him that he’d rather keep secret.”
“I'm a decent person, and so you think I'm full of shit?”
TLDR: AN ADDICTIVE AND TWISTY THRILLER! A WILD RIDE FROM START TO FINISH!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
I would like to thank Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐⭐⭐
Trigger Warning(s):
Murder
Suicide
Death Of Child
Infidelity
Sexism
Death Of Sibling
POV: Dual, Third Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
First In Series: N/A
Trope(s): N/A
Spice: ️️N/A️️
Genre: Psychological Thriller/ Domestic Thriller
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Safe or Dark: Safe ️️️
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Holy crap! Diego Boneta knocked it out of the park with this dark and twisty thriller!
Oh man, what a fun and wild ride this one was!
Plot/Writing 📄
This book gripped me from the first sentence on the very first page and didn’t let me go until the last. I read the first chapter and immediately had to know what each character’s motives were. I needed to find out the details of their agendas because , OH, THEY ALL HAD ONE!
I personally found the pacing of this plot to be wonderful. It wasn’t too fast nor too slow. It was somewhere right in the middle. It moved fast enough to keep my interest and want to continue to find out what happened next but slow enough that it didn’t give too much away too soon. We just had to sit back, relax, and let things unfold.
The sexual tension between Sofia Velasco and Julian Villareal was done nicely. It wasn’t forced and developed naturally. It was believable in the sense that at one time or another I’m sure we’ve all met someone we have insane sexual tension with but nothing more. Oh, the push and pull between the two was fantastic. I ate it up. I can see how it was easy for Julian to get wrapped up in Sofia’s web. I know I certainly did.
Once the twists started coming, I felt like they didn’t stop! Oh, they were SO good and SO drama-filled. Everything got turned upside down, became unraveled, and spiraled out of control. Well done, Mr. Boneta. Very well done.
I did have an inkling as to what one of the twists might be at about the half way mark of the book but could never fully confirm if I was right or not until it was revealed.
The ending was great! I didn’t see it coming at all, and I LOVED it! I never figured out the truth behind Julian and his secrets. Actually, I never figured out the truth about any of the character’s secrets. However, looking back on it, Boneta sprinkled the tiniest breadcrumbs hinting as to what it might be from the jump. I never picked up on them, and that was part of the fun.
Diego Boneta’s writing is absolutely beautiful. It was very descriptive and engaging without being bogged down. The author was able to give us all the information we needed about the storyline and the key characters without being confusing. The writing was clear and easy to follow. The creepy and secretive vibes of this book were EVERYTHING!
This was a domestic thriller and mystery all rolled into one, and it was FABULOUS!
Despite pulling the reader in from the very start of the book, this is more of a slow burn. So, if you’re looking for something quick-paced and action-packed, this might not be for you. However, on the other hand, if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy a slow burn but is willing to give it a try, just stick with it until about 50% into the story when things really start to pick up. YOU WON’T REGRET IT!
Needless to say, this book had me locked in from start to finish. I just couldn’t put it down!
FIVE WELL-DESERVED STARS!
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Diego Boneta’s work.
Characters 👫
Julian Villareal – I really enjoyed Julian’s character. He felt like something was fishy with the Velascos and was on a mission to find out the truth. If only for the sake of his late friend, who he clearly loved dearly. He was very good at keeping cool, and his poker face hardly ever let people know what was going on in his mind. I often felt like he was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. (One of my husband’s favorite sayings is, “When everyone else is playing checkers, you have to be playing chess.”) There was so much more to Julian than meets the eye. He had no problem with possibly eliminating the ones who risked outing him and upending his carefully thought-out plan. Oh, the secrets he keeps.
Alejandro Velasco – Even though Alejandro’s the driving force behind the story, he is deceased, so we never get to meet him. What we learn about him is pieced together from other characters sharing memories of him and flashbacks. Therefore, we have to take everything we think we know about him at face value and with a grain of salt. Boneta made me really enjoy Ale’s character despite him not being a strong presence in the book. That’s often a hard feat for authors to pull off.
Sofia Velasco – I was torn when it came to Sofia’s character. On one hand, I found her to be a bit stuck-up and snotty. On the other hand, I understood that she was trying to show the world she was more than capable of making her way in the family business despite being a female who was offered fewer opportunities than her male counterparts. She was very strong-willed and was not afraid to share her opinions. She did what she had to do to make it to the top and get the credit she deserved. Sofia and Alejandro had a complicated sibling relationship, but in her own way, she loved him. Sofia did everything in her power to get what she wanted.
Gabriel Velasco – The sneaky and secretive patriarch of the family. He always seemed like he was up to no good, even if he hid it well in front of others.
Maria Velasco – The complex and grieving mother. She often stood in the background, silently being submissive to her more powerful husband. She was always willing to lend a helping hand when she was able to.
Elizabeth – A gossip who enjoyed sharing a secret with someone. It was clear she wasn’t against seducing a man to get the things she wanted, even the Velasco patriarch. Elizabeth clearly enjoyed having leverage against people, wielding power over them.
Lukas – A man with a Napoleon complex who flashed his feigned self-importance to make up for his small stature. Sofia’s little lap dog, who did her bidding without asking questions. Lukas too loved having dirt on others, airing it out, and using it to his advantage.
Mateo – He was clearly with and engaged to Sofia as some kind of power move after the merger between his family’s and the Velasco’s family’s business. Mateo felt as though he and Sofia were some sort of power couple. He flaunted his feigned self-importance like a badge of honor. Although he came off confident and secure in himself. He did feel slightly threatened by Julian’s arrival.
Eduardo – Julian and Alejandro’s friend. We meet him mainly through flashbacks like Ale. Also, like Alejandro, Boneta managed to get me fully invested in him without him even being a part of the current plotline. The author is two for two on that aspect.
Favorite Quotes 💕
“You were either prepared to get torn apart, or you were willing to do the tearing.”
“I love my family; I love this country. But the sexism runs deeper in both than I’d like it to.”
“Men tried to lord power over each other in so many unsubtle ways.”
“It felt like their eyes had locked long enough for her to haunt his dreams, long enough for her to have glimpsed some deep truth about him that he’d rather keep secret.”
“I'm a decent person, and so you think I'm full of shit?”
TLDR: AN ADDICTIVE AND TWISTY THRILLER! A WILD RIDE FROM START TO FINISH!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
I would like to thank Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.
August 13, 2025
Solid 3.5/5
I gotta say I came into this book with very high expectations (don’t really know why-but idk it sounded promising)
The thing is, this was really good. But well into the second half it started to get boring. Aand SORT OF predictable. Although there were many good plot twists!!!! (Mis aplausos al señor Boneta)
And I was also a little disappointed with how the thing with Ale turned out. Like. Really? just that? The book is called “The UNDOING of ALEJANDRO VELASCO” and that’s what happened to him? I had expected a bit more but oh well it was still good.
It was a sort of an eat-the-rich situation that you think will turn out one way and it doesn’t. But I enjoyed it still.
I gotta say I came into this book with very high expectations (don’t really know why-but idk it sounded promising)
The thing is, this was really good. But well into the second half it started to get boring. Aand SORT OF predictable. Although there were many good plot twists!!!! (Mis aplausos al señor Boneta)
And I was also a little disappointed with how the thing with Ale turned out. Like. Really? just that? The book is called “The UNDOING of ALEJANDRO VELASCO” and that’s what happened to him? I had expected a bit more but oh well it was still good.
It was a sort of an eat-the-rich situation that you think will turn out one way and it doesn’t. But I enjoyed it still.
June 22, 2025
This novel reminded me of a telenovela, and not just because it's set in San Miguel de Allende. Expect plenty of family drama, scheming and secrets, affairs, deaths–this novel has the makings of a soap opera. It's nothing spectacular, but still a fun and quick read with several entertaining twists.
November 2, 2025
There were some moments of sexual tension here that I enjoyed, but overall the mystery is not propulsive enough (and too easily sidetracked from) to power this story. The plot twists feel like random shocks rather than developments that build organically from the narrative and give us new perspectives to think about the book's central commentary, though maybe this is because the book doesn't have much of a central commentary (if I had to identify one I'd perhaps say it's a book about How The Rich Behave, but it doesn't fully commit to this concept). There was also DEFINITELY something gay afoot in the story and it's a shame that never gets fleshed out.
1.5/5
1.5/5
April 26, 2025
Really well written characters. You can’t help but root for them even though they’re deeply flawed. A little slow in the beginning and a little unrealistic but it was a fun read
April 27, 2025
My only ding would be that it dragged a bit in the beginning, but stick with it. The end twist is pretty good. The open ended epilogue leads me to believe maybe a book 2? Not incredibly strong character development but enough to make you keep reading and decide early on who you like and who you don’t like.
May 21, 2025
telenovela realness!! a very good who done it murder mystery! surprises here and there, the book kept me guessing who was safe and who was dangerous - even the main character was one of the question marks! recommend this book if you love telenovelas and are searching for something a bit more modern with some American influences. think Jane the Virgin but with (more) Murder, secrets and lies.
October 25, 2025
90% dramas familiares
10% el misterio en sí xd
10% el misterio en sí xd
April 25, 2025
twisting
It slithered like a snake through all the adventures going on. It was most intriguing. Just when I thought I knew what was going on I realized I didn’t have a clue.
It slithered like a snake through all the adventures going on. It was most intriguing. Just when I thought I knew what was going on I realized I didn’t have a clue.
April 30, 2025
3.5 stars…..I didn’t like even one character in this story…Started out ok, but became very far fetched!
August 6, 2025
Very telenovela and melodramatic but I enjoy tennis and Spanish slang so it ultimately was a winner for me.
April 24, 2025
Amazon First Read.
The author's background gives him insight into characters' development. The last part of story was "heavy"... not a criticism, just an observation. Lots happening.
The author's background gives him insight into characters' development. The last part of story was "heavy"... not a criticism, just an observation. Lots happening.
April 28, 2025
I did not like any of the characters in this book. They were all offensive, conniving deceitful unworthy people looking for a way to outmaneuvers each other.
I was intrigued with the way the author cleverly slowly unleashed the plot, while not actually enjoying the book.
I was intrigued with the way the author cleverly slowly unleashed the plot, while not actually enjoying the book.
September 17, 2025
Pretty decent and had some good twists and turns. I was a little unsatisfied with the ending, but overall this was good.
April 29, 2025
I am half way through. I am interested in the story but the writing is not pulling me back. I will get back to it another time and hopefully change my rating.
April 20, 2025
A wth?!, hidden in every chapter
Could have never predicted the outcome. So many twists and surprises, although there were plenty of hints. Not my normal genre to read, but exceptionally interesting, glad I gave it a read. Keeps the reader's attention, definitely.
Could have never predicted the outcome. So many twists and surprises, although there were plenty of hints. Not my normal genre to read, but exceptionally interesting, glad I gave it a read. Keeps the reader's attention, definitely.
September 2, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
While I liked the story and writing, nothing really started to happen until 2/3 of the way through. The last 1/3 was really good, though. I guessed a few twists, but not all.
While I liked the story and writing, nothing really started to happen until 2/3 of the way through. The last 1/3 was really good, though. I guessed a few twists, but not all.
April 13, 2025
Selected this as my Amazon First Reads choice of the month. It took off a little slow and the chapters were longer than I would’ve liked, but the story picked up. A bunch of twists that left my jaw on the floor and ending that you don’t quite often read. For a debut novel by a known actor, I was pleasantly satisfied!
April 20, 2025
This one fell flat for me — i feel like Alejandro was a plot point we lost along the way
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