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Takes One to Know One
"A scandal-ridden musician clashes with the buttoned-up label rep sent to clean up his reputation" in this angsty enemies-to-lovers rom-com set in Puerto Rico's. (Fangirlish, '16 Best Romances of April 2025')
Daniela is risk-averse, blazer-obsessed, and likes to be taken seriously. So when her record label job is on the line, she’s prepared to do anything to keep it. Except for working with the genre of music she hates reggaeton. It's supposed to inspire sensual hip-swinging dance moves and Dani’s hips do not swing—not like that anyway. Out of desperation, Dani lies and says she loves reggaeton. But not only does Dani get to keep her job, she gets a ticket to Puerto Rico . . . on a mission to clean up the scandalous image of international reggaeton singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez.
Despite her best act, Dani’s dislike of his music and Rene's prickly disposition is palpable, resulting in them butting heads at every turn. Yet as the two spend more time together under the island’s sizzling sun, Dani realizes there’s more to Rene than his rough edges and good looks. The man that many only see as a sex icon actually cares about his music, community, and culture. Against her will, she slowly begins finding him harder to hate. And before she knows it, Rene is teaching Dani how to find the rhythm of the music and learn to let go. But will she ever be ready to acknowledge the heat growing between them and put her heart on the line?
Daniela is risk-averse, blazer-obsessed, and likes to be taken seriously. So when her record label job is on the line, she’s prepared to do anything to keep it. Except for working with the genre of music she hates reggaeton. It's supposed to inspire sensual hip-swinging dance moves and Dani’s hips do not swing—not like that anyway. Out of desperation, Dani lies and says she loves reggaeton. But not only does Dani get to keep her job, she gets a ticket to Puerto Rico . . . on a mission to clean up the scandalous image of international reggaeton singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez.
Despite her best act, Dani’s dislike of his music and Rene's prickly disposition is palpable, resulting in them butting heads at every turn. Yet as the two spend more time together under the island’s sizzling sun, Dani realizes there’s more to Rene than his rough edges and good looks. The man that many only see as a sex icon actually cares about his music, community, and culture. Against her will, she slowly begins finding him harder to hate. And before she knows it, Rene is teaching Dani how to find the rhythm of the music and learn to let go. But will she ever be ready to acknowledge the heat growing between them and put her heart on the line?
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
15 people are currently reading
6371 people want to read
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March 28, 2025
🇵🇷🎵QUE TEMAZO🇵🇷🎵!!!!!!! Takes One To Know One written by Lissette Decos was such a phenomenal banger. In my honest opinion, Takes One To Know One was honestly one of the best musical romance novels I have ever read, but it's so much more than just a story about romance and music, it's about grief, self discovery, and moving forward in life. I have never read a book written by Lissette Decos before, but this certainly won't be my last because I had the best time. After reading this lovely book, it made me want to pack my bags immediately and go off the grid and spend months in Puerto Rico. I picked up this book for a few different reasons, the cover is just stunning, the musical aspect, of course, and the self discovery. Takes One To Know One is an enemies-to-lovers rom-com. I absolutely applaud when characters are at their lowest and watching them overcome their obstacles is just a special moment, it's so hard not to root for characters when their life is in shambles, but as their self growth takes place it's just beautiful to witness. For my musical lovers, please mark your calendars for April 1st, 2025 to get your hands on Takes One To Know One. I know this book won't be for everyone, but I truly thought it was so well written and captures the beauty of music. I adore how the aspect of music can bring so many people together, it can often bring you life long friendships.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND FOREVER GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
💃🇵🇷You Had Me At Hola meets Dirty Dancing in this musical romance set in Puerto Rico's music industry💃🇵🇷.
"💗🎶I don't just care about music, I care about people and how music changes their lives💗🎶".
"🌈🍀Tomorrow is a new day. Buck it up, Buttercup🌈🍀".
"⛲feel the heartbeat of a hidden waterfall
give up fear for flying⛲".
For anyone who isn't too familiar with Reggaeton, like myself, the characters describe it as Salson on ecstasy. It's sexy dance music that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms. Daniela is a risk adverse, blazer obsessed, and a people pleaser workaholic. Daniela has been a marketing coordinator at Ocean Records in Miami, Florida for seven years. Daniela is half Puerto Rican and half Cuban, she grew up on salsa and merengue. Daniela is now grieving the loss of her father, he died at work from a heart attack, so work has always been Daniela's safe place. Daniela's father wrote a song about Puerto Rico which was truly beautiful. Daniela is the type of person who puts other people before herself. Daniela hates Reggaeton, it's supposed to inspire sensual hip swinging dance moves, and Dani's hips do not swing. Despite hating Reggaeton, Daniela lands an interview for a publicist position at a record label, out of desperation, Dani says she loves Reggaeton which lands her a plane ticket to Puerto Rico to clean up the scandalous image of international Reggaeton singer René "El Rico" Rodriguez. Ocean Records has never worked with a Reggaeton artist before, so it's Dani's job to ace this interview. My heart goes out to Daniela, it was so hard watching her hit rock bottom meanwhile grieving the loss of her father, I often wanted to reach into my kindle and give her the biggest hug, this poor girl.
René "El Rico" Rodriguez is best described as an asshat, he's not much of a talker, but he asks so many questions. René is a thirty-one year old Reggaeton artist. René is so handsome, he's covered in tattoos, he even has a Puerto Rican flag tattooed on his heart. René has a roller coaster of a personality, one minute he's sweet, the next minute he's a jerk. René is as big as a jerk in his songs and he is in real life, but behind his tough exterior, he's really a sweetheart. There's one thing about René, he never takes off his designer sunglasses. As an artist, René wants to capture his culture and Puerto Rico for his first ever album. René and Daniela showcase the musical nuance, culture, and beauty of Puerto Rico. Daniela is assigned to work on promoting René's album, but René wants to have his first ever solo album to be recorded in Puerto Rico. As Daniela and René spend time together doing interviews, René takes Daniela to all of the places her father wrote about in his song, which was truly precious. All René has ever wanted to do was make music that melts away people's troubles and lose their inhibitions. René might seem like a jerk, but as you get to know him, you will see that he has one of the biggest hearts despite what other people say about him or what his own music says. I loved watching Daniela and René work together, their interactions and banter were truly wholesome. Despite saying she loves Reggaeton, René can see right through Daniela's lies, but now it's his mission to make Daniela appreciate what this genre of music has to offer.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND FOREVER GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
💃🇵🇷You Had Me At Hola meets Dirty Dancing in this musical romance set in Puerto Rico's music industry💃🇵🇷.
"💗🎶I don't just care about music, I care about people and how music changes their lives💗🎶".
"🌈🍀Tomorrow is a new day. Buck it up, Buttercup🌈🍀".
"⛲feel the heartbeat of a hidden waterfall
give up fear for flying⛲".
For anyone who isn't too familiar with Reggaeton, like myself, the characters describe it as Salson on ecstasy. It's sexy dance music that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms. Daniela is a risk adverse, blazer obsessed, and a people pleaser workaholic. Daniela has been a marketing coordinator at Ocean Records in Miami, Florida for seven years. Daniela is half Puerto Rican and half Cuban, she grew up on salsa and merengue. Daniela is now grieving the loss of her father, he died at work from a heart attack, so work has always been Daniela's safe place. Daniela's father wrote a song about Puerto Rico which was truly beautiful. Daniela is the type of person who puts other people before herself. Daniela hates Reggaeton, it's supposed to inspire sensual hip swinging dance moves, and Dani's hips do not swing. Despite hating Reggaeton, Daniela lands an interview for a publicist position at a record label, out of desperation, Dani says she loves Reggaeton which lands her a plane ticket to Puerto Rico to clean up the scandalous image of international Reggaeton singer René "El Rico" Rodriguez. Ocean Records has never worked with a Reggaeton artist before, so it's Dani's job to ace this interview. My heart goes out to Daniela, it was so hard watching her hit rock bottom meanwhile grieving the loss of her father, I often wanted to reach into my kindle and give her the biggest hug, this poor girl.
René "El Rico" Rodriguez is best described as an asshat, he's not much of a talker, but he asks so many questions. René is a thirty-one year old Reggaeton artist. René is so handsome, he's covered in tattoos, he even has a Puerto Rican flag tattooed on his heart. René has a roller coaster of a personality, one minute he's sweet, the next minute he's a jerk. René is as big as a jerk in his songs and he is in real life, but behind his tough exterior, he's really a sweetheart. There's one thing about René, he never takes off his designer sunglasses. As an artist, René wants to capture his culture and Puerto Rico for his first ever album. René and Daniela showcase the musical nuance, culture, and beauty of Puerto Rico. Daniela is assigned to work on promoting René's album, but René wants to have his first ever solo album to be recorded in Puerto Rico. As Daniela and René spend time together doing interviews, René takes Daniela to all of the places her father wrote about in his song, which was truly precious. All René has ever wanted to do was make music that melts away people's troubles and lose their inhibitions. René might seem like a jerk, but as you get to know him, you will see that he has one of the biggest hearts despite what other people say about him or what his own music says. I loved watching Daniela and René work together, their interactions and banter were truly wholesome. Despite saying she loves Reggaeton, René can see right through Daniela's lies, but now it's his mission to make Daniela appreciate what this genre of music has to offer.
March 17, 2025
*3.5
Thank you Forever for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
This is a very loose review, and probably will be subject to change in the upcoming days/months.
I think the novel had strong potential, having a romance set up in the spanish music industry (Puerto Rico's industry specifically) piques your interest but was is executed well? Not really.
Rene and Dani lack immense chemistry, the romance was simply not there. You have them interact a bare couple of times and each time it feels forced. The marketing team fell short because "Enemies to Lovers" was not the vibe. It was just more one sided dislikeness.
to be honest...The reggaeton hate and "I don't dance" characteristics was not my cup of tea and that's okay. Dani grows to see reggaeton more than face value but it still wasn't enough to sway me.
As for the music artist component, For Rene "El Rico" is an alter persona that he wears. Personally, I'm not really a fan of this decision. It paints the MMC in a light that just makes you feel confused about who he really is as a person and artist. The book taking in PR and having the album be recorded in PR is supposed to bring out this authentic version of himself but it felt limited because we only see Dani's perspective. I would've loved to see this be further explored with a dual perspective for us to feel more connected with Rene but unfortunately that's not the case.
Dani is half Cuban & Half Puerto Rican. This is essential to the storyline because as she's in Puerto Rico, she's connecting to her dad's roots and is falling in love with the island. Seeing her explore her culture and also accepting the grief she's experiencing via her father is really heartwarming because of this, I think that the book fell into the wrong genre.
This book as a contemporary novel would've held better than within the romance genre because adding the romance didn't add anything.
In reading this book, you don't stick for the romance but rather the elements of self discovery and grief.
Thank you Forever for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
This is a very loose review, and probably will be subject to change in the upcoming days/months.
I think the novel had strong potential, having a romance set up in the spanish music industry (Puerto Rico's industry specifically) piques your interest but was is executed well? Not really.
Rene and Dani lack immense chemistry, the romance was simply not there. You have them interact a bare couple of times and each time it feels forced. The marketing team fell short because "Enemies to Lovers" was not the vibe. It was just more one sided dislikeness.
to be honest...The reggaeton hate and "I don't dance" characteristics was not my cup of tea and that's okay. Dani grows to see reggaeton more than face value but it still wasn't enough to sway me.
As for the music artist component, For Rene "El Rico" is an alter persona that he wears. Personally, I'm not really a fan of this decision. It paints the MMC in a light that just makes you feel confused about who he really is as a person and artist. The book taking in PR and having the album be recorded in PR is supposed to bring out this authentic version of himself but it felt limited because we only see Dani's perspective. I would've loved to see this be further explored with a dual perspective for us to feel more connected with Rene but unfortunately that's not the case.
Dani is half Cuban & Half Puerto Rican. This is essential to the storyline because as she's in Puerto Rico, she's connecting to her dad's roots and is falling in love with the island. Seeing her explore her culture and also accepting the grief she's experiencing via her father is really heartwarming because of this, I think that the book fell into the wrong genre.
This book as a contemporary novel would've held better than within the romance genre because adding the romance didn't add anything.
In reading this book, you don't stick for the romance but rather the elements of self discovery and grief.
April 6, 2025
Takes One to Know One by Lissette Decos
Contemporary diverse romance.
Daniela is a publicist at a record label. She loves her job but when the company is bought by a larger conglomerate, she has to put everything on the line and agree to work with a reggaeton band in Puerto Rico. She’s not a fan of the music but she needs the job so she will figure out who Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez is behind the sound and what it means to him. She’s never been to Puerto Rico before although that’s where her father grew up. Rene takes it upon himself to show Dani around to his favorite places, his childhood home, and more.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The narration is performed by Ramona Master who does an excellent job with the Spanish accent and dialogue. The emotional expression is great, in particular Dani’s desperation, dislike and uncertainty. There are clear and distinct voices for Dani and Rene and the dialog is easy to follow. The audiobook really brought to life Dani’s personality as well as her heritage.
I listened to the playback at 1.5 to more closely match my reading and conversation speed.
I’m a fan of “fake it until you make it” attitude but not so much lying. I didn’t connect with the characters at first and took at break at 25% for a few days. They seemed to have no respect for each other and argue a lot. When I restarted the story, I tried to remember it’s a romance and I can trust there will be a connection between the two soon. Dani and Rene did connect as Dani began to appreciate the music and not just the job, and Rene found all the places mentioned in her father’s music which also helped to connect them.
I was surprised by some of the decisions near the end and ultimately happy for the hea.
I was gifted a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.
Contemporary diverse romance.
Daniela is a publicist at a record label. She loves her job but when the company is bought by a larger conglomerate, she has to put everything on the line and agree to work with a reggaeton band in Puerto Rico. She’s not a fan of the music but she needs the job so she will figure out who Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez is behind the sound and what it means to him. She’s never been to Puerto Rico before although that’s where her father grew up. Rene takes it upon himself to show Dani around to his favorite places, his childhood home, and more.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The narration is performed by Ramona Master who does an excellent job with the Spanish accent and dialogue. The emotional expression is great, in particular Dani’s desperation, dislike and uncertainty. There are clear and distinct voices for Dani and Rene and the dialog is easy to follow. The audiobook really brought to life Dani’s personality as well as her heritage.
I listened to the playback at 1.5 to more closely match my reading and conversation speed.
I’m a fan of “fake it until you make it” attitude but not so much lying. I didn’t connect with the characters at first and took at break at 25% for a few days. They seemed to have no respect for each other and argue a lot. When I restarted the story, I tried to remember it’s a romance and I can trust there will be a connection between the two soon. Dani and Rene did connect as Dani began to appreciate the music and not just the job, and Rene found all the places mentioned in her father’s music which also helped to connect them.
I was surprised by some of the decisions near the end and ultimately happy for the hea.
I was gifted a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.
March 7, 2025
This was cute! Set partially in Puerto Rico, it follows Daniela, a marketing coordinator for a record label who gets paired with René, a reggaeton artist working on his next album. Daniela is desperate to prove herself, but the two immediately clash when René quickly realizes she knows nothing about him or his music.
René was so effortlessly suave and confident, yet beneath that was a deeply passionate guy simply wanting to create something authentic rather than just a marketable persona. And I really felt for Daniela, too. Since her father’s passing, she's been under immense pressure to maintain their family home while also being a good role model for her sister. With so many responsibilities, she’s had very little room to take risks of her own.
The setting was absolutely beautiful, and I loved how it, along with the incorporation of music, tied into Daniela’s grief. René’s final collaboration really hit me in the feels, and I loved how he inspired Daniela to want something for herself. But I don’t know… for a slow-burn romance, I just didn’t FEEL their chemistry. It lacked that palpable tension, buildup, and excitement for me. It’s a minor complaint, but an important one when it comes to my overall enjoyment of romance.
(heat level: closed door)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
René was so effortlessly suave and confident, yet beneath that was a deeply passionate guy simply wanting to create something authentic rather than just a marketable persona. And I really felt for Daniela, too. Since her father’s passing, she's been under immense pressure to maintain their family home while also being a good role model for her sister. With so many responsibilities, she’s had very little room to take risks of her own.
The setting was absolutely beautiful, and I loved how it, along with the incorporation of music, tied into Daniela’s grief. René’s final collaboration really hit me in the feels, and I loved how he inspired Daniela to want something for herself. But I don’t know… for a slow-burn romance, I just didn’t FEEL their chemistry. It lacked that palpable tension, buildup, and excitement for me. It’s a minor complaint, but an important one when it comes to my overall enjoyment of romance.
(heat level: closed door)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 31, 2025
i WANTED to love this one, i really did.
in this story we follow daniela, who we see is struggling with processing the grief of her father while simultaneously trying to keep her job by following Rene (a reggaeton celebrity) to Puerto Rico to record his newest album label.
Throughout the story i feel like daniela is constantly having to prove herself to everybody, especially rene. and while this was fun at first it was tiring towards the end and had me asking if this was actually a romance.
i feel like rene was so wish-washy with her it hurt MY head to think if he was really flirting or what his motives were. we were also introduced to side characters that had me questioning where they were going with the plot because it lasted almost towards the end.
the romance wasn’t romantic enough for me.
he did do some cute gestures but it felt like two steps back for every step forward, or like a cold shoulder whenever she said something he didn’t agree with.
i wanted to love this story as someone who is latinx, but i just didn’t love the characters 😭
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own
in this story we follow daniela, who we see is struggling with processing the grief of her father while simultaneously trying to keep her job by following Rene (a reggaeton celebrity) to Puerto Rico to record his newest album label.
Throughout the story i feel like daniela is constantly having to prove herself to everybody, especially rene. and while this was fun at first it was tiring towards the end and had me asking if this was actually a romance.
i feel like rene was so wish-washy with her it hurt MY head to think if he was really flirting or what his motives were. we were also introduced to side characters that had me questioning where they were going with the plot because it lasted almost towards the end.
the romance wasn’t romantic enough for me.
he did do some cute gestures but it felt like two steps back for every step forward, or like a cold shoulder whenever she said something he didn’t agree with.
i wanted to love this story as someone who is latinx, but i just didn’t love the characters 😭
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own
April 7, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
This book was so fun! Taking place partially in Puerto Rico, record label marketing director Dani travels to follow Rene “El Rico” Rodriguez during the making of his very first solo album. They butt heads at first, but over time sparks start to fly. This is definitely a slow-burn and overall feels more like women’s fiction than a straight up romance. That wasn’t a problem for me and this story was really refreshing.
The setting in this book was beautiful and it made me feel like I was on the beach in Puerto Rico. Dani exploring the places her dad wanted her to see really took me through her grieving process and I felt connected to her.
Ramona Master did a great job narrating and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
If you’re looking for a fun beach read this is the one!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and the author for the ALC!
This book was so fun! Taking place partially in Puerto Rico, record label marketing director Dani travels to follow Rene “El Rico” Rodriguez during the making of his very first solo album. They butt heads at first, but over time sparks start to fly. This is definitely a slow-burn and overall feels more like women’s fiction than a straight up romance. That wasn’t a problem for me and this story was really refreshing.
The setting in this book was beautiful and it made me feel like I was on the beach in Puerto Rico. Dani exploring the places her dad wanted her to see really took me through her grieving process and I felt connected to her.
Ramona Master did a great job narrating and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
If you’re looking for a fun beach read this is the one!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and the author for the ALC!
dnf-2025
June 14, 2025DNF @40% - audio arc review
1. Didn't love seeing so much slut shaming and women hating in 2025 coming from the heroine.
2. This reaaaaaally feels like it's RPF for Bad Bunny. Can't confirm or deny, I just couldn't stop connecting the dots of the MMC being a spitting image of Bad Bunny.
3. This was blurbed as an enemies to lovers situation but is really just the 'not like other girls' FMC having one sided beef with having to do her job with this Bad Bunny lookalike and him just existing and wanting to be in Puerto Rico to work. Has she mentioned how much she hates reggaeton?
I do love the narrator for this, but they can't save this writing for me. Off to sob.
Audio ARC provided by Netgalley.
1. Didn't love seeing so much slut shaming and women hating in 2025 coming from the heroine.
2. This reaaaaaally feels like it's RPF for Bad Bunny. Can't confirm or deny, I just couldn't stop connecting the dots of the MMC being a spitting image of Bad Bunny.
3. This was blurbed as an enemies to lovers situation but is really just the 'not like other girls' FMC having one sided beef with having to do her job with this Bad Bunny lookalike and him just existing and wanting to be in Puerto Rico to work. Has she mentioned how much she hates reggaeton?
I do love the narrator for this, but they can't save this writing for me. Off to sob.
Audio ARC provided by Netgalley.
April 23, 2025
I loved Takes One to Know One so much! Dani and Rene's relationship went from a very contentious place to one where they were intentionally getting to know each other and eventually fell in love. Dani works at a music label where she spends every day thinking that she's about to be let go, but when she lies about being a fan of reggaeton, she is placed with one of the biggest reggaeton artists in the world who is making a career move from being a collaborator and songwriter to global pop superstar a la Bad Bunny.
I found Rene to be so sweet and charming, even when he came off more hot-and-cold—it didn't feel like he was behaving that way because he got off on being cruel to Dani, but, rather, because he was guarding himself from getting hurt. Also Dani is very unengaged for the most part because she's so focused on all the moving parts in her life that by the time she realizes Rene likes her, she is ready to relax and take a load off. Dani is the high-strung eldest daughter of a Cuban mother and (deceased) Puerto Rican father, and she experiences a lot of stress when it comes to making sure her mom and younger (adult) sister are well and doing well for themselves, taking on the responsibility of providing for them. In a lot of ways, this is a coming-of-age story for Dani, and I really am enjoying stories with that feel at the moment. Once they get past their initial bumps in the road, they have a pretty balanced friendship with teasing and flirting that leads to a sweet romance.
I do wish that this book was dual POV for the sole purpose that Rene actually seemed to be the one who fell for Dani first, and he seemed so passionate about the way he pursued her, tried to connect with her culturally, and sought to expose her to different things to help her unwind. What I will say is that if the song he wrote was that difficult to discern whether it was insulting or affectionate, the song missed the mark LOL. I wished Dani and Rene had spent a little less time going back and forth about that because they could've been talking about how to make their relationship work instead. I also wished there was clarity about how Dani and her family would be paid for Rene using Dani's father's song because uh…yeah, that's sweet and all but where's her bag? LOL.
Overall this was a very cute, sweet, closed-door romance that was just what I needed!
4 ⭐️s
I found Rene to be so sweet and charming, even when he came off more hot-and-cold—it didn't feel like he was behaving that way because he got off on being cruel to Dani, but, rather, because he was guarding himself from getting hurt. Also Dani is very unengaged for the most part because she's so focused on all the moving parts in her life that by the time she realizes Rene likes her, she is ready to relax and take a load off. Dani is the high-strung eldest daughter of a Cuban mother and (deceased) Puerto Rican father, and she experiences a lot of stress when it comes to making sure her mom and younger (adult) sister are well and doing well for themselves, taking on the responsibility of providing for them. In a lot of ways, this is a coming-of-age story for Dani, and I really am enjoying stories with that feel at the moment. Once they get past their initial bumps in the road, they have a pretty balanced friendship with teasing and flirting that leads to a sweet romance.
I do wish that this book was dual POV for the sole purpose that Rene actually seemed to be the one who fell for Dani first, and he seemed so passionate about the way he pursued her, tried to connect with her culturally, and sought to expose her to different things to help her unwind. What I will say is that if the song he wrote was that difficult to discern whether it was insulting or affectionate, the song missed the mark LOL. I wished Dani and Rene had spent a little less time going back and forth about that because they could've been talking about how to make their relationship work instead. I also wished there was clarity about how Dani and her family would be paid for Rene using Dani's father's song because uh…yeah, that's sweet and all but where's her bag? LOL.
Overall this was a very cute, sweet, closed-door romance that was just what I needed!
4 ⭐️s
March 25, 2025
I know I've been struggling with long book reviews but this one felt important to me to do it now before it's release next week.
I had a couple of issues with this book, from the narrator to be my least favorite narrator to the way Culebra was used as the setting for the guy to record his album to it being promoted as a reguetonero romance and it's barely a romance.
This book very much felt like women's fiction than romance, the romance is not the main point of this book. It very much is all about the female main character with her grief, learning to love the land of her deceased father and her place at her job. I did not feel there was a lot of chemistry with Rene and she is so fucking annoying. I don't know if my hate for the narrator affected my hate for the character. She was so annoying and so pick me. "I don't like regueton"
Can I also talk about how they used the FMC like a token latine persona and it's not addressed. Like so many little things just made me want more of this book.
I really try to not criticize the way second language speakers speak the second language, but this narrator really made me role my eyes so much!!!!! When she tried to make the coqui sound had me laughing so hard.
The way Culebra was used in this really made me uncomfortable because if you know about the issues with the power grid in Puerto Rico, you should know that Viequez and Culebra (the smaller island) suffer the brunt of it because its not the metro area. They get lots of power outages and they do treat tourist better than the people that live there. There is no hospital in Culebra. There are small restaurants and small supermarkets there, it's not like you can walk up to a small DONUT shop on the corner.
These are some of my issues with this book, and I'm not saying don't read it. Overall it was an okay book.
I had a couple of issues with this book, from the narrator to be my least favorite narrator to the way Culebra was used as the setting for the guy to record his album to it being promoted as a reguetonero romance and it's barely a romance.
This book very much felt like women's fiction than romance, the romance is not the main point of this book. It very much is all about the female main character with her grief, learning to love the land of her deceased father and her place at her job. I did not feel there was a lot of chemistry with Rene and she is so fucking annoying. I don't know if my hate for the narrator affected my hate for the character. She was so annoying and so pick me. "I don't like regueton"
Can I also talk about how they used the FMC like a token latine persona and it's not addressed. Like so many little things just made me want more of this book.
I really try to not criticize the way second language speakers speak the second language, but this narrator really made me role my eyes so much!!!!! When she tried to make the coqui sound had me laughing so hard.
The way Culebra was used in this really made me uncomfortable because if you know about the issues with the power grid in Puerto Rico, you should know that Viequez and Culebra (the smaller island) suffer the brunt of it because its not the metro area. They get lots of power outages and they do treat tourist better than the people that live there. There is no hospital in Culebra. There are small restaurants and small supermarkets there, it's not like you can walk up to a small DONUT shop on the corner.
These are some of my issues with this book, and I'm not saying don't read it. Overall it was an okay book.
April 25, 2025
Before I dive into this review, I need to say that I do not understand the blurb's comparison to Dirty Dancing at all and I need someone who has read this book and seen the movie to explain to me where that comparison is coming from. Okay, but setting that weirdness aside, Daniela is a control freak. Just putting it bluntly. So this book was really fun to read while also examining the fact that it turns out, so am I. It manifests in different ways between us, for sure, but I found myself disliking Daniela and being like, "Jen, babe, that's you. You're the same." So if you're looking for that level of feeling seen, have I got the book for you! Our male love interest is Rene who is a reggaeton singer who seems to not take life too seriously, but is making Daniela's life a little challenging as she's been given the opportunity to make his album with him as a publicist type situation.
One thing about me is that I love books about music and so I definitely enjoyed that part of this book, as well, although I would have liked a little more. Because this is a single POV romance following Daniela's perspective, we weren't ever in Rene's head getting to see him work through putting lyrics and music down. But I liked all of the glimpses we got of him working on the production of his songs.
This book also deals with Daniela finally working through the grief from her father's death, which she sort of pushed down in order to take care of her mom and sister. I liked the way this book handled the family dynamics as well, because it starts off with Daniela being overbearing and slowly learning to shift the way she relates to her mom and sister. I liked the way that Rene helps Daniela with her grief as well.
Ultimately, this book worked best for me as a women's fiction, Emily Henry or Kennedy Ryan style book and that is what I think the best comparisons would have been to, in my humble opinion. I think if you're a fan of either/both, you should pick this up. The plot is certainly different from any EmHen or Kennedy Ryan book I've read, so please don't think that. Anyway, I say that's how it worked best for me because I actually really felt like I needed Rene's perspective to really understand the romance.
As for the audiobook, I thought Ramona Master did a good job with it. I don't think it's a book you have to read on audio, but it's certainly not one I would steer you away from.
Thanks to Forever for the audio review copy from Netgalley!
One thing about me is that I love books about music and so I definitely enjoyed that part of this book, as well, although I would have liked a little more. Because this is a single POV romance following Daniela's perspective, we weren't ever in Rene's head getting to see him work through putting lyrics and music down. But I liked all of the glimpses we got of him working on the production of his songs.
This book also deals with Daniela finally working through the grief from her father's death, which she sort of pushed down in order to take care of her mom and sister. I liked the way this book handled the family dynamics as well, because it starts off with Daniela being overbearing and slowly learning to shift the way she relates to her mom and sister. I liked the way that Rene helps Daniela with her grief as well.
Ultimately, this book worked best for me as a women's fiction, Emily Henry or Kennedy Ryan style book and that is what I think the best comparisons would have been to, in my humble opinion. I think if you're a fan of either/both, you should pick this up. The plot is certainly different from any EmHen or Kennedy Ryan book I've read, so please don't think that. Anyway, I say that's how it worked best for me because I actually really felt like I needed Rene's perspective to really understand the romance.
As for the audiobook, I thought Ramona Master did a good job with it. I don't think it's a book you have to read on audio, but it's certainly not one I would steer you away from.
Thanks to Forever for the audio review copy from Netgalley!
May 17, 2025
UPDATE: AFTER READING A BOOK BY A PERSON THAT IS NOT FROM PUERTO RICO, AND BEING AMAZED AT HOW GREAT AND AUTHENTIC THE REPRESENTATION FELT , I came back to my review even more upset. Because, MI GENTE LATINA, authors should do research when writing about something they don't know, authors should useeee beta readers and sensitivity readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Forever and Netgallery for the E-ARC of Takes One to Know One in exchange for an honest review.
I think that this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year for many reasons. For starters, there are not enough books by Latinx authors, with Latinx main characters, specially puertoricans. So it pains me to say that this book didn't hit the mark for me. For starters, the chemistry between our main characters was NON-EXISTENT. 60% of the book and they barely have conversations or anything that could make me believe they liked each other or could have everlasting love. To me, saying this was a romance, is just not real.
While I appreciate the setting, it felt off. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and while some descriptions were beautiful, it just didn't feel authentic. It lacked heart IMO and it felt like it was just a plot device. I understand the apprehension of the FMC on going to the island, and I appreciated the exploration of grief, but it just felt flat. Everything on the story felt all over the place.
Again, I am sorry I didn't enjoy the book and I really hope that if you give the book the chance you end up loving it. But is a no for me.
Thanks to Forever and Netgallery for the E-ARC of Takes One to Know One in exchange for an honest review.
I think that this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year for many reasons. For starters, there are not enough books by Latinx authors, with Latinx main characters, specially puertoricans. So it pains me to say that this book didn't hit the mark for me. For starters, the chemistry between our main characters was NON-EXISTENT. 60% of the book and they barely have conversations or anything that could make me believe they liked each other or could have everlasting love. To me, saying this was a romance, is just not real.
While I appreciate the setting, it felt off. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and while some descriptions were beautiful, it just didn't feel authentic. It lacked heart IMO and it felt like it was just a plot device. I understand the apprehension of the FMC on going to the island, and I appreciated the exploration of grief, but it just felt flat. Everything on the story felt all over the place.
Again, I am sorry I didn't enjoy the book and I really hope that if you give the book the chance you end up loving it. But is a no for me.
April 4, 2025
"I know I’ve been hiding, but now I’m done
You’ve been hiding too, takes one to know one
Can we meet away from the shadows
Where I’ve come to write you a love song”
This book is essentially a love letter to all the ELDER DAUGHTERS who fret too much, over think too much, worry too much and just in general think they are too much. Who forgets that it's okay to let someone hold them. Who becomes a parent to their siblings without realising it. Who comes off as Cold and closed off when it's just them trying to hold on and survive the way they know the best, the way they think will hurt less.
I absolutely adore Dani's journey. And I loved that this book is only in her POV, because you get to see her internal monologues change. In the beginning she actually believes that she is living the best way she can manage and then with time, with Rene, she actually unlearns it all and learns to let go. Her conversations with her mother in the beginning and in the end are monumentally different. Her relationship with her sister shifts so much and it is a beautiful reminder.
I also loved that this book is mostly Dani's story, her falling in love is a part of it, but I won't necessarily call it a love story. It's a story that features a love story. And it is MY FAVOURITE PART about this book. Rene acts as the pivotal point that defines Dani's life in a before and after, and it made me enjoy the book so much more. I read it in under 24 hours.
The only thing that bugged me was how dani felt insulted by her interpretation of the song, and yet without a conversation/confrontation was also having feelings for Rene. I couldn't wrap my head around it. That plot line could have been written a little better.
The last 20 percent of the book is absolute perfection. Dani taking a lead on her own life, making decisions for herself, making friends and then talking to Rene - it made my heart warm. And the last chapter with Rene was so sweet it had me squealing and giggling fr.
I definitely want to read more from the author.
Read this as an ARC on Netgalley and kinda grateful that I stumbled upon this 🤌
You’ve been hiding too, takes one to know one
Can we meet away from the shadows
Where I’ve come to write you a love song”
This book is essentially a love letter to all the ELDER DAUGHTERS who fret too much, over think too much, worry too much and just in general think they are too much. Who forgets that it's okay to let someone hold them. Who becomes a parent to their siblings without realising it. Who comes off as Cold and closed off when it's just them trying to hold on and survive the way they know the best, the way they think will hurt less.
I absolutely adore Dani's journey. And I loved that this book is only in her POV, because you get to see her internal monologues change. In the beginning she actually believes that she is living the best way she can manage and then with time, with Rene, she actually unlearns it all and learns to let go. Her conversations with her mother in the beginning and in the end are monumentally different. Her relationship with her sister shifts so much and it is a beautiful reminder.
I also loved that this book is mostly Dani's story, her falling in love is a part of it, but I won't necessarily call it a love story. It's a story that features a love story. And it is MY FAVOURITE PART about this book. Rene acts as the pivotal point that defines Dani's life in a before and after, and it made me enjoy the book so much more. I read it in under 24 hours.
The only thing that bugged me was how dani felt insulted by her interpretation of the song, and yet without a conversation/confrontation was also having feelings for Rene. I couldn't wrap my head around it. That plot line could have been written a little better.
The last 20 percent of the book is absolute perfection. Dani taking a lead on her own life, making decisions for herself, making friends and then talking to Rene - it made my heart warm. And the last chapter with Rene was so sweet it had me squealing and giggling fr.
I definitely want to read more from the author.
Read this as an ARC on Netgalley and kinda grateful that I stumbled upon this 🤌
April 10, 2025
this was such a fun story!!! i loved the setting and how we got to explore different parts of puerto rico with the characters. i’m such a huge bad bunny fan and i know that played into this very much so i thought was a good twist of real life and fiction. the plot of this was interesting and i enjoyed learning about dani’s background, her grief regarding her father, and her desire to connect with him and their roots. i also liked getting to know more about el rico and what type of person he really was. technically this is classified as a romance but i would say it’s more contemporary fiction with a romance subplot. rene and dani have a very slow burn that really only comes to fruition at the end. i think the book is so much more about confidence, finding yourself, culture, etc. than it is about the relationship.
at times i found dani to be a bit difficult as a character — she definitely lived in her head but she also was so bad about jumping to conclusions and then assuming that there was no alternative. i think that definitely made for some moments of miscommunication. i also think rene sometimes was really weird with how he acted toward her from one moment to the next, cold to compassionate in the same beat. however, i enjoyed them overall and think they both experienced a lot of character development/growth throughout the book.
i listened to this on audio and thought ramona master did a great job narrating. she had a lot of emotion at all the right times and i loved her very latin american pronunciation of all the spanish phrases.
thank you dreamscape media for the ALC!
at times i found dani to be a bit difficult as a character — she definitely lived in her head but she also was so bad about jumping to conclusions and then assuming that there was no alternative. i think that definitely made for some moments of miscommunication. i also think rene sometimes was really weird with how he acted toward her from one moment to the next, cold to compassionate in the same beat. however, i enjoyed them overall and think they both experienced a lot of character development/growth throughout the book.
i listened to this on audio and thought ramona master did a great job narrating. she had a lot of emotion at all the right times and i loved her very latin american pronunciation of all the spanish phrases.
thank you dreamscape media for the ALC!
February 4, 2025
Takes One to Know One by Lissette Decos was impossible to put down—I had an absolute blast reading this book. The story follows Daniella, a marketing executive at a Miami music label, who is tasked with promoting their first reggaeton artist, El Rico. The caveat - Daniella doesn’t like reggaeton, and El Rico sees right through her pretense.
Decos does a stunning job immersing readers in Puerto Rican culture. I truly felt like I was there—tasting the ocean air, smelling the food cooking in the kitchens and food trucks, and hearing the music playing from car windows. The setting is truly vibrant, rich, and authentic. It made me feel so proud to be Latina.
But it’s not just about the culture, and the love story between Danielle and Rene. Daniella’s grief over losing her Puerto Rican father adds a deep emotional layer to the story. Her struggle to manage her grief by being the family’s caretaker—always trying to fix things for her mother and little sister—brings a lot of complexity to her character. She’s spent her entire adult life putting others first, and the story delves beautifully into the emotional toll that takes on her. Watching her shed some layers was beautiful.
Daniella’s relationship with her family, especially her younger sister, is portrayed with such tenderness, adding even more depth to her character. And the slow burn romance between Daniella and Rene (El Rico) is just perfect—there’s a natural sensuality that Decos captures effortlessly, reflecting the warmth and ease that comes with being part of the Latino community.
That being said, the romance felt like it could’ve used a bit more build-up. I wish it had been fleshed out a little more. While the chemistry between Daniella and Rene is undeniable, I wished their feelings for each other had developed a little more organically. The moments we do get are great, but with the song "Take It Off" being written and produced before they even shared a truly vulnerable moment, I felt like there was a missed opportunity to deepen their connection. If this aspect had been fleshed out more, their eventual separation and reunion would have had a deeper emotional impact on me.
All in all, I am so incredibly happy I got the chance to read this book. It is a love letter to music, to reguetton, to Puerto Rico, and to the Latinx community. Obsessed!
Decos does a stunning job immersing readers in Puerto Rican culture. I truly felt like I was there—tasting the ocean air, smelling the food cooking in the kitchens and food trucks, and hearing the music playing from car windows. The setting is truly vibrant, rich, and authentic. It made me feel so proud to be Latina.
But it’s not just about the culture, and the love story between Danielle and Rene. Daniella’s grief over losing her Puerto Rican father adds a deep emotional layer to the story. Her struggle to manage her grief by being the family’s caretaker—always trying to fix things for her mother and little sister—brings a lot of complexity to her character. She’s spent her entire adult life putting others first, and the story delves beautifully into the emotional toll that takes on her. Watching her shed some layers was beautiful.
Daniella’s relationship with her family, especially her younger sister, is portrayed with such tenderness, adding even more depth to her character. And the slow burn romance between Daniella and Rene (El Rico) is just perfect—there’s a natural sensuality that Decos captures effortlessly, reflecting the warmth and ease that comes with being part of the Latino community.
That being said, the romance felt like it could’ve used a bit more build-up. I wish it had been fleshed out a little more. While the chemistry between Daniella and Rene is undeniable, I wished their feelings for each other had developed a little more organically. The moments we do get are great, but with the song "Take It Off" being written and produced before they even shared a truly vulnerable moment, I felt like there was a missed opportunity to deepen their connection. If this aspect had been fleshed out more, their eventual separation and reunion would have had a deeper emotional impact on me.
All in all, I am so incredibly happy I got the chance to read this book. It is a love letter to music, to reguetton, to Puerto Rico, and to the Latinx community. Obsessed!
March 6, 2025
I’ve been reading a lot of musician based romances this year and Takes One to Know One is a great addition.
René and Dani showcase the musical nuance, culture and beauty of Puerto Rico. Genres of music are rooted in their own history and reggaeton while now recognized internationally came from artists that found their own way of storytelling rooted in community and storytelling. Lissette does that beautifully in Takes One to Know One. As someone that loves a good blazer the diss track was shocking, but stick around until it comes full circle.
But at times It felt like something was missing from the book. Rene’s not fully revealed to readers and we only get so much from him. I felt like we didn’t get enough interactions from the characters and I guess I needed more in that aspect. Nevertheless, giving this 4 stars and thank you Hachette Book Group Canada for the digital arc!
René and Dani showcase the musical nuance, culture and beauty of Puerto Rico. Genres of music are rooted in their own history and reggaeton while now recognized internationally came from artists that found their own way of storytelling rooted in community and storytelling. Lissette does that beautifully in Takes One to Know One. As someone that loves a good blazer the diss track was shocking, but stick around until it comes full circle.
But at times It felt like something was missing from the book. Rene’s not fully revealed to readers and we only get so much from him. I felt like we didn’t get enough interactions from the characters and I guess I needed more in that aspect. Nevertheless, giving this 4 stars and thank you Hachette Book Group Canada for the digital arc!
March 28, 2025
This was a heartfelt opposites attract, forced proximity, workplace romance that sees type A music exec Daniela being roped into traveling to her father's homeland of Puerto Rico to help develop a popular reggaeton star's new album.
Sparks fly as singer Rene 'El Rico' Rodriguez tries to thwart Dani's attempts to interfere while also challenging her to confront the assumptions she's made about the genre of music he loves and the country she's never been to before.
I really enjoyed the contrast between the two main characters and the Puerto Rican setting. There was a lot of emotional depth involving Dani's sister and her memories about her dead father. Rene was a bit of mysterious figure throughout much of the book but you could tell he was intrigued by all of Dani's contradictions and truly wanted to help her reconnect with her roots.
The narration by Ramona Master was excellent and while I always prefer dual POV love stories, this single pov from Dani's perspective worked for how much of it was about her own personal growth and journey. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Sparks fly as singer Rene 'El Rico' Rodriguez tries to thwart Dani's attempts to interfere while also challenging her to confront the assumptions she's made about the genre of music he loves and the country she's never been to before.
I really enjoyed the contrast between the two main characters and the Puerto Rican setting. There was a lot of emotional depth involving Dani's sister and her memories about her dead father. Rene was a bit of mysterious figure throughout much of the book but you could tell he was intrigued by all of Dani's contradictions and truly wanted to help her reconnect with her roots.
The narration by Ramona Master was excellent and while I always prefer dual POV love stories, this single pov from Dani's perspective worked for how much of it was about her own personal growth and journey. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 9, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this one! I love a good enemies to lovers! The representation of reggaetón and the island of Puerto Rico was done well. I found myself truly feeling like I was hearing the music and exploring the island right along with the MCs.
I really enjoyed this one! I love a good enemies to lovers! The representation of reggaetón and the island of Puerto Rico was done well. I found myself truly feeling like I was hearing the music and exploring the island right along with the MCs.
April 1, 2025
“Takes One to Know One” by Lissette Decos is a rom-com that partially takes place in Puerto Rico.
Thank you Forever for providing this ARC. I also received an ALC from Dreamscape Media. Opinions from this review are completely my own.
Dani is a publisher for a record label and needs to work with the reggaeton singer “El Rico” while he records a new album. The issue is that she lied about liking reggaeton.
This was a quick read for me and I enjoyed the story. The fact that they go to Puerto Rico to record the album helps Dani connect with her father, even after he is gone. I liked her character development during the book.
The audiobook is narrated by Ramona Master. Her narration improved the experience of reading the book. She did a good job with the characters and had a great accent.
The relationship with Rene is a slow burn as they cannot stand each other in the beginning. But after spending more time together they develop a friendship and in the end a relationship. We only have Dani’s POV, so I feel like Rene’s character was underdeveloped.
Even of the romance is not the main plot, there are some sweet moments and there is a happy ending.
Thank you Forever for providing this ARC. I also received an ALC from Dreamscape Media. Opinions from this review are completely my own.
Dani is a publisher for a record label and needs to work with the reggaeton singer “El Rico” while he records a new album. The issue is that she lied about liking reggaeton.
This was a quick read for me and I enjoyed the story. The fact that they go to Puerto Rico to record the album helps Dani connect with her father, even after he is gone. I liked her character development during the book.
The audiobook is narrated by Ramona Master. Her narration improved the experience of reading the book. She did a good job with the characters and had a great accent.
The relationship with Rene is a slow burn as they cannot stand each other in the beginning. But after spending more time together they develop a friendship and in the end a relationship. We only have Dani’s POV, so I feel like Rene’s character was underdeveloped.
Even of the romance is not the main plot, there are some sweet moments and there is a happy ending.
April 24, 2025
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Forever for choosing me.
I'm going to start off by saying that I would not classify this as a romance book - definitely not an enemies to lovers or even a slow burn, I would say it was more women's fiction with a subplot being the romance that sparks between Daniela and René. I wholeheartedly believe that this book's main plot was Daniela finding herself after years of grieving for her beloved father. Getting to watch her flourish again, find the things she used to love still bring her the same giddy feelings was refreshing.
I saw pieces of myself in her. I've felt her pain, and I've gone through it just like she did. It was difficult at times to keep my emotions in check because her experience reminded me so much of my own when it came to her grief journey and her family, and yet it was absolutely worth the read. My entire life, people have told me the exact same things characters in the book say to Dani. I've lost count of how many times someone has told me I need to loosen up or put myself first. This book opened my eyes to what I've been doing in my own life and let me see how I can thrive instead of just going through the motions (a HUGE thanks to Lissette Decos for that).
René was exactly who she needed, even if she didn't realize it. He pushed her out of her comfort zone and showed her all that life could be if only she let it. Was he a little too smug? Sometimes. Did he mean well? Every single time. He was heartfelt and sincere. He probably took a hit to his ego at the beginning and decided he'd somehow take a slight jab at her as well (👀 that song), but after he showed his true colors, he was incredible. His character was smug, strong, and confident, and somehow, he managed to be sweet and honest, too. I honestly fell for this fictional man in ways that I never thought possible for a fictional character. I also swooned a little (okay, a lot) thanks to the songs, and I can't forget how my heart grew three sizes whenever he took her to one of the places in her dad's song. It was endearing. He was trying so hard, and she was so inside her head/grieving to realize it. I am beyond happy that life let them come together.
Dani is intelligent and strong-willed. She'll do anything for her mother and sister, and she puts her needs last to take care of them. She stopped thinking of her own passions and desires because she felt she had to take on the responsibility of taking care of them at her own expense. But when she realizes that she can be there for them, take care of their needs, and ALSO look out for herself, she becomes a happier version of herself. She steps out of the shadows and into the light and allows love to come into her life, allows herself to fight for what she truly wants and lets herself enjoy life for the first time in many years. She's not selfish. If anything, she's just a woman who is facing unimaginable pain and is doing her best to make sure her family is well taken care of. I connected with her throughout the entire book. Reading her journey was almost like I was reading pages out of my own life it was disconcerting yet also comforting in many ways. It was a wake-up call, I didn't realize I needed until I was in the middle of it (another HUGE thanks to Lissette Decos for that). I hope one day we can all have a René in our lives, and also hope that everyone can have a Dani in their lives (because let's be honest, it would be nice to have them both). I mean I definitely wouldn't mind having a Dani in my life to take care of me and look out for me while a René pushes me gently out of my comfort zone and lets me just be in the moment. It would be wonderful - a girl can dream. 😊
This book will live forever rent-free in the back of my mind. ❤️
I'm going to start off by saying that I would not classify this as a romance book - definitely not an enemies to lovers or even a slow burn, I would say it was more women's fiction with a subplot being the romance that sparks between Daniela and René. I wholeheartedly believe that this book's main plot was Daniela finding herself after years of grieving for her beloved father. Getting to watch her flourish again, find the things she used to love still bring her the same giddy feelings was refreshing.
I saw pieces of myself in her. I've felt her pain, and I've gone through it just like she did. It was difficult at times to keep my emotions in check because her experience reminded me so much of my own when it came to her grief journey and her family, and yet it was absolutely worth the read. My entire life, people have told me the exact same things characters in the book say to Dani. I've lost count of how many times someone has told me I need to loosen up or put myself first. This book opened my eyes to what I've been doing in my own life and let me see how I can thrive instead of just going through the motions (a HUGE thanks to Lissette Decos for that).
René was exactly who she needed, even if she didn't realize it. He pushed her out of her comfort zone and showed her all that life could be if only she let it. Was he a little too smug? Sometimes. Did he mean well? Every single time. He was heartfelt and sincere. He probably took a hit to his ego at the beginning and decided he'd somehow take a slight jab at her as well (👀 that song), but after he showed his true colors, he was incredible. His character was smug, strong, and confident, and somehow, he managed to be sweet and honest, too. I honestly fell for this fictional man in ways that I never thought possible for a fictional character. I also swooned a little (okay, a lot) thanks to the songs, and I can't forget how my heart grew three sizes whenever he took her to one of the places in her dad's song. It was endearing. He was trying so hard, and she was so inside her head/grieving to realize it. I am beyond happy that life let them come together.
Dani is intelligent and strong-willed. She'll do anything for her mother and sister, and she puts her needs last to take care of them. She stopped thinking of her own passions and desires because she felt she had to take on the responsibility of taking care of them at her own expense. But when she realizes that she can be there for them, take care of their needs, and ALSO look out for herself, she becomes a happier version of herself. She steps out of the shadows and into the light and allows love to come into her life, allows herself to fight for what she truly wants and lets herself enjoy life for the first time in many years. She's not selfish. If anything, she's just a woman who is facing unimaginable pain and is doing her best to make sure her family is well taken care of. I connected with her throughout the entire book. Reading her journey was almost like I was reading pages out of my own life it was disconcerting yet also comforting in many ways. It was a wake-up call, I didn't realize I needed until I was in the middle of it (another HUGE thanks to Lissette Decos for that). I hope one day we can all have a René in our lives, and also hope that everyone can have a Dani in their lives (because let's be honest, it would be nice to have them both). I mean I definitely wouldn't mind having a Dani in my life to take care of me and look out for me while a René pushes me gently out of my comfort zone and lets me just be in the moment. It would be wonderful - a girl can dream. 😊
This book will live forever rent-free in the back of my mind. ❤️
February 2, 2025
As a Dominican woman who has loved Reggaeton since childhood, I was immediately hooked by the premise of this book. I feel as if this kind of Latino fiction is underrepresented (from the Caribbean), so I was happy to be able to obtain a copy of this book. It is a rather niche topic for some readers, but I feel it is a novel anyone can enjoy, although I wish the Spanish wasn’t translated, and that the songs were written in Spanish.
I want to go into a few of the positives. I absolutely love the author’s depictions of Puerto Rico in this book. The landscapes are described so beautifully, they really made me miss my motherland, and did the island justice! I loved all the cultural references to the music and food of Puerto Rico. That was all very fun. Dani was fine as a protagonist, she was smart and ambitious if a bit stuffy and buttoned up. The relationship with her dad was so sweet and that may have been my favorite part of the book.
Here come some of the negatives. I did not particularly enjoy Rene, and I would’ve rooted more for the main couple if he had just been a more fleshed-out character. The only explanation we get for why he is mysterious is because he is “shy”. But he is not endearing, he’s kind of a jerk, uber sensitive, and kind of a Bad Bunny ripoff but in a bad way. I am all for a slow burn romance, however, the burn on this one was like a lit match. Immediately put out. Nothing very exciting happened between the romantic leads until about 80% of the book. The lead up was sweet at times, and I understand that some romances do take time to develop. But even the lead up was not particularly interesting. There was more thought and detail put into the outfits that the characters wore every day (especially Rene, what a fashionista!) than into the romantic aspect.
The side characters were very much just “there”, nothing to them really, especially Camila. What was the actual point of her lol. And James and his backstory with Dani…no point. I like that the author described activities that Dani was doing, but some of them just made no sense as to why she was doing them or were boring. There were times when I didn’t even know what was happening, either because there was very little detail explained beforehand and/or because the dialogue and inner monologue didn’t make sense.
All in all, I wish I had liked it more. It was OK for a brief Saturday read, but I found myself more frustrated than I would like. Thank you, Netgalley.
I want to go into a few of the positives. I absolutely love the author’s depictions of Puerto Rico in this book. The landscapes are described so beautifully, they really made me miss my motherland, and did the island justice! I loved all the cultural references to the music and food of Puerto Rico. That was all very fun. Dani was fine as a protagonist, she was smart and ambitious if a bit stuffy and buttoned up. The relationship with her dad was so sweet and that may have been my favorite part of the book.
Here come some of the negatives. I did not particularly enjoy Rene, and I would’ve rooted more for the main couple if he had just been a more fleshed-out character. The only explanation we get for why he is mysterious is because he is “shy”. But he is not endearing, he’s kind of a jerk, uber sensitive, and kind of a Bad Bunny ripoff but in a bad way. I am all for a slow burn romance, however, the burn on this one was like a lit match. Immediately put out. Nothing very exciting happened between the romantic leads until about 80% of the book. The lead up was sweet at times, and I understand that some romances do take time to develop. But even the lead up was not particularly interesting. There was more thought and detail put into the outfits that the characters wore every day (especially Rene, what a fashionista!) than into the romantic aspect.
The side characters were very much just “there”, nothing to them really, especially Camila. What was the actual point of her lol. And James and his backstory with Dani…no point. I like that the author described activities that Dani was doing, but some of them just made no sense as to why she was doing them or were boring. There were times when I didn’t even know what was happening, either because there was very little detail explained beforehand and/or because the dialogue and inner monologue didn’t make sense.
All in all, I wish I had liked it more. It was OK for a brief Saturday read, but I found myself more frustrated than I would like. Thank you, Netgalley.
March 27, 2025
Sweet tropical summer read.
3.5⭐'s
This book was a joy to read/listen to. We meet Daniella, a record executive who lies about loving Reggaeton in fear of losing her job. Dani is half Dominican half Puerto Rican, and her boss assumes she enjoys all latino music and puts her in charge of Rene "El Rico" Rodriguez's debut album. Rene is a Reggaeton artist who is getting his big break later in his life than he would like and no executive will stand in his way.
Dani and Rene start off as enemies in this opposites attracts, semi-workplace romance, but they have to work together to sky rocket their careers.
Lissette transports us into the tropical paradise that is Puerto Rico. I liked how she incorporated so many aspects of the culture: the food, the music, traditions and practices. For one, the scene with the spiritual cleansing and the egg had me dying! We do "limpias" in my house too! If you know you know;).
While I enjoyed the this book I didn't necessarily feel a strong connection between Dani and Rene. At times the attraction felt one sided and had me guessing if Rene was just a big flirt with all women. The chemistry between the two main characters was lacking a bit. Rene seemed to show no interest in Dani unless they were alone. There is the fact that he went out of his way to make sure she visited all the locations her dad listed in the song he made for his family. The acts of service were very sweet, I wish we could have seem more of that side of Rene.
The big argument between the two groups of friends towards the end of the book through me for a loop, keep in mind I listened to the audiobook, I had to keep rewinding to keep up. Camilla and Santiago?! Camilla made it sound like she was hung up on Rene, with the getting drunk, the rambling and the crying. That came out of left field.
I really liked getting to see Dani's relationships grow, especially with her mother and her sister.
Seeing Dani realize that she doesn't have to be everything to everyone and following her dreams shows great character growth. I wish we could have seen a little growth on Rene's part, or even his POV, would of made his character easier to connect with.
Although the book is categorized as a rom-com I feel it would be best labeled under contemporary as the romance is just sprinkled in and not the focal point.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5⭐'s
This book was a joy to read/listen to. We meet Daniella, a record executive who lies about loving Reggaeton in fear of losing her job. Dani is half Dominican half Puerto Rican, and her boss assumes she enjoys all latino music and puts her in charge of Rene "El Rico" Rodriguez's debut album. Rene is a Reggaeton artist who is getting his big break later in his life than he would like and no executive will stand in his way.
Dani and Rene start off as enemies in this opposites attracts, semi-workplace romance, but they have to work together to sky rocket their careers.
Lissette transports us into the tropical paradise that is Puerto Rico. I liked how she incorporated so many aspects of the culture: the food, the music, traditions and practices. For one, the scene with the spiritual cleansing and the egg had me dying! We do "limpias" in my house too! If you know you know;).
While I enjoyed the this book I didn't necessarily feel a strong connection between Dani and Rene. At times the attraction felt one sided and had me guessing if Rene was just a big flirt with all women. The chemistry between the two main characters was lacking a bit. Rene seemed to show no interest in Dani unless they were alone. There is the fact that he went out of his way to make sure she visited all the locations her dad listed in the song he made for his family. The acts of service were very sweet, I wish we could have seem more of that side of Rene.
The big argument between the two groups of friends towards the end of the book through me for a loop, keep in mind I listened to the audiobook, I had to keep rewinding to keep up. Camilla and Santiago?! Camilla made it sound like she was hung up on Rene, with the getting drunk, the rambling and the crying. That came out of left field.
I really liked getting to see Dani's relationships grow, especially with her mother and her sister.
Seeing Dani realize that she doesn't have to be everything to everyone and following her dreams shows great character growth. I wish we could have seen a little growth on Rene's part, or even his POV, would of made his character easier to connect with.
Although the book is categorized as a rom-com I feel it would be best labeled under contemporary as the romance is just sprinkled in and not the focal point.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
March 30, 2025
Takes One to Know One follows Dani, a marketing coordinator at a record label who was about to be laid off. Desperate to keep her job , she lies about being a reggaeton fan , which works since her boss assumed she was (read: she is presumably the only Puerto Rican on staff) It’s actually kinda micro aggressive now that I think about it.
She is then assigned to promote popular features artist El Rico’s debut solo record, which he plans to produce in Puerto Rico. Problem is: she hates reggaeton. I hypothesize that it’s because she lacks the ability to shake some ass so she resorts to being a hater of those who can (more on that later)
I always try to give FMCs the benefit of the doubt and even defend their “unlikability” from other reviewers because that critique—more often than not—is thinly veiled misogyny, but I fear that I might pull that card for one aspect of Dani’s character.
She’s very uptight about reggaeton in a way that was more disrespectful than charming in a dry humor way, especially in a professional setting. She was condescending, often implying that it’s nothing but surface level ass shaking music to René’s face. As she got more involved in the production of the album and documentary, she did grow to appreciate the genre but whatever . She didn’t hold herself accountable or apologize .
Rene was no angel either, with his own set of flaws, but his fatal one was being boring. His project was reminiscent of Bad Bunny’s newest album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which paid homage to Puerto Rican history and culture. But for a rebrand about self-discovery, we know little about Rene. In fact, we know little about him and Dani together as a couple.
I would’ve been more invested if they had more on-page scenes together or the book was dual POV. Their romance was a subplot and I wish I knew beforehand because marketing suggested otherwise.
In actuality, the book focuses on Dani’s grief journey, since her father had ties to Culebra, the island where the album is being produced. The descriptions of the landscape and fauna were vivid and I loved how that was incorporated into Rene’s music. It was easily my favourite part of the book and if it were a real documentary, I would watch it.
At a certain point, I was just bored after the third-act conflict . it was about flat side characters who had fabricated drama , which did not interest me. The resolution was so cute and showed that there could’ve been a great romance in there somewhere. I swooned!
I also enjoyed Ramona Masters’ narration.
Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC!
She is then assigned to promote popular features artist El Rico’s debut solo record, which he plans to produce in Puerto Rico. Problem is: she hates reggaeton. I hypothesize that it’s because she lacks the ability to shake some ass so she resorts to being a hater of those who can (more on that later)
I always try to give FMCs the benefit of the doubt and even defend their “unlikability” from other reviewers because that critique—more often than not—is thinly veiled misogyny, but I fear that I might pull that card for one aspect of Dani’s character.
She’s very uptight about reggaeton in a way that was more disrespectful than charming in a dry humor way, especially in a professional setting. She was condescending, often implying that it’s nothing but surface level ass shaking music to René’s face. As she got more involved in the production of the album and documentary, she did grow to appreciate the genre but whatever . She didn’t hold herself accountable or apologize .
Rene was no angel either, with his own set of flaws, but his fatal one was being boring. His project was reminiscent of Bad Bunny’s newest album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which paid homage to Puerto Rican history and culture. But for a rebrand about self-discovery, we know little about Rene. In fact, we know little about him and Dani together as a couple.
I would’ve been more invested if they had more on-page scenes together or the book was dual POV. Their romance was a subplot and I wish I knew beforehand because marketing suggested otherwise.
In actuality, the book focuses on Dani’s grief journey, since her father had ties to Culebra, the island where the album is being produced. The descriptions of the landscape and fauna were vivid and I loved how that was incorporated into Rene’s music. It was easily my favourite part of the book and if it were a real documentary, I would watch it.
At a certain point, I was just bored after the third-act conflict . it was about flat side characters who had fabricated drama , which did not interest me. The resolution was so cute and showed that there could’ve been a great romance in there somewhere. I swooned!
I also enjoyed Ramona Masters’ narration.
Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC!
March 31, 2025
3.5⭐️ thank you netgalley and forever for this e-arc! i have a strong obsession for all things bad bunny, and so when my friend recommended this book to me, i said hold my phone.
dani is half cuban, half puerto rican and works at a music label that recently acquired a reggaeton label. she isn’t a fan of reggaeton, but in order to stay on at the company, she has been assigned to represent a reggaeton artist - el rico (aka, rené).
they definitely butt heads from the jump to put it lightly. dani doesn’t like his music, and it is abundantly obvious to rené (she didn’t even recognize him when she first went to meet him). she’s also a bit uptight and rené tries to get her to loosen up.
dani is the classic older sister that takes on everyone else’s problems and puts her own wants and needs on the back burner. she also pushes down her grief after losing her dad and lives her life not getting emotionally invested in anything to protect her heart. rené comes off as a playboy that flirts with anything and anyone, but you soon come to realize that he may have been unfairly judged.
i absolutely love a slow burn and this one hit the spot. i also loved reading about dani going back to her dad’s country and seeing all of the places he held close to his heart to help her work through the grief she’s suppressed for years. my one qualm was i wished there was more time with rené and dani one on one - sometimes it was a bit TOO slow. but overall, i recommend this and loved reading their story.
dani is half cuban, half puerto rican and works at a music label that recently acquired a reggaeton label. she isn’t a fan of reggaeton, but in order to stay on at the company, she has been assigned to represent a reggaeton artist - el rico (aka, rené).
they definitely butt heads from the jump to put it lightly. dani doesn’t like his music, and it is abundantly obvious to rené (she didn’t even recognize him when she first went to meet him). she’s also a bit uptight and rené tries to get her to loosen up.
dani is the classic older sister that takes on everyone else’s problems and puts her own wants and needs on the back burner. she also pushes down her grief after losing her dad and lives her life not getting emotionally invested in anything to protect her heart. rené comes off as a playboy that flirts with anything and anyone, but you soon come to realize that he may have been unfairly judged.
i absolutely love a slow burn and this one hit the spot. i also loved reading about dani going back to her dad’s country and seeing all of the places he held close to his heart to help her work through the grief she’s suppressed for years. my one qualm was i wished there was more time with rené and dani one on one - sometimes it was a bit TOO slow. but overall, i recommend this and loved reading their story.
July 6, 2025
I haven't sat down to write a book review in ages now but Takes One to Know One brought out literal stars in my eyes. I was specifically looking for romance books set in Latin America when I stumbled upon this one, and believe me I will never stop yapping about the timing of this book, because it was EXACTLY what I was looking for - a love letter to reggaeton. 🎶
"That's the funny thing about reggaeton. I absolutely love it now. I think if you're not willing to budge or let it in, then it's just noise grinding away, taunting you to move. But if you're open, you can step inside its repetitive beats and find a trance that gives you permission to express your sensuality."💃
Books centred around music are my absolute favourite and the premise had me in a chokehold before I even finished reading the first page. But I was surprised at how good this book's pacing was - the professional and personal stakes for Dani are perfectly set, the enemies-to-lovers energy is justified, Rene's flirtatious and mysterious aura is just what you'd expect from a reggaeton artist, the side-characters are well-situated, and oh boy was Culebra a fantastic choice of location because ✨ there was only one tent! ✨
I also loved how Dani's journey with grief over losing her father played a quintessential role in her bond with Rene. The ending had me bawling my eyes out because GET YOU A MAN WHO CAN DO BOTH iykyk! 😩💖 The misunderstanding over the song was also a masterstroke in terms of writing conflict because it complements the nature of reggaeton so well! 💯
Forever recommending this book to everyone, I just wish the author had an accompanying playlist lmao. 🫶
"That's the funny thing about reggaeton. I absolutely love it now. I think if you're not willing to budge or let it in, then it's just noise grinding away, taunting you to move. But if you're open, you can step inside its repetitive beats and find a trance that gives you permission to express your sensuality."💃
Books centred around music are my absolute favourite and the premise had me in a chokehold before I even finished reading the first page. But I was surprised at how good this book's pacing was - the professional and personal stakes for Dani are perfectly set, the enemies-to-lovers energy is justified, Rene's flirtatious and mysterious aura is just what you'd expect from a reggaeton artist, the side-characters are well-situated, and oh boy was Culebra a fantastic choice of location because ✨ there was only one tent! ✨
I also loved how Dani's journey with grief over losing her father played a quintessential role in her bond with Rene. The ending had me bawling my eyes out because GET YOU A MAN WHO CAN DO BOTH iykyk! 😩💖 The misunderstanding over the song was also a masterstroke in terms of writing conflict because it complements the nature of reggaeton so well! 💯
Forever recommending this book to everyone, I just wish the author had an accompanying playlist lmao. 🫶
July 20, 2025
Daniela is cautious with everything in her life. When she takes on the job of shadowing and recording international reggaeton singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez for her job, she finds that she might need to let go a little.
This was a fun one! Here's what I liked:
Dani: It's had to explain how much I really liked her. She's strong but also so vulnerable. There was a moment when she felt cut down at the knees any Rene that I felt her anxiety. That kid of connection to a character is so important to me. I loved seeing her release some of what was holding her back.
Rene and his entourage: It was interesting to see into this music scene that I wasn't familiar with. I think Rene and his friends were a great gateway into that. I loved them all as characters. Rene had a persona that he hid behind but the real him was my favorite part.
The story of Dani and her family: This was my favorite thing. Dani lost her father but has this connection to him through a song he wrote. Rene helps her reconnect with her father through his home in Puerto Rico. This was such an emotional journey.
All in all, this was such a good emotional romance!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
This was a fun one! Here's what I liked:
Dani: It's had to explain how much I really liked her. She's strong but also so vulnerable. There was a moment when she felt cut down at the knees any Rene that I felt her anxiety. That kid of connection to a character is so important to me. I loved seeing her release some of what was holding her back.
Rene and his entourage: It was interesting to see into this music scene that I wasn't familiar with. I think Rene and his friends were a great gateway into that. I loved them all as characters. Rene had a persona that he hid behind but the real him was my favorite part.
The story of Dani and her family: This was my favorite thing. Dani lost her father but has this connection to him through a song he wrote. Rene helps her reconnect with her father through his home in Puerto Rico. This was such an emotional journey.
All in all, this was such a good emotional romance!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
Read
April 1, 2025Soft 3.5 rating, but perhaps just not for me so not star rating here.
'Takes One to Know One' was listed as one of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers) but instead only delivered a frustrating "not-like-other-girls" narrative. The FMC was way too judgmental and the animosity toward both reggaeton and the MMC feels forced rather than compelling. Not liking someone because you just don't is valid, but that doesn't make them enemies.
I also had went in with the expectation of romance, but it felt much more as if in the women's fiction territory. The primary focus seemed to be more heavily on Dani's personal journey with grief and heritage while neglecting chemistry development. What could have been a vibrant cultural exploration and passionate romance is ultimately overshadowed by the protagonist's grating personality and repetitive disdain, making it difficult to invest in either her growth or her relationship with the comparatively inoffensive Rene.
'Takes One to Know One' was listed as one of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers) but instead only delivered a frustrating "not-like-other-girls" narrative. The FMC was way too judgmental and the animosity toward both reggaeton and the MMC feels forced rather than compelling. Not liking someone because you just don't is valid, but that doesn't make them enemies.
I also had went in with the expectation of romance, but it felt much more as if in the women's fiction territory. The primary focus seemed to be more heavily on Dani's personal journey with grief and heritage while neglecting chemistry development. What could have been a vibrant cultural exploration and passionate romance is ultimately overshadowed by the protagonist's grating personality and repetitive disdain, making it difficult to invest in either her growth or her relationship with the comparatively inoffensive Rene.
April 6, 2025
3.5 rounded down!
writing i liked but it wasn't a fan of the pacing or characters. the characters felt halfway flushed out and i am hesitant to say this but it reads more women's fiction in the first 60% but even then it felt more descriptive of the situation rather than of the fmc and her own character.
it was too slow of a burn. their feelings for each other felt rushed especially at the end and that frustrated me because they didn't share all that many scenes together. if they did, the hero read a little more elusive or difficult. he wasn't someone who read as flirty imo (at least in the audiobook).
with all that said, i generally liked the writing and the premise. i loved that it starred two latinx leads and took place (for most of the story) in puerto rico! the narrator did wonderful too so these were strong points that definitely made up for the other things i complained about.
writing i liked but it wasn't a fan of the pacing or characters. the characters felt halfway flushed out and i am hesitant to say this but it reads more women's fiction in the first 60% but even then it felt more descriptive of the situation rather than of the fmc and her own character.
it was too slow of a burn. their feelings for each other felt rushed especially at the end and that frustrated me because they didn't share all that many scenes together. if they did, the hero read a little more elusive or difficult. he wasn't someone who read as flirty imo (at least in the audiobook).
with all that said, i generally liked the writing and the premise. i loved that it starred two latinx leads and took place (for most of the story) in puerto rico! the narrator did wonderful too so these were strong points that definitely made up for the other things i complained about.
July 1, 2025
I was a little skeptical at first going into this one, but I did end up really enjoying it! This one is very much a slow burn with not much confirmation of the chemistry between Dani and René until deeeeep into the novel, to the point where I wasn’t even sure they had much chemistry😭 I did love seeing the growth for both Dani, her family, and even René and Camila too! It made them feel so grounded and three dimensional, though I do wish we got more details and less of a “here’s a problem, oop, now it’s fixed” kind of thing. I also really enjoyed the narrator in this one bc not only was the pronunciation top tier, but the voices changes for all of these different characters was really good and made it super easy to differentiate each of them!
March 26, 2025
This book features Puerto Rico and its culture so beautiful in the way Rene and Dani get to experience it. Rene has this mysterious aura about him that had me wanting to see what he'll reveal of himself to Dani. The music descriptions really brought the melody off the page for me. It was like I could imagine hearing the songs. There's also a side plot in my opinion of Dani connecting with her father through this trip to Puerto Rico. This book has a fiery enemies to lovers with a blazer baddie and musician in an ultimate slow burn. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
February 2, 2025
3.75/5
i really enjoyed this novel, i finished it in under a day and it finally got me out of my slump! i really enjoyed the descriptions of puerto rico and the parts of dani finally visiting the island his father is from and exploring the places her father sang about. it wasn't a totally perfect book, but i definitely recommend it and i think i will also check out the author's previous and upcoming works!
arc provided by netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review
i really enjoyed this novel, i finished it in under a day and it finally got me out of my slump! i really enjoyed the descriptions of puerto rico and the parts of dani finally visiting the island his father is from and exploring the places her father sang about. it wasn't a totally perfect book, but i definitely recommend it and i think i will also check out the author's previous and upcoming works!
arc provided by netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review
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