Marisol Acts the Part

by Elle Gonzalez Rose

A teen actress lands a role on the same high-profile show as her ex-boyfriend—only for things to get messy when she falls for his cute scene partner—in a dazzling sapphic rom-com from the author of Caught in a Bad Fauxmance.

“A swoony celebrity romance sure to steal your heart.” —Jennifer Dugan, author of Some Girls Do

Actress Marisol Polly-Rodriguez might be entering her flop era. After wrapping up a hit show, she’s neither booked nor busy. Not to mention, her former costar turned boyfriend, Miles, recently dumped her for being an “unserious” performer. Can you imagine?

To prove to Miles—and online trolls—that she takes her craft very seriously, Marisol lands a role on the same upcoming drama series he does. But with the eccentric director constantly rewriting her lines and a snobby castmate trying to upstage her, Marisol quickly realizes that her hope of nabbing an award nomination might be a pipe dream.

The only person she doesn’t have to put on a performance for is the show’s leading lady, Jamila. Marisol hasn’t been able to look away from her since their first audition. Falling for Jamila wasn’t part of Marisol’s plan, but even the most dedicated actors go off script sometimes, right?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Young Adult Romance

Audible Audio

First published August 12, 2025

About the author

Elle Gonzalez Rose is a producer and author from New York who’s better at writing love stories about short, queer Boricuas than she is at writing bios. Her dog thinks she’s okay. Caught in a Bad Fauxmance is her debut novel—Elle’s, not the dog’s.

Reviews

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt a lot deeper than many other celebrity romances that I have read. And I really appreciated that.

Marisol is such a genuinely loveable character, and I felt like she handled every obstacle she faced with so much grace.
I was really rooting for her the entire time.

As a matter of fact, she is such a good character, that I almost feel like the romance is secondary.
For once, I actually cared more about the other plot points.
Now of course, i still do adore the romantic aspect of this. They are sapphic celebrities after all. How could i not?

So so cute. One of my most anticipated reads for this year and honestly I loved every second of it.

[Ohdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's and Joy Revolution for this E-Arc. All opinions are my own.

I think my favorite part of this whole book is that Marisol is 18 and acts likes shes 18. Her decisions, actions/reactions feel organic and like shes an actual 18 year old (albeit a famous actress) which makes her character growth both believable and satisfying.

In the book we meet Marisol an older teen/new adult who just wrapped production on the series that made her famous. She struggling to find her new direction when her longtime boyfriend breaks up with her. Emboldened by the situation and wanting to show that shes just as serious of an actor- she Elle Woods her way into the same series as he is. Along the way we Marisol fumble, reconnect with her roots and ultimately blossom. I particularly find her ending thoughts on in the book to be a wonderful wrap up of her change and self acceptance. This was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it for both teen/YA readers and those who want a feel good story.

[Mariana ✨]

"sapphic take on Legally Blonde; after a humiliating public dumping, a teen actress lands a role on the same high-profile show as her ex-boyfriend, only for things to get messy when she falls for his co-star"

teehee i'm ready 🤭

[Brooke! · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH A GOOD BOOK. i absolutely loved this and the ending!!! YEPPPP!!!! marisol I ABSOLUTELY will fight for you!!!! you definitely can’t go wrong with a good sapphic romance! read this when it comes out in august!

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

(rounded down from 4.25)

This was a light and cute coming-of-age story about a young woman who has been in a relationship with her co-star for four years while they played love-struck teenagers on a teen TV show. Suddenly, he breaks up with her and is moving to New York for a serious prestige show, and Marisol decides that she wants to prove she can be taken seriously as an actress as well, so she auditions for the same show. Meanwhile, she's deeply distracted by the incredibly cute girl cast as the lead for the show opposite her ex-boyfriend, hence bi panic.

There are light touches on themes such as being gay as actors in Hollywood, finding projects to transition from fluffier child star roles to serious actors, and breakups and relationships in the spotlight, plus some cute family dynamics.

I had a great time reading this. It was cute, fluffy, at times highlighting serious problems in Hollywood for young actors and especially queer actors, and also just regular dealing with growing up and dealing with family.

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really sweet and fun!! I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. If I didn't know that this was a legally blonde retelling I don't know that I would have made the connection, except for the "what, like it's hard?" quote. I had to suspend some disbelief over the NDA loophole at the end because there's just no way, but I appreciate that they needed a clean wrap-up for the plot. This is a cute, fluffier read and would easily be appropriate for tweens and younger teens!

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legally Blonde, make it diverse and Sapphic and about shooting a TV series. This is a fun, sweet rom com that highlights how awful the acting industry can be to people, but it's wrapped in a family-oriented romance. I love Marisol's family so much. She's surrounded by amazing people who never let Marisol forget that she's loved. This book is a perfect sweet romance for teens.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

[Duncan Magidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy that this is actually a hard-hitting piece of investigative journalism dressed up as a rom-com.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story! The vibes are like Legally Blonde if Elle had fallen for Vivian, with multiple nods to the movie, and I am here for it. I loved Mari; she is unapologetically pink and feminine and queer, and she is a real girl's girl. Her relationship with Jamila is so sweet and I loved both of them.

One of my most hated tropes is miscommunication so I'm very happy to report that the characters in this book actually talk to each other instead of making assumptions! I'm awarding a million bonus stars to the author for writing a compelling story without relying on tired tropes. Seeing characters have real, productive conversations with each other made my heart so happy.

Marisol's drive to challenge herself by taking on a role that felt out of her league is admirable. At eighteen, she's at that intersection of being a teen living with a parent while also being a legal adult, old enough to make her own decisions but young enough to get grounded. I loved following her growth throughout the story, and her decisions and reflections felt realistic for a young adult.

The side characters were great and I loved all the queer rep! This book was so sweet and heartwarming, I loved it and highly recommend if you enjoy sapphic stories, celebrity romance, and Legally Blonde.

[Raaven💖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I have read all of Elle’s books and can say this is my favorite. I loved Marisol. She was unapologetically herself and I can see younger people looking up to someone like her. She and Jamila were absolutely adorable. I liked Marisol’s unique look at family and how different hers was. Her friends were also so sweet and supportive. Everyone in her corner was on her side and ready to fight for her. I liked how this was Legally Blonde because that is one of my fave movies and I could almost see it in my head as I was reading. Besides all the cute romance, this goes into the predatory nature of Hollywood and how abusive directors can be. This book made me smile so much and I absolutely loved it. Reading it in one day wasn’t even a challenge cause it was so good.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another spectacular Elle Gonzalez Rose original! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
this was so fun, a new fav celebrity romance (extra points obviously because it was sapphic)

[Ellanet456 · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was cute 🥹 small spoiler but the chemistry kinda went from tiny crush to mega insta love real quick but it was done In a way that didn’t annoy me so I’ll give the book its flowers.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 3.75; a really enjoyable book though!

[em ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately a lackluster story in many ways but specifically in the romance department. For Jamila and Mari's relationship the dialogue between them and the description of them falling for each other are inherently romantic by the way it's written, but it just feels empty and inauthentic. Mari and Miles unfortunately had a lot more substance so I'm very confused about this whole ex narrative because I understand the circumstances for Jamila and Mari's relationship but it just didn't register with me—like yeah they're cute but I didn't understand the basis of the relationship, it just felt like two random characters put together rather than organically falling for each other. I think it was also the case of "instant love" they just fell for each other so quickly that it felt unrealistic and there were no awkward stages or anything like that. Also in general the writing was a bit too corny for me at times and detracted from the experience, it just felt like a skeleton of a book and I felt a lot of things were too surface level and weren't properly fleshed out.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Joy Revolutions for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was really a cute little rom-com.
This book is basically Legally Blonde but make it sapphic and honestly what more could you want? Marisol has just wrapped on her career breakout teen tv show and has no prospects when her boyfriend of four years breaks up with her and tells the press it was because they were going in very different directions, insinuating that his was more "serious" acting roles. This pushes Marisol to try to get on the same show as her now ex-boyfriend where she learns to push herself and tries to find a way to believe in herself again.
This book also has a couple of underlying themes that it tackles including family dynamics, homophobia in Hollywood, and abusive workplaces all of which I think were fairly well done here, if a bit compressed and overly simplistic. The book just didn't have the length to fully flesh them out, I don't think. But I feel like keeping them simple was the right move here either way in order to keep the story light.
I really liked Marisol and her struggle to prove herself. I think every woman has felt that at some point in their life because of the patriarchy that we all suffer from. So it's definitely a relatable character goal and I liked watching her push herself and then gain confidence when she realized that she actually could do something that she never imagined she could. I loved watching her confidence grow to the ultimate realization that she didn't need to prove anything to anyone else as long as she believed in herself. It's a very noble theme to pursue.
I also loved Jamila and her relationship with Marisol. They were so sweet to each other and always made space for the other. They communicated so well and listened to one another. It was really refreshing and beautiful to watch them fall in love.
I think the biggest downside here was the lack of support Marisol had in her life. She didn't have anyone in her corner telling her that she was good enough to do that show, instead everyone was second-guessing her, even her mom and her agent who she was closest to throughout the novel. Both of them kept telling her she could give us and come home. And I understand that they wanted her to know that it was okay to give up, but they should have also been telling her that she could do whatever she set her mind to. Even Elle Woods in the original Legally Blonde movie had her sorority girls cheering her on while she studied to get into Harvard. But that was missing here and it was sad to see. I wanted more female solidarity than what was given honestly.
Still, overall, this is definitely one that I would recommend to anyone looking for a cute sapphic rom-com and especially if they enjoyed Legally Blonde.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Marisol Acts the Part by Elle Gonzalez Rose is a first person-POV YA Sapphic contemporary reimagining of Legally Blonde. Marisol has been on the teen drama Avalon Grove since she was fourteen and has been dating her co-star, Miles, just as long. But when Miles ends their four year relationship at a public restaurant and implies that her career isn’t going anywhere, Marisol tries out for a part on the same limited series Miles is set to have a starring role in. At try-outs, she meets Jamila and her feelings start to shift.

I wouldn’t call this a romance because I classify romances as being about the romance and the couple’s story and this really felt like Marisol’s story as she’s at a crossroads in her career with her relationship with Jamila more of a B plot. There also isn’t a ton of progression for their relationship until about 40% in and I expect that to be closer to the 25% mark in a romance. The romance itself is on the softer side and isn’t a perfect one-to-one with the romance in Legally Blonde. While Marisol is an Elle, Jamila is not an Emmett and that lets their romance feel different while still having the important hallmarks.

The Legally Blonde aspects come through strongest in specific pieces of dialogue (like the ‘What, like it’s hard?’ line) and in how much Marisol loves pink and fashion and the more self-centered aspects of her personality while still being thoughtful. It’s a very hard character to write because it is such a balance to strike otherwise the character can feel insufferable. The biggest twist is not the change to Hollywood and TV dramas but that Marisol isn’t auditioning in order to get Miles back. She doesn’t try to chase him; she’s more concerned about reinventing herself because she’s been struggling to move past being typecast.

The Hollywood aspects don't take place in Hollywood as the drama is filmed in New York. They aren't so much focused on the glamor of it all and are instead focused on the loss of privacy and the slow escalation of abuse that can happen on a set by a director. Marisol's director crosses multiple lines, but she's too afraid to say anything because of what she believes the role could do for her career and other people have been through similar things with the same director but didn't really speak up. Because Marisol is a young Puerto Rican Sapphic, she's in an extremely vulnerable position when it comes to speaking up. She doesn't reflect on that as much, but it's impossible not to infer given what we know about racism and Queerphobia in Hollywood.

I would recommend this to fans of Legally Blonde and YA and readers of Sapphic romance looking for a YA contemporary with an interracial relationship

[Romantic.Rainbow.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had everything I want from a YA novel! I wish I had books like this while I was in high school.

18-year-old Marisol decides to audition for the same tv show as her ex-boyfriend to prove that she is a serious actress who can play complicated roles. To film the show in NYC, she moves in with her dad and his long-term boyfriend.

Marisol was primarily raised by her mom and feels disconnected from her dad, his extended family, and their Puerto Rican heritage. Throughout the story, she reconnects with her dad and her heritage in a really lovely way. Marisol doesn’t have the perfect parents, but they are loving and well-intentioned and very sweet to read about.

Marisol’s romantic relationship with Jamila is adorable and the author did a great job of capturing the experience of a new crush. There is a subplot about Jamila coming out publicly as lesbian, but it is not central to the story or a great source of stress.

I appreciated Marisol’s relationship with Miles, her ex-boyfriend. I’m glad they were able to repair their friendship. I thought it was a nuanced exploration of how people who care about each other can harm each other, take space from each other, and then find their way back together.
I found the end of the novel to be satisfying, and it fit the expectations I have for a YA novel.

Highlights:
- exploring her Puerto Rican heritage
- set in NYC
- sapphic YA romance
- Legally Blonde homage
- Bi x Lesbian

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars

Rep: Bi Puerto Rican MC, lesbian Moroccan Muslim LI, Chinese side character, Puerto Rican SCs (including one who's gay and one who does drag), queer Panamanian SC who does drag, trans woman SC, Moroccan SC, nonbinary minor character

Content warnings: Misogyny, forced outing, toxic workplace, panic attack, claustrophobia, allusions to homophobia and transphobia, brief mention of a car accident

"Legally Blonde" is one of my favorite movies and I've always shipped Elle and Vivian. So hearing about a Latine sapphic romance inspired by it felt like it was meant especially for me!

I love all the nods to "Legally Blonde," from a dog named Bruiser to lines from the actual movie! Gonzalez Rose does a fantastic job infusing Marisol with Elle Woods vibes while still leaving her a distinct character in her own right. Like Elle, Marisol loves pink, beauty, and shopping without coming across as shallow or selfish. Both characters are kind and passionate and talented, and changing the setting from law school to a movie set worked surprisingly well!

Full of Puerto Rican joy, celebrations of queer community, and feminist messages that don't come across as preachy, "Marisol Acts the Part" will be one that I buy myself and recommend to all my friends!

**HUGE thank you to Joy Revolution for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Joy Revolution and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I adored this book! Marisol’s career has been up in the air since her popular teen drama ended, but at least she has her boyfriend Miles. The two met on the show and have been together for 4 years. Miles just got a part in a show called The Limit that is super hush hush. Only problem is that it’s in New York. She thinks they can handle long distance, that is until he dumps her, saying she’s not serious about her career. She’s upset but determined to prove him wrong. And she’ll get to do just that when she’s also cast on The Limit. At the audition she met Jamila, who’s unbelievably beautiful. Jamila gets cast as the leading lady on the show opposite Miles. Marisol might be jealous of she wants to busy being awestruck by Jamila. As they show gets underway and Marisol had a difficult time adjusting she’ll find the only good thing is Jamila, but does she feel the same about Marisol? Also would it be worth it when dating could end their careers? And for Marisol could this be her chance to prove to everyone she’s got what it takes? I consumed this! I think Elle Gonzalez Rose does a fantastic job capturing the anxiety and stress of working in difficult situations and the story has that realistic feel of stories you hear about how hard Hollywood can be! Sweet, charming, and heartwarming! If you enjoy sapphic rom-coms that have you in all your feels, I highly recommend!

[Alondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marisol is a teenage Hollywood star of the moment. Her boyfriend suddenly ends their four-year relationship, causing her to become depressed and losing job opportunities along the way. Out of nowhere, an opportunity comes along that wasn't her style at all, and she accepted it without a second thought. But after auditioning, Marisol didn't believe she would be accepted. When they announced she got the role, she moved to New York with her father, whom she doesn't know well and doesn't see as a father figure. With fear and new beginnings, she meets Jamila, whom she can't stop looking at from day one.

Beautiful Puerto Rican representation from Marisol!

I'm not giving it 5 stars because at first I wasn't that interested, but then it got better.

The author described the panic/anxiety attacks so well that I thought they were happening to me! I loved her writing; I'm definitely going to read whatever new one comes out.

Their relationship is beautiful, difficult, tender, and despite everything, they always help each other, trying to maintain their relationship. This is a beautiful young adult romance novel of two queer teen actress! One of the best reads of the year.


I hardly recommend reading this!

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marisol is such a dynamic character. She starts out the book so lost. She is not quite sure what to do. Everything that she thought she had has been ripped out from underneath her. Truly she knows what she wants to do, but is seems like the acting world won’t consider her for the types of roles she wants. So, when her now ex says she could never play a dramatic role she jumps at the chance to prove him wrong. Getting the role though is only half the challenge as she has to move to a new state spend time with a family member she really doesn’t know and then has to try and fit her personality to be more like what the director is hoping she should be. Can Marisol figure out truly what she wants before it is to late.
This is a beautiful book. Watching Marisol grow from the start of the book till the end is truly a delight. Her journey to solidify who she is not only in her private life but her public one as well is just beautiful. Readers are going to enjoy joining her on her self-discovery story.
Thank you so much to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

[ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked this book so muchhhh!! the romance was adorable and i loved the way marisol re-found her confidence and stood up for herself. i had plans for my evening but they all went ka-boom when i couldn’t put this down. and you know what? that’s ok, i’ve had a great time - no regrets.

i definitely recommend marisol acts the part if you’re looking for a sweet, sapphic, y/a romance. marisol was such a likable character, and i can defo see the elle woods inspiration! i thought the acting aspect of the story was all super interesting too, and also liked the scenes with the various member’s of marisol’s family. i’m actually a bit sad this wasn’t slightly longer as i’d liked to have read more about her reconnecting with them but we move. this was truly such a quick and enjoyable read that made me feel all warm and fuzzy.


——



thanks so much to NetGalley, Random House and Elle Gonzalez Rose for providing me with a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Onyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a huge Legally Blonde fan, and I had always loved Elle and Vivi together. This book translates that story onto a movie set really well.

The amount of nods towards the original film was so fun to see, and I loved it. This was a beautiful sapphic romance that also dealt with other issues quite beautifully. I loved seeing Marisol grow into herself and work to stay true to herself within an industry that often asks for the opposite.

Marisol and Jamila were so cute together, and I loved them dearly. I also loved how Miles became a friend, which was a nice change in this! Understanding and remembering that they were just kids who were navigating a complicated landscape like Hollywood was something I loved in this.

Overall, I liked this book, and I definitely think I would reread this when it comes out. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Jess Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute! I really loved the characters and references to legally blonde in this.

After Marisol is dumped by her boyfriend (quite publicly, may I add), she sets out to land a role on the same show he's in to prove that she is just as serious an actress and he is, and everyone else is on the show.

"What, like it's hard?" I got so excited when i saw this line. What a cute way to tie it into the movie.

Jamila and Marisol are super cute! I love love loved them together. I also appreciate that the third act problem, was NOT a third act breakup! I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this as well.

There were a few points while reading where it felt like it slowed down, and I wasn't fully interested in what was going on.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC!

[Brittany Goldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute sapphic rom-com with a Hollywood backdrop that felt like a fresh, fun concept. I don't usually gravitate towards rom-coms but the premise hooked me. Overall it delivered on being a light, fluffy read. At times, the story reminded me of a sapphic Legally Blonde retelling (the fact Mariol's dog is named Bruiser might've pushed me there too). Marisol is underestimated in her craft, trying to prove herself as a serious actress, and along the way she finds something real in her connection with Jamila. I loved their romance—it was definitely the highlight of the book for me. I ended up pausing for a bit midway through, which is why I landed on 3.5 stars instead of higher, but when I came back, I was reminded how sweet and fun this was. A light, fluffy read that still hits those sapphic rom-com notes.

[Sheba Hector · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for this arc!

This book follows Marisol as she navigates the aftermath of her boyfriend breaking up with her. He says that they are going in different directions, and he is trying for more serious roles, unlike her. So she lands a role at a high-profile show as him. It was a fast read. I love Marisol. She was trying her absolute best for her role. For some reason, I felt this book could go on for longer. I don't know; I was so deeply invested, or I wanted more from this book. I enjoyed the light moments between Jamila and Marisol. I am so happy this book did not have a love triangle moment. I can see an adaptation of this book. I might be checking out this author's backlist.

This is more of 3.5

[Evie Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
Cute, lighthearted and easy to read. The end was a bit of a flash forward I would have liked to see a little slower, but I enjoyed it. A bit of a retelling of legally blonde but also mentioning her affinity for legally blonde kind of irked me- you can reference and say “what like it’s hard?” in classic Elle Woods fandom, but when she used the line speaking as herself and not calling back to the trope going on just confused me. If you’re the kind of reader who notices repetitive words, you may want to try something else. It was really fun to read and kept me guessing, but maybe not so much for me. Overall, enjoyed it and read it in a day! Would recommend to readers who wished something happened between Elle Woods and Vivian.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly loved this YA bisexual Hollywood actress comeback story that has Marisol getting dumped and then cast on the same show as her ex only to find herself falling for the newbie female actress on set.

There was a lot of misogynistic workplace BS Marisol had to deal with and some family drama but she gave off such great Elle Woods vibes and I was totally here for it. Great on audio, this is a new fav by Elle Gonzalez Rose and a great read for Pride Month.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

[Maura (thenovelmaura) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Underlined for my free copy of this cute YA romance! I was not expecting this book to be a sapphic Legally Blonde retelling with a Puerto Rican actress, but it was very fun to read. Marisol navigated her first break-up, a move from LA to NYC, a nascent relationship with her bio dad, and her first "serious" acting job — complete with a toxic director — all without losing her optimism or love of pink and cupcakes. What, like it's hard? Of course, it helped that her beautiful costar Jamila was there to help her run lines and fall for someone new. I haven't been reading as much contemporary YA lately, but I'm really glad I decided to pick this one up.