anabelsbrother's review against another edition
3.0
Also on Romances Ever After as part of the Blog Tour.
I loved Priscilla Oliveras’ debut novel, His Perfect Partner, so I was pretty stoked when I got approved for the sequel ARC. While Her Perfect Affair didn’t manage to charm me the way its predecessor did, this book still has some strengths I appreciate.
Her Perfect Affair follows the second Fernandez sister, Rosa. Rosa’s the straitlaced one of the three sisters, the rules follower and ‘good girl’, until one night she decided to follow her heart and get together with Jeremy Taylor, a close friend of the family and a man she’s been crushing on for years. Like the first book, I really love that this book is unapologetically Latinx, from the Spanish integrated in the dialogues, the food, the strong familial bonds… I’ve always found myself easier to relate to ethnic families in lit seeing that I came from one myself, and it thrilled me to find similarities in a culture different than my own. I adore the tight bond between the Fernandez sisters. I love how they love and support each other despite their differences. I also love Rosa’s poetry club kids, they’re all standout characters on their own.
That being said, I wish I was more invested in the romance since that’s the thing I came here for. I love both Rosa and Jeremy as individual characters, but I had mixed feelings about them together. Jeremy, especially, has my heart—he was so kind and earnest, and he tried so hard, this man. Rosa was his ride or die, and it kind of pained me to see his sincere efforts constantly rebuffed. He simply couldn’t do anything right in Rosa’s eyes. I wanted to be understanding of Rosa’s insecurities regarding Jeremy, but the push-and-pulling got a bit tiring halfway through the book. I was amazed by Jeremy’s endless patience.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed that I didn’t love Her Perfect Affair as much as I wanted to, but I’m still sticking around to see Lili, the youngest Fernandez sister, gets her HEA.
I loved Priscilla Oliveras’ debut novel, His Perfect Partner, so I was pretty stoked when I got approved for the sequel ARC. While Her Perfect Affair didn’t manage to charm me the way its predecessor did, this book still has some strengths I appreciate.
Her Perfect Affair follows the second Fernandez sister, Rosa. Rosa’s the straitlaced one of the three sisters, the rules follower and ‘good girl’, until one night she decided to follow her heart and get together with Jeremy Taylor, a close friend of the family and a man she’s been crushing on for years. Like the first book, I really love that this book is unapologetically Latinx, from the Spanish integrated in the dialogues, the food, the strong familial bonds… I’ve always found myself easier to relate to ethnic families in lit seeing that I came from one myself, and it thrilled me to find similarities in a culture different than my own. I adore the tight bond between the Fernandez sisters. I love how they love and support each other despite their differences. I also love Rosa’s poetry club kids, they’re all standout characters on their own.
That being said, I wish I was more invested in the romance since that’s the thing I came here for. I love both Rosa and Jeremy as individual characters, but I had mixed feelings about them together. Jeremy, especially, has my heart—he was so kind and earnest, and he tried so hard, this man. Rosa was his ride or die, and it kind of pained me to see his sincere efforts constantly rebuffed. He simply couldn’t do anything right in Rosa’s eyes. I wanted to be understanding of Rosa’s insecurities regarding Jeremy, but the push-and-pulling got a bit tiring halfway through the book. I was amazed by Jeremy’s endless patience.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed that I didn’t love Her Perfect Affair as much as I wanted to, but I’m still sticking around to see Lili, the youngest Fernandez sister, gets her HEA.
srah's review
slow-paced
2.0
I found it hard to care about the characters in this book. I also felt sort of patronized by the author with all the English explanations of Spanish dialogue that felt clunky and heavy, and lines like "Don't get him started on his beloved Cubs baseball team or we'll be here all afternoon" that just felt awkward.
I also don't think I would have picked this book up if I'd known it was an accidental pregnancy plot, but all the description said was, "when their simple fling turns complicated, everything they've both worked for is threatened."
I also don't think I would have picked this book up if I'd known it was an accidental pregnancy plot, but all the description said was, "when their simple fling turns complicated, everything they've both worked for is threatened."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
megfang315's review
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
from a rational perspective i understand why rosa was so hesitant but from a reader perspective, i was annoyed at how many times it seemed like rosa kept waffling over the same problem and fears. it almost felt like a switch flipped randomly at the end when she decided to move past that fear, like all of a sudden she couldn't trust him and now she is all in? i find that hard to believe.
the end seemed quite abrupt too - what about rosa's job that she was so concerned for??
the end seemed quite abrupt too - what about rosa's job that she was so concerned for??
emmabea19's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tangledinwordsandyarn's review against another edition
1.0
I couldnt finish it. At first I was really enjoying it, but it didn't take long for it to lose my interest. I may have thrown the book down when she was diagnosed with HG, and instead of offering medication (which exists and works because I had HG my entire pregnancy) the doctor prescribes bed rest. I guess that was just a bit too much to make me suapend disbelief.
val_books_of_leisure's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Vomit
capa105's review
3.0
This was my first book by Priscilla Oliveras, though I wish I'd read His Perfect Partner, because Yas and Tomas and Maria sounded perfect together and cute as hell. Either way, so this was my first book by the author, and I was encouraged to request it by Lisa, who had read and liked the first book of the series.
I enjoyed quite a few things in this book, such as the story. The story and plot were strong, I really like the friends to lovers vibe going on here, and I liked the connecting between Jeremy and Rosa, and how much his support meant to her, even before the events of this book took place.
Another strong point for me was the importance of family, and their role within this story. I really enjoyed seeing Rosa interact with her sisters, how they supported her, and also brought Jeremy into the family. Same has to be said for Jeremy's family. I was worried for a hot second there, but his mom and dad were amazing and so supportive of him and his decisions.
But I'm rating this book 3 stars, so you know that something was off for me. My major issue was the pacing. I liked Oliveras writing style, but the pacing just didn't quite work for me. It's not a secret that I'm not a fan of the 3rd person POV, but it was more than that. It always felt like the writing took the longest time and route to go from point A to point B. Sometimes, a thought was initiated on a page, and concluded 4 pages later, because the narrator would get lost inside their own head. Sorry, but it just didn't work for me.
My other huge issue is the massive lack of communication between Rosa and Jeremy. While I understood Rosa's fears and her hang ups, she never tried to have an honest conversation with Jeremy. In fact, she started pushing him away right away, and would jump to conclusions without giving him the benefit of a doubt. I felt like Jeremy was never allowed to truly express how he felt, and that led to them dancing around each other and their feelings until the 97% mark. It was a bit infuriating.
While I really liked that this book is "unapologetically Latinx" (like Lisa said), I was not a fan of all the catholic guilt brewing inside of Rosa. I was happy with the development and reactions by other people, but some reactions were just too much for my agnostic brain to take in.
Overall, it was a enjoyable story, that dragged on a little bit too much. I did like the family a lot, and I'll possibly check out the rest of the series.
I enjoyed quite a few things in this book, such as the story. The story and plot were strong, I really like the friends to lovers vibe going on here, and I liked the connecting between Jeremy and Rosa, and how much his support meant to her, even before the events of this book took place.
Another strong point for me was the importance of family, and their role within this story. I really enjoyed seeing Rosa interact with her sisters, how they supported her, and also brought Jeremy into the family. Same has to be said for Jeremy's family. I was worried for a hot second there, but his mom and dad were amazing and so supportive of him and his decisions.
But I'm rating this book 3 stars, so you know that something was off for me. My major issue was the pacing. I liked Oliveras writing style, but the pacing just didn't quite work for me. It's not a secret that I'm not a fan of the 3rd person POV, but it was more than that. It always felt like the writing took the longest time and route to go from point A to point B. Sometimes, a thought was initiated on a page, and concluded 4 pages later, because the narrator would get lost inside their own head. Sorry, but it just didn't work for me.
My other huge issue is the massive lack of communication between Rosa and Jeremy. While I understood Rosa's fears and her hang ups, she never tried to have an honest conversation with Jeremy. In fact, she started pushing him away right away, and would jump to conclusions without giving him the benefit of a doubt. I felt like Jeremy was never allowed to truly express how he felt, and that led to them dancing around each other and their feelings until the 97% mark. It was a bit infuriating.
While I really liked that this book is "unapologetically Latinx" (like Lisa said), I was not a fan of all the catholic guilt brewing inside of Rosa. I was happy with the development and reactions by other people, but some reactions were just too much for my agnostic brain to take in.
Overall, it was a enjoyable story, that dragged on a little bit too much. I did like the family a lot, and I'll possibly check out the rest of the series.
afoolsingenuity's review
4.0
My biggest complaint with this book is folks did not use their words! Rosa made some pretty big assumptions and it annoyed me and if she'd have just spoken out about her feelings a lot of problems could have been avoided. That being said Jeremey was also guilty of not using his words either. He was far too hesitant with Rosa and if he had just said what he was thinking/feeling when it happened he could have saved himself a whole heap of trouble.
It wouldn't have been as fun a book to read if they'd done that though.
I liked Rosa. A librarian who escaped into books when she was younger, was a rule follower, and was hesitant to take a risk and put herself out there after a bad experience and who then ends up pregnant after a moment of such risktaking? Yeah, she was my girl. It did frustrate me how she didn't have enough confidence in herself sometimes because she was awesome but I did like seeing that her self doubt didn't stop her from being successful it just held her back in her personal life from time to time.
Jeremy I was a little slower to warn to. He was a rich boy who kind of seemed like he didn't know what he wanted and seemed to have it easy. I warned to him as you saw all was not as it seems when it comes to his family and that he was determined to do the right thing with Rosa even though he went about it all wrong. He was sweet and I liked that he tried even though it went wrong. I wish Rosa had been a bit bolder like him. But that also wouldn't have been in character if she had.
This was another enjoyable read from this author. I love this family and am excited to read Lili's book.
It wouldn't have been as fun a book to read if they'd done that though.
I liked Rosa. A librarian who escaped into books when she was younger, was a rule follower, and was hesitant to take a risk and put herself out there after a bad experience and who then ends up pregnant after a moment of such risktaking? Yeah, she was my girl. It did frustrate me how she didn't have enough confidence in herself sometimes because she was awesome but I did like seeing that her self doubt didn't stop her from being successful it just held her back in her personal life from time to time.
Jeremy I was a little slower to warn to. He was a rich boy who kind of seemed like he didn't know what he wanted and seemed to have it easy. I warned to him as you saw all was not as it seems when it comes to his family and that he was determined to do the right thing with Rosa even though he went about it all wrong. He was sweet and I liked that he tried even though it went wrong. I wish Rosa had been a bit bolder like him. But that also wouldn't have been in character if she had.
This was another enjoyable read from this author. I love this family and am excited to read Lili's book.
anacoqui's review
5.0
Her Perfect Affair by Priscilla Oliveras 3/27 Friends to Lovers with complications. Rosa & Jeremy’s night together was hot but AM awkwardness turns into regrets. Both have guilt/family issues to sort out before they get on the same page. Really lovely rom.