Here to Stay

by Adriana Herrera

Almarie Guerra (Narrator), Sean Crisden (Narrator), and Carmen Vine (Narrator)

• ISBN10: 1799918602
• ISBN13: 9781799918608
• Publish Date: 25 August 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Carina Trade
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Duration: 9 hours and 38 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

My maiden voyage with Adriana Herrera went very well.

There was a lot of love about this story.

• I love that the heroine prioritizes herself. Julia was firm with her needs and her beliefs.
• Julia's family was fantastic and oh, the food! Loved all the warmth and fun family feels.
• Rocco was fantastic. Despite his rocky upbringing he became a kind and loving man. I adored him.

Definitely a solid romantic read.

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[llamareads]

Content warnings: verbally abusive parent (on-page), alcoholism, drug use, child in jeopardy (off-page, child is eventually safe)

I’ve enjoyed every single one of Ms. Herrera’s books, and this one is no exception. From her love of NYC to her relatable characters to the FEELS, this book is a treat!

Julia left her Dominican family in NYC to follow her boyfriend to Dallas… only for him to dump her and move back shortly afterwards. While her love life may be reeling, at least she loves her new job running an afterschool program for undocumented kids and their families as part of a department store’s charity foundation. But an IPO is on the horizon, and the board’s brought in consultants to give their verdict on how to get the company ready for it – and all signs point to them stripping the foundation of funding. Rocco knows finishing this job up quickly will get him back to NYC faster and get him the promotion he needs. If only he could keep his eyes… and thoughts… and hands… off Julia.

“Rocco had that lethal combination of boyish good looks and a slight edge. Like he could mow my lawn for me and then walk into the house and do unspeakable things to my body. And good Lord that was not the reel I needed going through my head right now.”

Julia’s my favorite kind of heroine. She’s smart, hardworking, and snarky, and she has a plan. Still smarting from her ex’s behavior, she’s sworn off romantic relationships in favor of focusing on finding new friends in Dallas. Enter the Gotham Exiles club, her attempt to connect with fellow ex-NYCs now stranded in Dallas. The only problem is that one of those exiles – even if only temporary – is Rocco, who she’s lusting over like crazy, and it’s obvious quickly that the attraction is returned. Rocco may act tough, but on the inside he’s an ooey gooey cinnamon roll – the type of guy who’ll rescue a probably flea-infested kitten. While he’s not Latinx, he grew up in Corona just like Julia, and his family background gives him a more empathetic perspective than your average white guy. What I think I loved the most about this couple is that while they’re both extremely competent at their jobs, they are absolute messes in their personal lives – and that’s OK! It’s something both need to come to terms with as part of their relationship. As for the steam level, this book is thirsty as all get out. There’s quite a bit of a slow burn as they navigate whether they could or should get into a relationship. But once we hit the “oh, I’ll just sleep with them once to get them out of my system” trope – I mean, we all know how that ends up, right? – it gets downright steamy.

“It’s great that you’re doing this with them. With poor kids, even when people are trying to help, the focus is always on food, or clothes, if they have a place to live. And don’t get me wrong—I know how necessary all those things are. It’s just nice to be seen as more than a problem to solve. For someone to remember you need oxygen in your lungs too, you know?”

Like most of Ms. Herrera’s books, it’s also a bit of a love letter to NYC, even though it’s almost entirely set in Dallas. And those NYCers of the Gotham Exiles club are a great example of found family. The secondary characters were well-rounded, distinct, and had some pretty hilarious interactions. Julia’s family, especially her parents, were especially well written, and just so amazingly supportive. The author’s background in social work, as usual, shines through here again, from the political shenanigans of every big foundation to the reminder that kids – especially kids with trauma backgrounds – need more than just food and shelter to thrive. As for that conflict, there’s a good balance and commensurate pacing between each character’s internal conflicts and the external conflict.

Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this book and eagerly awaiting the next one. I’m honestly hoping that this will become a series with more from the Gotham Exiles!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Romance Schmomance]

At last, I finally have read a book by Adriana Herrera and I sure enjoyed the heck out of Here to Stay. This one was a bit of a slow burn for me, which is a trope that I've been struggling with since the world essentially shut down. But I know soooo many that absolutely live by this trope, so I know that they'll love this one completely.

However, I love a good office romance and these two definitely fought their instant attraction, I had to applaud them! It definitely made for some very interesting
interactions between them.

CHECK OUT THE REST OF MY REVIEW | HERE

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[whisperingchapters]

Okay, so, why this is the first time I read a novel by Adriana Herrera?! This book is gold! I loved it from beginning to end!

When he spotted me, he did the slightest double take and then, just for a second, he smiled. Julia del Mar, you're in danger, girl.

Julia moved from NYC to Dallas to follow her boyfriend, who later on dumped her. Thankfully, she found a wonderful job--running a charitable foundation that helps families. Unfortunately, her job is on the line, and the one who can either put a good or bad word is the new consultant, Rocco Quinn.

It's hard for me to relate to characters lately. So when I started this novel and found myself relating to Julia and her family, I knew this would be a book I wouldn't forget. Julia is Puerto Rican and Dominican, and let me tell you, the representation of both cultures is on point! It was exactly how I would have described it. We're loud, we're noisy, we're family from the moment we meet, and so much more that Adriana included. And gosh, don't get me started on arroz con gandules! Seeing this authentic food to both PR and DR being described so well in the story filled me with so much pride!

For her mom and grandma, lack of gandules was right up there with lethal levels of dehydration.

Even though we have two main characters, the story felt like it wasn't just about them; it was also about the side characters. Their presence is always there, in a good way. We get to see these former NYC residents with Latin background come together as co-workers and as family. From their first get-together, the reader gets to feel their bond immediately. Their interactions, their nosiness, their personalities brought so much to the story!

I found Julia to be a wonderful, compassionate, selfless woman that I admire. Every situation that gets thrown her way, she manages with grace. I loved her personality and how dedicated she is with everything she stands for and believes in.

I did get a bit tired with Julia always running away from Rocco. While I did understand she was doing it because it wouldn't be good for them to be together because of their jobs, I mostly felt she was using it as an excuse. Still, Julia's and Rocco's moments together were beautiful. I loved how we meet Rocco little by little.

"That man looks at you like you're the answer to every question he's ever had. Trust that you can be that to someone."

Rocco’s character is like an onion, and as the story goes on, we get to peel one layer at a time. Each layer that came off showed a wonderful man that had my heart melting over. Rocco is such a sweet man! Well, he’s a dirty-talking man in bed that had me with eyes wide open. But at the same time, he’s unbelievably sweet and swoony! He deserves all the recognition in the world. When he started calling Julia muñeca, I legit MELTED! I’m pretty sure I read that part at least 5 times. Yes, I melted each time.

Julia's family was something else, in the best way possible. I loved all the wonderful advice Julia's dad gave her. I loved how nosy her mom is (extremely similar to my mom). And then we have abuela, who's pretty much an exact replica of my grandma in terms of personality. I was laughing so hard when Rocco offered to clean the kitchen and everyone else was watching and waiting to see what would abuela do. It's literally how it is in Puerto Rico!

"My parents and my grandma only have one volume setting, and it's loud."

Most stories I've read with a Latin background barely touch on the culture, yet Adriana went all in with it. I honestly felt like I was reading a book about a family member. Adriana gave me a story with all the culture I've ever wanted for a book to have when it comes to Puerto Rican culture. THANK YOU FOR DOING US JUSTICE!

If you're looking for a story with a different culture (PR/DR), POC-characters (and author), authentic characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a story that will live in your heart, HERE TO STAY is totally for you!
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