A Lot Like Adios: A Novel

Written by Alexis Daria

Narrated by Seraphine Valentine

""Alexis Daria's A Lot Like Adiós is a charming, sexy spitfire of a novel! Between Mich and Gabe's crackling dialogue and their palpable yearning, I fell hard and fast for this book, racing through its pages until I finally closed it with an overflowing heart and a deep happy sigh. Romance readers, this is your new favorite book!"" --Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of People We Meet on Vacation

The national bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola returns with a seductive second-chance romance about a commitment-phobic Latina and her childhood best friend who has finally returned home.

Hi Mich. It’s Gabe.

After burning out in her corporate marketing career, Michelle Amato has built a thriving freelance business as a graphic designer. So what if her love life is nonexistent? She’s perfectly fine being the black sheep of her marriage-obsessed Puerto Rican-Italian family. Besides, the only guy who ever made her want happily-ever-after disappeared thirteen years ago.

It’s been a long time.

Gabriel Aguilar left the Bronx at eighteen to escape his parents’ demanding expectations, but it also meant saying goodbye to Michelle, his best friend and longtime crush. Now, he’s the successful co-owner of LA’s hottest celebrity gym, with an investor who insists on opening a New York City location. It’s the last place Gabe wants to go, but when Michelle is unexpectedly brought on board to spearhead the new marketing campaign, everything Gabe’s been running from catches up with him.

I’ve missed you.

Michelle is torn between holding Gabe at arm’s length or picking up right where they left off—in her bed. As they work on the campaign, old feelings resurface, and their reunion takes a sexy turn. Facing mounting pressure from their families—who think they’re dating—and growing uncertainty about their futures, can they resolve their past mistakes, or is it only a matter of time before Gabe says adiós again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Sep 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9780062959980

Alexis Daria

Alexis Daria writes stories about successful Latinx characters and their (occasionally messy) familias. Her debut Take the Lead won the 2018 RITA® Award for Best First Book, and her book You Had Me at Hola is a national bestseller, Target Diverse Book Club Pick, and New York Times Editor’s Choice Pick. She is a lifelong New Yorker who loves Broadway musicals and pizza.

Reviews for A Lot Like Adios

[Nikki Ffrench · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Friends-to-lovers, falling back into each other’s lives, fake dating. Here for all of it. This was such a sweet story about friendship and family.

And the steam ????

More more more please!

[M A. I. · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a former best friends to lovers plot with fanfic in the middle, LGTB+ and latinx representation (all of that with lots of good sex). And I was here for it!
Alexis Daria deserves a round of applause just for including all of that. Plus having mature characters that actually want to grow as a person, trying to overcome their hardships, communicate with their significant others and go after their dreams.
Perhaps the only thing that I'd say is that it had too much drama. It almost felt cliché. Like all latinxs are like the ones in telenovelas...

[Pastbookish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed it so much! Full review on my Bookstagram: @pastbookish

[Xiomy Santiago · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Lot Like Adios was a sweet story with tropes that I absolutely adore like friends-to-lovers and second chance romance. Mich and Gabe couldn't be more perfect for each other. The steamy scenes were well-written and their banter was so much fun. I loved how both characters learned about each other and how family was important for each of them.

[Charlotte · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I gave it 4 stars for the steam.

The steamy bedroom scenes were very very saucy but the overall storyline was a 3-star.

Mich and Gabe have a tricky relationship that they are forced to rekindle, however, they manage to dive into bed real quick with an angry make-up session. It was nice to see both characters represented as bi-sexual and there was also a brief mention of a trans character. I love reading about the Latinx community and the back and forth between languages.

Gabe had a lot of character development and had to deal with issues he had run away from, while Mich had to learn to not let the same mistakes happen again. There's family drama, romantic highs and hidden secrets. All make for a great read.

[Mesho Als · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a fun fluffy read . I loved it
New fav author

[Shealea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this, as well as how much it resonated with me. Highly recommended!

[nita.schmid · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Aaaaahh I loved this so much! I enjoyed this one even more than the first book. There's so much longing in the premise of childhood best friends who had so much romantic possibility that was never really realized, and the author absolutely pulled it off in this sort-of-second chance romance. The tropes were delicious - only one bed, forced proximity, fake dating. Both lead characters are bi and that rep is well done, as is the amazing Latine rep and integration of Spanish throughout. It's also done in a way that those who don't know much Spanish can still mostly understand what's going on.

I loved that they immediately got into things sexually, and the steam level stayed high throughout. But you also saw the deepening level of emotion and trust as they continued. The aspect of Gabe's struggles with his gym and his family were so well done. The resolution with his gym was something he initially didn't want but came to realize was for the best, and I really appreciated that realism. I loved that he and Michelle were able to reconnect with the perspective of many years and more maturity, and that also applied to his relationship with his estranged family. Both he and his parents had grown and were able to understand and appreciate each other better. On Michelle's end, I liked that she was able to recognise what she was passionate about professionally and have the confidence and self-awareness to go back to that.

The Primas of Power were lovely to see again, in all the support they gave. Reading the first book isn't a must, but for those who did the cameos from Jasmine and Ashton are lovely. I also really enjoyed the integration of the fanfiction throughout, which not only added depth in the ways it reflected the present-day story, but also gave insight into Gabe and Miche's former close friendship.

Also? The audiobook was amazing and the narrator added a whole other dimension, highly recommend. This was such a fantastic, enjoyable and very sexy read!

[Michelle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good but not what I expected! Slightly disappointed as I so loved You Had Me at Hola.

[Karen Pedraza · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved the plot of childhood best friends secretly in love with each other and mixed with the Latino cultural aspect of family, community, and self-success as a first gen

[Maha HAGGOUCH · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

this was really cute !! i enjoyed reading these two's story and i cannot wait to see what the author has planned next !

rtc

[Kassandra Argote · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ah, i was so excited for the release of this book! I loved You had me at Hola, and couldn’t wait for A lot like Adios . Perfect amount of steaminess, and romance. I loved Michelle and Gabe, I loved so many of the things that were touched in the book. The relationship and growth between Gabe and his parents was so heartwarming to read, especially with his Dad. It made me cry a couple of crocodile tears if I’m being honest . Loved the way the story wrapped up, and had an amazing message to do what truly makes you happy and to go for it , to not sell yourself short . I also loved seeing a little bit of Ashton and Jasmine ! Hopefully we get a third book for Ava !?

[Lynn Anne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More like 4.25 stars ?

"You annihilate me."
"Is that a good thing?"
"The best."

Right off the bat, these two decided to rekindle their friendship by adding benefits to it lol. The smut was top tier. Also, the snippets of the fanfiction they wrote as kids ??. I had a great time!!!