In Along Came Amor, Alexis Daria offers a deeply resonant and emotionally intelligent story of two people reimagining love after loss. This final installment of the Primas of Power series is not just about passion and connection—it’s about courage, self-worth, and redefining success in life and love. Ava Rodriguez and Roman Vasquez are two opposites on the surface: she’s a recently divorced schoolteacher looking to reclaim her agency, while he’s a self-made luxury hotelier with no room in his schedule for feelings. But what begins as a one-night, no-strings-attached escape unravels into something far more tangled and tender.
Daria has always excelled at crafting romances that feel refreshingly real and culturally rooted. With You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós, she introduced readers to the powerhouse women of the Rodriguez family—Jasmine and Michelle—who grappled with fame, family, and second chances. Along Came Amor is Ava’s turn in the spotlight, and hers is perhaps the most relatable journey yet. Daria doesn’t just write love stories—she writes emotional evolutions. Ava’s growth is as central as the romance itself, and that’s what makes this book so satisfying.
Meet the Primas of Power
The trilogy celebrates cousinhood, culture, and the bonds between fiercely independent women who still lean on one another for support, encouragement, and brutal honesty.
- Book 1: You Had Me at Hola – Jasmine, a telenovela actress, returns to her roots and falls for her co-star while balancing fame and vulnerability.
- Book 2: A Lot Like Adiós – Michelle, a marketing genius, reconnects with a childhood friend in a poignant story of unspoken dreams and personal reinvention.
- Book 3: Along Came Amor – Ava, newly single and uncertain of her next steps, dives into a steamy fling that challenges everything she thought she wanted.
Each protagonist brings a unique perspective on identity, romance, and ambition—interwoven with cultural threads that feel specific, celebratory, and authentic. Ava’s story, in particular, touches a nerve with its themes of divorce recovery, boundaries, and rediscovering self-love.
The Plot: From Fling to Forever?
Ava is licking her wounds after a marriage that crumbled under the weight of someone else’s dreams. She’s smart, steady, and not here for drama—or so she thinks. When she meets Roman, sparks fly immediately. He’s the kind of man who seems carved out of ambition itself, but for one night, he lets go. And so does she. What was supposed to be a single, unforgettable evening turns complicated when Roman reappears as the best man at her cousin’s engagement party. Suddenly, Ava’s private fantasy collides with her very public life.
As the two keep bumping into each other, the lines between desire, dependency, and deeper emotion blur. Roman, who once viewed relationships as distractions, begins to crave something more. And Ava, who once needed control to feel safe, finds herself opening up to risk—again. Their story becomes one of mutual healing, sexual tension, and emotional honesty.
Strengths That Make Along Came Amor a Standout
- Ava’s Journey from Surviving to Thriving: What’s most compelling about Ava is her resilience. She’s not a woman looking to be saved—she’s looking to feel whole again. Her divorce isn’t painted as failure, but as the catalyst for self-examination. Watching her wrestle with uncertainty, familial pressure, and conflicting desires makes her incredibly human.
- Roman as an Unconventional Romance Hero: While Roman fits the “billionaire hero” trope on paper, Daria avoids cliché. Roman is not possessive or arrogant—he’s meticulous, emotionally distant, and quietly broken. His vulnerability sneaks up on the reader, just as it does on Ava. Instead of alpha dominance, we get an introspective man learning how to show up for someone else.
- Family and Cultural Ties That Shape the Characters: The book paints an immersive picture of a Latinx family that is lively, loving, and occasionally overwhelming. Ava’s efforts to establish boundaries with her family, while still valuing their support, strike a relatable balance. The nuanced depiction of Puerto Rican heritage is never tokenistic—it’s embedded in the language, food, jokes, and values.
- Intimacy That Goes Beyond the Physical: Yes, the sex scenes are steamy, but they’re never gratuitous. Each encounter reveals more about who Ava and Roman are beneath their facades. The romance builds slowly, carefully, and believably—a testament to emotional intimacy that feels earned, not rushed.
- Engaging Side Characters and Interwoven Continuity: Longtime fans of the series will appreciate how previous heroines Jasmine and Michelle appear organically, without overshadowing Ava’s story. Their presence creates a sense of community and thematic cohesion across the trilogy.
Where the Story Could Have Pushed Further
- A Slightly Predictable Romantic Arc: Though the emotional dynamics are beautifully rendered, the central conflict—one person wants more, the other pulls away—is familiar. Daria adds freshness through character depth, but plot-wise, it treads well-known ground.
- Career Resolution Left Ambiguous: Ava hints at wanting to explore life beyond teaching, but the novel doesn’t quite follow through on that thread. A clearer vision of what her future holds professionally would have made her transformation feel more complete.
- Roman’s Emotional Shift Feels Rushed at Times: Roman’s gradual unraveling is compelling, but the turning point in his emotional availability comes quickly. A few more internal scenes or past reflections would have enhanced believability.
Similar Reads and Why Fans Will Love This Book
Readers who enjoyed the emotional complexity and cultural specificity in books like The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun or The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon will find Along Came Amor deeply satisfying. Like these titles, Daria blends heat, heart, and humor with themes of identity, resilience, and choosing love from a place of strength rather than need.
Fans of multicultural romances or stories centering empowered women navigating love post-divorce will especially connect with Ava’s arc.
Final Thoughts: Warm, Wise, and Wonderfully Written
Along Came Amor is the kind of romance that lingers—not because it’s the flashiest, but because it’s grounded in emotional truth. Alexis Daria gives us two imperfect people, colliding at a moment when they both need a reset. Their journey is equal parts sensual and soulful.
This is a romance for grownups—not in content alone, but in spirit. It honors the messiness of starting over, the fear of being seen too clearly, and the quiet bravery of trying again when love has already let you down once. Ava and Roman don’t just fall in love—they choose it. Again and again.
With this book, Daria confirms what readers have long known: she doesn’t just write romances—she writes relationships. And Along Came Amor is one of her most memorable yet.
- Recommended for: Readers craving character-driven romance with cultural richness, slow-burn passion, and satisfying emotional depth.
- Skip if you: Prefer fast-paced, high-stakes external conflict over nuanced internal journeys.
- Verdict: A tender, sexy, and heartfelt conclusion to one of the most empowering romance trilogies in recent years.
Alexis Daria leaves her readers with the ultimate message: even when life derails your plans, love—real, fierce, and freeing—can still find a way in.