Tell Me Your Plans

By: Torres and Firsht

Narrated by: Shelley Reece

"Tell Me Your Plans has five stars written all over it." —Reader Views

"Intelligently penned women's drama." —Readers' Favorite

Ambitious 26-year-old Veronica Rubio is a protagonist you may not always like but will often find yourself rooting for—there are no overused romantic stereotypes here. Guided by her creed Luck favors the prepared, she believes that hard work and diligent planning are the keys to success in life, both professional and personal. With an impressive track record in swimming, a Stanford education, and a promising career at a boutique investment company in Los Angeles, she seems to have it all.

Yet the cutthroat world of high finance, tainted by old-boy network sexism, leaves Veronica little time or desire for dating. Or so she claims. Shell get married when she turns 30. But is this truly her strategy or merely a coping mechanism for her teenage traumas? Fate has other plans in store when Veronica crosses paths with Felix Rivas, a charismatic and cocksure game designer who lives life by the moment, defying rules and schedules.

Hailing from East L.A., the free-spirited college dropout knows how to make a girl feel special. Seduced first by his attention and later by a sense of a business opportunity, Veronica makes a series of life-altering choices. Just when everything appears to align perfectly, and her carefully laid plans are about to pay off, ghosts from the past bring old baggage and upset the hard-won status quo.

©2024 Torres and Firsht (P)2024 Torres and Firsht

A Must-Read

I rarely read indie authors. They can be hits or misses, and I don’t have much time to waste. It was actually a Reader Views’ review on Goodreads that convinced me to give this audiobook a try. Now I can’t wait for the sequel!
“Tell Me Your Plans” is a captivating exploration of ambition, love, and the unexpected twists life throws. Veronica, a driven and complex character, navigates the competitive world of high finance in LA. Unlike female protagonists who at 26 act clueless or immature in most novels these days, Veronica has meticulously planned her life and eschews romance to focus on her career. However, her resolve is tested when she literally collides with Felix, a handsome, free-spirited game designer, whose charm and spontaneity sweep Veronica off her feet and challenge her self-imposed milestones. After all, they say opposites attract.
As they build their relationship and a new business venture, Veronica believes she is finally on track with her life goals. And this is when it all comes tumbling down. As one character observes, “Ironic, isn’t it, how life has a way of bringing on a sense of humility right when one thinks he’s at the top of the world.” Suitable for a more mature audience (check the reader caution!), this realistic women’s fiction delves into the complexities of human relationships and will keep you hooked from start to finish.
What I liked most about the book is its rich tapestry of well-developed characters. Veronica and Felix share undeniable chemistry, yet they can be maddeningly likable one moment and utterly dislikable the next. The strong prose allows readers to deeply connect with Veronica, and the narrator does a fantastic job capturing her shifting attitudes in response to life’s events. Flawed as Veronica might be, I found myself rooting for her, often wondering what I’d do in her place and not knowing the answer.
Veronica’s college friend Nina is a standout character—nosy and opinionated, she acts as a shield against the turbulence in Veronica’s life. We need more friends like her! Stella, Veronica’s childhood friend, represents selfishness and Hollywood culture, adding depth to the narrative and the protagonist’s idea of success.
The authentic portrayal of LA goes beyond celebrities, palm trees, and beaches, adding layers of realism. The hints at the Me Too movement were subtle but impactful. Glimpses of London and Paris, literary quotes, descriptions of Mexican culture, and references to Cuban history were all nicely done.
Although the pace slowed in the middle with the couple’s perpetual disagreements and some technical details that might be less interesting to the target audience, once the pace picked up again, I couldn’t put the book down. The ending was MOST unexpected, and now I can’t wait to hear what happens next.