In *Boss Lady*, Antonia "Toni" Arroyo is a fierce and relatable heroine navigating the tricky balance between motherhood, personal aspirations, and the societal pressures placed on her as a woman. Raised by a protective mother who pushes outdated expectations on her life—use your beauty, marry young, and settle down—Toni has a different vision. A promising inventor and aspiring entrepreneur, Toni's journey is one of perseverance, self-discovery, and the fight to claim her place in a world that’s far more concerned with her role as a mother than her potential as a businesswoman.

The book opens with Toni juggling the many demands of her life—raising twins as a financially stretched single mother while working a job in airport transportation services that has her constantly going in circles. Her life may feel a bit repetitive, but there’s an undeniable spark in Toni that refuses to be extinguished. She’s not content to settle, despite the overwhelming challenges that seem to stand in her way. Toni’s determination to keep her entrepreneurial dream alive is what makes her such a captivating character—she's driven by the belief that her future can be more than what others have planned for her.

One of the most delightful elements of Toni’s story is her relationship with Sylvia Eisenberg, an elderly frequent traveler who becomes Toni’s unspoken mentor. Sylvia is both a cheerleader and a sage, offering advice and perspective that Toni deeply needs in her journey. Their friendship is heartwarming and adds a layer of emotional depth to the novel, reminding readers that mentorship and support can come from the most unexpected places.

Toni’s path takes a significant turn when she meets Ash, Sylvia’s handsome and successful grandson. Ash, a venture capitalist, could be the key to taking Toni’s budding business to the next level. But *Boss Lady* isn’t just a love story; it’s about Toni’s professional hustle and her desire to carve out her own future. When she gets the chance to pitch her idea on the popular show *Innovation Nation*, it’s a game-changing moment for Toni—one that could propel her dreams into reality. But the stakes rise even higher when her self-absorbed, nearly-ex-husband resurfaces, challenging Toni in ways both personal and professional.

The tension between Toni’s past and her future is one of the novel’s central themes. She’s been stuck in “maybe” for far too long, and as her past collides with her present, she finds the strength to finally say “absolutely.” This shift in her mindset, from doubt to determination, is empowering and relatable. Toni is a woman who refuses to let her circumstances define her, and watching her grow and claim her power is nothing short of inspiring.

What makes *Boss Lady* so compelling is how well it blends personal and professional stakes. Toni's entrepreneurial journey is just as much about self-discovery and overcoming internal barriers as it is about developing a business. The book doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties Toni faces, whether it’s financial strain, societal expectations, or the emotional toll of raising children alone. Yet, her growth is inspiring, and her eventual success is a well-earned payoff for readers who have rooted for her every step of the way.

*Boss Lady* is a fast-paced, heartfelt novel that celebrates the resilience of women chasing their dreams against all odds. It’s a perfect read for anyone looking for an empowering story about fighting for what you want, even when the world might tell you to settle for less. Toni Arroyo is a character you can’t help but cheer for, and *Boss Lady* is a celebration of grit, ambition, and the courage to dream big.

**Rating: 4.5/5** – A must-read for anyone who loves a story about perseverance, self-empowerment, and a woman who dares to make her dreams a reality.

Boss Lady by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans is a fun and inspiring story about Toni Arroyo, a single mom working hard to make her dreams come true. She juggles raising her twin daughters, driving an airport shuttle, and trying to start her own business. Toni is super relatable because she doesn’t give up, even when things get tough. The story also shows how important it is to have good people in your corner, like her passenger Sylvia and Sylvia’s grandson, Ash. It’s a feel-good book about following your dreams, staying strong, and believing in yourself.

Boss Lady by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans is a witty and empowering contemporary novel about women navigating career challenges, friendship, and self-discovery. The story follows a determined and ambitious woman as she strives for success while balancing the complexities of personal and professional life. Frank and Youmans’ writing is sharp and engaging, with a relatable protagonist and plenty of humor and heart. Boss Lady is an inspiring and enjoyable read for fans of uplifting stories about women’s empowerment and career-driven journeys.

Strong 3.5 read. Love the strong female characters in this book and the relative rags to riches story was a good premise. I laughed a lot while reading and found the go get em' attitude refreshing, not preachy which is a great thing. Mother and daughter relationships and having to deal with your ex were themes across the book.

full review to come.

A humorous and inspiring story. Toni is a single mother chasing her dreams in spite of her mothers notions of how her life should be. Toni gets the chance to pitch her new business idea on TV's Innovation Nation, only to find her challenger is her Ex-husband who took off. I really liked that Toni was older and not in her twenties. Things are much harder for older women in business. A story of ambition that was witty and inspiring.

While I liked parts of this I don’t feel the characters were all fully flushed out. The relationships are felt a bit choppy and hard to be invested in (other than the mutual dislike of the ex).

Such a lovely heart warming read! This book is about a woman who aspires to become an entrepreneur and her journey on her to get there. The book is loaded full of humor. I loved Antonia and how she could get through anything because she believed in herself and that she did not settle for less than she deserved. Great book. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

While I liked the writing style I didn’t care for any of the characters so I found it difficult to be invested in the storyline.

This book wasn’t really for me I think. I did love the writing style but I just didn’t care about the characters.

Such a cute and quick read.

Toni is a recent single mother of twin girls who has a passion for inventing. Currently working in transportation at the airport, she befriends an elderly woman when the woman's grandson, Ash, enters her life and helps open some doors.

A cast full of loveable characters, cultural references, girl boss energy and family dynamics. This is a great book with a lot of heart.

Thank you, NetGalley and Alli Frank and Asha Youmans for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this mystery and keeping secrets and the different point of views. Also loved trying to figure out who did it . I enjoyed the mystery behind it.

In Boss Lady, Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (co-authors of The Better Half) have blessed us with an ambitious (and messy) heroine, a little relationship drama, and a BFF bond anyone would be jealous of. To be totally honest, this was a bit cheesier than I'm used to reading, and the dialogue was a struggle for me. However I think it's the kind of light, upbeat read that is perfect for a day at the beach.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I “absolutely” adore this book. It’s heartfelt, inspiring, AND I just love how it’s fundamentally about women supporting women. While I loved the slow-burn romance between Toni & Ash, I appreciated how their romance wasn't the focus of the book. The book was about Toni believing in herself and finding ways to go after her goals, dreams, and what she truly wants in life, with the encouragement of other strong women (best friend, mother, as well as a mentor). I especially loved the supportive relationship between Toni and Mrs. Eisenberg—that just captured my heart entirely 🤍

Read this book if you love:
✈️ binge watching Shark Tank
🩷 a hardworking, self-deprecating, and very relatable Afro-Puerto Rican heroin
✈️ an international cast of characters
🩷 slow-burn romance
✈️ women supporting women

Thank you to Alli and Asha, Over the River PR & Amazon Publishing for the gifted copy to read and review.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book with a lot of heart and depth.

I appreciated the depictions of strong women and how they all had their own backstories. Seeing the friendship grow between them was really special. The ex-husband was annoying and probably my least favorite part of the book. However, I did like Ash, the new love interest, a lot and appreciated that he wasn't the focus of this story.

This is a fab story about overcoming societal expectations, slowly believing in yourself, going for it, and finding success and love.

Mrs Eisenberg is definitely a force to be reckoned with and freely shares her life wisdom with young Toni.

Life lessons from Mrs Eisenberg:

--> We often overestimate how much we can accomplish in a day but underestimate how much we can achieve in a year.
it never occurs to rich people that they might actually lose at something. When you’re poor, the opposite is true: it never occurs to you that you may win.
--> Stand up straight and own your answer when speaking, because if you don’t believe in you, no one else will either.
--> Have the courage to live a big life even without a safety net.

And a final one:
--> I didn’t want you to need me. I need you to want me.

I loved how this story provided romance, business, and life lessons all beautifully mixed together.

PS. Don't skip over the Foreword as there are some gems there too!

I love love love Alli and Asha’s books and this may be my new favorite! ⁣
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It’s got so many things to love - a hardworking and relatable Afro-Puerto Rican protagonist, an amazing cast of characters that come from all walks of life including witty best friends and a snarky elderly boss lady, a sweet, slow burn romance, and a Shark Tank-esque reality show! I’m finding it hard to tell you what my favorite part was … because it all blends so well into such an inspiring, smart, funny, and feel-good fun romp of a story!⁣
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BOSS LADY follows Antonia “Toni” Arroyo - a mess of a heroine who has always put her life on hold for others - her parents, her children, and the husband who abandoned her to pursue his own goals. She’s relatable and strong willed, and I loved watching her find her path to her long delayed dreams - bumpy as it may be.⁣
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If you haven’t read anything by Alli and Asha this is your not-so-subtle nudge to do so! This is their 4th book together and I have loved every single one of their empowering and FUN! stories about kick ass women getting all the things they finally deserve.

Toni Arroyo, the fierce and unyielding protagonist of this story, is a woman fighting tooth and nail to break free from her mother's suffocating expectations. She refuses to conform to societal norms and instead forges her own path, becoming a force to be reckoned with.

With a gripping plot that leaves readers engaged and entertained, brilliantly crafted characters, and a dazzling writing style, it's no wonder this book has captured the hearts of readers everywhere!

This powerful tale delves into themes of resilience, ambition, and the unbreakable strength of self-discovery. Toni's journey to chase her dreams and conquer insurmountable challenges is an empowering reminder that anything is possible when we have the courage to pursue our passions.

Prepare to be moved and inspired by this extraordinary read!

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This had a lot of ups and downs for me. She had more chemistry with her ex husband than the love interest. And the ending left like a cop out. Oh here’s 300k. I would have rather there be no love interest at all and it just be about her being a boss lady. I didn’t like that she got so mad at Ash for not investing in him. Toni felt a little immature. I cried when she renamed the lotion. That was when I was thinking ok this could be a 4⭐️ but then that ending just wasn’t good for me.

This is a funny and poignant story about a woman's journey and desire to be an entrepreneur.

Antonia (Toni) is raising twin daughters alone after her husband disappears. He has some sort of midlife crisis and is seeking to find himself. That doesn't help Toni raise their teenage daughters. Luckily, she has friends and family who are supportive and push her to achieve more in life. One of these is a client, Mrs Eisenberg, who is a hoot. She has lived quite the life, and has a lot of knowledge and advice to dispense to Toni. That is, if Toni hears and accepts it, sometimes Toni gets in her own way.

I had a love-hate relationship with Toni. I admired her independence and gumption, but she also came across as wishy-washy when it came to her husband, Simon. She knows what she has to do, but her guilt is holding her back. That Catholic guilt will get you every time! Plus, her mother is pressuring her to keep her marriage intact. I despised Simon. He believes he can have whatever he wants without regard for Toni or anyone else.

Now, there is a bright spot in this book: Ash. He is the grandson of Sylvia Eisenberg and a gem. There are the usual misunderstandings between him and Toni, but he doesn't let that stop him from trying to win her heart.

Other characters help round out this book and support Toni in her dream. I did think the product that she pitched to Innovation Nation was genius.

Overall, this was a book about self discovery, and we give it 4 paws up.

A delightful novel. A wonderful variety of characters, especially the strong women ones. Engaging and heartwarming tale. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.