We Need to Talk (Tenemos que hablar)

Two women face breakups, loss, and new loves until they discover that the greatest victory is living true to themselves.

Tima and Eva are two women who have never met, yet they share something important. At a pivotal crossroads in their lives, both are about to be swept into an unstoppable whirlwind of change.

Tima, a 44-year-old artist, lives in Madrid and has been married to David for fourteen years. Together they have a son, Jorge. Beneath the appearance of a stable marriage, routine and the loss of passion have extinguished their love. The long-anticipated breaking point arrives when David admits that he wants to sleep with another woman. Tima moves from acceptance and resignation to determination: she wants a separation. Yet memories of her childhood, the traumatic divorce of her own parents, and her difficult relationship with David’s family make her fear the impact on Jorge. After failed attempts at reconciliation and moments of emotional relapse, an episode of subtle violence becomes the point of no return, leading to a shared-custody arrangement. Tima ultimately embraces the end of her marriage and ventures into the world of dating again, even as she witnesses the surprising romantic reunion of her own parents, who have decided to remarry.

Meanwhile, Eva, a 40-year-old creative director, lives alone with her cat and has emotionally armored herself after a series of failed relationships, a devastating breakup, and the death of her father. Everything changes when she meets Alejandro at work, sparking an unexpected attraction. Despite her personal rule against becoming involved with colleagues, their connection deepens into love. But the arrival of Lucía—Alejandro’s ex-girlfriend and a powerful client of the company—forces Eva to temporarily leave her position. Her boss, who happens to be Tima’s father, promises to rehire her once tensions have subsided. A new opportunity emerges when Alejandro is offered a position in Tokyo and asks Eva to join him. Though hesitant, she eventually agrees to take the leap.

Everything changes when Tima’s father survives a serious car accident. At the hospital, Eva and Tima finally meet and forge a genuine friendship. Soon after, a life-changing offer presents itself: Tima’s father decides to retire and asks Eva to take over his company. Torn between the career of her dreams and the man she loves, Eva chooses to stay in Madrid and ends her relationship with Alejandro. A month later, however, he returns, having turned down Tokyo in order to be with her and start over together.

The epilogue is a celebration of second chances. The wedding of Tima’s parents—organized by Tima herself—is a resounding success. David does not attend, but he and Tima maintain a cordial relationship. Eva and Alejandro, now living together and planning their own wedding, raise a glass alongside Tima to an open future. Together, the two women celebrate having overcome fear, heartbreak, and loss, arriving at the realization that truly matters: living authentically and understanding that love—in all its forms—is always worth the risk.

RELEVANT INFORMATION: Bárbara Montes holds a degree in Psychology and a diploma in Tourism, and is the author of both children’s literature and women’s fiction. Today, she is considered one of Spain’s most prominent female voices in contemporary women’s narrative fiction.

Written with warmth, humor, and emotional insight, Tenemos que hablar interweaves the stories of two women navigating very different stages of life. Balancing romantic comedy and drama, the novel stands out for its emotional realism and its focus on personal growth rather than melodrama. It is an uplifting story about reinvention, friendship, family, and love, making it ideal for an adaptation in the vein of Modern Love meets In Treatment.

AUDIOVISUAL POTENTIAL: TV Series, Miniseries, Film, TV Movie

AVAILABLE LANGUAGES: Spanish.