This lighthearted debut takes awhile to find its footing, but it started to shine once it did. I couldn’t resist that adorable cover, and it’s actually a great reflection of the vibe - this easygoing romance features a (mostly) confident, curvy heroine and a muscular hero who acts like an alpha but secretly has a marshmallow center. These two strangers can’t seem to stop bickering, but the sparks that fly between them are impossible to miss. The tone is light and a little bit funny, with some more emotional moments and a touch of steam. The back half flew by for me, and I wouldn’t hesitate to check out Lea’s next book - this ended up being pretty solid.
The story follows Crystal, a personal trainer and fitness influencer who has learned to love her body. While many judge her size and choice of career, Crystal knows that she’s her happiest, healthiest self as she is. When she meets an infuriating stranger at the gym, it’s dislike at first sight… kind of. Scott seems to push all of Crystal’s buttons - and she’s got plenty of assumptions about his personality - but the two can’t seem to stay away from each other. So when they discover that they’re connected by more than the gym, it complicates the entire situation. But Scott just might be on the rebound, and Crystal will never again be anyone’s second choice.
I loved that this wasn't another romance where the curvy heroine has to learn how to love herself or change something before she can - Crystal already knows that she's awesome, she's just got insecurities that creep up like everyone else. The book is set in a gym, so it could've gone in a troubling direction, but I really liked the tone. I also loved Scott; we only get Crystal's perspective, and I would've given anything to hear his thoughts, because I can only imagine that they'd up the swoon factor by a thousand. He's a cinnamon roll wrapped in an alpha's body, with a little bit of cockiness to go along with the whole package. While Crystal drove me crazy sometimes with her never-ending assumptions, Scott turned out to be SUCH a great guy. They've got good chemistry, and I loved the direction the book took once they decide to explore that. It does get weighed down by unnecessary miscommunication here and there, but I sincerely liked this overall.
Audio note: Not a fan of the audio - at all! It's the narrator that I didn't like, her voice just sounds childish and not very pleasant. I remember that same narrator being the reason why I couldn't get into the Donut Fall in Love audiobook, and it was the same situation here as well. I ended up turning off the audio at around the 25% mark and chose to have robot Siri read the ebook to me instead, which... yeah, not a good sign for the audiobook, lol. I also started to enjoy the book significantly more once I turned the audio off, so I can't recommend that format. The story does lend itself well to an audio experience though, with an upbeat vibe, minimal steam, and a runtime of under 10 hours. It would make a great workday listen, if you can tolerate the narrator.
I was a little nervous going into this one because I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews. But I loved it 🥹 I really related to Crystal and her and Scott’s relationship revolving around the gym. I did feel she was a little immature for what her age was supposed to be, so some parts annoyed me a bit. But overall, I loved this and loved the message of body positivity and social media.
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Top reviews from the United States
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Jeeves Reads Romance
Rocky start, strong finish
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2022
Hannah Hyde
Loved this and really related to it
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2023
I was a little nervous going into this one because I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews. But I loved it 🥹 I really related to Crystal and her and Scott’s relationship revolving around the gym. I did feel she was a little immature for what her age was supposed to be, so some parts annoyed me a bit. But overall, I loved this and loved the message of body positivity and social media.
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Hannah Stansel
One of my favorite reads so far this year!
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2022Top reviews from other countries
Bex's Bookshelves
Love the representation
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2023
Abi
A fun romcom with more development needed
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2023