I love watching the Olympics, and Olympic gymnastics is one of my favorite sports! Let's take a moment to mourn the postponement of the 2020 Olympic games. Since I can't watch the Olympics this year, I was super excited to read this fictional story about Avery, a former competitive gymnast who comes back to the sport to coach an Olympic hopeful.

I loved the parts of this story that were about gymnastics. From the training process to the competition routines to the behind the scenes scandal, I found it all to be very interesting. I loved getting an inside look at the sport! I did not love the romance parts of this story. Ryan, the leading man/Avery's co-coach, was not my favorite. I found him to be fairly boring, and then he turned into a jerk. Even as the story resolved, he never did redeem himself in my eyes. I also did not feel the connection between Ryan and Avery, and I thought their interactions lacked chemistry. So while I loved the gymnastics aspects of this story, the romance didn't work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! It's smart and heartfelt and so intriguing - It caught my attention at the first page and never let go. This is the first title I've read from Hannah Orenstein, and I see why she's a reader favorite. In Head over Heels, she opens up the world of elite gymnastics, and does a masterful job of giving us characters we care about and stakes that are high enough to keep us wondering how it will all turn out. I selected this book because of my lifelong love of gymnastics, but I was impressed with how deftly Orenstein keeps the insider terminology to a minimum and explains things so that even someone unfamiliar with the sport won't feel lost. This is a great read for anyone who likes stories of comebacks and reinvention. And love - she does a nice job with that, too. Five stars - highly recommend.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Head Over Heels” by Hannah Orenstein
I loved this story. There is a whole lot of heart-break, maturing, and love in this story. A story of the passionate love of a sport, and, the love between people. While also sharing a glimpse of the less than admirable actions possibly perpetrated by people holding positions of trust. I found it difficult to put this book down, even just to answer the phone when it rang. A truly worthy read. Happy Reading ! !
Note: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

First, I have to say, I love books about gymnastics. As a kid, I read a series called The Gymnasts (or something similar) and there were only about 8 books, but I wished there were more! I have never done gymnastics, but I love watching the Olympics and everything about the sport is interesting to me. I thought this book did an excellent job of capturing all of it - the dedicated needed, the emotional effects, the physical effects and obviously, the scandals that are hidden. This book was real (with fictional characters, obviously) and didn't shy away from the tough topics, but also didn't delve too deep unnecessarily.
The love story between Avery and Ryan is there, and follows the typical romance book (get together, conflict, resolution), but for me, the book wasn't about the love story. It was about insight into the world of gymnastics and the life of a former gymnast. It was really very well done and I really enjoyed this book.

Love, love, loved this book! I'm always down for a romance with a new twist (in this case literally and metaphorically), and it was so fun to get an inside look at the intense process of being an elite level gymnast. (...and I am the only person who spent an inordinate amount of time after reading it feeling heartbroken for the gymnasts who prepared so hard for the Olympics this year?!) The characters were likable, the story relatable, the writing witty and charming. Looking forward to seeing what's next from Hannah Orenstein!

I read this book in two quick gulps and it left me with tears in my eyes and Olympic aspirations I never knew I had! Hannah Orenstein writes such fun, easy-to-read romantic comedies — she's brilliant at creating couples you love and hate and relate to and root for every step of the way.

For anyone craving Olympic content; sweet, inspiring pep talks; and stories about second chances (in every sense), this is the perfect summer read!

Did any other mid-to-late 20 somethings here watch Make It or Break It on ABC Family in high school?! Let's just say, this was the book version of Make It or Break It (but wayyyyy better, in my opinion). If you are not familiar with the ABC Family tv show, Make It or Break It, it follows the lives of 4 teen gymnasts striving to make it to the Olympic Games. The similarities pretty much stop there, though. Head Over Heels follows Avery Abrams, a talented gymnast who missed her shot at the Olympics but has a chance to make her mark by coaching a promising young gymnast who is aiming for the Olympics much like she was. Best of all, this book also includes an adorable romance which I think makes it an even greater read! This was my first time reading a book by Hannah Orenstein, and I absolutely LOVED it! I think it's time to go read her previous titles too!! Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for my ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It seems like chick-lit is exactly where I need to escape to lately and this one did not disappoint. This book is about Avery Abrams, a 27 year old former pro gymnast who suffered a career ending injury during the Olympic trials. After healing from surgery, Avery moves to LA for college and ends up failing out because of partying and the deep depression that losing out on the Olympics brought her to. She’s dating a Super Bowl winning quarterback and from the outside, seems to have her life together. The book picks up just after she’s broken up with by the football player and is forced to move back in with her parents in the Boston suburbs. She’s sulking and trying to figure out her next move when her childhood crush, Ryan, gives her a call offering her a job to train an olympic hopeful. Ryan was an elite gymnast at the same time as Avery was and went all the way to winning gold. He’s now coaching at the gym Avery trained at growing up and Avery has never quite gotten over her crush. The rest of the story follows their romance and a wild ride of edge of your seat gymnastic competitions that both made me mourn the cancellation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and revel in reading about the world if we weren’t in lockdown. This book was just what I needed! 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you find yourself like me, really missing the Olympics this summer, do yourself a favor and pick up this novel.

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein is a tale about Avery, a fierce gymnast, who has trained her whole life to compete in the Olympics. But when a tragic injury occurs during the Olympic trials, her dream is snatched out from under her feet. Seven years later, she is still struggling to find her place in the world. Fresh from a breakup with her Football Star boyfriend, Avery moves back home to Massachusetts. Her hometown is filled with bittersweet memories of what could have been. But soon, Avery finds herself accepting a coaching job at her former gym. The job is training a young gymnast, Hallie, to prepare for the 2020 Olympics. Hallie’s other coach just so happens to be Avery’s childhood crush. The three of them must work together if they want to find glory on that Olympic podium, but will they be able to overcome all the obstacles in their way?!

While this is a romance novel, the actual romance is light and fluffy, but this story dives into something much deeper. I think the real romance portrayed in this story is the love for the sport. This novel is a beautiful tribute to athletes everywhere. It showcases how much hard work, determination, and drive these athletes need to have. And ultimately, it’s a true testament to their strength, both physical and mental. So, if you’re looking for a truly charming, light romance that gives you a peek into the competitive world of gymnastics, this is the book for you!

A huge thank you to Atria and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Could you live with finding more than one dream?This is a story all about dreams deferred what we give up for our dreams. Even though a tougher topic of sexual emotional and physical abuse is discussed interwoven with the subject of gymnastics and the politics of winning at all costs its also about the way you make a new normal and that sometimes success is more than what you thought it would look like .

Orenstein's latest novel brings a fresh, Millennialesque tone that's fun, engaging, and relatable. She uses captivating writing where you just want to keep reading. Main character Avery's relationship with her former childhood crush Ryan is adorable yet authentic, but also flirtatious in a sweet and innocent way. Within ninety pages, I'm sitting here squealing over the prospect of them becoming the hottest new couple and co-coaches ever. I'm definitely getting ahead of myself, but that's because you want to root for these characters, which Orenstein has made so descriptive. I loved Orenstein's first novel, and this new book is just as adorable and I couldn't stop reading or smiling, and even polished off the book in a single day. Once you're deep into the story, it's heartwrenching and authentic, and way more than just a romance. The story is empowering, fierce, and strong. And I loved it, wow, did I ever and I just couldn't put it down! In the end, it warmed my heart because I loved that it was primarily about a girl finding her inner strength and power. And the love part certainly made it cuter. ;)

I enjoyed how real this was regarding success and failure, I think we hear a lot about success but not enough about failure!

This was a very cute, lighthearted read. The romance between Ryan and Avery was very cute, even though in my opinion it felt a bit rushed and we didnt really see so much of the build up leading to it. I loved that the book focused a lot on gymnastics, training Hallie, and Averys personal journey, which made it feel like more than a romance book to me. All in all, it was a fun lighthearted read, that had you rooting for Hallie (and Avery and Ryan) to get to the Olympics. Thank you so much to netgalley and atriabooks for the eARC.

I went into this story thinking it would be purely a romance and boy, was I ever mistaken. It is engaging, comedic at times and interesting. I am not a gymnast but have always been intrigued by the world of competitive gymnastics. The beauty in the power, strength and grace of the athletes is mesmerizing. This book is a fun look into the world of competitive sports and a real glance into a personal story that is not all glittering gold and celebrations. I appreciated the "realness" of this novel in that it was not just a fluffy romance but that it provided more depth into the plot and a look into the lives of the characters. It was a delightful read and I am sure to suggest it to many friends!

I started following Hannah on Instagram while she was writing this book and I loved seeing her progress daily on her Insta stories so I was so excited when I got my hands on the book before it was released thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks! I was expecting a traditional rom com love story but this is SO MUCH MORE. I read it in a day and literally could not put it down.

You can tell Hannah is familiar with the world of gymnastics by the amount of detail used and this helped fill the whole left by the postponement of the 2020 Olympics. Couldn’t recommend this book more - be sure to pre-order!

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for helping to cure my heartbreak over the postponed Summer 2020 Olympics by gifting me a copy of Head Over Heels for review.


Avery Abrams is returned to her hometown a breakup with her longtime football star boyfriend. Avery is known in her town for almost going to the Olympics in gymnastics. Once upon a time she was a gymnastics superstar until an injury sidelined her and changed her life destroying her Olympic dreams. Although her Olympic dreams are long since dashed she has the chance to help another young woman reach her Olympic dream as a coach for her floor routine.

Head Over Heels is so much more than a romance novel. Honestly the romance is a very small part but it does have a very sizzling scene in the gym between Avery and Ryan. Head Over Heels touches on the mental health issues gymnasts could deal with. Orenstein also touched on the headlines from the sexual assault charges against a doctor from gymnasts. Head Over Heels has a lot of heart where it matters and is a great book for this summer and beyond.

Rating: 3.5 stars

After breaking up with her star quarterback boyfriend, Avery Adams moves from L.A. back to her hometown. Living with her parents and simply floating through life, she is offered the opportunity to coach an Olympic hopeful on her floor routine. Avery eagerly accepts, thinking this is exactly what she needs to redefine her life.

Orenstein did a wonderful job threading a light, uplifting story with real, dark issues that surround elite athletes. She captures the anxiety and depression that can come with striving toward a rather large goal at such a young age, and she tackles sexual assault, eating disorders, emotional and verbal abuse, and drug use while also drafting a compelling story about the grit and determination of young gymnasts. It is both a wonderful and deeply disturbing tale that is an absolute must read.

Head Over Heels is the perfect blend of smart writing and sweet storytelling. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction or sport (light/clean) romances.

There is such a sad, depressing undertone to the majority of the book. Even when things are going good I don’t feel any happiness while reading this, just a little less sad. It’s an original storyline with a very interesting dynamic between the characters.

Special thanks to Atria for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Hannah Orenstein has been on my TBR since Playing Ith Matches released! I fell in love with the cover & it's still sitting there.

I jumped at the chance to read Head Over Heels. Gymnastics, Olympics & what sounds like a second chance romance is what my summer reading list craves.

Well, as soon as I get to the dedication, I have a feeling I'm in for something with a little more meaning that a romp on the pommel horse.

Avery is very easy to root for. Readers will want her to have a second chance at Olympic glory. There's a LOT of gymnastic speak in this book. If you're a big fan of the sport, no doubt you will LOVE it!

Yes, this has some romance (super slight open door). More importantly, it's a testament to the grit & determination of young gymnasts. While Head Over Heels is a quick read, it's memorable & powerful. The more it simmers, the more I really appreciate the narrative.

Read this if you're missing the Olympics this year &/or you want a sport-themed story to make you cheer.

I have loved gymnastics since I was a child. I remember the 1984 Olympics and Mary Lou Retton's incredible performance. I kept envisioning her face as Hallie while reading. I was thrilled to be invited to read Head Over Heels. Avery is washed up. She blew her chance at Olympic gold, got dumped by her boyfriend, and has no career. She moves back home in defeat. But then a call kicks starts her life. She teams with Ryan to coach Olympic hopeful Hallie. I pictured. MItch Gaylord as Ryan. Orenstein takes readers deep into the savory and sucky aspects of gymnastics. It's a wonderful read and I tumbled my way to the end, I score this routine as a perfect 10 (old scoring system).