I enjoyed All the Feels a lot. Alex was such a fun character, and I loved his banter and dynamic with Lauren. I loved how sensitive he was to her and what she needed, and how he convinced her to take better care of herself. They were just so fun together! My main thing is that it was actually a pretty slow read. They didn't even really acknowledge to themselves that they were attracted to each other until more than halfway through the book, let alone kiss. Which I get and appreciate, because they were basically in an employer/employee relationship for that time period and both were aware of that and didn't want to cross any lines, even in their heads. But there really wasn't much tension to drive the book forward for me. And then once they did get together, it was amazing, but then there was a third-act breakup that, while believable, just didn't feel fully necessary? Or maybe it was — they definitely had some key personality things they needed to discuss — but I just didn't love how it was handled. That said, I still really enjoyed reading this, and it has Dade's signature banter and care with her characters and their relationship.

Oh, and I should add, while Alex delights in writing fanfiction in which Cupid gets pegged, he does not actually get pegged himself. It makes sense considering this is traditional publishing with a bigger marketing budget romance, but after what a big deal was made out of it in the previous book (and in this one!), I was still surprised it didn't happen.

A copy of this review will go live on Dani's Bookshelf on August 17.

Advanced Reader Copy Provided by NetGalley for my Honest Review

I am not saying this because I got an ARC, this is all 100% my true feelings.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I feel like some of my other 5 star reviews are not worthy of all 5 stars after reading this book. I have never felt more seen than I did over the course of going on Lauren's journey.

This book is the companion book to Dade's Spoiler Alert and while you could read this as a standalone I recommend reading Spoiler Alert first for some context to a few of the background information and background scenes within this book. All The Feels follows Alex (co-star and best friend to Marcus whose story is told in Spoiler Alert) and Lauren, who is assigned to him as his minder after a few less than ideal situations he finds himself in. At first he is resistant to having her around, but then, since this is a contemporary romance, you can assume what happens.

There are so many reasons I loved this book. Obviously, we already know Dade knows how to do fat representation and how to do it right. But reading Lauren was a whole new level of great representation. Because Lauren's story isn't of coming to terms with her weight and looks and Alex's story with Lauren isn't about him being hyperfocused on her weight or learning how to navigate it romantically. Lauren's story is more nuanced, pointing out situations such as flying as a fat person, and learning to let others perception of her roll off her shoulders. Alex, who becomes fiercely defensive of Lauren and wants to lash out at anyone who makes comments to her, doesn't do it out of pity for her fatness and he doesn't try to fix her. He does it because he loves her and he will fight to protect the person he loves.

Where I really felt seen though with Lauren was in her people pleasing personality. Throughout her story she comes to realize that she puts everyone's needs above her own, doesn't want to burden anyone with her problems, and is okay in not feeling her happiest if it means other around her are their happiest. This people pleasing nature is something that I, and I am sure many readers, will identify with. Seeing how Alex reacts to this, figures out what is happening, and how they work through this is one of the most significant character arcs I have ever read. Sometimes I get to the point in a romcom where the conflict arises and it feels forced and only done to complete the romcom formula, but here it was necessary and really allowed both characters to come to terms with themselves and their actions and how those personalities effect those around them.

Other amazing aspects of this book include ADHD representation. Alex's character suffers from ADHD and the way in which it is presented and the tics that come with it to his personality and everyday life will help many people feel seen and will help normalize the disorder.

Readers will also love the flow of conversation within the book. Alex and Lauren have witty back and forth that are not only hilarious, but also feel so natural and real.

I cannot wait for more people to be able to experience this book on October 26th and I wish I could live in Alex and Lauren's world forever.

It's hard to rave about this novel without using the title because Olivia Dade's signature combination of wit, whimsy, humor, and heart leaves you in your feelings. In Alex and Lauren, you find a sweet, sophisticated story about love, growth, trust, and affection. In the most delightful ways, All the Feels delivers moments of warmth that sneak up on you, leaving you swooning and eager to find out what happens next. All the Feels is everything I expect from an Olivia Dade novel and more!

I keep going back and forth on how I want to rate this novel. I love author Olivia Dade's writing! It's entertaining and enthralling, always keeps me turning the pages to find out what happens next. Dade has a strong voice, that is both fun and makes my mind think about things in my own life. Her books are truly an immersive experience. But on the other hand, I read "Spoiler Alert", the first book in this series, last year and I feel like "All the Feels" is the same storyline and conflicts just with different characters.

Alex Woodroe is a charming, attractive actor on the hit show Gods of the Gates. He also has a temper and keeps getting himself in trouble and in the tabloids. Wanting to have a scandal free last season of the show, his showrunners have hired a handler named Lauren to keep on eye on Alex and keep him out of trouble. Of course that's easier said then done, when their time together not only results in Alex getting in trouble once again and Lauren losing her job, but also with them falling in love.

Like I said before I love how Dade writes. Her novels are quick and fast reads, because they flow and are structured well. Her characters are three dimensional and fleshed out. Her books are well researched, especially in regards to the acting/set life side of Alex's job and the fanfiction lingo and etiquette. Her writing has me laughing, crying and thinking deeply about my own life.

With that said, I just felt the story itself was a repeat of "Spoiler Alert" but with different characters; so many things from Marcus and April's story was mirrored here in Alex and Lauren's story. You have an attractive actor from Gods of the Gates finding love with a plus size women who isn't from the industry. He is obsessed with writing fan fiction about his own show and character. We even took it further here with Alex wanting to live out his fanfic fantasies with Lauren, which personally I felt was just a little much. I really would've preferred the fanfic obsession be Marcus's thing, and give Alex a new personality trait. I also found the timeline of their relationship to be a bit predictable, I could see what was about to happen before it did and that was frustrating.

I also wasn't the biggest fan of Alex. In "Spoiler Alert" I thought he was great; the cocky, self centered but sensitive best friend of Marcus. But in this book, I thought he was a jerk and extremely manipulative. I didn't understand why he kept offering Lauren a job after she was fired and they had confessed their feelings to each other. He is essentially saying, I will pay and employ you to be with me, and it didn't sit right with me. I also understand the flirty banter of negging (not my favorite technique, but I understand the trope), but he was downright mean to Lauren and I was waiting the entire book for her to stand up for herself. Also, there was too much mentioning of how short she was. I think Dade was trying to avoid discussing how large she was, so she mentioned another physical attribute, but it was overkill.

Overall, I found the writing of this novel was excellent, but the storyline and characters just fell flat. I would still recommend this book to other readers and I will continue to read books by Dade for sure. I am a huge fan of the representation in her books, and it's something I will continue to support even though this one may not have been for me. I want to thank Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy.

The follow-up to Dade's Spoiler Alert, All the Feels focuses on two of the prominent side characters of book 1: Alex, a charismatic actor in the Game of Thrones-esque show that the series centers around, and Lauren, a therapist who unexpectedly finds herself assigned to Alex as his minder after he's involved in a scandal and the showrunner wants to keep him out of further trouble. Despite very different personalities--Alex is chatty, silly, and impulsive, whereas Lauren is pragmatic and measured--the two build a strong friendship and eventual romance while helping each other work through various emotional issues.

What I liked: I love the grumpy/sunshine dynamic in romance, as well as forced proximity, so the tropes in this one were definitely right up my alley. Like Spoiler Alert, both protagonists are in their 30s and established in their respective career paths, which I also appreciate as a 30-something myself, and I do continue to like the emphasis on emotional growth present in Dade's romances. I found Alex in particular a fun and dynamic character, while Lauren was a great balance to his energy. This series also has a fantastic level of nerdiness to it that's definitely not lacking in this installment.

What didn't work for me: I had one significant issue with this book, and that's how Lauren's physical appearance was continually and negatively focused on. I'm all for romance heroes and heroines who don't look like the stereotypical supermodel--I think that's great, and I prefer it that way. But I really disliked how the author described her (over and over and over again) as looking like a bird. (Like, think of how Dee in It's Always Sunny is referred to as a bird, but dial that up to 1000.) It seemed very unnecessary and a strange thing for the text to fixate on, and because it was so incessant, it was something that continually bothered me throughout the book (particularly as Lauren states it's a descriptor that does bother her). I don't think this is a big enough issue to avoid the book altogether, but it's worth mentioning.

All through Spoiler Alert I was very intrigued by Alex and Lauren. I truly could not wait to get my hands on their story.

What happens when one of TV’s most popular shows star ends up involved in a bar fight, finding himself at jail? The show runners hired someone to control and babysit him 24/7 as not to harm his character and public image. Alexander Woodroe is Cupid in the super popular TV show Gods of the Gates. Known for his charm and witty there is so much more to Alex.
Alex’s babysitter is a showrunner’s cousin Lauren Clegg, an ER therapist who needs a current break from her job, but she cannot say no to her family and her holiday plans in Spain are canceled when she makes mistake to stop by at show set to say hi to her cousin she truly hates. Now she’s been hired to accompany Alex everywhere until the show airs its last episode. If Alex doesn’t do what Lauren says, they will replace her with more vicious babysitter, and he will suffer from the legal and professional consequences outlined in his contract.

Lauren is trapped in her job. She has a terrible time with boundaries. She needs the money the show is offering so that she can figure out what she truly wants to do. The feelings the Lauren has is so many of us. You instantly connect with the feelings of just doing a job to get by. That it is hard to fill that quest to what makes you happy when you are just making do.
Alex is trapped with her because he has commitments, sending regularly exact amount of fund to charities and his mom and he doesn’t want to ruin his entire career he’s built! In the beginning Alex’s behavior is childish. He is live an irreverent child who needs put in time out. He makes it very hard to like him in the beginning. His talking nonstop, making jokes, doing everything to crack the facade she’s built around to make a connection. I really liked Alex from the first book but when I learn of his traumatic past , his guilt feelings, his sweet and vulnerable sides, his illness, I just wanted to hug him. He is a character that will stay with you forever.

Lauren is not impressed with Alex’s childish behaviors. But as soon as she learns more about him and truly connects with Alex, she finds out he’s kindhearted, being loved by his entire crew and generous man who helps the people suffer from traumatic experiences.

A true and genuine friendship blossoms around them which eventually turns into an intimate relationship. Their connection is so special, and I really love the two of them together. They have feelings for each other, but the people can be so mean, hostile, and criticizing with their biased thoughts when they talk about a Hollywood star’s love life.

What really speaks so well in this story is the way Alex and Lauren are so different. Alex can be so impulsive, acts violently without pondering and his volatile manners can ruin his entire career when he sees someone, he cares hurts! Lauren on the other hand never stands for herself, letting people hurt her not to get involved in fights!

I just really loved this book. It does have a similar storyline feel to Spoiler Alert, but I think it is so much better! The author does such and amazing job of juggling so many different characters and who they are that the story never feels congested or over done or forced. There is a natural progression in this story that makes it so relatable. Alex, our hero, has ADHD and seemingly violent tendencies (which we learn is simply not true) and is struggling with his role in Hollywood and his past but is an outwardly happy for lucky dude. Lauren, our heroine, is a more serious and realistic woman who has to learn how to put her needs over others and gets assigned to essentially babysit Alex.

I loved how many tropes are in this book, grump and sunshine is one of my favorites and this book has that but reversed from the traditional roles; he is the sunshine, and she is the grump in this case. There is a self-awareness in this book, the characters know who they are and what they are, they are both learning to embrace it. There’s an “only one bed” scene and Alex is fully aware and does a happy dance because that’s one of his favorite tropes in fanfic. I was dying laughing the entire time. So, while this seems like a fun and fluffy romcom, there are some heavier undertones to help explain why Alec and Lauren are the way they are. It was adorable and fun and a book I’d recommend. This is by far the best of Olivia Dade’s books.

The romance between Alex and Wren is funny, quirky and an interesting ride. Their love is not a superficial kind. It is based on weirdness and inappropriate banter and wit. Their sparing is interesting to watch and their path to each other is refreshing. This love story will keep you entertained and funny, but also offer a great deal of depth

For anyone who is a fan of "Spoiler Alert" or spicy romance novels in general, you are sure to enjoy this novel. Written as a follow-up to Marcus and April's story, now it's Alex's turn. Alex, Marcus' friend from "God of the Gates" and also enjoys writing fanfiction, knows his star is failing after his arrest and public altercation becomes tabloid fodder. While he's needed to finish filming the show, the showrunners hire a minder to watch out for him. So, they enlist one of their cousins: Lauren. Lauren herself is a former ER therapist between jobs, trying to figure out her next step. And she does need the cash, so she agrees to help out her cousin and watch over this incredibly good-looking superstar. But, the more she gets to know him and spend time with him, the more she realizes there's more to him than meets the eye.

So, after devouring "Spoiler Alert," I was instantly excited about this one and, boy, did it deliver! Told in dual perspectives, the language just drew me in and captivated me until the very last page of the epilogue. Yes, there is some ~spice~ here, and hot it does get, so, ahem, fair warning. Plus, that ending was beyond adorable yet still felt completely justified.

I just finished reading my NetGalley ARC of ALL THE FEELS and I LOVED IT. I couldn't get out of bed this morning because I was so into it and wouldn't stop reading even though I was starving and had to use the bathroom (don't worry, I eventually did take a food break). I was very drawn to the grumpy/sunshine Taming of the Shrew vibes, especially because I think the hero is both grumpy and sunshine but not as grumpy as the heroine.

Anyway, I looooooooooved Alex and how funny and maddening and pure-hearted he is, how dry Lauren's sense of humor is, and how caring and fair she is too. I am a sucker for over-protective heroes, so I would basically do anything for Alex after we discover he wants to hulk smash anyone who hurts Lauren or sees her as anything other than a splendiferous queen, and how immediately he recognized that Ron, her cousin and showrunner/ruiner of the GoT-type show, IS A GIANT ASS TO HER AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN - F* YOU, RON. I also loved how absolutely hard Alex fell for Lauren, how into *her* he was, and how the author wrote cues for his attraction to her and the depth of his feelings that went beyond like, damn she looks good in a tank top or whatever. But of course, I also loved when he accidentally stared at her ass and would catalog information like "now I know what her lower thighs look like." It was so nice to read a genuine appreciation for a plus-sized woman from a man who is equally horny for her body as he is for her personality, like omfg he reallyyyyyyy CARES and NOTICES everything, Unffffffff. If you also have a round belly, thin legs, small breasts, and a crooked nose, hello movie star Alex Woodroe is YOUR BIGGEST FAN, especially if your name is Lauren Clegg. A+++ for the spicy scenes, orgasms with outdoor views, wonderful!!!

I also loved Alex's relationship with his mom (I also was crying over cinnamon toast), and Carah and all his friends in the cast, gaaahhh, so cute. I also loved the last interview scene with Vika and Lauren's ownership over people questioning the staying power of (or even their right to have) their relationship.

And of course, I DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN AND THEN CAME BACK TO FINISH READING the long list of filthy fanfic tropes that Alex wants to do to/with Lauren. Amen, let's start a church with that as the liturgy. AMAZING.

If Olivia Dade ever makes BHE (big harpy energy) t-shirts, I would like to buy 50 million of them, please.

This book was provided to me via Kindle by Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.


Lauren and Alex are charming, lively, fun and relatable. If Spoiler Alert was a fantastic introduction to the characters, All the Feels is an excellent follow up.

I was very interested in the one after getting glimpses of Alex and Lauren in the previous story but ultimately I found myself not connecting to either character as much as I thought I might. I ​found the between bits (fanfic, chats, etc) more interesting to read in this one and liked that there was less focus on the Gates show.

I found Alex exhausting and Lauren quite boring but did feel they were a match, just not one that held my interest. These are just the people that they are, Alex is kind and impulsive, diving head first and giving his all without thinking anything through which can be endearing (for Lauren it is!) or it could be just too much (for me). Part of my dislike for Lauren is probably my own bias because she's fine and I'm all for people being loved for who they are but she just didn't seem to have much going on for herself. Figuring out her career future and having one friend outside of Alex? I don't feel like I learned very much about her as a person outside of her relationship with Alex, the 1 friend she has who she talks to about Alex, and her negative relationship with her cousin. She didn't seem fully formed where I felt I learned quite a bit about Alex both from this story and the previous.

Steam level - Less than the previous but open door, descriptive. (No pegging described - only mentioning because he mentions at least being curious about it in the previous story).

I won the lottery when I was given an ARC of All the Feels by Olivia Dade.

This book gave me life: heroine with Big Harpy Energy, A+ fat rep, only 1 bed, sexy actor hero who cries freely, setting healthy boundaries, supportive friendships, fanfic, & walks in the starlight. 😍

You'll want to gobble this up in one sitting, it's that good.

I really liked the first book but I somehow ended up liking the second book even more. While we were aware of the main couple from their occasional moments in the first book, it was delicious and delightful to gain new insights and depths through them getting the center stage this time around. Lots of delightful details, emotional growth, and adorkable chemistry.

CW- fatphobia, body shaming, domestic abuse, bullying, sexual content
-
All the Feels is a companion book to Spoiler Alert, although it can be read as a stand-alone. It follows Alex, a TV star that is very dissatisfied with his show’s final season, and Lauren, the woman assigned to keep him out of trouble.
-
This was adorable! I recently read Spoiler Alert, and I definitely prefer this book. It took everything good with Spoiler Alert and added tension and a slow burn relationship, and it was just wonderful.
-
I loved Alex and Lauren’s dynamic, and was laughing out loud half of the time. The way these two characters interacted felt very real and nuanced, and I just loved that.
-
I also loved how heavier topics, such as fatphobia and domestic abuse, were incorporated into the story, and how this book had the unique ability to be both a rom-com and something more than that.
-
I really enjoyed it, but I just wanted a bit more in some aspects, which lowers my rating down to 4.25 stars. I highly recommend this though if you are looking for a romance book to read!
-
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

After Alex gets into a bar fight, his showrunners hire Lauren to be his minder and to make sure he doesn't get into anymore trouble until the final season of the hit show Gods of the Gates airs. But both Lauren and Alex discover the other person isn't who they assumed as they get closer together over the course of their working relationship.

It's a wonderful romance, and I love how parts of it are happening at the same time as the events in Spoiler Alert.

I loved 40-love by Olivia Dade and was so excited to jump into this book! I was feeling like this book maybe wasn't for me, but I kept reading to see if I just needed to give it more time. In the end I did not finish this book. I would read more from this author, but this one just wasn't for me!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy

All the feels, indeed. After getting a glimpse of Alex and Lauren in Spoiler Alert I was anxiously waiting their story in All the Feels by Olivia Dade. I was not prepared for how much I absolutely fell in love with them.

After leaving her physically and mentally exhausting job as an ER therapist, Lauren decides to take a vacation to think about her next career move. What she doesn’t expect is to be saddled as a minder for Alexander Woodroe, one of the actors in her cousin’s hit TV show.

After a scandal that puts Alex’s career in jeopardy and costs Lauren her job, Alex tries to keep Lauren in his life by asking her to go on a road trip with him to hopefully win Lauren’s heart.

Lauren is amazing. I love her character development over the course of the book. She grows into herself more and it was so wonderful to finally see her worth. She embodies BHE.

Alex is loyal as they come even if it’s at his own detriment. All he wants to do is the right thing, to fix things when they go wrong. To help others. Between that, his almost nonstop chatter, and love of tropes, how could you not love Alex? And yes, I did keep a running tab of Alex Woodroe’s favorite tropes.

All the Feels is aptly named because I went through ALL the emotions. I highly recommend reading this book.

I was so incredibly impatient to read the sequel to Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert (review) that I requested an ARC from NetGalley so I wouldn't have to wait to read All the Feels. *I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. All opinions expressed in the following post are my own honest feelings. All of them, in fact.* 

Alex Woodroe is a bona fide TV star who just finished a run on the most successful TV show in the world, Gods of the Gates. He played Cupid, and by all accounts, his character was done dirty by the show runners. (You know, like the time Game of Thrones crashed and burned with a spectacularly bad final season? Olivia Dade is holding the same grudge the rest of us are.) But Alex has never been good at keeping his mouth shut. Or staying out of trouble. He's such a handful, in fact, that his douchey show runner has decided to give Alex a "minder" of sorts to keep him out of trouble before the final season airs. 

Lauren Clegg is a burned out ER Therapist. She's finally taking a much needed vacation when her douchey cousin ropes her into a job keeping tabs on a TV star. (I cannot possibly over emphasize the douchiness of this guy.) Lauren is short, generously proportioned, and not at all the type of person one would expect a conventionally attractive Hollywood actor to fall for, so she seems the perfect "punishment" for Alex's misdeeds. She's charged with following Alex everywhere and making sure he doesn't get into any bar fights. Or publicly bad mouth Gods of the Gates. Or, you know, generally stir up scandal. Nothing better than a no-nonsense ER Therapist to keep folks in line, I guess. AND YET. There may just be a spark between Lauren and Alex. Must be all that Big Harpy Energy.

This book is so cute! The banter is absolutely delightful. Alex has ADHD and I think Dade does a spectacular job of giving a nuanced, sympathetic view of his neurodivergence and complex backstory. And Lauren is whip smart and funny. She does tend to get a little heavy into the self deprecation, but that's a critical point of her character arc. Plus, I've mentioned the giant douchey cousin, right? It's not like the world has been especially kind to Lauren. Is it hard for me to believe that a ridiculously handsome and sought after actor would fall for a cute but unconventionally beautiful woman? Kind of. But that's a ME issue. That is MY baggage to unpack. And, frankly, I WANT to believe in this possibility. Lauren and Alex have it all figured out and it's absolute perfection. 

This book is every bit as swoony and fun as Spoiler Alert, if not more so. Go out and get yourself a copy of All the Feels. You will not be disappointed!

I’m a not sure how I feel about this book. I want to really like but on the other hand it was a little on the boring side for me. Alex was sweet, at times, but he was a little too much for me. It was all or nothing for him. He didn’t understand that it’s not always like that in the real world.
As for Wren (Alex name for her) she was closed off and little to hard on herself and Alex. She always but what others needed and wanted before herself. People just thought she would always be there no matter what. She did grow some but I wish it was more.
These together were good and solid. They helped each other be better. They are good for each other I have to admit. I just wanted more.
I give this 3.5 stars.

As a big fan of Olivia Dade's fanfic-themed romance Spoiler Alert, I'm happy to say All the Feels is a more than successful sequel! It's just such a delight from start to finish, and though I don't know if I could stand working with Alex Woodroe, I sure did love reading him in all his messy, ridiculous, affectionate glory. Lauren makes a great counterpoint to him, and though I thought the third act break-up wasn't as strong as it could have been, all in all I had a smile on my face for basically the entire time I was reading this book. All the feels indeed, and what more can one ask for from a romance novel?

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advance review copy!