Oliva Dade continues delivering sexy, geeky fun in the follow up to her bestselling hit Spoiler Alert. Feels features another actor from the fictitious Gods of the Gates TV series, another unapologetically fat female lead, as well as a heaping dose of fandom goodness, but still manages to be a charmingly unique story. When the showrunners decide impulsive actor Alex Woodroe needs a minder after he gets into a bar fight, ER therapist Lauren Clegg finds herself on the job. Dade’s characters are immensely likeable and funny, providing many laugh-out-loud moments. She doesn’t skimp on the steamy scenes; this book is definitely not for those who prefer to avoid explicit content and a treat for those who enjoy it!

I felt like the romance was moving too fast. The hero immediately felt protective and drawn to the heroine when I felt like it needed some pacing. And something about the writing style felt a little too formal to me, where I had the thought “people don’t really talk like this.”

Another Garden of the Gods book!! This is a story of an actor with a bad reputation (of course there’s more to this than meets the eye) and his minder who is coming out of a complex situation. There is much more than meets the eye here! TW for mentions of domestic abuse and fat shaming. Overall this is a very satisfying story with an excellent ending. I also loved the mentions of the other story happening at the same time, which I also enjoy. I hope there are more books in the series!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars | CW: fat phobia, past mentions of abuse

I did not know how much I needed a book about a man who writes fan fiction. Could this be my new standard?

Once again, grumpy and sunshine coming together to make an absolutely adorable book. When Alex Woodroe, a successful actor, is embroiled in a bar fight, he’s tasked with a minder, Lauren Clegg. Lauren is as no-nonsense as Alex is golden retriever, and their dynamic is amazing from the start.

There are so many things to love about this book. The dialogue is incredible. I’m in awe of writers who can write funny as fuck dialogue without it coming off as pandering or cringey. The fan fiction elements are literally SO GOOD. Like what’s better than having a one-bed trope? A character who LOVES one bed tropes.

I also adore that Alex figured out his feelings first and wanted to go out of his way to make Lauren comfortable with her own burgeoning feelings for him. Say it with me now, communication!! These two were always talking about situations where they’ve possibly overstepped or unknowingly hurt each other, and it was so healthy. Alex’s ADHD and Lauren’s expectations that she shouldn’t be put first caused some hang-ups that they always worked through, and we love to see it.

This is definitely a slow-burn, but I think the lead up is worth it. It also lets the characters really figure out what THEY need individually, and I think Dade handles that really well.

I haven’t read Spoiler Alert, but I definitely will because of this! Loved it!

I was really rooting for Alex and wren before I picked this book up but Alex was one of those unlikable characters that I can’t seem to get behind. Maybe just try therapy? Book one was really well done and I had high hopes that fell short, unfortunately

Alexander Woodroe plays Cupid on God of the Gates, a hit tv show nearly done with its final season. Alex is handsome and honest with his emotions (also he has no off switch). But after an incident in a bar, the showrunners hire Lauren Clegg, a former ER therapist, to babysit him until the final season is out for public view. Lauren is taking a vacation away from the ER when her cousin asks her to babysit an actor who keeps letting his emotions run his life. Lauren is short, round and has a face like a bird. She has been told her whole life that other people matter more than she does so she has stopped taking offence to peoples comments about her. But these two very different people now have to live together.

a big thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first book in the series before picking this up and I have to say I liked book one better. It was nice to see the characters of Alex and Lauren (that were side characters in the first book) have their own story, but Alex is a lot to take in and I never really felt like I got to know Lauren. I think it was a great concept of two polar opposites getting together, but seriously I was wanting more from Lauren and less of Alex and his ever increasing need to be constantly in charge and moving. Everything has to be his way. And why would showrunners hire an ER therapist to watch an actor who is out of control? Something just wasn't right there. I was glad that the Pegging talk was kept to a minimum in this book (especially with how much Alex mentioned it in book one as a side character).Overall I liked the story, but its not something I would read again or recommend to others.

Alex is allegedly a reckless and impulsive star, Lauren is burned out by her high-stress career and an obscene amount of money from her terrible cousin to babysit him for a few months doesn’t seem so bad, so she takes the gig.

On the surface, Alex is also a god, or at least he plays one on TV, a “delightful asshole” according to his friends. At first glance, Lauren isn’t conventionally attractive, she’s cool and emotionally impassive, soft and round with bird-like features.

But, underneath, Alex has a giant, open heart and he thinks Lauren has the most beautiful eyes he’s ever seen. And, slowly, he starts breaking down the walls she’s built to protect herself from the emotionally brutal job she does, and from the insults she’s weathered from the outside world.

The more Lauren learns about Alex, the more she knows what a supremely good man he is, fierce and loyal and kind and smart, and yes impulsive, but his seemingly reckless behavior comes with very good reason.

Soon, the pair are quietly pining for each other, each convinced they aren’t what the other wants or needs. But, on a road trip (say it with me) THERE’S ONLY ONE BED, and their true feelings come to the surface. Can they sort out their obvious differences and less obvious issues in time to take a real shot at a life together? I mean, you know how this goes, but you’re going to have a good, *spicy* time getting there!

I am undone. I really loved this book, the relationship between Alex & Lauren, and the way their own struggles with issues of guilt and self-worth were handled. And yes, there is plenty of heat (and implied pegging) when Alex & Lauren finally get together. Ending this review on a big, ol’ contented sigh, Olivia Dade just works for me, I guess.

I read and loved Spoiler Alert so I was beyond excited to get my hands on Alex and Lauren’s story in All The Feels!!! I love Alex and Lauren and their relationship. And I just love Olivia Dade!! I love how her stories feel so familiar yet so different, I love how she really takes her time having two people fall in love. It really just prolongs a beautiful and fun journey! I also love love love the heroine. It is so freaking amazing to be able see body positivity in romance books. Time to break the mold and Olivia Dade is doing that!!! I can not wait to read more!!!

I loved her last book and this one didn’t disappoint! This was so cute! I can’t wait to share with all my book loving friends how cute this was. Definitely be picking up a copy

I did not enjoy this book unfortunately- I loved spoiler alert but ended up not finishing this one. In theory both characters seemed like people I'd love reading about but in the end they fell flat and it did not feel like they were connecting.

I love this author and this book did not disappoint! The characters were lovely and unique, and the plot had just the right balance of trope-iness with things I haven't seen in romance before. A bit of a slow burn but worth it!

SO FUN! Olivia Dade is such a humorous, sharp writer and her voice is almost unmatched. I’ll now have to go and read everything she’s written.
Lauren and Alex have phenomenal chemistry, they are grumpy/sunshine supremacy. I especially love that Lauren is the quiet, stoic one and Alex is the goofy charmer (oh my god I love Alex, my sweet, ADHD chaos gremlin).
Dade masterfully weaves fun rom-com antics in with some heavier themes, and always manages to balance the both of them. This is fun, sunshine-y goodness with some real heart tugging moments.
If you love characters who support each other through trauma, have wickedly smart banter, and some real fun seggsy times, All The Feels is for you! Bonus points of you love a fat, unconventionally attractive MC whose whole identity isn’t hating that they are fat and not conventionally attractive!
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

This is the first book I've read by Olivia Dade and it is pretty perfect beach read. A little more explicit than what I usually read but there's humor, romance, misunderstanding, fat acceptance, ADHD, and more. The characters are well defined and the switching viewpoints, that can get confusing, was well done. I would gladly read another book about these two characters. The humor between the two is a pleasure to read.

After reading Spoiler Alert, I was so excited to read Alex and Lauren's story and it did not disappoint! I loved Alex and Lauren's relationship and I also appreciate the fanfiction aspect of these books. As someone who read a lot of fanfic growing up, it's nice to see it featured in these stories where it's appreciated and not mocked. I liked that the 2 characters slowly got to know each other and fall in love. It's also so wonderful to see a fat heroine and have the character written with care and respect. This book was so sweet and I hope there are more books in this series!

I will read any book that Olivia Dade comes out with! I love her writing style and characterization and this novel is no different.

ALL THE FEELS by Olivia Dade. This was a fun read - I enjoyed both characters and liked how they were soooo different. It was fun watching Lauren bloom and Alexander discover more about himself too. Ms. Dade wrote in a style I enjoyed and created characters that warmed my heart. This is a first by this author for me but it will most certainly, not be the last. (received NetGalley ARC for honest review)

Fans of Spoiler Alert should enjoy this sequel, which like its predecessor includes neurodiversity and fat positivity. Personally I preferred the couple in the first book, which is just one of those things about romances - you have to like the people to like the book! - although I enjoyed this one very much.

I will say that while Alex never makes disparaging comments about Lauren's weight or features, he does constantly take "just kidding" jabs at her height, which is ALSO PART OF HER APPEARANCE. That felt a little off - clearly Dade knows you can argue with somebody without talking about how they look, and insulting a woman's height tends to be much less mean than insulting her nose or her weight, but it's still body talk and it felt out of place for a book this sensitive and smart. The book is otherwise so perfect with regards to consent, apologies, emotional wellness, etc.

I do have to ask - where on god's green earth was the pegging?! Come on. We were robbed.

spoiler alert was my favorite book of 2020, so of course all the feels was my most anticipated read of the year. at this point, everything i have read by olivia dade has been delightful and this book was not different. i loved alex and lauren’s love story.

as you can know from the blurb, lauren is hired to keep an eye on alex so he doesn’t get into trouble until the last season of gods of the gates airs. alex is very impulsive, but this is what makes him such a lovely, great character. he’s my favorite character in the book because of how big and pure his heart is. also, once i learnt about his backstory, i couldn’t help but love him even more because i could relate to him (content warning will be mentioned by the end of the review). alex has adhd and his portrayal is amazing, especially so the people who don’t know how it really feels to have it can understand it a bit better. i love all of olivia’s heroes, but i think alex has become my new favorite. as for lauren, i adored her as well. her selflessness, all the sacrifices she’s made for everyone, even for strangers… i loved that part of her, but i was also rooting for her to choose herself, to protect herself as fiercely as she protected everyone else. her character has a beautiful development, and i loved every part of it.

my favorite part of this book, as it is in literally every book by olivia, was the dialogue. in my opinion, the characters carry the biggest part of her books, and the smart, funny but serious dialogues make her books addictive. she always manages to include some heavy topics in her books, but reading it does not feel heavy at all. it feels like learning, like she’s teaching you someone’s story simply to help you understand feelings and emotions. for this, i will read every book by her. i love the way she reaches to my heart.

i can’t give this book five stars because there was something i didn’t particularly enjoy, but overall, this story was everything i was hoping for alex and lauren.

out october 26th :)

content warning: domestic violence

I was surprised I liked this book more than the first one! It was sweet and funny and sexy and very empowering. I loved it.

First, I want to thank Olivia Dade, Avon Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC of All the Feels, Spoiler Alert number 2.

All the Feels takes us back to the end of filming the fictional television show, God of the Gates. This time, we're with Alex, the short tempered actor playing the character Cupid. He's just shown up on the set of the show with a black eye after being arrested during a bar room fight. It's the last straw for the producer, Ron, who has now roped his cousin, Lauren, into being Alex's minder from this point until the series finale final episode airs. Lauren is a psychologist who is taking some time away from working in emergency medicine after becoming burnt out. She and Alex have very little in common and no attraction to each other. Once they get back to California from the Spanish set, Lauren moves and both Lauren and Alex start peeling the layers back off of each other. Alex has started to write fanfiction, like Marcus, but his also shows his disgust with how his character has developed. Alex and Lauren start seeing each other in different light and Alex starts to become very protective of her. One bad run in with a fan and a horrible email from Ron and Alex impulsively acts. Will he be able to find his way back? Will Lauren be able to realize that she is important?

All the Feels, definitely gave me "all the feels." One part I really appreciate Dade doing through these books is shining a light onto different learning differences and helping to show representation through that. Alex had ADHD and it's awesome to see that being presented in a positive manner and that Alex actively tries to help himself. Another way that Dade has representation in her novels is that her female characters are never the "Hollywood" type. They are every day women who are not super skinny and get the hunky actor. It's another great way to show representation. All the Feels was just a fun story, with a little meat to it, that was a great follow up to Spoiler Alert. Thank you again to Netgalley, Olivia Dade, and Avon publishing for the chance to read this one early.