this is a completely captivating, absolute joy of a book! I love Jo’s entire character: she’s so authentic, relatable, adorable, & strong. her dedication to her mental & physical health is inspiring & special to read. I love the way she connects with everyone, especially Silas, who she so openly connects with.

And Silas just couldn’t help himself but fall helplessly, hopelessly in love with Jo (I get it, me too) and I loved how he found such safe & special ways to connect with her for his article which leads to deep romantic connection. I wish Silas had been honest abt his original intentions with the article, but I understood his perspective (his pov here was amazing, very helpful), & I appreciated the way the story acknowledges the faults in this conflict and the way it ultimately resolves itself in a very realistic & beautiful way.

thank you so much for the ALC 🥹💛

ana holguin mi reina cómo me encanta este libroooo!!!!

FIRST and foremost i want to highlight the mental health representation in this book. ana deserves all the flowers on this end because this book offers such a raw and insightful perspective on anxiety and depression. i myself have generalized anxiety disorder and while it isn’t to the extent that jo has it, there were many scenes where i felt so seen and understood. anxiety is such a difficult disorder to endure and even harder to explain. people who don’t have it often cannot fully understand, so to see myself jn this way in a character is really special for me. and as much as jo’s battle is highlighted, so is silas’ with depression. it’s something he’s worked hard to manage for the entirety of his adulthood. both jo and silas are in therapy and i love to see it painted in such a positive light. therapy is one of the best things that ever happened to me and i am so happy we are continuing to open up this conversation and eliminate the stigma.

second, i want to talk about how much i adore these characters. jo is a BADASS spin instructor who has worked so hard to be where she is today. she conquers her fears every day to inspire thousands of people and i admire her so much. i loved her relationship with serena and amber and had so much fun with her from the start. silas is my emotional king who is misunderstood. from the beginning, even when he comes off as a little bit cold and cynical, i knew i would love him. that man was head over heels for my girl jo from day one. she flipped his perspective with just one class and had him not only turning his article into a positive piece, she had him wanting to be around her. he is extremely compassionate — he cared so much for jo, not just at a surface level but for her career, her health, and her general well being.

i truly enjoyed everything about this book. this is an outstanding debut for ana holguin and i cannot wait to read more from her in the future. thank you forever for the advanced copy!!!

4.5 stars!

I’m not going to lie, I was really concerned about liking this book based off of Silas’s personality in the first 15% of the book…like he was the worst imo😂

I am so happy to say that he did grow on me, and I completely fell in love with this story! The mental health rep for both depression (Silas) and anxiety (Jo) were talked about in ways that you could really understand the headspace the characters were in. It was so tender, and spoken about in such a gentle way. Someone who struggles with anxiety I felt completely seen!

Also, the slow burn and longing were just👌🏼 SO GOOD!!

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy and exchange for my honest opinion!

What a delightful debut! Thanks @emily for the rec!

Short Synopsis:
Jo De La Cruz is one of the country’s leading spin instructors. She’s a well-known figure in the fitness world and her hair has its own Instagram account. But she’s not sure if she wants to continue being a spin instructor and her anxiety has her questioning everything. She’s kept interviews lockdown, but decides to give one to Silas - who she shockingly has a lot in common with.

My Thoughts:
This was such a cute novel. And honestly makes me want to go to a spin class pronto.

Jo and Silas were just adorable. I loved how Silas was so down bad for her. And just the sweetest when Jo’s anxiety got the best of her. The slow burn in this worked so, so well. They had amazing banter, tension and build up. I adore how Silas goes from “why is there a waitlist to a spin class” to “I’m Jo’s number one fan” so quickly. Let’s protect both of them at all costs mmmmkay?

What You’ll Find:
Celebrity Fitness Trainer
Writer MMC
Forced Proximity
Anxiety Rep
Slow burn
Tattoos 👀
Dual POV

I thought this book had an interesting story line! As someone who works at a spin studio, it was exciting to see a book based on this life! I didn’t feel connected to either of the characters and felt their connection was lacking something I usually get excited overall.

3.5 ⭐️ round to 4!!

Silas & Jo. Strangers to enemies to lovers… slow burn…❣️

Jo is a workout influencer (basics ok) & Silas is a writer for a larger magazine… he gets the chance to write about Jo and her life behind the bike (she teaches spin classes) and meets her through his close friend Derek - who also happens to be engaged to one of Jos best friends Amber. Silas interviews Jo throughout a series of weeks and eventually puts together a story about her outside life.

While i loved the concept, I feel that I wasn’t always convinced of Jo & Silas’s chemistry. There were some parts i really loved and others that fell short. Overall, it was a cute, fast paced romance. There is a third act rift which i definitely saw coming. I did love that both Jo & Silas came from different backgrounds & cultures but found a lot of common ground.

NOW, i REALLY loved the mental health aspect of this book. Jo has anxiety and Silas has depression both of which is talked about heavily in this book. Ana does great at writing about the way Jo feels and how the anxiety is crippling, etc. and i really appreciated that, especially as someone who experiences anxiety! I enjoyed that Jo’s friends are incredible people and really are there for her in her times of need. The found family aspect is really great & made me happy. Amber & Serena are truly amazing friends and give Jo some hard truths in a loving way which is what she really needed.

Overall, this book was fun & a different concept then others I have read!!

Thank you NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for the early read 🥹🫶🏻

A delicious slow burn; I had a great time with this one. Silas can’t understand the hype behind a famous spin instructor, and, as a journalist, he is asked to check Jo out for himself and she if she lives up to the hype (spoiler alert: she does and he falls in love with her). Jo is ready to tell her story on her own terms after shying away from the spotlight for a number of years, and Silas is just the person for the job. What held this back from being a 5 star for me was the third act conflict, which I could see coming from a mile away (or, like, chapter 2 or 3). Still had a good time though.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank You so much for a copy of this e-arc!

Up Close & Personal is a fresh, heartfelt romance that delivers all the swoon-worthy moments and emotional depth one could hope for. At its core, this novel is a beautifully crafted love story about self-discovery, vulnerability, and the unexpected ways love finds us.

The chemistry between the protagonists is undeniable, drawing readers into a slow-burn romance that feels authentic and deeply satisfying. Holguín excels at writing characters with rich inner lives, making their struggles and triumphs resonate on a personal level. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and full of warmth, effortlessly balancing humor with moments of tenderness.

Beyond the romance, Up Close & Personal explores themes of identity, family, and personal growth. The story is infused with cultural depth and nuance, adding another layer of authenticity that makes the characters and their experiences even more compelling.

Overall, Up Close & Personal is a standout romance that will leave readers smiling, swooning, and maybe even shedding a few tears. Ana Holguín proves herself to be a voice to watch in contemporary romance, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

This is a powerful, fun, entertaining read. Silas and Jo are interesting, wounded, strong, complex, relatable, intriguing, entertaining, complicated characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. The secondary characters added to fabric of the story and my enjoyment. Holguin handles the themes of anxiety and depression with depth and compassion. It adds a dimension to the plot and the main characters. The story is overall easy to read and get into, with powerful moments.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

🦇 Up Close & Personal Book Review 🦇

❓ What's your favorite form of exercise?

🦇 As one of spin’s hottest instructors, Jo De La Cruz's workouts stream into thousands of living rooms. Her waiting list is harder to access than Area 51, and even her hair has its own social media page. But Jo’s struggling from a decade in the spotlight—which is when she meets the annoyingly handsome journalist who claims her job is just yelling at people from a bike. Converting a hater is a challenge Jo can’t resist. Silas throws himself into her classes, he’s genuinely interested in Jo’s hobbies, and he knows what it’s like to struggle with mental health. Jo might even be catching feelings. But as buzz for the article skyrockets, Jo discovers that the man she’s been falling for may, in fact, be the one scamming her. Will trusting him break her heart—or lead to a love worth riding for?

💜 This story took me by surprise in all the best ways. Let's break it down.

✨ Characters (4/5): The characterization was strong, the development natural, the dialogue fun and playful yet heartfelt. I would have appreciated a little more "get to know you" dialogue from our main characters before they fell in love with one another, since so much of their discovery is rooted in the article Silas is writing, but the slow burn build really works. The mental health rep, though--Jo working through her anxiety using different methods (journaling, having new experiences, cathartic workouts)--was absolutely perfect. It's real, raw, and yes, strong enough that it brought me to tears upon reading Silas' final draft.

✨ Plot and Pacing (3/5): There are a few moments when the pacing drags, namely at the beginning.

✨ World-Building (4/5): So many writers make the mistake of assuming readers know New York that they don't bother with setting descriptions, and thankfully, this book is an exception. The few places we visit outside of Haven feel real enough that you're stepping through the doors, through which I'm grateful.

✨ Romance (4/5): It's been a while since I've read a slow burn that worked quite as well as this one--without forcing readers to work all the way to the end for a tiny payout. Seeing Silas fall hard and fast first, as he's working passed Jo's armor and getting to know her as his subject, was absolutely beautiful. Jo's willingness to let those shields down didn't feel rushed or forced, and you root for this couple every step of the way.

✨ Mystery/Suspense (3/5): The source of conflict is obvious from the start, even though I don't think it's a big deal that Silas found a way to meet Jo in-person without going through media channels. As a former journalist, I see the messy ethics there, but it just felt like an excuse to put conflict between him and Jo. The fact that Silas repeatedly returns to his problematic first draft was another obvious red flag -- you know exactly what the third act fight is going to look like long before you finish act one.

✨ Tone/Prose (3/5): The prose left a little to be desired for me, but every moment shared between Jo and Silas shines.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Mazey Eddings.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🚲 Dual POV
🚲 (Slight) Celebrity Romance
🚲 Mental Health Rep / Anxiety
🚲 Fitness Instructor / Journalist
🚲 Slow Burn
🚲 BIPOC Rep
🚲 Miscommunication

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #UpCloseandPersonal

💬 Quotes
"Your fellow monster fighter."
"I want more of her laugh, her touch, her full attention as she tells me a story. Just for me."
"I want to be the woman beyond the bike."
"Leave it to us literary types to use words as both armor and a weapon for our own self-destruction."
"But what happens when the monsters aren’t invisible anymore?"

My friend told me to read this book. So I went in completely blind. Sometimes blind trust is the absolute best way to read a romance. I was SO excited to find out that it's a Peloton romance. We have all shipped those instructors and made them our friends and have our faves so to put that on to the page was just a great time.

This romance is between a fitness instructor and a skeptical magazine journalist. He is certain that her fame is a sham and that there is no substance to these semi celebrities. Through his meeting and interviewing of her, they are both surprised by hidden depth and heart. It was just a fun ride. I enjoyed it so much. I did see the conflict coming and caring about these characters made that foresight much more stressful. But it was all worth it for the HEA.

How cute was this?! I loved every minute of this bubble gum book - it was so sweet and fun, I had a delightful time reading it and hope that anyone else who reads it does the same.

3.5⭐

First things first, I had such a great time with this story. This was a really solid debut. I loved Ana's writing and I will definitely be reading whatever she writes next.

I absolutely loved Jo as a FMC and how Ana highlighted the fact that someone who outwardly seems so confident and put together can still have "invisible monsters". I really appreciate the representation of mental health and anxiety.

That being said, I had a few qualms about this. I wasn't a total fan of Silas (MMC), and how he handled the situation, especially how successful in his career he was. There were a lot of instances of telling and not showing. For example, every chapter in Silas' POV, the original zero draft was brought up every time, reminding the readers that this is going to come back and bite him. Mentioning it once or twice is fine, but after that trust that your readers will catch on. I also thought the resolution at the end was a bit weird and maybe too easy? Again, we were "told" that Silas just had to wait until the article pubs in August so that Jo would forgive him and that's exactly what happened. The resolution then switched to Jo apologizing profusely to Silas and that just didn't sit well with me after Silas went behind his friend's back to meet her in the first place.

However, I really had a fun time with this story. This was such a strong debut and I really think Ana will be writing more amazing things in the future. Plus this made me want to start a cycle class 😂

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending this arc to me.

When I had initially accepted the option to read now, this read seemed right up my alley, but for some reason I can’t get myself to be interested or connect with the story at this time. This is purely a me issue
and I blame it on my mood reading tendencies.

Therefore, although I didn’t get far into this book, I believe it will be something I pick up in the future when I’m more in the mindset for it. It’s a good read from what I’ve read and I think so many individuals will absolutely fall in love with it. So, if you see this review, I urge you to give this novel a try! It may end up being your favorite read 😊

Thank you Forever for the gifted copy!

Up Close and Personal is a must read for the Peloton girlies! This sweet rom com follows Jo, a fitness instructor reluctantly becoming a household name after the viral success of Haven’s at-home cycling classes. Our leading man is Silas, a skeptical journalist who thinks the whole thing is a cult — that is until he actually starts taking classes and begins to feel the sense of community Haven fosters. And of course, when he starts falling for Jo!

Silas and Jo’s love story unfolds gradually and feels organic, with fantastic banter and plenty of fun NYC adventures. Beyond the romance, the book also thoughtfully explores mental wellness and diversity in the fitness industry, adding depth to an already delightful read.

This had such a cute concept, but I wasn’t always sold on the connection between the main characters. It’s definitely a slow burn, but despite the gradual build, I didn’t fully feel the chemistry. The conflict between the couple was also fairly predictable, which made the plot feel a bit flat.

That said, the last 20% was the highlight—it picked up the pace and added some much-needed excitement. One thing I did love was the anxiety representation, which was handled with care and authenticity.

When people are drawing parallels to Abby Jimenez in your debut book, that's a fantastic sign! Though Jo's character development far surpasses Silas', this was a relationship built on shared interests and respect, and I was all in. I am forgiving the lack of character development for Silas because this is a debut. I would have given Up Close & Personal five stars if it wasn't for the choice of a clichéd conflict at the end. If you're a romance reader, you will spot this potential conflict easily in the beginning of the book. I kept thinking, "Please please please do not go down this route." And, we kept steering clear. When it happened, I shut off my Kindle and sighed. The ending didn't fit given how the characters were feeling about each other, and I was disappointed. However, I look forward to future works from this author, as I enjoyed the mental health representation, the friendships, and the nods to BIPOC representation.

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Ana Holguin for the ARC of this book.

What Worked for Me
I will preface this by saying that reading about a character who is struggling with their mental health is something I am comfortable with. While there is fun banter between Jo and Silas, I do not think this is an overall light read. However, if that is something you are comfortable with, Jo's journey with managing her anxiety was detailed, and it gave a nice depth to her character. Since we didn't get a ton of background on Silas, I would have preferred this book to be a book just around Jo!! Silas is one of those characters who always says the "right PC thing." Though I would prefer a character who slips up once in a while, a girl can always appreciate a man who treats a woman like the queen she is. I read some of the comments calling this a slow burn, but I was invested in their journey. Yes, there were some repetitive parts, but I felt like I was learning something new from the dialogue, even though the set-up was similar. I do think the comparison to Abby Jimenez is an accurate one, and you will probably like this book if you are her fan! Also, if you enjoy NYC settings, there is a lot of appreciation for the city in this!

What Didn't Work for Me
<spoiler>That darn draft. I couldn't believe it! The miscommunication that followed was also ludicrous to me. It made all the depth that was built up between Jo and Silas seem like BS. I would have preferred them to have an honest conversation about Silas "deceivingly" approaching Jo, and how his mind about her was totally changed, even showing her the draft during this conversation.

Another area of growth would be how Silas dealt with depression. It was sort of glazed over for something that seemed to be an additional point of connection between the two characters. I don't know what experiences Holguin was bringing in to write the characters, but it seemed like the model for Jo was 10x stronger than the model for Silas.</spoiler>

This novel gave me vibes of "How to lose a guy in 10 days" meets the phenomena of Peloton / Orange Theory set in the hustle and bustle of New York City 📝

Jo is one of spin's hottest instructors and founding member of Haven, a fitness studio that attracts in person and online clients by the thousands. She meets Silas, a reporter at a party and the pair immediately butt heads about Jo's career choice. She invites Silas to try out one of her classes and cover her career in an article. . . What could go wrong?

I really enjoyed how this novel was told from dual POV, especially with the mental health aspect I thought it added depth to both main characters in a meaningful way ❤️ Their individual development throughout the novel was inspiring and I loved the balanced mix between fun/light-hearted moments and meaningful conversations between Silas & Jo and their friends.

I will acknowledge that I thought the ending was predictable, but I think that's OK in a romance. This was an enjoyable read that captured my attention right away and left me feeling happy with the ending 🥰
.

Oooo did UP CLOSE & PERSONAL pick the most bestest topic to have a whole set of opinions even without having any first hand experience with - Fitness. When it's no ones business how, when, why, where people engage or participate, strangers still love to make judgements.

Journalist Silas had plenty of preconceived notions about Spin Instructor Jo before he even met her. He six-degrees-of-kevin-bacon's himself into her orbit for an interview thinking he's gonna expose the fitness queen for a sham.

It's a joy to read him be oh so wrong.

What I appreciate though, especially because we're meant to be cheering for him and Jo to fall in love, is his openness to be wrong. He takes her spin class in person. Allows the experience to affect him. Sees Jo's authentic self inspire her energy as an instructor. And falls hard.

I'm yapping the most about Slias because I feel his journey was more dramatic - cynic to believer. Jo's POV chapters felt more cozy in the sense that she's more relatable - stressed and doing the most to the point of burnout. The romance between the two happens at a delicious slow pace all while they literally get UP CLOSE & PERSONAL with each other.

Very enjoyable read. Highly recommend for a readers looking for solid character development alongside the romance.

Thank you Netgalley & Forever / Grand Central Publishing for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

-Fitness instructor/Influencer and journalist romance. 

-Dual POV

-Friends to lovers
- He takes care of her when she’s injured

-Anxiety and depression rep



Silas, a journalist who has made a reputation as a contrarian, gets assigned a profile on the most popular Haven spin Instructor, Johanna (Jo) De La Cruz. He goes into the assignment assuming the worst of her - believing the world of fitness influencers to be superficial and performative, but is slowly confronted with his unfair bias when he starts to enjoy her classes, and they form an unlikely friendship. Jo seems determined to face her fears and open up a side of her she has been reluctant to share.

I related to Jo’s character and appreciated that she was a mix of confident and social, while still struggling with anxiety and insecurity at times. I loved seeing her find the strength to make changes in her life and push herself out of her professional funk. The friendships were great in this, and I loved how supportive they were of each other. Silas’s character really grew on me as well. I like that he was so willing to admit when he was wrong or at fault and how he became a safe space for Jo to open up. But that zero draft was really making me anxious the whole story!