AAHhhhhhgg I finally finished!!!! It took me soo long as you can see…
I loved how cute Silas and Joes relationship was and I was screaming at my phone telling them to “fucking kiss already”
I ADORED joes and her friends Friendship, im jealous as fuck, guys I can’t barley keep one friend lmao
Theres was a lot of miscommunication and it took like 60-70% for them to finally kiss/for the romance to kick in.
It was also super predictable (as expected).
But overall it was such a fun read, I laughed, got pissed at the characters, giggle, screamed and cried.

Thankyou so much netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Okay sooo this is like a 2.5 rounded up because I really could’ve DNFd the last several chapters and not have missed anything. Honestly started hate reading at the end cause I had already gotten too far to quit.

This wasn’t a BAD book by any means, it just didn’t hit right for me. I really loved the mental health discussions and the open topics around it. Definitely the best part of the book. And as a newbie peloton user I enjoyed the focus of the peloton-esq classes and the ins and outs of their New York studio.

What didn’t work for me was the relationship. Started off on somewhat of a lie and could’ve been easily fixed/rectified/communicated. I just need fictional men to think with the head in their brain before anything else!!! I also don’t really believe this couple will last past the epilogue. I didn’t get the chemistry/connection like I do in so many other romances.

So, five stars for the mental health rep and one star for the romance.

Read if you like:
🧠 mental health rep
🌶️ medium spice (2/5)
🚲 cycling classes
🫂 found family
🫶🏼 strong female friendships

This was a great debut novel, the anxiety representation was well done & the dynamic between the two main characters was nice to read and see developed.
The narration was good, both narrators did a great job portraying these characters, and their representation kept me wanting to continue listening to this book & will look forward to other books narrated by them.

Book content: At first I thought there were too many characters and got confused a bit (but that's a me thing) and it got better as the book progressed. The premise was interesting, Jo was a good FMC and I loved how her struggles relfected her personality, her wants and needs. Silas felt a bit short for me, I didn't like him so much at the beggining, and didn't see his character develop as much as for Jo. Also, the pacing on the book took me off for a while and the third act conflict felt a bit unnecesary.

Overall I did have a good time listenning to this audiobook and will reccomend it.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Forever, and NetGalley for the ecopy and audio version of Up Close and Personal.  I thought the premise of the book was very interesting, however I wasn't really sold on the relationship between Silas and Jo. I just didn't feel a lot of chemistry personally :( 
I think selling Silas as a "hater" rather than a skeptic automatically out up a roadblock for me. He walked in and instantly was gaga over Jo, and we didn't really get the backstory as to why he *hates* classes like these other than the fact that they make his coworkers late to the office. 
I did really like the commentary on parasocial relationships and how internet trolls do have an impact on the lives of those they troll. We think we know someone based on the miniscule parts of their lives that they show us when genuinely, we know nothing about them. Jo is such a great character to follow being that she not only had anxiety before she became a fitness influencer, but that she also was so heavily impacted by the things that people said to her, she no longer runs her own channels. I also thought that the mental health representation was super important and well done. 
I thought a romance following a fitness instructor was such a cool concept, I just felt a little disappointment on the execution and lack of chemistry. 3.5/5
*** Notes on the audio I liked the narrators chosen for the reading, nothing against them or the author, I just couldn't see these people together.

4⭐️ And now I want Olive Garden 🥰😂

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC! This audiobook was really well done, the male narrator was not my favorite at first but I grew to love him in the end. I loved how each chapter switched between each characters POV, it kept me really engaged in the story.

This story is one I would love to see on the big screen, I think it would make a great movie. I really appreciated the focus on mental health, how real it is and how it affects real people. I’ve had my own mental health struggles in my life and could really relate in that way.

The relationship and how the characters fell in love felt so real. I could really imagine this happening in real life, which doesn’t often happen for me with romance books. It was beautiful and sweet and I enjoyed every minute.

This book made me wanna work out! 😂 I’ve never read a book like this before, but I was so impressed! It was such an amazing debut novel, so unique and well written, I look forward to reading more from Ana Holgun!

I want to start by thanking NetGalley, Ana Holguin, and Hachette Audio | Forever for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this was a cute read with some really great moments. I enjoyed the FMC and the pacing of the book. The audiobook narrators really brought the characters to life and helped me get through this book fairly quickly, once I got into the story. It was easy to feel like I was in the middle of this cycling instructor's life and the things she's feeling throughout the book.

Let's start off with what was really great! This book creates a great conversation around society's parasocial relationships with well-known/public figures and the intersection of the removal of their humanity by way of criticizing them without care/concern for the person on the other end. I really liked the way that Jo struggled with her happiness and the idea of what people believe to be a successful career.

The author also did a great job with addressing the FMC's anxiety and mental health struggles, and showing what support looks like in the personal and professional aspects of life. I think that even with the heavy topics that the FMC is dealing with, the book still manages to feel light.

I do wish that we got a bit more from Jo's family or background. There didn't seem to be any friction between her and her family but there was a lack of connection there (although I'm aware there are only so many pages), but her friend group was crafted well and I really enjoyed their dynamic.

I did not love Silas the MMC of this book, mostly because his hate of Jo after seeing a picture of here. albeit before meeting her, really threw me off. He is a white man and she is a Latine woman (not too much about her identity is given to us the reader) so his hate felt a little heavy. Being a Latine woman, there were moments that gave me pause, he just felt a bit stereotypical in his hate and in the assumptions he made about her.

This didn't scratch the itch that I look for in a romance novel, mainly bc the MMC felt like a red flag. I think that this is a good debut novel for Ana Holguin, and I do hope to see more from her in the future.

Really fun read! A peloton type instructor meets a reporter and sparks fly. Really fun romcom with some deeper themes.

Thanks to NetGalley for this audio ARC!

“Nothing good ever comes from staying in your comfort zone,” and in her comfort zone is exactly where Jo has been lately.

She has worked the same job as a cycling instructor for the last ten years. Though this job has made Jo a fitness celebrity with a massive online presence boasting over 1 million followers, her life has felt stagnant and in desperate need of change.

Along comes Silas, a journalist who’s been assigned to Jo’s story. He is tasked with finding out how she gained such a cult following.
Is her brand all a scam? Is Jo just another influencer with a pretty face? Or is she more than meets the eye?

After using a less than conventional method to meet, Silas gets to know the real Jo. As his story comes together he sees the side of her that she hides from the world, and Jo is much more than he could have imagined. Keeping their work and personal life separate is about to get very difficult as real emotions start to form.

I loved this story, just like Silas with Jo, it was not what I was expecting. Up Close & Personal touches on topics like anxiety and depression, which makes the characters believable and relatable and I really appreciated that.

The narrators were very well chosen, they both did splendid with their assigned characters and the voices had a great pace that made this book even more enjoyable. They made it easy to really picture yourself in the characters shoes.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

🚴‍♀️Forced Proximity 🚴‍♀️
🏃‍♀️ Workplace Romance 🏃
📝 He falls first 📝
🚲 Slow Burn 🚲

“It’s easy for people to pass judgement on how they think other people should live their lives. It requires more effort to remove yourself from the center of your own thoughts.”

“When the two of us locked eyes, the rest of the world fell away, just long enough for something bright, something electric to pass between us.”

“Because love is a choice, even when it’s difficult.”

Thanks so much NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Forever Publishers for this Audiobook ARC / ALC .

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this audio ARC.

This story is filled with vulnerability. It teaches readers how to open up to others to tell your own story for yourself, so that everyone has the same facts. I kind of felt empowered during this book, particularly during the spin classes scenes. I think this aspect of the book was the best part.

I did not enjoy Silas’ character at first. He was pessimistic, a cynic, or a “part time hater.” I honestly don’t know if I have feelings regarding Jo as my dislike for Silas was so strong.

I thought the journalist that was ready to diss on something popular was overdone. Silas thought he knew what these spin classes were all about. A new fad and something for people to spend their money on. When he inserted himself into Jo’s life and classes, he began to understand why people seem to enjoy the classes and community that comes along with it. His character did grow on me a little bit, but not much. Although, if he was a spice I think he would be flour.

This book was interesting and made me think. It explored what being an influential person is like including the darker sides. How people having the ability to pick you apart behind a screen can effect a real person. This aspect of the book, and reading how Jo navigates it, really gave the book some depth.

The first half of this book, despite my dislike for Silas, I was really enjoying the story. The second half, however, I was slowly growing more irritated with the length. I was waiting for the third act drama to finally drop as it was frequently brought up.

The narrators, Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle, did a great job! Overall, despite my feelings about the book, I did enjoy their narration. With the parts that I did enjoy, I could really empathize with the characters/situation. Love when narrators make me feel included in the story.

Tropes:
- grumpy x sunshine
- found family
- slow burn
- journalist x fitness instructor
- anxiety rep

This was a great debut! I really did enjoy listening to the audiobook. I think if i wasn't listening to the audiobook i wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. I would definitely listen to the narrators again. I did at some parts start to lose a little interest, this really was a slow burn.

Thank you Ana Holguin, Hachette Audio | Forever, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. This was a really fun one for me. I loved the combination of journalism and athletics along with sort of accidental celebrity. The pairing felt new and definitely not overdone which is hard to come by in romance these days. The narration was also quite well done and engaging with me feeling connected to the characters through the narration. All in all I really enjoyed this.

Ana Holguin delivers a compelling slow-burn romance in Up Close and Personal, filled with tension, vulnerability, and emotional depth. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their transition from friction to connection feels authentic and rewarding. Holguin’s writing style is engaging, with emotionally resonant scenes and strong character development.

One of the novel’s biggest strengths is how it balances romance with deeper emotional themes—grief, healing, and learning to let someone in. The characters are flawed but relatable, and their personal growth adds substance to the love story.

While the pacing was slightly uneven in places—particularly in the middle where the momentum dipped a bit—the payoff in the final act more than made up for it. Some readers may also wish for more resolution on certain secondary plot threads, but overall, this was a deeply satisfying read.

If you love enemies-to-lovers with a heartfelt emotional core and a slow burn that feels worth the wait, Up Close and Personal is well worth picking up. I’m excited to see what Ana Holguin writes next

Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one! The audio is fantastic with dual narration from Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle who really bring out the emotion of each character. They're easy to listen to and enjoy, making this a quick audio you can listen to in one sitting.

The story itself is a love story but with plenty of depth, touching on topics like mental health, personal growth and career fulfillment. Who the characters are at the beginning are not who they are at the end and I love seeing that kind of growth in novels, watching them become more confident and self aware and finding out what it is they really want in life. Jo is such an interesting character and she kept me wanting to know more about her and see what she would ultimately decide for her future. Silas is a huge cynic and while that's not really a red flag, his actions as a journalist definitely are. Even though he starts off totally in the wrong, he's very self aware and takes steps to atone for it so I was still rooting for him and Jo all the way to the end. I personally love when the characters are flawed and not totally likable because it feels so much more realistic that way. If you're a fitness girly, especially into biking/pelotons, this one is for you! And even if you're not, it's a great story and might have you wishing you were -- I know it made me want to go to some classes!

First off—super cute cover! I went in expecting a fun romance, and while it delivered on that, this one had layers: empowerment, growth, self-assurance, and a dash of mental health awareness.

The fitness instructor–meets–journalist setup gave fresh energy to the enemies-to-lovers trope. It’s a slow burn with the right touch of spice, but fair warning—it did take a minute to get going. I also found myself wanting more backstory on a few side characters…maybe it’s part of a series?

Narration was fine, but not particularly memorable. The pacing felt off at times, like they were reading to us instead of performing for us—especially noticeable at 1x speed.

All in all, it’s a solid read with some unique twists. I’d give it 3.5/5 stars.

I really loved this book. I thought it was a great debut by Holguin, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I loved the exploration of a celebrity and what it means to be vulnerable, as well as determining how much of ourselves we want to show the world. I thought the narrators did a pretty good job, and they did keep me coming back for more.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book in the beginning, if I’m honest. Neither Jo nor Silas were particularly likeable characters at first. But I think that was the whole point. You get small glimpses of Jo, anxious and unhappy in her current job, and Silas, grumpy and quick to pass judgment, which is such a stark contrast to who these characters are by the end of the book. The amount of self-growth the two of them go through is inspiring. The mental health representation was phenomenal, and I could relate to Jo in so many ways, as someone who suffers from anxiety themselves. I also appreciated Silas’ growth and self-awareness by the end of the book, realizing how wrong his initial judgement was and how tirelessly he worked to correct his mistakes and own up to his faults.

Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle, the narrators for this audiobook, did an amazing job conveying the emotions of the characters. I felt like I was watching, or experiencing it myself, not just listening. I commend them on their spectacular performances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Love the cover, love the premise... did not love the MMC.

Look, a romance is always going to be a tough sell when the reader's not really rooting for half the couple, and that's what stopped UP CLOSE & PERSONAL from being a big hit for me. A hater, yes, love it, *I* am a hater, I empathize with the haters. But that's not just what Silas is - he's also a "journalist" who completely abandons his ethics. I'm sorry, hand in your resignation letter, go write a blog or something because this is not acceptable behavior.

He knows how he acted was wrong - he reflects on this multiple times - and does nothing to rectify it.

Jo was great, a "celebrity fitness instructor" who doesn't view herself as a celebrity but also has someone else handle her social media and all publicity requests. She is who kept me reading; I wanted to see where her story would go.

The narration by Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle was pretty solid; there were just a few words I didn't catch on first listen. I did prefer Maria's chapters to Kellen's, but that may have had to do more with my overall enjoyment of the story than either of the narrators.

Two minor complaints: Jo refers to a fellow instructor's "fancy fitness tracker watch thing" which felt so out of place for someone who's been in the fitness space for a decade (it's a Garmin or a Coros, maybe a sports watch - I really don't think she'd describe it like a foreign object/like she's not in the know about something so basic). And Silas tries to talk himself up by saying he's finished a marathon and three half marathons, when you'd run at least three half marathons leading up to the marathon itself, but probably more like six.

Still, I cared enough about Jo and her friends that I'd try another book in this series!

I really loved the audiobook. The story itself dragged a bit for me but listening to the audio helped since I could speed it up and get through the longer chapters that way. The narrators did an amazing job and I loved the dialogue and emotions that were portrayed when heavier conversations were had.

3 stars⭐️

I think that the premise of this book was nice and I really like the way it portrayed the main character's struggles with their mental health. My main issue was getting into this book because it felt predictable, so I found myself zoning out at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc.

3.5 stars

This is a romance that's focused on a soul cycle-clone company instructor and the journalist doing a story about her. If I'd read the description more closely i probably would have skipped it, but it was cute! The male main character has a fair amount of depth and is able to learn from his actions, so we love that!

This book was very sweet and dealt with some of the darker sides to fame, trauma, etc., which added some depth, but occasionally I wanted it to go a little bit faster. Over all I recommend it and liked the dual perspective in the book and as it was presented on audio.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for an advance listening copy provided for an unbiased review.