When Silas, a journalist, decides that he will do a piece of Haven, what he less expects is Jo. Maybe all his prejudices were wrong all along?

When Jo meets Silas, she thinks doing an interview with him is the best way to challenge herself, but getting out of her comfort zone may not be the only thing that comes out of these meetings.

I always appreciate having representation on mental illnesses. It is super important to help normalising them, and it makes the reader feel closer to the characters, and it was not different this time. Jo having anxiety and how she fights against it was really inspiring and also makes a special remark that no matter how popular or perfect your life may seem, everyone has issues in their personal lifes.

That being said, I feel everything in this book is over explained, you go through every action with a huge description on feelings or past actions that, in my opinion, are not need in the story. If you go to a nail salon, it is not needed an explanation on why you went to a new one, I get that it is maybe to show that Jo is quite an overthinker but it was excessive in my opinion.

The dual point of view is a really good tool to show the inner self of the two characters, but in this case, it may me dislike both of them. Every action that would make me like Silas gets spoiled when I get to see what goes to his head, even Jo, seeing her through his eyes... it was like seeing a delicate flower instead of the strong character I feel like she should be.

On the audio part, I really liked the two narrators, except when Silas imitated Jo's voice, that felt too overacted, in my opinion. But other than that, they were super easy to understand, and both made the characters come to live.

Finally, I want to thank Hachette Audio, Ana Holguin, and Netgalley for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This may not have been my cup of tea, but I am curious to see what this author writes next.

Up Close and Personal by Ana Holguin
Contemporary romance.
Streaming spin classes has gained Jo De La Cruz almost a million followers. But after ten years of training and urging people on their bikes to sweat, she’s tired of same thing and is looking for the next career move.
Silas Anders is a New York metropolitan journalist with a history of skepticism in his writing. When he’s assigned the story to figure out why Jo is so popular, he finds a common connection and arranged to meet her outside the spin classes. When she admits she doesn’t handle her own social media, she puts them both in a bit of an awkward position of getting to know each other both on and off record. The more time they spend together, the more they find in common. Will the final story make or break them?

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was narrated by Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle. I loved these narrators. Both did a wonderful performance with their POV using different voices for male and female and secondary characters. Emotions were clearly expressed making the reading engrossing and appealing.
I listened to this at 1.5 and slightly higher to more closely match my reading and conversation speed.

A romance with career focus assessment interlaced with falling in love and “limitless possibilities”.
Hot (as in sweaty - exercise sweaty!) and delightful.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/d34f98f4-cd2e-49b1-839c-28d8cb72732f

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/885257669

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7530069700

Kobo

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3PJSNXLL81H1E/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/up-close-personal-ana-holguin/1146129768?ean=9781538756881&bvnotificationId=97aeeee8-2889-11f0-91d3-Up Close and Personal by Ana Holguin
Contemporary romance.
Streaming spin classes has gained Jo De La Cruz almost a million followers. But after ten years of training and urging people on their bikes to sweat, she’s tired of same thing and is looking for the next career move.
Silas Anders is a New York metropolitan journalist with a history of skepticism in his writing. When he’s assigned the story to figure out why Jo is so popular, he finds a common connection and arranged to meet her outside the spin classes. When she admits she doesn’t handle her own social media, she puts them both in a bit of an awkward position of getting to know each other both on and off record. The more time they spend together, the more they find in common. Will the final story make or break them?

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was narrated by Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle. I loved these narrators. Both did a wonderful performance with their POV using different voices for male and female and secondary characters. Emotions were clearly expressed making the reading engrossing and appealing.
I listened to this at 1.5 and slightly higher to more closely match my reading and conversation speed.

A romance with career focus assessment interlaced with falling in love and “limitless possibilities”.
Hot (as in sweaty - exercise sweaty!) and delightful.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.

I enjoyed this one! Silas was dreamy and Jo was such a badass. I appreciate how the author tried to keep a body-neutral mindset in regards to Haven, but there were some comments about “working off” food, and other little fatphobic comments. The mental health representation was gorgeous, though!

The narrators were fantastic and I look forward to hearing more from them!

Silas, a writer for a somewhat major magazine based out of NYC is a contrarian. If a lot of people love it, you can be sure that he will find a way to hate it. So, when he learns that his colleagues and friends are big fans of a local minor celebrity famous for her job as a fitness instructor, he decides to find out what makes Jo the spin instructor so special. Prepared to hate her based on his own preconceived notions, he quickly learns that there is so much more to Jo beyond the bike. Below the surface of what Jo shows her clients lie many secrets that she feels could ruin her career.

This book explores anxiety, depression, parasocial relationships and more while having some laugh out loud moments to help ease the heavy aspects. As a fitness lover, I really enjoyed the peloton-alike job that Jo had. It really put into perspective that behind the smiles and encouragement, the instructors that I see daily are real people who have real struggles like I do.

I did find Silas’s character frustrating a lot of the time. In my day to day life, I find contrarian people to be unlikable (and that’s the kindest way to say that, honestly). I appreciated that he grew over time after learning more about Jo but at times, it felt like he was just going to keep digging that proverbial grave by continuing to do dumb stuff rather than communicating.

I appreciated that the audiobook for this title had both a male and female narrator. There were a few instances while listening that the narrators tripped over pronunciation but there were no glaring issues. The delivery of some of the joke-y banter was great. I found myself laughing a few times, specifically over the recurring joke, “When you’re here, you’re family.”

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more from Ana Holguin!

Famous spin instructor meets skeptical journalist in this debut.

I appreciated the thoughtful mental health representation. Some parts felt a bit disconnected and needed more character development especially with the MMC. The middle dragged and admittedly got a little boring, but the ending was satisfying.

Note: this one leans into the miscommunication trope.

The audiobook was a solid experience, with both male and female narrators.

Excited to see more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook! I was genuinely impressed by the audio production— the voice actors brought so much personality and depth to the characters, making the story even more engaging.

I’ll admit, I didn’t like Silas at first. But his growth over the course of the story, and his awareness of that growth, really won me over. Maybe it’s the journalist in him—but I ended up appreciating his character arc a lot.

Jo was wonderfully written. I found myself agreeing with Silas’s initial thoughts on those spin classes (I laughed out loud), but I also really admired how Jo worked through her anxiety in such a thoughtful and relatable way. It even made me consider giving a fitness class another shot!

Their relationship developed in a refreshingly natural way—from friends to something more—and I appreciated how grounded that progression felt.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was a fantastic listen—and honestly, I wouldn’t mind a Mike book next!

a slow burn romance with a writer doing an article on the hot spin instructor? SIGN ME UP!!!!!! 🤸🏻‍♀️

I really enjoyed this one! My favorite parts were the conversations around mental. A lot of times, both in books and real life, mental health is depicted as a thing to get over or heal from, but when you are mentally ill, it is more something to learn to live and cope with. And I think this book painted that picture so beautifully. Both of the main characters have struggled with their mental health and it was a breath of fresh air to see them talk about therapy, medications, going and getting through crises, and living day-to-day with diagnosed disorders.

Something else that I loved was the conversation around the internet and how it can affect you!

I really liked both of the main characters, and this book has a cast of side characters that are so fun to read about!! My only issue with the story is all the secrecy when there’s really no reason to lie.

THE AUDIOBOOK WAS AMAZING!!! Thank you Netgalley and Hachette for the ALC 🩷 I adored the narrators and how easy it was to follow the writing in their voices. They really brought the characters and the story to life for me. Something that came to mind for me was how easy it was to distinct the text messages from everything else! I feel like not every narrator does this well, but these two killed it.

Overall, a great debut and I can’t wait to read more from Ana!

I received an advanced listener copy of Up Close and Personal by Ana Holguin from NetGalley. This contemporary romance follows Jo De La Cruz, a popular spin instructor, and Silas Anders, a skeptical journalist digging into the fitness industry. As Silas dives into Jo’s world for his story, the two slowly develop a deeper connection that pushes them to confront their own insecurities and emotional baggage.

The book is well written, and the narration was solid, but I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Silas, in particular, didn’t come across as very likable, and Jo sometimes felt overly passive in her responses. The slowburn dynamic between them took a little too long to build for my taste, and by the time the romance came together, the emotional payoff didn’t feel as strong as it could have been.

That said, the story does explore vulnerability and personal growth and there is anxiety representation. This may still be worth checking out—even if it didn’t quite land for me.

I absolutely loved this slow-burn rom-com! We meet Jo, a very popular spin instructor, and Silas, who wants to do an article on Jo for this magazine he works for. It was just so sweet. I appreciated the representation of anxiety and depression. There were things about it that bothered me a bit, but not enough to even consider stopping reading. A great debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC of the audiobook for the opportunity to listen to this book for my honest review in return..

⭐2.75

I love the mental health representation, however the first introduction to Silas almost made me drop the book with how much I disliked him. I'm glad I didn't drop the book!

I think this is a decent romance and I am excited to see what this author comes out with in the future. I can only see this author growing and creating amazing romance books in the future!

The audiobook aspect of this was really good I liked the narrators and would listen to them read something again!

I absolutely adored Up Close & Personal, the debut novel by Ana Holguin. I have been doing a lot of reading across numerous genres as of late, and this was the perfect palate cleanser. While it is a sweet romance novel, this book also dives into and explores real life issues including online bullying and harassment, mental health and the side effects of anxiety.

This is the story of Jo, a spin instructor who through the virtual spin classes she instructs, and social media has gained celebrity influencer status and Silas, a writer for Metropolitan Magazine with preconceived notions about celebrity influencers, looking to write a tell all expose about Jo. The two meet to do interviews and Jo invites Silas to take a few of her classes so he can experience them firsthand. As they get to know each other, Silas begins to see the real, raw side of Jo and who she really is underneath all those social media layers.

The chemistry between the characters builds slowly and naturally. I loved the tenderness and care that they displayed towards each other. Funny and charming, the story flowed well and was easy to read.

As someone who is still new to the world of romance and spice, I thought that it was just the right amount. It was enough to paint the attraction and tension building between the main characters, but not so much that it took away from the story. For those who prefer no spice, you can skim over these sections and not lose any of the story line. For those who enjoy spice, it was very well written. I listened to the audio version of this book. With some audiobooks, the spicy moments can feel awkward or uncomfortable. Between the way it was written and narrated, these moments flowed so naturally and added another layer to the characters' relationship.

This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed and yes.....I cried...which not a lot of books elicit the latter from me. But this story got me in the feels in all the right ways.

If you are looking for a sweet story packed with some romance, this is a great book to pick up. For the audiobook listeners, the audio version was narrated by Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle who did an amazing job of bringing the characters in these pages to life! I would love to see them paired together again.

I loved the anxiety representation. Premise was a little different from the normal rom coms. It even made me want to look into taking spin classes, yoga, and weight training. Wasn’t a huge fan of the third act break up due to the miscommunication but loved it otherwise.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a cute read, with characters that felt real. Slow burn overall, but a good listen.

Thank you to @ReadForeverPub and @ThatsSoStelle! for this ALC, in exchange for an honest review.

Jo De La Cruz is living the dream—or so it seems. As one of the hottest spin instructors in the game, her classes are packed, her social media’s a frenzy of love (and envy), and she has a fanbase that’s borderline obsessed. Her life is a whirlwind of followers, fitness, and flawless hair that even has its own Instagram account. But beneath the picture-perfect façade, Jo’s feeling a little burned out from a decade in the spotlight.

Enter Silas Anders—charming, annoyingly attractive, and a journalist who thinks Jo’s job is basically just yelling at people while riding a bike. But here’s the thing: Jo’s never backed down from a challenge, and turning a hater into a fan? Now that’s something she can’t resist.

Only, Silas isn’t what Jo expected. He dives right into her spin classes, actually listens when she talks about her weird hobbies, and—get this—he’s totally open about his own struggles with mental health. Between late-night diner runs, thrift store treasure hunts, and some seriously hot summer chemistry, Jo starts to wonder if she’s falling for him. But as the buzz around Silas’s article grows, Jo’s left wondering if the guy she’s growing closer to might actually be playing her. I don't want to forget the amazing job the narrators did bringing to life these characters.

This is exactly what I want in a rom-com: characters that feel real, a plot that’s driven by both external drama and deep personal growth, and a romance that’s as sizzling as it is sweet. Holguin nails it with Jo and Silas’ love story, packing in all the feels without skimping on the emotional depth. Plus, watching Jo rediscover her self-love? Pure magic. If you're looking for a rom-com that hits all the right notes—fun, heartfelt, and sexy—this one’s for you.

4.5 Stars!
Out on April 29!

#UpClose&Personal, #AnaHolguin, #ReadForeverPub, #RomCom, #SoGood!

3⭐, 1.25🌶️

This book had SO MUCH promise! I felt like a modern take on 27 dresses, but add the FMC isn't a bridesmaid but like a Echelon/ Peloton fitness instructor. However, our MMC, Silas was too unlikeable for myself. The author really tried to make him cute and loveable, but my guys KEPT having the same inner monologue of "I like her so much, I need to tell her my secret....jk, maybe later, cause I love her). LIKE SIR NO STOP IT! Jo was sweet, dare I say too sweet. For a girl with so much history with mental health treatment, I wish she was just a bit stronger for herself. I wanted to shake her and give her more strength.

Unfortunately. I do not recommend this book. Its a unique storyline for sure I just couldnt enjoy either of the characters. This is a book I firmly believe the couple would break up a year or two after the book is over. Sorry.

Release Date: 4/29/2025

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Jo is a professional spin instructor for Haven (think Peloton). She is livestreamed to homes everywhere. Her workouts are legendary. Her Instagram account is verified, and her hair has an account of its own. Silas is a journalist for a lifestyle magazine with preconceived assumptions of fitness instructors, especially the trendy, influencer types.

I land on a 2.5⭐ rating here, right down the middle and not a bad review for a debut novel. I appreciated the mental health representation that was abundant and well done throughout the book. I enjoyed Jo as a strong female main character. Silas, on the other hand, did not deliver much. Overall, I felt there was a lack of character development for both characters, especially Silas. I do not feel like I truly got to know either of them on any level higher than basic surface information. I was never fully invested in the characters, and with that I had a hard time buying into any sort of romantic chemistry between them. It just wasn’t a believable relationship to me. I personally don’t enjoy lack of communication as a plot device, so the third-act breakup was difficult to get through. And it was entirely too predictable.

This was a dual perspective story. The audiobook narrators felt a little flat to me, although this may have been the material influencing my listening experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

“Big Midwest Energy” has got to be my new favorite phrase🤣 Jo and Sylas had the best banter the whole book 👌I love how in the beginning Sylas doubted her and why everyone was obsessed with her, but was quickly shown why. The mental health representation was great too! The one thing I didnt care for was the 3rd act breakup. 🙃 I hate those. However, it was turned around by hearing what Sylas wrote in his article 😍 3.75 stars rounded to a 4 ☺️

This was such a beautiful heartfelt story from plot to characters everything came together so beautifully. The mental health rep was so beautifully handled, I resonated with the FMC a lot in some parts. I loved watching the couple come together and them being vulnerable around each other; sharing parts of their lives with each other, it's not often that I root for the couples from the get go but as the saying goes "when you know you know "😂🙆🏼‍♀️
If you enjoy witty banter Romcom with emotional depth then be sure to pick this up!

I loved this story; it dealt with anxiety very relatable, and I feel like many people will see themselves in the main characters. The cycling was a nice touch, and it was great that the focus of participating in the classes was more about becoming confident in oneself rather than for weight loss. From the moment our two MCs met, there was something that was calling them towards each other, and I'm glad that after a misunderstanding, they were both able to work through the situation in their way before coming together and speaking about it.

It was a touching story about the importance of mental health in such an open and vulnerable way. Jo's friendship with her girlfriends is beautiful. They could talk to each other through difficult situations while considering each other's feelings and being very supportive.

Thank you to Estelle from Forever for the ARC and Hachette Audio/Net Galley for the ALC~

I couldn't have asked for more perfect narrators for the characters they did a perfect job capturing their personalities!

3.5 ⭐

Jo is a popular spin instructor. Silas is a journalist and "part-time hater." When Silas is assigned an article to explore why spin instructors are so popular, his goal is to show why it's a waste. We follow the two learning about themselves and falling in love.

🎧🎧🎧

This is Ana's debut novel, and I definitely will be reading more of her work. It was written in a way that made it very easy to immerse yourself in the story. I envisioned myself in the spin class. I loved the good representation of mental health. The characters and their struggles were realistic. I enjoyed the narrators, Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle. They did a beautiful job bringing the characters to life!


💫 slow burn
💫great mental health representation
💫 found family
💫dual POV