I’m so sad because I really wanted to love this but it just kind of fell a little flat. There was nothing wrong with the book it was just not as exciting as I hoped. I wasn’t attached to the characters or the story. I was hopeful that by the end I would be but it just was not for me.

The characters were okay. The storyline was fine. And I guess that’s just the problem for me. It was just fine. 😩

The narration was good. The voices were fantastic.

Thank you for the alc!

Book Rating: ⭐️ 5/5
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 1.25/5

Everything about this book was an absolute yes for me. I devoured it, and I’m still thinking about it. Ana Holguin did such an incredible job with this story, I even had to take a beat before writing this review just to process how much I loved it.

This book wasn’t just fun and funny, it was deeply emotional and brought up so many feelings I didn’t expect. Jo’s journey hit so close to home. I saw so much of myself in her, especially as a young adult trying to balance cultural expectations. I was never a national fitness sensation (lol), but I’ve definitely dealt with feeling like a disappointment to my family, especially growing up in a mostly white area as a brown girl and feeling disconnected from both sides of my identity. It was powerful to see those feelings explored so authentically.

The mental health representation for both Jo and Silas was beautifully done. Ana handled the topic with such care and sensitivity. It was a strong reminder that behind the highlight reels of social media, we’re all just human, something that often gets lost.

And let’s talk about the slow burn! Silas and Jo had me absolutely feral. I wanted to scream at them to just admit their feelings already, which is exactly the kind of delicious tension I crave in a slow burn. Silas falling for Jo’s infectious energy? Swoon. His pining was perfection, and I was obsessed. Usually I gravitate toward grumpy x sunshine couples, but these two brought such light while still carrying their own emotional weight, and I loved every minute of it.

I have zero complaints. If you’re a fan of Katherine Center or Mazzy Eddings, do yourself a favor and read this book. You won’t regret it.

A wonderful Debut!

when journalist and lowkey hater, Silas, has to do a piece on famous spin instruction/influencer Jo and her place of employment Haven Fitness under perhaps not the most honest of terms. He uncovers a different side of Jo & Haven.

Delves into deeper topics like depression & anxiety, while still having light hearted moments.

For the enjoyers of slowburn and an nyc setting. A dual pov with the narrators in the audiobook being nothing less than amazing

2 ⭐️ This book had so much potential and I was so excited to read a debut author but it fell so flat that I almost DNFed it multiple times. The story itself sounded so fun, a writer who thinks badly of fitness and cycle instructors and is tasked with writing a story on one and over time he falls for the complex girl she ends up being. Unfortunately it trips over itself multiple times with repetitions, poor writing and never capitalizes on some important messaging on mental health and BIPOC struggles. For starters Jo, the FMC is a Latina woman from Mexico but it is barely mentioned and nothing stands out about it but her wild hair, groan, it felt so white washed. As a Mexican woman myself I’d love it if she screamed it and owned it. This book has so much mental anxiety and depression representation but again, it feels stilted by the story and overshadowed by how this amazing man came into her life and changed everything for her. Okay maybe I’m downplaying her own journey but that’s how I felt the book did her dirty.

There were so many repetitions, any conflict, let’s go for a walk…. I can think of 5 or more instances where the solution to talk was “let’s take a walk”. Or Jo is constantly taking a walk around her destination for 10-15 mins so she avoids being too early to things. The writing is very juvenile/basic, it would benefit from better editing and advanced prose. So many repetitions of all kinds, I mean so many repetitions. See what I did there? I repeated myself like 6x to show how annoying it is.

There was zero chemistry between Jo and Silas, not a single butterfly or hint of any sparks between these two. It was a sloooooooow burn, so slow I was bored out of my mind. Overly vague descriptions of these characters gave me to clear picture of who these people are, I couldn’t tell you a single physical descriptor of Silas besides he’s a runner. 🤷🏻‍♀️ They also raked their nails against each other… a lot. The tension between these two was non existent and I made me want to skip over any open door scenes because it felt so off. Also, Silas is a walking 🚩 with the main conflict of this book being so drawn out. I could never get behind them because of it. Miscommunication is already the worst, add in making the FMC apologize for the man’s lack of communication, super gross. I did not like this conflict and how it resolved.

I listened to an ALC (advanced listeners copy) and I did not like the narrators, the story came off very monotone/flat but again, I think that was the not so great writing. I typically love dual POV with multicast narration but Silas was like a blank piece of paper, I have no idea what kind of guy he is and it showed through the non-memorable voice acting. I just did not connect to these characters at all.

I’m super bummed by this book. I hope it finds an audience that enjoys it. Even as a previous avid home cyclist, it just didn’t hit right. I will say, I love the point of Silas’ article at the end.

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

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars rounded down

This book is pretty good. It was fun seeing Silas get his prejudice proven so wrong so hard, and it has a really positive mental health message. It also tackled the interesting idea of why people gravitate toward one 'celebrity' or another (though I do think it could have done more with it). I also liked that both of them felt like actual down to earth people rather than exaggerations of a caricature.

However, something about the style never really connected with me, so I never got into the book too much. The most intense feeling I had was frustration at the third act 'break-up' which was a bit silly (not because one of the parties didn't act in a logical way, but because the process needed to get this to happen was illogical. why would they snoop, why would this thing they're snooping about be there, why was other person so insistent on keeping the negative thing so present?).

Overall, though, pretty good book that would probably work better for others than it did for me.

Thank you to the author, narrators, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

This was an interesting, cute rom-com book taking place in the workplace. Pacing of the book was good, full of "will they, won't they" vibes. However, the characters seemed a bit flat, little character beyond their jobs. Very predictable, which is good, it's why I read or listen to books like this!

Enjoyable, fun. 3 stars.

This was a cosy read. It was easy and I didn’t feel like it was taking over all my brain capacity.

I loved the touch on anxiety and depression, coming from someone who suffers with both I feel the author handled it with care. It did make me a bit upset at one point because I realise I’ve allowed my condition to take over my life for the last 10 years and these managed to find solutions to help with there’s within a short time.

I think the characters were likeable and being over the age of 30 is also a bonus! Us over 30’s need more representation!!

I have 3 stars because it did feel slightly boring in the middle like not a lot was happening a bit of ‘dead air’ but it wasn’t a bad book at all.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

An absolute gem! This story was heartfelt, funny, and full of personality. The characters felt so real, and their connection was electric. Every page pulled me in deeper, and I didn’t want it to end. A perfect blend of emotion, charm, and romance

Up Close and Personal is a captivating, feel-good romance that truly shines in audiobook form. Ana Holguin's storytelling effortlessly pulls you into a world of chemistry, charm, and emotional depth, with the added bonus of a narrator who brings the characters to life in such a way that you feel like you're part of their journey.

The pacing is perfect, and the narrator’s voice has just the right balance of warmth and energy, making it easy to get lost in the story. The romance feels real, the characters are easy to root for, and the story touches on themes of love, self-discovery, and taking risks. There’s an undeniable chemistry between the leads that makes every moment feel like a sweet, slow burn.

What really makes the audiobook stand out is how the narrator captures the emotions—whether it’s the fun banter, the heartwarming moments, or the more tender, vulnerable scenes. It’s a story that leaves you smiling, and you’ll find yourself pressing play for just a little longer each time.

If you love contemporary romance with great character chemistry and a dash of humor, Up Close and Personal is a perfect audiobook to listen to while driving, relaxing, or just needing that extra boost of feel-good vibes.

Thank you Hachette Audio and Forever Pub for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

I was intrigued by the premise of this one as the main character is an instructor at a studio similar to Peloton. I’m a relatively new Peloton member (joined within the last year) and haven’t been to a class in studio.

Jo seems like she’s on top of the world at their studio and they’re on about to be part of a major merger. However she’s feeling unhappy and looking for change. She meets Silas, a journalist, through a mutual friend and agrees to be interviewed by him for his magazine. They start a tenuous friendship that slowly turns into more. I loved seeing Silas take her classes and realize not only how challenging they can be but how they can make you feel. For me at least, Peloton and the community has a similar sort of magic! I don’t want to say too much or give anything away, but overall I really enjoyed this. The narration by Maria Liatis was fantastic! I will definitely check out future books from Ana Holguin!

Up Close & Personal was so cute and fun! I did not know I needed a fitness instructor x journalist romance in my life but I could not put it down once I started it! The mental health representation was wonderfully done and even had me teary eyed at least twice. I found Jo to be so relatable; minus the 12-15 hours of cardio a week. This book has trauma, mental health, drama, friendship, and it’s a slow burn! The slow burn had me begging for it to happen in the best way possible. So when it did happen it did not disappoint! I highly recommend picking this up if you are looking for a swoon worthy quick read!

This debut was so cute, super swoony. I knew I had to read this book when I saw the first line “I’m getting bangs.” Many of us are all too familiar with the circumstances that can lead to making a drastic change like getting bangs. Thank god for beloved friends and hairstylists who have our backs and talk us off that metaphorical ledge. But I digress…

Up Close & Personal at its core is about prioritizing your mental health and protecting your peace, especially when it comes to parasocial relationships. I appreciated how authentically Holguin wrote about lived experiences of individuals with anxiety and depression. I personally felt seen by Jo’s character at times and her journey with anxiety was very relatable.

I really appreciated how Silas, though he initially had preconceived notions about Jo and the cult-like fitness empire she built, opened his mind and was willing to admit that his stance was incorrect and came through with a solid grand gesture and apology.

Incredible story with big and tough topics to cover. Mental health problems are a red flg in our society but are more common that it seems. A jaded journalits is set to prove that the fitness world is a scam. A famous instructor needs to show him different and, in the process, find her way to happinness again. Jo and Silas's story will touch your heart. The audiobook with Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle makes the story an even better one. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC copy. This is my honest review.

It has been a while when a book has captured my attention so thoroughly as this one. From the get go, Ana Holguin opens with engaging chapters. The mental health representation and the exploration of perfectly curated social media lives makes this a unique take on social media anxiety.
Jo and Silas are likeable if flawed characters. Their story is a page turner and the surrounding cast just aids to move the story along. This is a slow burn, he falls first love story with some open door spice. The best bits are those between Jo and her friends.
I read to this book with my ears, Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle conveyed the perfect performance to tell this beautiful tale of love and healing.
This book would appeal to fans of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, and Katherine Spencer.

Talk about a story for the times! This one really hits home. Not only was Ana Holguin diving into the exercise world most of us all know and love but also hitting on the mental health reality for so many of us. It was well written and deep while also being a wonderful rom-com to make your heart smile. And a HEA to top it off.

It did take me a little bit to get into the story because I did feel like this was too close to “home” but Ana did a beautiful job characterizing Jo and Silas. The narration by Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle helped bring the characters to life as their voices really helped me imagine Jo and Silas in my mind.

The work life balance, the dating world, living with anxiety is all touched on in this book along with a true sense of found family. The miscommunication/mistaken identity troupe is a main focus and while it is a struggle for me to get through some of these 3rd act breakups with the miscommunication piece Ana does it justice by humanizing every aspect of the trauma.

This was a super cute romance and honestly super good especially for a debut.
This had so many elements I don't see enough or at all that I found unbelievably refreshing.
-The representation around mental health was well done and honest.
-The fact that our MMC CRIES was so REAL and is not done enough in romance books in my opinion.
-This wasn't insta love or insta lust but a well developed connection based on getting to know each other
- I genuinely liked both MCs and found them both well fleshed out and realistic

There was nothing crazy different about the story or the general romantic plotting, but the items mentioned above were enough to seriously set this apart for me.

What do you get when you pair a journalist with a fitness instructor/influencer? An love story that just works. Silas is assigned a story covering the spin classes, fitness influencers, and Jo. Unfamiliar with the quote unquote cult of spin classes and their accessibility from one's own home, Silas goes in with pretty low expectations of Jo. I loved how Silas got to know who Jo was through unconventional interviews over hangouts and realized that he was all wrong about her and that they had quite a bit in common. You could tell that when Silas was beginning to learn that Jo was multifaceted and not just obsessed with her looks and fitness, he really cared for her as a friend. I saw a lot of myself in Jo and her journey with mental health and striving to be the best you can be. It was a fun and easy read that I would recommend to any looking for a rom-com to dive into as we head into Spring and Summer. I did a combination eyeball read and audio for this book and really enjoyed the narrators. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

Instagram review will be live week of 21-Apr-2025.

I was initially curious about this book because of the journalist's skepticism toward trendy fitness classes. As a lover of group workout classes, I needed to see this guy proven wrong. The journalist, Silas, fell into that all-too-familiar category of hating things just because they’re popular or not immediately relatable to him—which can be valid, sure, but it didn’t quite justify the level of disdain he had. If we delve deeper into his hate, this could also be a situation of hating something because it’s mainly loved by a female population. But that is a whole other issue, we won’t get into right now. Overall, it felt a bit overkill. Honestly, Silas was such a hater that it started to kill the vibe for me.

The fitness instructor, Jo, was a bada$$ and really carried the book for me. She was fierce, funny, and didn’t take crap from anyone—which made her an instant favorite. She dealt with her mental health in a very relatable way, with a lot of grace and grit. I was rooting for her throughout the book to face her fears and grow as a person.

Overall, I really enjoyed the plot of this book, but I couldn’t get too invested in the romance. Silas was lying to Jo for most of the story, which made a lot of their early interactions feel kind of icky. It was hard to root for the relationship when so much of it was built on a secret—even if his intentions weren’t entirely bad.

I loved the author’s writing, so I definitely want to give another book a shot in the future! Some of these tropes just weren’t for me.

Audio Review:

Maria and Kellen embodied their characters perfectly. The narration was really well paced and consistent. I really enjoyed how their distinct voices brought the different POVs to life. That being said, their attempts at voicing characters of the opposite gender felt a bit cringey at times.

Read if you like:
Strong FMC
Mental health rep
Dual POV
Found family

I really enjoyed this slow burn , stranger-friends-lovers romance.

Jo is a super popular spin instructor who , from the outside looking in, is on top of the world and about to hit her peak. But on the inside, she is struggling with who she is and what she wants/needs for herself.  She suffers from anxiety, something she's never told the public about, and feels like a fraud because of it.

Silas,  known to his readers and co-workers as the guy who can find fault in anything.  This is what he was ready to do when he was assigned a story on the fitness worlds most popular instructor. 


This book has it all, raw emotion, real relationships that stand the test of time, found family, and a little drama. I knew the 3rd act break up was inevitable, but I didn't mind it. It was well written and added to Jo and Silas' love story .

I received this as an audio book and thought it was well paced . The voice of Jo helped me to invision her character and really understand her.  The voice of Silas, for me, felt a little bit older than what I had imagined when learning his story, but overall, it was a great listen.


Thank you, Hachette Audio and Forever Pub, for the ARC.

About the book: Jo De La Cruz is a spin instructor on one of the hottest platforms, first on the scene, we all know which brand we're picturing- with in person classes and live streams, she is the person you want to take a class with. Jo is struggling with so much attention and media and after ten years, is a little burnt out.
Silas, journalist doing a story on Jo is a non-believer, sees all the cult like tendencies of the craze and isn't buying it. But over many meals, an injury, and admitting that the spotlight hasn't been as easy as it appears, there are feelings- until Jo discovers what Silas is writing about her.

My thoughts: The audiobook was well-paced and it was easy to listen to on a long car ride. The story was a bit predictable and I didn't particularly love any of the characters as standouts. It was a good slow-burn, easy romance book I wish there would have been more backstory with either of the main characters- even Jo's friend group felt like an accessory at times.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette audio for an audio e-arc of this book!