A spin class instructor and a self-proclaimed contrarian journalist start developing feelings for one another when forced to collaborate on a project.

While I appreciate characters being passionate about their work, I was itching for more romance and banter. The focus heavily leaned towards Jo and her career, making Haven's classes front and center rather than the developing relationship between our main characters. Additionally, the audiobook narrator for Silas was disappointing, delivering emotional scenes with a monotone quality. The novel has its enjoyable moments, but didn't make much of a lasting impact as far as a romance story.

An appealing romance that cleverly taps into the Peloton craze from several years ago. Both Jo and Silas are interesting main characters, and I like the premise of him as a skeptic of her wildly popular spin classes spurred to investigate and write about her, thus bringing them together. The story nicely incorporates mental health by highlighting the anxiety and depression that these two grapple with, which helps them understand each other better and meaningfully connect. While I admire Silas' strict adherence to journalistic integrity in holding off on starting anything with Jo until after he finished his article and how this allowed them to get to know each other so well, there could have been a bit more heat between the pair in the form of angst and pining to make the moment when they finally come together really pay off. There is a niggling plot thread dangling over most of the story that predictably leads to the final act conflict, but I appreciated the efforts made by both to heal and improve afterward, resulting in a satisfying resolution at the end. This was an enjoyable debut and the audiobook is well narrated by both Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle, who do a terrific job bringing these characters to life.

I absolutely loved this book! Ana Holguin has such a knack for writing characters that feel vibrant, real, and utterly captivating. From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the raw emotion and the sparkling humour that balanced so beautifully throughout the story.

The audiobook experience? Great! The narrator brought very moment to life with the tone on the voice and the energy on delivering the book. This story made me laugh, get slightly angry, and maybe a little bit emotional.

The relationship felt a bit slow and then quickly developed, it had tension, connection, and interaction. I could listen even more of this book.

4.5 stars.

I loved both characters and their development throughout the book. The narrators of the audiobook were great. Jo's voice fit her perky spin instructor personality and Silas's voice was perfectly cynical and dry. Originally, I felt like Silas was the main character as we kind of got to know Jo through his eyes, but it took a while for us to know him personally. Their chemistry was great, undeniable and despite the questionable start to their relationship, I totally believed in their evolution. Also a fun peak into the spin cycling phenomenon.

Highly recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for the ARC.

Incredibly slow and no chemistry for a romance. I loved the idea of a reluctant celebrity having a journalist try to write a hit piece on her but then he falls for her; that was cute. However, the chemistry just wasn’t there. If I have to be told they’re falling for each other rather than feeling it through the writing, then it’s not really there. This would have done better as a single POV as Silas’ added nothing to it. I wanted to love this as the cycling guru angle was fun but it just didn’t work for me.

I wasn’t sure at first, but this story really grew on me! Jo and Silas’s slow-burn connection strengthened throughout the book, and was heartfelt and believable. The story also touched on important and timely topics like the impact of social media on mental health, and handled them with honesty and sensitivity.

Read if you like: Cult-following fitness empires, SSRIs, strong female friendships

One note - I listened to the audio version, and didn’t love the male narrator. Not in an “I can’t even listen" way, but he had a way of speaking that sounded a little cheesy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of the book.

Thank you so much to @readforeverpub for the eARC and to @hachetteaudio for the ALC!

This book was excellent. I’ll admit that much like the MMC, Silas, I wasn’t super into the idea of focusing on a Peloton instructor type. I could not have been more wrong. While I’m not a fitness fanatic (don’t get me wrong, I see the benefits of exercise and get the Peloton or home work out appeal - I just would rather do about anything I o get out of cardio) this book dealt with something that I can absolutely resonate with: anxiety and depression. Jo was such a realistic portrayal of that and I found myself identifying with her experience quite a bit. Silas was a great character as well and I appreciated his journey and self-reflection on his actions - he took accountability and that’s attractive. I love a love interest who knows when he messed up and realizes he has a gem.

This book had authentic emotion, steamy moments, cute inside jokes (when you’re here, you’re family 😂 iykyk) and a couple that I couldn’t help but root for. I loved this book and can’t wait for more from this author! This was such a great novel, hard to believe it’s her debut!

Thank you to Hachette Audio & Netgalley for the ALC.

This was a heartfelt, but flirty slow burn book between a well known spin instructor and the journalist interviewing her for a magazine feature. This story featured themes of mental health, anxiety, and career burnout in a relatable way.

I appreciated the slow build up of chemistry/tension between the main characters without the usual insta-love/lust that is prevalent in many romcoms.

My only gripe is the inevitable third act breakup/conflict that felt a bit contrived. It was a miscommunication that could have easily been solved earlier. I didn't love that Silas didn't come clean with Jo before they were intimate.

I thought both narrators did a good job and kept me engaged with the story.

First line of the book: “I’m getting bangs” - I thought this had such potential and was excited for that first line but I struggled through this. It was very slow to me and I was bored.

Our two main characters battle anxiety, depression, self love, and the recovery process it takes after a mental health crisis. Which I think was written nicely and accurately for the most part.

I honestly didn’t feel the connection between Jo and Silas in a romantic way, the chemistry didn’t feel believable to me.

*Narrated by Maria Liatis & Kellen Boyle*
11 hours & 35 minutes

The narrators fell flat for me too, it was hard to stay concentrated on the story.
I’m not sure if it was just me, but they sort of sounded too similar to each other?

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Audio & Ana Holguin for the ALC.

I read this because I impulse downloaded it when it was read now one day. I thought it was fine but I didn’t love it. The characters grew on me and had some growth, but there were things that irked me and the pacing was off. Not awful but not great.

Audiobook specific, I did not care for the male narrator for narrating romance. When his first chapter started it was immediately off putting. Would be totally fine with him in general fiction or like sci fi maybe but not here

Overall, I enjoyed the experience with this book. I liked Jo I resonated with her a lot with her for how her anxiety is portrayed as well as Silas with his depression. Jo is a spin class instructor at the haven who doesn't know what she wants to do with her life anymore she is very unhappy in her current profession. Silas is a writer for the metropolitan who was tasked to write a article about jo and the haven. He has it set in his brain that they are just a scam artist. So, he uses a method to meet jo thru a mutual friend and tries to trick jo into thinking the article was her idea. After getting to know Jo he starts to understand her and inevitably falls in love with her. I did totally see the third act breakup coming and called it in the beginning.

🎧 Dual Narration

This book is 27 Dresses but in 2025 and with peloton. I loved this book, it felt like the 00s romcoms and was such a fun read that I just couldn’t put down!

I loved how this book has a really good representation of mental illness (anxiety, depression) I didn’t realise it and showed it in a real honest and realistic way. It made Joe’s journey so much more powerful unbelievable it also made her a much more multi layered character. I would’ve liked maybe a bit more description/filling out around the medication as it was quite quickly glossed over. But in general one of the best representations of mental illness I’ve seen in a book.

I also really enjoyed the romance. It was a tension building, believable romance that was really enjoyable to read. The spicy scene was done well, and fit with the characters and feel of the book.

The only thing I felt that we lacked was Silas’s development. We got an awful lot around Joe, her friendship, her mental health etc. I felt like Silas’s this was a little bit lacking compared to that. Also, there wasn’t much description around him trying to write the article maybe some other struggles he faced having to change his mind. Nothing massive, but I think that’s the area that could’ve been improved on.

I must also say the audiobook was so enjoyable! Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle did a great job, they pulled you into the story and make it believable and enjoyable! The production was well done and the 2 narrators were easy to understand.

I would highly recommend this book for any fellow romance readers

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audio Arc for this book.

I enjoyed this listen a lot! The narrators were great and I really loved the mental health rep. I also enjoyed the concept of "celebrity" and influencer and what that means these days. I also like the take on celebrity trainers, which we have also see a lot more these days. I think it also sheds light on the pressure that befalls these people and that under the persona that people see or perceive online there is a real person, who is dealing with real issues just like everyone else. I liked the connection between Silas and Jo and how it built from their very first meeting.

Here's where things didn't work for me. The 0 draft he wrote with his preconceived notions and before he really knew ANYTHING about Jo or the people who do what she does, what so obiovus. I knew as soon as he wrote it that it was going to be the cause for the main conflict or third act break up. The fact that he kept it made it so obvious and also the fact that he kept it open as a "reminder" every time he wrote so it was just lingering there throughout the whole book, I just felt it detracted so much from the story because as I've said it beyond obvious!

That in itself took a whole "point" off for this book which would have been a 4.5 star read for me otherwise.....everything else was there and so well done! If the author didn't think the reader would notice, then they must not think their readers are very smart....it was glaring from the second it was mentioned!

4.5 ⭐ 1 🌶️ 5 🎧

This was so stinking cute. I absolutely loved Jo and Silas and watching them fall in love. Sure, the third act miscommunication break up is there... But I saw it coming from a mile away and was able to prepare myself 😂 Ultimately, they came back together so sweetly that I was able to give them a pass and melted into a puddle during their epilogue.

The mental health rep in this story was phenomenal. Ana really hit on anxiety and depression being the monsters they are and I felt so seen. The most innocuous of things can trigger a breakdown, and even though you know it's not true, an anxious brains lies and Jo really showcased this perfectly. I really loved them so much.

The audio was fantastic as well. Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle were great and I loved this listen.

This book was overall enjoyable to read. Jo De La Cruz is a super popular spin instructor who feels like her life is becoming lackluster from the repetitive cycle. Silas Anders is a journalist who walks into her life randomly it seems. However, of course Silas has a plan. I found Silas a bit creepy in the beginning and almost gave off stalker vibes. He seemed so desperate to take as many classes of Jo's as he could. At first it was from a journalist perspective and then as he started to develop feelings it became from a romantic perspective.

One thing I did really like about this book was its focus on mental health. More specifically, anxiety and depression. It is something that so many people can relate to, myself included. It was relatable to watch Jo struggle as she felt stuck in the world and like her career wasn't enjoyable anymore.

The conflict between the couple was predictable and I am rather surprised that Jo was quick to forgive. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two so for me the spicy scenes were also a bit lackluster just because of that. Thank you Netgalley, Hachette Audio, and Ana Holguin for an ARC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.

Thank you @NetGalley and @HachetteAudio for the ALC!

4 ⭐️. Super fun rom com set in a hot NYC summer! After finishing this book I did in fact go to the Olive Garden- because when you're here, you're family.

The hook:
This story follows Jo, a semi-famous spin class instructor (think: peleton influencer) who streams her classes to thousands of people across the country. However, her life is not as glamorous as it appears as she struggles from moderate to severe general anxiety. Then we meet Silas, a jaded journalist who is a (mostly) self-proclaimed hater who writes for a local magazine. Silas pursues Jo for a story to discover if these fitness influencers are a scam and the instructors are all just superficial and fake. Instead, he finds himself enjoying these classes and builds a connection to Jo herself.

My thoughts:
I think the standard for rom-coms are really high for me personally. It's a very saturated market and so hooking me is tough! I was super impressed with how much I truly enjoyed this story. It has all the bones and feels of a 2000s rom-com, but make it 2025 and a more realistic plot and bam, we've got something! The writing was great but in a simple way - no frills, easy to follow, and not much need to suspend belief in the way it just felt like a normal coupling of two ~~real~~ people. I love ANY book with the following: mental health awareness & discussion, diversity in characters (MMC is Mexican-American), a NYC setting, and good banter. And this story had it all!

There is a third act breakup, which I really don't mind at all. I think when done well it adds to the story. I did feel like the conflict was a bit predictable and I was just waiting for it to happen. I think the resolution was a bit rushed and I think pacing wise would have been done better a bit earlier and had it be slightly more drawn out. But I know third act breakups are controversial! I just live for the drama.

🎧Audiobook specific notes🎧:
-This was done in dual narration and dual POV.
-Both of these narrators were new to me. However, they both were excellent performances!!
-A thought I have on most dual narrated books is "this really would've been better duet". And while that's almost always true for me - I still REALLY enjoyed this dual performance!!! Which was such a pleasant surprise! That speaks volumes to me in an audiobook.
-The production felt polished, and both narrators were very easy to follow.
-I was a bit hesitant on the male narrator at first, but as you get to know Silas I found that his voice truly was a great fit. The female narrator was a near perfect fit for how I pictured Jo.

This novel brings a fresh setup to the romance genre: Jo, a spin cycle trainer in New York City, and Silas, a journalist at a major publication, are thrown together in a client-agent dynamic that quickly turns personal. At its heart, it’s a story about two people navigating hidden struggles—Jo with her mental health and Silas with pressures and romance from his editorial team—all while trying to maintain boundaries in a city that never stops moving.

The premise instantly grabbed my attention. The pairing of a fitness trainer and a journalist is something I haven’t encountered before, and I appreciated the originality of that. However, as someone who works in journalism, I found the professional boundary-blurring a bit hard to root for. That may be more of a me thing than a story flaw, but it did affect how I connected with the romance.

The middle section introduced themes around disability, anxiety, and therapy, which are undeniably important, but the way they were woven into the narrative felt somewhat formulaic. Rather than adding emotional depth, they felt like expected plot beats for the characters’ respective roles, rather than something that deepened the characters uniquely.

By the end of the book, the pacing and tone shift noticeably. The romance took a steamier turn, which some readers may enjoy, but for me, it felt like a departure from the emotional buildup that had been developing. The conflict and climax didn’t hit quite as hard, likely because I’m already familiar with journalistic ethics and how confidentiality plays out in real-life situations—so the stakes didn’t feel as high as they were likely intended to be.

Overall, while I admired the initial setup and the attempt to explore heavier topics, I would have loved to see the story take more risks with its tropes and consequences—especially in the workplace aspect. I think it had the potential to be more impactful with a bolder ending, maybe even leaving a company or getting fired.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, Hachette Audio & Ana Holguin for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sometimes, men can be so dense, can't they!? So many chances dear Silas could have come clean from the jump. So many chances he had to delete the file! But alas, as Celine Dion sings "That's the way it is..".

I loved Jo's friend group. I felt the connection and chemistry build with Jo & Silas as the story went on. I appreciated the SoulCycle/Peloton storyline and value of the community. I do wish there was more of a conclusive moral to the story of Jo physically overworking her body. It feels odd to wish a physical breakdown on someone, but I think it would have been a good takeaway about the fitness industry's hustle culture.

Narration was very well done. I would definitely listen to these narrators again.

Up Close & Personal is a standout debut novel by Ana Holguin, I had the opportunity to listen to this as an audiobook from NetGalley. This book is a must read for every Peloton reader. Being a die hard member of the Peloton community. I loved this storyline as this is the first book I have read/listened to. It is a breath of fresh air with a new scenario. This is a slow burn romance, but it is so much more. It goes through Jo's struggle with mental illness difficulties. Enter Silas a journalist looking for a "spin" on the bike community. You really don't understand it, until you are in it. Silas manages to get an introduction in a not so honest way. What starts out as an assignment for Silas becomes so much more. His initial doubt softens into admiration. Their relationship unfolds with tenderness and authenticity, highlighting the importance of mental health care and the strength in seeking support.

With its mix of romance, emotional depth, and a peek behind the curtain of influencer culture, Up Close & Personal is an empowering and engaging read that reminds us healing often starts when we let someone in.

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. The narrators were intriguing. Silas fluctuates between sounding annoyed and sounding bubbly- for the most part following the storyline except when he was chastising his own actions. Jo’s narration was able to connect with her anxiety with a good feeling when necessary. It’s a slow burn romance -reporter interviewing a famous cycle instructor. I did enjoy the perspective from the instructor that she takes everyone’s reason for being there to heart. There’s nothing more annoying than an instructor throwing out reasons they believe you are there with no knowledge why you are there. I feel this part of the story was so well done with Jo being truly genuine. Also the way the author addresses mental health/ anxiety and Jo’s OCD. Her self awareness and her support group are explained so well as well as directly addressing the need for physical movement to help mental health. Yes the ending was predictable and I feel the bikes no longer in their apartment was a bit of a miss but the overall openness of mental health gives this one a 5⭐️ good read.