I loved this one so much! I loved how it was a best friends brother but not in the sneaky "they can never find out kind of way". it was also fun to learn about a medical condition I had never really read about before. Overall this was a really enjoyable story for me. The narration was really well done and seamless for me.

I was fortunate to ARC this and then being able to hear it has been better than I could have ever imagined. Jesse goes to a bar determined to check “one‑night stand” off her Change of Pace Bucket List—and meets Asher, and sparks go flying. Like others, I didn’t know much about Kawasaki Disease going into this. I really appreciate Kayla bringing attention to something that doesn’t get talked about enough, especially in romance books. Since Kayla has the disease herself, you could really feel how personal this story was.

Jesse is such a badass and Asher is the perfect cinnamon roll and cat daddy to Gus-Gus. Theirone-night-stand” turns into one long road trip in an RV filled with laughs, charm and slow burn tension. It is also an emotional rollercoaster. Bring the tissues - you’re gonna need them.

Change of Pace Tropes
🚗Bucket list
🚗Best friend’s brother
🚗Only one bed/forced proximity
🚗 Road trip
🚗 Cat daddy
🚗 ADHD rep
🚗 Kawasaki disease rep
🚗 ICD implant rep
🚗 He falls first
🚗 Plus size rep/Dad bod rep

kayla grosse is my auto-read author i love anything she writes and change of pace did not disappoint

“The best part is this is only our first stop. We’re only getting started.”

Change of Pace by Kayla Grosse is a marvelous road trip romance that brought me to tears. Kayla’s storytelling is quirky, charming, body positive, and a spicy good time. Her characters are complex, alluring, and unique. I found Jesse and Asher deeply relatable; their individual arcs were compelling and their shared journey was beautiful. Kayla so clearly poured a piece of herself into this lovely book, it’s a must-read.

I was smitten with Jesse and Asher when I first read this book and listening to Grayson Owens and Victoria Connolly bring them to life was a wonderful treat. Grayson portrayed Asher’s affable, charming, and lovable character perfectly. The down bad cinnamon roll was an insta-smitten sweetheart had me giggling and kicking my feet squealing from chapter one. Victoria Connolly embodied Jesse beautifully. She brought the effervescent yet guarded, brassy, real-bodied beauty to life with a passionate, witty, and engaging performance. I loved how Grayson and Victoria’s styles, tone, and pacing flowed flawlessly together.

Kayla Grosse is an exceptional craftsman of words, and this book hits the nail on the head! I love how beautifully she brings two people together and weaves these hot tales that are exciting and intriguing. I can't put these books down once I start! Easily 5 stars from me!

I loved this story. I wish I had had this representation in books when I was younger so I didn’t feel so alone.

The narrators did a stunning job and I was so lucky to listen to this story come to life with their talent.

The narrators were perfect! They really brought this story to life and I highly recommend this audio.

I adore both the characters and especially liked watching Jesse grow. Kayla wrote a book that perfectly balances a lovely plot with emotion and spice.

The book and the characters in it were 10/10!! I’ve never related to a story and its characters so much. I loved that Jesse wanted to take control of her life after having major life changes happen. For me what was most relatable and hit home was that she can love herself but still be scared to go out in the world and have possible rejection happen. I loved seeing her grow and over come everything. I don’t even know where to begin with Ash, he’s my new favorite book boyfriend. The way his ADHD was represented made me feel seen because I constantly over think and try to do my best and definitely go head first with everything I do.

I just want to say a big thank you to Kayla for writing these awesome characters and a beautiful story that made me feel seen.

This was such a sweet and sexy listen! I love a good road trip romance, and paired with a heroine trying to live her best bucket list life and a one night stand that turns into so much more, this was a really fun read/listen while also having a whole lot of heart. This is definitely one of my favorites from Kayla.

Our heroine Jesse is going through some challenging times with her health- and is trying to do all things YOLO with a bucket list- and first on the list she can check off? A One Night stand....with Asher who just so happens to be her best friend's brother. When they reconnect later, Jesse ends up joining Asher on his road trip- and thus the romantic adventure begins.

Kayla's stories are always fun and spicy, but this one had a really delightful (and meaningful) emotional side to it that made this feel a bit more robust. Jesse's journey felt really emotionally intimate, and I loved seeing her find someone so supportive and loving and thoughtful when it comes to her health condition. We have some great representation here (Kawasaki disease, ADHS, ICD implant)- which I felt really added dimension to the stories. PLUS, a cat daddy that falls first and harder? I mean MEOW. (pun intended).

While the audio wasn't as fancy as the Whirlwind audio, the narrators were top notch. Grayson Owens and Victoria have great vocal chemistry and brought a lot of heart to the performances. A really enjoyable listen.

What to expect:
Best friend's brother
Forced proximity
One night stand
Only one bed
Cat daddy
Bucket list
Plus size FMC
ADHD Rep
Chronic Illness/Heart Condition Rep
Road Trip Romance

I will actually accept 0 critisism of this book. ZERO.

I felt SO SEEN by the FMC in this book. I think anyone with a life altering health issue will find a piece of themselves here and feel represented in one way or another.

Kayla’s audiobooks have become some of my favorites as of late. Her writing is addictive. Her characters are swoon worthy, relatable and you WANT them to grow, achieve and find happiness. Basically her books feel like a warm hug.

Jesse’s character growth and acceptance of her situation and just HERSELF through the pages of this book was absolutely so well done. Kayla handled a medical life change with so much care and compassion.

ASHER. like.. seriously? is he real?

The vibes Change of Pace brings to the party:
-Bucket List
-Road Trip
-One night Stand turned Friends to Lovers
-Best Friend’s Brother
-He Falls First
-Kawasaki Disease Rep
-Plus Size Rep

Truly. I could say a lot, but this book really speaks for itself. It will pull you in from page 1 & I highly recommend the audio if you’re an audiobook lover!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

What a sweet story!!!

I loved the Kawasaki and ADHD rep, it was so sensitively and lovingly depicted. There’s always something more in Kayla Grosse’s stories - yes it’s a fun and spicy story, but there’s also such depth to the characters.

I loved the road trip aspect of this story, the emotional and character growth that happens while they also travel the country. What more would you want in a story?

So glad to get the ALC via NetGalley.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC listen. I really enjoyed listening to this book. Kayla Grosse always has some really good books.

Jesse and Asher go from one night to an adventurous road trip. I love the inclusion of her Kawasaki disease. Their love story was exciting and sweet. The authors storytelling was captivating and beautifully written

📚 Change of Pace by Kayla Grosse
🎧 Format: Audiobook
🎙️ Narrated by:
📕 Genre: Contemporary Romance
📖 Read: May 2025
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦 (𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯) 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

‧₊˚✧ 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑰𝑭 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑳𝑰𝑲𝑬 ✧˚₊‧
ꕥ Best Friend’s Brother
ꕥ Road Trip
ꕥ Cat Daddy
ꕥ He Falls First & Hard
ꕥ Only One Bed
ꕥ Banter

I really wanted to love this, but I just had a really hard time with it. I think it was very well written, I loved diving into Jesse’s struggles with her heart condition and I think Conner was super sweet. I do think the book started off really strong, there were so many adorable moments between Jesse and Connor. What I struggled with is the “one night-stand/reluctant to love trope”. Having the entire plot revolve around Jesse’s stubbornness and the constant “we have to just stay friends”, got really repetitive. It felt like there was really no growth in her character until the very end. I do think this book will speak to a lot of people and I will always read anything Kayla Grosse writes!

𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴: 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥.𝘢𝘯𝘥.𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨/

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, and Kayla Grosse for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 5

I adored this book. I listened to the audiobook and have to say—the narrators crushed it. They brought so much life and emotion to the characters that I felt like I was right there in the RV with them.

Jesse and Asher’s story kicks off with a classic one-night stand… that turns into a spontaneous cross-country road trip. Casual, right? But here’s the twist: Jesse has a heart condition that’s shaped how she lives her life. With her health always uncertain, she’s created a bucket list full of things she wants to experience—just in case. Asher, being the unexpectedly sweet and helpful guy that he is, offers to help her tackle that list in his Winnebago.

Their chemistry is instant, their banter is top-tier, and while their relationship moves fast, it fits the theme perfectly. Life is short—and they’re not wasting a second. The pacing might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for these two? It’s perfect.

What I loved most is how this story balances emotional depth with pure charm. It’s heartfelt without being heavy, touching on themes like self-worth, grief (especially the kind tied to health), love, and truly living life on your own terms. It’s emotional, uplifting, and cute as heck.

I also have to shout out the representation—Jesse being a heart warrior hit home for me personally, and it was so meaningful to see that kind of story told with care and joy.

In short: I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Jesse and Asher stole my heart—and then drove away with it in a Winnebago.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kayla Grosse, Dreamscape Select, and Fat Babe Publishing, INC. for the ALC opportunity.

I picked up Change of Pace by Kayla Gross on the promise of a road trip romance with forced proximity, slow burn tension, and a plus-size heroine who’s ready to chase her bucket list—and for the most part, that’s exactly what I got. This book is fun, spicy, and packed with some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, even if it didn’t always hit the emotional depth I was hoping for.

We meet Jesse Reeves, 28 years old, plus-size, and finally ready to start living on her own terms. She kicks things off with a very relatable entry on her bucket list: a one-night stand. And what a one-night stand it is—sexy, spontaneous, and with a man who clearly knows what he’s doing. The twist? Her mystery hookup, Asher Jamison, turns out to be very much not a stranger for long. She bumps into him at her best friend/roommate’s wedding, and soon the two of them are on a cross-country road trip together, checking off bucket list items one by one.

The premise is instantly engaging. There’s a sense of freedom and playfulness to the story’s structure, with each new stop on the road bringing another challenge, another laugh, or another layer to Jesse and Asher’s dynamic. I really enjoyed their chemistry—there’s an ease between them that makes the slow burn feel believable and satisfying. And Asher? He’s the kind of romantic lead you can’t help but root for. Patient, kind, attentive—he’s the “he falls first” guy who never makes a big show of it, but you feel it in every small, thoughtful moment.

There are some genuinely great touches in this book, too. Jesse’s ADHD is woven into her character in a way that feels real and familiar rather than gimmicky. The inclusion of Kawasaki Disease representation is also a welcome surprise—handled with sensitivity, it adds a layer of emotional history that grounds Asher’s character. And the humor? It works. There were multiple scenes where I actually laughed out loud, which isn’t something I can say about most romances.

But despite all the strengths, I found myself bumping up against the tone more than once. Jesse is supposed to be 28, but her voice often read much younger. Some of the dialogue and internal monologue felt like it belonged in a YA novel—not necessarily a dealbreaker, but enough that I kept getting pulled out of the story. It felt, at times, like a teenager’s idea of what being 28 and emotionally independent looks like, rather than the lived experience of someone that age.

That said, if you’re reading for the vibes—for the spice (3.5/5), the flirty banter, and the sheer joy of a good rom-com setup—Change of Pace is a solid pick. It’s not a perfect book, but it’s charming in the ways that matter most. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you're in the mood for.

4.5 stars!

I love Kayla Grosse's books so, so much. She makes me feel seen as a plus-size woman in a way few other authors have. She makes sure that we all know there's nothing wrong with asking for what you want as a fat woman, that we should be loved and valued and cherished no matter what. "Change of Pace" also made me feel seen as a plus-size woman with a disability. I found this story to be remarkably uplifting in that aspect. It's a solid reminder to do what you want, if you're able, while you're alive to experience it and not take it for granted. On top of that, this book is super cute and fun! Jesse and Asher both have terrific character arcs and end the book as better people than when they started it. I loved listening to their journey across the country, learning about one another (and themselves!), and exploring items on their bucket lists. This is a fun road trip book with a slight twist because Jesse and Asher barely know one another, Usually, I dislike books where the main characters get together so quickly, but for some reason, their romance felt earned and lovely! The brother's best friend aspect also worked, too, because Asher's sister liked that they could potentially be a couple, so no drama there. I finished this story in about a day and a half. I also loooooooove Victoria Connolly and Grayson Owens' voiceover narration work here. My god, they are PERFECT for the characters of Jesse and Asher! Their cadence, diction, pacing, and emotions all come together to make a terrific, well-rounded audiobook. I loved Kayla's back and forth banter coming to life because of their narration!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kayla Grosse, Dreamscape Select, and Fat Babe Publishing, INC. for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Kayla doesn't write a bad book. She writes such relatable romance and characters. I always love diving into her stories knowing I am going to feel totally seen and like theres depth in the story. I fall in love with her story telling and writing more and more each book. The narrator chose was perfection.

4.5 ⭐️ I absolutely LOVED this book. I did the audio and loved the narrators. They added so much to the characters.

Jesse and Asher’s journey from one night stand to traveling across the country together was so much fun. Jesse has a heart condition that led her to create a bucket list of things she wants to experience before she dies, as it could happen at any time. Asher sets out to help her check off items on her bucket list as they travel across the country in his RV. Their relationship grows really quickly and I think it goes right along with the title and theme. The pace may not be for everyone, but it works for them and it was really beautiful to experience along with them.

Already have a few friends in mind who I will be recommending this to. Also always love plus size rep :)

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ALC!