This was a fast, fun listen! Both narrators hit the right tone—authentic without overacting. Kayla Grosse stands out in the romance genre for how she handles Jesse’s health issues (Kawasaki Disease and an ICD). Most of the time authors who write genre romance decide to feature a medical issue but the way they handle it makes the book come off as a weird school presentation with flat characters, but not here. Jesse and Asher are the story. They are also both fluffy and the author incorporated that in a way that seemed truly genuine and not some weird preachy way. It’s refreshing and real.

Bonus points for Asher being a cat daddy and having a cool relationship with his sister. Overall, genuinely charming and well-executed.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for an early copy for review.

A beautiful dual POV, one night stand turned road trip romance between Jesse a Kawasaki survivor with a new ICD implant (aka pace maker) and Ash, a successful entrepreneur with ADHD. Together they agree to travel across the country in an RV with his cat checking off Jesse's bucket list items.

I loved Jesse and Ash so much! He falls hard and fast first and she can't help falling for his MANY charms. There's fantastic disability and neurodivergence rep, lots of humor and tons of SPICE! It just may be my new fav by Kayla Grosse!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Coming from a background of not knowing anything about Kawasaki's disease or ICDs made this book worth its weight in gold. The author was knowledgeable and brought this Rom-Com into today by educating us on things that we need to know more about.

Jessie and Ash are such a lovely couple from day one and we were dealing with a slow transition on Jessie's part in letting someone in, so that was a little agitating because I felt poor Ash deserved so much better. But it was nice to see the woman give the grand gesture in a romance book.

I loved, loved, loved Ash and his kind heart, and caring nature. He is definitely someone I wanted to steal from the FMC because she wasn't treating him the way HE needed to be treated. Luckily it all evened out in the end and they lived happily ever after.

I was worried at first that the author was going to leave out the last crossed out item from the bucket list... and... she didn't disappoint. I just had to be patient. And patience is NOT my middle name.

I Loved the narrators Victoria Connolly and Grayson Owens. What a dynamic duo.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

This is my first audiobook and so far it has been so fun to listen to! The character are lovable and so funny. Cant wait to update with a more detailed review soon!

I adored Change of Pace and Jesse x Asher's love story! Their adventures were so fun to follow, and I loved the way they fell for each other through time and conversation spent at some of America's most beautiful and most quirky attractions. The thoughtful representation of fat leads, chronic illness, and neurodivergence was really incredible and I can't wait to read more by Kayla Grosse if this is what I can expect from her books!

This couple had the best fluffy, golden retriever vibes and I was so here for it. I loved their story, their spice, and I just found myself smiling the entire time. Can I please go with them on a road trip?? I also adore the narrators and the audio version was spectacular.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and Kayla Grosse for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. The way that the characters felt, made the book so emotional. The touch into real life scenarios, adventures, and just life in general made it feel so real. Kayla really took the time to put care and thought into the story from start to finish. She even put thought into traveling and how in the book the characters went to a place that might not be the best at the time they went. The fact that she put that out there as acknowledgement truly shows that she understands. I had a great time listening to this book!

I am so honored that I got to listen to Victoria and Grayson! The way in which both take care with many different portions of narrations creates a wonderful experience.

Slow burn. Best Friends Brother. Forced proximity. He falls first.
Asher is such a cinnamon roll; he’s so patient with Jesse. His actions just made me melt. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

We just finished this audiobook from Kayla Grosse and we are SMITTEN. This story has all the feels, so many giggles, and brings the heat.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: we adore @victoriaconnollynarrator. And paired with @graysonthemic? These two crushed it. The story is told in dual POV and the chemistry between these two narrators is undeniable. They get Asher and Jesse.

Kayla’s story is the perfect match for this performance. We honestly forgot we were listening to a book, Victoria and Grayson completely pulled us into the world of these characters.

Asher and Jesse own our hearts now. We might have to change our relationship status to “It’s complicated.”

A special shoutout for the playlist. Pure Perfection

3.5/4
It was cute. Loved the plus size representation in such a sexy book. It was a local to me book so that was a fun bonus too!

Thank you Dreamscape for the approval to read Change of Pace!
I adored these characters!

Would recommend if you love:
-road trip romance
-friends to lovers
-great character growth among both, and growing together
-health of the FMC at the forefront of her character traits and decisions

This audiobook production was SO GOOD. The narrators both have pleasant voices I liked listening to. They brought so much to the story in the form of emotions, volume changes, great pacing and all those little 'noises' we read in books. "She exhaled" "I huffed out a laugh" They were perfect! Would definitely recommend reading this on audio if you're an audiobook lover!

Jesse and Asher are such great main characters! They both go through some character growth throughout this story and their CHEMISTRY is on point! I LOVED their scenes when Jesse would let down her walls and truly enjoy Asher's company. The wedding was a big favorite of mine in this (as well as what happens after, LOL)!
I have to admit the 3rd act breakup is something I hate but it worked here while Jesse worked out her feelings on her own.

Overall, a cute (and sexy) road trip romance with a different aspect as Jesse's health takes a front seat throughout this story.

3.5 stars

Let me start by saying I adore Asher. Don’t get me wrong, Jesse is a fantastic character and I love her, too. Yet there’s something about the confidence, caring, and comfort that Asher exudes that got me right in the feels.

There is a lot to love about this story. Jesse has always felt she didn’t quite measure up. Then, just as she was getting her footing as an adult, she had a heart attack and found out she had undiagnosed Kawasaki disease as a child, which damaged her heart. Now Jesse not only feels she has to get her bucket list completed stat, but also that she would be a bad bet for a relationship. But Asher, who was supposed to be her list’s one-night stand, fell in love at first sight and has no intention of them ending after one night.

Here’s the thing…Asher never pressures Jesse or makes her feel bad about her decisions. That they find out he’s her best friend’s brother and will definitely be seeing each other again is a happy accident, and an opportunity that Asher won’t squander. Not only is this a best friend’s brother story, it’s also a road trip book—so much fun with tons of emotions.

By no means is this story perfect. There are too many references to pop culture that are too old for these characters without some explanation. There were some heavy “romance reasons” to have these two not know enough about each other through Asher’s sister to not recognize each other when they meet. Yet overall it was a great story.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.**

I DEVOURED this one! This story is so real and the characters are so human. I loved Jesse so much, I have never read a fmc with an ICD implant/Kawaski disease but as a nurse I’m well versed in what Jesse endured. The fact that Asher tries to be everything and more for her, even if she doesn’t always want that, is so freaking sweet.

You will feel your soul sucked out and put back but in the best way

Omg. Kayla Grosse makes me cry and feel all the feels. This was so sweet and fun! The plot and concept of the book was so cute, and kept me engaged the entire time. I loved Asher (called Ash) and Jesse (called Jesse), and the connection they shared was so sweet. THis book included many of my main tropes, and I think that is what I enjoyed most!

The way Ash cared for Jesse was perfection. He was patient and kind, while also trying his best to not treat her differently and I think that is what I loved most. He was patient, and gave her the time and space she needed to process everything, and really helped grow her confidence. Jesse's change and mindset through out the book only got better and better. I think it really shows how different things can be when you have people in your corner that care for you and want to see you succeed.

Victoria Connolly and Grayson Owens were amazing to listen to. While looking at the cover of the book I already had in mind what I thought they would sound like, and Victoria and Grayson matched it perfectly. They really brought the emotion need to each character, and I cannot wait to listen to more books narrated by them!

Thank you Netgalley, Kayla Grosse and Dreamscape Select!

Read if you like:
One night stand
Best friends brother
Bucket list
Close proximity
One bed
Insta love/lust
Heart condition rep
Cat dad

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for ALC of "change of pace"
.
From the cover, any one would assume that it would be a cute rom-com but damn!! from the start to 16% its was so sensual. i have never been a smut fan and insta love literally frustrate the shit out of me and that's exactly what happened here but eventually when they both start checking off the jessie's checklist it was cute and humouroud sometimes too. Ash felt like such a side character to me because what in the world he had nothing to do except for help the girl checking off her bucket list. On top of that the girl he just met. Again instalove is so dumb.
Read this if you enjoy:
smut/spicy scenes/ open door spicy books
best friend's brother
living together

Asher is the biggest simp, and I am beyond here for it. Jesse had her reasons, but she definitely agitated me by not totally appreciating what Asher was doing for her and how he was loving her through their entire trip. Overall though, Asher is probably my new favorite Kayla man. Victoria Connolly and Grayson Owen’s were perfection as the narrators!

Loved it! 💛

Jesse is living with undiagnosed Kawasaki Disease and has survived multiple heart attacks before 30. She now has an ICD and is just trying to figure out how to live again without feeling like a burden. I can’t even imagine that kind of physical and emotional weight. (Extra points for the author’s note: Kayla has this condition, too, which made Jesse’s journey feel even more personal and real.)

After a one-night stand with Asher, who turns out to be her best friend’s older brother, Jesse ends up on a spontaneous, chaotic road trip full of weird stops, heart healing, and self-discovery. I’m not usually into instalove, so Asher was a liiittle intense for me at first, but Jesse? Perfect. The banter, the flirty tension, the steam? All so good. 🔥

Asher is the definition of thoughtful and patient. He helps Jesse tackle her sometimes weird and always wonderful travel bucket list in 20 days, and adds his own chaotic flair along the way. Watching Jesse learn to love herself (not despite her diagnosis, but with it) was emotional and incredibly relatable for anyone who's been through a medical crisis or personal trauma.

Also, major props for the refreshing take on the “dating your BFF’s brother” trope. Asher’s sister was all in, and I loved how she rooted for them instead of flipping out. Growth!

And last but never least...Gusgus. The ultimate wing-cat. He absolutely helped push Jesse and Asher together, and I will be accepting no arguments. That good boy stole my whole heart.

Victoria Connolly and Grayson Owens nailed the audio. Total spot-on casting.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kayla for the ALC!

3 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

this was such a cute book, i’m a sucker for a bucket list & road trip rom-com. i loved seeing a plus sized woman be the main character/ love interest especially with medical representation.

i liked our main characters as people, i felt like they were both really realistic and charming although of course their faults were also really realistic as well while also being unlikable traits lol. i feel like asher definitely came on too strong in the beginning and would have icked me out and jesse could have easily avoided the main conflict in the story a lot sooner, i feel like it went on a bit too long like she should have discussed her true feelings before he went to london or at least be a bit more open about where she was mentally about them.

i did feel like her rationale for not wanting to date because she could die at any moment a little too the fault in our stars / hazel grace lancaster vibes, because although i completely understand where she’s coming from, technically anyone can die at any moment and that’s the point and reason for living in the moment before it’s too late.

their romance was so cute and i loved the mix up of her first hookup also being her best friend’s brother. i genuinely loved there dynamic and friendship even before they decided to get together which i think is really good writing.

the narrators Victoria Connolly & Grayson Owens did such an amazing job of narrating this book, i think this is my favourite audiobook depiction, the narrators completely embodied the characters and pronounced and delivered each line so so well.

Change of Pace, like everything else I’ve ever read by Kayla Grosse, was incredible. Jesse, diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease, has had two heart attacks, and she’s opted for a ICD implant. Knowing she isn’t promised tomorrow, she creates a bucket list, which includes a one night stand. Enter Asher. They meet a bar, their connection is immediate, and he comes back to her place. The night is hot—incredible—but it’s only supposed to be one night. Until she realizes that Asher is her roommate’s brother, in town for the weekend. When he learns of her bucket list, he offers to help, and they set off on a cross country roadtrip in his trusty Winnebago RV to start crossing things off. Their one night stand turns into a friendship then a situationship before becoming something permanent and real.

I loved how hesitant and vulnerable Jesse was. It felt very authentic that as someone who has come that close to death, she would have some hangups and baggage. I also appreciated the authenticity with which she lived in a larger body. For the most part, she loves herself and is confident in who she is, but there are also moments when she’s vulnerable and struggles. Everyone, no matter their size, can relate to that feeling. Asher is #boyfriendgoals, even before they’re officially together, always finding ways to encourage Jesse and also push her without being pushy. Patient, kind, loyal. He’s a walking green flag.

Victoria Connolly and Grayson Owens both deliver incredible performances as Jesse and Asher. Their narration really drew me into the story, and kept my brain engaged as I listened. 10/10. All the stars. No notes.

Ideal for readers who enjoy heartfelt journeys of self-discovery and slow-burn romance intertwined with adventurous escapades and emotional depth.