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turnthepages_nl's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I need more show and less tell.
Most of the character growth happens off page and that really saddens me. I like it when I see the emotional growth, thoughts, feelings and process on page. And this book skipped over those parts real fast. (Except for the lust, there were plenty of lusty, horny thoughts)
They also keep mentioning how small and little (in height) Rayah (the FMC) is and that got annoying reallll quick. Like, we get it, she is not as tall as the others.
I missed emotional depth and growth. I would have liked to see less sexual inuendos and remarks, and more emotional vulnerability and connection.
I have POTS myself and I can say the POTS rep was okay! It was fun to see it in a guy for a change. Sadly there was no mention of it when it came to the spicy stuff. It didn't seem to impact their sex life. And it doesn't have to. But I would have liked to see at least a conversation about it. Because there were no precautions and no repercussions and that felt a little bit unrealistic to me š¤·š¼āāļø. Seeing as exercise has to be severly modified for him, it seems weird that sex would be flawless as that also hugely gets the heartrate going! But I might be taking this too serious as someone who has the condition themselves.
I also did not love how the sexual abuse was handled. Again didn't see the emotional growth on page. There was a yucky scene where the FMC sort of lashed out at other survivors and almost played the blame game and next thing I know she is super mature about it. Apparently she talked it through with her therapist (Yay therapy!!). But that all happened off page. So it felt like a really stark contrast. It would have added so much for me if those conversations were in the actual book!! The abuse rep felt overgeneralized and she seemed to recover and reclaime her sexuality fairly quickly once she met the MMC and that left me feeling real weird. It feels insensitive... how one boy can make you confidently want to give head OVERNIGHT. One day she was having a panic attack over it, the next she wanted to give him the best blowjob of his life?! This would be something to discuss and work through in therapy, not something that just magically fixes overnigt?! It feels really insensitive to me! And definetely knocked a star off for me in the rating.
TL;DR an okay ish book with okay POTS rep. But the chemistry was off and there was too much telling and not enough showing. Not loving how the grooming and sexual abuse was portrayed tho!!
Most of the character growth happens off page and that really saddens me. I like it when I see the emotional growth, thoughts, feelings and process on page. And this book skipped over those parts real fast. (Except for the lust, there were plenty of lusty, horny thoughts)
They also keep mentioning how small and little (in height) Rayah (the FMC) is and that got annoying reallll quick. Like, we get it, she is not as tall as the others.
I missed emotional depth and growth. I would have liked to see less sexual inuendos and remarks, and more emotional vulnerability and connection.
I have POTS myself and I can say the POTS rep was okay! It was fun to see it in a guy for a change. Sadly there was no mention of it when it came to the spicy stuff. It didn't seem to impact their sex life. And it doesn't have to. But I would have liked to see at least a conversation about it. Because there were no precautions and no repercussions and that felt a little bit unrealistic to me š¤·š¼āāļø. Seeing as exercise has to be severly modified for him, it seems weird that sex would be flawless as that also hugely gets the heartrate going! But I might be taking this too serious as someone who has the condition themselves.
I also did not love how the sexual abuse was handled. Again didn't see the emotional growth on page. There was a yucky scene where the FMC sort of lashed out at other survivors and almost played the blame game and next thing I know she is super mature about it. Apparently she talked it through with her therapist (Yay therapy!!). But that all happened off page. So it felt like a really stark contrast. It would have added so much for me if those conversations were in the actual book!! The abuse rep felt overgeneralized and she seemed to recover and reclaime her sexuality fairly quickly once she met the MMC and that left me feeling real weird. It feels insensitive... how one boy can make you confidently want to give head OVERNIGHT. One day she was having a panic attack over it, the next she wanted to give him the best blowjob of his life?! This would be something to discuss and work through in therapy, not something that just magically fixes overnigt?! It feels really insensitive to me! And definetely knocked a star off for me in the rating.
TL;DR an okay ish book with okay POTS rep. But the chemistry was off and there was too much telling and not enough showing. Not loving how the grooming and sexual abuse was portrayed tho!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Pedophilia
Minor: Cancer, Body shaming, Death of parent, Cursing, Terminal illness, Vomit, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Someone in the sportsworld was grooming and then sexually abusing young girls. This happens off page but is discussed on page.laceybananareads's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was a cute read with chronic illness rep and I really enjoyed the last half specifically! There was a *lot* of millennial talk which I donāt mind because Iām in that generation but I could see how younger people might not like it. I also read reviews in the beginning and a lot of people were upset with Rayahās ātinyā size and how often it was mentioned. I donāt think they read the book fully to know that Rayah was a former gymnast who was strong and muscular. She was also described as curvy several times so if thatās putting you off from reading this, it was a height thing and people need to settle down lol.
emcroll's review
3.0
"Work It Out" by Eva Siedler is like a rom-com on steroids, with a Hollywood hunk, Jake, sweating it out to get abs in a quirky desert resort owned by the hardworking Rayah. Jake's got secrets, including a health issue, and Rayah's on the brink of bankruptcy. The plot's as chaotic as a three-ring circus, involving fitness centers, aliens, and even a best friend dealing with abuse. And did I mention the actor's got two names? Chris or Jake, pick one! Also, Rayah's bestie is secretly in love with her, and there's some weird email blackmailing going on.
The book starts strong with an interesting premise and cool dialogue, especially in the first 20%. But then, it's like the plot decided to do a marathon with too many twists. POTS adds a unique touch, but the jumble of subplots makes it hard to keep track. Despite some spicy moments, the confusion earns "Work It Out" a casual 2.5 stars. Good for a light read if you're up for a narrative workout!
Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and freely given.
The book starts strong with an interesting premise and cool dialogue, especially in the first 20%. But then, it's like the plot decided to do a marathon with too many twists. POTS adds a unique touch, but the jumble of subplots makes it hard to keep track. Despite some spicy moments, the confusion earns "Work It Out" a casual 2.5 stars. Good for a light read if you're up for a narrative workout!
Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and freely given.
celbell's review
4.0
A really fun, refreshing contemporary romance! Loved the chemistry and banter between the leads and the found family aspect.
4 stars
4 stars
raeanne_1's review
3.0
Overall this book was a cute fun romance book. I loved the characters thought they were written pretty well. I liked that it was a workout book with the female being the trainer, enjoyed that the male main character did have a disability and his journey of accepting it.
I did find it very rushed the whole book took place from September- November. And due to the fast timeline and the way the one character was described and her trust issues due her past Iām having a hard time understanding how she just bam instantly got over it and 100% trusted the main male character so fast.
Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this ARC all opinions are my own
I did find it very rushed the whole book took place from September- November. And due to the fast timeline and the way the one character was described and her trust issues due her past Iām having a hard time understanding how she just bam instantly got over it and 100% trusted the main male character so fast.
Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this ARC all opinions are my own
so_brookeish's review
2.75
This was such a mixed bag for me.. I almost DNFād more than once and honestly now that Iām done Iām not sure it was worth pushing through for me.
The potential was there! I was immediately drawn in by the cover, the cute exercise pin as a title, and the synopsis sounded right up my alley!
I was really engaged right up to 30% and then the book kind of fell apart for me! (Which is weird, because after reading other reviews it seems Iām not alone in that percentage marker.. WHY!?)
I struggled with the paging of this story, some parts flew by and then entire sections would drag on and leave me skimming. I wasnāt overly invested in either character, they felt very formulated and not like real people, and the chemistry was just lacking all the way around for me! Add in a real late third act break up and a rushed finished and Iām not sure this book is one Iāll recommend in the end..
There are a few things I liked though, and I definitely want to mention them because honestly itās what kept me pushing along!
I loved the fitness rep! I felt like it was handled in a really healthy way! It didnāt lean to extremes, there was no shame, it had a fun gym family and I loved it as a setting!
The other thing was POTS rep! I had heard of POTS before but never really looked into it! I can honestly say this is the first book Iāve read with that rep and I think thatās really cool!
All in all, this wasnāt a home run for me, but Iām sure itāll find its audience!
The potential was there! I was immediately drawn in by the cover, the cute exercise pin as a title, and the synopsis sounded right up my alley!
I was really engaged right up to 30% and then the book kind of fell apart for me! (Which is weird, because after reading other reviews it seems Iām not alone in that percentage marker.. WHY!?)
I struggled with the paging of this story, some parts flew by and then entire sections would drag on and leave me skimming. I wasnāt overly invested in either character, they felt very formulated and not like real people, and the chemistry was just lacking all the way around for me! Add in a real late third act break up and a rushed finished and Iām not sure this book is one Iāll recommend in the end..
There are a few things I liked though, and I definitely want to mention them because honestly itās what kept me pushing along!
I loved the fitness rep! I felt like it was handled in a really healthy way! It didnāt lean to extremes, there was no shame, it had a fun gym family and I loved it as a setting!
The other thing was POTS rep! I had heard of POTS before but never really looked into it! I can honestly say this is the first book Iāve read with that rep and I think thatās really cool!
All in all, this wasnāt a home run for me, but Iām sure itāll find its audience!
bookstagramsam's review
2.0
2.5 stars. I really wanted to love this book. The beginning was good and really sucked me in but then the story started to spiral. I feel like the author was trying to put so much into the story and it started to get diluted.
I really liked Rayah the FMC a lot and loved her wit.
The other thing I didnāt love about the book were the multiple POVs. It was hard to determine whose POV we were at with clear directive in the beginning.
I really feel this book had a to.n of potential and feel the author has a lot of promise as well. I just couldnāt get into this book.
I appreciate the opportunity to get to read it prior to releasing.
I really liked Rayah the FMC a lot and loved her wit.
The other thing I didnāt love about the book were the multiple POVs. It was hard to determine whose POV we were at with clear directive in the beginning.
I really feel this book had a to.n of potential and feel the author has a lot of promise as well. I just couldnāt get into this book.
I appreciate the opportunity to get to read it prior to releasing.
bribreez's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75āļø/ 2š¶ļø
When it comes to getting in shape thereās a number of reasons why. For Jake Newman, his reason was to get in the best shape ever in order to secure his spot as the newest cinematic superhero for a movie that was just announced. What better place to get the help he needed than his best friend who works at an impressive gym back home in his small town. Rayah, the owner of the gym was all about fitness, and trying to make sure her business was in tip, top shape as well. All seemed well at first glance, but both Rayah and Jake had their own problems to deal with. This was a lighthearted, fluffy romance that featured likable characters, a small town, and humor. Also, a bit of that overprotective was from Jake over Rayah.
When it comes to getting in shape thereās a number of reasons why. For Jake Newman, his reason was to get in the best shape ever in order to secure his spot as the newest cinematic superhero for a movie that was just announced. What better place to get the help he needed than his best friend who works at an impressive gym back home in his small town. Rayah, the owner of the gym was all about fitness, and trying to make sure her business was in tip, top shape as well. All seemed well at first glance, but both Rayah and Jake had their own problems to deal with. This was a lighthearted, fluffy romance that featured likable characters, a small town, and humor. Also, a bit of that overprotective was from Jake over Rayah.
Iām not much of a fitness person, but even I could tell that Jake had his struggles throughout the course of the story. In order for Jake to be movie ready to be the newest superhero for an upcoming movie, he needed to be in the best shape ever, but things were complicated with his POTS. Essentially, Jake couldnāt push exert himself too much or else he would become dizzy, accelerated heart rate, just a few symptoms to name that came with his condition. I had never heard of this condition before so, it made me see exactly what Jake was faced when trying to train with Rayah and Pierce (*Jakeās best friend). Despite the difficulty that Jake was faced with, he was determined to train and move past those limitations that he had always known his whole life. For the most part, Jake did have some setbacks from altitude sickness and the occasional dizziness, but he was motivated to try his best which I found admirable about him.
As I read, I found myself enjoying the characters and the story. Rayah and Jake were from different worlds, namely that Jake was an actor whereas Rayah worked at the gym she owned. Although they had different careers, with the objective of becoming stronger and overall in good shape for an upcoming role, Jake found himself working with Rayah and her trainers. I thought the way Jake and Rayah were was sweet, and great. I especially loved how quickly Jake became protective and an absolute sweetheart towards Rayah as well. Most of the time, Iām not really a fan of insta love or just instantly liking a person off the bat, but the way it was done with Jake and Rayah, it didnāt feel rushed, it just worked. Rayah and Jakeās chemistry went from professional, to flirtatious, to that undeniable level of wanting each other. Lots of cute yet semi tension filled moments were sprinkled throughout the story, and made those special romantic moments between Jake and Rayah all the more enjoyable.
Overall, I liked Rayah and Jake, they were good characters and very likable. Jake was determined to do whatever he could despite the obstacles he faced with his POTS. Jake was a flirty, fun guy and seeing him fall for Rayah was actually sweet. Rayah was a tough woman who focused on maintaining her gym, but also liked seeing how strong she was compared to the men at the gym. This was a cute, lighthearted romance, and the characters were likable, even the side characters. While the plot wasnāt āout of this worldā, it was a good story that held my attention and I enjoyed it for the sweetness and humor that was shown throughout the book.
pierrereads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical trauma, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Injury/Injury detail