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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
So cute! Love the enemies to friends to lovers romance! Their competitive spirits were so fun and I'm glad that they continued that aspect of their relationship once they got together. The drama/conflict of the book STRESSED ME OUT!! But I loved how it helped Crystal grow and I loved seeing Scott's commitment to their relationship. Cute book that makes both the characters and you sweat for the happy ending.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this story about an Instagram fitness influencer and a guy she meets at the gym who is gym-etiquette challenged (he’s a firefighter, in actuality) and she nicknames “squat rack thief” aka Scott. The story is told in first person from the point of view of Crystal and she has quite the quirky family who are not necessarily supportive of her career as an influencer and often prod her to find a “real” job.
“At every opportunity, Dad warns me of the dangers of posting my whereabouts on Instagram, lest I be kidnapped and sold into sex slavery, Taken style. Except Dad is no Liam Neeson.”
I used to enjoy lifting heavy and hopefully one day will get back to it, so this was of special interest to me. Crystal focuses on body positivity through most of the book, no scales, no special diets, no emphasis on losing weight, just challenging yourself to be healthy. As a curvy girl, she has to contend with the naysayers and her strategy on this part doesn’t quite work for her when her own self-doubt comes into play. I enjoyed her journey to figuring it all out and I also enjoyed the romance, despite a bit of silly phone “keepaway” games that I had to get past in the beginning. There was the prerequisite roadblock to the romance, which in Crystal and Scott’s case turned out to be about trust. While the situation was a little predictable, I was satisfied with the way it was handled on both sides, eventually. Recommended to romance readers who are fitness enthusiasts or enjoy a firefighter MC.
“At every opportunity, Dad warns me of the dangers of posting my whereabouts on Instagram, lest I be kidnapped and sold into sex slavery, Taken style. Except Dad is no Liam Neeson.”
I used to enjoy lifting heavy and hopefully one day will get back to it, so this was of special interest to me. Crystal focuses on body positivity through most of the book, no scales, no special diets, no emphasis on losing weight, just challenging yourself to be healthy. As a curvy girl, she has to contend with the naysayers and her strategy on this part doesn’t quite work for her when her own self-doubt comes into play. I enjoyed her journey to figuring it all out and I also enjoyed the romance, despite a bit of silly phone “keepaway” games that I had to get past in the beginning. There was the prerequisite roadblock to the romance, which in Crystal and Scott’s case turned out to be about trust. While the situation was a little predictable, I was satisfied with the way it was handled on both sides, eventually. Recommended to romance readers who are fitness enthusiasts or enjoy a firefighter MC.
Crystal Chen is a plus size fitness influencer. She has got a great following, great clients, and great confidence. It’s a routine day at the gym when all of a sudden Scott Ritchie steals her squat rack with no remorse, and instantly becomes her gym nemesis. Then to her horror, Crystal’s life collides with Scott’s outside of the gym. Will all of these run in’s amplify their hate for each other or will more time together thaw the ice?
Honestly this book started off a little rocky for me. I thought that Scott’s character was extremely rude in the beginning. But I also did not understand how Crystal could put so much energy into disliking him as passionately as she did at first. However as the story rolls on, around the 100 page mark, the dynamic starts to feel more realistic between the two of them, and from that point on I was enamored with their relationship.
The story is only told from Crystal’s point of view. However, I really liked how it was written, because there are Instagram posts woven throughout the story, since Crystal is an influencer.
I also really liked the body image awareness that is spoken about throughout this book. As well as the light that is shed on online bullying and how it affects the victims.
Even with the rocky start this book turned out to be a good one!
Honestly this book started off a little rocky for me. I thought that Scott’s character was extremely rude in the beginning. But I also did not understand how Crystal could put so much energy into disliking him as passionately as she did at first. However as the story rolls on, around the 100 page mark, the dynamic starts to feel more realistic between the two of them, and from that point on I was enamored with their relationship.
The story is only told from Crystal’s point of view. However, I really liked how it was written, because there are Instagram posts woven throughout the story, since Crystal is an influencer.
I also really liked the body image awareness that is spoken about throughout this book. As well as the light that is shed on online bullying and how it affects the victims.
Even with the rocky start this book turned out to be a good one!
A very fun read, I learned that gym romance books are kind of gross to me? Still loved the story and going to read the series!
This book was amazing. As a mid-size reader, I want more plus size books! Give me plus size MC's, plus size LI's, the lot! I also loved that the MC in this was into fitness, but not as a weight-loss tool. I think this is a book that will resonate with so many readers, in a way both personal and profound. I loved its commentary on the self-love movement, and it's an acknowledgement of self-respect, rather than trying to focus continuously on self-love - which is exhausting. Whilst reading this I was in a slump of really being annoyed at myself and my body and my weight, and this book helped me personally overcome that - which you can't say about a lot of romcoms! The writing itself is wonderful, well structured and un-put-downable. The characters are realistic, and funny, and I loved them all - even the glaring old lady.
I find it interesting that body positivity chick lit almost always involves a very muscled significant other. The love interest is never overweight. Doesn’t really come across as body positivity when you factor that in.
3.5 ⭐️! Super cute romcom but just felt a little one dimensional. Also inspired be to get my ass into the gym and lift weights??
A very strong premise that's ruined by my biggest pet peeve in all of romcom-ery - the conflict that could be solved if people just talked to one another. Because there's never really any ACTUAL conflict here and it's all in the protagonist's head, and then the 11th hour breakup is similarly manufactured. I wanted to love this SO MUCH and in the end I was disappointed.
Here's my favorite recent way of reviewing things here: by copying texts to coworkers!
"I'm on page 230 or so. The stakes aren't TERRIBLY high but the relationship is solid. Right now the conflict is unclear (he's... being shifty? About... something?) but they're very cute together."
"I think I'm out on Set on You. Falls apart towards the end."
"His secret keeping is solved very soon, but now it's becoming melodrama about insta trolls and I just don't need this. The shiftiness before is supposed to lay ground for her natural inclination to distrusting him but... he's kind of perfect, and she's being ridiculous, and I don't want that in my protagonist. Whomp whomp."
Here's my favorite recent way of reviewing things here: by copying texts to coworkers!
"I'm on page 230 or so. The stakes aren't TERRIBLY high but the relationship is solid. Right now the conflict is unclear (he's... being shifty? About... something?) but they're very cute together."
"I think I'm out on Set on You. Falls apart towards the end."
"His secret keeping is solved very soon, but now it's becoming melodrama about insta trolls and I just don't need this. The shiftiness before is supposed to lay ground for her natural inclination to distrusting him but... he's kind of perfect, and she's being ridiculous, and I don't want that in my protagonist. Whomp whomp."