e-Audio, 09:52:45
Narrated by: Carolyn Kang
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: August 12-16, 2022
Influencer Series, #1
Source: Library’s Libby
TW: Fat Shaming/Body Shaming, Cyber-bulling, Cancer Mention, Diet & Weight Loss Talk, Racism
For Readers Interested In: Body Positivity, Enemies to Lovers, Social media, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Realistic Fiction,A gym nemesis pushes a fitness influencer to the max in Amy Lea’s steamy debut romantic comedy.
Curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls. After her recent breakup, she has little stamina left for men, instead finding solace in the gym – her place of power and positivity.
Enter firefighter Scott Ritchie, the smug new gym patron who routinely steals her favorite squat rack. Sparks fly as these ultra-competitive foes battle for gym domination. But after a series of escalating jabs, the last thing they expect is to run into each other at their grandparents’ engagement party.
In the lead up to their grandparents’ wedding, Crystal discovers there’s a soft heart under Scott’s muscled exterior. Bonding over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, she just might have found her swolemate. But when a photo of them goes viral, savage internet trolls put their budding relationship to the ultimate test of strength.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I have been waiting to read this for too long. And then when I finally did, it wasn’t all that I had made it up to be. I think it was because I got excited for Tara’s story when I didn’t even know who she was yet lol But even though this book featured a fat lead, I liked it, but I wasn’t giving what I wanted it to give.
I think I was hella excited about this because y’all know I love a book that features social media and because I love a fat lead. And I love that Lea put the two together. She was comfortable with her body and she worked out and helped others with their journey as well. But although her journey is valid, I do know it will be hard for some. For instance, it was a bit hard for me. I don’t too much like diet talk and calorie counting. Especially right now in my current body positivity journey. So, I wasn’t really sure how I felt about her. Because I knew this was how she felt, but I also knew it wasn’t for me. I didn’t knock her anything because, again, this isn’t my journey, but also I kind of skipped over the parts I didn’t want to read about.
I also hate that this was called a rom-com. I have been having this problem a lot lately. I don’t remember laughing at all while reading this. It was a lot more serious than the cover makes it out to be. Even when they were flirting or getting to know each other it was more serious than I was expecting. These cartoon covers have been getting me caught up.
But even with all that, the romance was good. That bathtub scene?! Lordt. I was glad he was a firemen because that was hot. (Let me live ok. I had to do it lmao) But they had some really cute times that I really enjoyed. Like the locker room, the locker room shower, etc. I really liked them together. But I think that’s the problem. I liked them apart, but not together. I think Scott deserved better than Crystal. Not because she was curvy or fat, but because she just wasn’t a vibe. She was stubborn and mean. She wanted the help, but didn’t want to ask for it. And I get it. She wanted to be her own person and fight her own battles, but it felt like she wasn’t remembering that she was in a relationship and they were talking about him too. And having been in a relationship with someone who is selfish, it felt a lot like that. Now Scott was a cinnamon roll. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body. Throughout the entire story he was so sweet to her. But I don’t know I felt like he got ran over by her. I needed one scene where he spoke up for himself and didn’t let her say whatever she wanted to him.
The plot itself was a bit tropey, but I liked it. It was easy to follow and had some really great scenes. I also loved that Lea included the social media posts that she wrote in the book. I’m a SUCKER for little extras like that. I did wish some of the miscommunication was done better. Or at least let her have learned from it. (Because it always seemed to be her.) I think it could have been cleaned up or tweaked or just showed her asking instead of constantly assuming and I wouldn’t have had any problems with it.
This book was ok, but I didn’t see what everyone else saw. I liked some things about it, but other things could have done better. I also think that some of this could be my fault. After finding out what Tara was, I had been anticipating finishing Crystal’s story so I could hurry and get to hers. By doing that I made it feel like a chore when it shouldn’t have been like that. Especially since this is about a completely different person AND because y’all know damn well it’s going to take me forever to read that book anyways. I probably won’t get to it until close to the pub date lol But nevertheless, this was a good read and I can’t wait to get to the next one.
Overall, I gave this
