Thank you Atria Books via Netgalley for gifting me a review copy of Head Over Heels in exchange for an honest review.

Recently dumped, unemployed & still dealing with the emotional aftershocks of losing her spot in the Olympics to a freak injury eight years ago, she moves back in with her parents to reassess. She finds her footing soon, though, once former Olympic champion Ryan Nicholson offers her a job training a young gymnast with her eyes set on the 2020 games.

I really enjoyed Hannah Orenstein’s third book! I loved the premise of the novel and I thought Orenstein did a great job at illustrating the difficulties facing young female gymnasts. This book covers a lot of difficult topics (including sexual assault, the fear of failure, emotional abuse & eating disorders) and it does it well, really putting the reader in a place where they can truly understand the lingering effects the sport can have on these girls as they grow older. As women’s fiction, I thought this book excelled. As a romance, I found it a little lacking— I felt Ryan was a very lackluster character, and I didn’t really buy into (or feel invested in) Avery & Ryan’s relationship. I thought Avery’s connection with Hallie, the gymnast she’s training, to be much more compelling. Overall, though, I thought this was a fun read that offered a much-welcomed escape into the 2020 we thought we were going to have.

Still reeling from her disastrous performance at the Olympics trials several years ago, Avery Adams isn’t sure what her future holds. Avery moves back to her hometown in Massachusetts after breaking up with her football star boyfriend in LA and needs a new job.

Ryan, an old acquaintance and Olympian gymnast calls her out of the blue and asks her to help train a new Olympic candidate. Avery can’t believe her luck. Ryan is incredibly swoon-worthy and she has the opportunity to bring gymnastics into her life again. But when a scandal irrupts in the gymnastics world, Avery finds herself reconnecting with her old friend Jasmine, a gymnast who went on to compete in the Olympics and left Avery behind.

This is the perfect book to pick up if you are experiencing Olympics withdrawals. I found myself experiencing the same excited/nervous jitters that I would feel while watching Olympic gymnasts compete in the past and enjoyed the detailed gymnastic terminology Orenstein incorporates into technical scenes. It’s evident that Orenstein thoroughly researched the atmosphere of gymnastics and the technical moves of the sport.

The book also discusses important issues in gymnastics including abuse and assault found among gymnast-coach relationships. This spin definitely gives the book a bit of oomph to the light and airy feel of the overall storyline. I definitely recommend this one if you are a fan of gymnastics and are looking for something lighthearted to read.

Despite some of the heavier emotional plot elements, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It has a lightness and ease to the storytelling, making the more serious pieces manageable and not overbearing.

The characters are likeable (the ones who are meant to be). You don't need to be a fan of gymnastics to enjoy the book but I'd you, like me, found yourself enthralled with the young women and the process they went through to get to the Olympics every 4 years as you grew up, you'll enjoy this book.

Thanks to Atria/Simon & Schuster for the eARC!

Rating: 3.5 stars
Recommend? Yes! Obviously for gymnasts, but an ex-competitive athlete will appreciate this. A good "beach read."

[Thank you to the author and publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!]

This is the first book I've read that was set in an alternate-reality 2020 in which COVID didn't shut down our lives (and the Olympics!) and reading it was very surreal for that reason, but also a great escape from our current situation. The book follows Avery, an ex-gymnast who was headed to the Olympics when her career ended due to injury. Seven years later, she's in a bad place physically and mentally when she moves back to her hometown and starts training a 16-year-old gymnast who is an Olympic hopeful.

This book started out a little slow for me, but it grew in depth as the characters and story line did. I think the author did a great job of building female relationships - both friendships and coach/athlete. The competition scenes were very well-written; I was on the emotional edge of my seat waiting to see how Hallie would do! Most importantly, I appreciated how the book dove into very topical issues in gymnastics, including sexual assault and body image, and how the romantic relationship in the book was woven into that narrative.

3.5 stars

Head Over Heels is a story about Avery Abrams: She spent her entire life training to make the Olympic gymnastics team, but a bad performance ended her athletic career for good. She goes home after losing her dreams and boyfriend. She vows to never return to gymnastics again. She soon finds herself with a chance to train an up and coming gymnast. Avery also gets a second chance at love. Head Over Heels is an easy entertaining read. I don't know much about gymnastics so some of the technical terms were lost on me but I still really enjoyed it. I never really felt the connection between Ryan and Avery, it always seemed like it was just a convenient relationship. However I did find myself enjoying this story and wanting to know what happened next!

This book is a solid 4 stars from me!

The overall book was fantastic, and I enjoyed it immensely. It's incredibly clear that Orenstein did massive amounts of research regarding the sport and the issues that come with that. The storylines surrounding the sexual abuse and emotional abuse of female gymnasts were incredibly well-written, handled with both class and care. I found myself tearing up at the realness of it all, not because the writing was unnecessarily dramatic!

A star off for little to no romance, and the romance that way there was predictable without depth.

A side note: I so wish the Olympics were actually happening this year!

Thank you to @Netgalley and @atriabooks for providing me with a free e-copy for an honest review.

An accident on the gymnastic floor ends Avery's athletic career for good and seven years later she still doesn't know what to make of her new found life without being a gymnast. A breakup with her pro football quarterback boyfriend means she needs to move back home to sort out her life. When an offer to help coach a young Olympic hopeful comes along with her former crush Ryan, Avery is brought back into the world she lost. Avery and Ryan work hard at keeping their gymnast safe from the damaging world of gymnastics while trying to keep the sparks they are feeling a secret.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a good mix of sweet romance mixed with real life issues in the sports world. It would make for a great summer read. Out June 23rd! 3.5/5⭐️

This is my first book by Hannah Orenstein, but it certainly won't be the last! I've always been fascinated by the sport of gymnastics and especially the level of athleticism it takes to make it all the way to a gold medal in the Olympics. In Head Over Heels, Avery has her Olympic dreams dashed by a devastating injury, and without being an elite gymnast, she loses all sense of her identity. When a coaching job opens up with her former childhood crush, she takes a leap of faith and truly finds herself. I loved the in depth information on what goes into making a world class gymnast and I appreciated that real world concerns like abuse were tackled as well. It was a little bittersweet to read about Olympic trials and trips to Tokyo when our own 2020 Olympics have been postponed, but for the most part, I found this novel to be thought provoking and heartwarming.

I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to Atria and Netgalley.

Head Over Heels ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Avery is an Olympic bound gymnast, until an injury ended her career before she had the chance. Years later, she returns to her hometown after a breakup and is offered the opportunity to train a new prospective Olympian at her former gym. One of the other coaches Ryan and Avery have a connection, but they don’t want it to interfere with Hallie’s training.

This was a cute romance with the gymnastics twist. If I were a former gymnast, I totally would’ve eaten it all up! There was more focus on the gymnastics than the romance, but not too much. I thought it was a quick and light read. I loved Hallie’s character and admired her strength and discipline.

Thanks to @bradeighgodfrey and Atria Books for the free digital copy of this cute romance!

I flew through this one last night (I’m off my book a day game and trying to catch up!) and mostly it just made me miss the Olympics and want to watch Stick It. (Anyone else love that movie as a teenager?!) It’s a story about gymnastics and a new romance but it felt like it couldn’t decide which one it wanted to be, so it didn’t really do either of them well. It was solidly ⭐️⭐️ (okay) for me!

3.5 stars. Head Over Heels was a good, quick read. I have been a gymnastic fan ever since Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10 scores in the 1976 Olympics, and I followed with dismay the sexual assault allegations against gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar. So I've seen a lot of highs and low but remain fascinated with the sport. The 2020 summer Olympics have been postponed because of the pandemic, so until 2021, this book will have to suffice.

The novel is strongest when it sticks to Avery's struggle to find meaning in her life years after a freak injury ended her Olympic dreams. Her relationship with rising star Hallie and her strained yet unbreakable friendship with her former teammate Jasmine are heartfelt and full of Girl Power. Avery starts out broken and aimless, and ends up with purpose and a new passion.

However, the love story between Avery and fellow coach Ryan fell flat to me. It felt very pro-forma, ticking the boxes of approach/avoid/approach and then predictable breakup/grovel/reconciliation. Ryan didn't have much depth beyond being cute and hard-working. I was much more engaged in whether or not Hallie made it to the Olympics than I was in whether or not Avery and Ryan would stay together.

Along the way Orenstein references verbally abusive coaches (shades of Bela Karolyi), a physician sexual assault case similar to Nassar, and lots and lots of gymnastics moves that show she either did her research or has a background in the sport. She provides a balanced (no pun intended) view of the risks these women take when they sacrifice a regular life for a few minutes of fame, and lets the reader decide if it's worth the effort.

Orenstein's writing style is serviceable but not memorable. I don't know if I would read another book by her unless I was particularly interested n the subject as I was with this one. So I'd give Head Over Heels a qualified recommendation for readers like me who can still name all of the girls who captured our hearts as the Magnificent Seven, the Fierce Five and the Final Five.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein was such a fun read! Yes, there were some dark moments (sexual abuse) but they were told in such a way that to he reader comes away with knowledge, sadness and a better understanding of what these young ladies went through. Having gymnastics as the backdrop to this story made this relatable and having redemption in the end made me happy!
3 ⭐

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This book is really entertaining. I would read and not notice how much time went by. Now I just want the Olympics (thanks Covid).
CW: body dysmorphia, talk of disordered eating, sexual assault, verbally and mentally abusive relationships, depression

I was not expecting this book to be what it was. It was an emotional ride that shone a spotlight on a part of society that has been overlooked. As an outsider to the world of gymnastics, I’ve only seen the glitz and the glamor. I love getting the behind the scene look at the process of preparing for the possibility of the olympics, what happens after you fail at your dream, and redefining your identity and purpose.

I loved how you could already tell how multilayer Avery was just in the first chapter alone. She’s completely lost in life and her purpose is nonexistent. She’s lost her identity when her dreams shatter and doesn’t know where to go from here. I loved the idea of taking the ideals we have of gymnastics with their poise and refinement and what happens to them when it is all stripped away. My heart broke for Avery everytime she debated the possibility of “what if” and what her life would have been like in an alternative world if her injury didn’t derail her. And what I loved even more about her was that even at her lowest point, she’s determined. She’s still motivated. She learns to play to her strengths and find a way to fulfill them. She’s such a strong lead character and completely inspirational.

The writing is so good and flows so seamlessly. The way the author writes, I feel these emotions that Avery feels in the beginning. I had to take a moment to regroup everytime Avery was hit with a low because I could feel it in my heart. I was amazed how well her writing would pull me into the story.

I love Avery and Ryan. I love their chemistry and the way their relationship organically progressed. I really enjoyed Jasmine and Averys relationship but I wish it was explained more. I felt like certain situations just came out of the blue without any warning and it didn’t make sense to me how certain scenes were played out. I also enjoyed how the scandled was handled. I loved the authors' approach to see how others in the community were affected by it and how people responded to it.

After reading this book I feel the motivation to go out there and do an Arabian flip or mount a vault. Have I ever participated in any form of gymnastics or can even do a basic cartwheel, nope. Am I twice the age of the athlete in her prime, yep. Did this book give me false hope I too can be an Olympian because the writing was fantastic with a multifaceted character, yep! And yes as I type these words there is a bag of cookies next to me that I am eating. I really enjoyed this book and thank you to NetGalley and Atrica for this eARC and to the author for this chance to get a glimpse into a world that fascinates me.

REVIEW: Head Over Heels
.
Avery is a former Olympic gymnast hopeful who’s dreams were shattered after a disastrous performance. When she moves back to her small town after a breakup, she meets Ryan who is coaching a young gymnast.

I really enjoyed the gymnast aspect of this book! Very empowering. I also really commend the author for tackling such a tough subject regarding abuse/scandal. I think the romance took a back seat to Avery’s individual journey.

Overall, it was a fun read. I liked the writing style and found it very accessible.
Thank you so much Atria and Netgalley for this lovely ARC!

Once I started reading Head Over Heels, sort-of a second chance romance, I couldn’t stop. I would call it compulsively readable. Avery spent her whole life training to earn a spot on the women’s Olympic gymnastics team, but an injury at the qualifying meet changed her life. Now, years later, she’s moving home after a breakup with her long-term football player boyfriend with absolutely no direction. Ryan, an Olympic gymnast Avery competed with and used to have long-distance crush on, calls her and asks for help coaching an Olympic hopeful he’s working with. Do I need to tell you sparks fly? Probably not…

There is a lot about gymnastics in this book, which I didn’t think I’d like because I’m the opposite of athletic in every single way, but I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the book. The romance, usually my favorite part, was what fell a little short for me. It was a little 2-dimensional and Ryan seemed too perfect except when he was making huge, plot-driven mistakes that seemed out of character. But there was also a really nice second-chance friendship in the book that I really appreciated, and overall I thought this one was a fun, popcorn read. If you’re a fan of gymnastics or need a summer Olympics fix in lieu of the cancellation, this book might be up your alley. Pick up a copy when it comes out June 23!

Thank you to @atriabooks , @netgalley , and the author (and the #bookishladiesclub !) for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A bit disappointing....
Unfortunately this won't become my new favorite Hannah Orenstein book. Though it was engaging and kept me turning the pages, I found the gymnastics jargon and over-the-top detail a bit too much. And the romance between Avery and Ryan was meh at best.

I did enjoy how Orenstein incorporated the mental and physical abuse that has occurred in gymnastics over the years and how the newer generations are banding together to make things better. I would have loved to have seen more about Avery's parents and how they felt about what had happened to Avery (or if they even knew) and if there is anything they would have done differently. They seemed so supportive of her as a young gymnast but once she moved back home, they seemed apathetic about her current situation and future.

All this being said, I'm still a huge Orenstein fan and I look forward to seeing more from her!

Thank you Atria books and Netgalley for the free eARC. All opinions are my own.

*This review contains what some might consider minor spoilers. I think given the serious nature of some issues in the book, I can’t not mention them.

I enjoyed following along with Avery’s journey from feeling adrift and without purpose to learning more about who she is and what she can accomplish. Even more than that though, what she doesn’t have to accomplish- perfection. This book is literary fiction, not a romance, so Avery’s story is the main focus, but there is still romance…

The romance between Avery and Ryan started really great for me. I appreciated that the characters communicated instead of there being a lot of unnecessary misunderstandings. However, as the book went on we lost that. Ryan doesn’t believe Avery, or take her seriously enough, regarding allegations of abuse. This conflict was important to the story, but I wish Ryan’s character was given more dimension and internal struggle instead of so easily choosing his own goals over Avery. It would have made me feel a lot better about how the book continues.

As mentioned before, this book does cover some very difficult issues. These mirror what have horribly happened within women’s gymnastics in the last few years. I think it’s an important story to tell though. Trigger warnings: emotional and sexual (no explicit details given) abuse. Body image and eating disorders.

It felt so odd to be reading a book that is taking place in the spring and summer of 2020 that is so different from the one we are facing in reality. Since we don’t get to watch the Olympics this year, it was fun to experience them (or at least the period that leads up to them) in this book!

You can go into this knowing almost nothing about gymnastics and still enjoy it. What’s necessary for you to know is explained, but what’s unnecessary is not, so you don’t feel like it is droning on. I do think you’ll enjoy it more if you are a fan of gymnastics, even if that’s only every four years.

So fun! I've read all of Hannah Orenstein's books and this one is by far my favorite. Her characters are always so likeable and sympathetic. It's more than just a straightforward romance - it's the story of a woman finding her passion and putting herself back together again after her life gets turned upside down. I really enjoyed it!

I absolutely adored HEAD OVER HEELS. It was exactly what I needed to read when my mind was anxiously preoccupied with the state of the world--light and charming without being fluffy or insubstantial. I loved how Orenstein goes into some of the particulars of gymnastics, which many novels about athletes sadly fail to do; she manages to make the unfamiliar world of the sport accessible without talking down to her audience, which is a huge accomplishment.

I was, frankly, surprised at how much I enjoyed this, because I rarely read the genre and often find myself turned off from romance storylines (it's a personal failing, not an issue with the genre). But this took me away. Even still, my favorite parts were the sports scenes, which were tense, engrossing, and well-paced.

Five out of five stars!