Orenstein's latest novel brings a fresh, Millennialesque tone that's fun, engaging, and relatable. She uses captivating writing where you just want to keep reading. Main character Avery's relationship with her former childhood crush Ryan is adorable yet authentic, but also flirtatious in a sweet and innocent way. Within ninety pages, I'm sitting here squealing over the prospect of them becoming the hottest new couple and co-coaches ever. I'm definitely getting ahead of myself, but that's because you want to root for these characters, which Orenstein has made so descriptive. I loved Orenstein's first novel, and this new book is just as adorable and I couldn't stop reading or smiling, and even polished off the book in a single day. Once you're deep into the story, it's heartwrenching and authentic, and way more than just a romance. The story is empowering, fierce, and strong. And I loved it, wow, did I ever and I just couldn't put it down! In the end, it warmed my heart because I loved that it was primarily about a girl finding her inner strength and power. And the love part certainly made it cuter. ;)

I enjoyed how real this was regarding success and failure, I think we hear a lot about success but not enough about failure!

I went into this story thinking it would be purely a romance and boy, was I ever mistaken. It is engaging, comedic at times and interesting. I am not a gymnast but have always been intrigued by the world of competitive gymnastics. The beauty in the power, strength and grace of the athletes is mesmerizing. This book is a fun look into the world of competitive sports and a real glance into a personal story that is not all glittering gold and celebrations. I appreciated the "realness" of this novel in that it was not just a fluffy romance but that it provided more depth into the plot and a look into the lives of the characters. It was a delightful read and I am sure to suggest it to many friends!

I started following Hannah on Instagram while she was writing this book and I loved seeing her progress daily on her Insta stories so I was so excited when I got my hands on the book before it was released thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks! I was expecting a traditional rom com love story but this is SO MUCH MORE. I read it in a day and literally could not put it down.

You can tell Hannah is familiar with the world of gymnastics by the amount of detail used and this helped fill the whole left by the postponement of the 2020 Olympics. Couldn’t recommend this book more - be sure to pre-order!

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for helping to cure my heartbreak over the postponed Summer 2020 Olympics by gifting me a copy of Head Over Heels for review.


Avery Abrams is returned to her hometown a breakup with her longtime football star boyfriend. Avery is known in her town for almost going to the Olympics in gymnastics. Once upon a time she was a gymnastics superstar until an injury sidelined her and changed her life destroying her Olympic dreams. Although her Olympic dreams are long since dashed she has the chance to help another young woman reach her Olympic dream as a coach for her floor routine.

Head Over Heels is so much more than a romance novel. Honestly the romance is a very small part but it does have a very sizzling scene in the gym between Avery and Ryan. Head Over Heels touches on the mental health issues gymnasts could deal with. Orenstein also touched on the headlines from the sexual assault charges against a doctor from gymnasts. Head Over Heels has a lot of heart where it matters and is a great book for this summer and beyond.

Rating: 3.5 stars

After breaking up with her star quarterback boyfriend, Avery Adams moves from L.A. back to her hometown. Living with her parents and simply floating through life, she is offered the opportunity to coach an Olympic hopeful on her floor routine. Avery eagerly accepts, thinking this is exactly what she needs to redefine her life.

Orenstein did a wonderful job threading a light, uplifting story with real, dark issues that surround elite athletes. She captures the anxiety and depression that can come with striving toward a rather large goal at such a young age, and she tackles sexual assault, eating disorders, emotional and verbal abuse, and drug use while also drafting a compelling story about the grit and determination of young gymnasts. It is both a wonderful and deeply disturbing tale that is an absolute must read.

Head Over Heels is the perfect blend of smart writing and sweet storytelling. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction or sport (light/clean) romances.

There is such a sad, depressing undertone to the majority of the book. Even when things are going good I don’t feel any happiness while reading this, just a little less sad. It’s an original storyline with a very interesting dynamic between the characters.

Special thanks to Atria for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Hannah Orenstein has been on my TBR since Playing Ith Matches released! I fell in love with the cover & it's still sitting there.

I jumped at the chance to read Head Over Heels. Gymnastics, Olympics & what sounds like a second chance romance is what my summer reading list craves.

Well, as soon as I get to the dedication, I have a feeling I'm in for something with a little more meaning that a romp on the pommel horse.

Avery is very easy to root for. Readers will want her to have a second chance at Olympic glory. There's a LOT of gymnastic speak in this book. If you're a big fan of the sport, no doubt you will LOVE it!

Yes, this has some romance (super slight open door). More importantly, it's a testament to the grit & determination of young gymnasts. While Head Over Heels is a quick read, it's memorable & powerful. The more it simmers, the more I really appreciate the narrative.

Read this if you're missing the Olympics this year &/or you want a sport-themed story to make you cheer.

I have loved gymnastics since I was a child. I remember the 1984 Olympics and Mary Lou Retton's incredible performance. I kept envisioning her face as Hallie while reading. I was thrilled to be invited to read Head Over Heels. Avery is washed up. She blew her chance at Olympic gold, got dumped by her boyfriend, and has no career. She moves back home in defeat. But then a call kicks starts her life. She teams with Ryan to coach Olympic hopeful Hallie. I pictured. MItch Gaylord as Ryan. Orenstein takes readers deep into the savory and sucky aspects of gymnastics. It's a wonderful read and I tumbled my way to the end, I score this routine as a perfect 10 (old scoring system).

What a fun, engaging romcom! I loved this author's book Playing With Matches, so I was excited to get this galley from Netgalley.

This story was engaging, affirming and just plain fun. The world of completive gymnastics has always fascinated me - what strength those athletes have to have not just physically, but mentally too. This book also addressed the underside of completive sports - career ending injuries, mental health, verbal and physical abuse, and sexual assault. While it didnty dive deeply into all these topics, they were still addressed and presented as a reality, which I appreciated.

The best part though is the growth that these characters experienced and how their story ends. I was a big fan.

This book is set in the world of competitive gymnastics centered around Avery Abrams, an Olympic hopeful whose dreams were dashed before she got the chance to qualify for the Olympics when she was a teenager.

Avery is now on her way back to Massachusetts after a devastating break up with her boyfriend in LA. She moves back in with her parents when a coach from the local gymnastics gym, Ryan calls her and asks if she wants to help him train a rising young star.

Reluctantly, Avery agrees and eventually ends up joining the team and training Hallie, the young gymnast. The story follows their path to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 (what an alternate universe now!). While working together Ryan and Avery can't resist their undeniable chemistry for each other.

During this time there is also a scandal that breaks out and changes the landscape of the gymnastics world. This, in part, leads Avery to reconnect with her former friend and Olympian Jasmine and shapes into new opportunities for Avery.

I thought this book was the right mix of sweet without being saccharine. I'm not a huge romance reader but I picked up Playing with Matches, Hannah Orenstein's first book and completely fell in love with it.

I find her writing style approachable and Avery was real and relatable. I especially loved the coaching relationship she develops with Hallie. It was also a pretty fun peek behind the curtain of competitive gymnastics - something I didn't know much about but I know the author has a background in and it felt genuine.

That being said, as far as romance books go it does follow the pretty typical narrative - I think the reason why I loved Playing with Matches so much is that it didn't and it was more unpredictable and a fun ride. I think there's a bit less excitement here as well because the book centers in a sleepier, small town and not some place glam like LA or New York but that's a personal preference.

This book comes out June 23, 2020 and would be the perfect summer read and in an odd way, a very escapist book to immerse yourself in as it's set in 2020 and definitely shows a different version of the year we're currently living in.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a delightful read! It was an interesting glimpse into the world of competitive gymnastics, and it was clear the author did lots of research! We'll be interviewing her for an upcoming installment of Sit Dow & Write.

I was offered a galley of Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein through Atria Books and I gladly accepted! This rom-com focuses on the 2020 Olympics, which were unfortunately cancelled, but was no less satisfying despite that detail. It did make me feel even more horrible for the Olympic athletes that have put themselves under immense pressure and rigorous training for this chance of a lifetime.

As far as rom-coms go, this was a 5 star within the genre. Our main character is Avery, a former gymnast that missed her shot at the Olympics after an injury. Years down the road, she still deals with depression that stems not only from this twist of fate but from the emotional abuse that her renowned coach spewed at her during her years of training. She finds herself lost and reeling after a breakup and back in her hometown when she’s offered the chance to coach a promising contender for the 2020 Olympics. This offer is extended by a former Olympian acquaintance named Ryan (hence where the romance comes in).

When Avery is thrust back into this world, she really has to face the repercussions that stem from years of training with an emotionally abusive coach. This novel stands above most that I’ve read within this genre because it addresses some serious issues. It focuses on the sexual abuse a lot of a female athletes face, which is often a product of trusted professionals or adults grooming and taking advantage of young girls. It discusses the self-image issues that come from some of the more severe coaching strategies and whether the brutal techniques are worth the results if they come at a detriment to a young woman’s mental or physical health. I loved that this novel managed to keep me interested enough to read this all in one go, with lighthearted prose, while tackling these issues. The romance was there, for those that are interested in the relationship aspect, but it didn’t play a more important part in Avery’s life than her addressing the issues she faced in the world of female athletes. This sends such a good message, because Avery didn’t sacrifice herself or what she believed in for a man, when it came down to having to put her experience out there. She cared more about helping other female athletes than getting the guy. Another aspect I really enjoyed was Ryan’s coaching style in contrast to the experience that Avery had when she was in training. He coaches with authority but gentleness in comparison to the ridicule, insults, and taunting that she experienced as motivators. They also recognize that his experience as a male athlete was likely very different than her experience as a female athlete in the same sport.

All in all, this was a delightful and brisk read. It never felt like a chore to read, and it wasn’t filled with fluff like a lot of rom-coms are (which, there’s nothing wrong with, if that’s what you’re looking for). I felt like I got an insight into the lives of a female Olympic athlete (since I’m the farthest thing from it) and this is an important novel to have available for young women, especially in a time when women are finally starting to be heard when it comes to holding men accountable for their mistreatment of them. Thank you to Atria and the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful distraction from the reality that 2020 is, which is utterly lacking from the excitement that the Olympics would have brought. Pick this up on June 23rd, 2020!

Have you ever wanted something so bad, you put all your time and effort into it, only to make one mistake and have it all slip right from your fingers?

In Head Over Heels, Avery Abrams lived that life. She spent years practicing, being disciplined, and working towards being a gymnast in the Olympics only to have one false move cause an injury and take it all away from her. After her injury she found herself without her best friend, her coach and the one constant in her life, gymnastics. Searching to fill that gap, Avery moves to LA, attends college (briefly), finds herself partying and dating an NFL player.

Four years later, she is still lost, and finds herself moving back home after a breakup. Avery is trying to figure out her next steps, when she gets a phone call from Ryan, a gymnast she used to know, and one that did have the chance to go to the Olympics. Ryan offers her a job at her old gym helping with a floor routine for one of his clients. Avery is reluctant to take it, but realizes she doesn’t have anything left to lose, and may in fact find the part of herself that has been missing in the process.

I really enjoyed this book. I always love watching gymnastics in the Olympics, but more than that, I love hearing about the ladies and their road it took to get there. I really liked how Hannah Orenstein did not overshadow some of the more negative things that have come out of gymnastics in recent years. She worked them into the book, and addressed them head on. There is definitely a little bit of a romance element in this book, but there is also friendship, the importance of a mentor relationship and for having a support system to help you stand up for what you know is right. I really enjoyed it all while reading Head Over Heels so much, I finished it in just a day!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an eGalley copy to read and provide and honest review.

This book is more of a 3.5 for me, but not enough to push it to the 4 star level. I liked a lot of things about this book, but there were some things that were lacking.

I will start off with the things I didn't like so we can end on a higher note. The first, and most major, issue I had was with the romance. There wasn't anything drastic wrong with it, there just wasn't much development on page. The story is told, basically, month by month for about 10 months (I think?). As such, there is a lot that is glossed over in the developing relationship. The moments that we do see the couple together were actually kind of cute, but I needed more. Where was the real pining? I didn't really end up caring if they ended up together or not.

There is also a section of the book that focuses on the exposing of a gymnastic doctor ( I can't remember his exact specialty) for sexual harassment of the gymnasts. This wasn't handled super badly, but I feel like more could have been done with this concern.

This book has more darker themes that you would expect from a "romcom". There wasn't really anything comedic about this and there were a few different serious topics discussed as well, including the #metoo movement, abusive coaches, eating disorders, fatphobia in relation to gymnastics, and things like that. I feel like this seems to be happening more frequently where books are labelled as romcoms and are not that at all.

The things that I liked about this book were the relationships between the women in the book. Avery's relationship with Hallie, the gymnast who is trying to get to the Olympics is very sweet and sister-like. She starts off feeling like she wouldn't really be friends with her new roommate Sarah, but they become really good friends. Related to Sarah, there is such a nice, calming scene where Avery finally goes to one of Sarah's yoga classes and confronts her prejudices against it and realizes why people would go to these classes. I thought it was a really nice scene. My favorite friendship though was Avery and Jasmine, who used to be best friends and drifted apart after Avery was injured and Jasmine went on to be the Olympic gymnast. I was really happy that they were able to reconnect and become friends. I do wish we saw a bit more of their friendship, but I did really like it.

Overall, I think this was a solid book, but it lacked a lot in the romance department. As this is marketed as a romcom, I am basing my review on that.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy of Head Over Heels.

I enjoyed the sports (Gymnasts) aspect of this one but wanted a little more romance feature (IMO it's secondary to her journey of starting over).. The characters were authentic and I appreciated Avery's realness surrounding her breakup. She wasn't afraid to admit she was crushed, a mess and forced to start over - BUT I loved that she gave it her best shot anyway.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The book deals with the harsher sides of the gymnastic world. Underneath all the glitz and glamour, the girls and boys competing have spent the large majority of their lives prepping for the big moment—the olympics. As an almost-Olympian, Avery went through years of brutal practices, that ended with a career-halting injury. After a bad breakup, she returns to Massachusetts and gets a job as a coach.

I think this book covered some really important topics, mainly focusing on abuse and mental health. It’s incredibly hard to speak up when experiencing abuse of any kind. Hallie’s story pays tribute to the victims of sexual assault and how they cope, specifically as an athlete. Avery’s story shows how emotional abuse isn’t easy to heal from, and can take years to even recognize and overcome. It’s only when she starts to coach herself that she is able to work through the pain. And then we have Jasmine. Her story cannot be ignored as she struggles with being in an abusive relationship and trying to break free from it.

The romance between Avery and Ryan was complicated. They’re coworkers working intensely with Hallie to get her to the Olympics. As a result, it would be messy if they started a relationship and it didn’t work out. While I understood why they would be good together, I didn’t understand how they found conversation easy. Mainly because the reader only gets a glimpse of awkward conversations between them. Even when the book is over, I still felt like the romance wasn’t top notch. It’s not that it was unbelievable, but there was something seriously lacking about it. In a way, the romance almost drags down the quality of the plot.

I thought the ending was too abrupt. The book had been carefully outlined by months and at what should’ve been the climax of the story, it ends. While the gymnastics side of the story was carefully researched, I feel like there were holes in the research of other aspects of the book (trying to be vague so no spoilers). Overall, I still really enjoyed it and would recommend.

Head Over Heels is a thoroughly enjoyable story about gymnastics, the Olympics, and Avery and Ryan. Avery trained her whole life to be in the Olympics, but was injured at the last minute and couldn't participate. She doesn't know what to do with her life now. Ryan works at a gymnastics training facility and hires Avery to help train his star pupil. This book included a lot of specifics regarding gymnastics including the sexual assault scandal. I really thought this book was well-written, but the romance gets a little lost in all the gymnastics specifics. I still enjoyed it though and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys gymnastics, the Olympics, and romance. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

In "Head over Heels", author Hannah Orenstein has created a heartwarming romance between two very likable main characters: Ryan and Avery. Former gymnastic stars, Ryan and Avery must work together to train the new up-and-coming gymnastic star, Hallie. I really enjoyed this book, and could tell many aspects were based on the true-life circumstances of Olympic gymnasts in present day. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cute romances.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. I have read Hannah’s other two books and while I was expecting another cute romcom about online dating, this one really threw me for a loop!
I loved the gymnastics setting and plot line in this. I was not expecting it to take such a big role, but I was super pleased to experience a fictional view on the real-life gymnastics tragedies that happened.

Thank you for telling this story!

Overall- I loved this and read it in two sittings. Cannot wait to see what comes next from Orenstein!