I'm super bummed because I was primed to love this. I just finished and absolutely adored Spoiler Alert, but All the Feels was missing the magic. The body positivity felt almost heavy handed, and while Alex was obviously a fan of Lauren's body, he kept calling her a bird and ridiculously short and other things that did not feel complimentary? It was hard for me to read that constantly and feel like he was being kind to her. For being a therapist, Lauren seemed completely out of touch with her own feelings and should have pushed Alex to get into therapy immediately.

Honestly, I started skimming about 50% of the way through and probably would have DNF'd if I wasn't reading for NetGalley. Such a bummer but this one just didn't work for me.

CW // fatphobia, ableism, bullying/verbal abuse

I loved Spoiler Alert and have been looking forward to Alex and Lauren's story ever since. I was so excited when I was approved for an ARC and finally got around to reading it a few weeks ago. And it did not disappoint!

I already loved Alex from all of his interactions and overall friendship with Marcus in Spoiler Alert. And I was so curious to find out more about Lauren and their relationship. Suffice to say I only love him more after reading this book because he is such a golden retriever and is so soft and beautiful and too precious for this world. And then there's Lauren with her Harpy shirts and her strength and all of the good work she's done and is determined to continue to do.

I didn't realize when I started, but this book is a slow burn with months of growing attraction and developing friendship. It's a much different relationship from Marcus and April mainly because Alex and Lauren are very different people from them. That being said I still think the same people that loved Spoiler Alert will love All the Feels because it has the same level of charm and humor while also seamlessly addressing serious topics like the superficial nature of our society and the casual fatphobia that Lauren has to deal with. But also the realities of Alex living with ADHD and managing it with his career.

I love how caring they both are and the fact that any arguments are misunderstandings they have stems from wanting the best for the other person and caring about their future. And the fact that they need to make these decisions on their own and hope that it will work out together.

I also loved the discussions of abuse and the power that media holds in normalizing these situations and the danger of popular media in upholding the toxic idea that you can't escape abusive relationships.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes golden retriever, simp heroes in their romances and wants a heartfelt slow-burn friends-to-lovers rom-com. This book was such a fun counter-balance to Spoiler Alert and only made me more excited to read more of Olivia Dade's books!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When I saw that Olivia had written another book in the Spoiler Alert Universe, I was pumped as hell. Then when I found out it was going to be about Alex and Lauren, I was both excited and unsure. Unsure only because a fair bit of the action described in the summary unfolded during the events of Spoiler Alert in which Alex is a high profile secondary character. Surprisingly though, Dade found the perfect balance to keep it all from feeling like a rehashing. It had new insight and perspective and Lauren in a much bigger role of course and this balance made it feel fresh in a way i didn’t expect. That’s a difficult trick to pull off but I applaud her for managing it. I loved Spoiler Alert, and All the Feels was just as charming and lovely and perhaps even more intimate and kind. I also appreciated the ADHD rep in conjunction with the fat rep! Both made me feel seen.
I love the way Dade balances fluffy and steamy romance as well as heavier topics like fat-shaming and abusive relationships with care, dexterity, and kindness both for her characters and for her readers. It makes each book a real joy to read to see how she might tackle each topic while balancing a swoon-worthy romance.
This book made me laugh out loud with its approach to fanfiction and tropes but also, I just loved Alex and Lauren and loved getting to see them fall in love close up. I also loved getting to see more of the Gods at the gates cast. Like Carah. I just adored her. I have no idea if Dade has any plans as such but I would love more books set in this world and with these characters, maybe with Summer or Carah taking center stage next time! Though honestly, I’ll read any romance Dade wants to give me, she’s officially won me over with her outstanding fat rep and romances!

Okay, this but took me a minute to get into because I was like Alex is horrible and I cannot see an ending with them together that I will find acceptable. But it got better around 30% and you get his humor. And then I realized he is just like my husband! So I flew through it after that.

But I'm not going to lie, I'm so much like Lauren it was kind of hard to read. It just reminded me so much of the person I used to be and how I would let people treat me that it was a bit emotional to relive that.

But as far as Lauren and Alex's love story goes I absolutely loved it! It seriously reminded me so much of me and my husband I couldn't help but root for them. I highlighted a bunch of passages and read them to my husband and was like "Look it's us!!" I wish I could give you an unbias review on this one but I can't because it was just too similar.

I think it would have been 5 stars but I truly hate (even when it is skinny people) when the person's physical appearance is harped on. And it felt like every time Alex looked at Lauren he would point out her roundness. And while it feels like her weight and his was part of the troupe it just felt unnecessary.

This is more than a romance book in my opinion. This is a reminder to all of us who have been called the plain Jane's, boring, ugly, fat, not interesting enough, or the many other things meant to make us feel less than— that we are allowed to take up space.

I would definitely recommend this book if you can handle some of the triggers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this eARC.

Considering this book had all of my favorite romance tropes, and I adored the characters where they featured in the previous book, I thought I would love it. Something about the execution felt off to me. There were some funny moments here and there, but the dialogue usually seemed like it was rambling to me. The romantic relationship started too early on for it to feel authentic.

“All the Feels” by Olivia Dade is moving right on up the list of my favorite reads from this year. Alex and Lauren’s relationship was intriguing when we first met them in Spoiler Alert, and I am so glad to have been able to read their story. I enjoy characters, stories, and authors who can balance meaningful conversations and development with humor. Dade does this flawlessly, in All the Feels. Two of my favorite examples:
“Mismatched features. Jutting angles and deliberate, defiant asymmetry. The woman in that portrait wasn’t beautiful. But beauty wasn’t the point.”
“This is the best day of my f****** life!” he shouted. “Only! One! Bed! My second-favorite trope!” He swung around to beam at her. “Lauren! Did you hear?”
Definitely be sure to check this one out!

I was so excited to be able to read an advanced copy of All the Feels. I adored Spoiler Alert and I am happy to say that All the Feels did not disappoint.

All the Feels overlaps quite a bit in time with Spoiler Alert. Dade did a wonderful job weaving that in, fitting it in seamlessly with what happened in Spoiler Alert.

Alex is going through a rough time, and it's coming out publicly so Gods of the Gates show assigns Alex a minder. Lauren is between jobs (by choice) and accepts the job offer from her jerk cousin to be Alex's minder. I absolutely adored Alex and Lauren together (once we got past the initial disdain. Alex and Lauren both have a lot of history, and we find out who they were and who they are slowly throughout the book.

As with Spoiler Alert I appreciate that Dade has a plus size heroine, and while things aren't always easy going for Lauren in All the Feels, Dade works it into the story and shows that strength comes in all sizes.

(11/5/2021) 5 stars

Olivia Dade is a contemporary romance queen. All the Feels is a worthy successor to Spoiler Alert. Alex and Lauren have a tension fueled, sexy romance and I loved seeing them slowly open up to each other. I love the mix of nerdiness, heartfelt romance with a dash of addressing tough issues like being neurodivergent or body image issues.

I was excited to read my first Olivia Dade novel, but I suspect that I may have made a mistake by not reading the first book in the series. Although both of these books are technically written as standalones, and can thus be read independently of each other, I think you would be better served by reading Spoiler Alert first. All The Feels is the story of Alex, a 39 year old actor with a larger than life personality and ADHD that keeps us all on our toes. After Alex receives some bad press, the production company of the show he is currently working on decides to hire Lauren as a "minder" to keep him in line until he finishes filming the final season of "Gods of the Gate."

I knew that I would enjoy this story (which I did) but there was still something about it that I did not vibe with. While this series is praised for its plus-size representation, Lauren's character was not the star of the show. Alex dominated this book from beginning to end, leaving the reader with little-to-no knowledge of Lauren's character. It wasn't until about the 50/60% mark that I began to enjoy Lauren's character on page, and even that was largely because of the banter that was fueled by Alex. I loved Alex's character arc, and while I know some people won't appreciate his chaotic personality, I think he was well written. Lauren on the other hand, was one dimensional and fell flat.

This book is about burnout and self punishment more than it is falling in love. The two protagonists, Alex and Lauren, have no chemistry and nothing in common besides their respective burnout. Lauren's lack of self worth doesn't really get dealt with. She continually puts herself down and it's uncomfortable to read about. Alex is a mess. And not the fun kind. Together, they're awkward. The sex scenes felt out of place because there had been no build up. No longing, no pining. Just Alex and Lauren punishing themselves and kind of tolerating each other.

One of the things I like most about Olivia Dade’s heroes, and especially the ones in her Spoiler Alert series, is how free they are expressing their emotions and how unafraid they are to enjoy the thing they love, even if those things would be deemed less than manly by most people in society. Alex, the hero in her latest book, All the Feels, is no different, and may be my favorite of hers so far. A lot of focus is spent on her heroines, and for good reason, but Alex captured my heart in a way a romance hero hasn’t in a long time. This book may not be for everyone but I enjoyed Dade’s latest look into the world of Hollywood, fanfiction, and all things nerdy.

If you read Spoiler Alert, the first book in this series, you will remember Alexander Woodroe as Marcus’s best friend and castmate on the hit television show God of the Gates. His role as Cupid has made him a rising star but his off-screen antics have threatened to derail his career and make him be seen as poison in Hollywood. At the beginning of this book, he has gotten into a bar fight at the very end of filming the series and the creators of the show are so concerned that he will ruin their successful show that they decide to hire someone to watch him and make sure he doesn’t get into further trouble. Lauren Cregg, who is the producer Ron’s cousin, happens to be visiting the set in Spain after taking a much-needed break from her job as an ER therapist and agrees to take the job. She’s aware of Alex’s reputation but can’t turn down the money or the chance to extend her mental health break while she decides what she wants to do for the rest of her life. Thus begins a traditional enemies-to-lovers story with some very untraditional characters.

Where this book shines are the characters. Alex reads and writes fanfiction and watches the Great British Bake Off with no shame whatsoever and with no fear that his masculinity will be called into question. He is also open about his ADHD diagnosis and his need for medication. One of my favorite moments early on is when Lauren realizes he has ADHD: “He openly took medication for ADHD every morning-their first breakfast together he’d shaken the pill bottle an inch from her nose and bellowed, ‘I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Nanny Clegg! Imagine that!’" I loved this vulnerability about Alex and how free and open he was with his feelings.  Lauren is one of Dade’s most insecure heroines, but she still stands up for herself and against Alex when needed. Her low self-esteem makes sense as we are told several times that people think she’s ugly and have no problem calling her that to her face. Even Alex thinks that when they first meet. I like that Dade shows her being vulnerable about this, even as she tries to be strong and not let people’s words affect her. This emotion feels real and authentic and it fit the character. As much as I loved these characters, I felt like something was missing from the romance. I didn’t see the moment where the feelings of friendship moved to something more for either of them and I was missing some of the chemistry that usually comes in a slow burn romance.  However, this was still a quirky, witty romance that had me smiling even if I was hoping for more from the love story.

I love that Olivia Dade writes romances featuring people with real bodies and real personalities and that she always tells a fun story. All the Feels had some of my favorite characters, but the romance fell a bit flat for me. Despite that, I would recommend this book and am still looking forward to Dade’s next release because her books are always well-written with an entertaining story and likable characters.

4.5 stars.

I loved Spoiler Alert and I’ve been patiently waiting for Alex’s story FOREVER. Alex was a Hero that was hard to stay mad at. He is impulsive but well intentioned, fiercely protective, and adoring. He and his impulsiveness get him into trouble with the director of his hit show so he is given a “baby sitter,” Lauren. Alex is a bit of a d-bag with Lauren, but his stubbornness eventually won me over.

I felt for Lauren. Being plus-size in the spotlight made her very untrusting and cautious to the public, while she seemed 100% at ease with herself privately. Her friendship with Alex was very much a slow burn, but once they got together I was metaphorically cheering from the stands. Alex was so open in his adoration, he was like a little puppy. Lauren was understandably cautious, but her character blossomed once she opened up.

I love that there were multiple deeper themes going on, all well written and worthy of discussion. Mental health and healthy support systems are so important in both All the Feels and life outside the pages.

All the Feels was a great follow up to Spoiler Alert and I’m hoping for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the review copy!

4.5/5

"She'd almost forgotten the specific pain of attempting to make herself as small as possible... She'd almost forgotten the reality of her life."

"You're my wish come true, Wren."

AHHHHHHHHH

Okay okay... I do indeed have all the feels. Hi. I have them. All of them. My heart is very full. So full.

Spoiler Alert didn't work for me. I was excited for it, but the chemistry wasn't there and I dragged through it. Even so, I loved the premise and the rep and the nuanced conversations between characters and I went into All the Feels willing to be burned again if Alex and Lauren could turn up the fire like I thought they could. And they did!

This book is full of loveable characters, with Alex and Lauren at it's helm. They are full of banter and snark and ANNOYINGNESS and love and light and sweetness. Their supporting cast is adorable , though most of the book is focused on our main characters. I compared them over and over in my mind to Sophie and Howl. Alex is the preening pretty boy with a fierce protective streak and Lauren is the soft, smart, strong woman trying to do keep him in line.

The book is about finding love, overcoming trauma, healing, taking up space for yourself, etc. There's a very nuanced discussion throughout about how much harm you can take from others and yourself while trying to serve others to the best of your ability. Both Alex and Lauren experience this in different ways and really dig into it. I felt really connected to both characters. Alex has ADHD and a lot of anxiety. Lauren is a fat and ugly based on society standards. I was like.... oh. Me? You wrote this for ME? (thank u olivia bb i love u). Seeing both of these beautiful humans actually work through their ish (looking at you dark romances with no therapy or healing...) and work toward a future together and for themselves separately was so unbelievably calming and joyful. Add in the constant banter, the snark, the spice ;) and this book has probably my entire heart.

Weirdly enough, I'm the exception here? Idk what y'all read but this was immaculate and I never wanted to put it down even when I absolutely had to.

Also, I weirdly thought of Alicia and Scot McCarvell (tiktok) through the entire book? They should play these characters in the movie for sure.

Recommended for those who love:
1. ​books that include Fanfiction. Game of Thrones fanfiction lowkey??
2. FAT GIRL REP!!!!! FAT GIRLS BEING LOVED FULLY REP!!!!! LIKE APPLE SHAPED FAT GIRLS <3
3. Relationships similar to Howl and Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle
4. Fiercely protective lovers
5. Not enemies by Annoyances-to-Friends-to-Lovers
6. There's only one bed trope
7. Kind of Sunshine/Grumpy trope??
8. Endless banter, flirty and fiesty
9. kind of slow build romance?

Olivia Dade is officially joining the ranks as one of my favorite romance authors because this is the third book from her that I have adored! All the Feels is laugh out loud funny (okay, humor is subjective, but I certainly laughed out loud!), but also has a lot of heart and gets into bigger issues like toxic family dynamics and being the child of a domestic violence survivor.

It's an opposites attract story- Alex is charming and chaotic, trying to manage his ADHD alongside a Hollywood career. Lauren is reserved, organized, and self-assured. When Alex gets bad press after a barroom brawl, Lauren is brought on as his minder to keep him out of trouble. It's a slow burn relationship- they become good friends but keep their mutual attraction under wraps until she is no longer tied to him through her employment. (yay for healthy power dynamics!) But things do head up eventually and I was here for all of it! Plus we get fantastic fat rep, and not just with an hourglass figure! Dade does a fabulous job of being body positive and letting Lauren be sexy without it becoming a weird fetish thing. And the BANTER! I love the banter so very much. This is so my thing and one of my favorite romances from 2021. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Quick update after reading some other reviews: I find it interesting that so many people seem not to get the chemistry between the characters because Lauren isn't described as pretty and Alex affectionately teases her about being short and birdlike. I love the fact that Lauren doesn't have to be traditionally pretty for Alex to be into her. And I love the fact that we aren't allowed to FORGET that she's not traditionally pretty. She's a plain, imperfect heroine with beautiful eyes and features that are compelling and appealing to Alex, which is all that really matters. I think if the same characterization was done with a male character, no one would bat an eye because men don't have to be "pretty" or conventionally attractive to be desirable. Well that shouldn't apply to women either! All that to say, I was super into the slow-burn chemistry. The heat in a touch or a look...I loved it. And I loved them together. He had a good sense for what would actually be hurtful to her and never did that. Okay, getting off my soapbox now.

I felt myself heading towards a reading slump before picking up All The Feels, and it was just the fun, quick read I needed. Both of our love interests were such complex characters, and I felt they both had great individual growth throughout the story. It made it even easier to root for them as I was reading. This one had a slooooow burn, but it worked well for their relationships - and it definitely delivered on the steam once they reached that point.

I've really enjoyed both books by Olivia Dade I've read now, and I'm interested in checking out her backlist too!

Olivia Dade has easily become one of my favorite romance authors. All the Feels, like all of Dade’s books, has so much humor, heart, and alllll the swoons. Alex and Lauren were both so much fun as side characters in Spoiler Alert and it was delightful to read their journey to falling for each other! I would gladly read ten more books in this series/world.

Dade's books are fantastic and her latest was so good I couldn't put it down! She does an excellent job balancing real issues with humor and levity.

It was a fun read. I didn't enjoy Alex and Lauren's story as much as I liked Spoiler Alert. Their story seemed a little forced at times. Olivia Dade's writing style is engaging, and I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I enjoyed All the Feels even more than the first book in the series, Spoiler Alert. (You do not HAVE to read it before this one but it does make it slightly more enjoyable having character history in place). I would have liked the book to have been a little longer to not have such a speedy ending but I still found it enjoyable. It is pretty spicy for those who don’t want that in their reading material.

I loved Olivia Dade's SPOILER ALERT, the book preceding this one, and ALL THE FEELS was similarly heartwarming, sexy, and fun. It's an enjoyable read through and through that many readers will relate to, with characters they'll fall in love with. The only thing I didn't love was the main conflict towards the end of the book... I won't spoil it in a review but essentially the story leans heavily on the "leave them to save them" trope, which I thought was a disservice to the incredible relationship that had been developed thus far. But other than that, this was a wonderful book and I'm sure many others will fall in love with it, too. Obviously perfect for those readers who loved SPOILER ALERT.