I am really struggling with how to rate and review this one ...

The good:
It's an Olivia Dade book. I adore her writing so much!
Per usual Ms. Dade brings on the steam.
I love the growth Lauren's character goes through and how she ends up at the end of the book. My heart broke for her and the way people have treated her throughout her life.

The bad:
I really hated how Alex's character teases Lauren. Even when he doesn't mean to. Why does he have to be hurtful to her in the beginning?
We are told WAY too many times how short Lauren is. Alex seems obsessed with her height. We get it. She's short.
This one just didn't seem as body positive as previous Olivia Dade books.

All in all this is a cute story, but I wasn't wow-ed by it. Olivia Dade is still an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait to see what she releases next.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for me free ebook arc in exchange for my honest review.

After getting into a bar fight, Alexander Woodroe has apparently reached the last straw with the producers of the tv show that he stars in - they've had enough of his antics and the bad press he creates for the show. To keep him in line, they assign him a minder, Lauren Clegg, one of the producer's cousins. A woman who looks like a bird and is irritatingly unflappable. Which it turns out is just what Alex needs. He has ADHD which makes him basically the definition of extra. Lauren is one of the only people who has been able to handle him - and he finds himself wanting her to handle him even more if you know what I mean...

This book was a lot of fun, despite some serious moments and important representation for mental health and fatphobia. I found myself liking Alex as a character despite his chaotic-ness. Especially his joy in simple things and his generosity. I also liked Lauren. She's comfortable and content in her skin even if the rest of the world isn't. She doesn't let others define her. However, she certainly is defined in this book by her appearance.

I was a little disheartened with the constant barrage of negative adjectives surrounding her appearance - the repetitive comparison to birds, mention of her short legs and round, soft belly grated on me, and I had hoped would lessen or change as the book went on, but that wasn't the case. If Alex grows to love her so much, how did his take on her appearance not change? The only feature he ever remarks on as beautiful is her eyes. The entire core of the book seemed to rest on this beautiful man loving an ugly woman while "generously" ignoring her flaws. It didn't sit well with me. I just don't think anyone should be called ugly under the guise of being frank. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? As a plus-sized woman, I think I would be a little upset to learn that's how my partner describes me in their mind. I am all for the representation of plus-sized people in romance novels, but in this instance, it almost felt like gratuitous wish fulfillment where the ugly, fat girl gets the buff, hot guy.

All that being said, I did enjoy this book. I like the world created around the God of the Gates show and all the interludes of text exchanges and fanfiction. Dade's writing style works well for me. I just hope in her next novel, there's a bit more variation from the norm. Her sweet spot has become a hot guy likes a fat girl, which is necessary in the landscape of romance novels, but now needs to be taken to the next level.

I absolutely hate to say it because I adored the first book in this series, but this one did not work for me. I was so excited for this because the snippets we got of Alex and Lauren in Spoiler Alert were EVERYTHING, but they almost felt like an entirely different couple in this one??? All of their interactions felt really forced and heavy handed and I didn't believe their chemistry at all. I also feel like (in a complete contrast to the first book), the sex scenes in this one were awkward as heck. I didn't believe that Alex and Lauren really liked each other, so reading about them being intimate didn't work for me and I am just SO SAD ABOUT IT. I will definitely read more from Olivia Dade in the future because I am all about romance where fat girls get theirs, but All The Feels unfortunately was a pretty big miss for me.

CW: fatphobia, domestic abuse

Thank you Avon Books and Harper Voyager for this e-ARC via NetGalley.

I have become a huge Olivia Dade fan over the past week, after reading Spoiler Alert and now All the Feels! Her writing is just fantastic, and I'm 2 for 2 on getting teary eyed at her dedications. While Spoiler Alert was not 100% my cup of tea because of my issues with the plot, I knew I enjoyed the author's voice and writing style so I was very excited to read the next in the series. All the Feels exceeded my expectations - I completely fell in love with Alex and Lauren. Their dynamic was so fun and sweet, I could read about them all day.

I appreciated the fat heroine rep with Lauren, and found that I resonated with her character very much, more so than I did with April in Spoiler Alert. The theme of trying to make yourself small to appease others cut deep for me. I just want to hug her! I do wish the book had gotten more in depth with her past, as well as her own interests. I think if there had been more room to dive deeper into her past, this would have been 5 stars for me. Also, something about an actor being active in the fan-fiction community for a show they're on felt...odd to me. It was a big reason why I couldn't fully get into Spoiler Alert, and I was glad this focused on that less. But I just don't find it very believable, and I couldn't understand why Alex had to be into it as much as Marcus from Spoiler Alert was. The main characters' personalities were unique on their own, and more time could have been spent on their interests separate from that - especially Lauren's.

Regardless, the moment when Alex acknowledges the Only One Bed trope happening was adorable and hilarious. I can't wait to read more from this author!

A very generous 3 stars for this one.

The first 75% of the book I was bored. It wasn’t until the hero and heroine finally hooked up that I started to get invested. This was my first book by this author and sadly, will likely be the last. I wasn’t a fan of the 3rd person writing style. I also had a hard time with a lot of the unnecessary vocabulary the author threw in with every other sentence. It was like when you go to the thesaurus while writing a school paper and choose an uncommon alternative word to sound smarter and more worldly. That happened so many times in this read, I lost count and also lost interest.

I liked the characters just fine. While I felt horrible for Lauren, basically through the entire book, I did like that she finally grew a backbone in the last 15%. I didn’t feel as though the author did this character any justice. She was constantly described as ugly and less than, by so many people. It got to the point of annoyance and felt so unrealistic.

Overall, I thought the book had a fun story line and decently executed plot twist (as predictable as it was). The characters each brought something to the story and I did really enjoy the relationship forged by Lauren and Alex. The epilogue was delightful.

So cute! Just like the title this book give you all the feels. A quick read with a sweet romance. Well written with great characters that feel like friends,

After getting into a bar fight, Alexander Woodroe is in trouble. This isn't new. Thanks to his ADHD, he often gets into trouble. But this time it's different, the two producers of the tv show that he stars on have had enough of his antics. To keep him in line, they assign him a minder... one of the producer's cousins. A woman who looks like a bird and is remarkably unflappable. Considering that she's his minder, Alex finds himself liking her. And then feeling more...

In desperate need of a break from her life as an ER therapist, Lauren Clegg didn't expect to get a job keeping tabs on a bonafide celebrity. But to keep the peace in her family when her cousin Ron asks for her help, she gives it. Grudgingly. It doesn't help that she finds Alex attractive but also a bit of an a-hole. A charming a-hole, but an a-hole regardless. Still, she can't help but like him... and maybe even feel more for him. But her assignment is only for nine months, besides guys like him never fall for a girls like her. Except...

--

Note: This book needs the following trigger warnings -- ableism, fatphobia, body shaming, discussion of domestic abuse, discussion of workplace harassment, discussion of sexual harassment, discussion of mental illness. There may be more I missed, but this book handles the subject matters well. IMHO

Okay, All the Feels totally lives up to its title. This book hit me in the feels. Multiple times. Like so many times. When I first read Spoiler Alert, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this story. I wasn't totally in love with Alex, and Lauren wasn't a major character in the first book at all. But I trusted that the author would be able to make this pairing work, and she did.

There's a lot of good in here. First off, can we talk about how Alex has ADHD and how it manifests? We get to see his Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and how it can cause him to make poor decisions or jump to conclusions. We get to see how the medications that he takes for it both help and hurt. We get to see his decision processes which can be a bit chaotic and feel impulsive to the extreme. We get to see how he hyper-fixates and also how he struggles. The portrayal of ADHD in this is well done and while there is no one universal ADHD experience this is a pretty good portrayal in fiction.

I also like the theme of choice that runs through this book. People have to choose for themselves who they want to be. But sometimes they needs a little help making good decisions. And that goes for everyone.

I really found myself liking Alex as a character. Especially his joy in simple things like taking walks, various fanfic tropes, and even just going on an old fashioned road trip. His acceptance of fan culture and his desire to be a part of it was adorable. I mean there's a discussion on Sex Pollen. Sex Pollen for goodness sakes! I loved it.

I also really liked Lauren. She's comfortable and content in her skin even if the rest of the world isn't. While she doesn't like being made fun of for things she can't control (who does?), she doesn't let others define her. However, what she does do is rate her own self worth as lower than those around her. This isn't a fat person problem, although it does happen. It's a human problem. Particularly a woman problem. And I like that her growth is in finding her worth and what will make her happy while not sucking all of the joy out of her life.

There's some great supporting characters. The cast of the show are great as in the first book. And I really liked that we got to see Marcus being a good friend. It's also nice to see a good parent in these books. Alex's mom is kinda awesome. Lauren also has her own support system, but it's smaller and that's part of her arc. There's just so much in this book that I loved. I laughed out loud so many times. So so many times. I found the little interludes great.... particularly the group chats... (it's honestly all about Whiskers ~_^) I loved the consent. I loved that both leads were in their late thirties. I loved that the book featured a plus-sized heroine who was okay with her weight... even if the rest of the world wasn't.

Honestly, I hope that there's more to this series. This book and the previous book are going on my reread list and if you're a fan of fandom and plus-sized romances, then you need to read this book.

This book hit me right in the feels. And for that it gets...

Five stars

I received an ARC via NetGalley

*4.5
it would be five stars but something about the first half of the book just didn’t click with me. i think it was because they didn’t seem to really have feelings for each other which can work but for me it didn’t.

besides that though i loved the book, the fact that alex writes fanfiction about his character is so cute. also his love of tropes and his literal scream when they got to live out the one bed trope was a lot of fun.

*as a side note for as much as alex talked about pegging i was surprised that he and lauren didn’t do it

also i received an arc through netgalley

Oh boy did I love this book. It was super wholesome and just made my heart so happy. I really identified with a lot of Alex’s struggles and it was so great to see a realistic depiction of what it’s like to be a neurodiverse person with ADHD. I also really liked reading about a plus-sized protagonist from a more realistic perspective. Also Alex is like a sqwooshy cinnamon roll with a heart of gold and I want all the best for him. Lauren also deserves every good thing in this cursed world.

I absolutely adore Olivia Dade’s writing. One of the things I love most in her writing is the way she goes out of her way to provide great representation and to be explicit in her inclusivity. I first noticed this when reading Spoiler Alert, where it stopped me in my tracks and just made my heart so happy that I devoured everything else she had published. As someone from the U.S. I grew up reading books almost entirely by and about white people and from a largely ableist, cis-heteronormative lens. As I’ve gotten older I’ve tried to go out of my way to broaden my reading horizons, but I can’t deny that I still carry elements of that baggage with me and that when certain scenes are left ambiguous my brain will sometimes default to that lens to fill in the blanks. I love that something as small as adding an extra word or two, maybe even just a single pronoun to a sentence can totally shake me out of that mindset and make me reread the line in a much more inclusive manner. I think *everyone* should be able to see themselves reflected in stories and I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Dade.

It was great, I loved the internal conflicts along with the conflicts between the two characters. I loved e vocabulary, this book made me feel like I wasn’t reading a trashy romance, but a novel with steamy encounters. The mental health awareness in this novel was fantastic as well. Overall, loved it and you didn’t need the previous books in the series to read this one! I love reading series out of order and this didn’t make me think I should go back and read the other book! If you did read the other novel, Marcus and April were in this book too!

Y’all… this books gave me All The Feels! (Corny? Probably. 😂 True? Absolutely.) This was such a fun read. The characters were extremely easy to love. The storyline was great and full of drama to keep me interested. I kept telling my husband little tidbits of the plot or quoting a funny line. I did that so much that he said, “Should they make a movie out of it?” 😂 I have this 4 stars instead of 5, simply because it was way longer than it needed to be. There were parts here and there that seemed to drag on when it was not necessary.

My absolute love and adoration of the first book in this series had set my expectations for this next book exceedingly high! I’ve been anxiously waiting to get my hands on Alex’s book, especially after being so vivacious and charming in Spoiler Alert. He was a true scene stealer and I was hungry for more.

Having received an ARC for All The Feels, I am remarkably happy to report that not only did this book live up to all my expectations… Alex and Lauren took me on a journey that surpassed the one I had gone through for Marcus and April. Alex pushed his way to the forefront and demanded my love and attention be on him. He won me over immediately. Not only because he is so fucking giving and vulnerable underneath the veneer of a wild charming asshole, the way he takes care of Lauren, even from herself made me weep that he was not a real man but instead another fictional man for me to adore.

Alex and Lauren unmoored me. Whatever I expected paled to what I got and I was positively DELIGHTED every step of the way. Lauren has a journey. Who she is in the beginning is so so very different to who we see at the end of the story and I honestly cried. Tears of joy, seeing this evolution and knowing that it was earned. It was beautiful to go through that with her. To see Alex be her champion. To see her champion herself. My heart is bursting just thinking about it.

It’s killing me not to post spoilers on what I -specifically- loved. The moments that caught at my heart (Family! Charities! Beautiful supportive friends!). The moments where I literally cackled (witty banter!! So much witty bickering to be had!) The moments I SQUEALED out loud with pure joy and honest to god had full body chills of glee. (Sexual tension! Sexual relief anyone? Lots of displays of affection?? LUST AND YEARNING?!) There were definitely moments that had me tearing up, crying on behalf of these characters who felt so real… and ALL THE FANFIC TALK! (Yes fellow readers of Spoiler Alert, Alex’s obsession with pegging is still strong!)

If you enjoyed Spoiler Alert, you will absolutely LOVE All The Feels. That is a promise. I don’t see how anyone could not come out of reading this book and not feel happier. I haven’t stopped grinning and the only bit of sadness felt was that the story was now over.

Still 1000/10 absolutely recommend.

In honor of the fic heavy references, read if you love these tropes

-rivals (ish) to friends to lovers
-bickering galore
-THERE WAS ONLY ONE BED
-soulmates au
-YouTube AU
-romantic road trips
-HEIGHT DIFFERENCE

Title: All The Feels
Author: Olivia Dade
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 (Hot on the Smut-O-Meter)
Series: Spoiler Alert #2
Tropes: Contemporary - California, MC-Actor, ADHD representation, Plus-size representation, One bed trope, Road trip, MC reads fanfiction, Rich guy, Enemies to lovers
Content Warning: Domestic abuse, Discussion around weight, Abuse in Hollywood

I loved Spoiler Alert so I was super excited to get an e-ARC of the next book in the series. All The Feels follows Alex and Lauren’s journey. If you read Spoiler Alert, you saw glimpses of the start of their relationship. Alex is an actor on the Gods at the Gates (a Game of Thrones look-a-like) and has been having issues with the show’s writer/producers. Lauren is a burned ER psychologist who goes to Spain for her first real vacation in years. She is guilted into stopping by her cousin’s TV production and talked into acting as Alex’s minder. Lauren hates her cousin (one of the writer/producers for Gods at the Gates) but could use the money.

Alex and Lauren are oil and vinegar just waiting to be shaken up. The banter is next-level, and veres into being a little harsh for my taste but works because of “romance reason” between the MCs. Alex has ADHD and you see how that affects him including needing to move around, taking medication, and getting assistance with executive functions. His impulsiveness plays a part in the big relationship hurtle near the end of the story.

Lauren’s size is a minor feature throughout the story. She and Alex have discussions around other people’s opinions but it’s not Lauren’s core issue. Lauren’s evolution is around taking up the space that rightfully hers. Lauren and her friend, Sionna, use the sexist ideas around “harpies” to harness their own power. Alex helps Lauren find her “Big Harpy Energy” and stand up for herself.

Most of the story takes place in California, and I loved the road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway that was featured. It also created great opportunities for some spicy scenes. Alex famously writes fanfiction of his character, Cupid, from Gods at the Gates. He references many of Romanclandia’s favorite tropes including Only-One-Bed. Lauren and Alex have fun with these tropes once they get into the bedroom.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first book of the series. It had everything I look for in an adult romance (for the most part). It was cute, clever, and funny. I loved how it paralleled the first perfectly, and even had call backs to many of the characters from the first book. As someone who kind of has the same outlook on life as the main female where it doesn't seem like anyone cares about me and I'm so use to it, it was refreshing and a relief to see that things can change for the better sometimes. The main male's storyline with the abuse was also handled and written very well.

All the Feels by Olivia Dade features tropes on tropes in another lovely Rom-Com from the master of real people and fake properties. Lauren is burnt out after 13 years of working as an ER therapist. The last thing she needs is her idiot cousin Rob giving her a job babysitting Alex, an insufferable, hothead, Hollywood star. Alex doesn’t need a babysitter, but when Lauren is the babysitter in question, he cannot resent her no-nonsense attitude and specific teeshirts for long. Alex worms his way into her heart with his endless stream of consciousness rambles, midnight walks, and unrelenting selflessness. Seriously the man cannot give away his money fast enough between supporting his family, friends, and charities. When Alex burns down his relationship with his former showrunners, Lauren has to decide what place she really has in his life. A tender take on a bodyguard romance made for castles of all shapes and sizes.

If you read Spoiler Alert you know the blow-up in question and let me say, it is glorious from Alex’s point of view. As Alex’s best friend, Marcus continues to appear through the second book in the series. Their text exchange is iconic and almost as great as the scripts, group chats, and fanfiction included in the page breaks. If you enjoyed Alex as a side character, you will love him here. He is, in fact, adorable.

Alex is an interesting protagonist with a developed acting career at a junction. He actively manages his ADHD, and while it affects his behavior, he often implements coping mechanisms to manage his neurodivergence. What he hasn’t dealt with, is his guilt over his mother’s abusive relationship, spurred on by an abusive storyline involving his character in Gods of the Gates. Watching him identify and work through his self-sabotaging behavior should feel incongruous with a comedy, but it lives comfortably amongst innuendos, jokes, and ridiculousness.

I am also a big fan of Lauren, Big Harpy Energy icon. She is always confident and self-assured. Lauren is still dealing with serious burnout alongside a realization that she has been making herself small so others might be more comfortable. Learning to advocate for yourself even when it might cause conflict is difficult. Ultimately, I just like her and her point of view.

I continue to love the fake shows Dade creates for her romances. Just when I think there is nothing new around the corner, a new form of entertainment pops up alongside the romance and I fall in love all over again.

Between Alex and Lauren’s time at hotels for the show, relaxing in Alex’s Hollywood castle, and their road trip through California it will be hard not to fall in love with their friendship as it grows into a romantic relationship. Funny, fierce, and heartbreaking all at once, it is a book that is impossible to say no to.

All the Feels by Olivia Dade is set to release on October 26th, 2021 and will be an amazing read. Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for providing the eARC of All the Feels by Olivia Dade in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Olivia Dade, Harper Avon and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read Spoiler Alert, I did not realize these characters were in the same universe. Similar to that book, this one also has a lot of characters and sometimes it is hard to figure out who is who.

Lauren, frequently described as short, round and unattractive, with a bird-like face, is hired to keep Alex out of trouble as he finishes the last season of Gods of The Gates. Alex has gotten in trouble with a bar fight and Lauren's cousin hires her. Alex is handsome but also has ADHD, which is portrayed quite smartly in this novel.

I actually liked this book much more than her previous one. That being said, I wish her books weren't so much about these perfect men falling in love with women who are described as physically unattractive. It felt like a repeat and a little dis-genuine. I did like the character of Lauren. I felt like she was a bad-ass and I loved that. And I loved seeing her grow throughout the book.

When I started this book, I wondered if it was an "ugly duckling turns into a swan" plot. Nope. Both leads were flawed yet appealing. I know people can be cruel and maybe I am just naive, but I found the reactions of characters to the physical unattractiveness of the heroine over the top.

UGHHH THIS BOOK. OLIVIA DADE DID IT AGAIN!!!
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. The banter, the characters, that CHEMISTRY. Literally so stunning.

This book was so warm and full of charm! I adored SPOILER ALERT and the snippets of fanfic, chats, etc. continued to shine in this book. Alex was every bit as delightful as he was in the first book, and the deeper insight into his character and his ghosts made him so wonderfully complex. I would have loved a little bit more of Lauren's past as an ER therapist -- which we hear mostly recounted as she talks to Alex, versus from her own POV -- but thought that her own traumas were thoughtfully and beautifully handled whenever they did come up. Their relationship was such a joy to read -- Alex's delight at making Lauren claim the space she deserves! the two of them in that freezing cold hotel room! -- and the way they complemented each other was perfectly done. A lovely read.

⭐️ 4.75

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

Absolutely LOVED this book. This was my first Olivia Dade book, and I was super excited to read it because I’ve heard such good things about Spoiler Alert.

The storyline, Alex and Lauren’s individual stories, the humor, the SPICE 👀 it was all so so good.

Alex is definitely one of my top book boyfriends. The way he treats Lauren, the way he talks about how much he worships her body, the way he loves her gave me constant 🦋

I found myself relating especially to Lauren’s story and her struggle with self-worth. One of the most heartbreaking parts in the book that I related to oh so much was when her best friend said: “Sometimes I want to burn down the world for what it’s done to you.”

Ugh I just loved this book so much. The only reason it wasn’t a full 5 ⭐️ read for me was because there were some chapters that were sometimes emails, fanfics, texts, etc. and I found myself wanting to skip through them.

Overall HIGHLY recommend purchasing when it’s published 🥰