Read this if…you believe in body positivity and enjoyed the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”

Britta is a plus-size writer for a women’s lifestyle magazine who isn’t ashamed of her body. She agrees to try out a popular fitness app, FitMi, and write about her experience as a curvy woman trying to be healthier without necessarily losing weight. She is paired up with Wes for a coach, who is secretly the co-founder of FitMi, and the two instantly connect over the program’s chat feature. Ethical lines are crossed by both parties as they flirt shamelessly despite never having seen one another. And honestly…that’s all you need to know.

Wow. This book has ruined romcoms for me. I will forever compare any romance book I read to The Fastest Way to Fall and that is so unfortunate for all the other great books out there. If a person’s soulmate could be a book, cue the wedding bells because this one is mine! I cannot begin to do this wonderfully sweet and empowering book justice, but I will try.

Britta is everything a female protagonist should be-strong, confident, smart, and funny. I love the body positive attitude she maintains even while stepping outside her comfort zone and doing something scary. And do not even get me started on Wes. He is broken in a way that keeps him humble, but his attraction to Britta is so pure and sweet that I can barely handle it. Ladies, find yourself a man who sees you through the same lens as Wes sees Britta!!

Thanks to the author, @netgalley, and Berkeley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

CW: (from the author’s website)
- Intentional changes in exercise and nutrition habits by a main character (that do not include dieting) including on-page reflections on exercise and eating habits.
- Off-page alcohol and drug abuse of a side character.
- The heroine participates in brief and off-page over-exercise.
- Reference to the eating disorder of a side character.

I’m struggling a bit to write this review because parts of the novel worked so well for me and the emotions were so relatable, but other parts left me frustrated and annoyed.

What I enjoyed:
- The author did a fantastic job discussing and showing Britta’s vulnerabilities and thoughts about her body. Her struggles and feelings were very relatable and I loved that the focus was on Britta being strong and loving her body and not on diet or losing weight.
- The banter and build up between her and Wes. I’m a huge fan of back and forth emails and texts in romance and I loved how playful they were with each other and how their connection evolved.
- Britta. Her character arc was a great one and though she stumbled at times, I was always rooting for her. The Body Bae pieces at the start of many of her chapters were my favorite.
- The epilogue. Perfect way to bring everything together and left me with a huge smile on my face.
- The Fastest Way To Fall featured some of my favorite tropes: friends to lovers, forced proximity, epistolary romance, caretaker, there’s only one bed, and slow burn.

What didn't quite work:
- The miscommunications. I’m just not a fan of lying by omission or issues that could be addressed and solved together if everyone would just be honest. I understand why Wes and Britta were hesitant to come clean, but this plot point lasted much too long.
- Wes. I wanted to love him so badly, but boy did he make it hard sometimes! He was such a sweetheart, but he was so hot and cold. I was glad Britta called him out on it before moving forward, but I really needed to see him fight for her and what he wanted. My heart broke as he struggled under the weight of his family and how lost he felt professionally. I think it just felt like there was too much going on with him and I would have preferred seeing him come into his own the same way that Britta did.
- Kelsey. Her character felt very one dimensional and her interactions with Wes grated on me. After understanding how emotionally abusive their relationship had been, however, it made more sense why he took so long to rebuff her. The professional drama at the end resolved very quickly and made the ending feel rushed.

Overall, I enjoyed The Fastest Way To Fall, but I sadly didn’t love it.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

3.5/5 stars! i love reading author's notes and the one at the beginning of this book really made britta's story so wonderful to read. i loved both the main characters, all of britta and wes's interactions from the emails and texts to after they met and started training together were so cute and fun and i adored them together. what stood out to me the most though was britta's personal journey in this book and how at the end she not only falls in love with wes but with herself too. the miscommunication at the end (which i didn't really understand, it felt complicated for no reason but then it was resolved so quickly) frustrated me a bit and i wasn't fully interested reading those chapters BUT that epilogue was so lovely and satisfying and i could look past it in the end because overall i enjoyed this a lot. thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams is another one of her standalone romantic novels, with some characters (and the lead in this one) having been in her previous book.

We meet our heroine, Britta Colby, who is an assistant for a lifestyle website, and she is determined to become a writer for the company. She and her competitor Claire are assigned to test out two new fitness apps, write their thoughts and experiences, with one of them getting a promotion. Britta joins the FitMe App, and though she is overweight, she feels this company concentrates mostly on health, rather than losing weight; especially since she is comfortable in her body.

Wes Lawson, our hero, is one of the owners of FitMe, and lately he has been distracted, as well as being annoyed by his ex and issues with his mother and sister. When he reads the application of a new member, and gets a kick out of her funny comments, Wes decides perhaps he needs a break, and becomes her coach. In a short time, a friendship is built, with Wes enjoying his coaching and fun bantering with Britta.

Britta surprises herself when she begins to enjoy her exercise routines, and the coach who helps push her to the max. They both begin to enjoy their company, and despite the rules against becoming involved with a client, a bond forms as they begin to do workouts together, with Wes constantly pushing her to exceed. Though their chemistry heats up, they both know that they need to keep it professional, which becomes difficult with each passing day. Britta was a fantastic fun heroine, and Wes was sweet, caring and sexy. Will they be able to walk away when Britta’s competition ends?

I loved most of the characters, whether they were Britta’s friends or Wes’s coworkers, as they were all very supportive. I also loved the bantering between Britta and Wes. Lots of fun. I did find that part of the book was a bit slow at times, with some repetition, but overall, it was a great read.

What follows is a wonderful, fun, emotional and sexy romance, with a fantastic couple we quickly fell in love with. Britta was a fabulous heroine, who was falling hard for Wes, but at the same time was concerned about her competition and getting a promotion. Would that destroy her possible relationship with Wes. The Fastest Way to Fall was a delightful, fun, engaging contemporary romance that was very well written by Denise Williams. I fully suggest if you enjoy pure romances, that you read this book.

Light and funny romcom - this is not. Denise Williams has a talent for taking real, deep issues and weaving them thoughtfully through a love story that engages and keeps you turning the page. I almost put this one down several times because the themes of diet culture, body image and fat shaming were so honest and real that it was hard to read at times. I kept reading because the banter and connection between Wes and Britta was so endearing that I wanted more.

The parts that worked were wonderful, but the parts that didn't felt so uncomfortable to me (secrets, body and diet issues, addiction struggles) that it definitely affected my reading experience. I will absolutely be back for more from Williams, but will remember that the good comes with the hard and make sure I am ready when the book hits my kindle. I am giving this a 4, but it falls at 3.5.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! I really loved and connected to the story of finding yourself and the joy of exercise for people of all sizes, as well as the sweet romance that builds over the book. Britta is a black woman and writer for a lifestyle website, who is assigned to review a fitness app in a competition with a coworker for a promotion. Britta gets placed with Wes, a personal trainer for the fitness app, as well as the CEO. Neither knows the positions of power they are coming from in terms of how their budding romance affects their work life. This book does have a good amount of content warnings on addiction, eating disorders, exercising, and dieting, but the author does a good job setting the scene with an author’s note at the beginning of the book. I really enjoyed the chemistry and affection between Wes and Britta, and I also enjoyed Britta’s journey of loving exercise for the power it gave her to love herself. As a mid-sized fat woman who exercises regularly, but not to lose weight, I really appreciated this part of the story. I also have multiple family members who are recovering addicts, so I think that part of the story is really well done. I enjoy William’s writing style: she does a great job with pacing of the plot, likable characters and depth, and treating hard topics with care. I recommend this book for anyone who likes romance, slow burns, health at every size, and good writing.

Britta is a 20-something woman who works as an editorial assistant for a millennial-focused lifestyle publication. She identifies as fat, and has struggled with her self-image and also how others have treated her as a result of her size, especially potential romantic partners. She pitches an idea for a series in which she'll write about a new, body positive fitness app called FitMi. She and another assistant who both want to get promoted to full-time writing agree to split the series, with her rival Claire using an app more focused on weight loss and physical appearance. Britta's app comes with individual coaching and she really hits it off with her coach Wes, who turns out to be the CEO of FitMi. They end up crossing some questionable ethical lines as their friendship and attraction grow, as Britta doesn't tell him about the series she's doing and he violates a whole bunch of the company's rules and regs. I really liked both Britta and Wes as characters, I felt like they both had well-developed back stories and great chemistry both virtually and face-to-face. The only issue I really had with this is that taking their relationship from virtual to real was kind of sketchy on both sides, but they were just so cute I went with it. Content warnings at the start prepare readers for discussions of disordered eating and exercise, as well as off-page substance abuse and child neglect.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for my copies of The Fastest Way to Fall. All thoughts are my own.

If you remember last year, we had Denise Williams on Read It Or List It and we became obsessed with her books and her as a person. Her sophomore novel, The Fastest Way to Fall comes out November 2, 2021 and she has done it again.

Denise writes about sensitive topics with such grace and care amid delicious, steamy, dreamy romances. I loved How to Fail at Flirting and The Fastest Way to Fall is a new favorite. Plus, she is one of the kindest, funniest authors.

Synopsis:

“Britta didn’t plan on falling for her personal trainer, and Wes didn’t plan on Britta. Plans change and it's unclear if love, career, or both will meet them at the finish line.

Britta Colby works for a lifestyle website, and when tasked to write about her experience with a hot new body-positive fitness app that includes personal coaching, she knows it's a major opportunity to prove she should write for the site full-time.

As CEO of the FitMi Fitness app, Wes Lawson finally has the financial security he grew up without, but despite his success, his floundering love life and complicated family situation leaves him feeling isolated and unfulfilled. He decides to get back to what he loves—coaching. Britta’s his first new client and they click immediately.

As weeks pass, she’s surprised at how much she enjoys experimenting with her exercise routine. He’s surprised at how much he looks forward to talking to her every day. They convince themselves their attraction is harmless, but when they start working out in person, Wes and Britta find it increasingly challenging to deny their chemistry and maintain a professional distance.

Wes isn’t supposed to be training clients, much less meeting with them, and Britta’s credibility will be sunk if the lifestyle site finds out she’s practically dating the fitness coach she’s reviewing. Walking away from each other is the smartest thing to do, but running side by side feels like the start of something big.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Characters—Wes has my heart and I adore Britta. I loved their individual stories and how their stories came together. I loved how they fell in love, how charming and confident Britta was in herself while still having insecurities.

The Raw Relatability—I felt so seen by this book. I could relate to so many lines and while it could have been a triggering subject (exercise, body image) it was handled with such care and grace.

The Romance—Wes is ADORABLE. ADORABLE. I loved their love story and how it played out.

What Didn’t Work:

Honestly, nothing. I loved how deliciously NORMAL this book was and that is a complement. It felt so real and there were so many lines and quotes that hit me right in the feels, in the best way.

Content Warnings:

Be sure to read the entire author’s note! Exercise, weight, body image, addiction, strained parent/child relationships

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 5/5

The Fastest Way to Fall was a low stakes, fluffy romance that will leave a smile on your face.

Britta was an assistant waiting to get her writing break at her lifestyle website job. When an opportunity for a promotion was made available, Britta worked with her workplace rival to test two popular fitness apps and detail their experiences on the company’s online platforms. Unbeknownst to her, Britta was paired with the app’s CEO, Wes, and the two hit it off almost immediately. What started off as a friendly coaching relationship evolved into two friends who confided in each other and ultimately developed deeper feelings.

The Fastest Way to Fall was a darling book that left a smile on my face. It’s the perfect book for those who prefer low stakes romances with an emphasis on the developing emotions. The Fastest Way to Fall had me feeling giddy and I enjoyed the scenes with Jake and Naya from How to Fail at Flirting, but I’m also a reader who prefers a bit more angst and higher stakes. The secondary characters could have used more depth as they occasionally read as two-dimensional. That didn’t stop me from enjoying the reading experience and I deeply appreciated Williams’ exploration of fitness in a society that is obsessed with fat-shaming.

The Fastest Way to Fall was a sweet romance that readers will love to cozy up to.

This was Britta’s big moment. She had been toiling away as an editorial assistant for years, and this was her opportunity to prove she deserved the promotion. When Britta met her online coach in real life, she found herself quickly falling for him. The big question – would she choose love or her career?

I am so happy Denise Williams write romances because she really brings something special to the genre. Once again, she crafted a story that was fun, emotional, and uplifting while also being body-positive.

Britta was a superb heroine. She is someone I would gravitate towards if I met her in real life. There was this energy about her that made me want to be in her presence. Though she generally liked herself, there were days when she struggled with her body. I feel like so many people could appreciate and relate to that. I found there was a LOT of focus on body positivity in this story, and Williams incorporated it in such a thoughtful and gentle way.

Wes was a fine physical specimen with a successful business, but his life had plenty of frayed edges. He carried the weight of multiple family issues and the trauma of his past. I was so happy he randomly found Britta because this man deserved a partner who would give him as much as he gave of himself. Wes loved big, and the support he gave to Britta seemed to have no limits. It was important for me to see him supported in the same way, hence why I adored these two together.

The mixed format was a hit for me. I liked the way Williams added in tweets, messages, and articles. It was appropriate considering the story, and these extras did a great job of pulling me even further into the story. All the fitness stuff was interesting as well.

Did you know this was in the same world as How to Fail at Flirting? Anyone who knows me, knows how much I LOVE this sort of thing. It was wonderful catching up with Jake and Naya, but there were also many new characters who shined in this world. I adored both Wes and Britta’s friend groups, and Britta’s family was stupendous! Seriously, I loved visiting with them.

You know why I will always read a Denise Williams book? Because she writes funny, heartwarming, and feel-good stories that make me smile and fill me with joy. Another Gem from Williams!

When magazine editorial assistant Britta gets the chance to write about the new FitMi app, she knows its her opportunity to prove she can be a feature writer. As a plus-size woman, she is not looking to lose weight, but does want to be more fit. But when she slowly begins to fall in love with her remote trainer, it becomes hard to separate the personal from the professional and some ethical boundaries are crossed by both Britta, and her coach Wes.

I love a good epistolary romance. I wish there were more! Unfortunately, this one is better in the beginning, when it is all through text, because as Britta and Wes begin to spend more time in person, so many lines are crossed it's hard not to chastise the characters for their stupidity. Both Britta and Wes have a lot to lose, and I don't want to spoil the ending, but I'm not entirely pleased with how everything worked out. A lack of communication really bit these two in the butt. However, this is an important story to be told, and I encourage everyone to read Williams' author note at the beginning of the book. This is not a happy story, per se, similar to Williams' How to Fail at Flirting, but it is a beautiful romance with great characters who've been through things. As a whole I enjoyed the book, and would recommend to others looking for a serious romance with moments of humor (and Britta did have some one-liners that made me laugh out loud).

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

This book was just as good if not better than her first novel! I love a story of chatting online and falling for each other. I also enjoyed the real life issues each character was dealing with- being unsatisfied with work, learning to love your body, etc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: fat shaming, brief disordered eating, brief crash dieting, parent with addiction, discussions of weight loss and other topics of weight, mention of side character with eating disorder (Please also read the author's note as well)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f friends to lovers
-epistolary romance
-elements of forbidden relationship
-adorable nicknames
-so much body positivity
-slow burn

I'll be up front I was hesitant to read this book as someone who has been overweight my entire life, whether this will be too triggering for me. I really appreciated Denise William's author note at the beginning and the CW. I went in with eyes wide open and it was truly appreciated.

This isn't a book about weight loss or diet culture or anything else. This is a book about being strong, body positivity, and believing in yourself despite all those little comments that people make that you're great but... The message of this book is beautiful. Both Britta and Wes were dealing with different things and slowly leaned on the other. Not because they needed them, but ultimately in a form of strength as a partnership in so many ways. I related to Britta in so many different ways.

The adorable and flirty messages between them sucked me in and I adored this book. Both MCs had their flaws but especially that ending, this is a beautiful love story. I wish I could put a more coherent review together about how much I enjoyed this book, but all I can say is it touched my heart in so many ways and I'm so glad I read it.

Steam: 3

Before I say anything, THE FASTEST WAY TO FALL was an absolute work of art.

I was already a huge fan of Denise Williams after her debut novel HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING and it seems like her writing just keeps getting better and I’m so grateful I was able to read an an advanced e-copy. I want to try and convince all of you to pre-order or run to the bookstore on November 1st to grab a copy.

THE FASTEST WAY TO FALL was a book rooted in vulnerability, self-acceptance, and stepping out of your comfort zone. And I just felt like my heart was on every single page. These characters, Britta & Wes, were such profound and real characters. I wanted these characters to be real because Britta is one of my heroes. I wish I could meet her in person because all I want to do is give her a huge hug 🥺

The romance and vulnerability of both of these characters brought literal tears to my eyes. I was crying in my office while I was reading it. It was just so refreshing to be part of Wes and Britta’s journey of friendship and watch it slowly turn into an authentic and honest love.

This story is just so affirming. There were some hard-hitting topics that were discussed throughout the book that I’m sure are going to represent so many readers of different identities. It helps you feel not so alone. As I said, this beautiful story is a true work of art.

Denise Williams shared CW/TW on her website if you need to better prepare yourself. Be kind to yourself!

Thank you to @berkleyromance for a copy of this book. I love everything about this story. I have always struggled with weight and been uncomfortable in my own body. I love seeing Britta’s journey and her body positive as she learns more about strong and healthy. I love Wes ans Britta’s relationship and watching it develop.

This is a really good contemporary, slow-burn, romance. The fun texting and banter pulled me in from the get-go. The subject matter can be triggering but it contains a really empowering message about feeling confident in your own body. Britta Colby is going up against her competitor at her lifestyle website each writing about new fitness training apps. Britta's app focuses on having a personal coach and mentor helping along the way. Little does she know that the CEO of the FitMi app decides to get back to his roots and takes her on as a client. Neither knows the identity of the other at the start.

They text, flirt and finally meet up. I love that there is no negatives in his mind about Britta. He always sees her as a beautiful, strong, black woman. And he wants to help her meet her goals. I was frustrated at their lack of communication about important realities of their work later in the book. He has been told about a person writing articles about the company promoting it and it seems very unrealistic that he never took the time to read any of them. I will say I cringed EVERY TIME someone referred to her as the fat girl.

The author handles several sensitive subjects really well including, drug/alcohol use, body shaming, eating disorders and general family conflict. There are trigger warnings mentioned in the beginning of the book and resources for assistance at the end. Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book soo much!! Wow! I just couldn’t put it down, I felt connected to the characters from their very first interactions and wanted to keep reading to see how their story would unfold. Britta is so funny and witty, even with the ups and downs she’s been through. Wes is just so sweet, so supportive, I loved him!! He has made his way to my book bf list for sure ❤️ Plus, How to Fail at Flirting readers get some Jake and Naya appearances that will just make you so happy. 🥺💕

Most importantly, I loved the message behind this story. To love yourself and your body just the way you are. Do things for YOU and find the confidence in you!

Such a feel good love story with dual pov that will make you laugh so much, but also make you think about certain things and pull at your heartstrings. ❤️ It also has CWs that are provided in the beginning of the book such as drug and alcohol abuse by a side character, brief reference to eating disorder, as well as fat/body shaming. Plus, Denise provides some resource, if needed, at the end of the book.

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleyromance for the ARC.

The Fastest Way to Fall comes out November 2nd. I highly recommend you pick it up!

5 ⭐️s hands down!! ⛄️🐼🚒

Excuse me while I listen to Perfect by Ed Sheeran on repeat. 🤍

Denise Williams can write anything and I will read it and feel confident I will love it.

Hot Takes
- I love romance that deals with heavy topics and Denise Williams has given us another perfect read that makes you feel everything but wraps it up with you crying happy tears at the end. Check those content warnings please!
- Britta was such a well written character! This book was such a beautiful portrayal of fat rep and Britta's feelings about her body and the journey she went on to love her body were so well done. This book was very fitness heavy, but in a way where you have a fat character deciding to love herself as she is while showing the world she can run a 10k if she wants!
- I loveddddddddddd Wes. And I lovedddd the way Wes never judged Britta throughout the book and thought she was special before meeting her in person. And when that meeting happened, there was absolutely no indication that she, as a fat Black woman, was anything less that what he pictured in her mind. He was still to attracted to this women he had been messaging and it was beautiful.
- This book was really beautiful in that Wes never fetishized Britta in any way. Sometimes I feel rep is easily fetishized and I absolutely loved that Wes never once did this!
- Fuck Kelsey.

Read If you Like
- Talia Hibbert type characters, who can banter with the best of them.
- A workplace situation where each character has a secret that you're dying for them to tell each other!

Britta takes on a writing assignment where she joins a fitness app and reviews it. She’s paired with an online coach, who she ends up exchanging flirty banter with, until their online relationship turns IRL. On Britta’s quest to live a healthier and active lifestyle, she falls for her coach. But, what if her coach feels the same way?

Williams knocked it out of the park again with such a tender, inspiring, and heartwarming story about loving your body and owning your choices. I adored Britta’s character, her fitness journey, her determination and strength to strive for better, regardless of what others thought. While the social media presence took a big hit and infuriated me, the way these characters defused the situation was mature. And, Wes was just the perfectly imperfect hero for our heroine. He was supportive, encouraging, and absolute book boyfriend material, ladies!

I definitely recommend this for your fall TBR!

I loved How to Fail at Flirting so, of course, I requested an ARC of The Fastest Way to Fall. I loved it even more!! I adore this author's accessible writing voice so much and the story was just so great. What happens when a blogger/journalist on a story to review a fitness app falls for her trainer, who also runs the company? A whole lot of conflict of interest, so much humor, STEAMY sex and so much more. Britta educated the reader about the bias, abuse, and emotional trauma experienced as a result of body shaming in a way that never felt too heavy. Both Britta's journey to love herself and Wes's family issues (an addict parent and a runaway sibling) were handled so well - perfectly balanced with witty banter and humorous situations. Denise Williams is a master at this. I also really enjoyed the secondary plot regarding Britta's frenemy Claire. After loving both of the author's books, I am officially a fan.