I had hoped to read How To Fail at Flirting first, because it's one that I regret is still on my TBR, but alas my plans failed. BUT I can tell you that I didn't feel like I was missing all that much at all by not having read that one first.

This one really meant something to me and hit me hard. As someone who has struggled with their weight and body image my entire life, I absolutely loved going along on this journey with Britta and found myself really identifying with so much of what she was feeling and going through. This book doesn't mince feelings, for either Britta's story line or for Wes's- it's very real and raw, while also being tender and full of tension and longing. That's a hard line to traverse and I think that Williams knocked it out of the park.

This book may be hard for some people to read- it includes a great note from Denise at the front talking about Content Warnings (which I'll also list below), but be sure to check that out before diving in or I'm happy to chat if you have any questions.

I absolutely loved this story and Denise will be an auto-buy author for me moving forward. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 and a mild to moderate 🔥 rating.

CW: body image, fat phobia, parental drug use and exercise eating disorders.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

In Denise Williams’s newest release Britta Colby—an editorial assistant at a lifestyle website—pitches a new story idea: she’ll sign up for the FitMi app, a supposedly “body positive” personalized coaching app that will give her nutrition & activity advice. As she tells others, she doesn’t want help losing weight; she’s more concerned with fitness &, as she writes on her sign-up, “to look & feel good naked.”

Unbeknownst to her, her new coach Wes is actually one of the founders of the app. So he’ll have a lot riding on the article series she’s secretly been writing for her readers about her FitMi experience.

I have a lot of feelings about Denise Williams’s The Fastest Way to Fall & they feel difficult to pin down 🤣. On one hand, Williams writes a story that she’s clearly passionate about, something that comes across as early as her Author’s Note, & her writing is marked with sensitivity & quirkiness, & a sense of fun.

She captures Britta’s moments of insecurity but even more, her confidence & pleasure about her body & herself & I love how weight loss is mostly unrelated to that.

The zest between leads is apparent in even their initial banter & after they finally take that satisfying leap, Williams’s consideration of the ethical fallout of their secret relationship is satisfying in a different way.

But in general, & I’m not trying to say this flippantly, I think both leads could have benefited from therapy earlier in the story. Wes is a sweetheart but his dealings with an ex merit more internal (& professional) exploration within the book & Britta has an incident related to her health that made me feel uncomfortable. Also, & unrelated, I don’t always feel like Britta takes responsibility for her role in this “forbidden” relationship 🤷🏻‍♀️.

In the end this is a story with a lot of nuance that I enjoyed reading & some things work for me & some things don’t feel as considered as I would like.

4 ⭐️.

CW: Eating disorder reference; another woman repeatedly refers to the heroine as “fat girl” to Wes; Wes’s mother is on drugs on-page & another man refers to a “trade” they made for her drugs. Please check out other trusted reviews for CWs, too.

[ID: on the left is a pair of black tennis shoes with fluorescent purple, orange, & blue accents. On the right, an ebook is on top of a hardback which is resting on a series of different sweatshirts placed next to each other. The first sweatshirt is pink, then aqua, purple, & finally black. Also on top of the sweatshirts is a pink Fitbit.]

This is a slow burn contemporary romance. We get to read about Britta and Wes confront who and what they want. Britta is trying to cement herself as a serious writer and some who deserves to be loved. 'I want to feel sexy while naked' is about how she sees herself. Her journey isn't linear bc we'll fatphobia. Wes is fine but honestly I just wanted to keep reading about Britta.

The Fastest Way to Fall had me at the box of doughnuts in the fourth sentence. I loved both Britta and Wes as well as many of the side characters. Del asking Britta if he can borrow her cheese grater in the midst of a crisis will never not be one of my favorite moments of this book. The romance is heart-warming and just what I needed to get me out of a book slump. Overall, it's a fun and sweet, body positive romance with great representation and fabulous messages about fitness and loving your body!

The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams is a feel-good story because Britta, an overweight wannabe writer, gets her chance to become a writer at her job.

Britta works for a lifestyle website, joins a fitness app, and is assigned a trainer, all for her chance to write about her experiences, unbeknownst to the company who owns the app. Her co-worker, Claire, is doing the same on another app, and while the two apps have somewhat of a connection, the two are nothing alike and have little in common, especially in their approach to fitness.

Her assigned trainer, Wes, has a more critical role at the company than he lets on, and Britta also doesn’t let him know what her real interest in the app, FitMi, is. Little does she know the opportunities her writing will give her access to—the paths it will open, the direction her life and career will take, as well as some of the incredible people she’ll meet or befriend her along the way.

She and Wes communicate through emails and texts, and he gives good advice and positive messages. Their communication is often playful and sometimes a little too personal, and one or the other will then back off. But what happens when they don’t? We get to know both Britta and Wes a little at a time, along with family, friends, co-workers, and some of their personal histories that have helped shape them in more ways than they realize, especially Wes and how he grew up. They both have a depth to them and secrets, not just related to their relationship as client and trainer or coach. There are some behind-the-scenes maneuvering and posturing that add layers to the story.

The story is told in alternating chapters by Britta or Wes and has a good flow with some tense moments and many happy ones. There is romance, loving, love, and some steaminess too.

As Britta gets into her fitness and running routines, she seems to have a new outlook on life, herself, her goals, and what she can accomplish. There are some laugh-out-loud moments but also some difficult choices that will have to be made.

When things become more heated between Britta and Wes and they no longer follow the rules of the client/trainer interactions, things are looking good for them, but are they really? As they deal with the repercussions of their actions and being together, they both take hits in their careers—Britta more than Wes. Can they continue to live in their own little bubble, or will the real world intrude?

As we see them reach both highs and lows personally and their emotions do the same, it’s hard to wrap their heads around. There is lovely closure that comes after difficult and emotional times in their lives and not just related to their interactions due to the app, FitMi. The epilogue ties up some loose ends but left me wanting more.

Ms. Williams is a fun and entertaining writer, and I look forward to reading both books connected to this book—How to Fail at Flirting and Do You Take This Man—and getting more invested in the characters and their lives.

The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams
My cohost and I have a saying on the podcast in reference to certain books we’ve come across. We want to Eternal Sunshine them. We are, of course, referencing the 2004 movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Now, in that movie, the characters employ the Eternal Sunshine clinic to erase upsetting people/events/thoughts from their minds. You’d think we were being negative, but we’re actually meaning it in the utmost positive. We’ve enjoyed a book so much that we want to eternal sunshine it from our brain; therefore, each time we open the book is like our first. Imagine if you could go back and eternal sunshine a movie from your brain, like the Sixth Sense, wherein which you get caught up by that twist over and over again. Well, The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams is an Eternal Sunshine book.I finished it today and I already want to reread it, however, I wish I didn’t know the big beats. I want to experience the Grand Gesture (GG) all over again and feel them falling in love for the first time. To say I loved this book would probably be an understatement.

On to a little bit of plot: Overweight lifestyle journalist, Britta Colby is assigned to journal her foray into an online fitness app (think along the lines of Noom). The online trainer assigned to her is none other than the company’s founder, Wes Lawson. Their relationship begins with the normal email interactions between trainer and client but soon progress to almost constant chat messages and then in person meetings. The meet-cute that occurs in this book is utterly unforgettable and so fraught with chemistry. But as these two become closer and secrets stay hidden, both of their careers are on the line. Will they deny what's slowly building between each other or give into their attraction?

The Compliment Sandwich
The Top Bun (The Pro)
Britta and Wes
I could write a thesis on my feelings for both Britta and Wes. Wes is just the epitome of a Wesley, and I’m just a bit jealous of a fictional character for falling in love with him. Harris has created a stable of fantastic characters that you can't help but become invested in each of their own individual storylines. Wes’s basketball buddies are endearing, and I want to reach through my kindle and hug his business partner/best friend, Cord. At one point you meet Britta’s family, and they are warm and supportive like an familiar embrace. But Britta and Wes are both amazingly developed characters.

Britta is a bad ass bitch. I’m not censoring that, as I know she’d not want me to. While she knows that she may be heavier than what is considered the ‘norm’ this does not color how she views herself or her worth. Upon taking this assignment, she has determined that weight loss is not the prime objective, she is gaining healthy lifestyle traits.
“That weight loss thing is working, then?”
I bristled. “The fitness project is going well. Like I said a while back, it’s not about weight loss”...
“You really do look good, Britt,”...”Imagine how hot you’ll be as you keep going”...
“I don’t know,” I said. “I think I’ve always been hot,” I hoped that might give him the opportunity to course-correct his gaffe.
Britta is also extremely funny. A large majority of her dialogue had me chortling like an idiot. “If any man ever wanted me the way I want this stranger’s cream cheese Danish, I’m not sure I’d walk again”. Or:
The claw-foot tub was a strange extravagance in an otherwise normal apartment. It didn’t match the rest of the decor, but having a tub I could sink into was a dream. All I needed was a lover admiring me from the doorway. I struck a particularly mermaidy pose at that thought.

Wes is the kind of character you wish you knew IRL (like the kids say). I want him to record motivational phrases to inspire me when I work out...when I work out...which is like almost never...so I’d need him to get me motivated to get my ass from behind this computer first. However, if there ever was a fictional character that could do it, I’m sure Wes would fit the bill.

Wes is a natural caregiver, so where Britta is the more outgoing and extroverted, Wes is more controlled and measured.
“Pearl doesn’t like him,” I added.
“He dated her sister, Shea, and it didn’t end well.”
“Do we need to kill him?”
By the point at which we meet Wes, his mother has been an alcoholic for a number of years and has in some manner driven away his sister. He has assumed the caregiving parental role in his mother’s life by paying her rent, employing a housekeeper, and ensuring her fridge is stocked. He handles this impossible situation without complaint. Lastly, it’s his caring nature that initiates the meet cute with Britta. (Which I will not spoil)

The Meat (The Con)
This is a tough one guys...I don’t have much to say on this. I freaking loved this book. I guess if I was pressed, I would have liked to have seen more comeuppance for the villain of the book. While their actions weren’t dastardly or akin to mustache-twirling, they were shitty. Their outcome wasn’t bad enough in my opinion, but I’m a shell of a human being who lives for pettiness.

The Bottom Bun (The Pro)
The Chemistry (Yeah, Chemistry!) *Extra points if you get that reference
This book gave me what I wanted more from in The Happy Ever After Playlist: slow burn epistolary flirting. A good first portion of the book is written from both Wes and Britta’s perspective in the form of emails and chat messages. The meet cute happens quite a bit into the book and from Wes’s perspective. It’s quite obvious that he’s been struck by lightning when he meets Britta. We gather that he’s been quite close to falling for her through their non-verbal communications, but when he finally sees her, it’s like magic.
I brushed her hair away from her eyes. I’d been in her presence for less than two minutes, and I wanted nothing more than to touch her, pull her into my arms…Her chest rose and fell steadily, and my eyes stopped on her soft, full lips...I brushed my thumb gently down her cheek without thinking, and something like relief colored her expression at my touch.
Once they begin to spend time together in real life, the chemistry grows to where Wes, in particular, is absolutely besotted.
She made me laugh, she made me get lost talking about nothing, and she had a great smile. All morning I had to keep inventing reasons to look out the window or at the TV to stop from staring at her because I wanted to memorize her.
He also wants to get horizontal with her too (like, doy) but knows a sexual relationship could possibly destroy his company. That doesn’t stop him from making these scintillating observations:
My head and my dick had been at odds since I flipped through that notebook of hers...The words were seared into my head.
On a precipice
My fingers, like your soft tongue
Edging me closer.
As soon as I read them, I imagined her thick thighs spread wide and her hand sliding low. I imagined how her eager fingers would move, then how I’d gently push them aside to make room for my own.

Holy hell, I need a cold shower and big gulp sized ice water. Possibly a defibrillator.

I rested my fingertips on her abdomen. I could have moved my fingers, pulled them away once she had the idea and then talked her through it, but I didn't. Instead, I pressed lower, letting my fingers splay over her belly, feeling her tense. ‘Right here,’ I said, my voice huskier than I planned when I met her eyes. ‘When you do the crunch, you’ll contract your muscles here.’

F*&% me. Literally.

I don’t want to spoil anything regarding their declarations of love for one another, so I’m going to hope that the examples are enough to illustrate my point about the A+ chemistry lecture occurring in this novel.

Honestly, if I had the time to write another 10 pages, I’d love to expound on my other pros, such as how Wes doesn’t focus on weight loss or restrictive eating behaviors with Britta. If you hadn’t gleaned it from my gushing above, you should know that this book is extremely body positive and supports healthy lifestyles for every body shape. Eating and workout disorders also play a large role and are deftly handled. Harris has given us a brilliant novel that engages while also creating unforgettable characters. Seriously, if anyone has a number for the Sunshine Clinic, DM stat with the deets.

I loved so much about this book! The effortless and witty writing, the relatable characters, the body positive message around health, fitness, self-worth, and finding love. I've been a fan of the author since her debut, and this second novel is just as engrossing and thought-provoking. A delightfully flirty, slow burn contemporary romance that will get you thinking about your own relationship to food, fitness, and relationships. All the stars!

Omg my heart!! This book was amazing I was sneaking in chapters as much as I could through the day!
Working as an assistant at a lifestyle website, Britta is hoping to finally get her big break and actually get a chance to write. She’s in a competition with her coworker Claire for a promotion. Britta is trying out a new fitness app and write about her experience. Paired with the FitMi fitness app she begins her journey. She’s not really looking to lose weight she’s truly wants to be promoted. Paired with the coach Wes, she immediately feels a connection and they begin to message each-other and soon get close. Haven’t met in person neither one of them knows what each-other looks like. Soon with Wes’s help Britta begins to realize it’s not about the number on the scale it’s about how she feels inside. When an unexpected accident happens and Britta and Wes meet sparks fly but both don’t want to cross the line. Britta doesn’t reveal who she is and what she’s writing about, and Wes doesn’t reveal he’s one of the owners of the app. What we see is a beautiful friendship/relationship form and they both have to choices to make. This book was perfectly written, it shows body positivity and how loving who you are is the most important thing you can do. Britta is vulnerable and honest and I loved her character so much we can all see ourselves in her. Wes was such a tender and caring person I fell in love with his character. This book was amazing and as a woman who struggles with my own body positivity it’s hard not compare this book made me look at myself and see parts of myself that I love! Five stars!!

This contemporary, diverse, body positive romance was a treat from start to finish. The characters were both likeable and believable. The story was sweet with just the right amount of steam. Great read!

Denise Williams has written another amazing rom-com. This book had laughs and heart with two amazing main characters and dual POV! Britta is an editor for Best Life who wants to be a writer so when a chance to review a fitness app comes up with chance of writing position if it does well she takes. Enter Wes her coach on the app, but things quickly moving past coach and client relations into more. Follow these two as they work their way towards each other in this awesome new read. Can't wait for more from Denise Williams! (Like a Cord and Pearl book)
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

This book took me by surprise! I honestly didn’t know what to expect but I have to say overall it was a decent read. Wes & Britta’s story was pretty unique, which I appreciated. I also felt like their connection was genuine. Getting to see these two fall for each other was super cute. I did feel like the writing was at times a little lack luster for me though. I just always wanted a little but MORE with them. I also felt like the obstacles they faced were at times more annoying then actual issues. The banter was great & I loved the touch of forbidden vibes because Britta was Wes’ client.

Here’s the basic breakdown:

Britta is a writer who is tasked to write about a new body positive app. With her not being a size 0, she felt like this app could be a good fit for her because it focuses on the health of the client & not just their physical appearance. When she signs up, she gets paired with a personal trainer who happens to be Wes. Wes is the CEO is the app & is becoming a personal trainer to help take his mind off of some personal drama going on revolving around his ex girlfriend of 6 years & his family. At first, their attraction seems harmless because they only communicate through the app. But when they decide to start working out in person… they can’t deny their chemistry with one another. Stuff gets complicated & everything starts to build from there.

I do recommend this book if you are looking for a body positive romance with good solid banter & a cute plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-copy of THE FASTEST WAY TO FALL to read. I've read over 100 books this year and THIS one was in my top three. I loved the plot, the characters, the body acceptance messages and the basic need of two characters to be seen and loved.

Britta, the writer, and Wes, the app owner/fitness coach, started loving each other through words on his app. I just love a good falling in love premise through letters, emails, texts, etc... story. There is a lot of power in written words and even though they had not met face-to-face till later in the story, their words attracted each other.

There is so much that could be written about the body positivity and society's vision of what being thin and fit means, but I'll leave that to other reviewers. I will say all of the messages within the story are fitting for every woman - and man because they too have to deal with body critics.

I read this one during a busy, stressful week and it helped me smile, feel warm and fuzzy, and brought tears when I kind of needed them most.

I give THE FASTEST WAY TO FALL five out of five stars - and this is rare for me, so read this book!

How do I even being to convey how much I loved this book, how much the main character Britta resonated with me, how much I related to this book?

In short: This is a book about Britta and Wes. Britta is a plus sized writer working on a article about her experience using the FitMi app, an app that focused on body confidence and health, not weight loss. Her coach is Wes, who also happens to be the CEO.

What to expect:
*Body Positivity
*Strong, confident, smart & funny female character
*Relatable
*Slow burn, low steam romance but off the charts chemistry and banter

My thoughts: I loved this book so much! It was funny, flirtatious and a story I related to so much. This is a slow burn romance but I loved the way it was done, establishing a bond and friendship first. Much of the writing was done through texts and chat messages. I always enjoy seeing dialogue being presented this way. As the story goes from text to in person meetings the banter and chemistry is off the charts, as is the swoon factor for Wes. He's so supportive and encouraging. There is a lot going on in his person life as well (mother dealing with addiction, unfulfilled at work and a vindictive ex) and the growth these 2 characters took over the course of the book was perfect in my opinion.

As I mentioned before, this book resonated with me SO much. I am a plus sized woman who doesn't know a time when I wasn't actively working on my health and fitness. A few years ago that journey shifted from focusing on weight loss to focusing on health and achieving fitness goals. I have never been happier with my body and what it can achieve. This book hit right at those heartstrings. I knew exactly how Britta felt when her crush wanted to be with her but not be seen with her. I knew how she felt when she crushed that first training run outside. I knew how she felt when she started to love yoga because she finally found an instructor who looked like her and helped make the class accessible for all. I also know how it feels to crush those goals you set for yourself.

I swear this book was telling my journey. I loved it and hope you do too.

Thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for an advanced copy, this is our today 11/2.

*CW: alcoholism, drug addiction, disordered eating*

Filled to the brim with great characters, excellently written back stories and MAJOR chemistry, I loved Wes and Britta. And much like How to Fail at Flirting, the author writes an “inappropriate” relationship perfectly! (Inappropriate as in it may cross some work/home boundaries). It makes you root for them so much and you can’t WAIT for them to finally be together. One thing I wish it had more of was it could have been a tad steamier.

I want to bring attention to the way the author gives content warnings at the beginning AND an author note that I read several times before and after. Williams talks about loving a story of “a fat character living their best life with no kind to their size” but *that* wasn’t her story. She writes, “I know how to tell a story of someone taking the world by storm, finding love and doing so while navigating the sometimes choppy waters of being a fat woman.”

I loved her character Britta so much and often thought back to her note at the beginning which only solidified by love for her. Britta was funny, confident and sexy. But she was also vulnerable and real.

In the hopes of getting promoted to a full-time writer, Britta volunteers to sign up for and write about a new body-positive fitness app called FitMe. To get back to what he loves, Wes, the CEO of the FitMe app, decides to take on a new personal coaching client…Britta. Wes and Britta start out mostly messaging about nutrition and fitness, but as time goes on, they start to open up to each other. After an accident lands Britta in the hospital, Wes and Britta start to blur professional lines by working out together in person and chatting with each other outside of the FitMe app, which is against the FitMe company policy and a huge conflict of interest for Britta’s article. Even though ending the blossoming romance is clearly the safest thing to do, Wes and Britta find it hard to walk away from each other.

The Fastest Way To Fall is a contemporary adult romance perfect for fans of Only When It’s Us by Chloe Liese, Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey, The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, and Wait For It by Jenn McKinlay. This book deals with themes such as love, heartbreak and betrayal, appearance versus reality, inner and outer strength, family, wealth versus poverty, overcoming trauma and fears, and identity. It is important to note that there are some instances of addiction, parental neglect, and eating disorders in this novel with the main takeaway from The Fastest Way To Fall is the importance of self love and body positivity.

I really appreciated how the title and the cover of this book completely matched the theme, tone, and plot. It was great reading about Wes and Britta’s love story, plus Wes was totally swoonworthy! Here is one of my favourite quotes from Wes: “I want you to be my everything, because it feels like you already are”. Next, I loved how this book talked about body positivity and it was great that the FitMe app focused on making healthier choices and finding balance. Similarly, it was awesome that Britta was always upfront about the fact that she didn’t join the FitMe app to lose a certain amount of weight, she joined to learn more about fitness and nutrition, and to learn to feel more confident with her body. Through her posts about the FitMe app, I liked how Britta shared her real-life fitness struggles and encouraging body positive messages with others. It was also great to see how Wes completely supported and encouraged Britta in her fitness journey and, without spoiling anything, it was nice to see how Britta’s training paid off at the end of the book, followed by Wes and Britta’s happily ever after.

On the negative side, I didn’t like how Wes and Britta’s love story was a slowburn; I was disappointed that Wes and Britta didn’t meet in person until almost halfway through the book and the majority of Wes and Britta’s conversations happen via direct messages. Their relationship reminded me a lot of Ross and Rachel’s frustrating yet intriguing “will they, won’t they” relationship in Friends. Like Ross and Rachel, Wes and Britta clearly wanted to be together but something (usually their jobs and sometimes Wes’ manipulative ex-girlfriend who runs a competing fitness app) always got in the way and prevented a romantic relationship from developing until the very end of the novel.

This was my first time reading one of Denise Williams’ books and The Fastest Way To Fall completely exceeded my expectations. If you love romance and fitness, this book is definitely for you!

I loved the representation in this book and absolutely loved Britta. I loved that she got to go on her own journey and it wasn't JUST about the romance. I did really enjoy her relationship with Wes.

The FAstest Way to Fall
by Denise Williams
Pub Date: November 2, 2021
Berkely Romance

Loved this book and the way it handles some tricky subjects.
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.
Great romance and one I would recommend.
Thanks to Berkely romance and NetGalley for the ARC>
4 stars

This was a pure blast and gave me major #HowToLoseaGuyinTenDays vibes which is one of my absolute favorite romcoms!
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Britta is a writer for a lifestyle website and is writing about her experience with the latest body positive fitness app. Along with the app she also receives virtual fitness coaching.
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Wes may be CEO of FitMi Fitness App but he’s feeling unsettled and unfulfilled. He decides to take on a client and coach Britta virtually, however she has no knowledge that he is CEO.
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When they break the rules and meet in person to train so many obstacles are in their way. She doesn’t know he’s CEO he doesn’t know she’s writing about his company but sometimes doing the smart thing isn’t always the right thing.
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This one was so much fun and I was totally cracking up over their conversation at the wedding about what their wedding red flags were, such as the chicken dance!
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Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I don't even have the words right now for how much I loved this book. I can't express just how much seeing fat rep like this means to me. How much I wish I’d had stories like this growing up. (Obviously not the sexy times, though I enjoyed those immensely now as an adult, lol) But the messages that Denise teaches through Britta and Wes's story, they made me feel seen in such
incredible and emotional ways. She tackles such difficult topics like the relationship between weight and food and exercise and health in such a respectful and beautiful way, and that’s not easy to do. And then the love story! I was giggling and swooning my way through this entire book. I absolutely LOVE the way they feel in love with each other through messages and emails, entirely gone for each other as people before ever even seeing them in person. Their banter was hilarious, and when they did finally meet their chemistry was off the charts, while at the same time being so tender and sweet with one another. This book was AMAZING and I need you all to pre-order it and fall in love with it too! Thank

When I first read the pitch for Denise Williams’s second book, I had one of those moments when I knew I was going to love it. I am such a huge fan of Denise’s first book, How to Fail at Flirting, and I couldn’t wait to see what she did with this concept and I’m happy to report, she absolutely nailed it.

Britta is an editorial assistant just waiting for her big break so she can finally move up to the job she really wants, being a writer. When she and one of her workplace rivals come up with an idea that will allow them to both tackle a health and fitness topic in an ongoing series, she jumps at the chance. Britta is assigned to the FitMi app, which provides its users with an unique experience of individual coaching. She’s drawn to this particular app because the focus isn’t on weigh loss or measurements, it’s about feeling good about yourself. Britta is matched with a coach and the two hit it off instantly, bantering back and forth first in the app, then in a chat, and finally in texts. Wes is the CEO of FitMi, and while he loves his company, he misses working with people, instead of just numbers. He created the app because he loved coaching and training, but most of the fun parts of his job have disappeared beneath piles of paperwork. So Wes decides to take on one or two clients, just to help him find some joy in his job again. Of course, he didn’t expect to be matched with a client he has an immediate connection with. After an accident leads to Britta and Wes meeting in person, it becomes harder and harder for them to deny their chemistry. But she’s writing about his company, and he’s supposed to be her coach (which according to company policy means hands off). Both have some serious conflicts of interest and both could be putting their careers in jeopardy in order to take their relationship to the next level. That, along with some lingering emotional issues from the past, means these two have a rough road ahead of them. But it’s a romance, so you know they find a way to make it work.

There aren’t a ton of authors out there who make me laugh and cry in a single book, but Denise is most definitely one of them. Her voice and wit are so brilliant that for the beginning of the book, I’m just cackling, and then by the end I’ve got tears streaming down my face as these two characters deal with the very real issues keeping them apart. I absolutely fell in love with both Britta and Wes, I loved both of their personal journeys, and their relationship journey. I was immediately sucked into this one because I am a sucker for banter, and since the two don’t meet in person for the first chunk of the book, all the texts and emails and messages are just short and sharp and so full of humor. And then once Wes and Britta did meet in person, the chemistry was so crackling I was practically screaming at my ereader for them to just bone already (and then they did ;o)). And as if all of that wasn’t enough, I was so into the exploration of acceptance and finding your own version of what healthy looks like. I have struggled with body image issues for basically my entire life and this book was just so affirming and positive and I loved the approach it took to such a sensitive and important topic. I loved every single second of this book!