Member Reviews

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I am not sure what to say about this book. For me, it was not a romantic comedy. It was not even a romance. I could not get into this book as I can not relate at all to her situation. I just can't imagine that type of anxiety level that one can't even walk out the door. Katherine loses her job and gets dumped within minutes. So you think oh her ex is a bad guy. I know that for some this will be helpful, but for me I just couldn't really understand. 3 stars

Was this review helpful?

A four-star read that wasn’t what I was expecting. I struggled to rate this story as I went into it expecting a rom com, all about being dumped by your waste of space ex, but that wasn’t what I got, without spoiling, there isn’t that much romance, and the ex-isn’t a waste of space he was one of the characters I really liked. What I did like about this story was that there were some hard-hitting subjects faced, like anxiety and domestic violence, some dealt with better than others. There are some comedy moments, but not enough to make this a laugh out loud story. I gave it four overall, as there were some great written chapters and you really felt like you were stuck in the gym, and it would have deserved five-stars for those moments, but then it was let down by a couple of one-dimensional characters, that had major flaws that didn’t seem to be picked up on, and just glossed over. The romantic prospect being one that just didn’t work with me, maybe that’s why I didn’t think this was romantic, I don’t know. Honestly, I could have knocked it down more in some parts, but I did enjoy it overall. If you want an understanding of anxiety, or you have anxiety and you feel alone, pick this story up, as its real, and shows you just how overpowering it can be, but don’t pick up the cover and think you are getting light and fluffy romance as this isn’t that.

Was this review helpful?

I tried to like this book. I tried 4 times to read this book without getting annoyed and putting it down. I tried to get past the main character, Kat, and her inability to own up to anything she’s ever done wrong, but there was just too much working against what was meant to be a rom com, and became a look into someone dealing with life altering changes in the matter of minutes and how someone with extreme and untreated anxiety might deal with the situation, spoiler alert, Kat does not handle it well.
In a way to avoid her problems, Kat stays overnight in the gym for “only one night” to avoid her problems, and it ends up being more.
Kat as a character is annoying. And I couldn’t support her even for a minute. Everything that’s happened is consequences for her being reckless and uncaring about anyone but herself. Kat dealt with a big personal loss 6 months before this book takes place, and even with therapy has only regressed. Her peter pan syndrom, not thinking of others, etc just wasn't a likeable character . While the story was a good idea, it was just painfully slow. I think there's only so much that can be said about staying over night in a gym, and working through the anxiety. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Bookouture and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Cute, whimsical, fun and entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

We don’t stop and think before we open a door and go outside. We just do it and to most of us it is the most normal and simple thing in the world. But to others it must feel like climbing Mount Everest.

A lot of people are kept prisoner by anxiety. You don’t see it on their faces. They seem like “normal” people, but we cannot see inside their heads and the word ‘seem’ is very important in this sentence.

When anxiety grabs them they are the victims of (serious) panic attacks. People often don’t like to talk about it because they fear others will not understand them. They fear they will be labelled as crazy or drama queens, but they are oh so not.

You want to do something, but you can’t. It must be so frustrating. Of course there are pills to help them, but they can be very addictive too and that’s not something to want to add on top of the rest.

To know that there are people out there who love you and accept you the way you are, is also a step in the right direction.

Is this a romantic comedy? No, it is not. For me it’s an eye opener. I knew this existed, but I didn’t know how it can influence people’s every days lives. It’s rather terrifying and I will think twice before I judge.

I do have to say there are some funny bits and romance is on the horizon too. It makes it all a bit more light-hearted.

I learnt a lot and kudos to the author for using this subject. I really enjoyed this story and I have to applaud Kat. She is strong even though she does not seem to realize it. 5 stars

Thank you

Was this review helpful?

This book was super cute!! The main character, Kat, gets herself into quite a pickle after suffering a breakup and losing her job all in the span of a couple hours. She starts living at a fitness center because she can't bare to return to the outside world and face all that has happened!

I really love Kat, she is hilarious, witty and I found myself relating to her struggles with anxiety. The other characters in the book have such unique personalities that fit perfectly into the story.

This book is pitched as a romantic comedy which it initially why I requested it, however I wouldn't really classify it as your usual romantic comedy. In this case though, I think it works because the story covers some very important topics and depicts an issue that is very real for a lot of people. Not only that, but we get to go through a journey of growth with the main character as she learns to cope with her debilitating anxiety stemming from a few different traumas.

It brought up some really important points when dealing with mental health and it explores different ways people deal with their mental health both healthily and unhealthily. I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend you guys check it out when it gets released!

Was this review helpful?

I normally really try to find the best in books, especially because this seems to be a debut and I understand how hard it must be for an author to face criticism. I did not finish the book after really trying to get through the first chapters.

There was such an avalanche of thoughts by the MC and when she got fired from work and dumped in a matter of maybe minutes I did not even feel sorry for her! It seemed she really deserved it. Not a good start in my opinion. Now, I know she might improve, but I just did not like the writing style. It was all over the place. So, a DNF, unfortunately.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I just could not get into this one. I kept trying, and kept hoping that I would start liking the main character, but I just never got there. I also could not find any supporting characters to really enjoy. It was a cute premise, but the book itself just didn't get me there.

Was this review helpful?

This book had a lot of promise. The main character Kat suffers from extreme anxiety. The author does a great job of describing what it's like to have severe anxiety. Kat, whose life is crumbling suffers an extreme anxiety attack while at the gym, stays the night in the gym because she can't face her uncertain future by walking out the front door. One night turns into multiple nights. However Kat, despite her mental health issues, was a hard to like. Her peter pan syndrom, not thinking of others, etc just wasn't a likeable character . While the story was a good idea, it was just too slow. I think there's only so much that can be said about staying over night in a gym, and working through the anxiety. This book is labeled as a rom com but there just wasn't much of that. So thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

As one of the most unique books about anxiety I've ever read, this one certainly takes the cake and reminded me to get back in the gym. Kat is a memorable character in that she deals with the anxiety the rest of us do, turned up to astounding heights that keep her locked in 'Great Fitness!' for the duration of the novel. This book is an exploration of that anxiety, what people do to avoid their trauma, the random kindnesses of strangers, and how fitness is simultaneously exclusive and inclusive.
This book is overall a fast-paced novel with the majority of it taking place over the week Kat is unable to leave 'Great Fitness." During her time there, she undergoes a year's worth of self-discovery, fitness experiences, and faces that chaos of unresolved trauma. Her experiences are a commentary on American cultures' portrayal and understanding of anxiety, how it contributes to drug use and additction, and its impact on personal identity and behavior.
This book, while well written, is repetitive. Kat is recognizably immature and her refusal to deal with her anxiety doesn't become clear until near the end of the novel. While this initally make Kat relatable, by the third act it strays toward annoying. Her anxiety is realistic, but eventually is extremely dramatized only to be conquered with nearly any follow up. The ending is fine, but doesn't match the complex themes brought up throughtout the book.
Overall a decent read and definetly worth checking out if you are looking for a reason to hit the gym!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to netgalley & bookoutuse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay….. so I’m super conflicted about this book… I thought it was all over the place. It’s marketed as a comedy/romance, but I didn’t really think it was funny at all? There was also no romance until literally the epilogue.

I thought that the heroine having anxiety would make her relatable because I also, have anxiety. But I thought her panic attacks were super over the top…. Seriously?! She was in the health club the whole duration of the book. I also thought it was super weird that the reason for her downwards spiral was her dog passing away…. I get that that is a sad thing, to lose a pet, but to lose yourself because of it? I don’t think so, lol.

The whole thing with the little girl in the daycare was super random as well.. Not to mention, Sam breaking things off w/ the heroine and then was obsessed w/ what she was doing w/ her life after the fact. I thought maybe there would’ve been a reconciliation or something. Marcus seemed to have had a gf, and then all of a sudden he didn’t (or, never did), and then she ends up w/ him at the end of the story?

I’m sorry but I almost DNFed this book so many times….

Was this review helpful?

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book describes it self as a romantic comedy and that is very misleading. I would more accurately describe this book as a look into anxiety and panic attacks and how they can control a persons life.

This novel did a pretty good job of demonstrating the fear and feelings of isolation that occur when you suffer from anxiety. I like that they show that the protagonist, Kat, is aware of just how ridiculous her situation is. Her anxiety about telling someone about it feeds back into what becomes a circle of fear trapping her in the gym. She can’t leave the gym because of the fear and anxiety that she has concerning going back into the “real world” and she can’t ask anybody for help or tell anybody about what’s happening because the situation is so ridiculous that they will think that she’s crazy and hospitalize her or they won’t believe her and may try to force her out the door causing her to embarrass herself by having a panic attack and passing out (which will probably also get her hospitalized).

I feel like the romance of this book was an afterthought and kind of tacked onto the end of the book. If I’m completely honest if there had to be some kind of burgeoning romantic relationship that came from her interactions at the gym, Marcus is probably the last character I would’ve chosen. He showed all the red flags in my personal opinion from day one of her meeting him. I would’ve preferred, if they insisted on having a romance in this book, that it be Jack: the bartender. I felt like they had better chemistry and he seemed genuinely concerned about her. I believe this book would’ve been better without a romance in it at all. That’s basically what it is anyways.

I enjoyed this book as someone who has anxiety and experiences circular thinking that you get trapped in and can’t seem to find your way out of. This book was very relatable for me in that way. I did think that Kat’s solution for leaving the gym was both predictable and a little out of the realm of belief. I didn’t feel like Kat would be able to do that with all those people in her way and trying to prevent her.

Was this review helpful?

I was hoping to enjoy this book since the premise seemed fun but god was I bored. I hope this one can appeal to some people but it put me in a slump. Couldn’t hardly get through the first two chapters. I’m not one to DNF ARCs, but this one was painful.

Was this review helpful?

I found this book really hard to get into. I kept waiting for it to finally get going and unfortunately this just wasn't for me but will hopefully appeal to other readers.

Was this review helpful?

This is described as ‘a hilarious romantic comedy’. My review reflects that there is no humour and no romance?? I queried if I’d read the wrong book. The novel is a sad and pitiful account of one woman’s struggle with crippling anxiety. Had it been described in that way, I might have enjoyed it as the writing is good. But when you are expecting to read a rom-com and it is neither, you cannot recover from the disappointment. I was expecting a light-hearted romance but this is a painful read. Such a shame that the advertising is so misleading. I was provided with an advance copy by NetGalley and the Publisher in return for my honest review. I am very grateful to both of them and the author.

Was this review helpful?

She is starting a new date with going to a gym . Within few minutes she gets fired and her boyfriend of five years broke up with her by phone . Her anxiety comes foul force and she can 't pass the doors to leave the gym . So she lives there for few days and a personal trainer is flirting with her . Will she be able to overcome her panick attacks ?
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

The first sixteen percent were hardly laughable, and without warming to Kat and all her musings on that Monday... I couldn't help but give up.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a thrilling and joyful ride from the beginning. The author’s style places the reader in the book in each scene for an entertaining journey. Awe-inspiring . . . The characters are so well drawn and the plot so well paced, I couldn’t put it down. Some laugh out loud moments too!

Was this review helpful?

Ugh I so badly wanted to like this book way more than I did! Unfortunately, I just couldn't get on board with Kat, the main character. From the beginning I found her pretty unlikeable so it was hard to me to enjoy the rest of the book. While I enjoyed the inclusion of her anxiety and how it affected her choices and actions, she still felt pretty shallow and whiny.

Was this review helpful?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Come Here Often? by Ellie Center. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing an ARC to review.

Kat loses both her job and her long-term boyfriend while trying out a luxury gym for the first time. Diving into an emotional tailspin Kat's extreme anxiety kicks in anytime she tries to leave the gym. This forces Kat to live out her days in the gym, avoiding security guards and staff as she tries to figure out what to do next.

First of all, it is important to note that this is not a romantic comedy. There is some romance at the end of the book but this is not the story's focus. I feel that the style of the cover and the synopsis are a bit misleading in this aspect. That said, I enjoyed this book. Kat's journey was both interesting and heartbreaking at the same time. The people she met during her enforced stay were engaging and helped develop her character growth. The focus on mental health with just a touch of humor was a combo that really worked for me. I highly recommend giving this book a shot.

Was this review helpful?