Quite a unique premise, and lots of potential. I was hooked from the start. The characters were interesting, the dialogue was very believable, the pacing was spot-on. And then about a third of the way through, something shifted. I don't know what happened, but suddenly it became really really really hard to keep reading. I feel like the author tried to do too much in too little time.

One thing that did really work was the humor. So this wasn't a total write-off for me, and I might give the author another chance in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Work It Out by Eva Siedler!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This started pretty well but became the typical falls in love with the gym trainer novel. It was almost like two different people wrote it.

*3.5 stars*

This was just the book I needed to read right now. It had lighthearted moments filled with romance, moments of banter and funny exchanges between the characters, and more serious and meaningful moments and topics.

Work It Out was a funny read that made me laugh but also had the romance vibes I enjoy. Eva gave me two MCs that just fit but also had to work to get their HEA. This book was a quick read and one that makes you feel good.

Jake couldn't help but be charming but his character lacked some depth and maturity. I enjoyed Rayah's determination and would've like to get more of her backstory. Overall this was a cute romance, but can come off a bit scripted or canned at times.

i really enjoyed the premise of this book, especially because it reminded me of set on you by may lea which is one of my favs. I enjoyed both of our main characters and was rooting fro them the whole time. Althoug this book is 400 pages I feel like so many things would happen at once which was a little overwhelming and made the pacing feel a little off.

I just finished reading Love is Worth the Weights by Jennifer Weiner, and I had high hopes going in. Unfortunately, things took a turn around the 30% mark, and now I’m feeling a bit disappointed. The writing started smoothly but felt like a rollercoaster with no precise rhythm. The dialogue was natural initially, but as the main characters, Jake and Rayah, got closer, it started to feel cringey. The mixed POVs felt jumbled, like a mixtape that didn’t quite hit the right notes. The plot centers around Jake Newman, a Hollywood heartthrob with a secret health issue, POTS, and his tough trainer, Rayah Summers. Jake needs to get in shape for a superhero role, and Rayah’s resort is his last shot. I appreciated how the book highlighted POTS and gave insight into it, a critical topic. The chemistry between Jake and Rayah was good, but the third-act breakup came way too late, and the ending felt super rushed. The fitness storyline was a bit hit or miss for me. I liked the natural fitness journey and the gym family vibe, and having a female trainer was a refreshing take. Rayah’s approach to fitness wasn’t preachy, which I appreciated. Overall, it’s a cute, sweet, and spicy read with that celebrity romance flair, but I think the characters and the writing could use a little more polishing. The book is set to come out on January 29, 2024, and honestly, I’m hoping for more grace for the story and the characters by then.

2.5

I honestly couldn't say a lot about what didn't work for me... The characters were fine and the plot was okay but I found myself dragging myself through this book. Overall, it just felt a bit flat to me. I wish there was more to root for, but the circumstances just weren't super interesting to me.

I felt like the pacing was off and a bit all over the place. Sometimes the POVs were hard to follow, but it did have potential. There were a lot of funny moments and heartwarming interactions, but as a whole, I felt it was lacking.

This was a cute romance. I liked the characters and the gym background was kind of fun. It just fell flat at parts and I found myself getting bored at times. But still, this was an overall enjoyable read and I do think I would pick up another book from this author.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed Work It Out by Eva Siedler! Having never read anything by that author before, and not having too much experience with the publisher before this, I was really in the dark as to how I was going to feel about this book. I’m not gonna lie, the unfamiliarity added a small layer of excitement and curiosity to my reading experience.

And I’m happy to share that I was very pleasantly surprised! I really liked the main characters, the side characters, and the setting. Each character felt well-developed and unique, making it easy to get invested in their individual stories and relationships. The setting, while not overly described, was depicted more through vibes and how the characters interacted with it, creating the perfect backdrop for the story of Work It Out.

The story progressed at a good pace, there was great chemistry between the two love interests, and while some parts were funny, there were some serious topics that were tackled as well. This balance of lighthearted moments and deeper themes made the book feel well-rounded and engaging. I have to say I also appreciated how Siedler handled the serious issues with sensitivity and depth.

I was invested from the start and really enjoyed myself throughout Work It Out. In the future, I’ll definitely be reading more by Siedler! This book has left me eager to explore more of this author’s work and see what other love stories might be in store for readers.

eally loved this one. Great character development and back story. 4.5 stars

Only issue/suggestion: proposal should have waited until an epilogue/there should have been an epilogue. We don’t make up and propose in one scene. Also more spice would have been appreciated

Writing was awkward, not for me unfortunately I couldn’t get into this one. Also, I couldn’t understand the characters very well, they did not feel developed enough and felt like a one-dimensional personality.

I loved Jake and Raya's story. It was so good. I wanted it to go on. This was such a great story!
5 star read for me.

It was a really cute story that’s perfect for a quick in between read. I loved how Rayah is this strong and independent character. She’s smart and resilient and even funny at times. The banter between the characters was one of my favorite aspects. I really appreciated the Rep in this story too and how well it was done. The only thing I didn’t like was that there were times where the story dragged a bit for me but overall I enjoyed it.

I was looking forward to reading this book because I thought the premise was cool and held promise, but unfortunately the novel did not deliver on that for me. The writing felt awkward, the characters felt underdeveloped and the plot was underwhelming to me. It was a good book, but not a great one. I did like the setting and drama that unfolded throughout the novel though, so it could be a great book for others.

I tried on three different occasions to read this book but found I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t feel that I could connect with the characters and I just wasn’t fond of how the story was unfolding. I read about 70 pages and had to DNF :(

I was really looking forward to this one and hoped for a cute rom com. Unfortunately, I didn’t click with the characters and the flow of the story, so I decided to DNF.

I genuinely think this book just did not hold my interest at the time and that other readers will enjoy!

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

Actor Jake Newman has the chance to achieve his dream of landing the leading role in a huge action film. But he needs to get his abs in gear in order to make it a reality. So he sneaks off to his hometown and the new high-end health resort to do so out of the public eye. What he didn’t anticipate was the very cute former gymnast Rayah Summers to be his trainer.

Rayah has sunk everything she has into the resort in order to help others shape their bodies and their lifestyles. Unfortunately, a string of bad luck is threatening to send her into ruination—until heartthrob Jake Newman makes his appearance with the money and publicity that could turn her luck around. The pair are depending on each other and not even some fiery chemistry is going to keep them from reaching for the stars…

This story was a fun, quick read for all the romance enthusiasts. The chemistry between the pair is obvious from the get-go and it’s fun to watch as they dance around each other. In addition to the two main characters, there is a great found family at the resort that Rayah has clearly curated as a replacement for the family she never had as a child and they are truly so endearing.

While it was a fun romp overall, there were definitely pieces of the story that were “because romance reasons” level of unbelievable. The most egregious, in my opinion, was Jake’s health condition and his friend’s willingness to help him cover it up knowing full well that it could, and likely WOULD, cause issues while training. It is something that I could NEVER imagine happening in real life because of the liability (and also because decent human beings want to keep each other ALIVE), but it’s played off in the story as just a minor hurdle. What I did appreciate about that particular storyline was the responsibility that was quickly assumed when it inevitably came to light—that was definitely much more believable!

Where the story shines is definitely the character work and relationships. Rayah’s relationship with all her trainers is built upon mutual love and respect and it was honestly so lovely to see “tough” characters want to throw down for those they care about and actually show emotion. In addition to the relationships within the resort, there is a beautiful relationship between Jake, his grandparents, and one of his co-stars that really brought to life how easy (and also important!) it is to build your community.

The cherry on top was how Siedler was able to demonstrate the importance of male/female platonic relationships. Both Rayah and Jake have very strong and very deep relationships with individuals who they love deeply…and platonically. Those individuals have a different idea of what they want their relationship to be and make it known, only to be gently rebuffed. But the great thing is that Siedler allows these characters to have their emotions and cope with them in healthy ways in order to come back and strengthen their bonds even further. We need more strong platonic relationships like this in media.

Overall, go into this story ready to suspend your disbelief and you'll likely find yourself having a good time. The overall story is lighthearted, funny, and sizzling chemistry, but Siedler balances it with some heavier topics such as sexual abuse and panic/anxiety attacks so please take care of yourself while reading.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.

I dnf'd this one.
Idk if it was me or the book.
It was just not hitting right.

I am going to try again when I am in a more romcom mood!