DNF at 25%. This tried way too hard and I struggled to even get through the first few chapters. I'm not into health scare tropes but especially not ones where someone tries to unrealistically overnight their nutrition and habits and yet is also somehow shocked they shouldn't have a giant frappucino on the regular. The characters need therapy, a nutritionist, and a financial advisor. I also felt as if the author decided to stick with ancient archetypes with "women's intuition" and "oh my god, this muscular man reads books" and the constant shallow thought processes and internal monologues from both main characters create outdated and predictably disappointing tropes. I will probably not pick this one up again.

Also, cardinals have orange beaks.

Deeply Personal starts with Jessica running a turket trot with her twin brother. During the run, Jessica collapses and Paul is there to save her. Paul is very much interested in Jessica but Jessica is still recovering from a bad breakup. Paul comes up with the deal to fake date Jessica. They start to develop real feelings for each other and start to rethink their life goals. The pace of the story was a little slow at times. I wish the epilogue showed more into the future of Jessica and Paul.

I really loved the premise of this cute love story, but unfortunately, some of the love scenes didn’t quite hit the mark. They felt rushed and lacked the depth I was hoping for. On the flip side, some of the family scenes dragged on a bit too long, which made it hard to stay fully engaged. I found myself speed-reading or even skipping through parts because the book just didn’t grip me as much as I’d hoped. Interestingly, I enjoyed the first half of the book—the plot was building nicely and kept me interested—way more than the second half. It felt like the pacing and tone shifted, and I struggled to stay as invested in the story.

When fate brings two career-focused individuals together, love proves to be the ultimate surprise. Deeply Personal is a delightful slow-burn romance that’s equal parts heartwarming and humorous—a perfect blend of charm, wit, and heartfelt moments.

🏃‍♀️ Meet Jessica Chandler: A driven interior designer whose over-the-top work ethic lands her in trouble—literally collapsing at a Turkey Trot. Enter Paul Brady, the swoon-worthy personal trainer who sweeps her off her feet (and straight to the medical tent).

💡 What Makes This Story Shine:
✨ Skill Swap Goals: Paul’s lack of design skills meets Jessica’s fitness struggles in a quirky trade-off that’s as endearing as it is relatable.
💕 Fake Dating Fun: One staged date sparks undeniable chemistry that blurs the lines between “business” and personal.

😅 Hilarious & Heartfelt: Jessica’s sharp design critiques + Paul’s cluelessness = laugh-out-loud moments paired with tender emotional growth.

📖 Why You’ll Fall in Love:
🌟 A relatable exploration of balancing ambition with personal connections.
🌟 A slow-burn romance that feels authentic and oh-so-satisfying.
🌟 A perfect mix of humor, heart, and an uplifting message about love and self-care.
✨ Deeply Personal is more than a love story—it’s a reminder to let love, laughter, and a little help into your life. Don’t miss this charming gem! 💘

#DeeplyPersonal #SuzanneCollier #SlowBurnRomance #FakeDatingTrope #RomComBooks #InteriorDesignerLove #PersonalTrainerGoals #HeartwarmingReads #FeelGoodRomance #LoveUnexpectedly #BooksWithHumor #RomanceReaders #BookishRomantics

"Let's raise a glass right now and say instead, 'To love.' For what is life without love?"

Thank you to Netgalley and Splitrail Publishing for the eARC of this book.

This book, as much as I thought it was okay while reading it, really hasn't been that memorable for me. It follows Jessica who, when she drops from dehydration during the Turkey Trot, is recused by a gorgeous personal trainer named Paul Brady. As Jessica and Paul become entangled for professional and personal reasons, they both have to explore their feelings about the other.

For me, this book just wasn't anything special. I think the characters didn't feel super drawn out so they felt flat, and the romance didn't make it better. There was a fake-dating trope, which is one of my favorite tropes, but there wasn't really a reason for the fake dating in my opinion. It felt like that was just added in there because they wanted to be able to slap the fake-dating trope label on the book. Over all it was okay.

Jessica is an interior designer who gets overly competitive with her twin brother and enters a turkey trot that she’s not prepared for and faints during the race. She wakes up to see Paul, a personal trainer who was volunteering at the race, scoops her up and rescues her to the medical tent. They run into each other a few more times and find that they are both trying to get over past relationship issues and they have a lot more in common than they thought.

This was such a cute story. Mostly closed door spice, one glossed over open door mini scene, funny banter, relatable character development. I especially loved all the side characters, they really made the story and were laugh out loud funny often. The chemistry was a little stilted at the beginning, I wasn’t completely on board with the passion it felt a little awk but the rest of their relationship was cute and it felt better at the very end. Fun read and she finds her penguin in the end.

This book wasn’t for me. Honestly, it was still a good book, and it has a very nice romance in it.

But it also deals with some health scares and those aren’t my cup of tea.

Overall, the story was fun, girl goes on Turkey Trot, faints and wakes up to a very handsome guy. Turns out he is a personal trainer and she can do with some training…

Would recommend, if you have no problem with the health stuff.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were great and very entertaining. The story was very well written and I loved the plot!

This book is a delightful contemporary romance that masterfully blends humor, emotional growth, and heartwarming romance. The story follows Jessica Chandler, a high-achieving interior designer whose relentless drive has taken a toll on her health, and Paul Brady, a personal trainer who hides his deeper vulnerabilities behind his fitness expertise. Their lives intersect when Paul rescues Jessica during a Turkey Trot race, leading to a partnership that changes them both in profound ways.

Jessica and Paul strike a deal: she’ll transform his poorly decorated man-cave into a cozy haven, while he helps her adopt a healthier lifestyle. This exchange sets the stage for a slow-burn romance filled with witty banter and touching moments. Their growing relationship is not just about love but also about self-discovery and the courage to prioritize what truly matters. Collier captures their chemistry beautifully, making their journey both relatable and heartening.

This was okay for me. I found it a little predictable , but overall I enjoyed it. The characters had chemistry and I liked their banter.

This book ultimately wasn’t for me. Cute story but I found myself just not really connecting to the characters overall. Which kept me from truly enjoying it as much as I would’ve liked to.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Loved the cover art and I was really excited about this book, working out and a rom com together sounded great! Loved getting to know the characters it was a fast enjoyable read. Cons-I really wanted some more comedy to the romCOM part of it, didn’t do much laughing out loud as I’d like. I was waiting the entire book for him to personal train her and help with her heart issues and it never happened. But other than that it was a good read. 3.5 stars if I could do halves. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for advance read in turn for my honest review.

The beginning of the book was amazing, funny, witty, and had some swoon worthy banter and scenes, but then it just sort of fizzled out less than halfway through. The drama became a bit too much for me - I went in expecting a rom-com which it most definitely was not! The chemistry between Jessica and Paul is evident, but the lack of screen time between the two makes their romance feel forced and underdeveloped. Moments that could have been funny or engaging fall flat, with little to no banter or playful interactions to lighten the mood. Despite everything, the book remains a light, easy read with a sweet, heartwarming quality. It may appeal to readers looking for a low-angst, slow-burn romance with a hint of personal growth.

I had to DNF. I’m trying so hard to find the chemistry and I feel like I shouldn’t have to do that. It felt forced.

I couldn’t finish this one. I tried several times, but the writing style and dialogue just was not for me. It’s a cute concept and I typically love the fake dating trope and rom-com type of books, but I just could not force myself to read this when I wasn’t enjoying it. Cute idea, execution just wasn’t my style.

good mystery about a couple and staying in a house and the other couple there. kept me on my toes . good mystery and figuring stuff out.

after multiple attempts at reading- I have decided to DNF. I’m hoping to return to it in the future but right now i’m unable to connect with the author’s writing style.

I enjoyed the storyline enough, but found the execution could do with some work. The first quarter of the book dragged but after that I was interested enough to want to pick it up and finish it.

This book was a really interesting read for me - the beginning of the book was amazing. Funny, witty, and had some swoonworthy banter and scenes (the coffee!) but then it just sort of fizzled out less than halfway through (I'd say around the 40% mark).

It was still good - just different. After how the book started I was rather sure that a beautiful romance would be building but instead it was just lackluster at best, dull at worst. I really found myself just getting lost in all of the technicalities as I felt like it really pulled attention from the actual romance.

The drama became a bit too much for me - I went in expecting a rom-com which it most definitely was not! It's fine if you want more drama and are prepared for it though.

Lastly - I felt like the plot just changed? It was supposed to be this give-take; she offers design services, and he offers physical training but that just never happened. He never becomes her personal trainer even though it was what was suggested? Just felt really disjointed and dissatisfying.

All in all though it was a fairly quick read, I loved the inital banter and chemistry and really enjoyed some side characters especially!

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Deeply Personal offers an intriguing premise—fake dating between Jessica, an interior designer, and Paul, a personal trainer—but ultimately, it falls short of delivering the romance and depth many readers may expect from this setup.

While the characters are likable, the pacing of the story is uneven, and the focus shifts away from the central relationship, which can feel frustrating. Instead of delving deeper into the romantic development between Jessica and Paul, the book spends significant time on side characters and subplots, such as Jessica’s work struggles and family dynamics, which detract from the main love story. The fake dating trope is introduced but never fully explored, and the story often feels bogged down by unnecessary details about their professional lives, rather than their connection.

The chemistry between Jessica and Paul is evident, but the lack of screen time between the two makes their romance feel forced and underdeveloped. Additionally, the book's tone is more dramatic than comedic, despite the rom-com expectations set by the cover and description. Moments that could have been funny or engaging fall flat, with little to no banter or playful interactions to lighten the mood.

Despite these issues, the book remains a light, easy read with a sweet, heartwarming quality. It may appeal to readers looking for a low-angst, slow-burn romance with a hint of personal growth, but it’s not for those who want a fast-paced, high-energy rom-com.

While the writing style is easy to follow, some readers may find the digressions into business and finance distracting. The overall story leaves much to be desired, especially considering its potential. Deeply Personal is a book that might satisfy those looking for a gentle, cozy romance but will likely leave others wanting more from the plot and characters.