Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I adored this book, this might be one of my favorites this year. It gives “27 Dresses” vibes, covers serious topics like mental health and is a new plot that was just a fresh scene for me! Right now, the only fault I can find is that it wasn’t long enough lol. This was an easy read and I’m really looking forward to future reads by this author. 5/5!

Mila's Review: Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin

"Words seem to fail my writer" said Johanna De La Cruz, our protagonist. And color me stoked, a couple chapters later words seem to fail ME when writing this review.

In her increible debut, Up Close & Personl, Ana Holguin invites us the readers into a world where personal growth and romance intertwine in 290 pages of pure charm. As I closed my reader on the final page of this story, I found myself not only moved to tears but also inspired to create a handwritten list—yes, i'm talking pen and paper— of things i want to try this oncoming year. This simply act of reflection and "call to action" speaks volumes about the impact of Holguin's storytelling.

Though it was this book's cover what initially drew me in, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a beautiful exterior is matched by even more beautiful story.

Moreover, Holguin's exploration of romance resonates deeply with me, as a real 'friends to lovers' yearner. The realization that love can blossom not only through shared experiences like a previous friendship but also through just getting to know someone and building something from nothing adds a profound layer to the narrative. This new-to-me portrayal of romance may have just become my new favorite trope.

In conclusion, if it wasn't made obvious by my unending rambling, Up Close & Personal is a remarkable debut. Ana Holguin has put out a story that not only entertains but also inspires readers to embrace new possibilities in their own lives. I, for one, can from the bottom of my soft heart, recommend this book to any readers seeking a story filled with love, friendship, and an abundance of self-discovery.

Gotta love a great debut novel in the Romance genre! The writing was very good, and I appreciated the representation of mental health issues. The characters felt relatable, and I was rooting for our couple from the start.

Would definitely read future novels by this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever books for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. I enjoyed the book a lot. It has a strong plot and great characters. This was a phenomenal read and very engaging. This was such a great love story. It had all my favorite tropes.

This book was so good! An excellent debut. The premise is fantastic, but I’d be down to read anything that was compared to 27 dresses. I appreciate the complexities of the characters. For example, Silas goes into Jo’s class thinking he will hate it and everything it stands for, but Holguin writes nuanced characters that admit when they’re wrong. Cannot wait to read more by this author!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

An adorably heart warming romance with realistic characters and an original plot line, Up Close & Personal was a read I could barely look away from. I loved the NYC setting and found the characters very refreshing especially in their open discussions of mental health. Excited to read more of Holguin’s work in the future!

This was a fun and heartwarming story! The author did a great job capturing the journey between the main leads and their exploration of New York City. The setting was charming, and the writing was engaging. Overall, an easy and enjoyable read!

Ana Holguin writes the most delightful, truly unique, debut romance. Waffling between 4/5 stars and rounded up because this was such a unique take on romance in the world of para social relationships and the anxiety it initiates.

Jo De La Cruz is a top spin instructor at THE NYC based studio with in person classes that are streamed to millions of fan. Jo was in at ground zero and has been dutifully building the company from day one, despite much personal loss. Managing the para social relationship brought on with constant feedback has been overwhelming for Jo. She has kept her circle TIGHT. And, Jo is ready to move on. She feels open to opportunity.

Silas, a NYC based journalist, is described as a part-time hater. His profession requires it. When his boss floats the idea to feature Jo, he is perplexed. Surely, he will bring her down. Off brand model. Spin bike Barbie. He has a list of barbs at the ready before he even begins the assignment.

Silas uses a personal connection to meet Jo, and the two hit it off right away. Silas, an avid runner, is rapt in the studio's community. He adores Jo and her connection to her riders.

The romance isn't unique, but I feel like dealing with these weird para social relationships are so useful to the conversation. Jo and Silas are both a delight as they work through their own unique issues. It is also very edifying that our Jo has the backing of her friends when things get tough.

I adored this debut novel.

This book sneaks up on you in the best way—slow-burning, emotional, and way deeper than you expect.

Jo’s at the top of her game as a spin instructor, but after years of being in the spotlight, she’s starting to feel the weight of it all. Enter Silas, a journalist who’s ready to write her off as just another influencer. But as he gets to know Jo, he realizes there’s way more to her story than what the public sees.

Through their interviews, they start peeling back each other’s layers—getting into the stuff that actually matters, not just the surface-level things. Their back-and-forth is sharp and full of energy, and you can really feel the shift as they begin to trust each other. The chemistry between them is on point, messy in the best way, and totally believable. I had some early suspicions about the eventual third-act conflict, and it was just as frustrating and devastating as I expected.

The book dives into some pretty heavy topics—fame, mental health, and career burnout—and it does it in a way that feels relatable. I especially appreciated how Jo’s anxiety wasn’t framed as something to “fix” but as a real, ongoing part of her life—something she learns to navigate with care and self-compassion.

Overall, this is a really solid debut. Is it a life-changer? Probably not—but that’s not the point. It’s fresh, layered, and totally enjoyable, and sometimes that’s exactly what makes a book worth picking up.

A deeply charming, sincere, slow-burn romance that has great insight on both social media personas and mental health.

It’s not often I can say this, but this book hooked me from literally the first page. These characters feel like real people. The writing is great. You get backstory and personality conveyed in a way that feels totally natural to the characters and their situations. In just a few sentences you have a clear sense of who they are and what they value.

The romance is such a satisfying slow burn. The connection between them is obvious without feeling like insta-love. Both characters are relatable and it’s easy to understand their different perspectives and worries. You get a bit of a forbidden love/forced proximity trope within the journalist/subject plot and it makes for some great romantic tension.

The focus on both physical and mental health was inspiring to read. Anxiety and depression are discussed and treated with both empathy and support. It’s not depicted as something the characters fix and move on from, but acknowledged as something that will ebb and flow throughout different parts of their lives. Physical fitness is discussed in a way that feels really emotionally healthy and body positive.

Up Close and Personal is truly a joy to read. The plot outside the romance is so compelling that this would still have been five stars without it. Watching someone show the parts about themselves they find scary and unloveable to the world to be met with gentle support and compassion is heartwarming.

I would absolutely recommend this for lovers of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and the movie 27 Dresses. It’s a really solid contemporary romance with some great commentary on social media presence and mental health. I’m already looking forward to whatever Ana Holguin decides to write next!