My new fav romcom of the year. This book had everything that I enjoy and look for in a romcom and I’m so glad it delivered. I absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend

I thought that this was an interesting premise. Jo is a fitness instructor for the book’s version of Peloton. Silas is a journalist who wants to figure out why people are so obsessed with this company and Jo herself. They both get more than they bargained for. I really enjoyed the anxiety rep in this book as well.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars

When I saw this was comped to 27 Dresses, I knew I would love it! I loved the slow build relationship between Jo and Silas - the tension and depth that was so clearly evident as the two got to know one another - and also really enjoyed the look at anxiety and mental health. It was a fun rom-com to read

Nice debut novel. Enjoyed the play on 27 Dresses! The anxiety/mental health representation was done well. I appreciate the content warnings in the beginning.

Im a sucker for a fun romcom book (or movie) ...and Up Close & Personal is what I want in a romcom! Great Characters that leap off the page, a propulsive plot that’s built as much on deep internal challenges as it is situational external ones, and a swoony, SEXY romance I can’t help but root for! When I read a romcom, I want all the feels AND a layer of depth to sink my teeth into. Ana Holguin gave us all that in Jo & Silas’ love story—and even more in all the ways Jo learns to love her damn self!! I flew through this one. So excited to see what this author does next!

loved this romance about a bike trainer and writer and the interview that happens over this book, They both have their issues and slowly fall in love . love her friends.

There are two parts of this book that checked my boxes (out of two parts). First, the craft— at a story telling level to have the stakes feel so high when it’s mostly internal is a feat. And then to continue to up the external stakes- bravo!

And then the romance. This is a slow burn worth simmering for. Absolutely adored this novel!

A swoony romance! I loved this book so much.

The characters are sweet, the romance is well written. She is a high-level fitness instructor and he is a journalist.

I really loved the mental health representation in the story. I hope we continue to see more of this in romance.

Highly, highly recommend this one!!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 ⭐️ and a solid debut!

This follows Jo, a celebrity spin instructor for Haven— think Peloton x Soulcycle— and Silas, a journalist who’s writing what he thinks will be an exposé of Jo and Haven. I loved the premise, and the interviews between the main characters were my favorite part of the book. They were sweet, tender, and Jo’s struggles with anxiety were handled so thoughtfully.

Here’s what I wish we would’ve gotten more of:

I’ve seen reviews and marketing highlighting that the main character is Latina, but I felt like it was mostly glossed over in the story. I would’ve loved for the author to expand on Jo’s experience and identity as a Latina, but instead we got maybe two sentences acknowledging it.

I also would’ve loved more focus on the romance. The MCs spend so much time together in the first half of the book, but I didn’t feel any chemistry or romantic feelings until I was deep in the second half of the book.

Overall, I had a fun time with Up Close & Personal, but was left wanting more.

Thanks to Forever for the gifted ARC!

Representation: Latinx, Anxiety, Depression

“You’re going to ruin me, Jo.”
“Good. Destroy me.”

A killer debut from author Ana Holguin, UP CLOSE & PERSONAL takes you into the life of a Haven spin instructor and a man who think he’s going write a scathing exposé on a fitness cult but falls in love with an instructor instead.

Silas is ready to take on what could be his biggest story yet: a tell-all with spin instructor Jo De La Cruz. He doesn’t get why the waitlist for her classes is crazy long, or why there’s an Instagram dedicated to her hair, and he’s determined to rip the whole Haven fitness program to shreds. But, like many of us, Silas finds that having a favorite instructor is really a thing, especially when he and Jo start spending more time together and opening up to each other. As a gym girlie, I loved the fitness aspect of this book and the fact that our FMC is a total strong baddie. But on the flip side, I also loved getting the perspective of what it’s like to be a not-total-celebrity, but fitness influencer on people’s screens inside their homes, and sometimes on billboards, etc. It worked really well with the anxiety and depression rep. Silas and Jo were so great together, and the slow burn was perfect for their relationship. The friend group added to the dynamic, and I loved that we got a glimpse into the future at the end, too.

Read if you like:
- Latinx rep
- Anxiety & therapy rep
- Slow burn
- Thigh tats
- Peloton
- Olive Garden 🤭

Do you know those social media clips of men doing pilates for the first time? How they struggle and are ultimately humbled by the strength it takes? That’s immediately what I thought of while reading ‘Up Close and Personal’.

I’m very much like Silas the lead male character in this novel. I’m skeptical of influencer culture, fitness clubs, and the exclusivity around the world of “wellness” that actually isn’t “all well”. Let’s just say it made my eye twitch, for a bit. However, this was such an enjoyable read. It’s fast pace, the characters are well thought out, and has the charm of New York. But, the dark side of the fitness world? The physical toll it takes? I never ever thought about it and exploring that through Jo was really nice.

While Ana Holguin insists Haven, the ultimate luxury fitness club where Jo is a superstar soul cycle lead is built on inclusivity….I think every woman has a story to share about visiting a workout studio like Haven. There’s clearly an exclusivity culture ingrained in the wellness culture. It’s the work out clothes, the smoothies, and the overall ‘gym aesthetic’ that’s completely ignored in this book. It was a missed opportunity that I wish Holguin actually acknowledged. But if you’re ok suspending those beliefs for a romance novel then you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you Forever for the ARC!

I initially picked this one up because of its comparison to Jessica Joyce and Abby Jimenez. I am happy to say, those comparisons were right! I flew through the pages, it reminded me of Yours Truly but with a FMC with anxiety. This was such a cute romance with a deep look into mental health, specifically anxiety disorder. As someone with anxiety, I truly connected with that storyline. This was a slow burn romance that focused more on Jo's desire to reveal more of herself to the world, while slowly falling for skeptical journalist along the way. I loved both Jo and Silas and I could feel the tension rising straight out of the pages. I also loved the Pelton-esque of Jo's life, as someone who tried one spin class and declared never again, it was interesting to see the other side to a fitness influencer life. If you are a romance fan that also enjoys a story that goes a bit deeper and discussed mental health, definitely make sure to add this one to your TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This is a new author for me and I am absolutely in love! This book is more than a romance; it’s a deep dive into personal image and online perceptions and self-worth. It’s beautifully written and swoony, with a wonderful main character to root for! I cried a little and laughed a lot. I will definitely be picking up more from Ana Holguin!

It’s romcom season and I just finished a good one. Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin was a great time! Watch for this one!

Jo es una famosa instructora de spinning, prácticamente una celebridad. Todos quieren estar en su clase, parece que su vida es perfecta y glamurosa, pero no todo es perfecto: guarda un pequeño secreto. Su trabajo ya no le satisface y está buscando un cambio.
Silas es un periodista conocido como "el hombre que odia todo" por el tipo de reportajes que hace. Ahora ha puesto su atención en Jo, a quien cree falsa y piensa que solo busca sacar dinero de la gente y la fama.

Jo ve el reportaje como una oportunidad para que la gente la conozca mejor y tal vez volver a amar su trabajo, mientras que Silas quiere desenmascararla. Sin embargo, no contaba con que, al pasar tiempo juntos, hacer ejercicio y tomar café, descubriría que todas sus ideas preconcebidas estaban equivocadas. Ahora deberá esforzarse por demostrarle a ella que es digno de su confianza.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this debut by Ana Holguin! From the very first line, her voice grabbed me and didn’t let go.

Jo is a spin instructor for Haven, a Peloton-like company. She started out as an in-person instructor, but her life completely changed for the worse when the company began selling an at-home bike and streaming classes. She’s stuck in a rut and contemplating her future with Haven when she encounters skeptical journalist Silas, who’s been assigned to write a profile of her.

I really enjoyed their budding friendship and attraction. Jo is anxious and reticent, and Silas was so kind and patient with her. Their romance is a slow burn, but Holguin does a great job of building their relationship, showing them gradually getting more comfortable with each other. I also liked that while Silas started out thinking he was going to write a hit piece, as he got to know Jo and took in-person classes, he changed his mind on her and Haven. It felt natural and true to his character.

The mental health representation was also well done. Jo has had generalized anxiety disorder her entire life, and Silas has a history of depression. As someone who has both anxiety and depression, I really appreciated seeing characters dealing with mental illness in a way that didn’t feel heavy-handed or unrealistic. Their mental illness wasn’t portrayed as something they had to “fix.” It was just part of who they were. I also appreciated how Jo’s anxiety tied into the exploration of how sudden fame can change someone’s life.

There was a lot to enjoy about this book! I’m looking forward to reading this author again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Spicy, Smart, & Surprisingly Emotional

Ana Holguin delivers a fast-paced, heartfelt, and sizzling debut with Up Close & Personal. This rom-com brings together grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, opposites attract, and a bit of enemies-to-lovers energy, all wrapped up in a spin-class-meets-journalism showdown.

Jo is charismatic, confident, and battling burnout, while Silas, the skeptical journalist, isn’t just here for the story—he’s here to challenge everything she believes about herself. Their banter is electric, their connection is undeniable, and the tension? Whew. Holguin also tackles mental health, anxiety, and imposter syndrome with nuance, making Jo’s struggles feel deeply real rather than just a plot device.

My one gripe? Silas, my guy, why keep that secret so long?! It felt unnecessary and slightly out of character. A little more groveling wouldn’t have hurt either! WE LOVE A GOOD GROVEL!

Overall, this is fresh, funny, and full of heart. Huge thanks to Ana Holguin and Forever Publishing for the ARC—I’ll happily ride for this one! 🚲❤️

This was really cute! I immediately thought of how popular Peloton got and could relate with the cynic in Silas. I loved that there was development in the characters and the back story behind why Jo did what she did. There is such truth to the fact that people really are drawn to people that are open and vulnerable so loved this as why people were drawn to Jo. It also addresses some great issues about being someone with fame, the good and the bad. Loved the importance of friends in the whole storyline too. The messiness at the end was a bit predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I can see other characters getting their own stories in the future!

Up Close & Personal was deeper than I expected it to be. Looking at the cover of the book, I assumed this was going to be a quick and easy romcom. I was surprised by how layered and realistic the main characters were. I liked that they were flawed and vulnerable. I especially enjoyed the anxiety representation with Jo's character. I liked watching Silas and Jo's relationship develop. I did feel like their relationship could have been sped up a bit. By the time I hit the half-way mark, I was starting to lose interest in their relationship. Although they were compatible partners, I didn't fully feel the chemistry between them. I liked that Holguin didn't drag out their conflict towards the end. I thought the side characters were developed and added to the overall storyline. The Haven plotline was interesting. As for the pacing, it could have been a little faster. Overall, this was a decent read. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.

3.5/5 Stars

In “Up Close and Personal,” Jo De La Cruz is a super popular spin instructor at Haven. Her classes and class waitlists are always packed and her rides are streamed to thousands of people. And even with all of that, Jo feels burnout and unfulfilled. Silas Anders is a journalist who is assigned to write about why some fitness instructors are so popular. What is that X factor that makes people follow Jo to the end of the earth and create an Instagram page for her hair? Silas is skeptical but soon finds that he may be converting into a Jo devotee. They meet for his article but soon start catching feelings. Which is less than ideal for Silas who wants to have some semblance of journalistic integrity. This all leads to a really fun ride (cheesy pun intended) with lots of slow burn romance!

I thought the mental health representation in this book was super well done! As someone with anxiety, I think Ana Holguin did a really great job of showcasing how anxiety can manifest in a person with an anxiety condition being super high functioning while also being debilitated by it at the same time. I appreciated that the characters talked about their mental health journeys openly and with care.

I really enjoyed the plot and the freshness and now-ness of it (thinking celebrity and spin and para-social relationships). What I struggled with a little was that Silas and Jo’s POVs and inner monologues felt so similarly written sometimes I felt like I was reading about the same person just with different plot points. I know that Silas and Jo were meant to have a lot in common, but I think I would have benefited from their internal thought being written to show more differences so that the characters would have been just as interesting as the plot. All in all though, a lovely debut from Ana Holguin!

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.