A humorous look at the different characters that frequent gyms; there were similarities to people I have encountered on my visits when I was a frequent gym-goer so it’s easy to relate to and laugh at others (and yourself) as they are portrayed. There are a lot of other issues covered here that are also easy to relate to but the story starts slowly and while it held my interest, I also found it easy to put down and not rush to pick it back up again. I did love learning about Oven Mitts and seeing how he atones for his mistakes. I just couldn’t connect to the story, as it worked back and forth between Jack’s gym time, work life, and issues with his wife.

Not the fun and light and fluffy book I thought this was going to be from the description.
It takes a turn from the get-go, and becomes serious and deep and dark at times.
It does make you think about certain things, and there are several layers.
Don't go into it thinking it's a laugh-out-loud riot.

A newly divorced columnist joins a failing gym in Baltimore where he makes friends with a motley crew of regulars, meets a murderer, and competes in a burpee competition. It's a bit of a slice-of-life novel mixed with some satirical humor and a scarred love letter to journalism and Baltimore. Tonally and pacing-wise, it's a little all over the place. But the sentence-by-sentence writing is good and there is a real care for the characters (and the reader) and it's a quick and enjoyable read.

This book is a very deceptive book- it looks like it's going to be light and fluffy like a cosy murder mystery, but it is so so so much more then that.

It's hard to define exactly what genre The Gym falls into but this is a great thing- it combines soo many elements of various genres that it starts of as a gang trying to solve a mystery, but it evolves into a comedy and feel good novel.

The Gym starts of a bit slow, but it soon turns into a ripping yarn with characters that will make you laugh and cry, scream at them, and before you know it, you've fallen in love with them (well most of them, the others you want to slap around a few times!)

Where this novel shines is that it will make you ponder things such as the futility of relationships, the ability for people to atone for their sins, as well as making you laugh out loud- and while you're laughing you'll go "huh" as you've just realised that the author has made you ponder something that has come out of left field!

This was a great read and I highly recommend it

Absolutely hilarious. This book reminded me of the first time I read The World According to Gary and could not stop laughing, both at the hysterical events of the book itself and the way the author describes them. Anyone who has ever joined a gym will have a strong sense of recognition of the people who go there, who work there, the machinery which never fully works and the motivational posters. Anyone who has ever experienced a break up will laugh, even as they cringe, recognising the way in which people relate to their exes. This is a terrific book.

Oh this book was an utter hilarious delight that I never saw coming! When Jack, a recently divorced man walks into a gym and is immediately paired with an ex-felon octogenarian trainer. The focus is on crushing the prestigious rich and fancy gym nearby but what ensues is such a comedic telling. I absolutely loved the friend group that developed and just completely adored all of the jokes. As someone who truly hates the gym this was an absolutely fun read!

Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

A very quick, entertaining book in which the plot is really just an excuse to make some interesting observations and share humorous anecdotes about gym life. It was an espresso appropriate story to read at the start of the year when “get back into shape” resolutions abound.