Caution in Love

by K. Rodriguez

“Stop the car and back the f*** up. Ese cara de culo did not break up with you in a text!”

On a night I expected an engagement ring from my long-time boyfriend, he did in fact break up with me instead.

Now, six months later, I’m back on my Mom’s couch left with only two options; babysit my wild nephews or join my mom and sister at the gym. Naturally, I opt for the latter, plunging quite literally into physical punishment – and right into the arms of Chase.

He’s sweet, kind, and thoughtful with rippling muscles, and a Thor-like appeal that melts more than just my heart.

His lingering touches and warm gaze sear into the dips of my curves, igniting a fire I can’t seem to resist while my heart, the relentless optimist, revels in the burn sure to come.

Falling in love isn’t worth the risk of heartbreak and misery, but what if he is?

Genres: Romance

176 pages, ebook

First published September 29, 2023

About the author

K. Rodriguez is a proud Dominican American writer of sweet and spicy contemporary romance con sazón! A born-and-raised Jersey girl, she’s now soaking up the sun in SW Florida with her high school sweetheart, three kids, and four fur babies. When she’s not wrangling children or poodles, you can find her avoiding the laundry, indulging in far too much cafecito, and blasting her old-school playlist like it’s still 2003! Besides her love for Aventura, she’s an avid romance reader, passionate about real love that navigates the beautiful chaos of life.

Reviews

[Sher✩･*˚⁺‧͙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you're searching for a cute romance with plussize rep, big family rep, kinda absent parent!
then this book is for you.

This is the author debut and i would love to read more books written by them.

tw/cn : alcoholism, child abandonment, verbal abuse, cheating, caregiver resentment/stress.

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Izzy, the opening scene of your heartbreak had me sad and murderous for you. I wish explosive diarrhea on Estabon. The nerve of him can we talk boy go away.

Listen, the large loud family was so relatable. Izzy couldn't wallow in her self-pity because of an overcrowded house. Thank goodness for a sassy mom and an encouraging best friend.

Chase was such a loveable MMC despite his situation with his mom. I'm happy both of them took a chance on trying.

This is the author's debut and I look forward to reading more from them.

CN: alcoholism (on page), child abandonment/neglect, verbal abuse, cheating, caregiver resentment/stress

[Alyssa Swafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved about this story:

It felt real, with real-life problems. It also has loud, obnoxious, and overbearing family members. Izzy is a thicker girl, and Chase loves her for who she is.

Caution in Love started full force with the breakup between Izzy and her no-good piece of crap boyfriend. Which I was so sad for Izzy. But 7 months later, after her breakup, she starts going to the gym with her mom and sister. The first gym scene was so funny... I was laughing hysterically, and all because I could see this happening to myself. Insert Chase. This story made me feel all of the feels.

I cannot wait for Part 2 of this book, which should be out soon.

[Z - booksandcurlz · Rating 5 out of 5]

You give me a book set in a gym and I will eat it up. This was it!

It was short and sweet. The characters felt well developed for how short it was. OMG the latine family dynamics 🤣and the besties 🤌🏽

Things I ❤️
♥️ Izzy - She was funny and I loved that she established her boundaries around her approach to training at the gym
♥️ Chase - I just wanted to give him a hug for what he had to go thorough with his mom, such a cinnamon roll, and such a shy boy. It was adorable. All of him.
♥️ No third act breakup - even when miscommunication is part of the issue, they talk it out and settle things
♥️ The family dynamics - To me, reading Latine family dynamics always feels like a hug


I received an e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author for sending me an e-arc

[Tañia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut book was super cute! I flew threw it and can't wait to see what Rodriguez puts out next! 🤍
________________________________

Izzy has returned to her mother's overcrowded house after finding out her fiance cheated. After months of self pity and stalking her ex on his socials, her mom and sister force her out of the house and they hit the gym.

The gym is where she meets Chase- after losing a fight with a treadmill-but it's not the first time they've met 👀

Mistaking him for a gym employee, they start a trainer/trainee relationship and the story kicks off from there!

I enjoyed this! Izzy and Chase both had issues to work through. Izzy spent way too long crying over her ex (like girl, bffr)! Izzy's family dynamic felt very real and I loved her mom and sister for pulling her out of her funk. Chase had a whole 8 Mile situation with his mom being an alcoholic. The love and guilt he felt for her also felt very real. Taken care of someone who doesn't deserve it pushes your boundaries and I had only sympathy for him. 🤍

[Ice Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I love you too,” I let out, and his touch stills.
“You do?” he says after a beat.
“Of course I do.”
Excerpt From Caution in Love (ARC) by K. Rodriguez
Gym romance featuring two people from dysfunctional spaces falling in love even without realizing. It is a short romance novella that highlights sacrifice and compromise and love that is easy and is not difficult. The FMC and MMC fall in love gradually and then wholeheartedly.
Thank you to K. Rodriguez for the arc.
If you are looking for a gym romance with a plus size FMC and there’s no miscommunication trope then this is for you.

[J.L. Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caution: This is AMAZING debut!

Izzy and Chase stole my heart. Their story is the journey of two broken people who find solace in each other.

This story mixes comedy, the pursuit of love, and trust with generational traumas. I love how kind and downright good to the soul Chase is. The glowup is real for Papi Thor but he wasn’t feeling it deep down. It took Izzy, the heroine in all of us, to see exactly who he is.

Speaking of Izzy, loved her too. She carried her heartbreak like a badge and that makes her so relatable. She loves the heartwarming chaotic mess that is her family but like a LatinX family, they won’t let her quit on herself. And that’s what you need sometimes. Well, that and a Papi Thor kind of man who sweeps you off your feet!

K Rodriguez, in her beautiful debut, will break your heart and slowly mended with laughter, sabor Latino, love, and the beautiful mess that is family. I can’t wait for more because I just KNOW I’m going to be down the rabbit hole with Chase, Izzy y la familia.

[Darlene Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC for this novella. Izzy had just caught her boyfriend cheating and has moved back home for the foreseeable future. Her family tries to get her out of her funk and the house by taking her to the gym where she meets Chase or Thor as she calls him. From there they slowly build a friendship filled with a bunch of tension.

I really enjoyed the culture aspect of this story. As a Latine reader, I could really see my self in the main characters shoes, especially around her family who can sometimes be just a little too much.

Chase was the freaking cutest. The fact that he showed so patience with her when it came to what she wanted and didn’t want at the gym.

Of course, being a novella, the story was a short read, but it was full of fun moments and a lot of tension!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Close proximity
Big family dynamics
Hurt/Comfort
Dual POV

This was a fast-moving romance but still managed to pack in emotional moments, angst, romance, and of course spice. I loved the dynamics we got from Izzy's family. They were loud, rambunctious, and protective... it was super entertaining.

I also appreciated how Chase was able to work through his trauma and find a way to let love in. Both he and Izzy had some issues to work through but they didn't waste time or the opportunity to find happiness.

I highly recommend this book for fans of friends to lovers and finding love after heartbreak. This was a quick read and could easily be enjoyed in one sitting.

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

I loved Izzy and Chase’s story. My heart went out to Izzy right from the beginning because of her breakup. Her ex is the worst. When she met Chase, I laughed out loud, cause that’s totally something that would also happen to me. I loved Chase, he was genuine and had the best heart, even when having to deal with his mom- that was hard. Izzy’s family was loud and always there, but also supportive and cared too, even when she didn’t want them too. A bit hesitant to even start anything Izzy isn’t sure but one night with Chase changes everything. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Coco TheChaoticLibrarian_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caution in Love
By K. Rodriguez

Super sweet love story. This novella was really cute. Started with Izzy in a bad breakup. But she learns to set boundaries and personal growth. Thx character development was absolutely great. I felt like I knew these characters on a personal level lol. The MMC an absolute masterpiece. I wanted to throw hands for him a few time because he was so sweet. The family dynamic was really great. Reminded me a lot of my large family! Overall this was a really good read. Short and sweet. I look forward to more from this author. I received this book from the author. For an honest review.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun story and the meet cute!!! You will seriously laugh out loud. It is one of those things that happen that we all fear... but I won't spoil it for you.

Izzy could be any girl. The self-doubts that linger that happens to every one of us at some point in life. But her incredible spirit and close family and friend help her remember the queen she is.

Chase is the perfect book cinnamon roll book boyfriend we all want. The big, big boy with rippling muscles that sensitive at the same time...swoon!

This debut novella is magic! All the feels, laughter, and banter makes this a gem!

[Gabrielle Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was the perfect pallet cleanser in between books. I enjoyed the pace of the book and that even though it was shorter I was still able to get depth from the characters and their connection.

I loved getting to see both Isadora and Chase be vulnerable throughout the book. The fact that Chase has been smitten over Isadora since high school kept me that much more interested in their connection. I was happy that the book didn’t end in a cliffhanger, but am excited to read more of their story on Worth the Risk when it comes out.

[Cinthia Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by the author and I absolutely loved it! I love a romance set in the gym and watching Chase and Izzy fall in love was so good. I also loved the character development of each character and how they had to face the realities of life and how even with those insecurities they still turned back to each other. I was honestly swooning over Chase and how thoughtful and caring he was. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

[Estefania Lazaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story it’s rare to see a curvy Latina as the romantic lead outside of a telenovela, and that alone made this book feel refreshing and special.

The Latin culture was beautifully woven in, from the casual mentions of food (I was craving an empanada!) to the humor and family dynamics. The Thor puns? I was absolutely here for them.

This was a quick, cute read with a light gym romance vibe. Perfect if you’re looking for something fun, flirty, and full of cultural flair.

[Stories · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute contemporary romance novella! It was short and sweet and I really enjoyed spending time with these characters.

What to expect:
- Well rounded and full main characters. Sometimes I feel like novellas (and even longer books) don’t have multi-dimensional love interests and that makes it so hard for me to care for the characters and their relationship. But this novella did not fail with delivering characters I feel like I know. I was definitely rooting for them as a couple
- He falls first! It was so cute seeing how he had such a big crush on her!
- A super chaotic but loving family. The FMCs family was a lot sometimes and sometimes I would think "omg why would you say that?!?" but I feel like that made them more realistic?

Even though this is a mostly cute novella, there are also deeper conversations and reflections on:
Fatphobia + issues surrounding body image
Being a child of someone living with alcoholism

Thank you K Rodriguez for an eARC, I super enjoyed this book :)

[Jenn Lockwood Editing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! I was so invested in these two! Both Izzy and Chase have raw, relatable backstories, and K. has developed their characters and their pasts so well that you can’t help but block out everything else just to keep reading!
A top rec! 100% must-read book!

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feel good

Quick,fast paced read. This shines a light on closing cycles and letting go in order to make room for all the good things to come. No hay mal que dure cien años, and This Novella really does that saying justice.

[Karla Munoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, I enjoyed this! Izzy and Chase’s story was so fun to read, I could relate so much to Izzy as a latina and we could all agree we hate Esteban her ex. The family dynamics where so funny and felt so real. This author announced a part two and I can’t wait to read it.

[Mazria Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book instantly. K. Rodriguez penned this story beautifully and kept me wanting more. I can’t wait to see more pieces from her! 10/10 recommend!!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Marietere T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the cutest bilingual short novella I've read in a while. I was obsessed. It was cute and straight to the point.

[Lindzanne1_bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet love story with so much packed into one novella. I loved getting to know Chase and Izzy and following along with them as they navigate life and fall in love.

[Dawn's Diary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5✨

The fact that this is this author's debut is amazing. I really enjoyed reading about Izzy and Chase and how their relationship developed. I immediately felt for Izzy from the first page and what she went through with her ex-boyfriend. Also, reading about Chase's struggles with his mother was truly heartbreaking, and I just wanted to give them both a big hug. They deserve so much love, and I'm happy they found that in each other.

I appreciated how Izzy laid out her boundaries at the gym, and Chase respected them while encouraging and caring for her. He was so patient with her. I loved every interaction between them in the gym. He was such a sweetheart.

I think my favourite part was the Latine family dynamic of Izzy's family. I loved every scene they were in together; their interactions and their banter had me rolling with laughter. They were a little too much at times, but I loved how they always had each other's backs and supported one another. It was refreshing to see such a tight-knit and loving family. Their dynamic added an extra layer of warmth and humour to the story, making it even more enjoyable to read. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this novella. Congratulations on your debut!

TW/CW: alcoholism and verbal abuse from parent (on page), mentions of child neglect, miscommunication trope, mentions of cheating (not by any of the MCs).

Thank you to K. Rodriguez for sending me an early copy.

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that embodies “feel good romance.” I smiled like a crazy person reading this book. Even when it depicted things hard for me personally to read I found myself feeling hopeful. I absolutely stan the way the “can we talk,” scenario with the ex was handled 5 starts for that alone! The family dynamic was so fun even if a touch rough, they didn’t have to clown my girl Izzy quite so hard. I will swoon and enjoy a “he falls first,” every time! Like I said this is just one of those stories that blow you away but it absolutely feels like a hug when you most need it or like a warm fresh baked cookie. My favorite part was Lulu’s peep talk cause it’s something I feel and believe to my core. The only thing this story was missing was more on page time with Liam, cause omg him and Izzy almost melted my heart. It was a pleasure reading this ARC and having an opportunity to support a budding and promising debut author!

[Anna Lindgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a sexy gym place romance with curvy representation and a Greek God of a Man (Chase, I’m looking at you honey), then this book is for you. This novella will warm your soul on a blustery fall or cold winter day. It will have you grinning from ear to ear at the incredible family of loved ones, blushing from the spicy intimate moments, and rooting for Izzy and Chase from beginning to end. Kim Rodriquez leaves my heart full with her incredible debut novella Caution In Love. I can’t wait to read more from this up and coming author.

Synopsis:
Okay, Izzy and Chase here it is… review time and I’m still at a loss for words to describe my new favorite romance couple!

Izzy is a curvy, vivacious and hilarious FMC who comes from a family of loved ones who are, dare I say, even more funny than she is??? She works on overcoming heartbreak after a man she’s been with for years leaves her and gets engaged - yes, you will be hating on Esteban too.

Izzy meets an attractive man (enter the holy Thor references that had me gushing and blushing and all the best things) who she happens to know from high school.

Chase is our wounded and brooding hero who saves the day with his bulging biceps and rock hard abs. At least, that’s how I picture him. 😂 He works to overcome limitations of his mom’s alcoholism by allowing a destined and fiercely romantic relationship with Izzy to start. Chase is the perfect book boyfriend with a heart that’s fully of care and compassion for those he loves fiercely.

My biggest complaint and only critique - why the hell is this not longer??? 😉

Thank you to the author for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla Colon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. Izzy is a gem and so is Chase. They truly deserve each other. I love them both dearly,

This book is a short beautiful story of heartache and love. It’s fast paced but not rushed. You’ll get everything you need.

The author did a great job at representing dealing with a relative who suffers from alcoholism. Alcohol addition is a motherf*cker. Truly and my heart brown for chase knowing that he was holding it all together as best he could.. but when he decided to let go… I felt better for him but still sad.

Omggg Izzy’s mom was perfection. She wasn’t the stereotypical Latina mother who just worries and cleans.. she was working on her 3rd marriage.. and I was here for it! Never give up on love!

Hands down such a cute book.. this could easily turn into a series.. loved it!