What do you think?
Rate this book
Deeply Personal
Deeply Personal is a contemporary romance that's perfect for fans of Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams, Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey, and Set On You by Amy Lea. It's about two people, entranched in their careers, who aren’t looking for forever when it finds them unexpectedly, a slow-burn romance sprinkled with humor.
When 32 year old Jessica Chandler, interior designer extraordinaire, collapses from dehydration at the Turkey Trot fun walk in a small town in Tennessee, she’s rescued by gorgeous personal trainer Paul Brady. He swoops her up and carries her to a medical tent. For Jessica, their chance meeting feels like fate. A driven business owner who has neglected her health, Jessica has developed heart issues as a result. But the path to healing her heart might just be led by the man who, quite literally, swept her off her feet.
While Paul’s got a very fine exterior, his man-cave of a condo desperately needs an upgrade, and, as Jessica discovers, his interior design style can only be described as…well…nonexistent. He craves being surrounded by things he loves, but the idea of committing to purchasing the “right” furniture gives him the willies.
Jessica proposes a her design expertise for his healthy lifestyle chops. As the two swap skillsets, they realize they might be able to help one another in more areas of their lives than just their professional savvy. Inspiration strikes Paul, and he convinces Jessica to go on a fake date in order to impress a major account. Afterward, the professional distances and hesitancies between them begin to blur. But if the two can’t get over their fear of commitment and learn to bridge the distance between their isolating jobs, they’ll lose out on a chance to find what they need and dream of most of all—love forever.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GREAT NEW ROM-COM, ONE THAT'S LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FUNNY, THIS ONE'S IT!!
When 32 year old Jessica Chandler, interior designer extraordinaire, collapses from dehydration at the Turkey Trot fun walk in a small town in Tennessee, she’s rescued by gorgeous personal trainer Paul Brady. He swoops her up and carries her to a medical tent. For Jessica, their chance meeting feels like fate. A driven business owner who has neglected her health, Jessica has developed heart issues as a result. But the path to healing her heart might just be led by the man who, quite literally, swept her off her feet.
While Paul’s got a very fine exterior, his man-cave of a condo desperately needs an upgrade, and, as Jessica discovers, his interior design style can only be described as…well…nonexistent. He craves being surrounded by things he loves, but the idea of committing to purchasing the “right” furniture gives him the willies.
Jessica proposes a her design expertise for his healthy lifestyle chops. As the two swap skillsets, they realize they might be able to help one another in more areas of their lives than just their professional savvy. Inspiration strikes Paul, and he convinces Jessica to go on a fake date in order to impress a major account. Afterward, the professional distances and hesitancies between them begin to blur. But if the two can’t get over their fear of commitment and learn to bridge the distance between their isolating jobs, they’ll lose out on a chance to find what they need and dream of most of all—love forever.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GREAT NEW ROM-COM, ONE THAT'S LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FUNNY, THIS ONE'S IT!!
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2024
16 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
November 12, 2024
3--⭐
This book got me confused and was ultimately underwhelming.
But the book is not bad per se.
The characters are nice, some scenes really sweet. Not heavy on the romance tho, not really sentimental nor steamy.
I'd say it was something in between a coming of age story and a romance.
The first 20/30% of the book was great, ideally building up to this beautiful, fun and romantic love story and then it went down down down.
Here's what went wrong for me:
- First (minor) issue: the writing style, not really for me. The author digresses a lot on the wrong things making it boring at times. I want the romance not the business and finance of their jobs so much. It got lost on technicalities a lot.
- Second: it was supposed to be a rom-com, heavy on the comedy side, instead I found it more leaning to the drama than the comedy. It was not funny, there was no banter or exhilarating situations.
- Third: THE PLOT IS NOT WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. I was reading and listening and reading through the Netgalley app, and waiting for him to start training her, for her to turn around her lifestyle and getting healthy thanks to her saviour personal trainer but NO. He never really gets to be her personal trainer and it downed on me the moment I read "deeply personal" trainer on page and went back to the description of this all.
Both the cover and the description of this romance give you expectations that are just not met once you're reading.
It's like they put down a plot idea and then the author changed her mind while writing it.
So I feel a bit betrayed by this all...
Thanks Netgalley for giving me access to a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book got me confused and was ultimately underwhelming.
But the book is not bad per se.
The characters are nice, some scenes really sweet. Not heavy on the romance tho, not really sentimental nor steamy.
I'd say it was something in between a coming of age story and a romance.
The first 20/30% of the book was great, ideally building up to this beautiful, fun and romantic love story and then it went down down down.
Here's what went wrong for me:
- First (minor) issue: the writing style, not really for me. The author digresses a lot on the wrong things making it boring at times. I want the romance not the business and finance of their jobs so much. It got lost on technicalities a lot.
- Second: it was supposed to be a rom-com, heavy on the comedy side, instead I found it more leaning to the drama than the comedy. It was not funny, there was no banter or exhilarating situations.
- Third: THE PLOT IS NOT WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. I was reading and listening and reading through the Netgalley app, and waiting for him to start training her, for her to turn around her lifestyle and getting healthy thanks to her saviour personal trainer but NO. He never really gets to be her personal trainer and it downed on me the moment I read "deeply personal" trainer on page and went back to the description of this all.
Both the cover and the description of this romance give you expectations that are just not met once you're reading.
It's like they put down a plot idea and then the author changed her mind while writing it.
So I feel a bit betrayed by this all...
Thanks Netgalley for giving me access to a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 2, 2024
Jessica and Paul meet at a Turkey Trot race when she has a medical emergency, and he literally sweeps her off her feet. They realize their respective fields can benefit each other and start a fake dating scheme to help her win over a client. Over time, their close interactions cause feelings to develop and grow, despite their initial intentions to stay professional.
*****
This one was set out to be such a cute read, but it heavily missed the mark. The writing style was overly explanatory to the point that it made sections of the book drag. The lead would pause and describe additional details into mundane thoughts and actions that didn't advance the story, and it got tiresome quickly. The internal monologues were also awkward and structured to over explain. There would be a statement and then multiple comments following to reinforce that first statement repeatedly. It ended up feeling like the author was trying to get a word count in, instead of trying to keep a steady pacing and direction.
There were also similies for everything to the point some of them were nonsensical "the crescent moon looked restful and serene in the dark sky, hanging there as if it was ready to lay back for a massage given by one of the stars." I'm not sure if the use of overly flowery language was intentional, but at points, it was baffling and cumbersome.
Moving onto the leads, there was zero chemistry. I didn't find Jessica to be likable, and her constant pessimism while also boasting about how to run a business while running it poorly was exhausting. So much of the book is her being negative and focused on her personal career issues, that not any genuine relationship development between the leads seemed to form. The choice to include so many side stories and heavy details into them and not instead focus on who the book was about was odd. We barely learned about their traumatic pasts or saw them grow, but we have ample paragraphs on past clients.
Due to all of the above, I can't bring myself to rate this higher than two stars. It was billed to be "laugh out loud funny," and it missed the mark by a long shot.
.....
Thank you, NetGalley, and Splitrail Publishing for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****
This one was set out to be such a cute read, but it heavily missed the mark. The writing style was overly explanatory to the point that it made sections of the book drag. The lead would pause and describe additional details into mundane thoughts and actions that didn't advance the story, and it got tiresome quickly. The internal monologues were also awkward and structured to over explain. There would be a statement and then multiple comments following to reinforce that first statement repeatedly. It ended up feeling like the author was trying to get a word count in, instead of trying to keep a steady pacing and direction.
There were also similies for everything to the point some of them were nonsensical "the crescent moon looked restful and serene in the dark sky, hanging there as if it was ready to lay back for a massage given by one of the stars." I'm not sure if the use of overly flowery language was intentional, but at points, it was baffling and cumbersome.
Moving onto the leads, there was zero chemistry. I didn't find Jessica to be likable, and her constant pessimism while also boasting about how to run a business while running it poorly was exhausting. So much of the book is her being negative and focused on her personal career issues, that not any genuine relationship development between the leads seemed to form. The choice to include so many side stories and heavy details into them and not instead focus on who the book was about was odd. We barely learned about their traumatic pasts or saw them grow, but we have ample paragraphs on past clients.
Due to all of the above, I can't bring myself to rate this higher than two stars. It was billed to be "laugh out loud funny," and it missed the mark by a long shot.
.....
Thank you, NetGalley, and Splitrail Publishing for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 20, 2024
This book I really enjoyed reading.
We got a Turkey Trot, some heart issues, fake dating and falling in love. What more is there to ask for?
Jessica and Paul are the main characters in this book. They meet at a Turkey-trot (where Jessica's twin brother dragged her to) Jessica is having a medical issue and can't stand up and enter Paul who saves her from eating dirt. She learns that he is a personal trainer.
Long story short (because you need to read the book for the whole story and all the fun adventures in it) but Paul knows a big-wig guy who Jessica is trying to get the project of. They fake-dake a bit and then she learns more about him, his dad and him; who is a lot better than she thought a "personal trainer" would be. These two are adorable together, I love watching them on their dates and time together. You can just feel all their chemistry.
For me, this was a quick read. Yes you can say that this troupe is predictable but sometimes you just need a quick, fun, heartfelt rom-com book in your life to get your mind someplace else and happy.
I love reading books like these just for this reason.
Great story, with good characters and following them around their feelings/emotions is perfect.
So glad to have had the opportunity to read this book. Another great one to add to my list of read books :)
We got a Turkey Trot, some heart issues, fake dating and falling in love. What more is there to ask for?
Jessica and Paul are the main characters in this book. They meet at a Turkey-trot (where Jessica's twin brother dragged her to) Jessica is having a medical issue and can't stand up and enter Paul who saves her from eating dirt. She learns that he is a personal trainer.
Long story short (because you need to read the book for the whole story and all the fun adventures in it) but Paul knows a big-wig guy who Jessica is trying to get the project of. They fake-dake a bit and then she learns more about him, his dad and him; who is a lot better than she thought a "personal trainer" would be. These two are adorable together, I love watching them on their dates and time together. You can just feel all their chemistry.
For me, this was a quick read. Yes you can say that this troupe is predictable but sometimes you just need a quick, fun, heartfelt rom-com book in your life to get your mind someplace else and happy.
I love reading books like these just for this reason.
Great story, with good characters and following them around their feelings/emotions is perfect.
So glad to have had the opportunity to read this book. Another great one to add to my list of read books :)
May 4, 2025
Ugh this one’s have me all mixed feelings. It’s an emotional ride with complex characters and some really vulnerable moments. The slow burn between the two main characters keeps things interesting, but the pacing can drag at times. And the writing unfortunately wasn't for me. It’s a good read for those who love intense relationships. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review
May 3, 2025
1.5 stars
That cover is misleading. Our girl didn't even join the personal training regimen with our guy. Hell, this book was wandering elsewhere, something about interior design shit. It was more appropriate to have something about the interior design on the cover than the personal training aspect. The personal training is barely in the damn book.
Also, for me, the worst sin a book could do is to be a boring book. And this book is boring. I can't even rant or gush. It was just meh.
That cover is misleading. Our girl didn't even join the personal training regimen with our guy. Hell, this book was wandering elsewhere, something about interior design shit. It was more appropriate to have something about the interior design on the cover than the personal training aspect. The personal training is barely in the damn book.
Also, for me, the worst sin a book could do is to be a boring book. And this book is boring. I can't even rant or gush. It was just meh.
March 25, 2025
Requested and received an ARC of this book from NetGalley almost three months ago but only got to reading it now. The premise sounds similar to another book I have come across on Romance booktok, which also I have not read.
Deeply Personal revolves around an interior designer who is recently been diagnosed with a health condition and a physical fitness trainer. Both of them have had traumatic experiences with parents as children, which comes up often as something that brings them closer but is not really a narrative point.
The book is somewhere between a breezy read and a romance with angst or deep feelings and I think the writer has hit the sweet spot. There is enough feelings and emotions about their lives but also the romance is pretty sweet and fluffy and transitions from their fake dating to real dating smoothly. The book has no smut, which is a big change for me in romance books these days, but I enjoyed that more than I thought.
The only problem in the book for me is - she has a health condition, he is a fitness trainer - WHY is he not training her? I truly thought that would be the premise looking at the cover and the blurb.
I would definitely recommend this book - like I said it’s above, it’s a light read without being foolish. Thanks NetGalley and SplitRail Publishing for the ARC.
Deeply Personal revolves around an interior designer who is recently been diagnosed with a health condition and a physical fitness trainer. Both of them have had traumatic experiences with parents as children, which comes up often as something that brings them closer but is not really a narrative point.
The book is somewhere between a breezy read and a romance with angst or deep feelings and I think the writer has hit the sweet spot. There is enough feelings and emotions about their lives but also the romance is pretty sweet and fluffy and transitions from their fake dating to real dating smoothly. The book has no smut, which is a big change for me in romance books these days, but I enjoyed that more than I thought.
The only problem in the book for me is - she has a health condition, he is a fitness trainer - WHY is he not training her? I truly thought that would be the premise looking at the cover and the blurb.
I would definitely recommend this book - like I said it’s above, it’s a light read without being foolish. Thanks NetGalley and SplitRail Publishing for the ARC.
November 19, 2024
The book starts off so strong but then the mains kinda get bogged down by their separate lives, barely see or talk to each other for weeks but fall in love despite little contact.
I guess I’m kinda disappointed, and feel a little mislead. There are a LOT of side stories and details about side characters that don’t matter to the plot long term. The MMC doesn’t actually train the FMC and it seems like she’s a functioning alcoholic but it’s never even mentioned that she’s drinking everyday multiple glasses.
The romance felt so forced and flat.
I think less time is side stories and more time on the romance. It was more side drama than romance.
It’s labeled as standalone from what I saw so all the side characters stories weren’t needed.
Like the MMC and FMC have had horrible trauma in their childhoods but that’s barely discussed, then we get a damn near a whole chapter about a rich old lady who was never lauded publicly for being a painter.
I guess I’m kinda disappointed, and feel a little mislead. There are a LOT of side stories and details about side characters that don’t matter to the plot long term. The MMC doesn’t actually train the FMC and it seems like she’s a functioning alcoholic but it’s never even mentioned that she’s drinking everyday multiple glasses.
The romance felt so forced and flat.
I think less time is side stories and more time on the romance. It was more side drama than romance.
It’s labeled as standalone from what I saw so all the side characters stories weren’t needed.
Like the MMC and FMC have had horrible trauma in their childhoods but that’s barely discussed, then we get a damn near a whole chapter about a rich old lady who was never lauded publicly for being a painter.
December 30, 2024
Okay, this book had me at Turkey Trot disaster! Jessica literally faceplants into the cutest meet-cute ever when she passes out mid-race and gets rescued by Paul, the sweet and charming personal trainer. From there, it’s a slow-burn delight filled with fake dating shenanigans, emotional growth, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments.
Jessica’s journey to open herself up to love again while navigating her new heart condition and running her business was so heartfelt. And Paul? Not only is he building his personal training business, but he’s also trying to set boundaries and convince his adorable grandparents to move into assisted living. The dual perspective really let us see their struggles and growth on both sides.
Now, while I loved the tension-filled build-up and fake dating trope, I do wish we got more of Jessica and Paul as a couple once the sparks really flew. That said, the ending was beyond adorable and left me with the biggest grin.
Thank you to Splitrail Publishing and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my honest review!
Jessica’s journey to open herself up to love again while navigating her new heart condition and running her business was so heartfelt. And Paul? Not only is he building his personal training business, but he’s also trying to set boundaries and convince his adorable grandparents to move into assisted living. The dual perspective really let us see their struggles and growth on both sides.
Now, while I loved the tension-filled build-up and fake dating trope, I do wish we got more of Jessica and Paul as a couple once the sparks really flew. That said, the ending was beyond adorable and left me with the biggest grin.
Thank you to Splitrail Publishing and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my honest review!
March 22, 2025
Thank you to Suzanne Collier and NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.
Deeply Personal takes on the classic fake dating trope, following a predictable but enjoyable read. Paul is an absolute mess around Jessica, and their dynamic has its amusing moments. The book also weaves in themes of health struggles, which adds a layer of depth to the plot.
That being said, while the story was fine, it didn’t leave much of a lasting impression. It’s a very “clean” romance, which some readers will appreciate, but it lacked the spark to make it truly stand out. In the end, I found myself closing the book and almost immediately forgetting about it—a fun but a bit of an underwhelming read.
Deeply Personal takes on the classic fake dating trope, following a predictable but enjoyable read. Paul is an absolute mess around Jessica, and their dynamic has its amusing moments. The book also weaves in themes of health struggles, which adds a layer of depth to the plot.
That being said, while the story was fine, it didn’t leave much of a lasting impression. It’s a very “clean” romance, which some readers will appreciate, but it lacked the spark to make it truly stand out. In the end, I found myself closing the book and almost immediately forgetting about it—a fun but a bit of an underwhelming read.
November 28, 2024
arc from netgalley.
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 looking for. Especially because 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. However, 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.
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 looking for. Especially because 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. However, 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.
February 27, 2025
3✨
This book was slightly underwhelming for me. I love the fake dating trope to serve a purpose, but I felt like there were aspects that didn’t make total sense. I thought the romance as a whole was a little underwhelming since a majority of the novel focused on both the MCs business aspects and not truly the romance. I also think the cover and title are misleading because you would think since the MMC is a personal trainer and the FMC goes through her health scares and needs to turn her diet and exercise habit around that it would be obvious he would help with that. Alas, he doesn’t. I think for me personally I would have just liked to see more romance overall. I received this as an arc from Netgalley and the publisher so thank you for that opportunity!
This book was slightly underwhelming for me. I love the fake dating trope to serve a purpose, but I felt like there were aspects that didn’t make total sense. I thought the romance as a whole was a little underwhelming since a majority of the novel focused on both the MCs business aspects and not truly the romance. I also think the cover and title are misleading because you would think since the MMC is a personal trainer and the FMC goes through her health scares and needs to turn her diet and exercise habit around that it would be obvious he would help with that. Alas, he doesn’t. I think for me personally I would have just liked to see more romance overall. I received this as an arc from Netgalley and the publisher so thank you for that opportunity!
January 11, 2025
Amazing!
Is there anything better than reading a romance novel with a light plot and a bit of humor? I don't think so.
This story contains a quick and easy to read love story with a bit of humor so be prepared to laugh as you fall in love with the characters. It's the perfect book to read with a coffee on the side in one sitting.
If you're looking for a light, entertaining romance novel with endearing characters and a plot that will bring a smile to your face, this book might be a good choice for you.
Is there anything better than reading a romance novel with a light plot and a bit of humor? I don't think so.
This story contains a quick and easy to read love story with a bit of humor so be prepared to laugh as you fall in love with the characters. It's the perfect book to read with a coffee on the side in one sitting.
If you're looking for a light, entertaining romance novel with endearing characters and a plot that will bring a smile to your face, this book might be a good choice for you.
February 17, 2025
2.5⭐️
I saw a few people say this was similar to Sarah Adams', Practice Makes Perfect, but unfortunately, it didn't get that feeling. This story is told in third pov, which I feel contributed to my not enjoying it. I feel I would have felt more connected to Jessica, especially, if it was told from dual first pov. thank you to Netgalley for the arc.
I saw a few people say this was similar to Sarah Adams', Practice Makes Perfect, but unfortunately, it didn't get that feeling. This story is told in third pov, which I feel contributed to my not enjoying it. I feel I would have felt more connected to Jessica, especially, if it was told from dual first pov. thank you to Netgalley for the arc.
March 25, 2025
Fake dating
Meet cute
Romcom
Closed door
MMC personal trainer
FMC interior design
I LOVED the beginning of this book. The meet cute at the turkey trot was everything. Then about 30% in it lost me. I struggled to feel connected to the characters, didn't feel their connection. It took me weeks to finish this book 🙃 when I'm normally a fast reader.
Arc given through netgalley by Splitrail Publishing
Meet cute
Romcom
Closed door
MMC personal trainer
FMC interior design
I LOVED the beginning of this book. The meet cute at the turkey trot was everything. Then about 30% in it lost me. I struggled to feel connected to the characters, didn't feel their connection. It took me weeks to finish this book 🙃 when I'm normally a fast reader.
Arc given through netgalley by Splitrail Publishing
February 19, 2025
Very cute light hearted romance were 2 never going to love again characters fake date and fall in love. I absolutely loved the story was so cute I could not get enough.
November 8, 2024
ARC for review, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
It was a quick, easy read but still heartfelt and funny! The fake dating trope was just the right amount and not too heavy or overwhelming. Although it was fairly predictable, it wasn't an issue for me as it was straight to the point and had no unnecessary slow starts, which I much prefer. Really enjoyed it and would definitely read it again!
It was a quick, easy read but still heartfelt and funny! The fake dating trope was just the right amount and not too heavy or overwhelming. Although it was fairly predictable, it wasn't an issue for me as it was straight to the point and had no unnecessary slow starts, which I much prefer. Really enjoyed it and would definitely read it again!
January 8, 2025
i really wanted to like this one, but the characters just felt so bland and one dimensional - i didn’t get any chemistry, any tension and i felt like the plot was just bland - it wasn’t anything that i would remember or recommend to anyone unfortunately!
all opinions and reviews are my own - arc provided by netgalley and publisher for my honest opinion
all opinions and reviews are my own - arc provided by netgalley and publisher for my honest opinion
November 6, 2024
📖: Deeply Personal-a standalone
✍️ By: Suzanne Collier-new to me author
📃 Page Count: 285 eBook
🗓️ Publication Date: 10-31-24 | Read 11-5-24
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Splitrail Publishing, and Suzanne Collier for this ARC 💚! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
🌎Setting: Nashville, Tennessee
Genre: Rom-Com/Contemporary Romance, Adult Fic
Tropes: 1-bed/same room, right person/wrong time, fake dating, small town, slow burn, body positivity, closed door/off page sex
☝🏾POV: dual, 3rd person
⚠️TW: death of parents, parental abandonment, alcoholism-not H/h, drug overdose-not H/h
💭Summary: Jessica is a workaholic who doesn't take the best care of herself. At the annual Turkey Trot Run, Jessica almost passes out, but a cute blue-eyed guy named Paul helps her. Diagnosed with a heart condition, Jess's doctor tells her to exercise more and change her diet. When she sees Paul again, he offers to train with her in exchange for renovating his old, shabby condo. While talking they have Mr. Tom Buchanan in common as Paul is his trainer & friend and Jess is after his business The Buchanan Company. Paul suggests they fake-date and go out to dinner with Buchanan hoping Jess impresses him.
🚺 Heroine: Jessica Chandler-32, runs her own interior design business, Chandler Interiors. Having financial issues, needs customers to pay overdue bills.
🚹 Hero: Paul Brady-33, personal trainer trying to convince g-parents to move to assisted living.
🎭Side cast:
• Lenny-Jessica's twin brother, married w/ 2 kids
• Kristin-Jess's BFF since college
• Tony-Paul's BFF a war veteran now in a wheelchair, a fellow bodybuilder
• Jessica's father-staying in London, devastated when wife left town with another man 15 years ago.
• Paul's grandparents Millie and Ralph-raised Paul after his parents died when he was 11, grandfather introduced bodybuilding to him. Moving into assisted living
• Adam Wright-Jess's ex-boyfriend they were together 5 years and broke up 6 months ago.
• Eva-Paul's ex-girlfriend, they were together 3 years ago, has a son Ethan who Paul was close to. Married to a bodybuilder 1 year later to Max Rodwell.
• Tom and Alice Buchanan-Paul's clients. Jess wants to do business w/ Buchanan
•Mrs. Worthmore-Jess's billionaire client, tells Jess about her marriage and taking another chance on love.
🤔My Thoughts: This was a cute rom com with a couple you rooted for. Jessica and Paul were career driven and both had commitment issues after being hurt. I loved Paul's grandparents because they reminded me of my grandmother who was stubborn and hard of hearing when she wanted to be. I couldn't believe the nerve of Adam. Jess became such a boss, and her business was booming. Great HEA too!
Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 2/5-kissing/off page sex
😭: Emotion 4/5
❤️: Couple 4/5
⭐️: Rating 4/5
✍️ By: Suzanne Collier-new to me author
📃 Page Count: 285 eBook
🗓️ Publication Date: 10-31-24 | Read 11-5-24
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Splitrail Publishing, and Suzanne Collier for this ARC 💚! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
🌎Setting: Nashville, Tennessee
Genre: Rom-Com/Contemporary Romance, Adult Fic
Tropes: 1-bed/same room, right person/wrong time, fake dating, small town, slow burn, body positivity, closed door/off page sex
☝🏾POV: dual, 3rd person
⚠️TW: death of parents, parental abandonment, alcoholism-not H/h, drug overdose-not H/h
💭Summary: Jessica is a workaholic who doesn't take the best care of herself. At the annual Turkey Trot Run, Jessica almost passes out, but a cute blue-eyed guy named Paul helps her. Diagnosed with a heart condition, Jess's doctor tells her to exercise more and change her diet. When she sees Paul again, he offers to train with her in exchange for renovating his old, shabby condo. While talking they have Mr. Tom Buchanan in common as Paul is his trainer & friend and Jess is after his business The Buchanan Company. Paul suggests they fake-date and go out to dinner with Buchanan hoping Jess impresses him.
🚺 Heroine: Jessica Chandler-32, runs her own interior design business, Chandler Interiors. Having financial issues, needs customers to pay overdue bills.
🚹 Hero: Paul Brady-33, personal trainer trying to convince g-parents to move to assisted living.
🎭Side cast:
• Lenny-Jessica's twin brother, married w/ 2 kids
• Kristin-Jess's BFF since college
• Tony-Paul's BFF a war veteran now in a wheelchair, a fellow bodybuilder
• Jessica's father-staying in London, devastated when wife left town with another man 15 years ago.
• Paul's grandparents Millie and Ralph-raised Paul after his parents died when he was 11, grandfather introduced bodybuilding to him. Moving into assisted living
• Adam Wright-Jess's ex-boyfriend they were together 5 years and broke up 6 months ago.
• Eva-Paul's ex-girlfriend, they were together 3 years ago, has a son Ethan who Paul was close to. Married to a bodybuilder 1 year later to Max Rodwell.
• Tom and Alice Buchanan-Paul's clients. Jess wants to do business w/ Buchanan
•Mrs. Worthmore-Jess's billionaire client, tells Jess about her marriage and taking another chance on love.
🤔My Thoughts: This was a cute rom com with a couple you rooted for. Jessica and Paul were career driven and both had commitment issues after being hurt. I loved Paul's grandparents because they reminded me of my grandmother who was stubborn and hard of hearing when she wanted to be. I couldn't believe the nerve of Adam. Jess became such a boss, and her business was booming. Great HEA too!
Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 2/5-kissing/off page sex
😭: Emotion 4/5
❤️: Couple 4/5
⭐️: Rating 4/5
December 9, 2024
Let me start by saying that I had high expectations for this book, especially since it was pitched as being for fans of authors I really enjoy. But it quickly became clear that this story wasn’t anything like the books mentioned in the description. I lowered my expectations and tried to approach it for what it was—but I still ended up disappointed.
The writing didn’t work for me, and the characters felt bland. I pushed through, hoping it was just a rough start, but things didn’t improve as the story progressed. The plot didn’t feel cohesive, with too much focus on unrelated elements rather than personal growth or romance.
It hurts to admit this, but I honestly don’t think the fake dating element was necessary at all (and this is coming from someone who loves fake dating tropes—the wackier, the better). In this case, though, it just didn’t make sense. Paul could have easily introduced Jessica as a friend, and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference to the story. Instead, we got a scene where the leads couldn’t even get their fake story straight, despite supposedly discussing it multiple times. I think it was meant to be funny, but it just made me cringe. Am I really supposed to believe that this super successful couple in their seventies was fooled by this?
To make matters worse, the characters kept mentioning their fake relationship in front of the very people they were supposed to fool—including a scene where the couple’s daughter overhears them. This led to yet another forced comedic moment that fell completely flat.
I hoped the romance might redeem the story, but it didn’t. The characters didn’t spend enough meaningful time together, and when they did, their interactions felt superficial. There was no real connection or chemistry between them, and they didn’t help each other grow.
Jessica has a heart condition, and it’s repeatedly emphasized that she needs to eat healthy and exercise, but she blatantly ignores this advice. And Paul, who is a personal trainer, does nothing to encourage her to take care of herself. Not even her family steps in to help. It made no sense to me. Similarly, Jessica constantly criticizes her mother for being a drunkard, yet she’s shown drinking multiple glasses daily herself.
Paul, on the other hand, supposedly has commitment issues, but he’s repeatedly asking Jessica out with no sign of hesitation. And then his commitment issues and Jessica's health problems just... disappear? Without any effort or resolution?
And don't even get me started on the end, who physically appreciates her twin brother instead of her husband on their WEDDING DAY of all days????? No!!! Just no!
P.S. I also didn’t appreciate the way the author casually brought up cancer without any sensitivity. Descriptions like “He always sounded so upbeat, as if the cure for cancer had just been discovered, like, today” were incredibly triggering for me. These comments felt unnecessary and added nothing to the story.
The writing didn’t work for me, and the characters felt bland. I pushed through, hoping it was just a rough start, but things didn’t improve as the story progressed. The plot didn’t feel cohesive, with too much focus on unrelated elements rather than personal growth or romance.
It hurts to admit this, but I honestly don’t think the fake dating element was necessary at all (and this is coming from someone who loves fake dating tropes—the wackier, the better). In this case, though, it just didn’t make sense. Paul could have easily introduced Jessica as a friend, and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference to the story. Instead, we got a scene where the leads couldn’t even get their fake story straight, despite supposedly discussing it multiple times. I think it was meant to be funny, but it just made me cringe. Am I really supposed to believe that this super successful couple in their seventies was fooled by this?
To make matters worse, the characters kept mentioning their fake relationship in front of the very people they were supposed to fool—including a scene where the couple’s daughter overhears them. This led to yet another forced comedic moment that fell completely flat.
I hoped the romance might redeem the story, but it didn’t. The characters didn’t spend enough meaningful time together, and when they did, their interactions felt superficial. There was no real connection or chemistry between them, and they didn’t help each other grow.
Jessica has a heart condition, and it’s repeatedly emphasized that she needs to eat healthy and exercise, but she blatantly ignores this advice. And Paul, who is a personal trainer, does nothing to encourage her to take care of herself. Not even her family steps in to help. It made no sense to me. Similarly, Jessica constantly criticizes her mother for being a drunkard, yet she’s shown drinking multiple glasses daily herself.
Paul, on the other hand, supposedly has commitment issues, but he’s repeatedly asking Jessica out with no sign of hesitation. And then his commitment issues and Jessica's health problems just... disappear? Without any effort or resolution?
And don't even get me started on the end, who physically appreciates her twin brother instead of her husband on their WEDDING DAY of all days????? No!!! Just no!
P.S. I also didn’t appreciate the way the author casually brought up cancer without any sensitivity. Descriptions like “He always sounded so upbeat, as if the cure for cancer had just been discovered, like, today” were incredibly triggering for me. These comments felt unnecessary and added nothing to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
Suzanne Collier's Deeply Personal is a charming and laugh-out-loud funny contemporary romance that's perfect for fans of feel-good rom-coms. It's a story about two driven individuals who discover that sometimes, the best things in life happen when you least expect them.
Jessica Chandler, an interior designer extraordinaire, and Paul Brady, a gorgeous personal trainer, meet in a rather unconventional way – at a Turkey Trot where Jessica collapses from dehydration. Paul's heroic rescue leads to a connection that sparks both professionally and personally. Jessica, dealing with heart issues stemming from her demanding career, finds herself drawn to Paul's focus on health and well-being. Meanwhile, Paul's man-cave of a condo desperately needs a design intervention, and Jessica is just the person to provide it.
Their "skills swap" turns into something more as they begin to help each other navigate not just their careers, but also their personal lives. A fake-dating scenario to impress a potential client adds fuel to the fire, blurring the lines between professional courtesy and genuine attraction. As they spend more time together, the chemistry between Jessica and Paul sizzles, making their interactions both humorous and heartwarming.
Collier excels at creating relatable and likeable characters. Jessica is a driven and successful woman who learns to prioritize her well-being, while Paul is more than just a "personal trainer"—he's intelligent, caring, and has his own set of vulnerabilities. Their banter is witty and engaging, and their emotional journeys are both realistic and satisfying.
While the "fake dating" trope is a familiar one, Collier infuses it with fresh humor and genuine emotion. The story is a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for those times when you need a lighthearted escape. It's predictable in the best way possible, offering a comforting and satisfying reading experience.
Deeply Personal is a delightful reminder that sometimes, love can be found in the most unexpected places. It's a story about taking chances, overcoming fears, and discovering that true connection is more valuable than any professional success. Four stars. I'm looking forward to more from Suzanne Collier!
Jessica Chandler, an interior designer extraordinaire, and Paul Brady, a gorgeous personal trainer, meet in a rather unconventional way – at a Turkey Trot where Jessica collapses from dehydration. Paul's heroic rescue leads to a connection that sparks both professionally and personally. Jessica, dealing with heart issues stemming from her demanding career, finds herself drawn to Paul's focus on health and well-being. Meanwhile, Paul's man-cave of a condo desperately needs a design intervention, and Jessica is just the person to provide it.
Their "skills swap" turns into something more as they begin to help each other navigate not just their careers, but also their personal lives. A fake-dating scenario to impress a potential client adds fuel to the fire, blurring the lines between professional courtesy and genuine attraction. As they spend more time together, the chemistry between Jessica and Paul sizzles, making their interactions both humorous and heartwarming.
Collier excels at creating relatable and likeable characters. Jessica is a driven and successful woman who learns to prioritize her well-being, while Paul is more than just a "personal trainer"—he's intelligent, caring, and has his own set of vulnerabilities. Their banter is witty and engaging, and their emotional journeys are both realistic and satisfying.
While the "fake dating" trope is a familiar one, Collier infuses it with fresh humor and genuine emotion. The story is a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for those times when you need a lighthearted escape. It's predictable in the best way possible, offering a comforting and satisfying reading experience.
Deeply Personal is a delightful reminder that sometimes, love can be found in the most unexpected places. It's a story about taking chances, overcoming fears, and discovering that true connection is more valuable than any professional success. Four stars. I'm looking forward to more from Suzanne Collier!
March 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.25)
This book started off like a cozy promise. Turkey Trot. Fainting heroine. Personal trainer hero who literally sweeps her off her feet. Fake dating. Skill swap. It gave all the rom-com cues I usually adore. I was ready to melt.
And for the first 20–30%? I kind of did. I was vibing with it—the meet-cute was adorable, Jessica felt like the kind of overworked, slightly messy but lovable woman I root for, and Paul had just the right amount of “sweet but avoidant” energy. Like maybe this was going to be a healing story in disguise.
But then… something shifted. I kept waiting for the book to circle back to the setup it sold me. The idea that Paul would train her, help her reclaim her health, that maybe movement would become part of her healing arc while she redesigned his life (and maybe his heart). But the swap never really happens. She fixes his condo. He… kind of floats around, flirts, suggests fake dating for business reasons—and suddenly, we’re deep in side character subplots, business technicalities, and long monologues about furniture.
Don’t get me wrong—there are sweet moments. Some internal reflections that felt grounded and real. But the chemistry? It never fully lands. The emotional intimacy between them felt more like colleagues warming to each other than two people falling helplessly in love.
There’s also something frustrating about feeling like the story changed genres mid-way through. I signed up for a slow-burn rom-com, not a lightly dramatic career-woman-takes-on-life-alone-while-sort-of-dating story. It’s not bad. But it’s not what it told me it would be either. And that disconnect? It lingered.
The ending had its soft swoon, sure. But I couldn’t help thinking how much more meaningful it would’ve been if the story had stayed true to its setup. The emotional punch that could’ve landed if we’d actually seen them help each other grow, instead of just orbiting around their individual struggles.
It’s not a bad book. It’s just a bit confused. Like it had a great first date vibe, but ghosted me halfway through and came back with a new personality. I wanted to love it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Splitrail Publishing for the ARC.
This book started off like a cozy promise. Turkey Trot. Fainting heroine. Personal trainer hero who literally sweeps her off her feet. Fake dating. Skill swap. It gave all the rom-com cues I usually adore. I was ready to melt.
And for the first 20–30%? I kind of did. I was vibing with it—the meet-cute was adorable, Jessica felt like the kind of overworked, slightly messy but lovable woman I root for, and Paul had just the right amount of “sweet but avoidant” energy. Like maybe this was going to be a healing story in disguise.
But then… something shifted. I kept waiting for the book to circle back to the setup it sold me. The idea that Paul would train her, help her reclaim her health, that maybe movement would become part of her healing arc while she redesigned his life (and maybe his heart). But the swap never really happens. She fixes his condo. He… kind of floats around, flirts, suggests fake dating for business reasons—and suddenly, we’re deep in side character subplots, business technicalities, and long monologues about furniture.
Don’t get me wrong—there are sweet moments. Some internal reflections that felt grounded and real. But the chemistry? It never fully lands. The emotional intimacy between them felt more like colleagues warming to each other than two people falling helplessly in love.
There’s also something frustrating about feeling like the story changed genres mid-way through. I signed up for a slow-burn rom-com, not a lightly dramatic career-woman-takes-on-life-alone-while-sort-of-dating story. It’s not bad. But it’s not what it told me it would be either. And that disconnect? It lingered.
The ending had its soft swoon, sure. But I couldn’t help thinking how much more meaningful it would’ve been if the story had stayed true to its setup. The emotional punch that could’ve landed if we’d actually seen them help each other grow, instead of just orbiting around their individual struggles.
It’s not a bad book. It’s just a bit confused. Like it had a great first date vibe, but ghosted me halfway through and came back with a new personality. I wanted to love it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Splitrail Publishing for the ARC.
April 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Deeply Personal.
This one was almost a DNF for me, though I truly wanted to love it. The story begins with a charming Meet Cute between Jessica and Paul—two driven entrepreneurs with strong support systems and good hearts. Jessica is recovering from a breakup, guided early on by an influencer’s message about emotional boundaries and self-protection. Her growth includes learning to open herself back up and stepping into a new relationship with Paul, along with a moment of closure that felt satisfying but not particularly moving for me.
Paul is portrayed as a genuinely good guy—he’s a successful bodybuilder and business owner with deep love for his grandparents. He does acknowledge the root of his commitment issues, but his growth feels more like a subplot than a fully developed arc. Both characters had promising setups, but I never quite connected with their romance on an emotional level.
That said, I really enjoyed the side characters. They added charm and depth to the story and helped carry moments that otherwise felt flat. I also liked the timeline progression, which moved steadily from Thanksgiving through the year, ending in a one-year-later epilogue. The pacing still felt a bit slow, but not due to a lack of movement.
As someone who skips spicy content, I found the romance scenes inconsistent—some were fade to black, others leaned toward open door. It made it hard to know what to expect, which was frustrating for me, though other readers might not mind.
The cover gives the impression that Paul might train Jessica, and while we do see him working with clients as a personal trainer, that dynamic never plays out between him and Jessica. The title is referenced in the story, but didn’t leave a strong impression by the end.
One highlight: I genuinely enjoyed the interior design elements woven into Jessica’s world. They were detailed and interesting, and added a nice layer to her character.
In the end, Deeply Personal had the pieces of a story I could’ve loved—fake dating, only one bed, and a supportive community—but it didn’t fully come together for me. Still, there’s potential in the author’s voice, and I hope others connect with this one more than I did.
This one was almost a DNF for me, though I truly wanted to love it. The story begins with a charming Meet Cute between Jessica and Paul—two driven entrepreneurs with strong support systems and good hearts. Jessica is recovering from a breakup, guided early on by an influencer’s message about emotional boundaries and self-protection. Her growth includes learning to open herself back up and stepping into a new relationship with Paul, along with a moment of closure that felt satisfying but not particularly moving for me.
Paul is portrayed as a genuinely good guy—he’s a successful bodybuilder and business owner with deep love for his grandparents. He does acknowledge the root of his commitment issues, but his growth feels more like a subplot than a fully developed arc. Both characters had promising setups, but I never quite connected with their romance on an emotional level.
That said, I really enjoyed the side characters. They added charm and depth to the story and helped carry moments that otherwise felt flat. I also liked the timeline progression, which moved steadily from Thanksgiving through the year, ending in a one-year-later epilogue. The pacing still felt a bit slow, but not due to a lack of movement.
As someone who skips spicy content, I found the romance scenes inconsistent—some were fade to black, others leaned toward open door. It made it hard to know what to expect, which was frustrating for me, though other readers might not mind.
The cover gives the impression that Paul might train Jessica, and while we do see him working with clients as a personal trainer, that dynamic never plays out between him and Jessica. The title is referenced in the story, but didn’t leave a strong impression by the end.
One highlight: I genuinely enjoyed the interior design elements woven into Jessica’s world. They were detailed and interesting, and added a nice layer to her character.
In the end, Deeply Personal had the pieces of a story I could’ve loved—fake dating, only one bed, and a supportive community—but it didn’t fully come together for me. Still, there’s potential in the author’s voice, and I hope others connect with this one more than I did.
December 5, 2024
I tried to like this book. I did. Suzanne Collier has nice prose, but the storytelling in Deeply Personal was deeply lacking. When I read a romance, I want the characters to have such good chemistry that they evoke genuine emotions in me. That's what makes the story come to life. That's what gets someone invested. Jessica and Paul did not have believable chemistry. It made the book quite difficult to get through because their relationship was never compelling.
The story was less a story than a series of loosely-related events. The writers of South Park have talked about how good storytelling involves asking, "this happened, therefore... what?" In other words, engaging stories should be propelled forward by the consequences of each plot point. Deeply Personal was missing that element, and thus it lacked momentum and direction. A lot of the plot points were good, but they never seemed to lead anywhere. They were self-contained and didn't connect well to other parts of the story, which made reading it a rather choppy experience.
My last complaint is how the final chapter (not the epilogue) ended. We were at the main characters' wedding, but the book ended with a (slightly sexually-charged?) tender moment between Jessica and her *twin brother,* who was a minor character? Literally, the last line was, "Jessica really did have it all--a soulmate and a wombmate." WHAT? And that was after she compared her brother to Patrick Swayze. Everyone knows you don't compare a blood-relative to Patrick Swayze unless you're ready to open a whole can of Freudian worms. But the most frustrating part of this moment was that Jessica's relationship with her brother Lenny was a minor, MINOR plot point, yet ending the book focused on him made it sound like the whole thing had been about their siblinghood rather than a romance. And again, this was at her WEDDING. Those few paragraphs knocked an entire star off of my rating. Absolutely heinous. Straight to jail.
All this said, I would probably give Suzanne Collier another chance. She has potential, I just think she needs more direction.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The story was less a story than a series of loosely-related events. The writers of South Park have talked about how good storytelling involves asking, "this happened, therefore... what?" In other words, engaging stories should be propelled forward by the consequences of each plot point. Deeply Personal was missing that element, and thus it lacked momentum and direction. A lot of the plot points were good, but they never seemed to lead anywhere. They were self-contained and didn't connect well to other parts of the story, which made reading it a rather choppy experience.
My last complaint is how the final chapter (not the epilogue) ended. We were at the main characters' wedding, but the book ended with a (slightly sexually-charged?) tender moment between Jessica and her *twin brother,* who was a minor character? Literally, the last line was, "Jessica really did have it all--a soulmate and a wombmate." WHAT? And that was after she compared her brother to Patrick Swayze. Everyone knows you don't compare a blood-relative to Patrick Swayze unless you're ready to open a whole can of Freudian worms. But the most frustrating part of this moment was that Jessica's relationship with her brother Lenny was a minor, MINOR plot point, yet ending the book focused on him made it sound like the whole thing had been about their siblinghood rather than a romance. And again, this was at her WEDDING. Those few paragraphs knocked an entire star off of my rating. Absolutely heinous. Straight to jail.
All this said, I would probably give Suzanne Collier another chance. She has potential, I just think she needs more direction.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
December 29, 2024
Deeply Personal is the first novel that I’ve read by Suzanne Collier. This novel is a feel good rom-com that takes place in Nashville, Tennessee. Jessica Chandler is an interior designer who has spent a lot of time building up her company, Chandler Interiors, and has recently been hurt by a past relationship. Paul Brady is a personal trainer who was raised by his grandparents and also struggles with putting himself out there after being hurt by a previous relationship.
Jessica and Paul’s first encounter starts out in a very unique way. Jessica collapses at the Turkey Trot fun walk and Paul comes to her rescue. Jessica and Paul also run into each other later on that day, at Frothy Monkey, and exchange phone numbers because Paul needs his home re-designed and Jessica needs personal training due to neglecting her overall health.
Jessica goes to Paul’s home and helps him with his re-design. After talking for a while, they decide to go on a few fake dates in order for Jessica to gain a very important client who is also one of Paul’s clients. The chemistry that Jessica and Paul have is undeniable. After a couple of fake dates, both characters start to fall for one another. Suzanne did an incredible job with explaining how hard it is to run your own business as well as balance a personal life. Both require a lot of time and attention.
Overall, I thought that this book was a fun read! However, there are a couple things that I would have wanted more of. The first thing that I would have liked was for Jessica and Paul’s romance to develop on a deeper level because I felt like both of them kept their work life very separate from one another. It would have been nice to see how they could have let the other person into that aspect of their world. The other thing that I would have liked was for Paul to give Jessica a few personal training sessions since she helped him with his home design, which is how the book originally started - they had agreed to swap skillsets.
Thank you so much Netgalley, Splitrail Publishing and Suzanne Collier for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Jessica and Paul’s first encounter starts out in a very unique way. Jessica collapses at the Turkey Trot fun walk and Paul comes to her rescue. Jessica and Paul also run into each other later on that day, at Frothy Monkey, and exchange phone numbers because Paul needs his home re-designed and Jessica needs personal training due to neglecting her overall health.
Jessica goes to Paul’s home and helps him with his re-design. After talking for a while, they decide to go on a few fake dates in order for Jessica to gain a very important client who is also one of Paul’s clients. The chemistry that Jessica and Paul have is undeniable. After a couple of fake dates, both characters start to fall for one another. Suzanne did an incredible job with explaining how hard it is to run your own business as well as balance a personal life. Both require a lot of time and attention.
Overall, I thought that this book was a fun read! However, there are a couple things that I would have wanted more of. The first thing that I would have liked was for Jessica and Paul’s romance to develop on a deeper level because I felt like both of them kept their work life very separate from one another. It would have been nice to see how they could have let the other person into that aspect of their world. The other thing that I would have liked was for Paul to give Jessica a few personal training sessions since she helped him with his home design, which is how the book originally started - they had agreed to swap skillsets.
Thank you so much Netgalley, Splitrail Publishing and Suzanne Collier for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 14, 2025
* ARC from Netgalley*
Received this as an ARC and finally got to reading it.
This book really fell flat for me. I thought of DNFing it but pushed through to give it a real shot.
Clean romance. Very insta-love/lust. Fake dating. One bed. He pursues her.
The book cover and description is a bit deceiving, The cover leads you to believe she actually starts working out but that never happens so not really a skill-swap. Mostly just the interior design aspect no training.
The story line does have potential for a cute holiday meet rom-com but felt boring and like it wandered everywhere then suddenly all problems were solved. Hard to determine the problems in the first place. The biggest hurdle that had to be overcome that drove the book was really just did she get the job she wanted.
For having an emphasis on health it never really happens.
Spice was fade to black non existent which is perfect for some and not a dealbreaker for me, However the romance just didn't do it for me it felt very superficial with occasional sweet moments.
Overall not something I'd read again.
Received this as an ARC and finally got to reading it.
This book really fell flat for me. I thought of DNFing it but pushed through to give it a real shot.
Clean romance. Very insta-love/lust. Fake dating. One bed. He pursues her.
The book cover and description is a bit deceiving, The cover leads you to believe she actually starts working out but that never happens so not really a skill-swap. Mostly just the interior design aspect no training.
The story line does have potential for a cute holiday meet rom-com but felt boring and like it wandered everywhere then suddenly all problems were solved. Hard to determine the problems in the first place. The biggest hurdle that had to be overcome that drove the book was really just did she get the job she wanted.
For having an emphasis on health it never really happens.
Spice was fade to black non existent which is perfect for some and not a dealbreaker for me, However the romance just didn't do it for me it felt very superficial with occasional sweet moments.
Overall not something I'd read again.
July 26, 2025
This was a first time read for me by this author and I found it to be a swoony slow-burn romance that’s both heartwarming and hilarious. This contemporary romance is packed with wit, warmth, and a surprising depth of emotion that sneaks up on you just when you think it’s all banter and butterflies.
The story centers on Jessica Chandler, a driven interior designer who quite literally pushes herself to the brink—collapsing at a Turkey Trot and landing in the arms of personal trainer Paul Brady. Their meet-cute is textbook rom-com gold, but what follows is a thoughtful, slow-building romance rooted in mutual respect, personal growth, and the kind of chemistry that smolders before it sizzles.
Jessica is ambitious and polished, but beneath her success lies a woman who’s neglected her own well-being for far too long. Paul, on the other hand, is charming and low-key swoon worthy, but he's grappling with his own fears around commitment—especially when it comes to making his house a home. The “skills swap” premise—design lessons for health tips—sets the stage for some genuinely sweet and funny moments, and the fake-dating subplot adds a delicious tension that keeps you flipping pages.
What makes Deeply Personal stand out isn’t just the humor (though there are laugh-out-loud moments galore) or the sizzling slow-burn romance—it's the emotional honesty. Both Jessica and Paul are messy in the most relatable ways. Watching them evolve together—learning to balance ambition with vulnerability, independence with intimacy—feels deeply, well, personal.
This book is like a cozy, candlelit evening with your favorite rom-com playing. Equal parts funny and tender, this novel reminds us that sometimes love finds us when we least expect it—and that healing your heart might just mean opening it, too.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
The story centers on Jessica Chandler, a driven interior designer who quite literally pushes herself to the brink—collapsing at a Turkey Trot and landing in the arms of personal trainer Paul Brady. Their meet-cute is textbook rom-com gold, but what follows is a thoughtful, slow-building romance rooted in mutual respect, personal growth, and the kind of chemistry that smolders before it sizzles.
Jessica is ambitious and polished, but beneath her success lies a woman who’s neglected her own well-being for far too long. Paul, on the other hand, is charming and low-key swoon worthy, but he's grappling with his own fears around commitment—especially when it comes to making his house a home. The “skills swap” premise—design lessons for health tips—sets the stage for some genuinely sweet and funny moments, and the fake-dating subplot adds a delicious tension that keeps you flipping pages.
What makes Deeply Personal stand out isn’t just the humor (though there are laugh-out-loud moments galore) or the sizzling slow-burn romance—it's the emotional honesty. Both Jessica and Paul are messy in the most relatable ways. Watching them evolve together—learning to balance ambition with vulnerability, independence with intimacy—feels deeply, well, personal.
This book is like a cozy, candlelit evening with your favorite rom-com playing. Equal parts funny and tender, this novel reminds us that sometimes love finds us when we least expect it—and that healing your heart might just mean opening it, too.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
December 6, 2024
Deeply Personal
This is a dual POV story of Jessica, an interior designer and Paul, a personal trainer. I had high hopes for this book and for Jessica and Paul to find what they needed in their lives to make it. From meeting Paul at the Turkey Trot race and having a medical emergency that saw her getting whisked off her feet by the very handsome Paul. We go into a maze of confusion, self sabotage, scheming, interior designing, fake dating and falling in love, but in the end it was an enjoyable read.
They realise that their professions could mutally benefit each other and the scheme of fake dating eventually turns into more then what it was supposed to be, romantic, fun and living life to the fullest. As the characters develop feelings for one another it can seem a little disjointed at times, but in real life it can be that way at times too. I liked how the characters developed and intertwined with one another and within their group of friends and family.
Suzanne Collier has tried to bring these characters to life and dealing with issues that are not normally touched upon in romance stories or stories in general. There were some hilarious moments in the book but the tenderness of affection for even a slow burn was lacking that intensity to make the relationship believable at times.
Deeply Personal has some great scenes that redeem the characters, however they just lack a bit of chemistry to make their love story believable. There is are minor characters that can lead you astray from the real journey of the book but in the end it is a happy ending and we love that for Jessica and Paul.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#deeplypersonal #Netgalley #romcom #book #romancebook #fakedating #booktok #bookgram #books #booknerd #readingchallenge #arc #fyp
This is a dual POV story of Jessica, an interior designer and Paul, a personal trainer. I had high hopes for this book and for Jessica and Paul to find what they needed in their lives to make it. From meeting Paul at the Turkey Trot race and having a medical emergency that saw her getting whisked off her feet by the very handsome Paul. We go into a maze of confusion, self sabotage, scheming, interior designing, fake dating and falling in love, but in the end it was an enjoyable read.
They realise that their professions could mutally benefit each other and the scheme of fake dating eventually turns into more then what it was supposed to be, romantic, fun and living life to the fullest. As the characters develop feelings for one another it can seem a little disjointed at times, but in real life it can be that way at times too. I liked how the characters developed and intertwined with one another and within their group of friends and family.
Suzanne Collier has tried to bring these characters to life and dealing with issues that are not normally touched upon in romance stories or stories in general. There were some hilarious moments in the book but the tenderness of affection for even a slow burn was lacking that intensity to make the relationship believable at times.
Deeply Personal has some great scenes that redeem the characters, however they just lack a bit of chemistry to make their love story believable. There is are minor characters that can lead you astray from the real journey of the book but in the end it is a happy ending and we love that for Jessica and Paul.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#deeplypersonal #Netgalley #romcom #book #romancebook #fakedating #booktok #bookgram #books #booknerd #readingchallenge #arc #fyp
December 2, 2024
Deeply Personal by Suzanne Collier is a fun and uplifting contemporary romance!
The story follows Jessica, a workaholic who struggles with heart issues and doesn’t believe in love anymore. Her twin brother Lenny convinces her to run the Turkey Trot, where she faints and meets Paul. Paul is a sweetheart who doesn’t trust himself to commit to a relationship. In a bout of coincidence, the two meet up several times and fake date in order for Jessica to land a new client.
I ended up enjoying this book and the humor sprinkled throughout it! I thought it was an easy read, even though it took me a second to get into it.
However, I did have some issues with the flow of the story and some of the plot points. The story was marketed as the MMC training the FMC to help her get into better shape, and I was sorely disappointed when this never happened. I thought some of the writing went too in depth at the wrong points, which occasionally made the story drag. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect to the characters, which is overall why the rating is lower for me. For me, romance is all about the reader loving the characters and the characters loving each other; I feel like the mark was missed by a bit on both of these. There wasn’t much chemistry between the MMC and the FMC and I was missing the banter I usually love. At parts, it felt kind of insta-lovey. But the fact that I wasn’t able to connect to the characters was a big hit. I also thought the end and the resolution felt very rushed. Both characters were super against a long term relationship until magically they weren’t from one conversation? It didn’t feel realistic.
I would give this a 2.5 stars.
Thank you to Net Galley for an early copy in exchange for a honest review!
The story follows Jessica, a workaholic who struggles with heart issues and doesn’t believe in love anymore. Her twin brother Lenny convinces her to run the Turkey Trot, where she faints and meets Paul. Paul is a sweetheart who doesn’t trust himself to commit to a relationship. In a bout of coincidence, the two meet up several times and fake date in order for Jessica to land a new client.
I ended up enjoying this book and the humor sprinkled throughout it! I thought it was an easy read, even though it took me a second to get into it.
However, I did have some issues with the flow of the story and some of the plot points. The story was marketed as the MMC training the FMC to help her get into better shape, and I was sorely disappointed when this never happened. I thought some of the writing went too in depth at the wrong points, which occasionally made the story drag. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect to the characters, which is overall why the rating is lower for me. For me, romance is all about the reader loving the characters and the characters loving each other; I feel like the mark was missed by a bit on both of these. There wasn’t much chemistry between the MMC and the FMC and I was missing the banter I usually love. At parts, it felt kind of insta-lovey. But the fact that I wasn’t able to connect to the characters was a big hit. I also thought the end and the resolution felt very rushed. Both characters were super against a long term relationship until magically they weren’t from one conversation? It didn’t feel realistic.
I would give this a 2.5 stars.
Thank you to Net Galley for an early copy in exchange for a honest review!
September 7, 2025
Deeply Personal is a contemporary romance that centers around Jessica, an interior designer, and Paul, a personal trainer. The premise itself is intriguing, after meeting at the Turkey Trot, Jessica offers her design skills in exchange for Paul’s help with his healthy lifestyle habits, a twist on the classic "trade" trope. The dynamic between the two has potential, but the slow-burn romance didn’t quite deliver for me. While I appreciate a slow-burn relationship, this one felt like it dragged on a bit too long without the emotional payoff I was hoping for. Their chemistry, though hinted at, never truly sizzled in the way I wanted it to, which left me feeling disconnected from the central romance.
The third-act breakup felt somewhat forced and didn't land with the emotional weight it needed given the immediate fix. I’m all for drama and tension in romance novels, but this particular plot point didn’t feel organic to the characters or their relationship. Instead of adding depth, it just kind of stalled the narrative, and I found it a bit hard to buy into the resolution that followed. The pacing of the book was also a struggle for me; it took a while to really get into the story, and there were times when I felt like I was trudging through it rather than enjoying it. While most contemporary romances are breezy and fun, Deeply Personal felt like it meandered more than it moved, and it was hard to stay fully engaged.
That being said, I can see how this book might appeal to readers who enjoy a more understated, quieter romance. It just didn’t hit the right notes for me, and I found myself wishing for a bit more spark between Jessica and Paul, especially with the setup that promised so much quirky potential!
Thank you to NetGalley and Splitrail for the eARC!
The third-act breakup felt somewhat forced and didn't land with the emotional weight it needed given the immediate fix. I’m all for drama and tension in romance novels, but this particular plot point didn’t feel organic to the characters or their relationship. Instead of adding depth, it just kind of stalled the narrative, and I found it a bit hard to buy into the resolution that followed. The pacing of the book was also a struggle for me; it took a while to really get into the story, and there were times when I felt like I was trudging through it rather than enjoying it. While most contemporary romances are breezy and fun, Deeply Personal felt like it meandered more than it moved, and it was hard to stay fully engaged.
That being said, I can see how this book might appeal to readers who enjoy a more understated, quieter romance. It just didn’t hit the right notes for me, and I found myself wishing for a bit more spark between Jessica and Paul, especially with the setup that promised so much quirky potential!
Thank you to NetGalley and Splitrail for the eARC!
November 27, 2024
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
🏃♀️ 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
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews