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Your Pace or Mine: A Spicy Fake Dating MM Sports Romance
True love is a marathon, not a sprint.
Elite marathoner Darius Hewitt is the golden boy of British athletics until a media scandal brings his Olympic dreams crashing down. With his reputation in tatters, Darius reluctantly agrees to help out at a charity running clinic, hoping to regain favour with the Olympic selection committee.
Enter Jamie—a sharp-witted West End dancer, training for his first marathon. Jamie comes with a crumbling career of his own, outrageous fundraising target, and a whole different brand of publicity challenges.
In the lead up to the London Marathon, a fake relationship seems like the perfect solution for both of their image problems, so Darius and Jamie strike a deal.
But the more time they spend together, the less pretend it starts to feel.
Can they stop running from their fears long enough to give love a shot?
Your Pace or Mine is a spicy, grumpy / sunshine MM sports romance packed with fake dating, sharp banter and plenty of running. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid and Casey McQuiston.
Elite marathoner Darius Hewitt is the golden boy of British athletics until a media scandal brings his Olympic dreams crashing down. With his reputation in tatters, Darius reluctantly agrees to help out at a charity running clinic, hoping to regain favour with the Olympic selection committee.
Enter Jamie—a sharp-witted West End dancer, training for his first marathon. Jamie comes with a crumbling career of his own, outrageous fundraising target, and a whole different brand of publicity challenges.
In the lead up to the London Marathon, a fake relationship seems like the perfect solution for both of their image problems, so Darius and Jamie strike a deal.
But the more time they spend together, the less pretend it starts to feel.
Can they stop running from their fears long enough to give love a shot?
Your Pace or Mine is a spicy, grumpy / sunshine MM sports romance packed with fake dating, sharp banter and plenty of running. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid and Casey McQuiston.
- GenresM M RomanceRomanceAdult
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2025
6 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 16, 2025
As a dancer who runs for stamina training,when I saw a romance with a professional runner I knew I had to read it and I really liked this!
The writing was pretty easy to get through while still maintaining a standard I have,the main characters were interesting and dialogue–my favorite part of the book– was so real in the sense that it didn't come off as preachy or stilted.The book really did deliver on the sports aspect too!!I loved the moments we got to see them training.
A problem I did have was with the character descriptions specifically for Darius. For the first half of the book,it was not made clear that Darius was a mixed race man of color.I can't tell how many times I had to go back to the cover of the book to make sure that he was indeed a man of color, especially when Jamie was described as a blonde haired blue eyed white man literally 2 paragraphs after they first meet. It did get better in the second half when Darius mentioned the racism and orientalism that probably drove his grandfather's relationship with his grandmother. I just wish that Darius' identity as a mixed race man would have been explored more in positive moments because as much as they'd like to gaslight me that they're not,the British are still very much racist to Black people.
The resolution was a tad bit underwhelming to me but I still enjoyed it well enough.This was a very fun read,I hope I get to see more of Jackson in the next book!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The writing was pretty easy to get through while still maintaining a standard I have,the main characters were interesting and dialogue–my favorite part of the book– was so real in the sense that it didn't come off as preachy or stilted.The book really did deliver on the sports aspect too!!I loved the moments we got to see them training.
A problem I did have was with the character descriptions specifically for Darius. For the first half of the book,it was not made clear that Darius was a mixed race man of color.I can't tell how many times I had to go back to the cover of the book to make sure that he was indeed a man of color, especially when Jamie was described as a blonde haired blue eyed white man literally 2 paragraphs after they first meet. It did get better in the second half when Darius mentioned the racism and orientalism that probably drove his grandfather's relationship with his grandmother. I just wish that Darius' identity as a mixed race man would have been explored more in positive moments because as much as they'd like to gaslight me that they're not,the British are still very much racist to Black people.
The resolution was a tad bit underwhelming to me but I still enjoyed it well enough.This was a very fun read,I hope I get to see more of Jackson in the next book!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2025
This was cute. Fake dating turns to real love for Darius and Jamie as they try to help each other improve their social standing for work purposes and train for a marathon together.
Jamie was a great character. He owns who he is, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and tries his best to learn from his mistakes and make it in the theatre world off his own talent. Darius comes from privilege but kept himself separate from that until Jamie helped him to understand he shouldn’t be ashamed but should use his privilege and talent to help others.
I wanted a little more comeuppance for Stephen. I loved Reggie and Jackson, and I can’t wait for their stories, but yeah, I’m really holding out for a confirmation story that I’m right that the love the Duke lost was Anders 😂
Overall, I really enjoyed it. There were a few parts I would have liked more closure on, but they were a cute couple. Their world and the troubles they faced felt authentic. Their disagreements felt realistic, and their makeup session even more so. I liked that they rewrote their ending and didn’t let the scumbags win.
………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.
Jamie was a great character. He owns who he is, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and tries his best to learn from his mistakes and make it in the theatre world off his own talent. Darius comes from privilege but kept himself separate from that until Jamie helped him to understand he shouldn’t be ashamed but should use his privilege and talent to help others.
I wanted a little more comeuppance for Stephen. I loved Reggie and Jackson, and I can’t wait for their stories, but yeah, I’m really holding out for a confirmation story that I’m right that the love the Duke lost was Anders 😂
Overall, I really enjoyed it. There were a few parts I would have liked more closure on, but they were a cute couple. Their world and the troubles they faced felt authentic. Their disagreements felt realistic, and their makeup session even more so. I liked that they rewrote their ending and didn’t let the scumbags win.
………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.
September 20, 2025
The first marathon running romance that I've read and it was definitely cute but some things just bothered me.
Can Darius not be friends with a guy without having sex with them?! I don't know why but his two best friends both being his ex felt unnecessary. Why couldn't he have a friend group instead of an exes group?!
Jamie was frustrating because he wasn't very self-aware and seemed genuinely surprised when people thought he was easy/talentless because he slept his way into every single job he got. How did it never occur to him that people might think that when they found out? He basically did the exact same with Darius - they start a fake relationship and have sex all so that Jamie can get attention and be considered for a new role! I'd have been interested to see how he remained in a dance career while he had a relationship with Darius honestly, because would he have really changed?
I did like Darius's relationship with his younger sister though, and the running group was funny. I just think there were too many subplots and the MCs weren't particularly likeable for me.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
Can Darius not be friends with a guy without having sex with them?! I don't know why but his two best friends both being his ex felt unnecessary. Why couldn't he have a friend group instead of an exes group?!
Jamie was frustrating because he wasn't very self-aware and seemed genuinely surprised when people thought he was easy/talentless because he slept his way into every single job he got. How did it never occur to him that people might think that when they found out? He basically did the exact same with Darius - they start a fake relationship and have sex all so that Jamie can get attention and be considered for a new role! I'd have been interested to see how he remained in a dance career while he had a relationship with Darius honestly, because would he have really changed?
I did like Darius's relationship with his younger sister though, and the running group was funny. I just think there were too many subplots and the MCs weren't particularly likeable for me.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
September 19, 2025
Professionnal marathon runner and struggling musical theater dancer fake date to save their public image.
This was so cute! While running is the most practiced sport worldwide it is criminally underrepresented in the sports romance genre. I loved how Jamie and Darius started as strangers and slowly became friends and got closer while training together. The progression from friends to fake dating to more was very natural.
Both MCs had a lot of depth and I loved their conversations.
If you want a cute and spicy MM sports romance that is fast paced and easy to read, I highly recommend this one!
Warning: it might inspire you to sign up for a marathon.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!
This was so cute! While running is the most practiced sport worldwide it is criminally underrepresented in the sports romance genre. I loved how Jamie and Darius started as strangers and slowly became friends and got closer while training together. The progression from friends to fake dating to more was very natural.
Both MCs had a lot of depth and I loved their conversations.
If you want a cute and spicy MM sports romance that is fast paced and easy to read, I highly recommend this one!
Warning: it might inspire you to sign up for a marathon.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!
September 21, 2025
This book was ok. I wanted to like it more than I did. The running elements were quite well-written. As a runner, and someone who used to do longer races like half/full Marathons, the descriptions were relatively accurate. I just didn't enjoy the romance element.
September 4, 2025
I’m giving this earnest debut effort to 3 stars for the unique marathon-training element, which I enjoyed quite a lot. And the “overstriding” issue was helpful! Now I know why I am injuring my dang legs.
I found myself both enjoying the story and falling into rage-reading as I went along, and I came to passionately hate several characters in this book, including MC Darius. But...
I loved the marathon-focused premise. West End musical dancer Jamie is finishing a show and hasn’t found a new job, so is sustaining himself on substitute teaching dance classes and subsisting on ramen noodles. His agent is a jerk, his ex-boyfriend is a piece of work, and his reputation is tainted, because he walked off a huge production a while back for Reasons. His best friend talks him into attempting to rebuild his reputation by running the London marathon to fundraise for charity and urges him to join a free marathon-support training group run by an Olympic coach and other marathon experts.
Darius is the best marathon runner in the UK, up for the Olympics, but it’s looking bad for him on the selection committee, because that Olympic coach doesn’t want him on the team, thinking him a privileged snob who’s had everything handed to him and that he’d be bad for team morale. Volunteering to help with the free training clinic might give Darius a shot at connecting with the man and showing him he’s wrong.
Darius is the very rich posh son of a peer of the realm. His father the duke has not been his biggest supporter, and Darius hates the glad-handing and suck-ups that come along with his status in English society. And his father and the Olympic coach have some kinda history, I came to suspect. Darius is also a POC, but that’s barely mentioned. I wished it was more part of his character.
Sparks fly when Jamie and Darius meet, complicated by underlying tension between Darius and the head coach and Jamie’s dwindling financial situation and need to pay rent along with raising funds for the charity he promised to support via the marathon. When the head coach calls Darius a homophobe and proceeds to try to ruin his reputation, they agree to fake-date to show the world Darius is not, in fact, homophobic, and to bring focus on Jamie’s fundraiser and have Darius accompany Jamie to an industry event he desperately needs a supportive date for. It seems like a great arrangement to both.
Of course those darn messy Feelings get in the mix. I relished the time they spent together getting to know each other and training together, both alone and with their training group; it Showed the potential they had to be a real couple. They feel like a real couple about 5 seconds after agreeing to “date,” and that doesn’t change as they get to know each other’s different worlds and see the vulnerable people beneath the surface. I kept mind-screaming at them that “fake” was silly and they’re clearly just regular dating. Because they were. They start letting each other in, and each has a fragile hope that maybe...maybe...this could be something more. (Do they talk to each other about that? No, of course not...! Grrr.)
I was mostly enjoying the story, though certain characters made me ragey. I was 👀 Darius’s “friend” and former F-buddy Jackson, who ducked out of standing up for Darius and never bothered to correct certain things, despite how little effort it would have taken to do so. Then, there was the Olympic coach, whose unprofessional attitude and actions should have gotten him fired. Not to mention Jamie’s unbearably sleazy ex and crappy manager.
(Special cheers though for their marathon training group, Darius's sister Selena, Jamie's bestie Reggie, and Darius's long-ago ex-boyfriend and current business partner, Sebastian. Loved all of them!)
But then...Darius did something so inexplicable and unforgiveable, hurting Jamie horridly, that I did a switchover and began hoping Jamie would not forgive him and would end up with someone—anyone!—else. Maybe his lovely BFF Reggie, whom I adored, could have a GFY moment?
Basically, Darius And when I found out why, my head exploded, because what happened was due to Jamie and it was...untenable.
Also, is this all-important thing that set Darius off and had him burning everything to the ground shown on page? No. It is not. We are told of it in summary later, and why it set Darius off so bad never did fully make sense to me. Taken-aback discussion, yes. You are dead to me never darken my door again? Uh. NO.
His actions were deplorable, and his “apology” did not deserve an acknowledgement, let alone an acceptance. At first he didn’t even try to apologize to Jamie (and yes, he knew very well where Jamie lived!), or ask a single question, just waited to see him at the convenient time when they were sure to be in the same place. The situation was utter horse-pucky, and I even lost respect for Jamie for going back to him. It was unsatisfying AF.
But, I really did enjoy training for the marathon via this book! So much more fun than attempting it IRL! That element felt authentic, and the training team characters wound up being fun and kind and lovely (apart from Mark. STFU Mark! LOL. Okay he wasn’t THAT bad...). I also appreciated the attempt to shine light on the situation of how talented theater hopefuls are pressured to sleep their way into getting work in professional musical productions. I hope that isn’t still the case, but, I fear it’s likely true. But more weight on and resolution to that element would have been nice to have. The bad guys had zero consequences, which made me...what? RAGEY.
HEA, though, petty me, I was rooting for Jamie to move on to someone who wouldn’t judge him and ignore him, and for Darius to be miserable without him forevermore. Safe for me; no others, these two are into only each other. Jamie’s sexual past is held against him in a hurtful way that went unanswered. Reality indeed bites; I wanted the baddies taken DOWN. Like, if Jamie really is going to accept Darius’s weak apology and take him back...could Darius at least use his position for good and shame those two a-holes out of London?! Geez.
Overall, I am interested in seeing what the author writes next. Her voice is enjoyable!
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
I found myself both enjoying the story and falling into rage-reading as I went along, and I came to passionately hate several characters in this book, including MC Darius. But...
I loved the marathon-focused premise. West End musical dancer Jamie is finishing a show and hasn’t found a new job, so is sustaining himself on substitute teaching dance classes and subsisting on ramen noodles. His agent is a jerk, his ex-boyfriend is a piece of work, and his reputation is tainted, because he walked off a huge production a while back for Reasons. His best friend talks him into attempting to rebuild his reputation by running the London marathon to fundraise for charity and urges him to join a free marathon-support training group run by an Olympic coach and other marathon experts.
Darius is the best marathon runner in the UK, up for the Olympics, but it’s looking bad for him on the selection committee, because that Olympic coach doesn’t want him on the team, thinking him a privileged snob who’s had everything handed to him and that he’d be bad for team morale. Volunteering to help with the free training clinic might give Darius a shot at connecting with the man and showing him he’s wrong.
Darius is the very rich posh son of a peer of the realm. His father the duke has not been his biggest supporter, and Darius hates the glad-handing and suck-ups that come along with his status in English society. And his father and the Olympic coach have some kinda history, I came to suspect. Darius is also a POC, but that’s barely mentioned. I wished it was more part of his character.
Sparks fly when Jamie and Darius meet, complicated by underlying tension between Darius and the head coach and Jamie’s dwindling financial situation and need to pay rent along with raising funds for the charity he promised to support via the marathon. When the head coach calls Darius a homophobe and proceeds to try to ruin his reputation, they agree to fake-date to show the world Darius is not, in fact, homophobic, and to bring focus on Jamie’s fundraiser and have Darius accompany Jamie to an industry event he desperately needs a supportive date for. It seems like a great arrangement to both.
Of course those darn messy Feelings get in the mix. I relished the time they spent together getting to know each other and training together, both alone and with their training group; it Showed the potential they had to be a real couple. They feel like a real couple about 5 seconds after agreeing to “date,” and that doesn’t change as they get to know each other’s different worlds and see the vulnerable people beneath the surface. I kept mind-screaming at them that “fake” was silly and they’re clearly just regular dating. Because they were. They start letting each other in, and each has a fragile hope that maybe...maybe...this could be something more. (Do they talk to each other about that? No, of course not...! Grrr.)
I was mostly enjoying the story, though certain characters made me ragey. I was 👀 Darius’s “friend” and former F-buddy Jackson, who ducked out of standing up for Darius and never bothered to correct certain things, despite how little effort it would have taken to do so. Then, there was the Olympic coach, whose unprofessional attitude and actions should have gotten him fired. Not to mention Jamie’s unbearably sleazy ex and crappy manager.
(Special cheers though for their marathon training group, Darius's sister Selena, Jamie's bestie Reggie, and Darius's long-ago ex-boyfriend and current business partner, Sebastian. Loved all of them!)
But then...Darius did something so inexplicable and unforgiveable, hurting Jamie horridly, that I did a switchover and began hoping Jamie would not forgive him and would end up with someone—anyone!—else. Maybe his lovely BFF Reggie, whom I adored, could have a GFY moment?
Basically, Darius And when I found out why, my head exploded, because what happened was due to Jamie and it was...untenable.
Also, is this all-important thing that set Darius off and had him burning everything to the ground shown on page? No. It is not. We are told of it in summary later, and why it set Darius off so bad never did fully make sense to me. Taken-aback discussion, yes. You are dead to me never darken my door again? Uh. NO.
His actions were deplorable, and his “apology” did not deserve an acknowledgement, let alone an acceptance. At first he didn’t even try to apologize to Jamie (and yes, he knew very well where Jamie lived!), or ask a single question, just waited to see him at the convenient time when they were sure to be in the same place. The situation was utter horse-pucky, and I even lost respect for Jamie for going back to him. It was unsatisfying AF.
But, I really did enjoy training for the marathon via this book! So much more fun than attempting it IRL! That element felt authentic, and the training team characters wound up being fun and kind and lovely (apart from Mark. STFU Mark! LOL. Okay he wasn’t THAT bad...). I also appreciated the attempt to shine light on the situation of how talented theater hopefuls are pressured to sleep their way into getting work in professional musical productions. I hope that isn’t still the case, but, I fear it’s likely true. But more weight on and resolution to that element would have been nice to have. The bad guys had zero consequences, which made me...what? RAGEY.
HEA, though, petty me, I was rooting for Jamie to move on to someone who wouldn’t judge him and ignore him, and for Darius to be miserable without him forevermore. Safe for me; no others, these two are into only each other. Jamie’s sexual past is held against him in a hurtful way that went unanswered. Reality indeed bites; I wanted the baddies taken DOWN. Like, if Jamie really is going to accept Darius’s weak apology and take him back...could Darius at least use his position for good and shame those two a-holes out of London?! Geez.
Overall, I am interested in seeing what the author writes next. Her voice is enjoyable!
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
September 21, 2025
ARC Review * some spoilers ahead*
⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
🌶️🌶️🌶️,5
If you’re looking for a sports romance that’s a bit different, "Your Pace or Mine" might be just what you need.
It��s the author’s debut novel, so I went in not knowing what to expect, and honestly, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
First off, how often do you see a romance novel that’s all about running? Not only that, but it’s told in third person, which you don’t get a lot in this genre. The pace is slow at the beginning, but it picks up as it goes along.
The main focus is the lead-up to the London Marathon. Darius, who’s basically the UK’s top runner and also the son of a duke, wants to make the Olympic team. But in order to win points with a coach that doesn’t like him at all, he’s stuck mentoring a bunch of amateur runners. One of the mentees? Jamie, a disgraced West End dancer, is running for charity in hopes of fixing his reputation and getting his career back on track.
Both guys are dealing with some pretty heavy baggage. They end up faking a relationship, Darius to prove he’s not as cold and bigoted as people think, and Jamie to clean up his image. From then, feelings develop, but it’s not all smooth sailing. There are misunderstandings and plenty of drama as their very opposite worlds clash.
The plot is clear and easy to follow, and it keeps things moving without getting too complicated. What really grabbed me, though, were the characters. They’re far from perfect, they are actually very flawed, which made everything feel more real and interesting.
Darius is a tough nut to crack, he’s cold, stubborn, super judgmental, and pretty guarded. He’s convinced that anyone who tries to get close just wants something from him. On the other hand, you have Jamie, who, at some point, was willing to do whatever it took to get ahead professionally, even if it meant crossing some lines and making some(arguably) questionable choices.
So, of course, things blow up between them with a pretty rough third-act breakup. It’s a little annoying, because we don’t get to witness Darius’s side of things, so his reaction feels harsh and kind of out of nowhere. Still, as much as the situation (and especially Darius’s meltdown) stung, I found it weirdly refreshing to read about people who actually act like, well, people. They mess up, they have bad habits, and they’re not always charming or polite, and that’s kind of nice to see for a change.
The groveling after the breakup could have been more satisfying, but at least they sort things out in the end, which made me happy.
There are definitely some unanswered questions and loose ends, but that makes sense since this is only the first book in a five-part series (according to the author’s Instagram). I’m especially curious about the duke’s first love and why Anders seems to hate the Hewitt family. Were dad and coach secretly star-crossed lovers? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Apparently, the next book is going to focus on Jackson and that other guy battling for that Olympic spot, so there’s definitely more drama coming.
All in all, “Your Pace or Mine” is a fun read with characters who feel messy and real. If you’re looking for something fresh and don’t need perfect heroes , this series is shaping up to be a wild, very human ride. I’m really looking forward to what’s next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
🌶️🌶️🌶️,5
If you’re looking for a sports romance that’s a bit different, "Your Pace or Mine" might be just what you need.
It��s the author’s debut novel, so I went in not knowing what to expect, and honestly, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
First off, how often do you see a romance novel that’s all about running? Not only that, but it’s told in third person, which you don’t get a lot in this genre. The pace is slow at the beginning, but it picks up as it goes along.
The main focus is the lead-up to the London Marathon. Darius, who’s basically the UK’s top runner and also the son of a duke, wants to make the Olympic team. But in order to win points with a coach that doesn’t like him at all, he’s stuck mentoring a bunch of amateur runners. One of the mentees? Jamie, a disgraced West End dancer, is running for charity in hopes of fixing his reputation and getting his career back on track.
Both guys are dealing with some pretty heavy baggage. They end up faking a relationship, Darius to prove he’s not as cold and bigoted as people think, and Jamie to clean up his image. From then, feelings develop, but it’s not all smooth sailing. There are misunderstandings and plenty of drama as their very opposite worlds clash.
The plot is clear and easy to follow, and it keeps things moving without getting too complicated. What really grabbed me, though, were the characters. They’re far from perfect, they are actually very flawed, which made everything feel more real and interesting.
Darius is a tough nut to crack, he’s cold, stubborn, super judgmental, and pretty guarded. He’s convinced that anyone who tries to get close just wants something from him. On the other hand, you have Jamie, who, at some point, was willing to do whatever it took to get ahead professionally, even if it meant crossing some lines and making some(arguably) questionable choices.
So, of course, things blow up between them with a pretty rough third-act breakup. It’s a little annoying, because we don’t get to witness Darius’s side of things, so his reaction feels harsh and kind of out of nowhere. Still, as much as the situation (and especially Darius’s meltdown) stung, I found it weirdly refreshing to read about people who actually act like, well, people. They mess up, they have bad habits, and they’re not always charming or polite, and that’s kind of nice to see for a change.
The groveling after the breakup could have been more satisfying, but at least they sort things out in the end, which made me happy.
There are definitely some unanswered questions and loose ends, but that makes sense since this is only the first book in a five-part series (according to the author’s Instagram). I’m especially curious about the duke’s first love and why Anders seems to hate the Hewitt family. Were dad and coach secretly star-crossed lovers? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Apparently, the next book is going to focus on Jackson and that other guy battling for that Olympic spot, so there’s definitely more drama coming.
All in all, “Your Pace or Mine” is a fun read with characters who feel messy and real. If you’re looking for something fresh and don’t need perfect heroes , this series is shaping up to be a wild, very human ride. I’m really looking forward to what’s next.
August 19, 2025
I would like to thank Kim Stephenson and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
I enjoyed the insight into the world of marathon running. It's not something you read very often in MM Sports and I appreciated the scope of challenges, pressures and physicality in this.
The narrative style was a bit tight for me, but it could have been that I was just supremely nervous because Anders, the coach, was 1000% awful and I was starting to take the snarling personally. I'm actually shocked none in the running group complained about him!
So I wasn't a fan.
I wanted a bit more to the characterization tbh. While Anders was a proper jerk, I still felt something. Darius on the other hand was a bit flat and didn't have the vivacity of his bae, Jamie, who I really really loved right from the start!
Darius was mixed race, but it took a while before learning that he's got some Ethiopian ancestry. The narrative explained the lack of cultural aspect here, but I'm not a fan of "skin-colour" characters and would have preferred it if that ethnic nod wasn't a thing.
And
If
T h a t
Seemed reductive to you,
Then you get it.
Moving on.
I loved Jamie's POV
and
I LOVED Reggie (bff) so much!
The characterization was layered, expressive, thoughtful and engaging with these two. So I came away with the best feeling knowing that Jamie has Reggie for life! Bros before those, and all that.
There was an appalling lack of communication between the MCs in this. And while I appreciated that the author was trying to create tension and a sense of urgency through drama, Darius had a quality level meltdown at an event they were supposed to fake date through and I still have not forgiven him for it.
Jamie went through a lot and I felt A L L the feelings for him. Not only did he have to deal with the most predatory and slimy low-lives in his ex and his agent, but in his introspection he blamed himself for the way these scumbags treated him AND for the Darius fiasco at the Oliviers!
My gawd I'm still livid!
I understand that Jamie had to go through what he did so that he could get to his next level, but I was ferociously angry about the shaming and self-chastisement, when the ex and the agent who participated in Jamie's exploitation, were just part of show business.
The ending wrap was a tidy HEA and I did shed a couple tears because I'm soft like that.
Overall I enjoyed the window into the world of marathon running, and even though the romance wasn't for me, I thought Jamie and Reggie were heartwarming characters that I had a lot of feelings for and I'm happy with that.
I enjoyed the insight into the world of marathon running. It's not something you read very often in MM Sports and I appreciated the scope of challenges, pressures and physicality in this.
The narrative style was a bit tight for me, but it could have been that I was just supremely nervous because Anders, the coach, was 1000% awful and I was starting to take the snarling personally. I'm actually shocked none in the running group complained about him!
So I wasn't a fan.
I wanted a bit more to the characterization tbh. While Anders was a proper jerk, I still felt something. Darius on the other hand was a bit flat and didn't have the vivacity of his bae, Jamie, who I really really loved right from the start!
Darius was mixed race, but it took a while before learning that he's got some Ethiopian ancestry. The narrative explained the lack of cultural aspect here, but I'm not a fan of "skin-colour" characters and would have preferred it if that ethnic nod wasn't a thing.
And
If
T h a t
Seemed reductive to you,
Then you get it.
Moving on.
I loved Jamie's POV
and
I LOVED Reggie (bff) so much!
The characterization was layered, expressive, thoughtful and engaging with these two. So I came away with the best feeling knowing that Jamie has Reggie for life! Bros before those, and all that.
There was an appalling lack of communication between the MCs in this. And while I appreciated that the author was trying to create tension and a sense of urgency through drama, Darius had a quality level meltdown at an event they were supposed to fake date through and I still have not forgiven him for it.
Jamie went through a lot and I felt A L L the feelings for him. Not only did he have to deal with the most predatory and slimy low-lives in his ex and his agent, but in his introspection he blamed himself for the way these scumbags treated him AND for the Darius fiasco at the Oliviers!
My gawd I'm still livid!
I understand that Jamie had to go through what he did so that he could get to his next level, but I was ferociously angry about the shaming and self-chastisement, when the ex and the agent who participated in Jamie's exploitation, were just part of show business.
The ending wrap was a tidy HEA and I did shed a couple tears because I'm soft like that.
Overall I enjoyed the window into the world of marathon running, and even though the romance wasn't for me, I thought Jamie and Reggie were heartwarming characters that I had a lot of feelings for and I'm happy with that.
October 8, 2025
I really wanted to love this book. It features a west end dancer and a marathon runner which I had never read before so I had high hopes. Unfortunately it fell flat for me.
First of all, the things I enjoyed! I really liked the marathon training. I’d never read a book about runners before and the author clearly knows that she’s talking about. For someone who couldn’t be less interested in running in real life, the authors passion for running shone enough for me to really enjoy this element of the book.
I also really liked the side characters. The dynamic between the running group was nice and I especially loved Sebastien and Jackson. I’m looking forward to reading Jackson’s story in the sequel as well as the novella featuring Sebastien and Nathan.
Now for the downsides.
I just didn’t care about either of the main characters. To be honest, I could barely tolerate either of them. There was little character development on either end and I didn’t feel like I got to know them by the end of the book. They both just felt like whiny, teenage boys trowing a strop any chance they got.
Another issue I had was with the pacing. Up until around the 70% mark, it moved along slowly but consistently, and then out of nowhere, it felt like the author suddenly realised she was running out of time to tell the story. Everything became more rushed and happened very quickly which left me feeling like the resolution was abrupt and unsatisfying.
On top of that, my biggest pet peeve in books is being told what’s happening rather than being shown. This happened consistently throughout the book and at times was very irritating. There were instances where the book almost read like a list of events being ticked off a checklist rather than a story unfolding naturally.
Overall, it’s a book with a strong idea and great concept behind it, but the execution didn’t work for me. If you’re a reader who purely reads for plot, and doesn’t care about writing style etc. you will most likely enjoy this book so I would recommend it to those readers.
This gets a 2.5⭐️ from me (rounded up to 3⭐️)!
Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
First of all, the things I enjoyed! I really liked the marathon training. I’d never read a book about runners before and the author clearly knows that she’s talking about. For someone who couldn’t be less interested in running in real life, the authors passion for running shone enough for me to really enjoy this element of the book.
I also really liked the side characters. The dynamic between the running group was nice and I especially loved Sebastien and Jackson. I’m looking forward to reading Jackson’s story in the sequel as well as the novella featuring Sebastien and Nathan.
Now for the downsides.
I just didn’t care about either of the main characters. To be honest, I could barely tolerate either of them. There was little character development on either end and I didn’t feel like I got to know them by the end of the book. They both just felt like whiny, teenage boys trowing a strop any chance they got.
Another issue I had was with the pacing. Up until around the 70% mark, it moved along slowly but consistently, and then out of nowhere, it felt like the author suddenly realised she was running out of time to tell the story. Everything became more rushed and happened very quickly which left me feeling like the resolution was abrupt and unsatisfying.
On top of that, my biggest pet peeve in books is being told what’s happening rather than being shown. This happened consistently throughout the book and at times was very irritating. There were instances where the book almost read like a list of events being ticked off a checklist rather than a story unfolding naturally.
Overall, it’s a book with a strong idea and great concept behind it, but the execution didn’t work for me. If you’re a reader who purely reads for plot, and doesn’t care about writing style etc. you will most likely enjoy this book so I would recommend it to those readers.
This gets a 2.5⭐️ from me (rounded up to 3⭐️)!
Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
September 28, 2025
This was a solid debut novel!
Jamie and Darius meet when Darius, an elite runner trying to convince a coach who has it out for him to select him for the Olympic team, reluctantly agrees to coach up some runners who are running the marathon for charity. Jamie, whose career in West End theater is spiraling after a dalliance goes awry, is running the marathon to try to raise money for charity and impress some producers enough to try to resurrect his career. When neither of their initial attempts seem to work, they decide to join forces and fake date to get the results they're looking for--because that never goes sideways!
I really liked both of these characters and the growth they undergo throughout the novel, which the author does a good job of showing just through their POVs. Darius starts off as a guarded grump, but you can definitely see him start to soften throughout the book. And Jamie, our seemingly sunshiney guy, has some clouds that he's having trouble vanquishing on his own. Seeing them interact together will make your heart happy, even if you do at times want to just shout at them and lock them in a room until they figure stuff out.
Some of the events in the book do come across a little over the top, but it wasn't so absurd that it took me out of the story or anything. There also were some grammatical/punctuation things, but I did receive an ARC so I'm not going to hold that against the book. For a debut, this was a pretty well done story.
This book is the first in a planned series, and I am definitely intrigued in reading the rest! The coach's grudge against Darius definitely has some juicy backstory that has been teased, and I swear I better get that resolution!
Jamie and Darius meet when Darius, an elite runner trying to convince a coach who has it out for him to select him for the Olympic team, reluctantly agrees to coach up some runners who are running the marathon for charity. Jamie, whose career in West End theater is spiraling after a dalliance goes awry, is running the marathon to try to raise money for charity and impress some producers enough to try to resurrect his career. When neither of their initial attempts seem to work, they decide to join forces and fake date to get the results they're looking for--because that never goes sideways!
I really liked both of these characters and the growth they undergo throughout the novel, which the author does a good job of showing just through their POVs. Darius starts off as a guarded grump, but you can definitely see him start to soften throughout the book. And Jamie, our seemingly sunshiney guy, has some clouds that he's having trouble vanquishing on his own. Seeing them interact together will make your heart happy, even if you do at times want to just shout at them and lock them in a room until they figure stuff out.
Some of the events in the book do come across a little over the top, but it wasn't so absurd that it took me out of the story or anything. There also were some grammatical/punctuation things, but I did receive an ARC so I'm not going to hold that against the book. For a debut, this was a pretty well done story.
This book is the first in a planned series, and I am definitely intrigued in reading the rest! The coach's grudge against Darius definitely has some juicy backstory that has been teased, and I swear I better get that resolution!
September 15, 2025
I’ve read a decent amount of sports romance, but I never knew that I wanted a running romance until this one! Overall, I enjoyed the story, although I’m not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope. I adored Jamie and really felt for him this whole book. He was 100% taken advantage of while he was young and new in his career. While he might not see himself as a victim, he certainly is not the one to shoulder all this blame. Darius was a nice contrast to Jamie’s vibrant personality, but I never fully fell for his character. I felt like Jamie was doing all the work in their “relationship” while Jamie ran away (no pun intended) at the first stressor. Ultimately, I like where they ended up, but it’s just so frustrating to watch it play out, especially when you can see the problem coming from a mile away.
In the book, I never quite felt like I knew what these characters looked like. Physical descriptions were scarce in general, and I kept getting confused in some places about how their bodies were positioned, who was taller, etc. It’s not a deal breaker for me, but just something I felt like needed more details.
I loved the found family dynamics of their running group. It was great seeing the love and support among this group that were strangers only a few months prior. And I did enjoy the world the author created. I found myself falling in love with the cast of supporting characters, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series where we can see more of Jackson (I ADORE this man!)
In the book, I never quite felt like I knew what these characters looked like. Physical descriptions were scarce in general, and I kept getting confused in some places about how their bodies were positioned, who was taller, etc. It’s not a deal breaker for me, but just something I felt like needed more details.
I loved the found family dynamics of their running group. It was great seeing the love and support among this group that were strangers only a few months prior. And I did enjoy the world the author created. I found myself falling in love with the cast of supporting characters, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series where we can see more of Jackson (I ADORE this man!)
October 30, 2025
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Your Pace or Mine by Kim Stephenson is a new MM running romance. Jamie has seen his career struggle to get back on track after some choices he made while on tour. He has been told that to win over some producers and score auditions running the London Marathon for charity may be his ticket in. He finds himself matched to Olympic hopeful and elite runner, Darius Hewitt. The two are like oil and water but end up coming to an agreement that both of their images could use a boost and enter into a fake relationship. It’s shockingly easy for the two men to fall into a relationship since the chemistry is there and they find they are more alike than they realized. Darius continues to help Jamie train for his first marathon while falling harder for the man. But being in the public eye isn’t easy as the two find out. Will their bond be strong enough to weather 26.2 miles and so much more?
This was a sweet MM romance. I enjoyed how the book was broken into training towards the marathon. Darius really struggled to trust that someone would care about him for him. Even his closest friends, he still kept at a distance because the fear of being taken advantage of runs deep. Jamie has worked so hard to get where he is and is more than frustrated when his career stalls. The two are so dedicated to their crafts and see more than they expected within each other. I appreciated the sweet moments between these men because there was plenty of tension trying to pull them apart.
3.5 stars for Jamie and Darius’s race to happily ever after.
Your Pace or Mine by Kim Stephenson is a new MM running romance. Jamie has seen his career struggle to get back on track after some choices he made while on tour. He has been told that to win over some producers and score auditions running the London Marathon for charity may be his ticket in. He finds himself matched to Olympic hopeful and elite runner, Darius Hewitt. The two are like oil and water but end up coming to an agreement that both of their images could use a boost and enter into a fake relationship. It’s shockingly easy for the two men to fall into a relationship since the chemistry is there and they find they are more alike than they realized. Darius continues to help Jamie train for his first marathon while falling harder for the man. But being in the public eye isn’t easy as the two find out. Will their bond be strong enough to weather 26.2 miles and so much more?
This was a sweet MM romance. I enjoyed how the book was broken into training towards the marathon. Darius really struggled to trust that someone would care about him for him. Even his closest friends, he still kept at a distance because the fear of being taken advantage of runs deep. Jamie has worked so hard to get where he is and is more than frustrated when his career stalls. The two are so dedicated to their crafts and see more than they expected within each other. I appreciated the sweet moments between these men because there was plenty of tension trying to pull them apart.
3.5 stars for Jamie and Darius’s race to happily ever after.
September 26, 2025
Loved all the marathon-related scenes
I absolutely adored the prequel, Soft Landings, featuring Sebastien and Nathan, and suggest you read that first because Sebastien also appears here and you may want to know his background with Darius. It's not imperative but I think it gives you a fuller picture of them and makes a bit more sense.
Jamie and Darius met at a running clinic, both of them participating for personal gain, needing good publicity. After a bit of a culture clash, they warmed up to each other and concocted the fake dating to improve their images, but each kept their real feelings for the other quiet for fear of rejection.
Darius was the stereotypical 'stiff upper lip' aristocrat, Jamie the down to earth Scouser. Opposites attract indeed. Jamie was outgoing and sociable, Darius reserved and taciturn, but they did manage to meet in the middle. I felt as though I knew Jamie much better than I did Darius.
There was the inevitable third act breakup, which I didn't love, but their HEA was good.
I loved the found family aspect, with Jamie's best friend Reggie (who had a blink and you'll miss it cameo in Soft Landings) my favourite. Jackson was good, Sebastien wonderful, and their little running group really nice. Darius' sister was funny and annoying, in the way only all younger sisters are!
Jackson and Elliott, (his rival, only mentioned here) are next.
I absolutely adored the prequel, Soft Landings, featuring Sebastien and Nathan, and suggest you read that first because Sebastien also appears here and you may want to know his background with Darius. It's not imperative but I think it gives you a fuller picture of them and makes a bit more sense.
Jamie and Darius met at a running clinic, both of them participating for personal gain, needing good publicity. After a bit of a culture clash, they warmed up to each other and concocted the fake dating to improve their images, but each kept their real feelings for the other quiet for fear of rejection.
Darius was the stereotypical 'stiff upper lip' aristocrat, Jamie the down to earth Scouser. Opposites attract indeed. Jamie was outgoing and sociable, Darius reserved and taciturn, but they did manage to meet in the middle. I felt as though I knew Jamie much better than I did Darius.
There was the inevitable third act breakup, which I didn't love, but their HEA was good.
I loved the found family aspect, with Jamie's best friend Reggie (who had a blink and you'll miss it cameo in Soft Landings) my favourite. Jackson was good, Sebastien wonderful, and their little running group really nice. Darius' sister was funny and annoying, in the way only all younger sisters are!
Jackson and Elliott, (his rival, only mentioned here) are next.
September 26, 2025
**Mild spoilers**
I really enjoyed this sports romance, which I chose because it wasn't the usual football/hockey story, and because it was an interracial romance. I will always give gay IR romances a chance, since there are not enough of them. Darius is an Olympian-level marathoner who has to fight for his right to be on the British Olympic team because his coach is a jerk who despises him for the accident of his birth and an erroneous belief about his views on LGBTQ+ matters. Jamie is a dancer whose past reputation as a playboy, though not undeserved, has made finding jobs in dance well nigh impossible. Both men struggle with demons that make their relationship, once they get over its inauspicious beginning, still a challenge to grow. I like each of them, though both are prone to jumping to conclusions as they seek to guard themselves from being hurt, and Jamie's snark could sometimes be a bit grating. I really liked the way the writer built their story through undeniable chemistry and friendship. When they finally straddle the last hurdle, I cheered loudly for them. I also enjoyed learning more about the preparation needed to run a marathon, as well as the dedication and professionalism required to do the job every day to make it to the most important event on the world stage.
I really enjoyed this sports romance, which I chose because it wasn't the usual football/hockey story, and because it was an interracial romance. I will always give gay IR romances a chance, since there are not enough of them. Darius is an Olympian-level marathoner who has to fight for his right to be on the British Olympic team because his coach is a jerk who despises him for the accident of his birth and an erroneous belief about his views on LGBTQ+ matters. Jamie is a dancer whose past reputation as a playboy, though not undeserved, has made finding jobs in dance well nigh impossible. Both men struggle with demons that make their relationship, once they get over its inauspicious beginning, still a challenge to grow. I like each of them, though both are prone to jumping to conclusions as they seek to guard themselves from being hurt, and Jamie's snark could sometimes be a bit grating. I really liked the way the writer built their story through undeniable chemistry and friendship. When they finally straddle the last hurdle, I cheered loudly for them. I also enjoyed learning more about the preparation needed to run a marathon, as well as the dedication and professionalism required to do the job every day to make it to the most important event on the world stage.
September 22, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
This sounded like an interesting sports story with two different types of men and I liked their differences, as well as their similarities. Darius is British royalty and that is all anyone sees. He can’t go anywhere without someone asking him for a donation and Darius lives a fairly isolated and sad life, despite all of his advantages. We learn he has a royal title earlier in the book, but it takes some time until we learn what his title is and I didn’t see the reason for that. Darius is also in a terrible position, as Anders, the head of the Olympic selection committee has disdain for every single thing about him and Darius has no idea why.
This story never came together the way I wanted it to. The third person POV took time to settle into, as it wasn’t cohesive in places in the story. I also felt like there were pieces of the story missing and the flow was stilted. It was too bad, because there was still something I liked about the two of them together and maybe future stories will have the series hitting its stride.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.">here.
3.25 stars
This sounded like an interesting sports story with two different types of men and I liked their differences, as well as their similarities. Darius is British royalty and that is all anyone sees. He can’t go anywhere without someone asking him for a donation and Darius lives a fairly isolated and sad life, despite all of his advantages. We learn he has a royal title earlier in the book, but it takes some time until we learn what his title is and I didn’t see the reason for that. Darius is also in a terrible position, as Anders, the head of the Olympic selection committee has disdain for every single thing about him and Darius has no idea why.
This story never came together the way I wanted it to. The third person POV took time to settle into, as it wasn’t cohesive in places in the story. I also felt like there were pieces of the story missing and the flow was stilted. It was too bad, because there was still something I liked about the two of them together and maybe future stories will have the series hitting its stride.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.">here.
September 22, 2025
This is a book about how it feels for newbies to run a marathon. Unfortunately, reading it also feels like running a marathon, except my brain hurts instead of my feet. The first half wasn't too bad, a bit slow but steady and the pace felt sustainable. In the middle it started to both really hurt (with some unnecessary angst) and really drag as well. I thought about DNFing but I was over halfway and didn't want to pull out of the race. I thought maybe it was a negative split and would pick up in the second half. Then I hit The Wall. In this case The Wall was a completely unnecessary and frankly stupid third act breakup, which could have been easily solved or not happened at all if the MCs would talk to each other. Or if Darius wasn't quite such a judgemental prick. Anyway, The Wall hit like a ton of bricks and I felt I could go no further, and didn't even want to. But again, I was nearing the finish line so gradually continued limping along, paws in agony, having completely lost the will to live, until I eventually crawled over the finish line, utterly exhausted and hating everyone. And I didn't get a medal or even a cupcake, which frankly I think I deserve at this point.
August 23, 2025
Really nice debut novel for this author. And it's about long-distance running - that's something you don't see too often in a romance novel.
Jamie, the dancer, decides to run the London Marathon to get more exposure, in the hopes of getting more jobs. Darius is someone who runs for a living, and hopes to get onto the Olympic team (Darius' family is also wealthy and titled). Darius decides to coach a group of first-time marathoners (Jamie is in this group) in order to raise his appeal to the Olympic committee. They meet, argue a bit at first, then decide they like each other well enough to do a fake romance in order to raise both their public images. Between all the running, true love happens.
Most of the issues between them come from the class difference. I liked Jamie's decision at the end - sometimes you can't fix everything, sometimes you have to just pivot. This book doesn't follow the same formula that most of these types of books do - it's something a bit different, which is a really nice thing to come across. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Jamie, the dancer, decides to run the London Marathon to get more exposure, in the hopes of getting more jobs. Darius is someone who runs for a living, and hopes to get onto the Olympic team (Darius' family is also wealthy and titled). Darius decides to coach a group of first-time marathoners (Jamie is in this group) in order to raise his appeal to the Olympic committee. They meet, argue a bit at first, then decide they like each other well enough to do a fake romance in order to raise both their public images. Between all the running, true love happens.
Most of the issues between them come from the class difference. I liked Jamie's decision at the end - sometimes you can't fix everything, sometimes you have to just pivot. This book doesn't follow the same formula that most of these types of books do - it's something a bit different, which is a really nice thing to come across. I look forward to reading more by this author.
September 11, 2025
Nice story! Darius and Jamie complemented each other well. At first it seemed like they were going to fight their way through the book! It didn’t take terribly long before the sniping turned to snarking, which was apparently their love language. Snark is my favorite.
Darius was seriously uptight. It wasn’t because he was nobility, but because of it, if that makes sense. He expected everyone to want to use him for his money or connections. His father was not a comfortable man to be around either, leaving him feeling very much alone. He brought some of it on himself, but with good reason.
Jamie was so very different. He worked just as hard dancing as Darius did running. He danced in his shows, he taught classes, took classes, you get it. Thanks to his own actions and those of a hateful ex, his career was slipping away.
It was time for drastic measures. And when those failed, time to think about what they wanted to do with their lives.
I enjoyed this far more than I thought I might!
Darius was seriously uptight. It wasn’t because he was nobility, but because of it, if that makes sense. He expected everyone to want to use him for his money or connections. His father was not a comfortable man to be around either, leaving him feeling very much alone. He brought some of it on himself, but with good reason.
Jamie was so very different. He worked just as hard dancing as Darius did running. He danced in his shows, he taught classes, took classes, you get it. Thanks to his own actions and those of a hateful ex, his career was slipping away.
It was time for drastic measures. And when those failed, time to think about what they wanted to do with their lives.
I enjoyed this far more than I thought I might!
September 26, 2025
2:05:37, S&V Hula Hoops, KT tape?, Fartlek, mint-green velvet tux jacket, full English, twig & berries, poppers, lil smokies roll
With all the technical terms and jargon, I knew the author must be a runner. Author Kim Stephenson really is one! And she must've done the London Marathon. Just like the marathon, she guides us through a planned route with Jamie and Darius. Her descriptions of the imagery and scenery make it leap off the pages.
West End actor Jamie Carter's career has dried up. So he decides to run the London Marathon thinking it'll help him to revive it. He agrees to a running clinic where he crashes into Darius Hewitt, a coach and elite runner. Darius is hoping to make GB's Olympic team, and he hopes coaching the clinic will increase his chances. Darius is also the son of the Duke of Cumberland which creates some bias against him.
I enjoyed reading this book. It felt long, but honestly, nothing can be left out; every sentence is necessary. I handily recommend it.
With all the technical terms and jargon, I knew the author must be a runner. Author Kim Stephenson really is one! And she must've done the London Marathon. Just like the marathon, she guides us through a planned route with Jamie and Darius. Her descriptions of the imagery and scenery make it leap off the pages.
West End actor Jamie Carter's career has dried up. So he decides to run the London Marathon thinking it'll help him to revive it. He agrees to a running clinic where he crashes into Darius Hewitt, a coach and elite runner. Darius is hoping to make GB's Olympic team, and he hopes coaching the clinic will increase his chances. Darius is also the son of the Duke of Cumberland which creates some bias against him.
I enjoyed reading this book. It felt long, but honestly, nothing can be left out; every sentence is necessary. I handily recommend it.
September 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! I've never read a runners book before, but this one did not disappoint.
Darius is a professional runner, trying to obtain a spot on the British Olympic team, but the head coach seemingly has it in for him, calling him a bigot and not a team player. He also happens to be a Marquess (son of a Duke). Jamie is a struggling West End dancer recovering from a nearly career ending romantic relationship. He is training for his first marathon in an attempt to win over a producer and get a part. His friend lets him in on a free runners workshop that Darius's friend also pushes him to participate in as a trainer. They quite literally run into each other, and so it begins...
I enjoyed both these characters and found myself relating to different aspects of each of their stories. It's told in alternating perspectives all leading up to the marathon day. I found this engaging and sweet with just the right amount of spice (for me). I'm definitely glad I picked this one up.
Darius is a professional runner, trying to obtain a spot on the British Olympic team, but the head coach seemingly has it in for him, calling him a bigot and not a team player. He also happens to be a Marquess (son of a Duke). Jamie is a struggling West End dancer recovering from a nearly career ending romantic relationship. He is training for his first marathon in an attempt to win over a producer and get a part. His friend lets him in on a free runners workshop that Darius's friend also pushes him to participate in as a trainer. They quite literally run into each other, and so it begins...
I enjoyed both these characters and found myself relating to different aspects of each of their stories. It's told in alternating perspectives all leading up to the marathon day. I found this engaging and sweet with just the right amount of spice (for me). I'm definitely glad I picked this one up.
September 16, 2025
I have never read an MM sports romance about running before so this book really intrigued me.
I really loved Darius and Jamie’s dynamic, they complemented each other well. Darius is an olympic marathon runner and Jamie is a dancer. I loved how the author wrote the fake dating aspect and it really worked out for Darius and Jamie. They both needed to fix their image and they teamed up to help each other but they both discovered they have deeper feelings for each other.
I also really liked the writing style of this story. It’s dual POV but written in third person. The author did really well with the characterizations and world building. The characterization of both Darius and Jamie was layered and well developed and the romance and sports was well balanced.
Overall, Your Pace or Mine is a unique sports romance that I really enjoyed and I am glad I gave this book a chance. Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC to read and review.
I really loved Darius and Jamie’s dynamic, they complemented each other well. Darius is an olympic marathon runner and Jamie is a dancer. I loved how the author wrote the fake dating aspect and it really worked out for Darius and Jamie. They both needed to fix their image and they teamed up to help each other but they both discovered they have deeper feelings for each other.
I also really liked the writing style of this story. It’s dual POV but written in third person. The author did really well with the characterizations and world building. The characterization of both Darius and Jamie was layered and well developed and the romance and sports was well balanced.
Overall, Your Pace or Mine is a unique sports romance that I really enjoyed and I am glad I gave this book a chance. Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC to read and review.
September 25, 2025
Professional marathon runner meets struggling musical theatre dancer… and what starts as fake dating to save their public images turns into something so much deeper. Darius and Jamie couldn’t come from more different worlds, yet they find comfort and love in each other’s arms.
I adored Jamie...messy, determined, hilarious, and always trying to do better. And Darius? Stoic but caring, slowly learning to embrace his privilege and use it to lift others up. Their slow shift from strangers to training buddies, to fake boyfriends, to real love felt so natural and sweet.
This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon. It’s fast-paced, heartfelt, and full of depth, with side characters that really shine. Plus, finally a sports romance that puts running at the centre of the story, so refreshing!
If you want a cute, spicy, and emotional MM sports romance that’ll leave you smiling, this one’s a must-read.
I adored Jamie...messy, determined, hilarious, and always trying to do better. And Darius? Stoic but caring, slowly learning to embrace his privilege and use it to lift others up. Their slow shift from strangers to training buddies, to fake boyfriends, to real love felt so natural and sweet.
This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon. It’s fast-paced, heartfelt, and full of depth, with side characters that really shine. Plus, finally a sports romance that puts running at the centre of the story, so refreshing!
If you want a cute, spicy, and emotional MM sports romance that’ll leave you smiling, this one’s a must-read.
August 23, 2025
I am not a runner and will never be in that 0.01%, but on the whole I enjoyed this story. Other reviewers have commented on the lack of focus on Darius's (mixed) race. It was introduced in chapter 5, the third Darius-POV chapter, so I didn't think that was particularly problematic. Then again, I'm essentially White, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt.
I agree with another reviewer that Darius's behavior in the big blow-up was less than ideal, but an explanation was eventually given for that, and I thought it made sense. Basically, I read this without glitching too hard at anything, and while it isn't a book I'll go back to time and again, I would gladly read more from this author.
My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
I agree with another reviewer that Darius's behavior in the big blow-up was less than ideal, but an explanation was eventually given for that, and I thought it made sense. Basically, I read this without glitching too hard at anything, and while it isn't a book I'll go back to time and again, I would gladly read more from this author.
My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
September 22, 2025
Thank you Kim Stephenson and Gay Romance Reviews. I was given this book as an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Just finished Your Pace or Mine by Kim Stephenson and honestly, it was such a fun read. I’ve been on a dark romance binge lately, so this felt like a great palette cleanser. It’s light, funny, and genuinely uplifting. I really liked the marathon training setting. You don’t see a lot of running-themed romances. It added such a fresh vibe to the story.
Darius and Jamie had great chemistry from the start, with sharp banter and plenty of slow-burn tension that eventually gave way to some really satisfying spice. In my opinion, not every author can pull off the fake dating trope, but Stephenson definitely nailed it here. The training-group and found-family vibes made the whole book feel warm and joyful. I loved the mix of humor and emotional moments. This was not a fabulous 5-star knockout read for me, but it was still good and left me smiling by the end.
Happy reading friends,
~ Maebae 💚
Just finished Your Pace or Mine by Kim Stephenson and honestly, it was such a fun read. I’ve been on a dark romance binge lately, so this felt like a great palette cleanser. It’s light, funny, and genuinely uplifting. I really liked the marathon training setting. You don’t see a lot of running-themed romances. It added such a fresh vibe to the story.
Darius and Jamie had great chemistry from the start, with sharp banter and plenty of slow-burn tension that eventually gave way to some really satisfying spice. In my opinion, not every author can pull off the fake dating trope, but Stephenson definitely nailed it here. The training-group and found-family vibes made the whole book feel warm and joyful. I loved the mix of humor and emotional moments. This was not a fabulous 5-star knockout read for me, but it was still good and left me smiling by the end.
Happy reading friends,
~ Maebae 💚
October 2, 2025
This is actually a very good debut novel. The MC's are very believable ..... and both with their own hurts and problems. Throw is some fake dating and it's a madhouse....but I love how they each helped the other....soothing their hurt and those pesky ideas that other's had sprouted. Loved the background and setting, the additional characters, though minor parts for some, still made an impact (even if he was just after donations !!! bahahahaha). This novel really does have the hurt/comfort, rich guy/poor guy and fake dating ..... with plenty of angst, highs'n'lows and heart-felt emotions. Those realisations.....hit ya in the feels !! Very enjoyable story and can't wait to see what's next from this author.
September 22, 2025
I love the characters of Darius and Jamie! The sunshine x grumpy trope is there, but both characters also have depth that helps drive the entire storyline. This book is light enough to be a fun read without being shallow. The spice is truly masterful and when I say there are a few scenes that are some of the best written spicy scenes I’ve ever read, I’m not exaggerating. The fake dating left some moments that rang my heart out, and some that made me laugh out loud!
This is a fresh take on a sports romance and really made me want to dust off my running shoes and hit the pavement. The romance is spot on and I’m itching for book 2 now.
This is a fresh take on a sports romance and really made me want to dust off my running shoes and hit the pavement. The romance is spot on and I’m itching for book 2 now.
September 22, 2025
Jamie has a habit of being impulsive and it comes to the fore in this story. He decides to run in a marathon to raise funds for charity but never runs. He is a dancer going through the normal ups and downs of the theatre world. Darius is a professional runner trying to represent GB at the Olympics, but the new team coach hates him because he has a title. This makes it hard for Darius to open up to anyone. Fake dating to real love is well written in this story with Jamie being the one to show Darius that there is more to him than his title. My theory is that the duke and coach had a thing in the past which has created the animosity, but this was not confirmed.
September 27, 2025
An excellent debut romance, focused on running. It's good to see a lesser seen sport in sports romance. Jamie is a dancer who signs up for a marathon, and Darius is an aristocratic Olympic-class runner who winds up as Jamie's coach, along with a few other runners. There are issues with Darius's selection so he and Jamie cook up a fake relationship. Of course there are feelings there and it gets complicated but things work out in the end. There are some great fun supporting characters and some really interesting sub plots. Great read.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 19, 2025
It was a nice book to read. Not the absolute best when some things are a bit confusing at the start. Especially Darius' background was a bit out of nowhere halfway through the book.
The writing was easy to follow even for it being a book about running and the London Marathon.
It still was a great love story between 2 completely opposite people as Jamie being the 'poor' artist and Darius from a rich family.
It's a debut novel so I'll read the next book when it comes out to see how the author develops.
The writing was easy to follow even for it being a book about running and the London Marathon.
It still was a great love story between 2 completely opposite people as Jamie being the 'poor' artist and Darius from a rich family.
It's a debut novel so I'll read the next book when it comes out to see how the author develops.
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