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American Gauntlet
Two sisters. Seven teams. One grueling competition. One life-changing cash prize.
American Gauntlet is the number one reality TV competition in the nation, and when Dani Di Laurentis gets the call that she and her sister, Lana, have been selected as contestants, she knows this is her one opportunity to change her family's life for the better. After months of intense training, she and Lana embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they attempt to take on the Gauntlet.
Dani soon finds out, though, that the American Gauntlet experience will be more than just excruciating physical challenges. Not only is she tackling grueling trials, fending off teams that are gunning for her, and dealing with the psychological warfare of the month-long competition, she also finds herself battling growing feelings for her biggest competitor, Joss.
But what none of the contestants know is American Gauntlet has game twists they never could’ve seen coming.
American Gauntlet is an action-packed love story, featuring a fast-paced plot and a sizzling romance without explicit sexual content.
American Gauntlet is the number one reality TV competition in the nation, and when Dani Di Laurentis gets the call that she and her sister, Lana, have been selected as contestants, she knows this is her one opportunity to change her family's life for the better. After months of intense training, she and Lana embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they attempt to take on the Gauntlet.
Dani soon finds out, though, that the American Gauntlet experience will be more than just excruciating physical challenges. Not only is she tackling grueling trials, fending off teams that are gunning for her, and dealing with the psychological warfare of the month-long competition, she also finds herself battling growing feelings for her biggest competitor, Joss.
But what none of the contestants know is American Gauntlet has game twists they never could’ve seen coming.
American Gauntlet is an action-packed love story, featuring a fast-paced plot and a sizzling romance without explicit sexual content.
460 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2023
24 people are currently reading
1962 people want to read
About the author
Allie Lewis
2 books62 followersAllie Lewis has been obsessed with books since she saw the movie Matilda as a little girl. After many years spent browsing the aisles of Barnes & Noble dreaming about what it would be like to be an author, she finally decided to just make it happen. Allie is a native Houstonian and graduate of the University of Oklahoma who currently lives in the Houston suburbs with her husband and two dogs. She is an advocate for individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities, and when she's not reading, writing, or guzzling coffee at her favorite coffee shop, you can find her whipping up baked goods in the kitchen, lifting weights, and obsessively listening to true crime podcasts. **Find me on Instagram at @authorallielewis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
June 15, 2023
NEW OBESSION.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I wish y’all could see how many tabs I put in this book. I LOVED IT SO DANG MUCH. It was the most unique sports romance I’ve read and was incredibly well balanced between the reality game show aspects + romantic moments.
I would like to start a petition for all love interests to be tall sunshine-filled Australians. Talk about some of the best fiery banter. OFF THE CHARTS. The chemistry could not be contained. I was obsessed with Joss and Dani. OBSESSED. Every moment was absolutely stunning.
And the competition was INTENSE. Think Survivor + Fear Factor. I loved the set-up and how each competition played out. There was just the right amount of time spent wondering WHO WAS GOING TO WIN and time spent getting to know the side characters and having a storyline outside of the Gauntlet.
I loved Dani’s growth. She grew so much over the book. Learning to value herself and that it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes. Reconnecting with her sister, being open to love, and showing off the sportsmanship that I love seeing.
I can’t get enough of this book and I NEED Y’ALL TO READ IT OKAY. If you’re looking for a unique sports romance with great characters, fierce events, self-discovery and the sweetest ending. TRUST ME YOU NEED THIS BOOK.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Sports Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, a mother with past alcohol abuse, near drowning, allergic reactions, depictions of anxiety, mentions of cancer
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I wish y’all could see how many tabs I put in this book. I LOVED IT SO DANG MUCH. It was the most unique sports romance I’ve read and was incredibly well balanced between the reality game show aspects + romantic moments.
I would like to start a petition for all love interests to be tall sunshine-filled Australians. Talk about some of the best fiery banter. OFF THE CHARTS. The chemistry could not be contained. I was obsessed with Joss and Dani. OBSESSED. Every moment was absolutely stunning.
“The only thing I’m wondering is what it would be like to be loved with that kind of fervor…what it would be like to be loved by you.”
And the competition was INTENSE. Think Survivor + Fear Factor. I loved the set-up and how each competition played out. There was just the right amount of time spent wondering WHO WAS GOING TO WIN and time spent getting to know the side characters and having a storyline outside of the Gauntlet.
I loved Dani’s growth. She grew so much over the book. Learning to value herself and that it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes. Reconnecting with her sister, being open to love, and showing off the sportsmanship that I love seeing.
“You’re the rain in the desert, Dani — and I’ll beg for you.”
I can’t get enough of this book and I NEED Y’ALL TO READ IT OKAY. If you’re looking for a unique sports romance with great characters, fierce events, self-discovery and the sweetest ending. TRUST ME YOU NEED THIS BOOK.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Sports Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, a mother with past alcohol abuse, near drowning, allergic reactions, depictions of anxiety, mentions of cancer
June 30, 2023
Do you ever feel like some books were written specifically for you?
That’s how I feel about American Gauntlet!
This story is action packed, with a fitness reality show setting and a sweet yet sexy romance. There’s kick butt fitness rep that is inspirational and is written for every girl who ever wanted to feel strong and capable of pushing herself through hard things. I finally got the rep I’ve been looking for that wasn’t in a fantasy and it was SO GOOD.
As someone who binges shows like Survivor, Amazing Race, and ANW. I devoured the challenge portions of this book. Oh the nostalgia was strong with this one!
But, what’s amazing about this book is that it’s almost 500 pages and it felt like it was over too soon. It totally busted my reading slump. The competitive environment surrounding the romance was so fun. You get this forced proximity with a shared passion, with added high stakes that really makes this book SO bingeable. And man is our main man a true winner. Their relationship blooms on the page naturally like it would in a real life.
I loved the side characters and couldn’t get enough page time with Dani and her lovable Aussie. The chemistry is electric yet perfectly suitable for YA AND above.
One of my favorite romances of the year. If you like kick butt females, competition environments, sweet romance, found friendships and overcoming obstacles…
Pick up American Gauntlet!
That’s how I feel about American Gauntlet!
This story is action packed, with a fitness reality show setting and a sweet yet sexy romance. There’s kick butt fitness rep that is inspirational and is written for every girl who ever wanted to feel strong and capable of pushing herself through hard things. I finally got the rep I’ve been looking for that wasn’t in a fantasy and it was SO GOOD.
As someone who binges shows like Survivor, Amazing Race, and ANW. I devoured the challenge portions of this book. Oh the nostalgia was strong with this one!
But, what’s amazing about this book is that it’s almost 500 pages and it felt like it was over too soon. It totally busted my reading slump. The competitive environment surrounding the romance was so fun. You get this forced proximity with a shared passion, with added high stakes that really makes this book SO bingeable. And man is our main man a true winner. Their relationship blooms on the page naturally like it would in a real life.
I loved the side characters and couldn’t get enough page time with Dani and her lovable Aussie. The chemistry is electric yet perfectly suitable for YA AND above.
One of my favorite romances of the year. If you like kick butt females, competition environments, sweet romance, found friendships and overcoming obstacles…
Pick up American Gauntlet!
June 7, 2023
SO FREAKIN’ GOOD! I couldn’t put this down. I finished this in less than 24 hours because I loved it ALL. The competition, the action, the sweet romance, the family love Ahhhh it was so perfect and unique in every way. HIGHLY recommend.
October 11, 2023
Before picking this up, I was in the worst slump. It lifted me out and gave me hope that I'm not terrible at requesting ARC's, and helped me to love reading again.
"Anything for you, sunshine."
Imagine if you blended up reality TV like The Amazing Race, Ninja Warrior, Survivor and threw in a healthy dash of an Australian accent, sexy abs, swoony-make-you-emotional-romantic-scenes and voila! American Gauntlet.
I appreciated how Allie wrote a tender romance that was enhanced by an exhilarating competition. It felt fresh and new. I applaud her in crafting a plot I’ve never read before.
THOUGHTS:
There are some gag inducing challenges the characters have to endure so be prepared. My thriller lovers will appreciate those. Don’t let it scare you. It added an exciting layer to the story, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
OVERALL:
This was a book that simply brought me joy. I loved every sweaty, gross, intense, surprising, heartfelt and romantic moment.
"Anything for you, sunshine."
Imagine if you blended up reality TV like The Amazing Race, Ninja Warrior, Survivor and threw in a healthy dash of an Australian accent, sexy abs, swoony-make-you-emotional-romantic-scenes and voila! American Gauntlet.
I appreciated how Allie wrote a tender romance that was enhanced by an exhilarating competition. It felt fresh and new. I applaud her in crafting a plot I’ve never read before.
THOUGHTS:
There are some gag inducing challenges the characters have to endure so be prepared. My thriller lovers will appreciate those. Don’t let it scare you. It added an exciting layer to the story, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
OVERALL:
This was a book that simply brought me joy. I loved every sweaty, gross, intense, surprising, heartfelt and romantic moment.
February 26, 2024
Pro tip for historical readers giving in to the fear of missing out on raved-about contemporaries: just imagine this heroine is a Medieval maiden training and entering a tournament to aid her long-suffering family’s coffers with the winnings and the worthy rival golden knight that’s in her way by also fighting to win her heart. Worked for me! Also the comparison particularly apt since this level of fitness lifestyle is as foreign to me as the Dark Age Balkans, and I’d personally rather face conquering hordes than enter a public gym.
Agh, but I’m so glad I held on and read this! Though it served to get us truly on Dani’s side from the start, the set up was a little drawn out for me, and I’m an idiot whose eyes start glazing over if you put my lacking spatial reasoning to the test with too many challenge instructions, so I was ready to wave an exhausted white flag for a minute there (there’s a reason why I mostly read love stories where the most the peril escalates is to a fit of vapors from a ballroom crush, as it turns out I don’t have the stamina to even unaffectedly read this amount of physical strain). But once that forced proximity started kicking in, and I realized what we were working with in terms of the fundamental depth and the relationship progression this competition scenario would provide, I was all in for the romance. And it’s the make-you-giddy kind.
Not even my favorite hero archetype with his golden boy mega-watt personality and a positive outlook that could power his own solar system, Joss could’ve gone the way of the too-perfect hero complaint. I did want to proclaim once or twice in swooning frustration “You can rage at her, you know? Stop being so perfect with your stupid, perfect face and cerulean eyes saying the perfect things with your Aussie accent and your stupid, perfect face!” But there are two main factors that kept Joss solid for me: capable, steady presence under all that sunshine, and, most of all in the giddy department and a rare creature indeed, a hero who is just in total awe of her. We don’t even get his POV, but, once I could tell this competition was just peeling back Dani’s layers and making her stubborn kindness and laser-focused devotion shine, and he’s just standing there slack-jawed with admiration, becoming both lady’s champion and ultimate supporter, oh I was cheering from the stands. And with good reasons since Dani is such a great heroine with all her self-sacrificing big sister plight and more grit and coordination than I can comprehend. Loved how they were opposites yet complementary and had mutual admiration based on both competence and heart (ok, and sculpted physiques). Half way through, the pacing and reveals were just so investing, and I was so happy with the change in dynamic. Who knew suspicious mud and borderline torture methods could serve as such effective relationship building? Not this delighted reader.
I loved it. Now where’s my epilogue? Some Epsom salts and a heating pad while we’re at it.
Content notes: Kissing only with midly descriptive make outs (brief mention of tongue). Toxic previous relationship, mention of infidelity, parent abandonment, mention of alcoholism and child neglect. Mention of childhood cancer.
Agh, but I’m so glad I held on and read this! Though it served to get us truly on Dani’s side from the start, the set up was a little drawn out for me, and I’m an idiot whose eyes start glazing over if you put my lacking spatial reasoning to the test with too many challenge instructions, so I was ready to wave an exhausted white flag for a minute there (there’s a reason why I mostly read love stories where the most the peril escalates is to a fit of vapors from a ballroom crush, as it turns out I don’t have the stamina to even unaffectedly read this amount of physical strain). But once that forced proximity started kicking in, and I realized what we were working with in terms of the fundamental depth and the relationship progression this competition scenario would provide, I was all in for the romance. And it’s the make-you-giddy kind.
Not even my favorite hero archetype with his golden boy mega-watt personality and a positive outlook that could power his own solar system, Joss could’ve gone the way of the too-perfect hero complaint. I did want to proclaim once or twice in swooning frustration “You can rage at her, you know? Stop being so perfect with your stupid, perfect face and cerulean eyes saying the perfect things with your Aussie accent and your stupid, perfect face!” But there are two main factors that kept Joss solid for me: capable, steady presence under all that sunshine, and, most of all in the giddy department and a rare creature indeed, a hero who is just in total awe of her. We don’t even get his POV, but, once I could tell this competition was just peeling back Dani’s layers and making her stubborn kindness and laser-focused devotion shine, and he’s just standing there slack-jawed with admiration, becoming both lady’s champion and ultimate supporter, oh I was cheering from the stands. And with good reasons since Dani is such a great heroine with all her self-sacrificing big sister plight and more grit and coordination than I can comprehend. Loved how they were opposites yet complementary and had mutual admiration based on both competence and heart (ok, and sculpted physiques). Half way through, the pacing and reveals were just so investing, and I was so happy with the change in dynamic. Who knew suspicious mud and borderline torture methods could serve as such effective relationship building? Not this delighted reader.
I loved it. Now where’s my epilogue? Some Epsom salts and a heating pad while we’re at it.
Content notes: Kissing only with midly descriptive make outs (brief mention of tongue). Toxic previous relationship, mention of infidelity, parent abandonment, mention of alcoholism and child neglect. Mention of childhood cancer.
July 2, 2024
Read if you like:
🧡Sports Romance
🧡Rivals to Lovers
🧡Banter & tension
🧡Australian MMC
🧡Amazing side characters
🧡Strong & Fit FMC
🧡Sister Bonds
If you have ever watched and enjoyed shows like The Challenge, Fear Factor, or Survivor you will like this one. It’s as if you are placed right into a season with the seven teams as they face all kinds of challenges, obstacles, twists and turns, snakes, and yes having to eat questionable and gross things!
I read this story last year but when the audiobook was announced I had to listen and Cj Lock killed it! She did such an awesome job bringing this story to life and fit Dani’s voice perfectly! She really brought out the suspense, tension, and intensity making you feel as if you were there watching the competitions happen in real time.
I loved the fitness rep and strength of Dani and the message that women can be both strong and feminine. The banter, tension, and relationship between Joss & Dani is great! The side characters are equally wonderful, and everyone needs a best friend like Ford.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
steam level: kissing with mild descriptive make out (lvl 3), parent abandonment, child neglect, mention of alcoholism, childhood cancer mentioned, previous toxic relationship mentioned
🧡Sports Romance
🧡Rivals to Lovers
🧡Banter & tension
🧡Australian MMC
🧡Amazing side characters
🧡Strong & Fit FMC
🧡Sister Bonds
If you have ever watched and enjoyed shows like The Challenge, Fear Factor, or Survivor you will like this one. It’s as if you are placed right into a season with the seven teams as they face all kinds of challenges, obstacles, twists and turns, snakes, and yes having to eat questionable and gross things!
I read this story last year but when the audiobook was announced I had to listen and Cj Lock killed it! She did such an awesome job bringing this story to life and fit Dani’s voice perfectly! She really brought out the suspense, tension, and intensity making you feel as if you were there watching the competitions happen in real time.
I loved the fitness rep and strength of Dani and the message that women can be both strong and feminine. The banter, tension, and relationship between Joss & Dani is great! The side characters are equally wonderful, and everyone needs a best friend like Ford.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
steam level: kissing with mild descriptive make out (lvl 3), parent abandonment, child neglect, mention of alcoholism, childhood cancer mentioned, previous toxic relationship mentioned
August 4, 2023
This story was absolutely amazing. I can't believe how much it sucked me in and how much it inspired me to want to write a story as engaging and captivating as this one. I'd definitely read more by Allie Lewis.
October 31, 2023
It took me some time to crack this book open…it was a summer book club pick and I didn’t get into it until Fall. While I was unsure of the direction I’m glad I decided to jump in and go on this adventure.
June 25, 2023
Even if I had 20 guesses to guess genre based off cover alone, I still would never have guessed contemporary romance. In fact, I’ve seen the cover on IG and thought it was nonfiction at first. Then I thought it was military fiction. It wasn’t until someone posted a review on the romance alone and I outright asked that I was 🤯 to learn it’s romance. Anywho… the first 6 chapters or so…I have to say I almost set the book down because of its really slow start. In my opinion those chapters could have either been condensed or condensed and sprinkled throughout. HOWEVER! Once the competition (and the book!) really got started (and the love interests met), I began to enjoy myself and the story! It’s like Survivor, Fear Factor, and American Ninja Warrior combined competition and Dani is a beast. I love that she’s ripped and proud of her hard work to be that strong, mentally and physically. Joss is just everything. That speech about the rain…one of the best ever. 😍
September 20, 2025
4.25
i grew up watching fear factor with my dad & over the past year i have become obsessed with survivor so this was SUCH a fun read. i loved the reality tv aspect & it just literally felt like i was reading a season of survivor which was so much fun. the challenges were crazy and some of them literally had me shocked. i wish i had a video of my facial expressions reading some of them because EW. the stakes were high & the setting was immersive and honestly i enjoyed every bit of this read.
the romance was so pure and honest and precious. i loved the MMC & i really loved the self realization and growth that the FMC did.
the chemistry was soo good & the way that the MMC was described as sunshine just made me so happy. & the way he described her too?? i’m in love !
i wasn’t a huuuge fan of the nicknames and how often they were used lol.
but all in all, this was great and i’m grateful allie sent me a copy🫶🏽
i need me a tall, beautiful, blue eyed australian man, please & thank you!
🔥NO SPICE🔥one heated make out scene
🤐NO STRONG LANGUAGE🤐
i grew up watching fear factor with my dad & over the past year i have become obsessed with survivor so this was SUCH a fun read. i loved the reality tv aspect & it just literally felt like i was reading a season of survivor which was so much fun. the challenges were crazy and some of them literally had me shocked. i wish i had a video of my facial expressions reading some of them because EW. the stakes were high & the setting was immersive and honestly i enjoyed every bit of this read.
the romance was so pure and honest and precious. i loved the MMC & i really loved the self realization and growth that the FMC did.
the chemistry was soo good & the way that the MMC was described as sunshine just made me so happy. & the way he described her too?? i’m in love !
i wasn’t a huuuge fan of the nicknames and how often they were used lol.
but all in all, this was great and i’m grateful allie sent me a copy🫶🏽
i need me a tall, beautiful, blue eyed australian man, please & thank you!
🔥NO SPICE🔥one heated make out scene
🤐NO STRONG LANGUAGE🤐
March 1, 2024
This was such a fun book to read. Action packed, with sweet family moments and a top notch slow burn romance. I loved every second of it! Also, it was fun having a FMC with my name!
July 12, 2025
Absolutely loved this! Highly recommend!! So fun and fresh. It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve read such a fun book. Would be great for teens too.
June 12, 2023
read if you love:
💪🏼rivals to lovers
💪🏼banter and tension
💪🏼nicknames
💪🏼reality tv
💪🏼forced proximity
💪🏼slow burn
💪🏼competition
y’all — this was the book i didn’t know i needed. i used to be obsessed with the real
world/road rules challenge on mtv and i love survivor. take all that, put it in blender, and add in some drama and romance and you’ve got this amazing story!!
dani’s journey was emotional and intense right from the beginning. everything she does has a selfless purpose which was amazing since she had been abandoned so much earlier in life. instead of letting that trauma conquer her, she used it to fuel her desire to give everyone in her family a better life, especially her sister penny.
it’s hard to put into words the roller coaster ride that this story is. i felt every emotion and allie lewis expertly painted a beautiful word picture time and again whether is was describing the american gauntlet compound or one of the challenges. i was able to envision the twists and turns of this book so vividly, it was like i was living it myself. i was so invested that i wish this was a real show!! i would totally watch it.
and the romance?! 😮💨 folks, we don’t get just one meet cute…we get two!! dani and joss were the ultimate rivals to lovers. they delivered all the banter and tension i crave when reading this trope. it made for such a delicious slow burn. the verbal sparing gave me life and i could have never anticipated how the competition would bring them together. this story is emotional and intense so i loved the secondary characters who brought the lighthearted moments. and i enjoyed the friendships that were forged in the fires of competition. this book stole my heart and is easily one of favorite books this year!
thank you to the author for an advanced copy. my thoughts are my own.
💪🏼rivals to lovers
💪🏼banter and tension
💪🏼nicknames
💪🏼reality tv
💪🏼forced proximity
💪🏼slow burn
💪🏼competition
y’all — this was the book i didn’t know i needed. i used to be obsessed with the real
world/road rules challenge on mtv and i love survivor. take all that, put it in blender, and add in some drama and romance and you’ve got this amazing story!!
dani’s journey was emotional and intense right from the beginning. everything she does has a selfless purpose which was amazing since she had been abandoned so much earlier in life. instead of letting that trauma conquer her, she used it to fuel her desire to give everyone in her family a better life, especially her sister penny.
it’s hard to put into words the roller coaster ride that this story is. i felt every emotion and allie lewis expertly painted a beautiful word picture time and again whether is was describing the american gauntlet compound or one of the challenges. i was able to envision the twists and turns of this book so vividly, it was like i was living it myself. i was so invested that i wish this was a real show!! i would totally watch it.
and the romance?! 😮💨 folks, we don’t get just one meet cute…we get two!! dani and joss were the ultimate rivals to lovers. they delivered all the banter and tension i crave when reading this trope. it made for such a delicious slow burn. the verbal sparing gave me life and i could have never anticipated how the competition would bring them together. this story is emotional and intense so i loved the secondary characters who brought the lighthearted moments. and i enjoyed the friendships that were forged in the fires of competition. this book stole my heart and is easily one of favorite books this year!
thank you to the author for an advanced copy. my thoughts are my own.
July 1, 2025
Third read-through: while my initial quibbles stand (I don’t think selfishness is the answer to unhealthy sacrifices), I can’t deny that I love reading this book (given the number of times I’ve re-read it) so I’m going to put it back at five stars and leave it there.
Second read-through: still a fantastic story! I love Dani and Joss, and I like how their relationship slowly builds into one of trust. It’s also just a fun read, with all the high stakes you’d expect from a reality show. This is where I falter (and must leave this book at 4 stars): I am very wary of “putting yourself first” plot-lines. Look, I think the author did a good job of showing how Dani needed to “grow up” by setting aside the coping mechanisms she used as a child. But putting other people first, even sacrificially, is not a bad thing; it can be complex if you’re doing it in an unhealthy way (which Dani did at different points) but the solution is not putting yourself first instead. Anyway, maybe that’s nit picky but it sets off little red flags for me when selfishness is presented as a step forward.
First read-through: This was one of those “bookstagram made me do it” reads and oh my goodness gracious, the people were right! “American Gauntlet” literally had me in its grip this entire evening– I had to know what happened to Dani in this fictional reality show where “Fear Factor” meets “Ninja Warrior” and then crash-courses into “Wipeout.” And the (clean!) romance was swoon-worthy. I mean, come on, a sassy, muscled Aussie with scads of useless trivia and a “who did this to you” kind of protective vibe? Anyway, all the emotional reading stars from me and what a great way to kick off the month of July! Because what’s more American than a reality show? (Just kidding. Mostly.)
Second read-through: still a fantastic story! I love Dani and Joss, and I like how their relationship slowly builds into one of trust. It’s also just a fun read, with all the high stakes you’d expect from a reality show. This is where I falter (and must leave this book at 4 stars): I am very wary of “putting yourself first” plot-lines. Look, I think the author did a good job of showing how Dani needed to “grow up” by setting aside the coping mechanisms she used as a child. But putting other people first, even sacrificially, is not a bad thing; it can be complex if you’re doing it in an unhealthy way (which Dani did at different points) but the solution is not putting yourself first instead. Anyway, maybe that’s nit picky but it sets off little red flags for me when selfishness is presented as a step forward.
First read-through: This was one of those “bookstagram made me do it” reads and oh my goodness gracious, the people were right! “American Gauntlet” literally had me in its grip this entire evening– I had to know what happened to Dani in this fictional reality show where “Fear Factor” meets “Ninja Warrior” and then crash-courses into “Wipeout.” And the (clean!) romance was swoon-worthy. I mean, come on, a sassy, muscled Aussie with scads of useless trivia and a “who did this to you” kind of protective vibe? Anyway, all the emotional reading stars from me and what a great way to kick off the month of July! Because what’s more American than a reality show? (Just kidding. Mostly.)
June 26, 2023
(Screaming into hand) OH MY LANDS!!!! This was INCREDIBLE!! An absolute MASTERPIECE!!! Instant favorite and definitely more than 5 stars. I LOVED everything about this book, absolutely everything! The suspense was killing me and kept me flying through the pages!
Dani was legit such an amazing protagonist! I was so deeply invested in her story and was hardcore rooting for every good thing coming her way! Penny was such a sweetie 🩷 Ford was the absolute best stand-in big brother ever!! I loved his and Dani’s friendship. Lana annoyed me a tad bit, but only because I was rooting so hard for Dani. She definitely redeemed herself in the end 😉
Let’s just take a moment for Joss…the Australian sweetheart. That accent though 🔥 killed me every time 🫠 “Sunshine” & “Menace”, umm yes please!! I cannot express just how much I adored this giant Aussie ♥️
{I hate the way that I love the way my name sounds when he says it.}
{“You have my favorite laugh in the entire world. I think I’ll record it and just listen to it over and over and over again.”}
{“The only thing I’m wondering is what it would be like to be loved with that kind of fervor…what it would be like to be loved by you.”}
Dani was legit such an amazing protagonist! I was so deeply invested in her story and was hardcore rooting for every good thing coming her way! Penny was such a sweetie 🩷 Ford was the absolute best stand-in big brother ever!! I loved his and Dani’s friendship. Lana annoyed me a tad bit, but only because I was rooting so hard for Dani. She definitely redeemed herself in the end 😉
Let’s just take a moment for Joss…the Australian sweetheart. That accent though 🔥 killed me every time 🫠 “Sunshine” & “Menace”, umm yes please!! I cannot express just how much I adored this giant Aussie ♥️
{I hate the way that I love the way my name sounds when he says it.}
{“You have my favorite laugh in the entire world. I think I’ll record it and just listen to it over and over and over again.”}
{“The only thing I’m wondering is what it would be like to be loved with that kind of fervor…what it would be like to be loved by you.”}
June 12, 2023
I loved this book so much. A unique and fun romance with twists and action. Full review coming soon
August 6, 2024
4.75 maybe even will update to 5 stars!! i have NEVER read a book like this before! i dont really watch reality tv, so every single part of the competition had me actually gasping for air and the romance was SO raw and beautiful?? the story was much more emotionally impactful than i expected but that is a component of all of my favorite romance books, so ofc i loved it. the only flaw in my book was the excessive use of pet names because that is one of my biggest pet peeves but i understand the vision. it was still cute at times. i love books full of gym rats that need therapy apparently! oh my gosh this was so good!
January 19, 2024
This was so fun and different for a read on KU. I loved the reality show/competition aspect of it. The family, romance, and side characters were so good tho too. Rounding up from a 3.5
June 15, 2023
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I legit couldn't get enough and devoured it today!!!! It was like I really was watching a fitness TV show competition!!!! The characters were just so fantastic and the romance was so swoony!!! 😍😍😍
The main character is so hardcore. I have been craving a book involving fitness and I am here for it!! I want more! This has me feeling so fired about working out that I can't wait for my run and strength workout tomorrow!!! Now I really wanna get strong like Dani!!! I just loved it all!!! Did I mention the romance?! SO FREAKING CUTE! This felt so unique. Do yourself a favor and read this one! Plus there was so stupid conflicts!!!! It's on KU!!🙌
The main character is so hardcore. I have been craving a book involving fitness and I am here for it!! I want more! This has me feeling so fired about working out that I can't wait for my run and strength workout tomorrow!!! Now I really wanna get strong like Dani!!! I just loved it all!!! Did I mention the romance?! SO FREAKING CUTE! This felt so unique. Do yourself a favor and read this one! Plus there was so stupid conflicts!!!! It's on KU!!🙌
March 9, 2024
Oh my word, this book came highly recommended by bookstabesties and I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner—it is an exciting, fast-paced, reality tv competition, competitors-to-more story that is fun, along with so many deep layers and amazing relationship building. I related so much to Dani that I was brought to tears multiple times. Healing, refreshing, “seen” tears. And I ended the book with the biggest smile on my face. It was just the best.
This one is going to stick with me.
This one is going to stick with me.
July 16, 2023
I LOVED this book. One of my favorites of the year for sure. It was a great mixture of adventure, and amazing characters and a sweet romance. I love the setting of a challenge/adventure reality TV show. It was really cool to be behind the scenes of it and also see the characters do the challenges. I love the main character Dani. She was so real and relatable. I loved that she was confident in herself, yet she still had her own issues that she battled and worked on throughout the book. I also love that she is fit and strong. She has definitely inspired me to start weightlifting. :) And Joss! 😍 And I love a book with awesome side characters also! I was so sad when it ended. I wanted more. :)
June 16, 2023
If you are dying to read a contemporary romance that is unique & new? Welp look no further than AG!
I loved every moment of this book! Dani & her weakness & strengths, HER BICEPS, her family, the ACTION, the contestants, especially the blue eyed Aussie 👀!
My gosh y’all if you don’t want to read this for the action, then please, read it for the slow burn! It was SO GOOD! One scene left me SWOONING & everything our Menace said I just melted into a puddle! Plus, he’s Australian like….UGH
Yeah I def recommend reading this one!
I loved every moment of this book! Dani & her weakness & strengths, HER BICEPS, her family, the ACTION, the contestants, especially the blue eyed Aussie 👀!
My gosh y’all if you don’t want to read this for the action, then please, read it for the slow burn! It was SO GOOD! One scene left me SWOONING & everything our Menace said I just melted into a puddle! Plus, he’s Australian like….UGH
Yeah I def recommend reading this one!
October 9, 2024
This was cute. Definitely Survivor meets Amazing Race vibes.
The amount of times Joss called Dani ‘Sunshine’ was a bit overkill….
The amount of times Joss called Dani ‘Sunshine’ was a bit overkill….
December 31, 2025
Enjoyed the challenge and twists but the main character annoyed me a bit
July 5, 2023
What a fun, unique story! I really enjoyed the reality tv aspect of it—think Survivor meets Fear Factor, with a bit of American Ninja Warrior.
The challenges they had to face were intense and I enjoyed the camaraderie of the other contestants. There were also some fun twists and of course, drama!
The romance was swoony! I mean, who wouldn’t want a beautiful, strong man with an Australian accent?! Joss and Dani’s relationship was so sweet.
There were a few cheesy moments and a couple things that didn’t quite work for me—especially when it came to the relationship between Dani and her sister. I felt like I needed more from them, a stronger bond.
Overall, this was such a fun read and I definitely recommend!
Content: Kissing
The challenges they had to face were intense and I enjoyed the camaraderie of the other contestants. There were also some fun twists and of course, drama!
The romance was swoony! I mean, who wouldn’t want a beautiful, strong man with an Australian accent?! Joss and Dani’s relationship was so sweet.
There were a few cheesy moments and a couple things that didn’t quite work for me—especially when it came to the relationship between Dani and her sister. I felt like I needed more from them, a stronger bond.
Overall, this was such a fun read and I definitely recommend!
Content: Kissing
June 15, 2023
This book is just simply amazing. It is so different from any book I have ever read. I’m obsessed with romance, and growing up I loved watching survivor with my dad. This book combines both of those things and +++++SLOW BURNNNNNN(my fav)
Allie did such an amazing job, not only with the main characters, but the side characters as well. I found myself not knowing who I wanted to win because I loved them all! This truly was an adventurous read, made me want to get up off my booty and be active.
I was obsessed with Brought To Light so it’s no surprise I loved her second book as well. Her two books are so different in plot but so rich in setting and characters!
You can expect:
☀️strong FMC
🌊rivals to lovers
⛵️slow burn
🪲reality show
💕banter and TENSION
🌄 forced proximity
This is a must read for summer!!!
Allie did such an amazing job, not only with the main characters, but the side characters as well. I found myself not knowing who I wanted to win because I loved them all! This truly was an adventurous read, made me want to get up off my booty and be active.
I was obsessed with Brought To Light so it’s no surprise I loved her second book as well. Her two books are so different in plot but so rich in setting and characters!
You can expect:
☀️strong FMC
🌊rivals to lovers
⛵️slow burn
🪲reality show
💕banter and TENSION
🌄 forced proximity
This is a must read for summer!!!
Read
July 13, 2023I really liked this book….I wish you could do half stars. It’s not a three and it’s not a four but right in between!
June 12, 2023
Allie is a new to me author, but when I saw she wrote a book centered around a pair of sisters competing in a grueling reality tv competition, I immediately signed up for an ARC.
If you love watching the Survivor or Fear Factor, you’ll love this. I genuinely had so much fun reading it, I was dying alongside the characters during some of their trials😂 This is a action packed novel, full of so much heart and love. Seriously I was not anticipating the tears I shed lol. AND THE ROMANCE. The romance is everything. I felt like a little kid with how excited I was once I realized how the love interest was being introduced😂♥️ I love reading sport romances, but sometimes I wish they had a little bit more of the sport aspect. The American Gauntlet accomplishes that, without feeling overwhelming or boring. Seriously it just feels like you’re competing alongside them. Okay, this is a ramble of thoughts, but seriously read this book.
If you love watching the Survivor or Fear Factor, you’ll love this. I genuinely had so much fun reading it, I was dying alongside the characters during some of their trials😂 This is a action packed novel, full of so much heart and love. Seriously I was not anticipating the tears I shed lol. AND THE ROMANCE. The romance is everything. I felt like a little kid with how excited I was once I realized how the love interest was being introduced😂♥️ I love reading sport romances, but sometimes I wish they had a little bit more of the sport aspect. The American Gauntlet accomplishes that, without feeling overwhelming or boring. Seriously it just feels like you’re competing alongside them. Okay, this is a ramble of thoughts, but seriously read this book.
June 1, 2023
literally obsessed with anything allie lewis writes!! 🫶🫶
brought to light has been one of my favorite books i’ve read so far this year, so i’m so grateful i was able to receive and arc of american gauntlet :)
the action and romance in this book kept me entertained the whole time and i was eager to finish the book to see what would happen with the main characters dani and joss (my new boyfriend 😘😘)
also, the writing was so amazing and you can definitely see the improvement from BTL. allie lewis is for suuuure going to be a new instant buy author for me.
and lastly, this book is such a good summer/beach read… honestly kinda sad i didn’t wait to read this until my summer vacation, but i was just too excited, i had to read it immediately lolll
★★★★.5
brought to light has been one of my favorite books i’ve read so far this year, so i’m so grateful i was able to receive and arc of american gauntlet :)
the action and romance in this book kept me entertained the whole time and i was eager to finish the book to see what would happen with the main characters dani and joss (my new boyfriend 😘😘)
also, the writing was so amazing and you can definitely see the improvement from BTL. allie lewis is for suuuure going to be a new instant buy author for me.
and lastly, this book is such a good summer/beach read… honestly kinda sad i didn’t wait to read this until my summer vacation, but i was just too excited, i had to read it immediately lolll
★★★★.5
December 7, 2024
Audio Review
Series: no
Genre: contemporary romance/Reality TV Show
Romance Level: Closed door 3 (kisses)
Audio Release Date: June 21, 2024
Indie Published
My Favorite Parts:
Small gestures
Intense Competition
Unique story
Nicknames
Sisters
Matching uniforms
Austrailian MMC
Tough FMC
Climbing up Peg Wall
Rivals to more
First off, the audio for American Gauntlet was freaking amazing! The narrator, CJ, for this one did a nail-biting, heart-pounding, and mind-blowing performance. This book. Never have I been on the edge of my seat so much for a book. It made me want to toughen up, work out, and my gag reflex definitely was tested. Lol! So many gross moments that added variety to the suspense of it all.
And oh the swoony kissing moments. Joss is melty!
Never have I been encouraged to exercise more than after finishing this book. Or want to watch those reality tv shows of survival!
Do you have what it takes to face the gauntlet? Read and find out! I wouldn’t last 2 seconds.
Content Warnings: biblical infrequent swearing, intense perilous moments, disgusting/gross moments, references to troubled childhood, kissing (makeouts with tongue), no explicit or implied scenes
Trigger Warnings: referenced: troubled childhood, parental neglect, cancer; phobias: snakes, needles, trapped in small spaces
Series: no
Genre: contemporary romance/Reality TV Show
Romance Level: Closed door 3 (kisses)
Audio Release Date: June 21, 2024
Indie Published
My Favorite Parts:
Small gestures
Intense Competition
Unique story
Nicknames
Sisters
Matching uniforms
Austrailian MMC
Tough FMC
Climbing up Peg Wall
Rivals to more
First off, the audio for American Gauntlet was freaking amazing! The narrator, CJ, for this one did a nail-biting, heart-pounding, and mind-blowing performance. This book. Never have I been on the edge of my seat so much for a book. It made me want to toughen up, work out, and my gag reflex definitely was tested. Lol! So many gross moments that added variety to the suspense of it all.
And oh the swoony kissing moments. Joss is melty!
Never have I been encouraged to exercise more than after finishing this book. Or want to watch those reality tv shows of survival!
Do you have what it takes to face the gauntlet? Read and find out! I wouldn’t last 2 seconds.
Content Warnings: biblical infrequent swearing, intense perilous moments, disgusting/gross moments, references to troubled childhood, kissing (makeouts with tongue), no explicit or implied scenes
Trigger Warnings: referenced: troubled childhood, parental neglect, cancer; phobias: snakes, needles, trapped in small spaces
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