This book was ultimately underwhelming. Very confused about where the storyline ended up heading especially based on the summary. Main characters were not overly likeable and chemistry was just not there between them.

In this book we meet Jessica & Paul. Jessica is getting over her last boyfriend, a career that she loves but isn’t doing as well as she would like, and a nag of a brother.

Jessica is thrown a curve ball when she collapses during a Turkey Trot race she was doing with her brother, and has a meet cute with Paul who carries her to get checked out by paramedics. She learns she has heart issues and while she is learning to navigate all this she keeps chancing into Paul.

Paul is going through his own issues with grief of his parents, the last relationship he had that he feels he left down the child (not his), his aging grandparents that live in a different state, and his own business.

Throughout it all it’s a heart warming story that reminds us in the end what matters most is love always love that make life worth living. Thank you Netgallery & Suzanne Collier for choosing me to be an arc reader for this book. I hope there is a book 2 <3.

A decent holiday read. This was easy to follow and easy to read in one sitting however some of it was a bit flat. Nevertheless a decent story with decent characters

This book was a tough read for me—it felt like treading water. There was just too much going on: her health and work problems, his grandparents’ situation, and even side characters’ life stories that didn’t really add to the plot. I kept waiting for things to come together, but the ending felt rushed and left me with more questions than answers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Splitrail Publishing for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

Deeply Personal offers a heartwarming take on the fake-dating trope, enriched by themes of personal growth and vulnerability. The novel's strength lies in its dual perspectives, allowing readers to delve into both Jessica's and Paul's internal struggles and evolving relationship. Jessica's journey from a workaholic neglecting her health to someone open to love is compelling, while Paul's commitment issues add depth to his character. The narrative balances humor with emotional moments, creating a relatable and engaging story. However, some readers have noted pacing issues and a desire for more development in certain plot points. Overall, it's a delightful read that emphasizes the importance of self-care and the unexpected paths to love.

If you want a read-alike of Sarah Adams that makes you smile, this is the perfect book for you. After a cringeworthy meet cute where Jessica collapses in the middle of a Turkey Trot fun walk and gets swept off her feet by the stunning Paul Brady. He is just what she needs, a personal trainer in need of a home makeover. As the two barter their skill sets and expertise it becomes pretty obvious that the two of them share more than a need for the other’s talents.

This book was a bit confusing to me, I enjoyed it one second but then fell flat the next. It had its funny / fluffy moments but I think I was craving a bit more from this.

Overall a quick read though

Jessica, an interior designer, collapses from dehydration at the Turkey Trot. Paul, a personal trainer, jumps in and gets her medical attention. After crossing paths at a local coffee shop, they learn that they could have a mutually beneficial relationship. As a result, they began fake dating.

It was an easy read and had great moments. I enjoyed the development of Jessica and Paul's relationship. There were cute and funny moments. However, there were times when the author spent a significant amount of time on details that felt unnecessary.

This book left me feeling a little unsure—on one hand, it was sweet and fluffy in all the right ways, but on the other, it occasionally felt a bit flat. That might just be me craving a little more drama than the story wanted to offer! At times, it gave off wellness influencer vibes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—but it did take me by surprise. I really appreciated the way it highlighted the importance of health and fitness for the characters, especially as it had real stakes for them. That said, Jess’s heart issues seemed to vanish a little too conveniently, and I was hoping that storyline would be explored with more depth.

I was honestly expecting some “spice” (given how common it is in romance right now!), but I was surprised by the fade-to-black intimacy. It felt refreshing not to have everything spelled out—sometimes it’s nice to just focus on the emotional connection. It suited the type of connection forged between the characters, so the intimacy wasn't forced, which often happens in romance books nowadays.

Overall, this was a light, feel-good read with a charming romance. It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me right now, but who knows—maybe I’ll come back to it when I’m in the right mood!

I have some mixed feelings about this book. Jessica's character was cute and relatable to me and Paul was hot! I liked how realistic Jessica was related to her weightloss and her behavior's towards Paul as hot and cold after being hurt really bad in a relationship. It was those bits that made her more relatable. Paul also had commitment issues but they melted away as soon as he met Jessica. I guess his commitment issues should have been explored further and Paul and Jessica unpack their baggage together. These are real issues that people face in their relationship, are they are not just "spice" to add more depth to the character. And while attraction is one hell of a thing, they do not magically dissappear after you get into a relationship. I guess if these issues were explored a little further, like how Paul being afraid of commitment for his reasons, and Jessica being anxious for hers make them distant and they sort it together, it would have made the book better, but I guess the book would have been too long then. Anyway, overall it was good and I loved it but ending felt a little bit abrupt for me because there was all that buildup only for them to get together so easily and get married quicky.

Ugh this one’s have me all mixed feelings. It’s an emotional ride with complex characters and some really vulnerable moments. The slow burn between the two main characters keeps things interesting, but the pacing can drag at times. And the writing unfortunately wasn't for me. It’s a good read for those who love intense relationships. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

Deeply personal by Suzanne Collier is a fun beach read about 2 people deeply preoccupied with their careers. Two people who aren't looking for forever when it finds them.

32 year old Jessica is an interior designer. She collapses from dehydration at the turkey trot fun walk and is rescued by Paul Brady, 33 a gorgeous personal trainer. The two swap skillsets to help each other out. Jessica will help Paul make his apartment more suitable and Paul will help her get more fit. Paul asks Jessica to be his fake date in order to impress a major account. After that, their professional lines blur, but in order to make it work the two must commit and bridge the distance between their isolating jobs.

This book is shopped as a romantic comedy, but I didn't find it very fun. It is very much a slow burn romance sprinkled with humor here and there. I did not love that there were alot of side characters, 11 in total I believe? Also I disliked how Paul
never gets around to being Jessica's personal trainer. Considering it's literally on the cover, I find this weird.

overall a fun beach read. Thank you to Suzanne for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

There were a lot of things I hated simply because they just did not make ANY sense.

This book had potential to be a cozy, slow-burn rom-com, but it totally missed the mark for me. The writing was overly explanatory—every thought or feeling was drawn out, restated, and dragged on to the point where the pacing completely stalled. The internal monologues were exhausting. And the similes? Completely over-the-top and often nonsensical. (The moon getting a massage from the stars? Really?)

The title, Deeply Personal, felt totally disconnected from the actual content. There was nothing particularly deep or personal about this story. Jessica’s relationship with her dad was awkward and underdeveloped. We barely got any insight into Paul or his backstory either. And don’t get me started on the romance—it was practically nonexistent. Paul “rescues” Jessica during a race… and then nothing happens for three months? Their relationship bloomed out of absolutely nowhere. What was the point of Paul being a personal trainer if he never actually trained her? The early mentions of attraction and desire fizzled out into nothing for way too long.

And then there were so many side plots that added nothing—like the woman with the fancy house. Why was she even in the book? That whole thread felt unnecessary and took time away from developing the actual story.

Jessica wasn’t a particularly likable lead—she was constantly negative, and it was hard to feel invested in her personal or professional journey. There was too much focus on irrelevant past clients and not nearly enough on the core relationship this story promised.

This was supposed to be “laugh-out-loud funny” and deeply romantic, but it didn’t deliver either. Disappointing and forgettable.

This book left me feeling more confused than anything else, and overall, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. That said, I wouldn’t call it a bad read. The characters were enjoyable and there were some genuinely sweet moments scattered throughout. However, if you’re looking for a romantic story that’s emotionally charged or full of chemistry, this might not be it—it leans more towards a light touch on romance.

I’d place it somewhere between a coming-of-age story and a slow-burn romance. The opening 20 to 30 percent was actually really promising—it seemed like it was setting the stage for a heartfelt, fun love story. But after that, it just lost momentum.

Here’s where it started to fall flat for me:

Writing style: This might be a personal preference, but I struggled with how the author wrote. There were a lot of tangents that didn’t add much to the story. It got bogged down in technical details about their careers—especially the business and finance aspects—which distracted from the romantic core I was hoping for.

Tone mismatch: This was marketed as a romantic comedy, but it missed the mark in terms of humour. It felt more dramatic than comedic, and I kept waiting for witty banter or funny scenarios that never came.

Plot letdown: The storyline didn’t follow through on what was advertised. I was expecting a plot where the male lead helps the heroine improve her lifestyle as her personal trainer. But that never really happens. At one point, the phrase “deeply personal trainer” popped up, and I had to double-check the description because it all felt like a bait-and-switch. The setup promised one thing, but the actual plot didn’t deliver. It felt like the original concept was abandoned midway through writing.

In short, the book gave the impression it would head in a certain direction—one that I was excited about—but it just didn’t follow through.

I struggled with this one cause I didn't know it was third pov. I ended up DNF because I just couldn't get into it. If you like third person pov then you might love it but just personally it was not for me no matter how hard I tried.

I absolutely LOVED this book! 😭💙 Paul and Jessica?? God I hope I find what they had man 😭🥹 and I absolutely ADORE her twin brother Lenny 💙💙💙 I'm so glad everyone found their own happy ending 💙 and if I could read this book for the first time, I wouldn't say no 🥹 so rereading it is the way to go 👏🏻👌🏻

Unfortunately, this was DNF for me. I think that readers who love third point of view would probably love you more than me.
I was having a hard time connect to the characters and the story. I think a big part of it was the third point of view for me.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me, but don’t let that deter you from reading yourself. The book is perfect for people who enjoy 3rd-person POVs and plot buildup.

For me it was just too slow-paced, and I didn’t feel connected with the characters. I wish there were more chemistry between the MCs, and that the plot was a bit more organized.

Thank you to NetGalley and Splitrail Publishing for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Deeply Personal is out now.

The book starts right away with a meet cute. Jessica passes out while running a 5K and is carried by Paul to the medical tent. The chemistry is instant but both have pasts to move past. So they put each other at arms length. But they end up having to help each other out. Paul needs his house redecorated and Jessica needs a meet up with a potential client. They end up spending more and more time together, leading to a back and forth of will they won't they. Only time will tell and if they are both willing to move forward together.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Deeply Personal.

This one was almost a DNF for me, though I truly wanted to love it. The story begins with a charming Meet Cute between Jessica and Paul—two driven entrepreneurs with strong support systems and good hearts. Jessica is recovering from a breakup, guided early on by an influencer’s message about emotional boundaries and self-protection. Her growth includes learning to open herself back up and stepping into a new relationship with Paul, along with a moment of closure that felt satisfying but not particularly moving for me.

Paul is portrayed as a genuinely good guy—he’s a successful bodybuilder and business owner with deep love for his grandparents. He does acknowledge the root of his commitment issues, but his growth feels more like a subplot than a fully developed arc. Both characters had promising setups, but I never quite connected with their romance on an emotional level.

That said, I really enjoyed the side characters. They added charm and depth to the story and helped carry moments that otherwise felt flat. I also liked the timeline progression, which moved steadily from Thanksgiving through the year, ending in a one-year-later epilogue. The pacing still felt a bit slow, but not due to a lack of movement.

As someone who skips spicy content, I found the romance scenes inconsistent—some were fade to black, others leaned toward open door. It made it hard to know what to expect, which was frustrating for me, though other readers might not mind.

The cover gives the impression that Paul might train Jessica, and while we do see him working with clients as a personal trainer, that dynamic never plays out between him and Jessica. The title is referenced in the story, but didn’t leave a strong impression by the end.

One highlight: I genuinely enjoyed the interior design elements woven into Jessica’s world. They were detailed and interesting, and added a nice layer to her character.

In the end, Deeply Personal had the pieces of a story I could’ve loved—fake dating, only one bed, and a supportive community—but it didn’t fully come together for me. Still, there’s potential in the author’s voice, and I hope others connect with this one more than I did.