Could not finish. The writing seemed clunky and I really disliked the attitude of the FMC from the start. The opening scene was also confusing and unrealistic. And the first paragraph of the MMC perspective was a huge turnoff. I tried to stick with it but it didn’t seem to be getting any better.

Was definitely excited to read this book. I am new to Suzanne Collier books so I was excited to try out this one as my first novel. The cover is lovey and the description looked like I was in for some great laughs! I was obviously hooked! However, I found myself DNF-ING this one. I think it was just a little too slow and the characters felt like unnatural caricatures
. I started skipping pages until eventually I stopped reading all together.. I do like the premise of the plot so I may return to this book as an audiobook later on! Thank you for the arc!

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. this was awful. the family scenes went on for far too long, the character development never fully happened. writing was subpar.

Deeply Personal is a charming and heartwarming romance filled with humor, chemistry, and heartfelt moments. I was fully invested in Jessica and Paul’s journey and enjoyed every page. I rated it five stars.

This book was so bland. So hard to follow. So many random things happening here and there and they fell in love but like it didn’t feel like a natural progression of the relationship and I skimmed the last 20%. Just not good. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really wanted to like this, but as a medical professional, I found I couldn't get past how poorly the main character's health condition was depicted in the beginning.

I probably won't recommend this to my friends as the majority are in the medical field as well.

Overall, this was a decent book, and I did enjoy Paul and Jessica's relationship. 🌶️ level is quite tame, but sweet. The overall concept was a good one.

My biggest sticking point was that there felt like there was a lot of unnecessary side stories. Side stories aren't bad on their own, especially if they really drive the story or explore a character more. These side stories felt more like fluff. There were so many side characters that really had no point. And Jessica and Paul’s jobs felt like they had more development than needed.

The bones were all there, and I will definitely check out more from this author.

This was a first time read for me by this author and I found it to be a swoony slow-burn romance that’s both heartwarming and hilarious. This contemporary romance is packed with wit, warmth, and a surprising depth of emotion that sneaks up on you just when you think it’s all banter and butterflies.

The story centers on Jessica Chandler, a driven interior designer who quite literally pushes herself to the brink—collapsing at a Turkey Trot and landing in the arms of personal trainer Paul Brady. Their meet-cute is textbook rom-com gold, but what follows is a thoughtful, slow-building romance rooted in mutual respect, personal growth, and the kind of chemistry that smolders before it sizzles.

Jessica is ambitious and polished, but beneath her success lies a woman who’s neglected her own well-being for far too long. Paul, on the other hand, is charming and low-key swoon worthy, but he's grappling with his own fears around commitment—especially when it comes to making his house a home. The “skills swap” premise—design lessons for health tips—sets the stage for some genuinely sweet and funny moments, and the fake-dating subplot adds a delicious tension that keeps you flipping pages.

What makes Deeply Personal stand out isn’t just the humor (though there are laugh-out-loud moments galore) or the sizzling slow-burn romance—it's the emotional honesty. Both Jessica and Paul are messy in the most relatable ways. Watching them evolve together—learning to balance ambition with vulnerability, independence with intimacy—feels deeply, well, personal.
This book is like a cozy, candlelit evening with your favorite rom-com playing. Equal parts funny and tender, this novel reminds us that sometimes love finds us when we least expect it—and that healing your heart might just mean opening it, too.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This book had quite a bit more depth than I was expecting. I adore Jessica and Paul! Work life balance was a common theme. Taking care of one’s self and finding that relationship that is truly worth your time. I was in this story from the very beginning. If you love an independent entrepreneur MFC with a heart on the mend who navigates that journey with the charming gym owner who cares for the ones he loves including aging grandparents pick this up. You won’t be disappointed!

This was a miss for me. It didn’t meet my expectations and was honestly kind of a let down. With him being a personal trainer I figured there’d be some cute trainer/trainee moments between them and it just wasn’t it

This was a cute read with a fun sense of humor! I did not find myself getting super attached to the characters during the story, but there were fun moments!

Jessica is an interior designer dealing with a lot of stress. She meets the man of her dreams at a Turkey Trot when she is experiencing heart problems. Their relationship blossoms from there, with her still getting over a breakup, and him having commitment issues.

This book wasn’t super enjoyable to read. I don’t love a third act breakup, and this book had one about 90% of the way in. It seemed thrown in at an odd spot, then immediately was resolved.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Deeply Personal by Suzanne Collier

This thoughtful rom‑com charms with its slow‑burn chemistry and genuine heart. Jessica, an overworking interior designer, literally collapses at a Turkey Trot and gets rescued by Paul, a laid‑back personal trainer. Their deal to swap skills, she redesigns his bachelor pad, he helps her focus on health, sparks into something much deeper

What I loved: The banter and dual‑POV give both characters space to grow and they truly connect, It strikes a nice balance of humor and emotion, especially around Jessica’s health journey, Feel‑good, uplifting vibe, a perfect light read

All in all, Deeply Personal is a sweet, smart romance about finding love when life demands balance. I’d happily read more from Suzanne Collier.

This was a interesting and cute read, the plot does occasionally feel a bit confusing. The balance between their personal growth arcs, career challenges, and romance can get muddled, leaving readers wondering where the focus truly lies. Despite this, the humor sprinkled throughout keeps the story light and entertaining.

it's a fun and touching read about overcoming fears of commitment and finding love in unexpected places. It’s not without its flaws, but the humor and heartfelt moments make it a story worth picking up. Perfect for those who enjoy romances that feel both personal and laugh-out-loud funny.

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.