I feel like i was very confused throughout this book but it wasn't bad? the characters were wonderful although i feel like the romance was a bit bland? there wasn't much tension or chemistry it was just kind of there? I kind of felt like this was going to be about the girl getting a personal trainer from the description and the cover of the book but it literally had nothing to do with the book at all. so im not really sure what to think of that....

2.5⭐️
I saw a few people say this was similar to Sarah Adams', Practice Makes Perfect, but unfortunately, it didn't get that feeling. This story is told in third pov, which I feel contributed to my not enjoying it. I feel I would have felt more connected to Jessica, especially, if it was told from dual first pov. thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

*I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. I thought this was a decent book. Kind of slow.

I DNF"d this book so I don't necessarily have helpful feedback. I linked it in general, but I never got hooked in by the plot and had other books I wanted to prioritize more.

Suzanne Collier's Deeply Personal is a charming and laugh-out-loud funny contemporary romance that's perfect for fans of feel-good rom-coms. It's a story about two driven individuals who discover that sometimes, the best things in life happen when you least expect them.

Jessica Chandler, an interior designer extraordinaire, and Paul Brady, a gorgeous personal trainer, meet in a rather unconventional way – at a Turkey Trot where Jessica collapses from dehydration. Paul's heroic rescue leads to a connection that sparks both professionally and personally. Jessica, dealing with heart issues stemming from her demanding career, finds herself drawn to Paul's focus on health and well-being. Meanwhile, Paul's man-cave of a condo desperately needs a design intervention, and Jessica is just the person to provide it.

Their "skills swap" turns into something more as they begin to help each other navigate not just their careers, but also their personal lives. A fake-dating scenario to impress a potential client adds fuel to the fire, blurring the lines between professional courtesy and genuine attraction. As they spend more time together, the chemistry between Jessica and Paul sizzles, making their interactions both humorous and heartwarming.

Collier excels at creating relatable and likeable characters. Jessica is a driven and successful woman who learns to prioritize her well-being, while Paul is more than just a "personal trainer"—he's intelligent, caring, and has his own set of vulnerabilities. Their banter is witty and engaging, and their emotional journeys are both realistic and satisfying.

While the "fake dating" trope is a familiar one, Collier infuses it with fresh humor and genuine emotion. The story is a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for those times when you need a lighthearted escape. It's predictable in the best way possible, offering a comforting and satisfying reading experience.

Deeply Personal is a delightful reminder that sometimes, love can be found in the most unexpected places. It's a story about taking chances, overcoming fears, and discovering that true connection is more valuable than any professional success. Four stars. I'm looking forward to more from Suzanne Collier!

With a slower pace, Paul and Jessica finally find their penguin. It’s a cute love story of believing in yourself and figuring out what you want but then being thrown into a situation where love just kinda happens. It is a slower paced novel and was a bit hard for me to get through, but it was okay. I wish there was more spice and a little more of their actual love story and less of the build up.

I had this book sitting in my ARC gallery since last year, saving it for the start of this year as a way to motivate myself to stay consistent with my workouts and rekindle my passion for interior design. But instead of inspiration, I was met with disappointment. There was barely any focus on “actual” personal training, and instead, I was overwhelmed with exhaustive descriptions of finances, materials, and design details. It reached a point where I stopped even trying to visualize what the author was describing.

I found it lackluster and, at times, tedious to get through so much so that I nearly fell into a reading slump.

3 stars because I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. It had its moments, but overall, it wasn’t the engaging, motivating read I was hoping for.

I really liked the main characters and their individual stories, however the plot was too fast and choppy, and didn't really flesh out their story enough. Would have loved to see it develop a lot more, especially with their each character's past and current issues.

Really enjoyed the concept of mates for life. The references to that throughout the book were sweet. I did find it a little slow and thought there could have been more depth to the freakout regarding travel and really wanted her to actually start personal training, maybe with him or Victoria. The relationship between their friends didnt track for me. It felt like it came out of nowhere. By the end, I couldnt even remember when they had met.

I was really looking forward to DEEPLY PERSONAL based on the blurb, but unfortunately, it just missed the mark for me. I had difficulty connecting with the characters, who felt underdeveloped at times, and their lack of chemistry made it hard to get invested. The fake dating trope didn’t feel necessary, and without much of a real plot to drive it forward, the romance fell flat. Overall, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

It was a nice read overall, however I had some difficulty connecting with the characters and find them a little underdeveloped at times, but I can see severall people really enjoying this book.

I was really looking forward to this back based on the blurb, under the impression that Paul would be training Jess and Jess would be helping Paul. Unfortunately, this book just missed the mark for me. The characters were lacking chemistry and the fake dating trope didn't feel necessary. There was way too much focus on their work life and just not enough moments of them being together. The way they got together was not satisfying. It kind of just happened. It was hard to like the main characters but I did like Lenny, Jess' brother.

(I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review)

I absolutely enjoyed this one. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, and I was not disappointed. This was such a beautifully written love story that hooked me from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more from this author. I definitely recommend this to other romance readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Splitrail Publishing, and Suzanne Collier

Deeply Personal was a quick breezy read. Light and funny banter between two relatable humans. If you enjoy fluff & of romantic comedies will greatly enjoy this read.

Thanks to the NetGalley and publisher teams for an ARC for review!

This book had a fun premise I haven't really seen before and was a quick read but ultimately, I wanted more chemistry from the characters.

I rated ‘Deeply Personal’ 3 stars overall.

Some of the things I enjoyed about this book was how easy to read it was, how relatable it was and how fun of a story it was.

The idea of the FMC meeting the MMC by passing out at a race is funny and definitely gives rom-com vibes. Right away, we find out our FMC has a heart problem and our MMC is a personal trainer. She obviously thinks he’s cute but does not want to get into another relationship. Our MMC eventually reaches out to her to see if she’d renovate his apartment because she’s an interior designer. From here, the romance develops. The overall story was quick to read and wasn’t hard to keep up with at all. I can relate to the health aspect of the story because I am pretty active and even lift weights like the MMC. So I thought that was cool that we share interests.

However, there were a few things I did not like. One was the overall writing style. I just felt like a lot of it was repetitive. Another thing was a hole in the plot. I thought that the main plot was going to be about the MMC actually training the FMC but he never did.

All in all, a fun and quick read!

Romance💍💌😻
Their first date fake dating added some fun, but the kinda love at first and second vibe felt rushed and unoriginal.

Plot🤞🏼👀🌃
The story is easy to get into and perfect for binge reading. However, it doesn’t offer anything l different from standard romance novels. The amount of coffee annoyed me. It was too much. Lines like “Don’t go jumping all over her like some lonely dog” it was kinda cringey the dog part was not needed.

Flow 🤝🏼💥🙀
The pacing was smooth, while it did seem like they fell I  love straight away I'm happy that there was a other things happening.

Characters 🤡🙈🧟‍♂️
The characters were hit-or-miss. Lenny, the female lead’s brother, has a funny personality. Their dynamic is like puzzle pieces—he has a messy, unorganized house, and she’s an interior designer. I just wish the female lead had more personality to make her stand out. It's random but I didn't like the ML name.

This was a pretty sweet romcom filled with everything you would expect. I liked both of our main characters and their chemistry together. This book wasn’t so much focused on fitness which is something I typically enjoy and was expecting with this one.

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.

Ultimately, DEEPLY PERSONAL is 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.

I had high hopes for this book, but it was a major disappointment. The writing felt unpolished, and the characters were one-dimensional. The fake dating trope, which usually excites me, was unnecessary here—Paul could’ve just introduced Jessica as a friend without it affecting the plot. Worse, the characters were careless about maintaining their act, making the “humor” fall flat.

The romance lacked any chemistry or growth. Jessica ignored her health issues, and Paul, a personal trainer, didn’t care to address it. Both their supposed flaws—Jessica’s heart condition and Paul’s commitment issues—magically resolved without explanation.

The wedding scene, where Jessica admired her twin brother instead of her husband, was the final straw. It felt bizarre and inappropriate.

To top it off, the author’s casual, insensitive references to cancer were jarring and added nothing. This book felt like a chore to read, and I can’t recommend it. That's why I'm giving this book 1 aka 0 ⭐.