Feeling a romcom vibe? Check out DEEPLY PERSONAL by Suzanne Collier

I really enjoyed DEEPLY PERSONAL - I found it full of emotion, complex characters and engaging writing.

Though there were some predictable elements, and the pacing was slower in some parts, the book themes were relatable and full of touching moments

Thanks to NetGalley and Splitrail Publishing for the ARC! Opinions are my own

This book started off strong for me but then fell a bit flat for me. I almost DNF'd because I felt like it didn't quite have enough substance. However, there are parts that I enjoyed, just not enough to keep me as engaged as I normally am for a cute love story. The second half of the plot didn't quite pace the way the first half of the book did, so it felt a bit disjointed/mismatched with the first portion of the book. I felt the characters need more development as well, they were one-dimensional and I couldn't feel their chemistry. I think this could be further developed so that it would be much better!

Cute romance! Loved reading about the interior design elements and also appreciated the emphasis on a healthy work-life balance and prioritizing your health above all!

There’s a particular kind of disappointment that comes from picking up a book expecting cozy, romantic charm—something light yet meaningful—and instead finding yourself slogging through a mess of underdeveloped conflicts, contrived resolutions, and extraneous subplots that seem to exist purely to frustrate. Deeply Personal by Suzanne Collier promised a heartwarming romance about two professionals learning from one another, healing together, and perhaps—just perhaps—falling in love along the way. Instead, what I got was a book that lacked depth in all the places that mattered most and was, ultimately, a fairly forgettable read.

I liked Paul and Jessica as a couple. Their banter was genuinely enjoyable, and when they were together, the book had a spark that suggested it could have been something more. The idea of them exchanging expertise—Jessica shaping Paul’s chaotic man-cave into a livable space while he helped her with her health—was promising. If this had been the book’s sole focus, it might have worked better. However, Jessica never actually works out with Paul. She becomes Vegan and reduces her caffeine intake and starts taking walks. Great stuff, but not how the book was marketed.

Paul’s relationship with his grandparents also had some nice emotional beats. I liked the warmth of those scenes and even the explanation regarding Paul’s fear of commitment without over-explaining it. It was one of the few things in the book that felt organic rather than force-fed.

But that’s where my praise runs out.

Jessica’s entire arc revolved around her struggling business, her inability to trust love, and her significant heart condition. The business stress? Conveniently resolved at the last minute consistently. And her literal medical emergency? Oh, don’t worry, the power of romance and some walking apparently made it all better. No lasting consequences, no real struggle—just a neat little bow on top.


Paul, on the other hand, had pointless side stories competing for attention. There was the weirdly intense client who clearly wanted him in ways that had nothing to do with personal training. There was his ex, whose only real personality trait was being his ex. And then there was another ex whose child Paul had inexplicably bonded with before running for the hills. And of course, because we needed even more unnecessary drama, the stepfather the child ends up with is clearly a bit of a douchebag. When Paul runs into the kid later, the child snubs him, which is played as this big emotional moment for Paul… but why? What was the point? Was it intended to make us get the ick for Paul, because that seems to defeat the point of a romance book.

If Deeply Personal had focused on what it did well—the genuine chemistry between its leads, the idea of their mutually beneficial partnership—it could have been a sweet, solid read. Instead, it overstuffed itself with half-baked subplots and character arcs that resolved in ways that felt too easy, too tidy, and ultimately unsatisfying. I didn’t hate it, but I certainly didn’t enjoy it enough to recommend it.

📖 Read it if you love: Low-stakes, no-conflict resolutions, really convenient storytelling, interior design talk.
🚫 Skip it if you dislike: Forced drama, medical issues being magically healed, unresolved ex drama for the sake of it.

This book was slightly underwhelming for me. I love the fake dating trope to serve a purpose, but I felt like there were aspects that didn’t make total sense. I thought the romance as a whole was a little underwhelming since a majority of the novel focused on both the MCs business aspects and not truly the romance. I also think the cover and title are misleading because you would think since the MMC is a personal trainer and the FMC goes through her health scares and needs to turn her diet and exercise habit around that it would be obvious he would help with that. Alas, he doesn’t. I think for me personally I would have just liked to see more romance overall. I received this as an arc from Netgalley and the publisher so thank you for that opportunity!

This is a pretty cute book. Both main characters are somewhat afraid of compromise, so you get to see how they fall in love and try to overcome their fears.

My problem with this book is that I was expecting something very different. First of all, the cover implies that a lot of gym training happens throughout the story, which was not the case; and I was really excited to see how they would train together.

Furthermore, I think the synopsis misled me in a similar way to the cover, as it gave me the impression that something would play a significant role in the story when, in reality, it didn’t.

In conclusion, if I hadn’t had those expectations, I think I would have enjoyed this story much more because it is cute and has a simple, easygoing plot.

2.75 stars

The book was an okay read. I liked the fake dating element of it but otherwise the story felt bland? Upping the tension and chemistry would have made this so much more enjoyable.

Unfortunately I DNF.

I don’t know why but I couldn’t connect with these characters. I really liked the description and thought I would drive in but I felt myself getting distracted and never picking it back up:/

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and witty and kept me engaged. The writing was wonderful and the storyline was exceptionally done. I love the dynamic and connection between the FMC & MMC.

Thank you to the publisher and Suzanne Collier for the advance copy.

Deeply Personal is a light-hearted, closed-door, modern day romance written in the third person POV that begins with a truly original meet cute between Jessica and Paul, our main characters. The first few pages of the book and the anticipation were wonderful and based on Paul's profession and the cover of the book, I assumed Jessica would become his client and their romance would kindle through their workouts.

Instead, they devise an unnecessary fake-dating plot to further Jessica's career and somehow the romance seems to spontaneously happen. While the writing wasn't bad and I appreciated the spin on typical romance tropes, I didn't find myself enjoying the banter between Paul and Jessica or excited about the romance itself. I was confused by the cover and the build-up of Jessica's health needing a personal trainer and just....nothing ever happening with that.

Likewise, I found a lot of discussions in Paul's chapters focused unnecessarily on food or calories or diet culture. Even though he's a personal trainer, I also read books and do not expect to (not subtly) have diet culture shoved at me, so those aspects took me out of the story. Jessica's relationship with her brother also made me uncomfortable at the end, and also made me think "wait what" while I was reading.

Overall, it's an easy, short read and if you like light-hearted romance with basically zero spice, this could be a good pick for you. 2.5 stars.

Absolutely loved the story light hearted fake dating was a easy read! I enjoyed the characters and the story line. Definitely worth picking up

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.