Up Close & Personal

It’s been years since I worked out in a gym, but Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin made me want to join a spin class asap. What an inspiring and heartfelt debut!

Jo De La Cruz has spent the last decade as a semi-famous spin instructor, both in always-full classes at the gym and in streamed classes for riders at home. But she’s burnt out and contemplating her next move, all while battling overwhelming anxiety. She decides to (finally) tell her full story to a journalist, Silas Anders. He’s famous for hating everything, but even he can’t resist Jo’s charms, both in spin class and in their one-on-one interviews. Is it crossing the professional line if they start falling for each other? And what about the big secret Silas has been keeping?

What I Liked:

• Journalist and interview subject romance. I loved the whole setup of how Silas and Jo start a professional relationship. Over the course of several interviews, Jo is forced to open up to Silas a lot, but he shares his similar struggles with her, too. They have friends in common as well, and I liked them starting to see each other more as friends (and crushes) as the weeks passed.
• Silas is so contrarian! He has a reputation for hating everything and being more critical than most. He enters into this article project determined to hate Haven, pick apart Jo, and destroy them all in his final write-up. But he quickly realizes he was wrong. I loved seeing him recognize the talent and passion in Jo, the quality of her spin classes, and the merit that Haven actually has.
• Jo’s mental health. She’s been battling anxiety for years, and she has some secrets about her mental health journey over the past decade. Silas, too, has “invisible monsters” in the form of depression. I enjoyed their discussions of mental health, Jo’s efforts to manage her anxiety and get out of her comfort zone, and Silas’s writing about it all.
• Discussions of fame and parasocial relationships. Related to the above is the unique position Jo is in regarding her level of fame. Not quite a celebrity, but certainly someone many people recognize and want to take pictures with. It’s starting to be too much for Jo and she’s looking for a change.

Audiobook:

Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle narrate as Jo and Silas, and I love what each brings to their respective character. Jo’s sweetness and vulnerability are shown perfectly. Silas manages that balance between a grumpy hater and a genuinely kind person. This audiobook elevated the reading experience so much!

Final Thoughts

Up Close & Personal is such a wonderful debut! I loved the romantic relationship, portrayal of mental health, and depictions of a highly popular spin class. (Seriously, this book reignited my desire to resume in-gym workouts soon! My at-home routine isn’t cutting it anymore.) This novel is at once a breezy, fun read yet also one that is profound and meaningful. I look forward to Ana Holguin’s next novel, Second Chance Duet, due out on March 10, 2026.

Special thanks to Forever, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy Up Close & Personal here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin
Audiobook Narrators	Maria Liatis and Kellen Boyle
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Romance
Setting	New York
Number of Pages	384
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	April 29, 2025
Publisher	Forever

Official Summary

In this “charming, witty, and tender” rom-com, a celebrity fitness instructor faces off against a jaded journalist (Abby Jimenez, #1 New York Times bestselling author). This sizzling, slow burn romance is for fans of 27 Dresses and Jessica Joyce! 

Jo De La Cruz should be on top of the world. As one of spin’s hottest instructors, her workouts stream into thousands of living rooms, her waiting list is harder to access than Area 51, and even her hair has its own social media page. But Jo’s struggling from a decade in the spotlight—which is when she meets the annoyingly handsome journalist who claims her job is just yelling at people from a bike.

Converting a hater is a challenge Jo can’t resist.

Only nothing about Silas Anders matches her expectations. He throws himself into her classes, he’s genuinely interested in Jo’s hobbies, and—most surprising of all—he knows what it’s like to struggle with mental health. Between all-you-can-eat-diner lunches, thrifting adventures, and sizzling summer nights, Jo might even be catching feelings. But as buzz for the article skyrockets, Jo discovers that the man she’s been falling for may, in fact, be the one scamming her.

Will trusting him break her heart—or lead to a love worth riding for?