Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

“Sometimes love comes when you’re not looking.”

This was a really good palate cleanser of a rom com for me! It’s been a while since I’ve read this genre (in fact, it’s my first rom com of the year!) and I’m not sure why because I always seem to love them. There was something so uplifting and lovely about Jessica and Paul’s journey in this book, from strangers, to friends, to something more. I finished the book with a smile on my face, filled with hope and that warm lovely feeling you get from a good book. I’m so happy to be sharing my review of Deeply Personal by Suzanne Collier!

About the book

Jessica Chandler, a 32-year-old interior designer, has always had her life in perfect order. But when she collapses at a fun walk in a small Tennessee town, her well-organized world starts to fall apart. Luckily, Paul Brady, a handsome personal trainer, is there to help, carrying her to safety.

Jessica, dealing with heart problems after ignoring her health, finds herself needing Paul’s help to get better. They make a deal—Jessica will help Paul decorate his home, and Paul will help her get back in shape. As they work together, they start to see that their deal might lead to more than just a professional exchange.

Paul has his own issues with commitment, especially when it comes to choosing furniture for his place. When he asks Jessica to pretend to be his date to impress a client, their feelings start to get complicated.

Can they both overcome their fear of getting too close and turn this chance meeting into something more? Or will their doubts keep them from finding true love?

The beginning

I love a rom com that instantly feels funny, warm and welcoming in that first chapter, and this was absolutely one of those books! I couldn’t help but smile as we meet one of our main characters, Jessica. She wakes up on the ground after attempting the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot race, which her twin brother, Lenny, had insisted she joined him in. She was definitely not ready for it. As she begins to come to her senses, she finds herself face to face with a very attractive guy who comes to her aid and takes her to the medics. I loved how she saw him in her half-conscious state, thinking he was a man from a dream she recently had. They bump into each other again not long after, and in this time, we really get to know the kinds of people they are, their personalities and perfectly crafted backstories. Everything felt so full and colourful, and I just loved it. Jessica, an interior designer, and Paul, a personal trainer, admit they could help each other. Jessica would give him some design tips for his bachelor pad, and Paul would help get Jess into shape. Oh things were about to get good!

“Sometimes fate pushes a woman toward a man, but sometimes she’s pulled.”

Already, there is disability and illness rep from different characters, which you hardly ever see in a book. It was SO damn refreshing to see a minor character in a wheelchair and a main character battling some health issues (which we would soon learn more about!) I liked the dual POVs and how we see both Jessica and Paul in their day to day lives, as well as learn more about them as individuals. Plus, of course, we hear more about their feelings for one another. It was really well written and felt very fun, but also tackled some real life stuff that we can relate to. Paul was in the process of sorting out a nursing home for his grandparents (something we’re currently tackling as a family – it’s tough) and Jessica is struggling to keep her business afloat due to bills, lack of work coming in and clients being, well, clients. As Paul turns to Jessica to help transform his home space, he makes a suggestion. He knows the owner of a business that Jessica is trying to get on board. And because she needs their work, he suggests the two of them have dinner with them. But there’s a catch; they need to pretend they’re a couple. Faking dating, here we go!

The middle

If I’m honest, Jessica and Paul’s first fake date felt so cheesy and cringey that I felt embarrassed for them! Surely Tom, the business owner, who is also a really good friend of Paul’s would be able to see straight through their awkwardness?! But as the ‘date’ ends and they actually spend a bit of time with each other as the real versions of themselves, this was when we really see that they do have an instant connection. We see sparks fly and it was very cute. But with previous relationships still raw for both of them, Jessica in particular, a new relationship isn’t really on the cards, despite how great they feel around one another. There was something lovely and uplifting about seeing these two characters in each other’s company. Something that continued to warm my heart. Something about them that felt natural, that felt right. But with rom coms comes returning old flames to stir up emotions and make life more difficult, and Jessica’s ex, Adam, announces he’s on his way back to town. How would her leftover feelings for Adam compete with her new, exciting feelings for Paul?

“If her father could find love, surely she could too – if she ever wanted to try again, if she found herself willing to take the leap and to trust her heart.”

The fake dating continues in order to impress Jessica’s potential new client and as time went on, things became less awkward and more natural. However, the little happy Paul bubble Jessica was in was regularly popped by multiple things. Work seemed to be picking up. Her father’s lovely surprise visit, and her regular heart issues that she was trying to keep stable. But aside from all the ‘life’ stuff, there was still no mistaking Paul and Jessica’s connection. He suggests dinner, but not a ‘date’ – just two people who need to eat having food together. Their dialogue was cute, the whole slow burn of their relationship was perfectly written, and it was clear these two belonged together, despite Jessica’s initial reluctance. However, we see her grow, we see her eventually let a little love into her heart. And the idea of a real relationship with Paul started to seem very appealing to her. But of course, it’s a rom com. I was holding my breath, waiting for that thing that would make starting a new relationship difficult, and I could guess what that thing would be. Adam.

The end

…However, the return of Adam in Jessica’s life wasn’t as tough for her to navigate as I expected. Yes, it was great for her as she stands up for herself, but it didn’t really bring anything to the story other than to quickly confirm that Jessica had made the right choice. It felt like Adam was just included in the plot in order to tick a box. The same goes for Paul’s past relationship – we learn early on that he was close with the child of a woman from his past, and aside from a glance from the kid who then goes on to ignore him, that’s all we got from that little storyline, when I felt it could have been expanded upon. I felt it could have been fleshed out a little more and the pacing was much faster the closer to the end of the book we got. There were a few filler chapters to delay the ending, when it could have ended much sooner, and I wasn’t sure they were all needed. What I did like about the ending was the success of Jessica’s business. I love success stories for characters I’ve grown to love, and it seemed all her determination and effort had well and truly paid off in that department.

“Her heart felt wondrous, every square inch full of beauty and love and warmth.”

I was kind of expecting something bad to happen after all the good, which seems to be a norm in a rom com, but instead of the meddling exes that I expected, the spotlight shines on Jessica and her illness. After collapsing and injuring herself, she’s rushed into hospital. We see a repeat of the start of the book where Paul comes to her aid, and despite the worry, there was something so beautiful about Paul being there for her once again. Of course, (mini spoiler) it all works out in the end. She gets back on track, manages her heart condition and keeps fit and healthy, and I just knew her future with Paul was exactly what she needed. There were some predictable, cliché parts, but also some thought-provoking parts, and it made me think about not taking every day for granted. That we aren’t promised tomorrow. Anything could happen. The end was light-hearted and lovely which is exactly how I need it to be in a rom com. It’s not a perfect book, but it makes you feel good and forces you to smile! I’d be really interested to read what comes next from this author!

Overall thoughts

Deeply Personal is a feel-good, slow-burn rom com about finding love when you least expect it. About starting again and taking chances. About learning what’s important and making the most of every day. It’s an easy read and I enjoyed following Jessica and Paul’s fun journey from strangers, to friends, to lovers, as well as all the non-romance side of things. Their jobs, their hopes and dreams, their family life. However, there were some plot points I felt could have been explored further, and there were some pacing issues towards the end, but all in all, it did satisfy my rom com craving! The cover was pretty misleading and not at all relevant to what happens in the book. If you’ve read it, you’ll know exactly what I mean! But it didn’t bother me too much.

If you’re looking for a book in this genre that’s not too heavy on the romance with very little spice, this is a great one to pick up. Heartfelt and thought-provoking.

You can grab your own copy of Deeply Personal right now on Amazon, on eBook or in paperback.

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