REVIEW: Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin

In Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin, Jo De La Cruiz is one of the most popular spin instructors. She should be happy, but she’s not. She’s feeling unsatisfied but doesn’t know what to do. When journalist Silas Anders wants to write an article about her, she hesitantly agrees.

Silas doesn’t understand the appeal of spinning, nor does he understand Jo’s appeal. He goes into his first spin class with negative preconceived notions about it, but after his first class, he starts to understand. And as Jo becomes more comfortable with Silas, she begins to open up more to him. Feelings start to develop. But when Jo gets a glimpse at the first draft of the article, will their developing romance come crashing to the ground.

The pace of this book is extremely slow, and I found myself struggling to get through it. There also isn’t much chemistry between Silas and Jo. At best, it felt like they were more like friends, not lovers.

Jo deals with some mental health issues, and I was expecting the author to focus on it. Instead, it’s glossed over and almost treated as an afterthought. I feel like the author missed a good opportunity to put a spotlight on it, instead focusing more on time at the gym.

Unfortunately, I found little to enjoy about this book. I’m sure there are readers who will enjoy it, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for me.

Book Info:

Publication: April 29, 2025 | Forever |

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?