December 1, 2021

DEBUT Gymstagrammer and personal trainer Crystal Chen is infuriated when firefighter Scott Ritchie steals a weight machine out from under her when she'd obviously indicated it was being used. Crystal won't be pushed around or taken advantage of, and after her recent disastrous breakup, she also doesn't care about the chemistry between her and "the squat rack thief"--until she marches into the men's changing room to give him a piece of her mind and ends up kissing him brainless instead. Crystal is prepared to pretend it never happened, but a family wedding unexpectedly brings her back together with Scott. In the process of making peace, they begin to fall in love. Lea's steamy debut romance features well-developed, likable characters with slow-build chemistry. The secondary characters and the backstories create believable motivations for the protagonists' realistic actions and reactions. The leisurely plot is issue-oriented: it discusses the lasting repercussions of childhood abuse, the reality of being mixed race and curvy in a world that rewards skinny whiteness, and the downsides of the body positivity movement. VERDICT Hand this one to fans of Helen Hoang and Talia Hibbert. Recommended for general purchase.--Heather Miller Cover, Homewood P.L., AL

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February 21, 2022
Lea debuts with a heartwarming rom-com centered on body positivity. Crystal Chen, a plus-size fitness influencer and personal trainer, has built her online brand on self-love, emphasizing that the gym is for everyone, regardless of shape or size. One day, she’s having a good workout until an attractive “gym bro” blatantly ignores her clear dibs on the squat rack. Scott Ritchie, aka “Squat Rack Thief,” is a firefighter, a devoted dog dad, and, despite first impressions, a good guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. Both tension and lust rise between him and Crystal during repeated run-ins at the gym—making it a shock when they’re reintroduced at their respective grandparent’s engagement party. With the nuptials fast approaching, Crystal and Scott get to know one another on a deeper level and passion ignites. But when Crystal introduces her new boyfriend to her followers, internet trolls test their budding romance. Lea’s prose is clear, witty, and powerful, delivering an ode to all those who struggle with self-acceptance. While the pacing lags a bit in the second half, the cute pop culture references, hilarious supporting characters, and sensual love scenes make up for it. Lea is a writer to watch. Agent: Kim Lionetti, Bookends Literary.

April 1, 2022
Crystal Chen has an Instagram account celebrating her fit, curvy figure. She films at the gym and is soon irritated by a guy who always takes the equipment she wants to use and seems to enjoy provoking her. Then she learns that his grandpa is marrying her grandma and that fire fighter Scott is actually pretty great. She isn't sure about dating him, but they soon give in to their strong chemistry. A backlash of reaction from her followers after she posts the first picture of herself with handsome Scot results in her revisiting her insecurities that reach back to her teens. Lea's debut romance is a terrific rom-com that offers an essential message about accepting oneself, and it is a pleasure to read. The strong yet insecure Crystal is a memorable, layered character, and Scott is very appealing and quintessentially human. A subplot about their grandparents' wedding is clever and provides an evocative parallel for Crystal and Scott. Fans of Jennifer Weiner may enjoy this, and all who read it will look forward to more romance from Lea.

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April 15, 2022
Competitive gym users go from enemies to lovers. Curvy Chinese American "fitstagrammer" Crystal Chen can't stand the new Chris Evans look-alike at her gym, especially since he's been violating workout etiquette: ignoring signs that a rack has been claimed by another person, hogging the water fountain, and getting in the way of her training sessions with clients, not to mention blocking her camera as she's recording her exercise routines. Then she's caught off guard when a heated exchange about her cellphone--she thinks he stole it to get on her nerves--turns into a make-out session in the men's locker room. But Crystal has a bigger surprise in store when she finds out that her grandmother has gotten engaged and that her intended is the grandfather of the Squat Rack Thief, aka Scott Ritchie, Boston firefighter. To make matters worse, Scott may have a girlfriend, a figure skater. Despite the many bumpy starts, Scott and Crystal finally get past their initial misunderstandings to explore the romantic sparks between them. It seems like the perfect relationship for the homebody, gym-loving duo--till Crystal's fear of being cheated on rears its head. Just as the couple tackle that issue, Crystal's carefully constructed sense of identity comes crashing down thanks to online fatphobia. In this debut novel, author Lea explores the challenges of a woman learning to respect herself while realizing that the social media version of body positivity, though the core of her Instagram brand and philosophy, may not be the ideal route to happiness. With some amusing dad jokes and come-on lines, several steamy and romantic sex scenes, and nonstereotyped portrayals of a biracial family, the novel has real promise. But a first-person narrative that dwells on the heroine's hang-ups may not be everyone's cup of tea, and Crystal's judgmental behavior toward others also clashes with her criticism of those who resort to reductive stereotypes. Though Crystal works to overcome the paradox and her internal dialogue and Instagram posts about body identity and White beauty standards earn her points, the drama feels a bit drawn out. A rom-com that tries to hit serious notes about sizeism, racism, sexism, and online toxicity.

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