Out Of The Blue by Alison Bliss

Healthy habits and fitness are part of many of our New Year’s goals.  So what better time than now to highlight these habits in Alison Bliss’ new book Out of the Blue.  It’s the story of Preslee Owens who has been told she is pre-diabetic and decides to make a healthy change. This book publishes on February 1/22 and is the fourth book in the author’s A Perfect Fit Series.  The book can easily be read as a standalone.

From The Publisher:

The course of true love was never supposed to start on a stair climber…
Preslee Owens has never worked out in a gym before. Like truly never. Until today. As she struggles to stay upright on the stair climber, she accidentally broadcasts a vlog that lets complete strangers—and even worse, people in her own small town–witness the hilarious start to her fitness journey. To her surprise and mortification, viewers love it.
The positive reaction leaves Preslee with no choice but to return—and the discovery that her unrequited crush, Josh, works out in the same gym is a big bonus. It also helps that her new personal trainer is making sure she doesn’t kill herself in the process. In fact, Adam has even offered to pretend to be her boyfriend to help make Josh a little jealous.
Having Adam cheering her on brings out a strength and confidence Preslee barely recognizes in herself. And soon she’s enjoying being his fake girlfriend waaay too much. But will her newfound courage allow her to face her biggest fear yet and seize the life she truly wants?

Book Review:

I enjoyed reading Out of the Blue. As a nurse, let me just say I love a book whose central character decides to take control of their own health.  Preslee is carrying a few extra pounds and makes the decision to join a gym to shed a few pounds and to feel healthier.  Little did she know that she was about to change her life forever.

It takes a lot of courage to step in a gym if you never have before.  The fitness equipment can look intimidating, and it seems as though everyone  is staring at you.  The first time Preslee goes to the gym, she finds Adam and his staff to be very helpful.  But her lack of experience on the equipment soon catches up to her and finds the experience humiliating. She leaves the gym throwing her membership card in the trash and vowing never to return.

What Preslee doesn’t know is that the vlog she recorded for her antique shop while at the gym records longer than what she had thought.  The video becomes a bit of a local sensation which sets into motion a series of events.  Despite Preslee’s decision not to return to the gym, Adam persuades her to allow him to train her.

Preslee isn’t aware that Adam has just as much to gain from this relationship as she does.  In fact, I reserved my feelings for Adam in the beginning of this book.  But as his character begins to shine through I could see that he was a nice guy and a good fit for Preslee.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Preslee and Adam and this worked very well in developing these characters. I loved reading about Preslee’s transition into a stronger, more confident woman.  There are some very funny moments in this book, but Preslee’s character was the star of this book for me.  The author does a great job in developing this character, and creates a story that is both fun and inspiring.

What I Liked:

• Watching Preslee evolve into a stronger, more confident woman
• The compassion the author uses in speaking about an overweight character
• The use of humour throughout the book

I Recommend This Book To:

Those readers who enjoy Women’s Fiction or Romance.

My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Add Out of the Blue to your Goodreads shelf

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk

The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella

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