Head Over Heels: A Novel

Written by Hannah Orenstein

Narrated by Joy Osmanski

An electrifying rom-com set in the high stakes world of competitive gymnastics and filled with “charm, whimsy, and giddy romantic tension” (BuzzFeed)—from the author of the Love at First Like and Meant to Be Mine.

*Named a Best Beach/Summer Read by O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Parade, PopSugar, Marie Claire, Bustle, and more!*

The past seven years have been hard on Avery Abrams: After training her entire life to make the Olympic gymnastics team, a disastrous performance ended her athletic career for good. Her best friend and teammate, Jasmine, went on to become an Olympic champion, then committed the ultimate betrayal by marrying their emotionally abusive coach, Dimitri.

Now, reeling from a breakup with her football star boyfriend, Avery returns to her Massachusetts hometown, where new coach Ryan asks her to help him train a promising young gymnast with Olympic aspirations. Despite her misgivings and worries about the memories it will evoke, Avery agrees. Back in the gym, she’s surprised to find sparks flying with Ryan. But when a shocking scandal in the gymnastics world breaks, it has shattering effects not only for the sport but also for Avery and her old friend Jasmine.

Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jasmine Guillory, Head Over Heels proves that no one “writes about modern relationships with more humor or insight than Hannah Orenstein” (Dana Schwartz, author of Choose Your Own Disaster).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jun 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781797113401

Hannah Orenstein

Hannah Orenstein is the author of Playing with Matches, Love at First Like, and Head Over Heels, and is the deputy editor of dating at Elite Daily. Previously, she was a writer and editor at Seventeen.com. She lives in Brooklyn.

Reviews for Head Over Heels

[Emily Cooley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a book about gymnastics. Not a romcom. Just to be clear.

[Paola Presume · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The romance was mediocre in my opinion, the gymnastic/mental health stuff were what kept the book interesting.

[Ryan Mauricio · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very likeable read/listen. With enough empathy, strength and determination to make the whole novel interesting from start to finish.

[Mackenzie Bath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is more than your average romance novel. The twists are heart wrenching, and the stakes are high. I would definitely recommend this book

[Assistant Forthelove · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute easy read! Wasn’t the most captivating but I enjoyed it for sure!

[Jane Finlay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this fictional book following the life of a favorite US gymnast who did not get into the 2020 Olympic team because of an accident at the Olympic trials. She struggles for years afterwards trying to find herself and her niche, which takes her back to gymnastics. She gradually finds meaning, love, a belief in herself and commits herself to helping elite gymnasts in their recoveries from some of the brutal trainers and heartless regimens they have on their ways to becoming world class contenders. If you enjoy gymnastics this is a ? read.

[Chloe Sykes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

review imported from my goodreads, itsnotcloe.

3.5 / 5 ☆

“I just had no idea,” he repeated over and over, looking pained. “Every-one trusted him.”
I was at a loss for words again.
“Maybe,” I said finally, “that was the problem.”

cws: sexual abuse, emotional abuse, victim blaming (not believing abuse)

I have a lot of thoughts about this book.

For starters, there was never a dull moment. There was never a dull moment, but not in a way that felt like too much was happening at once. The narrative strands knit together very well, and came together in a a wonderful way at the end.

This is a book about many things; but above all that, it is about Avery as she changes and grows into a new life, one she actually wants. Avery at the start of the book, vs Avery at the end, feel like completely different people. Orenstein did an excellent job showing her development; when Avery reminisced on her time with Tyler towards the end, I was right along with her in her shock towards her change from her past life.

There are a lot of wonderful characters in this book, but I was especially glad to see Avery, and Jasmine alongside her accomplish the things they did. The rekindling of the spark between two best friends, and the momentous things that came out of it, was absolutely wonderful to read about.

The reason I give 3.5 stars is because it was a good book, but not phenomenal. For those types of books, I normally give 4 stars (which I have rounded up to anyways, because Goodreads reviewers tend to be quite mean and I like to be nicer when I can), however there were some things I really didn't like.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

The way Ryan treated Avery during the coaching job debacle was despicable. Even as I was reading *that part*, I wanted to walk right into the story and slap some sense into him. I spent the rest of the book after the breakup dreading the inevitable moment when they would get back together.

If they had gotten back together with little to no repair, this book would have sat at 3 stars. However, as Avery herself said, it's one thing to apologise, but it's another to put in the work to fix something. And that is why Ryan did; he put in the work to try and fix the harm he caused. By the end of the story, I felt that I wasn't as angry about the fact that they would get back together.

[SPOILER END]

Overall, it was an enjoyable book. If you like gymnastics, I would recommend it. If you don't, whatever. I think you have to enjoy gymnastics, and at least know a little bit about it (hopefully outside of just the olympics) to fully appreciate this book, since so much of it is about what happens in the world of USAG, specifically WAG.

[Mandie Hendricks Chiles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it such a great book could not put it down

[Ashlee Worley · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

There wasn’t much to the book. It was a good storyline, but the author didn’t write it as to where you got to know all the main characters. There wasn’t much to the relationship.

[alexis jacoby · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was the first book in a while that I went into blindly, so when I realized there was a focus on gymnastics I was initially disinterested. However I came to enjoy Avery and her transformation throughout the story. The mix of romance, self-growth, and the prevalent issues faced by gymnasts today kept me intrigued.

[Emily Preun · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a cute gymnastics read! Lite on the romance, but still cute!

[Maria Silveria Grassi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2.75 the romance was meh. The mc is constantly putting herself out there and the love interest fuaks it up real goo to so easily be pardon. What saves the book is the gymnastics element. I did not care for the mc at all, but did for Haely. Don y know if I would read another of this author's book.