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Review / Release Blitz: Resistance Training by Kayley Loring


Title: Resistance Training
Author: Kayley Loring
Genre: Steamy Romantic Comedy
Tropes: Best Friends to Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy/Sunshine, Reunion Romance
Personal Trainer Romance
Release Date: September 29, 2025

BLURB

Vivian only has one big regret in life–and a million little ones if you count all the calories she didn’t consume while she was living with the guy who dumped her. But Vivian is glad she moved to Portland with her ex. She’s glad he left her for someone who lives in the city she moved from, because she can now eat her feelings and those feelings taste like wine, tacos, pastries, and gourmet ice cream.

She’s even happy when her newly-engaged sister informs her that she’s hired the toughest personal trainer in town to whip Vivian back into shape for her wedding, because it finally brings her face-to-face with that one big regret—her former best friend from high school.

Brad Mitchell, who claimed she broke his heart and disappeared after they graduated. Who never replied to all those emails about how much she regretted hurting him. The once-chubby, grumpy nerd who was the other person in their two-member book club. The one who now looks infuriatingly hot in a compression tank top and sweatpants.

Brad goes by Mitch these days. He has the same wry sense of humor, a lot of exciting new muscles, and one aggravating, old grudge. But as he puts Vivian through resistance training that tests his own stubborn resolve too, their old spark refuses to die—it just keeps doing more reps.

And those long-ignored emails sitting in Brad's archived inbox folder? They just might take these former best friends from enemies to lovers and give them the second chance they deserve—if he ever reads them.

BOOKBUB


PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
UNIVERSAL
Free in Kindle Unlimited
ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK
Audio narrated by Emma Wilder & Jason Clarke releasing January 2026


MY REVIEW


Vivian and Brad were high school best friends until he left and ghosted her right after graduating. What led to him ghosting? She agreed to go to prom with another Brad, a Brad who was one of several jerks who bullied him. He obviously wasn't happy with her, but what really prompted his leaving was his unrequited love for his best friend, who not only went to the prom with someone else, but she didn't return his feelings, didn't acknowledge his feelings for her (or so he thought). Now in the present, they're reunited, thanks to her sister's very sneaky ways, and Brad's walls are going to be tested by Vivian's determined pursuit of his forgiveness.


Brad always told himself he'd never give into his feelings for his former best friend Vivian. The life he's built since graduation is a direct result of resisting her. Turning himself into a lean fit personal trainer with his own gym and IG following is all to make sure no one ever gets past his impenetrable exterior and into his heart again. But when she becomes his newest client, those walls are being tested like they've never been before. Soon he, his new cat, and Vivian and her cat have a chance of becoming one solid unit - if he finally reads her emails and realizes just what he's been missing all the years since he ghosted her.


Vivian and Brad are adorable. The addition of Hairy Styles and Bella the cats make for an even sweeter combo, and I could not help but fall in love with this former best friends to enemies to lovers love story. I love that Vivian was confident about her body, wasn't trying to lose weight just to impress a guy, in contrast to Brad's whole reason for transformation was not so much for impressing someone but as a sense of f-you to everyone who had hurt him. Though it didn't take Vivian long to break down his walls, the journey wasn't easy - he had a lot process, so when he finally broke down and read the emails - whew! I'm still smiling as I write this review and I know I'm going to remember this adorable couple with their snarky, witty banter, their sizzling chemistry, and that absolutely sweet, heartfelt epilogue.


AUTHOR BIO
Amazon Top 25 and USA Today bestselling author Kayley Loring had a fifteen-year career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles (under a different name) before moving to the Pacific Northwest to pen steamy romantic comedy novels. Now she’s breathing cleaner air, writing dirtier words, and staring at her computer screen until her eyeballs dry out instead of getting facials and going to the hair salon. Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want to laugh, warm your heart, and enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines who need to be chased, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life, and swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends.

Learn more at www.kayleyloring.com
Come join Kayley in her Facebook reader group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kayleyville
Follow Kayley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleyloring
Listen to Kayley talk to the wildly talented narrators who narrate her audiobooks and her wildly talented author friends on the Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring podcast!

AUTHOR LINKS

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