Head Over Heels
Seven years ago, Avery Adams was at the peak of her career. She spent her entire life training to make the US Olympic gymnastics team. However, due to a career-ending performance, she missed her short window of opportunity and watched as her best friend, Jasmine, went on to win the gold without her.
Fast forward to 2020, and Avery returns to her hometown in Massachusetts after a breakup with her long-term football star boyfriend. She’s lost and unsure of what her future holds.
Not long after returning home, the local gymnastics coach, Ryan, asks her to help train a promising gymnast for the upcoming Olympic trials. While the painful memories of her past still feel fresh, Avery can’t help but feel a sense of purpose being back in the gym. It also helps that she finds a new love interest in 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.
Setting:
Massachusetts, USA
What I thought of the book:
I was excited to see Hannah Orenstein publish this book as I’ve been following Hannah’s career ever since the HerCampus High School Ambassador’s program. Hannah was tasked with building out a digital media/journalism program for high school students and I joined way back in 2012(?).
I was even more excited to learn that it was a gymnastics love story. While I’m not traditionally a contemporary romance fan, I enjoyed a novel that weaved a love story into the world of gymnastics. I grew up taking lessons at our local park district and when it came around to watching the Olympics every 4 years, I loved watching the likes of Shawn Johnson, Nastia Luikin, and Gabby Douglas compete on the international stage.
Overall, it’s a quick and enjoyable read. Something that I would recommend for a weekend trip or casual reading.
Who should read this book:
If you’re a fan of contemporary romance and/or interested in the world of competitive gymnastics this may be a book for you.
This book was slated to be published before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and it does a great job of illustrating the challenges of being an Olympic-level athlete.
It also touches on the USA gymnastics sexual abuse scandal and the history the sport has on the mental health of its athletes.
Favorite Quotes:
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.”
“The funny thing about your dream coming true is that it never quite happens the way you think it will. There’s always a twist.”
Similar Works to Consider:
Books: Finding Our Balance, Start By Believing
Films: Athlete A, The Gabby Douglas Story
Publication Details:
Orenstein, Hannah. Head Over Heels. Atria Paperback, 2020.
