What happens when you take a grieving widow, add a ridiculously hot personal trainer, and throw in enough gym metaphors to make your Peloton jealous?
I was sitting in my car in the garage—you know, my sacred 45 minutes of silence before I go inside and someone immediately needs a snack—when I started this one. And honestly? I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The title made me snort-laugh, which my neighbor definitely saw through her window. Worth the awkwardness.
Not Your Typical Weight Loss Story (Thank God)
Here's the thing about Big Girl Panties that surprised me: it's not actually about losing weight. I mean, yes, Holly loses weight. But Stephanie Evanovich—who's apparently Janet Evanovich's niece, which explains a LOT about the humor—uses the whole fitness journey as a way to talk about grief. Real, messy, eating-your-feelings-at-2am grief. Holly's husband died. She coped with food. And now she's trying to figure out who she even is anymore.
I wasn't expecting to feel so seen by a rom-com. After Sophie was born (my third—sorry, brain is fried), I remember standing in my closet wondering if I'd ever feel like myself again. Holly's journey isn't really about the scale. It's about putting on your metaphorical big girl panties and deciding you're worth fighting for. That kind of self-discovery reminded me of After Ever Happy, where the characters are also figuring out who they are beyond their circumstances.
That said, some parts felt a bit tiresome. The fitness montage sections dragged occasionally, and I found myself fast-forwarding through a couple of the more repetitive workout descriptions. Not groundbreaking, but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking.
Logan Montgomery: The Fantasy We All Deserve
Logan is basically what would happen if your trainer at the gym was also a romance novel hero. He works with pro athletes. He's patient. He actually LISTENS. (I know, I know—fiction.) The banter between him and Holly is genuinely funny. Evanovich has that gift for dialogue that makes you feel like you're eavesdropping on real people.
The spicy scenes are... present. Like, definitely present. I had to pause during school pickup once because Katie Schorr was narrating a scene that was NOT appropriate for the carpool lane. Fair warning. The content warnings about sexual content and language are accurate.
Katie Schorr Carries This Thing
Speaking of Schorr—she's excellent. Her comedic timing is spot-on, and she handles the emotional shifts without making them feel jarring. When Holly's grieving, you feel it. When she's snarking at Logan, you're right there with her. I actually laughed out loud multiple times, which made Emma ask why I was laughing at nothing. (Because I'm listening to a book, sweetie. Mommy is allowed to have inner thoughts.)
Even people who didn't love the book praised Schorr's performance, and I get it. She elevates material that could feel predictable. Her voice is pleasant without being saccharine, and she handles the romance scenes with just the right amount of heat. I didn't notice major character voice differentiation—it's pretty straightforward single-narrator territory—but for a contemporary romance, you don't need a full cast. Schorr keeps everything clear and engaging.
Who's This Actually For?
If you're a romance reader who appreciates humor with your heat, this is car time approved. If you're dealing with grief or body stuff and want something that acknowledges the hard parts while still giving you a happy ending, this might hit different for you.
Skip it if you need literary fiction or if explicit content isn't your thing. Also maybe skip if you're listening with kids in the car. Learn from my mistakes.
Compared to other rom-coms I've listened to, this one has more emotional depth than I expected. It's not as light as some beach reads, but it's not heavy either. After You: A Novel strikes a similar balance—grief mixed with hope, without tipping too far either way. Schorr has narrated other Evanovich books apparently, and I might check those out during my next naptime listening sessions.
Made Me Cry at School Pickup (Worth It Though)
I finished this during a combination of nap times and car sits. High praise. The ending is satisfying—exactly what I needed after a week of toddler tantrums and kindergarten drama. Predictable? Sure. But sometimes predictable is the whole point.
The book runs just under 10 hours, which is perfect for a week of mom-schedule listening. I did it at 1.25x and it felt natural. Survived 47 pauses and still made sense, which is really all I ask for anymore.
My book club will love this (if I ever have time for book club again). It's got enough substance to discuss but enough fun to not feel like homework. Perfect for multitasking moms who want something with heart that won't require a character wiki to remember what's happening.
