Four Reasons to Read Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein

I have read so many incredible books in 2020 so far, and one of them is Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein. This book is amazing, and I will include the synopsis at the end of the article for anyone who is interested. This book follows an ex-gymnast as she trains new Olympic hopeful for the 2020 summer Olympics. I really fell in love with this romance because I was a competitive gymnast for 12 years of my life, and Hannah did an amazing job representing the sport and discussing some really important discussions that are happening in the gymnastics world right now. Check down below for five reasons why I think you should pick up Head Over Heels! 

1. A Strong Female Lead 

One of my favorite things about Head Over Heels was the main character, Avery. I connected with Avery on many different levels, and I loved her strength and passion. To me, she is character that really grows as the story progresses, and I loved seeing her change and grow as a person. She was a really honest, human, and inspiring character. 

2. An Amazing Romantic Interest 

One thing I also loved about this book was the romance. Even though the romance is not the main focus of this book, Hannah created a strong romantic lead in Ryan. I thought that the romance was very realistic, and I loved watching these two characters fall for each other, work through their pain and trauma, and ultimately really support one another in the people they want to be. I thought that Hannah did a great job at creating a very real and healthy romance, which is something I love seeing! 

3. Really funny and interesting writing! 

I absolutely loved Hannah Orenstein’s voice and writing in this book. Hannah’s writing really fit the story she was telling. It was down to earth, funny, relatable, and really enhanced the story. I thought that her tone got serious when needed and light and funny when needed, and I thought that she did a fantastic job in crafting a story that deals with some very dark topics in a very respectful way and, at the same time, still made the book a light, summer, fun romance. 

4. This Book Discusses some Really Important Topics

I recommend this book to any ex-gymnast or to anyone that is interested in the sport because Head Over Heels discusses not only the amazing dedication and hard work that many gymnasts strive to do, but also talks about a lot of the hardships they face. Hannah Orenstein does bring up an instance in the book that is similar to the Larry Nassar scandal, taking the time to call out a lot of the kinds of abuse gymnasts have faced over the years and how coaches, parents, and even ex-gymnasts and gymnasts themselves can change the world of gymnastics for the better. The book also really discusses physical injuries and trauma that gymnasts face and how hard it is to step away from the sport and the mental health challenges that a lot of ex-gymnasts face. This is not only a really fun romance, but a really powerful read.

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