Change of Pace

De: Kayla Grosse

Narrado por: Victoria Connolly, Grayson Owens

JESSE REEVES wants to live life to the fullest. After a Kawasaki Disease diagnosis and an ICD implant, she's determined to make every moment count—including tackling her carefully curated bucket list.

First on the list? A no-strings-attached one-night stand.

Enter ASHER JAMISON, a charming stranger who helps her check that box. Their night together is everything she hoped for, and then some. But the surprise comes the next day when she discovers Asher isn't just a stranger, he's her best friend's brother.

Understanding how important her bucket list is to Jesse, her best friend suggests a road trip with Asher in his RV to help her check off as many items as possible before her new job begins. Though hesitant, Jesse agrees with one condition: they must keep things strictly platonic.

But as Jesse and Asher explore quirky roadside attractions, share experiences, and navigate close quarters, keeping their feelings in check becomes harder.

The question is, can Jesse overcome her fears and let him into her heart?

©2025 Kayla Grosse (P)2025 Fat Babe Publishing, INC.

A beautiful story.

A Deep and Beautiful story. Jesse and Asher meet in a bar and end up having a one night stand. Jesse is dealing with a mortality crisis after being diagnosed with a serious disease and almost dying. She decides she wants to live her life and creates a bucket list. Asher is her first check. Asher falls for Jesse instantly but realizes the morning after he’s just that, a check. That is until Faye brings them together and sends them on a trip of a lifetime. Asher wants more. Jesse doesn’t.
There is fabulous plus size representation and yep a dad bod which I loved. Tropes include insta love and he falls first. Victoria Connolly and Grayson Owen’s were perfect for these characters. 100% recommend

dual narration. cute story

this was cute. it should have been duet narration. but for a dual, these narrators were a good choice. Jesse was frustrating, but i understand why she was the way she was, but damn. my heart hurt for Ash at times. this was fun and emotional. my name is also Jessi (spelled different of course) and my husband calls me Jessi girl too. it was a trip hearing my name in a book as a main character. Ash was swoony so it felt good hearing my name. Im also plus sized with a lot of health issues discovered later In life (34) so this story really hit close to home. I really appreciate this book. and Gus Gus. he is the best. highly recommend .

Fun and Sweet for the win

This was/ is so beautifully done. I loved everything about this story, if there was a song to compare it to I would definitely say “Janet Jackson’s - Someone to call my lover”.

Swoony Roadtrip Romance

“The best part is this is only our first stop. We’re only getting started.”

Change of Pace by Kayla Grosse is a marvelous road trip romance that brought me to tears. Kayla’s storytelling is quirky, charming, body positive, and a spicy good time. Her characters are complex, alluring, and unique. I found Jesse and Asher deeply relatable; their individual arcs were compelling and their shared journey was beautiful. Kayla so clearly poured a piece of herself into this lovely book, it’s a must-read.

I was smitten with Jesse and Asher when I first read this book and listening to Grayson Owens and Victoria Connolly bring them to life was a wonderful treat. Grayson portrayed Asher’s affable, charming, and lovable character perfectly. The down bad cinnamon roll was an insta-smitten sweetheart had me giggling and kicking my feet squealing from chapter one. Victoria Connolly embodied Jesse beautifully. She brought the effervescent yet guarded, brassy, real-bodied beauty to life with a passionate, witty, and engaging performance. I loved how Grayson and Victoria’s styles, tone, and pacing flowed flawlessly together.

change of Pace

Are there any books that are related to this one? Same characters or etc?

I didn't love it

I REALLY wanted to love this book. There were a couple of points during the book that I wanted to stop listening. It's super cringey. I don't like the male performer at all. Maybe it reads better as a book, but the performance left a lot to be desired. There is quite an attempt at jokes that just hang there. They're not actually that funny and just awkward. Sorry to those who loved it. Disappointed

More Than A Bucket Lost: A Heartfelt, Roadtrip Romance

I’m usually a huge fan of Kayla Grosse’s books, so I went into Change of Pace with high expectations—and for the most part, it delivered. This one follows Jesse Reeves, a woman living with Kawasaki Disease and an ICD implant, who’s determined to stop waiting for life to happen and start chasing it herself. She creates a bucket list that pushes her out of her comfort zone—starting with a spontaneous, no-strings-attached one-night stand.

Enter Ash Jamison: swoony, confident, and instantly smitten. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the twist comes the next day when Jesse discovers Ash is her best friend’s brother. What follows is a heartfelt, sometimes messy, cross-country RV road trip where Jesse and Ash agree to be “just friends” while tackling her bucket list—though anyone who’s ever read a romance knows how that’ll go.

There’s so much to love here: the travel moments are vivid and immersive (Winnie the RV is practically a character in her own right!), the banter is great, and I adored Gus. Kayla Grosse writes with humor and warmth, and she always makes space for bigger conversations. I especially appreciated how well she portrayed the emotional and mental impact of chronic illness. Jesse’s struggles with vulnerability and control after surviving Kawasaki Disease were portrayed with authenticity and depth, and I loved that she’s a plus-sized heroine who doesn’t shrink herself to make others more comfortable.

Ash was a steady, grounded counterpart, and I liked that his character had his own layers, particularly regarding his experience with ADHD. That said, I wish his arc had been explored with the same emotional depth Jesse received. There were hints at unresolved issues and trauma, but they weren’t fully developed, and I was craving more character growth from his side.

As for the romance—I had mixed feelings. Their connection was intense and genuine, and I loved watching it evolve… until the ending. The emotional tension built up slowly (almost too slowly), only to rush toward the resolution. The final conflict felt like a turning point, but then we skipped forward a month and everything wrapped up quickly. I wish there had been more time to sit with the fallout and rebuild their connection in a meaningful way. And while the epilogue brought some spice, it felt more like fan service than a satisfying conclusion.

Also, I have to be honest: the nickname “Jesse girl” pulled me out of the story more than once, especially during the steamy scenes. Maybe it’s just me, but it gave me the ick.

Still, I really enjoyed this one overall. It was heartfelt, adventurous, emotionally layered, and gave me that little escape I was craving. It didn’t quite stick the landing, but it’s worth the ride—especially if you love road trip romances, found family, and heroines who refuse to live small.

⸻

Rating: 3.75 stars
Spice level: Medium-high (some open-door scenes, emotional intimacy)
Tropes: Forced proximity, road trip, best friend’s brother, friends-to-lovers, bucket list romance