Pumped (Gymbos Book 2) by K.M. Neuhold

PUMPED is a need jock opposites attract romance. An accidental meet-cute where Percy stumbles into a gym, arm wrestles a buff gymbo, and ends up with a special personal trainer and falls in love.


From the blurb:

I’m just a nerd, standing in front of a bench press, asking it not to humiliate me in front of my gym crush

I’ve never walked into a gym on purpose in my life, and I’m not sure which part is more shocking, the massive beefcake who immediately challenges me to arm wrestle or the fact that I kind of want to come back.

I spent years of my life refusing to lift anything heavier than a textbook, and it shows. I never expected that coming to the gym and bulking up would give me more gender euphoria than all the T shots in the world.

The crush I’m developing on my Golden Retriever of a personal trainer, Butch, though? Yeah, I should have seen that one coming.

Butch is a guy’s guy. Jockstraps, armpit licking, Sweat enthusiast… what could he possibly find exciting about a scrawny, book-ish nerd like me?

I’m just going to try not to drool on him too hard while he helps me get pumped. And I’m for sure not going to do anything stupid like falling in love with him…


Molly Otto's review:

Percy and Butch are your perfect little nerd jock opposites attract pure joy romance. Butch one of the trainers at Sweat encourages Percy who accidentally walks into the gym vs Sweet the bakery across the street. These two have an immediately sweet adorkable banter that just draws you in. Butch becomes his trainer in his fitness journey to seeing working out is not only good for your body but for your confidence. the slower pace to intimacy of these two was not something you always see from KM and I frigging adored it. Percy needed the confidence as someone who recently fully transitioned to be comfortable in his body to be able to take that next step to intimacy. Butch needed to see just because he's not book smart doesn't mean he's not smart in other aspects of his life. These two just bring so much joy along with the rest of the trainers of Sweat in their encouragement at being your true self and just plain having fun in their lives.


SNik's review:

Second in series (Gymbos), but can be read as a standalone. Opposites attract. Trans representation. Found family. Slow burn. Dual POV. 

Accidentally walking into a gym and meeting the sweetest of personal trainers was not what graduate student Percy had ever had on his bingo card. Butch may not have a college education but he’s friendly, motivating, and wants to help Percy achieve his goals, not to mention he’s very much attracted to Percy. 

This story had me smiling throughout, it was so fun to read how genuine Butch was and how both he and Percy overcome their personal insecurities due to the kindness and support of each other. I enjoyed every moment these two were on page together, their supportive friends, and their steady fall into love. A feel good read to start the year, with spice and joy and an absolutely romantic love story.

Heather's Review:

From meet-cute to rock climbing, sharing a tent to sharing their lives, Percy & Butch are the quintessential opposites attract story with so much supportive sweetness and lovely intimacy - both men struggle with parts of themselves, but together they both become stronger, confident and experience new ways of seeing the world and I was there for all of it!  If you need a feel good read to start your new year right, Pumped is the book for you!

Pumped is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription