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Verdict: A heartfelt, steamier-than-usual Jae romance: actress Jill Corrigan, who swore off relationships after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, agrees to a no-strings fling with stunt woman Kristine “Crash” Patterson on a disaster-movie set. Readers praise the deeply researched MS representation and adore Crash; the main complaint is how long stubborn Jill keeps her at arm’s length.
Best for: Readers who want a well-researched chronic-illness romance with a film-set backdrop and real heat.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.1/5 — a 4.27 Goodreads average across 2,062 ratings and 4.6 stars across 894 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Friends with benefits, actress/stunt double, workplace, disability representation, emotional walls, Hollywood.
Just Physical is Jae’s 2015 contemporary lesbian romance from Ylva Publishing, part of The Hollywood Series. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, twenty-five-year-old Jill Corrigan takes herself off the romantic market and throws herself into acting, not wanting to become a burden to a partner.
It holds a 4.27 average across 2,062 Goodreads ratings, with 83% of them four or five stars, and 4.6 stars across 894 Amazon ratings.
What Is Just Physical About?
On the set of a disaster movie, Jill meets stunt woman Kristine “Crash” Patterson, whose easy smile makes her wish things were different. Crash is trained to fall, but she did not count on falling in love.
Jill resolves to let Crash into her bed but not her heart. As they play with fire on and off camera, can they really keep things just physical?
What Works in This Book
- MS representation: The most consistent praise is for Jae’s research and the realistic, nuanced portrayal of living with a chronic illness.
- Crash: A couple of readers say the stunt woman is the real star.
- Emotion: Fans call it a rollercoaster, and one says it reduces her to tears every time.
- The film set: Readers enjoy the actress-and-stunt-double dynamic.
Book Synopsis
An actress who will not be anyone’s burden. A stunt woman trained to fall.
Keeping it physical is harder than any stunt.
My Review
Jae is known for careful research, and here it pays off: readers describe feeling Jill’s fear and struggle, and learning a lot about MS along the way. Jill is layered, and her walls make sense, while Crash is warm, patient and easy to love. This is also a departure from Jae’s usual formula, as one reader notes: instead of friends, slow burn, then lovers, it is casual sex first, then complications. Several readers have returned to it more than once.
The friction is Jill. Several readers found her too stubborn, and at times rude to Crash, and a couple liked her better as a side character in Damage Control. A couple rank this as the weakest of the series, still good, and one found it a little too angsty.
My honest note: One of the most thoughtful chronic-illness romances in lesfic.
| Element | In Just Physical |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Jill Corrigan (actress with MS) & Kristine “Crash” Patterson (stunt woman) |
| Core tropes | No strings attached, actress/stunt double, emotional walls |
| Setting | A Hollywood disaster-movie set |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | 288 pages |
| Series | The Hollywood Series (standalone) |
| Content notes | Chronic illness, MS symptoms and treatment |
How Spicy Is Just Physical?
Higher than most Jae books. Readers note noticeably more sex than usual, fitting a story that begins as a physical arrangement.
Readers mention the realities of MS, including symptoms, treatment and fear of the future.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a researched, emotional romance with a disabled lead. It is on our disabled sapphic romance list.
You may want to skip it if: a heroine who pushes her love interest away will frustrate you.
In short: Stunts, sparks and stubbornness.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 47% five stars, 36% four, 13% three, 3% two and 1% one.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): MS representation first. Second, Crash. Third, emotion. Fourth, returning Hollywood characters.
What readers argue about and complain about: Jill’s stubbornness, above everything. Second, comparison with Damage Control. Third, angst.
The comparison worth making first: Damage Control, the Hollywood book where Jill first appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read the Hollywood Series in order?
It stands alone, but Jill first appears in Damage Control, and Grace and Lauren from that book make several appearances. Readers who came from Damage Control enjoyed seeing Jill get her own story.
How is multiple sclerosis portrayed?
With care and research. Readers, including one whose spouse has relapsing-remitting MS, praise the realistic, nuanced portrayal of symptoms, treatment and the fear of becoming a burden.
Is Just Physical spicier than other Jae books?
Yes. Readers note it has more sex than a typical Jae novel, and it flips her usual friends-first slow burn into casual sex first, feelings later.
Why do some readers find Jill frustrating?
Jill is fiercely independent and determined not to let anyone in, and a few readers found her stubbornness tipped into rudeness towards Crash. Others found her layered and deeply sympathetic.
Is Just Physical on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, when we checked, or $9.99 to buy on Kindle. The audiobook is narrated by Abigail Rakocy.
If You Loved Just Physical, Read These Next
Start the series with Departure from the Script, continue with Damage Control, or try The Loudest Silence. Browse our disabled sapphic romance list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Just Physical sets out to be a sexy, honest romance about love after a life-changing diagnosis, and its research and heart deliver. What holds it back is a heroine some readers found too hard to root for. A standout of the Hollywood Series. Check Just Physical on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Just Physical ranks as a strong disability-rep pick — researched, emotional, hot.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 4.1/5
- ✓ 4.27 average across 2,062 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 83% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ Not found on StoryGraph
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 894 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ Sex first, feelings later
- ✓ Rollercoaster
- ✓ Crash
- ✓ Walls come down
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Layered Jill
- ✓ Beloved Crash
- ✓ Grace and Lauren cameo
- ✓ Stubborn to some
Writing ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
- ✓ Well researched
- ✓ Well edited
- ✓ Film-set detail
- ✓ Classic Jae
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
- ✓ Fear
- ✓ Chronic illness
- ✓ Tears
- ✓ Hope
Heat Level ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ More than usual for Jae
- ✓ Frequent
- ✓ Explicit
- ✓ Adult
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Happy ending
- ✓ Earned
- ✓ Series continues
- ✓ Warm
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 4.1/5
- ✓ On Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Audiobook
- ✓ Reread by fans
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