I fell in love with this book from the start.
Modern, empowering and inclusive, this story is amazing and entertaining.
Love the well crafted characters that makes it so interesting.
Perfect for YA readers.

<b>3 Stars</b>

The main character was charming and I liked the premise. However, the book fell a little flat for me. The first half felt like it was a lot of setup, and the second half of the book picked up with more cute romance scenes, but I wasn't quite hooked on the relationship by the time the book ended.

While there were nods to the Cinderella tale, I wouldn't classify this as a retelling per se. It felt more like a book about <i>The Bachelor</i> tv show with little Cinderella nods here and there. People who have read "One to Watch" by Kate Stayman-London will definitely draw comparisons.

Although this wasn't quite the book for me, it was a cute, quick read, and I can definitely see where it will have its fans.

Another day, another spoof on "The Bachelor" being used for a plus sized protagonist. It does make sense given that this is published by Disney Hyperion, Disney also owning ABC. However, I found this novel a lot easier to digest than say "One to Watch". It doesn't rest on it's laurels as either a spin on Cinderella or the oft parodied reality dating show, but rather blends the two worlds together almost seamlessly, almost as perfect as Cindy's designs.

Cindy is a young woman who has just finished design school and is wondering what she should do next with her life. She returns home to where her stepmother and step sisters live with her little siblings that are triplets and very precocious. I really liked that they were named after three of the mice that existed in the Cinderella version, I thought that was a nice little nod and Easter Egg. Her step-mother is actually really kind and supportive of Cindy, and I thought that was a nice change as a lot of the time it is usually just one of the sisters that are nice to her, and here it seems that the whole family is actually very kind and supportive of each other.

Her step-mother is the producer of a reality tv show called "Before Midnight" and some of the girls dropped out before filming so needing a few fill ins she and her protege ask Cindy and her sisters to step in.

The book is an interesting take at the reality show world and how things are in a blended family. It doesn't villify the family but makes them a part of what makes Cindy herself. She is plus sized, but aside from being upset that the show didn't provide more clothing options for her, there isn't a lot of focus on that like a lot of the books with plus sized heroines have. She knows she's larger and while there are some insecurities she has used that to her advantage and become really good at design and making clothes work for her body.

I recommend this to anyone that loves a good retelling, or some good reality tv. This was a pleasant surprise, and I think that you will be too.

**Thanks to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the ARC in exchange for an honest review**

This was just everything I never knew I needed! Cinderella retelling? Check! Bachelorette show? Check! Hilarity, heart warming and wonderful characters? Check! Check! And check!

We truly love a Cinderella x Bachelor/Bachelortte story line! Julie Murphy does not disappoint and I am excited that she is flipping the “princess” narrative by writing this strong heroine stories!

This novel by Julie Murphy kept me reading and engaged the entire way through. Murphy's novel gave me Cinderella type feels early on but quickly evolved into a wonderful story about a new college graduate, Cindy, trying to make her way in the world. Cindy had lost her Mom early in life and her Dad brought in a step-mom and step-sisters a few years later. Unlike Cinderella though Cindy's new family wasn't horrible. As the novel progresses you find that Cindy lost her Dad and never truly dealt with her grief. It all came to a head her senior year in college. Newly graduated with no prospects she heads home where she was to nanny her younger siblings for the summer. Erica, her step-mother, was the head producer of a bachelor/bachelorette show. Several contestants had withdrawn from the show and it was almost time for production. Cindy and her two step-sisters, Anna and Drew, are put into the show last minute with no one to know they are the producers own children.

This is where the main male character Henry comes in to the novel. Anna and Drew were both beautiful slim model like visions while Cindy was cute but a little on the chubby side. It wasn't expected for Cindy to make it very far, she mainly went on the show to get her name out there in the fashion industry by wearing her own work. Henry the reader discovers is part of a very prestigious fashion family. Cindy and Henry may have more in common than first thought. As the television show progresses the audience loves Cindy and the ratings soar. The question is are the feelings Cindy develops real or just a part of the show? How much of Henry's feelings are just part of the script?

With the additional bachelorettes introduced as well as production staff Murphy begins to build a cast of characters that are relatable and truly fun to read about. Throw in a best friend named Sierra and triplet younger siblings which add a lot of fun it is easy to see how this novel is a hit. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it for anyone who loves Chick-lit, women's fiction, beach reads and reality television. Murphy delighted me throughout the book and I enjoyed watching Cindy truly blossom.

I really enjoyed this book! "If the Shoe Fits" by Julie Murphy is a delightful, entertaining and engaging read that is sure to make you feel good.

After recently graduating from Parsons School of Design, Cindy Woods returns home to her reality showunner stepmom, almost twin step sisters, and triplet half siblings. Not sure what to do with her life, Cindy agrees to become a contestant on the dating show her stepmom showruns, Before Midnight. Her nerves are running high not only because she is the first plus size contestant the show has ever had, but because she can actually see herself falling for this Prince Charming.

This book is a modern retelling of the Cinderella fairytale, but in all honesty if I didn't know that connection, I would've said this was a story all it own. I did enjoy the subtle nods to Disney version of Cinderella, like how Cindy's mother is named Ilene Woods (the actress who voiced Cinderella in the animated version), or the show's name being Before Midnight. Changing the women of the village having to compete for the "princes" affections and putting that it into the world of a Bachelor/Bachelorette dating show, was brilliant. I also really enjoyed how Cindy actually got along with her stepmother (albeit a little awkwardly) and was very close and on good terms with her step sisters. It was refreshing to see them be a family who cared about one another, instead of sisters fighting and a stepmother who treats her stepdaughter poorly.

I am a fan of Julie Murphy. I think her writing style is smart, funny, insightful and always flows really well. You can tell as an author she takes great care in incorporating a lot of details and research into her stories, making her characters and the situations they are in seem all that much real. As a plus size woman, reading a book about another plus size woman I will say I was glad to see Murphy didn't fall into a lot of the pitfalls writers have with writing plus size characters. Cindy is a strong, confident woman, who has her own personality, and doesn't let others dictate how she feels about herself. That's not to say she doesn't have her insecurities and she isn't effected by what people say about her, but it doesn't drive her story or personality. And that is something I really appreciated. I also was a fan of that fact that she didn't constantly bring up being fat. I don't know why writers think we plus size babes just sit around talking about how fat we are, or thinking that everything that happens to us good or bad is because we are fat. We have lives and interests, ya know?

With that said, there were a few things that bummed me out a bit. First off, this is supposed to be Murphy's first adult novel. Her books normally are in the YA genre. I felt that this book was more YA then adult, in my opinion. I am not sure if its because it's through Disney publishing, or if that's just something Murphy needs to adjust, but it still read for a younger audience. Especially in the moments of physical intimacy between Cindy and Henry. I was hoping for some juicy bits, and was a bit let down when it was all behind closed doors. Secondly, I was disappointed with how predictable the story was. Yes it was original and engaging, but I pretty much called the main story points from the very beginning. So it felt a bit paint by numbers for me. I wish we could've gotten into more of the reasons why Cindy and Henry liked each other. They did have some moments of real connection, but majority of their conversations were just flirting. I wish we could've gotten more from both of them why the felt so strongly about each other to justify their actions in the end of the book.

Overall, I think this is a charming (pun intended) and entertaining modern retelling of Cinderella. I am all her for fat representation, especially in unexpected places (like a Disney fairytale!). I would gladly recommend this book to readers. Thank you to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy.

This book was a genuine delight - and one I read over the course of one night breastfeeding. It’s a little Cinderella, a little One to Watch, and 100% enjoyable! The characters were fun to follow and I loved Cindy’s career in footwear design. I always enjoy a reality dating show setting and found this one such fun, especially the roommates assigned to Cindy on night one and the producers you meet. I found the love story sweet and believable without being saccharine. I could picture each character and setting and just enjoyed living in this world for a night. I will always read Julie Murphy - she is an author whose voice I love and trust to take me on a fun ride as her reader.

Cute beautiful love story that will have you swooning. A thoughtful romance that you wished the story did not end.

I loved that 1- she removed the evil from the evil stepsisters and stepmother. There's a certain distance between them instead which felt realistic, and removing the abuse and bitchiness felt- almost like applying aloe to a sunburn. Like yes, this is a classic tale, but Julie Murphy is going to do it BETTER.
2- Women supporting women. We need more of this, and Julie gave it to us in spades. *SCREAMS*
3- Body Positivity. There was so much of it, it brought tears to my eyes. She SHINES with this in her books, and my soul needs it. I could not be more excited for a series of adult romance fairy tale retellings with plus-size leads. We DESERVE this.
4. JAY. YAAAAAS JAY. Could've used less Beck, more Jay but Jay may have sparkled enough for both.
5. Slow burn romance. I loooove a slow burn romance and this one felt good.

I've only recently been incorporating anti-fat bias learning into the classroom explicitly. Puddin' and interviews with Julie Murphy, plus Faith, have been awesome to reach students and get the to start thinking about this issue.
This Cinderella re-telling is another tour de force from the prolific Julie Murphy. I struggled with fairy tale retellings because it can be so easy and yet so challenging to make the old new - and yet, Murphy absolutely does this.
If you do a school unit of fairy tale retellings, which so many teachers do, this novel should be top of the list to include. It is fun, funny, moving, and ultimately hopeful; it captures the ways young people think and speak, and makes an old fairy tale relevant. You students will be able to make so many connections to the past and to the world today, and they'll do so with excitement and high engagement with this novel!

4.5 stars
This is an incredibly sweet, thoughtful, emotional retelling of a classic, with enough twists to make it feel shiny and new.

Firstly, I was incredibly excited to see a retelling of Cinderella in which the stepmother and stepsisters were not evil! Sure, their relationships could be complicated at times, but at the end of the day, they all loved and supported each other.

The inclusion of the mice characters from the Disney classic (given this is an adult Disney-published book) as Cindy's adorable triplet siblings was a nice touch.

This played with "reality" tv tropes, meet cutes, and dreaming (which is a wish your heart makes) all while centring a fat protagonist who does not apologize for her size (because no one should have to). I very much enjoyed this retelling.

This was an adorable book with a similar inspiration as One to Watch.
This book was cute! Likeable characters, not so likeable ones, and a few little plot twists all come together!
This “Cinderella” is a plus sized woman with a mission to make herself known in the fashion industry.
Very cute enjoyable book!

If the Shoe Fits is lighthearted and fun. I was taken by the description thinking it sounded good and I wasn’t disappointed. It lived up to all its promises.

This book is a great comforting, beach read.

Loved this!! The perfect romance to read during quarantine. I’m love modern retellings of classic stories, and this Cinderella story is perfect!

This book was a delight - for fans of the Bachelor franchise and coming of age stories. I really liked the characters and could not put this well paced novel down. Highly recommended summer read!

I really enjoyed the newest from Julie Murphy and am starting to think she can do no wrong.
I loved Cindy's story. She is a smart and driven character. She is also plus size. Characters like Cindy are rare and it is refreshing to have a book like If the Shoe Fits.

Cindy's love story is by no mean typical but it is thoroughly enjoyable! It is a cross between an episode of The Bachelor and Pretty Woman!

Read it! It is great!

3.5 stars
Let me start with this- I love that body positivity is becoming a topic of discussion in literature, as it SHOULD be.
Cindy is a terrific heroine. She's smart, kind, and comfortable in her own skin. I loved how real she seemed.
I also loved that the stepmother and stepsisters weren't wicked, and that Cindy had decent relationships with all three. Honestly, that's the part of Cinderella that I like the least, the cruelty. I thought it was so cute that one of the triplets was named Gus!
This book was super inclusive- gender, race, body type- all were depicted respectfully and honestly, and I really appreciated it. Do I think people in general are this accepting in real life? No. But it's nice to dream.
The cheese factor in this book is off the charts, which prevents me from giving rating it higher. I like a good cheesy rom-com just as much as the next person, but this seemed a little over-the-top at times (the one-on-one date in NYC, for example).
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for the ARC!

This book is a Cinderella, modern day retailing. Cindy has just graduated from Parson Design in NYC and wants to design shoes. With no job prospects she returns home to California. Her step-mom and sisters are loving and supportive (yay for changing my least favorite part of the fairy tale). Step-mom is the creator and producer of a reality TV series like the Bachelor. When a few contestants quite at the last minute Cindy and her sisters go on the show. The bachelor on the show is Henry, the cute guy Cindy flirted with on her flight home.

I love the book's positive representation of a plus size woman who isn't trying to change her body. She points out some of the challenges, like the wardrobe department didn't think of her size when selecting evening dresses or outfitting the women challenges. I enjoyed the behinds the scenes look at how unreal, reality tv can be. There is diversity and inclusivity but more as an add on and not part of the main plot.

But over-all I wasn't totally satisfied or blown away. Only being from Cindy's POV limits the perspective. The potential romance is hard to see develop because technically Henry can't say anything about a possible future. It is far fetched that in this media age that the three daughters can go on the show without someone from their lives outing them as being related to the producer. The end itself didn't payoff in a big way to make me think that Cindy and Henry were going to have a HEA. I wish there was an epilogue to let me believe they were still together.

Overall a fun, light read. Yay for positive body representation. Mild cursing and clean for explicitness. Would recommend for YA and up. Thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for and ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/4 stars

If the Shoe Fits is a modern day Cinderella retelling that explores grief and identity and, of course, romance.

Cindy, our modern day Cinderella, is a recent Parsons grad and fat woman who decides to join her decidedly NOT evil stepsisters on her questionably moral stepmother's version of the Bachelor. Her Prince Charming is the lucky bachelor himself...who she already had a meet cute with at the airport. While I don't love watching reality TV, I thoroughly enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look into that world..

TBH, I struggled to rate this one because there were parts I really loved, and parts I didn't. Cindy is plus-sized and unapologetic about it. The book doesn't shy away from showing our world's fatphobia, especially in fashion, but it also doesn't deny her joy. Cindy calls it like she sees it, has a small but mighty support system (I want more Sierra!!!), and makes the best decisions at the best times. I loved watching her lean into her joy, her dreams, and her desires. I also deeply appreciated that the story axed the "evil" in her step-family and instead focused on the bumps and joy of bringing together two families after a tragedy.

And yet, somethings really didn't work for me. The HEA felt unclear...and there was no epilogue to showcase more of their adventures (did they have any?). The pacing, especially towards the end felt rushed. In particular, there was an awkward time jump when Cindy heads back to NYC that had me flipping back to make sure I hadn't missed some pages. I also got confused by the sheer number of names and characters DURING the filming scenes and felt like some of that could have been tightened, trimmed. And, lastly, the throwaway comment about rheumatoid arthritis. It wasn't necessary or explored, so it read as ableist to me. As a young person with arthritis, seeing it presented on the page as "the worst thing ever" and then never hearing about it after that felt really shitty.

Because of the characters' ages, the themes explored, and lack of sex on the page, this read to me more like a New Adult novel. I enjoyed it and I actually would LOVE to read a a novella of Henry and Cindy's time in Italy!

Overall I enjoyed this book an am glad I read it.


Thank you to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.