I really enjoyed this fast paced story! I have always been intrigued by the bachelor series and thought the idea of having a plus size bachelor contestant was a fantastic story idea. Being fat myself.I loved the fat representation and the true comments she made about how others saw her. The love felt very insta lovey but it was a fun and cute concept. This book flew for me and was a great story with a fantastic fat rep! I love love love the cover.

A sweet and breezy take on the reality dating show concept with a confident plus-sized heroine at the center. It's an interesting piece to read shortly after One to Watch, as the two books balance similar plots but with entirely different tones. This one's on the much lighter end of the spectrum, with the conflicts mostly solving themselves and our heroine having positive, joyous relationships with almost everyone she meets, from family, to coworkers, to rivals, to the viewers of the show. Everyone falls in love with Cindy, and readers can enjoy a stress-free journey toward a happy ending. Cinderella lovers will also enjoy the references to symbols like the shoes and the carriage, and Murphy keeps the flirting and physicality G-rated. I'm glad we're seeing more diverse bodies centered in romance novels, and I'm always game for heroines who can sew!

This modern day spin on a classic fairy tale was very enjoyable to read!
When newly graduated from design school Cindy finds herself at a bit of a loss of what to do next. She hasn’t been able to design and has to move home with her step mother and two step sisters. When an opportunity comes up that is out of her comfort zone, but may give her the exposure she needs to advance in her career, Cindy needs to decide her next move.
This is truly a heart warming tale, with a modern twist..

really enjoyed this! It was my first Julie Murphy so I couldn't wait to dive in. I really liked the Reality Show aspect of the show, and really liked and was rooting for both Cindy and Henry. There were a couple minor details about the novel that made me shake my head, but overall such a cute love story. I wish their was bit more pay off at the end, it felt rather rushed and I would've liked more time with the couple together and more loose ends explained. In the beginning it felt a bit heavy handed in the whole retelling aspect, but I got into it as it went along. This was such a good fluffy read.

Notes: Low Drama, Low Steam

Spoilers: [Ok, how are the not-twins both yt influencers but are able to lie about being twins on reality tv without it ever being 'spilled'/addressed. I am torn about their being no true drama with the casting secrets at the end - no one ever found out about them all being related which felt a bit too easy. Also I think there was a lot of unnecessary drama about Lucy being diagnosed with RA - up until that point I thought she was literally dying of cancer or something. She is the head of the huge company I doubt she is sewing the clothes herself? And I'm sure she is still able to design fashion, of course yes it will affect her life but its not career ending? Idk that part was a bit much. (hide spoiler)]

It’s not often that the plus size girl gets a whole romance but this one is good! Cinderella meets the Bachelor meets Devil Wears Prada.

The step family in this Cinderella tale isn’t terrible, the Bachelor isn’t terrible, and neither are all the women in the show, and the fashion industry isn’t full of superficial 2D characters that hate in sight.

Lots of really strong storytelling and good messaging in this book with an amazing love story woven in there too.

Because I really enjoy fairy tales, I expected to enjoy this novel, and I did! There were a couple of factors which drew me to this story, namely, the cinderella character was a plus size girl, not a size 3 person. She had attended Parsons School of Design in NYC, but after graduating, had few options. When I heard she had a great relationship with her step-mother and step-sisters, I wondered how the author was going to create tension in the story, but it came about in a totally different way with the introduction of the reality TV show similar to "The Bachelor". Now I know more than ever why I am not a fan of reality TV shows!

There is some salty language in this book, but not more than one might hear walking down the street. I would certainly recommend this book to YA readers who are trying to develop that sense of self. Not everyone achieves that happily ever after, but you definitely won't achieve it if you don't follow your dreams.

This was a cute read. It was fast paced and I read it quickly, which I appreciated because I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately. I love a fairytale retelling, but appreciated the things the author changed from the original; most importantly, that Cindy has a good relationship with her stepfamily. I do wish that the characters were just a little bit better developed. I thought that Henry and Cindy had good chemistry, but I wanted to understand them a little bit better as individuals so I would believe that their instant attraction could grow into something more. Because we hear the story from Cindy's perspective, I particularly wanted to understand Henry better. One thing that I didn't love was that the ending of the book went way too quickly and left me unsatisfied. I kept trying to turn the page on my kindle because I really felt like there should be more. I definitely needed a more complete reunion, or an epilogue, or something about how other people reacted to them getting back together. Especially with clean romance, I need them to stick the landing and make me really understand why these characters are perfect for each other and make me believe that they're gonna be together forever. This book didn't quite get there for me.

I just really enjoyed this. I love anything "Bachelor" related & love a real size woman in these stories (if only the real show would do the same) - but love the ease of Julie Murphy's writing & I was here for every detail of the story. I was anxious to get the "Cinderella" portion & have Cindy mistreated by her family but nice to see the twist of the support of her family. I really enjoyed Cindy as a character & really enjoyed Henry not being focused at all on her weight or making it an issue. YES - need more of that!

Pub date: August 3
⭐️⭐️⭐️

👠Having just graduated from Parsons, Cindy is hoping to jumpstart her fashion career by going on a “Bachelor” type show as the only plus size contestant.

👍🏼This is a great palate cleanser if a book. The characters are fun and enjoyable and a setting in reality tv is always going to bring the juicy drama.

👎🏼The characters were fun but super under developed. The plot wasn’t always believable and the pacing felt off sometimes.

✅It’s a Disney novel, it makes you happy and is a fun beach read. Suspend your disbelief and just go with it. It’s not as good as One to Watch but still worth the read if you’re in the mood for something light and fun.

4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book! This is my honest review, all views are my own.
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This was a really good adult rom-com with a cheeky spin on the classic fairytale. While I wouldn’t say this is a Cinderella retelling, it is clearly inspired by it, and what can I say? I’m a sucker for Disney princesses. The book was flirty and fun, and I really appreciated how we not only experienced a reality dating show from a contestant’s perspective, but also got to peek behind the scenes at the hidden shenanigans. The characters were all very endearing and I instantly connected with them. Speaking of characters: I loved Cindy! She’s a real showstopper, and she knows when to go all out when she needs to. I also loved her relationship with Henry; it was lighthearted, but also had some touching moments... as well as a few stolen make-out sessions and secret dates! It was fast-paced enough to never have a dull moment, but I wish it paused to have a more long-lasting cast of characters, as well as take its time lingering on some more touching scenes. The book was great, but it was over all too quickly! I mean that in both an “I want more” sense and a “maybe the plot went too fast and could have afforded to have things like more descriptions”. Overall, a very cute read: 4 stars!

Okay, I really, really enjoyed this book! It's a retelling of Cinderella, but is still its own story. I love, LOVE that the MC is a plus size girl, but she is comfortable in her own skin, and isn't apologizing for her size. I really appreciated that the author's depiction of a plus size life was so true. The struggle to find clothes that fit, that make you feel good, not a moo-moo, that hit home for me. I know it's a silly love story, but I really appreciated reading about the MC in this light.

The romance was lovely. I loved the secrets and the struggles.

I highly recommend this if you enjoy rom-coms and retellings!

The cover looks a bit like YA, but the MC is out of college and there is a bit of adult action in a very non-descript way.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What can I say - I'm a sucker for romance. A sucker for the underdog comes out on top. I LOVED the heroine is a regular sized woman. In a sea of skinny minnie women - she's got a little more junk in her trunk. I'm here for it.

This book would be the perfect beach read. It's light, the storyline was solid and the writing was really sharp.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author! If you like a good chic lit beachy escapist read - run and grab this!


#MeanttoBeIftheShoeFits #NetGalley

Meant to be: If the Shoe Fits, by Julie Murphy is a modern retelling of Cinderella. And it’s awesome! When they say it’s a modern retelling, they mean it. It’s fresh, full of pop culture and diverse characters, and a plus-sized heroine. I loved it all.

Cindy just graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York City and aspires to be a shoe designer. After a rough senior year, she doesn’t have any job prospects in NYC, so she decides to go home and take care of her three young triplet siblings. Her stepmother, Erica, is a producer of a reality dating show, very similar to The Bachelor, called Before Midnight. When three other contestants drop out of Before Midnight, only days before filming starts, Cindy, and her two older stepsisters, fill in the empty spots. Cindy is hoping to jumpstart her shoe design career, and a bit of television exposure is just what she thinks she needs.

As the first plus-sized contestant on the show, her popularity soars, but so does her attraction for the “suitor”, the son of a prominent fashion icon.

This book totally surprised me. It’s fun, entertaining, and relevant. If you are a Disney Cinderella fan, you’ll notice many references to the old outdated movie, but updated to fit into today’s world. Instead of a pumpkin chariot, it’s an orange minivan that takes her to her date with the Suitor (Henry), and it’s a shoe, bejeweled with crystals instead of a glass slipper, and so many other references.

I loved the heroine, Cindy. She’s tough, confident, and not afraid to speak her mind. She knows she’s plus-sized, but she doesn’t make any excuses or let herself feel bad about her size. She doesn’t diet or fret about her size, and instead, she accepts herself and is happy in her own skin. The book is full of diverse characters and modern settings and situations.

I’m not a fan of the show The Bachelor, and I liked the fact that this book did not put a “positive spin” on reality TV. Yes, Cindy and Henry fall in love during the filming of the show, but the book also highlights the drawbacks and the downsides to reality TV and especially the emotional toll shows like this take on the contestants. Cindy and Henry fall in love IN SPITE of the show, and the filming, not because of the show.

This book is fun, entertaining, and romantic, and I highly recommend this book to all romantics out there!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

*3.5 stars
Cinderella retelling with a plus-size main character? YES PLEASE. This book was an absolute joy to read. The fast-paced writing and lovable characters combined make the perfect fluffy romance. After graduating design school Cindy agrees to be on her stepmother’s dating show with hope that it will jumpstart her fashion career. I loved Cindy as a character, she was funny, confident and owned who she was. I was also a fan of the healthy portrayal of Cindy’s family and rather than going with the bitchy stepmom trope you were able to see that Cindy’s stepfamily genuinely cared about her. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a quick fluffy hilarious read I highly recommend checking this one out

Super cute book. Loved the story. It was so cute and light. A definite one to add to your to be read list if you enjoy the quintessential chick lit book.

I was so excited to score this ARC! If The Shoe Fits was an absolutely phenomenal read!

Straight out of college and back in her stepmother's home, fashion major and shoe addict, Cindy, is at a crossroads. With no job prospects and still grieving the loss of both her mother and father, Cindy has to decide what to do with her life. For now, Cindy has agreed to come home and help her stepmother, Erica, take care of her triplet siblings. On the flight home, Cindy meets her very own Prince Charming, Henry. They only exchange minimal information, like their first names, but Henry leaves an impression on Cindy. He's charming and sweet and Cindy regrets not at least attempting to get his number or more information about him to find him on social media.
At home, her stepmother, and a friend/fellow producer, Beck, are working hard on Erica's hit reality tv show, Before Midnight, where a suitor looks for love with 25 women vying for his affection. The winner gets a proposal from the suitor and a hundred grand cash prize. Two of the selected women have dropped out of the show last minute. Beck suggests adding Erica's three daughters to the show. Erica agrees to have her two daughters, Anna and Drew, on the show but not Cindy. Cindy doesn't mind, though she's concerned about Erica's reasons why it was an automatic shut down. Cindy is plus size and there has never been anyone like her on the reality show before. When she approaches Erica about why she shot down Cindy, Erica tells her that she loves Cindy and thinks she'd be a wonderful candidate for the show, but she knows how sensitive Cindy is and how hurt Cindy could be by the media and others with horrible opinions. She tells Cindy she didn't want to disappoint Cindy's father by having her on a show that could potentially damage her heart and sweet personality. Cindy agrees that it was probably for the best, and is relieved to hear it wasn't because of her size. Beck, however, approaches Cindy again and tells her that as long as Cindy knows who she is - she has nothing to fear, the show will bring exposure to her fashion and shoe designs and that can only bring job opportunities, and if she wins the show, she could get a hundred grand cash prize to help her start her dream fashion line. It was a win win either way. Cindy agrees with Beck, and decides to go on Before Midnight. Beck and Cindy approach Erica, who after hearing her pitch, agrees that it would be a good idea and adds her to the show. Cindy then goes on a whirlwind of preparations for the show, new wardrobe, hair and makeup, and learning lines! Yes, not even reality tv is all real! But the real shock is when Cindy steps out of the limo and meets Before Midnight's suitor! Cindy struggles with new friendships, catty women, no phone, strict Before Midnight rules, wardrobe issues, and her true feelings as she navigates her standing in Before Midnight.
I won't say anymore for spoilers, but this is definitely a must read!
Cindy was a completely relatable character! She's a little lost after losing both her parents, worried about how to get her career jumpstarted since finishing college, and her confidence waivers but she never leans too insecure or overly confident. Cindy wasn't afraid to speak her mind and she was completely fierce! Cindy was the kind of role model I needed as a kid, and that I still need as an adult! Our hero, Henry, is wonderful. He's sweet and charming and I really enjoyed his interactions with Cindy. It was refreshing! The step sisters, Anna and Drew, were awesome and I loved how they always had Cindy's back! There were mentions of Cindy and the sisters having issues when they were growing up/in high school, but none of that drama carried over, and it was a refreshing take! Cindy's relationship with her step family was pretty much drama free. They all cared about each other and looked out for each other, especially after Cindy's father's death. The half-sibling triplets were adorable and I almost wish there were more scenes with them! All of the characters are well developed and diverse, there's a non binary character who is referred to with proper pronouns.
There were a few errors in names during reading that need to be edited, as this was an ARC, that was to be expected. For example, Cindy is talking to Sarah Claire about a fellow contestant, but then Sarah Claire's name changed to Chloe. I had to go back to check that Chloe hadn't dropped into the conversation, she hadn't. It was still Sarah Claire speaking, but the wrong name was written. This happened again later with Wes and Zeke. Zeke was caught with a contestant, then later Cindy refers to Wes as the being the one caught with the contestant, then back to Zeke. I don't know if the author switched up names and characters and these were mistakes, or added in new characters and forgot to make all the changes, but it took you out of moments and had you re-reading the scenes because they didn't make sense. They were minimal and certainly didn't ruin the story, but it made me do a double take.
As a whole, I could have easily read a hundred more pages with these characters! I was so caught up in the story that I lost track of time! I really enjoyed If The Shoe Fits and can't wait to read what's next in the series! Julie Murphy created a modern day fairy tale that will resonate with everyone! Do not miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced ebook copy.

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Oh this was great. I really enjoyed this one. I appreciated the plot line and that the climactic point did not extend extremely long. I could have used an epilogue but otherwise extremely pleased! I really like the characters and the story.

3.75 Stars

Super cute romantic quick read based on Cinderella. I found this book very enjoyable and a great light read after reading some heavier material.

Absolutely loved the relationship build between Cindy and Henry. Even with the reality television angle the writer found very cute ways for them to actually fall for each other.

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced reader copy!

If you love reading fairy tales dressed in modern clothing, you will enjoy reading “If the Shoe Fits.” Large-sized gal, Cindy Woods has just graduated with a degree in fashion with aspirations of being a footwear fashion designer. Because she is without any job prospects and a bit out of touch with her creative muse, she returns to California to help out her stepmother in carrying for her half siblings. Her stepmom produces reality shows, including a show called "Before Midnight" (the novel’s version of “The Bachelor.) A contestant drops out at the last minute, and Cindy has a chance to join the show as the token plus sized girl. But at the same time, it’s great exposure for her future shoe line and who doesn’t want the $100,000 if she wins?

If you read that synopsis and think this novel will bombard you with cliches, change that mindset right away. First of all, Cindy gets along with both her stepmom and half siblings. Nor should you expect the prince to save the day. While I enjoyed this perspective, I felt the author could have spent more time developing Henry, the love interest, though Cindy was quite likable and not at all apologetic about who she was. I also appreciate that while Cindy was plus-sized, it wasn’t because she was the shy girl who drowns her sorrows in cupcakes nor did the story end with her losing a lot of weight (or wanting to). But the novel is based on a fairy tale (the publisher IS Disney), and most fairy tales do have a lot of glimmer without any substance (though the author bends over backwards to be very diverse with her cast of characters).

Overall, I’d give this three and half stars.

Thank you to the Julie Murphy Disney Hyperion Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Murphy takes a contemporary retelling of Cinderella to the next level in Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits. Cindy is a shoe designer fashionista and recent grad of Parsons School of Design and she isn't quite sure what to do with herself now that she is on the job hunt and creatively blocked. When she returns home to her stepmother's house in Los Angeles, she finds herself reluctantly accepting a last minute casting on her stepmother's production of a reality dating show along side her two elder stepsisters. When prince charming ends up being someone Cindy already knows, her life takes an interesting turn!

I enjoyed the diversity in this book. Not only is it body positive, but it also is inclusive of all genders and the LGBTQ+ community. The beginning of the book was a bit difficult for me to get into because there are so many characters introduced at once, but once I got into the main plotline of the story, the reality dating competition, I found that the pacing picked up and I was rooting for Cindy's character to get everything she ever wanted. I was hooked and couldn't wait to watch the drama unfold! It was a fun reading experience and I recommend it to anyone who has a soft spot for finding your perfect fit in life!

Content warning: grief after loss of parents