This audiobook went from a 3 to a 5 purely because of how expressive and enjoyable to listen to the narrator was. It felt more like listening to an audioplay or a well done podcast than how some audiobooks can feel. That's not to say the story wasn't good! The story was perfect junk food writing: cute romance, nothing too tragic, but it did not have the always included second-hand embarrassment and constant lies that romance novels tend to rely on.
The fat representation in this felt real, there were mean girls, but the main character felt like an actual woman who actually did love herself rather than a caricature. If you're going to read a novel about a bachelor/bachelorette style show with a plus-size main character I would absolutely recommend this over "One to Watch." I binged this book over the course of 2 days, it's the level of addicting where I had it playing even when I was in the shower... and cooking... and laying in bed when I should have been sleeping...

Julie Murphy's adult lit debut is not to missed! Full of heart, humor, and reality tv, IF THE SHOE FITS will have readers swooning and cheering Cindy from page one!

IF THE SHOE FITS is the first of a new series of books from Disney/Hyperion publishing that center their fairy tale re-imaginings in the modern world and in Cinderella's case, body-positive plus-sized representation.

Murphy does an extraordinary job of interweaving the cinderella archetype with a brilliantly maneuvered reality tv plot twist.

Highly recommend this book to pull you out of a reading slump! It worked for me!

IF THE SHOE FITS is a fluffy romance styled after the Bachelorette that preaches the importance of choosing yourself first and body positivity. The narrator was delightful and I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook during my commute.

Calling all fans of Disney, princesses, fairy tales, the Bachelorette and Julie Murphy! This new Meant to Be series will have you swooning over the contemporary takes on some of your most beloved Disney classics!
First up, Cinderella. If the Shoe Fits is a solid 4 stars for me. I love a good audiobook, and this one did not disappoint.
The Bachelorette setting coupled with a classic Disney storyline worked for me. It made for a quick, entertaining and enjoyable book. I will certainly be looking for the next book in the series!
You know the story, it's a classic, but I love the twists and small changes that Julie Murphy incorporates in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for this audible ARC.
Narrated by Jen Ponton 5 stars

A delightful re-imagining of Cinderella where all of the relationships have depth and not just stereotypes driving them. A flawed Cindy leaves room for growth which lets the reader actually root for her.

The narrator for the audiobook was fantastic! I am not sure I would have enjoyed this book if not for the great narration. This modern day re-imagining for Cinderella was a little to YA for me. I kept looking for some drama to happen but I never found it.

This was a fun book! Pretty standard storyline for a romance, and I liked the characters. Though the MC Cindy was getting on my nerves a bit towards the end of the book, with expecting the love interest to specifically tell her that he picks her. Seriously, he’s been showing you throughout the entire book that he’s choosing you!
One thing I really liked about this is book is how the relationship between Cindy and Henry was written. Cindy is fat and that’s obviously something that is talked about throughout the book (she’s on a reality TV dating show!), yet it’s almost entirely absent from the relationship, they’re just two people falling in love. There has been a lot of talk about what exactly body positivity means and I think this is it. There’s no talk about size difference (between Cindy and Henry), or health concerns/eating habits, or not having the right type of body for certain clothes (it’s definitely a critique of the fashion industry and how they are not at all size-inclusive). I thought it was really well done. This is obviously why it’s so important to be publishing diverse authors, so that we can read authentic stories.

Okay, I wasn't sure how much I would like this book as I don't normally lean towards romance OR audiobooks. It was a slow day at work so I figured I would pop it on while I did some paperwork. Next thing I knew, I was ignoring all my responsibilities in order to focus on the story! I became obsessed with Cindy and Henry's love story and couldn't focus on anything else. Having a plus-size woman as a finalist in a Bachelor-like show is something I don't see ABC ever doing, so I'm beyond thrilled that Murphy wrote this book. I stayed up all night finishing the book and it was definitely worth the lack of sleep.

This was such an adorable book! It definitely reminded me of The Bachelor. Such a sweet story I highly recommend!

I absolutely loved this Cinderella re-imagining with a Bachelor twist. The narrator was great at getting the listener invested in Cindy’s story.

Cute fluffy romance with a twist on the Cinderella tale. I love that the main character is fat and that she is given a romance storyline. I enjoyed the audio reader.

I was completely surprised by this book. I thought I could predict what would happen in this modern day Cinderella retelling but I was wrong and I'm not mad about it! Cindy loves shoes and goes to a fashion college but after her father's death she has extreme creator's block when it comes to creating new designs. She goes home after graduation but it doesn't really feel like home because she never was that close with her step family. It was a nice change of pace that Cinderella's step mom and sisters weren't evil or mean but Cindy simply felt disconnected from them. Since they were forced together as a family unit when her dad decided to marry it was hard for Cindy to feel close to her new family, especially when her dad died. Cindy felt lost and had a tough time. She decided to try and boost her self confidence and career by appearing on her step mom's bachelor type reality show "Before Midnight". Cindy didn't really want to make a statement by being the "fat girl" on the show but she used it to her advantage. It was really interesting getting an inside look on the reality tv show and it made me wonder if the author did research on it or just made it up. The author made tons of great points about Cindy and fashion and plus sizes not being represented enough and how it feels to be a plus size person in this world. I myself am a plus size person and I couldn't help but identify with the points that were made. Cindy was so likeable that at some points I didn't care about the romance in the book and I knew the man she connected with on her flight home to LA from NYC would appear again and be her love interest, so I wasn't surprised when he was the bachelor on the tv show. I loved the way the author was able to sneak in some of the most iconic moments of the classic Cinderella story without it being an exact retelling. There was also LGBTQ representation which was great! I really enjoyed this book and am glad I was able to listen to it on audio, the narrator was perfect.

Julie Murphy does it again!

While you may have read Murphy’s YA Dumplin’ series, Murphy is now writing an adult Meant to Be series!

The premise of If the Shoe Fits is a spin on Cinderella, but there are no evil stepsisters or stepmom here! I really enjoyed seeing a retelling of a Cinderella-like family that has gone through tremendous pain and sadness, but they are there for one another. Cindy has lost both of her parents and struggling to find work in the fashion industry (designing shoes!), she travels back home to where her step-mom lives and works as a producer for the biggest reality show, Before Midnight (read: The Bachelor…). When a spot opens up last minute on the show, Cindy decides to volunteer on a whim. From there, her life will change within days leaving Cindy to grapple with her career, her friends, and maybe even new love with the star of the show!

This is such an adorable read and gives you all of those wonderful nostalgic memories of watching Disney movies and The Bachelor when you were a kid and everything seemed magical. Cindy is such a fun protagonist, and it was nice to see a storyline of a plus-sized character that didn’t involve her trying to lose weight or being insecure with her body. The writing is fun, easy, and fast-paced, and the audiobook was narrated extremely well!

I cannot wait to read more from this series! Make sure to go buy this one—it’s out now!!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits is a retelling of Cinderella, which features a recent fashion school graduate, Cindy, and how she decides to go on a Bachelor-like reality TV show called "Before Midnight". Cindy has had a lot of heartbreak in her life, as she lost both of her parents. Her step mother is the executive producer of "Before Midnight" and Cindy volunteers to go on the show after a last minute spot needs filling. Cindy hopes it will give her good publicity as she tries to break in to the world of fashion design. The catch: she is not the average sized girl that goes on these reality TV shows, she is a plus sized woman, and does not expect the suitor to fall in love with her. The suitor, Henry, is the son of a fashion designer icon and is going on the show to stir up some publicity for the dying company. He also does not plan to truly fall in love.

I absolutely enjoyed listening to this book. I did not find the narrator to be annoying or boring. The story line was cute, and was an easy read. It is sort of predictable but in a good way, there were some aspects of the ending that I did not guess. I loved the body positivity Cindy had and she owned her body. She second guessed her sized a little, but it was not the main focus of the book which was nice. Cindy is a strong woman with a great sense of fashion, who is determined to change the high end fashion industry to make it more plus size friendly. I also LOVE the show the Bachelor/Bachelorette so this book was right up my alley.

OMG. Okay, so I have been a little MIA the past week because I started setting up my classroom (pictures to come when its all done). But this gem of a book comes out tomorrow and you need to add it to your #tbr list!

If Cinderella and the Bachelor Franchise had a baby, it would be If the Shoe Fits. The characters are super lovable and have great dialogue. There is just the right amount of family drama and the love story is predictable, but oh so sweet.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me! If you are a fan of the bachelor/ette or you just love a good love story, pick this one up!!

In her first adult novel, YA powerhouse Julie Murphy hits us with the Louboutin of contemporary romance novels. If the Shoe Fits follows Cindy, a recent design school graduate (emphasis on shoes) as she volunteers to join the cast of her stepmother's reality TV dating show. As the first plus-size contestant on the show Cindy makes a splash with her wit and most importantly style and shoes. This modern spin on the Cinderella fairytale fixes to broken heels of the original (like the prince seriously not recognizing her and having to pull the shoe) and breaths fresh air into the tale we all love (busted bits and all). Jen Ponton nails the comedic energy of Cindy and just the general fun of the book. I definitely recommend this to anyone look for that warm fuzzy contemporary romance that also hits you with the realness of what love and life really are like.

Cindy finds herself in a Cinderella situation. She finds her dad married to a woman with two daughters. Her stepmother, though, is not evil. After Cindy graduates college, her stepmother wants her to come back home to LA. On the flight home, she meets a handsome man, Henry. Before she can get his number, he disappears.
At home with her family, her stepmother is in need of women for her Bachlorette type show. Cindy and her two stepsisters jump at the chance. Cindy finds herself falling in love with Henry but has to compete with the other women to win his love.
Opinion
I love the fact that Cindy is a plus sized woman. The tension and antics that go on with the women at this show is hilarious. This book will keep you rolling with laughter and hurrying to see what happens next.
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator did a great job with giving each character their own accent and persona. I'd have to say my favorite character voice was Beck, who is a support character.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook.

This updated Cinderella story has a fun magnetic main character, Cindy, who is a shoe designer at heart. This story uses a Bachelor-esque TV show as the vehicle for Cindy's meet-cute-again with her Prince Charming. I'm not a fan of the bachelor/bachelorette shows, and I wasn't sure if that would turn me off. However, curvy-girl Cindy is so great and never really doubts her ability to be attractive and loved. Yet she is still a complex-enough character who has to work out her mental health issues regarding past traumatic losses and their effects on current ambition and career. I enjoyed the relationships with her step-sibs and stepmother, and even the not-so-unexpected twist at the end. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. Although my library didn't purchase the audiobook, we did purchase the book. It's a great beach read!

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits is the PERFECT romantic comedy, bachelor related, body positive tale that society needed this year. Cindy loses her mother at an early age and dad remarries to the producer of Before Midnight (basically what I would consider a Bachelor show). Flash forward years and Cindy is asked to be on the show with her stepsisters. Cindy is the only plus size contestant and just loves fashion. In the blink of an eye, Cindy is making heads turn and bulbs flash with her picture taken while on the show. But will the world fit the mold that Cindy wants? Will her shoe fit in her dream living situation?

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits had me laughing, sighing and punching the air with yes's throughout my listening and reading journey. Julie Murphy didn't shy away from Julie's characteristics but rather showed them in a body positive spin. The contestants on the show are memorable and don't push away from the drama. The message the story portrays is positive and one I would be happy to display in my middle school classroom.

Thanks #NetGalley for the early release! I absolutely loved this book and the message it sends that any size woman deserves to find love in anyway possible. This was a fantastic retelling of Cinderella that was told in a different way. I loved that Cindy had a positive relationship with her stepmom and sisters. I also liked that her younger triple siblings are named after the mice in Cinderella.
Go read this book when it comes out! It is a wonderfully positive romance!