I already tweeted this at the author, but if Lahey had a theme song it would be "Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift. The whole book I wanted to bop her in the head because she just kept getting in her own way, but in such an honest and relatable way. She feeds into the rivalry with her cousin, when the whole time they are this close to being there for each other.

My favorite thing about the narrative, as a fat person, is that being fat is not a major point of her story arc. On one hand, she keeps these boys and her friends at a distance which is classic fat girl, because you can't be disappointed if you don't get your hopes up, but she also has the nerve to immediately text a bunch of cute guys to be her date, even if they're not her ever after.

Like the Molly Ringwald in her own movie, Lahey is truly an anti-heroine, pushing you the whole time, but somehow you still want her to get her happy ending.

Plus One is an excellent read for anyone who is looking for a YA contemporary novel that explores the journey of a fat main character, which can be so hard to find in YA. It's fun, fast, and adorable, perfect for the high school library or other setting that serves teens.

Cute and wholesome teen YA romantic comedy. The main character is plus sized and confident in herself which is nice and refreshing. Some childishness like her feud with her cousin but overall a good read. Cute young love type story with some personal growth which is nice to see!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this title.
I really enjoyed this like I do most romance books. Nothing stood out but I could still accept that this is a good story.

Definitely a book that will be picked up by some of my YA romance writers. I liked the book but I wanted just a bit more from the romance aspect of it all. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was so adorable, I loved every second of it! Lahey was such a refreshing main character, she made lots of mistakes and was definitely not perfect but that just made her more real and relatable. Although this is technically considered a romance the focus was more on our main character proving herself to friends family, etc. as opposed to the romance (although those aspects were definitely there).

I was definitely not the target audience here. However, I can definitely see the appeal for teens here! The drama just felt a bit over the top for me at my age. However, the story is cute, and it was definitely well-written!

Every single book that Kelsey Rodkey writes nails both the rom and the com to such a degree that there are multiple times I need to put the book down to either lie down from the pure ROMANCE in some lines, or do a spit take while I cackle.

And messy characters are done so, so well. They are allowed to make mistakes, they are allowed to be selfish and terrible because they get to GROW. And having this flawed, but so terribly loved, character be a fat girl is so special.

All of Kelsey's books have a special place in my heart, but Plus One might be my favorite.

I realize now that I am not the target audience for this book. Although I enjoy YA in general this was VERY YA. There is a feud with a family member that is a main focus of this book and I felt it hard to get behind.
I am still giving the book 5 stars because I can see where a 16y/o me would have loved this.
I did really enjoy that this book does have plus size representation that also is not ashamed of her body.

The only thing that really took me out of this book was the names. They were such a random combination of unusual and common that I had a hard time remembering everyone's names and who was who.

Lahey is on the hunt. She's going to prove her snotty cousin, Summer, wrong and bring a date to her Sweet Sixteen party even if she's never had a boyfriend or a kiss. Lehey is great at relationships, in her free time she's constantly helping set people up and arranging meet cutes for her friends.

This story is believeable because of the setting. It's the summer before senior year and Lahey is worried about all her friends passing realationship milestones and leaving her behind, so she takes matters into her own hands.

She starts talking with half a dozen guys and looking for a love connection everywhere that she misses the perfect one for her right in front of her face. Her sister's best friend, Adler, is working a million jobs this summer and Lehey keeps running into him everywhere and he keeps having to save her. I kinda found the final revelation that Adler likes her to come out of nowhere and be accepted so easily. Especially after he's been watching her chat up every guy she comes across but him.

In this way, this book is so normal and relatable. It's just a fun summer read with little to no consequences and an obnoxious main characters who needs to learn how to be a good friend, sister, cousin, girlfriend, etc.

She’s great at matchmaking other people but when it comes to finding a match for herself she’s out of luck, so when she makes a bet with her cousin to find a date she’s got 6 dates but the one that’s perfect for her is one she never saw coming. Lahey Johnson is known for her great ability to matchmake! Yet she has a horrible relationship with her cousin and when she gets into a fight with her she bets that she can find a date for her cousin’s sweet sixteen to get revenge against her. Yet Lahey herself has never found love so now she has six potential candidates to be her possible date and seven days to narrow it down. it doesn’t help that her older sister’s best friend Adler seems to constantly be around to speculate and bother her. Adler is handsome, he gets under her skin, and he kind of makes her heart flutter but she definitely can’t date him right? Throw in a ton of date shenanigans, girl fighting for 80% of the story, and teen romance for 20% and thats what you get. This book started off kind of cute but fell for me because Lahey herself despite being potentially generous and friendly, spent the majority of the book being vindictive, petty, and not really having a great personality. Honestly she just didn’t come off likable to me and Adler was really a cute love interest but I just didn’t really get them together because we get so little of them. Overall, this one just didn’t live up to what I was expecting and it just fell flat for me, however if you are interested in a young adult romance featuring multiple dates then give this one a try.

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Plus One was such a cute and fun read, and I totally binged it! My only complaint is that I wish there had been more of Lahey and Adler actually together, but otherwise I loved it!

Reading this book was a fun way to spend a snowy afternoon. I did find this book to be a bit over the top with the drama between her and her cousin and some of the date storylines were a little far fetched but it's part of what makes the book a fun escape from reality. I did find myself wanting more about her relationship with Adler and couldn't help but wish there was an epilogue.

I will loved the book I enjoy it so much. I couldn’t but it down. Everything in this book was great.

This was really cute and I had a fun time. I think that we could’ve had a few more chapters of Lahey and Adler actually being together though. I also wish that we got to see what happens with her sister and her girlfriend.

I received an arc through net galley.

Lahey and her family members meet up for a meal and her cousin, Summer, announces that she is having a huge birthday party. She gives invites to everyone at the table and when everyone notices they are allowed to bring a plus one, Lahey's invite does not include a plus one.

Okay, so Lahey doesn't have a boyfriend or a history with any boys. She's never even had a first kiss, but that doesn't mean that she can't get a date for the party! Lahey actually sets people up with their crushes, so why wouldn't she be able to do it for herself? She is going to prove Summer wrong. She will bring date to the party!

Going through her list of potential boys, Lahey mustards up the courage to ask guys out on date, only to be a total disaster with each date and what's worse is that her older sister's best friend, Alder, is there to see it all. It's all a total disaster.

Will Lahey have a plus one for Summer's party? Will she be able to prove Summer wrong?

I enjoyed reading this book, but it was all very predictable and there were one too many disastrous dates for me.

ARC Review!!


this book was genuinely so funny and fresh!! I CACKLED out loud multiple times reading this book. 👏👏

As a fat girl myself, I really liked Lahey's character. She's happy and confident and truly herself, something I would've liked to have been at 17. 😊 There weren't a lot of YA books with plus size character when I was younger, and when I would've really benefited from having those stories.

I loved how nicely the story flowed. It was honestly so lovely to read, and I really enjoyed it.

And Adler??? An Icon! With A Captial "I" He's funny and supportive and charming! We love to see it.

Thanks for my ARC, and I will definitely be buying this book when it comes out in June!!

This book was a solid 3.5 stars for me. At times, I felt myself feeling really annoyed by Lahey and her antics. Her tricking different boys into dates, not being herself and being so obsessed with 'beating' her cousin. By the end, I found myself really frustrated with her, but at the same time I understand what its like to be a teenage girl and how sometimes you feel like you are at war with everyone around you. I wanted a little more with Alder, since I really enjoyed him and the younger sister Lily. I think seeing how Lahey and Alder navigate everything after the end of the book would be interesting to me as well.

Overall, the pacing and writing were really good I enjoyed how the book took place in a week and was resolved in that time. Some of the crazy things Lahey did made me giggle at times and I enjoyed the variety within the cast of characters.

Full Review can be found on my blog at:
https://theweatherwriter.wixsite.com/blog/post/book-review-plus-one-by-kelsey-rodkey

Lahey Johnson is notorious for helping her friends and classmates find love, but she’s never had a reason to focus on her own love life. Until now. When her detested cousin Summer decides Lahey doesn’t need a plus one to her sweet sixteen, Lahey has the ultimate reason: revenge.

Lahey will do anything to prove that she can get a date to Summer’s party—anything, including juggle six prospective suitors in seven days.

The only issue? Her sister’s irritating friend Adler has decided to take a front-row seat to the spectacle that is Lahey’s life. Lahey is determined not to let him distract her from one-upping Summer. But as the party creeps closer, the panic sets in. Can a matchmaker ever really meet her own match?

I enjoyed this book and look forward to sharing my thoughts once the HarperCollins Union strike has ended. Until then, I stand in solidarity with the union!