This book was exactly what I needed when I'm currently at my heaviest post-partum and feeling "less than". The idea of OTPS and Jazzy, Stanton and Logan along with V and her family was a combo that gave me the warm and fuzzies and made me re-think how I think of myself and see others around me for sure. A great read!

I love when I find out that an author is local, as I did when I saw Jenny L. Howe interviewing Christina Lauren at An Unlikely Story last spring. I can’t believe it took me this long to pick up a book by her, she was so funny in person and brought that humor into her book “On the Plus Side.” Published back in December 2023, this one is a romance taking place on the set of a reality show. It’s a trope I’ve enjoyed before, and this one was no exception. Instead of a dating show, this is a “makeover” show where the hosts help a plus-sized person change something about their life and hopefully grow in their self-confidence. The story follows Everly throughout that journey, and I really liked her as a character. I'm always looking to diversify my reading, so a plus-sized romance (with plenty of discussion of that) was right up that alley. I definitely recommend this one! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy!

I really enjoyed On the Plus Side! It was my first read from this author but won't be my last! It was something light and easy to break up all my dark reads! We need more books with fat FMCs!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe. This heartfelt and uplifting romance celebrates body positivity, self-love, and finding confidence against the odds. Howe’s warm, authentic characters and witty dialogue create a feel-good story that is both empowering and fun. The chemistry between the leads is genuine and sweet, making this a joyful read that stays with you long after the last page.

A rom-com that finally gives plus size representation the nuance, heart, and confidence it deserves!

I absolutely adored Everly. She’s not a caricature or a pity party she’s a fully realized woman navigating a world that constantly underestimates her.

Her journey from "neutral paint color" to someone learning to take up space (emotionally, creatively, and yes on national TV!) was heartfelt, funny, and incredibly validating. Everly didn’t hate herself. She didn’t need fixing. She just needed to feel seen and Logan? Oh, he saw her. 👀💕

And let’s talk about Logan, the grumpy soft cameraman who had cinnamon roll energy with a slow burn spark. Their chemistry was a vibe, and watching it build behind the scenes of a makeover show was reality TV level delicious. Add in online forums, a well meaning but meddling makeover crew, and a few emotional family reckonings, and this book gave me all the warm fuzzies I didn’t know I needed.

🎨 The art subplot and career indecision Everly faced felt super relatable even if her choices jumped around at times, that felt real. (Who hasn't flip flopped between tattoo artist and corporate dream job in a single week? Just me?)

📺 If you're a fan of Queer Eye, One to Watch, or the “falling in love on set” trope this one’s a must add to your TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

On the Plus Side is a makeover show meets romcom kind of read—with a side of reality TV chaos, body image struggles, and unexpected romance. Everly Winters is used to blending into the background. She keeps her dreams on hold, sticks to the safe path, and watches her favorite makeover show from the sidelines. But when someone secretly nominates her to be the next guest on On the Plus Side, she's forced out of her comfort zone—and straight into the spotlight.

Everly’s journey is all about learning to take up space. She’s thrown into a whirlwind of fashion, cameras, and attention she never asked for. But the real surprise? Her growing connection with Logan, the show's grumpy cameraman. Their slow-burn tension adds a sweet layer to the story, even if their chemistry isn’t the most electric I’ve read. He’s got quiet softie energy (and a flannel obsession), and while he feels a little underdeveloped, their dynamic has heart.

This story leans heavily into themes of self-acceptance, pushing past fear, and finding confidence without losing who you are. Some moments—especially around fashion and weight—felt repetitive, and Everly’s self-doubt sometimes crossed into frustrating territory. But I appreciated how real those insecurities were, even if the growth arc got a bit muddled at times.

Overall, this book has a fun premise and important messages about self-worth and going after what lights you up. If you’re into makeover tropes, reality show vibes, and quiet, cinnamon roll love interests, this might be worth a spot on your TBR.

Sometimes you vibe with an authors writing style and sometimes you don’t. This was the later.

“Fat” FMCs are always hit and miss. I love the body positivity but sometimes I wish there was more comfort in just being bigger.

The MMC I already forgot his name.

Things felt repetitive. And a little cringe.
Show me don’t just tell me.

I’m also not big on the reality show aspect.

A sweet, empowering rom-com about body positivity, ambition, and finding love without compromise. Warm, funny, and heartfelt.

I know I have sat on this for a very long time. I just did not like this book. Sometimes your first novel is great and sometimes it's just so so. I'm not sure if I'll ever give her another try I'm glad it's been a hit with other people

I was really hoping to fall in love with this book, especially being plus-size myself. Initially, I was excited, thinking it would be a great read, and I truly enjoyed Everly's story. It carries a wonderful message, and I appreciated how Logan begins to speak up in her defense. It's a charming story. However, despite my desire to connect with it, I just couldn't relate as much as I wanted to, and so I did not finish reading it.

I love love loved this book. I loved watching "what not to wear" when it was on and this was even better! I loved the representation of "fat" people and the love and care this book was written with for people who look like me. I can't wait to read other things by Howe (this was my first). The banter was beautiful and so much fun to read. I laughed and snickered the whole way through. I will absolutely be reading this again!

I loved this book. Jenny L Howe has become an auto buy author for me. I love that Everly was starting to gain the confidence and courage that she needed. There can never be enough plus size female main characters. I love that Logan was described as a flannel wearing man he gave me cinnamon roll man vibes. I can’t wait to read more from this author and will definitely be recommending this author to customers.

A plus size MC? You know I'm going to pick it up! You mix that with a Queer Eye / What Not To Wear inspired makeover show and you have essentially marketed it directly to me. Howe definitely has me all figured out. LOL

Everly (great name BTW) is content with being a wallflower. She is content as a receptionist while using her talent to help out her attractive colleague, James, whenever he needs it. (We all know a James, am I right?) She's even content to lurk in the shadows of the fan forum to her favorite show, On The Plus Side... until she gets nominated to appear on it. Now Everly has to decide how to handle this new attention while still fighting against those that continue to keep her confidence low, like her critical mother. What follows is Everly's personal growth and a journey to really find who she is and what it is that SHE wants instead of what other people expect from her. Throw in a love triangle between her hunky office mate and the grumpy but lovable cameraman, and you have yourself a delightful read.

I'm always an advocate for positive representations of the fat/plus size community in literature and movies, and I feel that Howe was successful with her depiction of Everly. I look forward to reading more by her!

Rating: 4.5/5, rounded up :)
Content Warning: Emotional Abuse

After the last reality TV plus size book I read that I didn't quite love, I'll admit I was a bit wary going into this one that has a similar premise. But I was still very much intrigued. As a fellow plus-size girly, I'd love to see more plus-size MCs, and this premise still sounded fun and cute to me!

And oh my goodness! This was so much better than I expected! I had so much fun reading this one.

I found Everly super relatable. I could see a lot of myself in Everly, not only in how she saw herself as a plus-size person but with her passion for art too, especially as a graphic designer myself. Seeing her want to test out a variety of design areas and art avenues to see what she likes the most couldn't have felt more real for me. I felt very similar when I first started out as a graphic designer. Even to this day, I enjoy trying out new projects and seeing what new things I can create. This part was by far my favorite part of the book to follow, seeing all the art. It just made my designer heart so very happy!

Apart from the art and design, I loved watching Everly fall in love! Though she wasn't looking for love and pushed the show to focus on her art and not sexualize her, I still enjoyed watching her find love.

Speaking of the show, as I mentioned, I was wary to see how this premise would play out based on the last plus-size reality TV romance I read. But I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns. I didn't find this book predictable, which is often something I see when it comes to romances. Everything I thought might happen, it was like the opposite happened instead. I never knew what to expect. But I found this to be so entertaining to follow and read!

If you enjoy books set around a reality TV storyline and enjoy plus-size MCs, I highly recommend picking this one up!

This was SUCH A GOOD BOOK! It has leads with cute chemistry that builds naturally over time, is set around the filming of a reality show, and is all about celebrating and empowering fat people. There's not a lot more I could want. This is my first book by Howe and I am definitely going back to read her debut soon. Her words, both in the story and in the author's note at the start, are powerful and important for those of us who are fat living in a world made for straight sized people. Also important for those who aren't fat--read this to help you understand some of the things we experience. And I write this as a smaller fat disabled woman who only experiences some of it compared to those larger than me. From the author's note: "Being fat is a varied and complex identity, the same as any other, and we need stories that represent the host of different experiences and feelings that come with living in a fat body. For me, challenging fatphobia through my stories means creating main characters who love themselves and feel comfortable in their bodies, no matter their size."

I was not able to finish, Had to DNF this book. The writing was a little difficult for me to get into.

I loved loved this one. It was smart, funny, and a perfectly paced rom-com. Also, more curvy heroines, please!

I was a bit nervous going into this book because I DNFd the debut by this author but this one was so much better! In this one the author excels at showing what the experience is like in a plus size body. It felt realistic and incredible relatable. It also had me with the romance and the laughs - I can't recommend it enough!

Jenny Howe, I love you! This is one of the best rom coms I’ve read in awhile. I love how she writes plus size women (as one myself).

Thanks for making me feel seen!

Thank you to net galley for the ARC

A story that explores the growth of a main character as she finds the courage to stop hiding herself and show the world her talents and who she really is. A perfect read for those who love to read stories centred on reality shows.