Thank you so much to St Martins for an advance copy of this book!

This is the follow up to Jenny Howe's debut The Makeup Test and honestly I love this one even more! I didn't realize that I was a reality trope girlie until I am constantly reading romances with this and I always love them.

Sigh Everly and Logan.
I loved seeing their relationship grow and how subtle it started until it wasn't subtle at all. I really enjoyed his character and like that Howe mentioned the male's insecurities in his body which I feel like we don't normally see in books. I was okay with this being kind of an instalove trope due to the nature of how they met and how much time they spent around each other. I also love how he had a little bit of an arc from being very close with the showrunner to how their relationship changed by the end.

"Disappearing is safer. Then I might be all the things I'm afraid I am: too weird, too loud, too awkward." Everly had to take a breath before she spoke the last one. "Too much."

There were definitely aspects of Everly story that I could relate to as a fellow plus size woman. The quote above resonated with me as often times I feel like I come off as too much but it stems from just being awkward and wanting to fit in. I also appreciated the complicated relationship mothers and daughters have with one another especially when the mother is putting so much weight pressure on the daught. I know my mom would say things here and there and I know some of her views towards her image came from her mother. I thought the conversation Everly had with her mother was very honest and vulnerable but very much needed. I am glad that Everly was able to stick up to her mother.

Now I will say I do love the color black, it is my safe color BUT I also am not afraid of prints and bright colors. And don't get me started on sparkly tops - I want them all!

I am so happy there are more and more plus size representation coming out in mainstream. I had reached out to Jenny after reading to let her know that her acknowledgements made me emotional. I love that she praised other authors who are writing plus size characters and for inspiring her and then plus size community that is out there. It just meant a lot to know there are others out there like me.

Check this book out if you like What Not To Wear mixed with Queer Eye!

PS - As a Pennsylvanian, I love the Gritty shoutout!

Synopsis: This romantic comedy blends the makeover dynamics of "What Not to Wear" and "Queer Eye" with heartfelt emotions in "On the Plus Side." Everly Winters, content with blending into the background, finds her life and love life transformed as she's unexpectedly nominated for the makeover show she secretly adores.

As a receptionist steering clear of the spotlight, Everly's world changes when thrust into the extroverted realm of the show and forms an unexpected bond with the gruff yet kind cameraman, Logan. But as their connection blossoms, the spotlight threatens to expose their growing romance, forcing Everly to decide whether embracing her true self on national TV is worth the risk of public heartbreak.

Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, tender, full of quick wit, and the banter between Everly and Logan was top tier. I didn't really feel like I knew a lot about the characters or the connections they had with each other at the end. It was almost there, though. A little too much tell, not enough show. I think it could have benefitted from different povs, but overall this was a really fun, yet meaningful, read.

A body positive book.
Every is nominated to go on her favourite TV show. It should be helping her gain confidence, but not all is as it seems on reality TV. Add it Logan the grumpy cameraman and will Every realise who she wants?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of "On the Plus Side" by Jenny L. Howe for my ARC!

This is the story of Everly Winter, a fat girl who has lost her confidence and spunk after the death of her beloved Grandma Helen four years ago. Everly is working a job she is overqualified for, crushing on a coworker who isn't interested and generally feeling stuck in her life. The one bright spot in her day is visiting the online forum for her favorite reality show, On the Plus Side. When Everly gets the chance to be a guest on the show she jumps at her chance to use it to change her life as it has for so many others she has watched before him. Everly's life begins to change immediately as an attraction builds between her and the handsome and grumpy cameraman, Logan Samuels. But can Everly embrace romance while also working on her own self-confidence and life?

This book was a very witty read, but I was left wanting a little more. I actually think it was the ending that frustrated me most. The whole book Everly talked about wanting her journey on the show to be about her art and finishing what her Grandma wanted for her, but then that never happens. I don't want to spoil it too much so I won't say why it doesn't happen, but it felt like her journey turned into a love story only.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced readers copy of On The Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m not a big fan of “reality” television, but there were a few shows that I occasionally watched when we had cable. One of them was What Not to Wear. On the Plus Side features a Everly, an unapologetically fat woman who is still trying to find the artistic career of her dreams. She’s also got a crush on a coworker and a toxic relationship with her mother. She’s definitely lacking in self-confidence.

Unbeknownst to her, she’s nominated for one of these makeover shows, one that she’s been a big fan of because they concentrate on plus-size people. She lurks on a fan chat room, never misses a show with her bestie (who also happens to be her brother’s wife), and gladly signs up. When she meets the hosts, she’s thrilled that they are just the same in person. She’s also thrilled, and a little twitterpated when she meets the handsome yet gruff “lumbersexual” cameraman, Logan.

And we’re off with a slow burn, friends-to-lovers trope that reaches below the surface and displays real emotion, but that doesn’t mean this is deeply serious book; there’s plenty of fun moments and some heartfelt ones, too.

I loved the concentration on body positivity regardless of size and the challenges of finding clothes that fit if you’re not a size 0, the fact that much of “reality” TV is anything but, and finding confidence in your abilities and oneself even when loved ones drag you down. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author. Highly recommend!

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This is my first book by this author, but I don’t think it will be my last! I really enjoyed all of it! As someone who had become a bigger/fat woman at this point in my life, it was great to read this and see myself in the main character. All the things that the story talked about, the things that Everly was dealing with and pushing for the reality show to actually portray were things that I either don’t think about even though I want, or things that I don’t think other people realize.

Now it did take me a bit to get into it, but I’m blaming that on the dog that I was watching for two weeks when I started reading this. The times I was able to sit and just read with no interruptions I was completely absorbed in the story. I did get what the producer was trying to show, that a “fat” woman could attract a “hot” guy. People are so negative that it can’t happen. There’s even a woman I follow on TikTok that is in that very situation and she gets horrible comments from people, and her husband I guess even gets women in his DMs offering to take care of him.

So all of the stuff in this story was real and just worked. I loved that even though the tagline and that this is a romance makes you think that is all it is, it is more. It is about Everly realizing her own self worth, NOT because of a guy being interested in her, but because she is talented and is worth all she wants. I did have a little inkling that part of the “hot” guy’s reveal/secret was what it was. I did not get the whole idea. But I am totally with her in how annoying it is when guys do things that seem more than nice, but then when you think they like you, they say they don’t. I get that some people are just more flirty than others, meaning nothing, but it’s harder for some of us to deal with when other people are so standoffish or rude in how they treat us because of our looks.

A wonderful story and I highly recommend it! Also, I wish I could get on a show just like this!

firstly, thank you to netgalley for this eARC! and jenny l. howe for writing this.

plus size rep is always going to make me happy - i truly loved being lost in this book and just feeling exactly the way everly described: being around other fat people or just seeing them represented to you makes you realize we’re just normal humans in a world that doesn’t care about us existing.

i think everly had a great journey, and i loved the idea of this awesome lifestyle show (as a fan of queer eye it was very easily imagined while i was reading). i related to her struggle as a fat woman, as a woman who’s only supporter was her grandmother, and a woman who finds it better to be safe and comfortable. her “season” wrapped up quite nicely, i think, and i found myself so proud of her by the end of the book for becoming who she wanted to be and fighting to resolve her conflict. she was a very lovable FMC. and, logan!!! that man was so sweet and kind and i need him in my life. i was so upset it took them half to the book to ever kiss!!!! ah.

my only con: the large conflict happening at the last…20% of the book made me feel some type of way. like i wasn’t mad but it just made it all feel a little rushed, i guess? i don’t know.

i just need to say again, MORE FAT BITCHES IN BOOKS!!!! i’m here for it. and you should be too. read this book!

I loved this book. As a fat person, I find reading books with fat FMCs to be a hit or miss. This was a hit!

Things I think this book did well (may include spoilers):
- Everly doesn't hate the way she looks. I think this book gave a great representation of body neutrality which to me made Everly so much more relatable because that's the space I'm in most of the time.
- The hot guy she's crushing on at work isn't grossed out by her and doesn't shame her appearance. He's not into her and that's ok but he doesn't make her feel shitty about herself.
- There was only a brief moment where Everly questioned Logan's place during the conflict and even then it was more of a question of if he was more loyal to Sadie than Everly. I loved that there wasn't any big miscommunication between them. Bless you for not playing into the miscommunication trope 🙏🏻
- Logan was the "hot one" from the outside perspective but he was the one with more body insecurities which is unheard of in romance (also he wasn't ripped and ten feet tall we LOVE short king representation)

All around OTPS was a fluffy but uplifting and empowering romance. Loved it!

4.5 Stars!

Years ago, when shows like What Not To Wear and Say Yes To The Dress were super popular, TV screens were filled with young, pretty, and thin “contestants.” Hardly ever were plus-sized people represented on-screen, and even now the characters in shows that are a bit heavier, are usually delegated to be the side kick to the much thinner and socially acceptable main protagonist of the show/movie.This is not to say that shows and movies with plus-size characters do not exist (I’m looking at you through my still tear-streaked eyes, This Is Us…), but one would really have to look for one.

In books, plus-size representation has been much more widely accepted. Or maybe it is just the books I read, but I can list a bunch right off the top of my head. Take the Dani Sisters series by Talia Hilbert, for example. Or Bet On It by Jodie Slaughter. On The Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe fits nicely into this box as well.

In On The Plus Side, we meet Everly, who goes from being a spectator of her favourite show to being an active participant. Much like What Not To Wear, contestants, all plus-size, receive a complete make-over, inside and out. The most inner feelings get explored, what drives the person and how dreams could be achieved. For Everly, who has been doing her very best to hide herself from everyone, this comes with a lot of challenges. Logan, the grumpy camera man for “On The Plus Side”, is trying his hardest to coax Everly out of her shell.

This book had me giggling and kicking my feet, while also being stacked with so many heartwarming moments. The side characters are so loveable (except for one. Once you read it, you’ll know) and the story flows very well. If you are looking for a cute read with some spice and well-written banter, On The Plus Side is for

Being chosen to participate on On the Plus Side is a dream come true for Everly. But sometimes, reality TV isn't all about reality.

This was an interesting romcom that tackled some big issues. Everly struggled with self-image her whole life and that causes her to stumble in her romantic life. I truly felt bad for her a few times, especially when it came to her coworker whom she had a crush on. So many of those interactions made my heart hurt. I also loved seeing her come into her own and realizing that she is good enough for anything or anyone. The reality show aspect was fascinating as well. Seeing how unreal reality is was a good side plot.
Logan was a good addition to the story as well. I just wish I knew more about him. The romance is where I honestly wanted more. Logan seemed too good to be true at times.
The spicy scenes were well put together and had good placement in the plot. I appreciated that it wasn't closed door!

All in all, a solid romcom with a good message about body positivity.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. My reviews are always honest.

I have Jenny L. Howe’s debut book in my audio library and meant to listen before starting On the Plus Side, but didn’t manage to make it happen - though she writes very well and I will go back very soon to do that!

I enjoyed this book a lot, with the very positive fat girl representation throughout the whole thing. As a girl on the bigger side myself, for my whole life, doing yo-yo diets to try to feel better and fit in and fit into clothing made for tiny people… this book is written for us! I loved the storyline about the TV show (called the title - On the Plus Side), with hosts Jazzy and Stanton who are just like Stacey and Clinton from TLC’s What Not to Wear - this show is very much like that… mixed with Queer Eye, I guess (I never watched that one, but loved the other). Everly gets a plus-sized life makeover to wear clothes that make her feel like herself and be comfortable in her body, help to figure out her “thing” - which is something art-related she’s been scared to do, and help her tell her story about losing her grandmother and stand up to her mother to stop making snide remarks about losing weight.

The romance side-story completely changes from the first page to the last, and is just such a beautiful storyline. I loved watching this transformation as well of the grumpy male character and learning his whole backstory! And - the dogs! Oh, my heart!

You’re all definitely going to want to get yourselves a copy of this book right away - if you’re plus sized, you need this to know you’re not alone, and you do not need to change much to be yourself - maybe just some clothes that show off those curves and give you confidence! Very well written! 4.5 stars.

I received an copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and this is my honest opinion.

Who remembers "What Not to Wear" on TLC? I LOVED it- that show back in the day. So this book brought all the feels, but with an inclusive spin...a plus sized version and I LOVED it. Everly was selected for On the Plus Side, a reality documentary show about plus sized individuals finding their voice and confidence through a fashion makeover, but also confidence building experiences and life changing events. But how much is real and how much is scripted? Everly is about to find out! Add Logan, the cameraman who falls for her and we have a winner of a romance. Bits of twists and turns keep the reader engaged until the very end, which is tied up beautifully.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #St. Martins Press for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounding up to 4.

This was a quick enjoyable read. I appreciated the focus of how it feels to be fat in a world designed for not-so-fat people. This was a very relatable concept for me as I've struggled with many of the same thoughts and feelings that are pointed out in this book. I loved the overall plot, and the romance between Everly and Logan (and no third act break up! 🙌).

That said, I was a little put off at times by Everly's character. It felt like she victimized herself just a little too much for my liking. For example, there's a scene where Everly is thinking about how she can't make fun of clothes with her best friend because Becca would insist Everly looks good in it because "that was the only way she knew how to deal with their size difference. Instead of acknowledging that Everly was fat, Becca tried to deny it out of existence." How presumptuous to think you know exactly what your best friend in thinking without actually talking to her about it...

Everly comes off as a bit immature in this book to me as she assumes what the people in her life are thinking and their intentions rather than having open and honest conversations with them. By the end, I felt that Everly had grown some and was better with having these conversations, but it basically took the show screwing her over to get there.

So while Everly herself frustrated me a bit, I felt the overall book was still enjoyable.

Read if you like:
✔️ Plus-sized representation
✔️ Grumpy x Sunshine tropes
✔️ No third-act breakup up
✔️ Character growth
✔️ Dog Daddies

3 out of 5 Stars.

Thank you to Jenny L. Howe, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for an eARC of On the Plus Side!

I was so interested in this book because it has plus size representation and a message of loving/accepting yourself no matter what, but unfortunately this book just wasn't for me.

Things I liked:

The characters: Everly is so relatable and I loved that Logan is a lumberjack, but also not your typical jacked, stunningly gorgeous love interest. The characters were real and their real life experiences felt authentic.

The pacing: The story moved along at a decent clip. I felt like big events were scattered throughout and the author did a great job developing the relationships of the characters.

The writing itself: It fit the story and genre.

Things I wasn't a big fan of:

The way plus size was repped: There are so many more books coming out with plus size rep. It is so encouraging and I definitely see how this book be a source of inspiration for some people. I just felt like the whole premise of a fat person (using this term as the author would - NOT derogatorily, but working to claim the word back as a descriptor and nothing more) going on a makeover show almost defeats the purpose of accepting one's self.

Some of the sub plots: It seemed like Everly had much too much going on for one single eight week makeover show. Her bigger goals seemed on point: Display her art at the Cape Cod Collective and work towards a promotion at work. But then there was her smaller goal of getting a tattoo and then possibly getting a tattoo artist apprenticeship. The smaller goals seemed forced, random, and did not really fit with Everly's vibe. in my opinion.

Overall I thought this was a decent book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a rom com with plus size representation. I am interested to read other books from Howe since she focuses on plus size rep and do think I would like another book of hers not based around a makeover show!

“On The Plus Side” by Jenny L. Howe tells the story of Everly Winters, who was nominated for a reality television makeover show On the Plus Side. Logan Samuel is the rescue dog loving, plaid-wearing cameraman of her dreams.

This romcom novel is similar to Olivia Dade works (and other authors) in which newspaper articles, online fan forums, show transcripts, etc., are used to build the narrative. I like this pastiche storytelling, although I do wonder if it’s a bit lazy for getting information to the reader or helping to provide complexity for the story.
There is an almost love triangle that had me very nervous. Who is she going to pick?! I actually would have liked it to play out a bit more (how the show producers planned) than how the plot developed, if only because I thought Howe did an amazing job of creating true dramatic tension between two potential love interests.

I was less a fan of the villainous mother who turns out to be less bad more misguided. First, I don’t really like mom = bad. But I like that more than authors who want to create meanies then step back from that characterization. Everly’s mom is not bad because of her lifelong critique of her daughter’s figure, she’s just misguided because she wants her daughter to be skinny to be more accepted by the public. Howe does a decent job of making it clear this justification is still not acceptable, but I wanted the heart-to-heart to be more explicit with daughter making clear her comments were/are terrible.

I was confused by the characterization of Everly as someone who used to live big but then has tried to make herself smaller (metaphorically) in recent years. The timeline and reasons for this just seemed a bit off to me for someone who is described as giving zero f*cks then, within the span of a couple years, wears beige and awkwardly tries to fade into the background of her life.

For all of that, I did have fun with this book and have wanted to pick up Jenny L. Howe’s debut novel for some time. This was an entertaining book and I will pick up “The Make-Up Test” soon. 3.5/5

This story fet like such a special one to me. As a plus size person I felt represented by this story and Everly’s growth from wanting to feel invisible to coming into her own. Her journey of self discovery was so inspiring. I also loved the male love interest. Logan started as that grumpy hero everyone loves but you got to see little glimpses of how much he was enjoying evenly before they ever got together. All of the side characters were great as well! The tv hosts were real and funny and so understanding. The family growth was also lovely. Overall I think this book will stick with me for awhile

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

This is a sweet, fun and beautiful story. I really liked the characters, and the premise of the book, I am always attracted to stories of reality TV shows, this one made me laugh so much,

Everly is such a real heroine and Logan is a dream, he made me swoon so hard, their connection is perfect, but what I like most is the message about the value of people beyond the physical. Highly recommended

Reality TV has such a pull for some reason. Even for people who don't necessarily enjoy watching it, it's interesting to get a behind the scenes look at that world. This book was so much fun to read, the female MC was so realistic and relatable, and it was impossible to not fall for Logan, the love interest. Great for fans of the show Queer Eye, and the movie or book of Dumplin.

• happy to see a grumpy-sunshine where the main conflict near the end is both protagonists against the problem, not each other via miscommunication, etc.
• unfortunately forgettable love interest, sorry buddy
• i saw some of the criticisms but i honestly felt like everly’s insecurity over pursuing art as a full-time career are completely founded

What a great book. The premise was great, the characters were even better. Everly was such a special character to read about and to follow. Her story from self-doubt to self-recognition was special to witness. I felt a special connection to Everly as I got to know her thought the book, it was lovely to watch her blossom into her full potential. I loved the connection between Logan and Everly and really felt a sense of connection between the two characters. A favourite part of mine, is reading about them marching hand-in-hand into Sady's office. So sweet. I loved that they were both able to flourish into their full selves around each other. The reason behind the sanctuary - gut wretching. I cried going to sleep that night after reading Logans story. I won't spoil it but wow!

I thought the reality TV aspect of the story was fun and something that most who read the story would be able to fully emerse themselves into. It's totally pop culture, relatable and added to Everly's growth of doing hard things.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of the book for an honest review.