On the Plus Side is my second novel by Jenny Howe after enjoying The Make-up Test last year. The story takes pieces of What Not to Wear, which was a show in the U.S. where people nominated their loved one and the hosts then throw out their entire wardrobe and start again with a new look, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, where a nominee would get an entire make-over from the five hosts (one for fashion, one for food, one for interior design, one for culture, and one for grooming). In this novel, the show is called “On the Plus Side” which takes elements from both real shows and adds plus-size hosts. Everly Winters blends in rather than stands out. This is very relatable to many people that are plus size, me included, as there are different standards that do not normally apply to everyone else.

Once Everly is filming with the show, she is very overwhelmed and finds comfort in Logan, the cameraman. The writing is read more as an emotional journey for Everly with some romance rather than a full romance novel. It does feel off balance if you go into it expected a romance-centered story as it can feel flat when compared to the other elements of the story. Howe works hard to not have Everly’s size be her main trait, but I do wish there was a little more growth for other parts of her personality. There are some, but the plus-size aspect is the dominating feature. Logan was a great love-interest as he was an interesting character and had a great connection with Everly. As for the actual writing, there are a few lines, such as saying that she is a badass and not a princess, throughout the novel where it wasn’t ones that I agreed with as I think it didn’t need to make some words negative to get the point across. Overall, I loved the plus-size representation and how easy it was to connect with the story. There are a few elements that I think could have been improved, but I did enjoy Howe’s work and cannot wait to read more.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

The characters were thought out well. I didn't necessarily love the plot but, loved the overall idea of the story.

This was pretty cute! The concept was fun and I enjoyed the body positivity message.

There wasn't a communication-related third act conflict, which is always a positive, and the final conflict (though awful) felt like it fit within the overall plot of the story pretty naturally. This conflict was resolved quickly enough though that the overall ending almost felt anticlimatic? I thought there was going to be another chapter or two when I reached the epilogue, though I guess most loose ends were tied up.

Content: open-door, which is not my thing, but these scenes were moderately easy to skip through

This book was so incredibly hysterical. I was dying laughing throughout the whole thing. A beautifully written couple and plus-size representation you can never have too much of.
On the Plus Side follows Everly Winters as she navigates a life on camera for her favorite reality TV show: On the Plus Side. She has goals of her own and has been fine for way too long. An opportunity for the push she needs on the show of her dreams? What more could she have ever asked for? The show brings a lot to her life that she never expected, a lumberjack cameraman was definitely one of them.
Everly… I just loved her. She was so relatable, smart, and funny; her chemistry with herself was really beautiful. I loved seeing her character grow and being with her through her career development and personal relationships. I could see not just myself but a lot of women in her. She’s probably one of my most admirable book characters if I’m honest.
And Logan… wow, he was a treat that's hard to beat. I LOVED him. He understood Everly and their connection was so sweet and so beautiful. They had a very seamless fit into each other’s lives that, even in books, is hard to work out. Obsessed.
I really loved the rest of the cast too. Jazzy and Stanton, while I wasn’t sure how I felt about them at first, became really exciting to have around. Jazzy was so funny and the best fashion advisor a girl could ask for whereas Stanton had a truly inspiring personality, especially for a side character. I loved them both deeply by the end.

I loved pretty much everything about this romance. Above all else, I loved that there was no indication that Everly needed to change who she was, tone herself down, change her body, or accept other peoples' judgements about her. Instead the focus was on finding her voice and reclaiming the self-confidence and self-worth that she lost after her grandmother died 4 years prior.

Ever since her grandma's death, Everly's life has shrunk. So slowly that she hardly noticed it was happening, she lost her verve and her joy. With her grandma as her greatest cheerleader, she used to be outsized and bold, not afraid to be noticed or to pursue her passion for art. The reality TV show, On the Plus Side, with its focus on plus-size people and its mission to give them a voice and more visibility, initially seems to be the perfect way to help her. It's only as she gets deeper into filming that she starts to question the producer's actual goals and her method of achieving them.

At first, I wasn't sure that this should be characterized as a romance, since the focus of the book was so firmly on Everly, but by the end of the book, it was clear that Logan and her growing relationship with him were an important part of the story. I loved his protectiveness of her and his insistence that she is an amazing woman with a light that cannot be ignored. He was so supportive and sweet and his love for his dogs just melted my heart. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

as a plus size woman who is very insecure about my size, this book was perfect for inspiring positivity showing you that you are worth more than the size of your jeans, I love size positive reads, and will be happy to see more books from Jenny Howe.

I have some mixed feelings about this book. There were parts I really enjoyed but other parts that gave me the ick lol.

I loved the main character, Everly, I thought she was sweet and well written. I really enjoyed the first part of the book where we get to see some of the first few reality show days of filming and how everything works. I really liked the hosts of the show and how joyful and supportive everyone was.

The love interest was not developed at all, I didn't think they had much chemistry and while I get how their feelings for each other could have developed I feel like we didn't actually get to see it happen, it just was, so I wasn't really feeling it. I skipped all the spicy scenes which is usually a sign I'm not feeling the romance and I definitely wasn't in this case. There was nothing wrong with it but tbh I think the book would've been better if it was just about Everly finding herself and her joy.

Taking the romance out also would've helped with another issue which is that I felt this book was too long for what it was.

Overall, I'm glad to have given it a chance and there are some parts I really liked, but it's not something I'd really recommend to romance readers. If you're looking for a book specifically about self love and growth and are willing to live with the lame romance you could be happy with this.

Advanced copy provided by Netgalley

Everly, a receptionist has the hots for her coworker James. Everly spent lots of her free time on forums connected to, On the Plus Side a lifestyle makeover show. While Everly was at work one day the cast of OTPS show bursted into her office to let her know she would be featured on her favorite show. Logan, the camera man has caught her eye. Everly starts filming and is full of nerves. Everly wanted nothing more but to setup an art booth at the Collective. I feel like the FMC is looking for something to fill a void. Will the show Everly reach her full potential? Give this a read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

Cute and easy read, and it's always nice to see plus size characters as more than a best friend role.

It's nothing new, but it's one that's nice to read anyway.

Dumplin' 2.0 with Queer Eye and a dash of spice.
This is very cute and enjoyable read. I love to see plus size representation in books, although pretty surface level characterizations. Learning to stand up for yourself and what is right, is always a good read.

I loved this premise! I related to the character so much. I didn’t love how it ended so happily ever after actually! The reality show piece was great I thought!

Everly is shocked to find out that someone has nominated her to be on her favorite makeover show, "On The Plus Side." Overwhelmed by the show’s extremely extroverted hosts and how much time she’ll have to spend on screen, she finds comfort in a surprising friendship with the grumpy but kind cameraman, Logan.

Honestly? I was very skeptical going into this book because I didn't like the other book by the author. But it's safe to say that all my fears were illegitimate because I really liked & enjoyed this book.

Everly was such a great & wholesome character. I loved her confidence when it came to her body & how she didn't take any BS from anyone.
Logan & Everly's chemistry was tender, hot, & comforting. I loved how they supported each other throughout and stood for each other when times were hard. The ending was super satisfying.

<i>Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review..<i>

I chose to apply for the opportunity to read On The Plus Side mainly because of the cover. Yes, yes… I’m that girl who picks books by the cover. However, it definitely paid off!!! This book is absolute perfection as far as plus sized female main character representation goes. I found myself relating to Everly’s words and thoughts very often! The fact that it had the added bonus of a reality tv show setting just added to my love for this book. I loved that while Everly was trying to get to her core soul and happiness, she still struggled with the outside forces and thoughts that come from society when you live in a bigger body. It wasn’t all glitter and rainbows and that made it far more relatable and enjoyable for me!

This book drops on 12/26 and you better add it to your TBR!!!!!

I was given the privilege of reading this novel as an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this romance a lot - I do enjoy plus-size romances. This one fits the bill. The narrator, Zura Johnson, was fantastic. Everly Winters is a plus-size woman with dreams and aspirations; however, she sometimes holds herself back. She is selected to be on her favourite show, and this is her chance to go for the opportunity to showcase her art and do things she has been too scared to do
Meanwhile, the show portrays her in a way she doesn't want, and she has to find her voice while falling head over heels in love with the camera director, Logan.

I couldn't put this book down; I had to know how it would end. The villain in this book was not the most hated person until the end.

Her coworker was the worst, mostly because he played innocent while knowing the hurt he could cause

I enjoyed this read - and I would do it again.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. A full review that may contain spoilers will be available on GoodReads.

I want to first state that Jenny L Howe is an incredible author. I read her first book “The Makeup Test” earlier this year so when I saw that she was releasing another book, I was over the moon. Jenny really cares about inclusion and that is something that will keep me coming back to read her books time and time again. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy of this book when it releases this month so that I have a personal copy to annotate.

As a “fat person”, these types of books are so important. While I do not want to see a toxic, fake, body positivity trope, I do want to see more of myself represented in all forms of media. Jenny delivers on this in this book. She was able to find that balance and execute it beautifully.

Everly is all of us. She may be one of my favorite FMCs of the entire year. Her authenticity is important to her and she stands up for that. I want to be like Everly when I grow up! I want to embrace being “too much” and not water myself down for the sake of comfort for others.

The writing in this book was intricately beautiful and I could not put it down! Thank you, Jenny, for a book that easily is going to be a favorite for a long time to come!

First let me thank Net Galley, the author and publisher for allowing this review.

“Tune in to next season of On The Plus Side where we will meet Everly, a twenty-something receptionist who just wants to live her life and not rock the boat.”

Jenny Howe leads us into the world of reality TV by following Everly Winters in her quest to be made over, in attitude, style, career, and love. This is your usual girl meets boy and is too shy and insecure to do anything story. But as in all good tales, there is a catalyst, once that is uncovered life starts to happen…
Or is it orchestrated. Follow Everly as she takes the steps to take her life back with the help of the “OTPS” cast and crew and following a once loved dream

I DEVOURED this book. From our sassy main squeeze, Everly, to our grumpy lumbersexual, Logan -- I couldn't read it fast enough.

I loved the concept of having Everly walk through her growth journey with a plus-sized version of Queer Eye. But make her super relatable and so normal that she's unsure why the show even picked her to be on ... because she doesn't have a "compelling story" or hook to splash across promos. Isn't that all of us?

And the juxtaposition of wholesome cuteness (I mean, can you even with a dog named Ravioli?) with the spice was just *chef's kiss* all around.

Reading Everly's adventure of growth -- as she goes from her safe bubble to taking chances and pursuing dreams she didn't even know she had until she got a little nudge to expand her thinking -- was just breathtaking.

Seriously, go read this book.
12/10 would recommend. 10/10 would read again.

As a plus size person, it was refreshing to read about people our size in a positive way. I think we all have a little bit of Everly in us. The old and the new. This book was a little slow for me. I’m not sure how I felt about the whole book about a reality TV show, but those aren’t really my thing in general. But this was a cute book! Striking even!

Absolutely loved this contemporary romance featuring a fat FMC. Everly is chosen to be on "On the Plus Side," a reality TV show in the vein of the most recent Queer Eye but featuring fat people. Everly is an OG fan of the show, and she's both excited and anxious to have been selected as a guest. She's nervous that the show will lose its magic since she gets to see behind the curtain ... but she's also hoping that the magic will work for her.

I really liked Jenny Howe's focus on Everly not as someone who needs a makeover to minimize herself, but as someone who needs help embracing all that she is and can be. She needs to show up as herself in life. Howe's emphasis on Everly finding herself again, rather than changing herself, is just lovely. And let's not forget this is a romance: Everly falls for the show's primary cameraman, Logan. She can't ignore his presence, and his compassionate perspective is a joy to read. Howe's choice to make the relationship conflict an external one made me a very happy reader. I love avoiding a 3rd act breakup in a natural way. And it's just so much nicer to read about a couple on the same side of an issue, who talk about it and decide what to do together, than it is to read about an antagonistic couple. (At least, for me!)

In sum: the writing is great, Everly is a wonderful character through whose eyes we experience the book, Logan is a supportive and understanding MMC, and I had a great time reading this. You should pick it up, especially if you like reading about reality TV shenanigans!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

On the Plus Side is a very affecting story about a plus size woman hiding herself physically and emotionally who breaks out of her confinement. Everly is an endearing and complex FMC. Logan is a lovely MMC and love interest. As a fat woman, I was touched by and identified with a lot of Everly’s experiences. This book has stayed with me long after I closed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.