Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thanks to the author of this book for going all in on genuine and heartfelt plus size representation that doesn’t cave to stereotype or tropes.

An okay story for me otherwise (the reality show angle isn’t usually a winner for me in general) but appreciated the unfortunately all too unique still today choice to celebrate a plus size woman and her life.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in this. The summary sounded amazing, and the cover was cute but other than that it fell really flat for me. I couldn't connect with either of the characters and the story was boring me for some reason, It was a struggle to push through. I'm also usually not a fan of stories about reality shows so I'm sure that also played a big part in why I disliked this.

Things I liked is the plus size rep and and the two reality show hosts (They were the best part).

I would still recommend others try this because while it may not have worked for me I think others may enjoy it.

I love Jenny Howe’s books. I was so excited to read this one and was not disappointed. It’s refreshing, enlightening and a relief to read about Howe’s multifaceted main characters who are fat and navigating lives that are about so much more than their size or what they look like. Howe does a brilliant job of writing about characters with diverse bodies while also writing emotionally rich dialogue and emotionally intelligent and nuanced character development. On The Plus Side is one of my favorites in the romance category because of Everly, Logan and the emotional insight throughout the book. Howe stays away from tropes that I find hard to read repeatedly in a lot of romance books and gives us a fresh, realistic and fun story. I will continue reading whatever Howe writes.

Thank you to Howe, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital copy to read and review.

This was an a-ok read, perfectly happy with it.. As a plus size woman I understood what the main character was feeling about being recognized as fat and fashionable and hiding parts of her true self. I found that relatable. But, she was incredibly indecisive and flip flopped a bit about what it was the most important point of focus.
It was a great mix of rom and com and I enjoyed it. As a fan of reality tv, I loved the makeover show take. I love how he loved her for who she was, while she was working through it.
Thanks for the arc!

On The Plus Side was one of the best romcoms I've read in a long time. It was funny, relatable, a little bit spicy, and so genuine. The actuality of Plus side representation really shined through. I'd be interested in reading a sequel!

Plus size representation at its best! This book was cute and very enjoyable and just what I needed for a sweet romance that would make me smile. I loved how we got to view the story from different angles and see different perspectives. I thought this really enhanced the emotional side of the characters and brought the reader into the plot.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. The characters at the beginning were not my favorite and while I am sure the story got better and I am hoping the characters did as well I just could not get past the beginning. But I recommend everyone try because what doesn’t work for me may work for others!

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for giving me a chance to read this one!

Cute and fun, what more could you want?

There were a few moments where the discussions of anti-fat bias felt a bit repetitive or generic (and I expect would for many Maintenance Phase listeners).

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

It's another cute and fast-paced romance for us all to enjoy. I enjoyed this book and felt it hit close to home. As someone who grew up struggling with their image, it can feel like it's you against the world. We can only wish there was really a show that encouraged plus-size women but I felt so appreciated in this story. Everly really developed from the beginning of the story to the end and allowed herself to love without restraints. I can't wait for this book to hit the shelves and hopefully make anyone out there who struggled with their body and image, feel a little less alone and a little more empowered.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

4.5 Stars! Great story about self-discovery, living out loud as a plus size girl forgetting about who she really is. Do you ever feel like or are told that you are "too much"? If so, this book is for you! This is a story about fighting not only for yourself but for what you believe in. The author does a nice job of setting up the story, why our main character is the way she is, keeping a "safe" job that is so much less than her education and worth. Shorter chapters that keep you turning the pages. Picture perfect descriptions of characters and especially clothing. I very much enjoyed the unexpected events of the story, it really kept me interested and rooting for the main character. I look forward to reading more by the author. Great read!

I had such a great time with this book. It was fun and different, and cute and really heartwarming.

The representation in this book is absolutely amazing. Yes, it's got some of the best plus size rep I've ever read in a book with more than half of the main and secondary characters being plus sized which is absolutely unheard of, but it also has really good racial diversity and sexuality diversity. It felt like my real life, with a wide range of people, which was not an experience I often have.

The romance was so good. It was set up well, the tension was tensioning, the little moments we got at the beginning especially were absolutely to die for, and I shipped Logan and Everly HARD. The way their relationship grew felt very natural and I liked how there really wasn't a third act breakup, and I liked how the love triangle fizzled out real early.

The actual show felt a little sidelined for me. I expected much more filming (especially because Logan) and the show to be a much bigger deal than it seemed. Also, it doesn't feel very immersive. Like Everly is said to be a huge fan of the show and a lurker on the forums, but we never get to see that side of her. But besides that my biggest issue is that the start is a little slow. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into it. And that first chapter is a little chaotic, and a little confusing.

All in all, an amazing book with fantastic representation and a really adorable romance, and a great ending.

This book. OMG this book. There aren’t nearly enough romcom books with fat leads and I was sucked into this one from the beginning. Everly’s story resonated with me in so many ways. It was almost like a mirror at times, only without the reality show. I loved every moment of the book and I really hope to see more books from this author in the future.

Super cute and fun rom-com with banter, emotional depth, and heat. There were times where the author took the story a different direction than I had anticipated, which I found delightful. I used to love watching makeover shows, and this book made up for what they lacked - looking at the whole person, validating their lived experience, and helping the person excavate who they are underneath it all. I enjoyed it and would recommend.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are mine alone.

Incredibly well written, full of spot-on realistic experiences, and truly emotional plus-size representation. Jenny Howe knocked this out of the park! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

On the Plus Side by Jenny Howe explores self-acceptance, love, and personal growth from a unique angle. The writing, while not super gripping, gets the point across. It dives into relationships, but the characters could use more depth. They're relatable but don't create a super strong emotional connection. What saves the day is the book's empowering message, which might click with some readers. It touches on important themes, even if it doesn't totally wow you. Howe's writing style is straightforward, missing some fancy descriptions. The pacing's steady, making it an easy read. The author's language is skillfully crafted that creates vivid and evocative imagery. To wrap it up, On the Plus Side might not blow your mind, but it delivers its message. It's not a literary masterpiece, but it's got something to say about self-acceptance.

📚✨Book Review✨📚

On the Plus Side
Author: Jenny L. Howe

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

Note: I received a copy of this book to review via NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🎥 When is this tv show getting made? I would 100% be watching immediately if On the Plus Side became an actual tv show. It’s such a great concept that has the best intentions. I wish it was real!

🎥What I wouldn’t do for (or to 😉) Logan. Ugh, he is such a precious and sweet cinnamon roll. I mean, yea he’s grumpy but what make you love him is that he PAYS ATTENTION! Makes me fall every single time!

🎥I’m so glad that throughout the book, Everly keeps reiterating that it’s about her, not her love life. As women, it’s important that we put ourselves first because so many of us don’t.

🎥 “People see you the way you see yourself.”

What I Didn’t Like:
🎥 Of course, the thing I don’t like is what happens at the end. And honestly, part of why I don’t like it so much is because I guarantee that it’s happened to real people on reality shows. While so many of us love reality shows, the people who are on them truly sacrifice a lot of themselves to be on them, either willingly or not.

Final Thoughts:
🎥 Wow, I think I’m obsessed with Jenny L. Howe now! I love books with women who are body positive and get to feel strong and sexy. It’s empowering and I need more like this!


#bookreview #reviewsneedlovetoo #readforeverpub #unpopularopinion #booktok #bookstagram #bookfriend #books #bookish #booklover #instablog #romancereader #romcom #fantasybooks

4.5 stars - an authentic portrayal of the struggles of "fatness"!

As a plus-sized woman myself, I could relate to so much of this book! That feeling of being invisible while also feeling judged. The tribulations of navigating a "straight-sized" world in a plus-sized body. Will I fit in this restaurant booth? Does this store have clothes in my size? Everly's relationship with her mother especially hit home - the constant criticism that down deep you know comes from a place of love. Then, there's the inside look at "reality" television - and how fake it really is. Don't believe everything you see on TV, kids. But, to make it all better there was sweet, grumpy Logan. Every fat girl out there deserves a Logan, someone who sees them and accepts them exactly as they are! Heck, what am I saying?! EVERYONE deserves a Logan!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC in return for an honest review

Jenny Howe’s On the Plus Side was a fun look at an imaginary reality show, contestant Everly, and the journey that participating in the show kicks off. I’m not an expert on reality shows, but the “behind the scenes” environment felt detailed and compelling, and the central couple were both likable and well-drawn. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a super cute rom-com that I definitely needed to read! I loved Everly's journey, and her transformation, plus all of the characters we meet along the way (with the exception of a couple). The story started out just a bit slow for me, but definitely picked up the pace after the first 1/3 of the book. The ending was not entirely what one might have expected, but I felt like it fit Everly and her journey, which is what any good ending is supposed to do. This book made me laugh, cry, and gasp out loud a couple times, and Logan is definitely my favorite character in this entire book (okay, it was definitely the dogs, but if I have to choose a human, it's Logan). I feel like the author did a good job on writing the reality show aspect too, and how it affects lives, plus it doesn't always adhere to the reality part of reality television. I feel like we definitely need a TV series like the one in the book, especially normalizing plus size bodies!
Overall this book was a 4.25 star out of 5 stars, and it was a 2 out of 5 on the spice scale.

This book is everything you want it to be. It’s cute, it’s funny and the plus size representation is tasteful and respectful, this is a book that can definitely be binged and I think a lot of people are going to love it