Thank you netgalley and SMP for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review . This was the perfect book needed to turn my crappy week back on track. This was tender, gentle and executed so so well. This is my favorite book by Jenny Howe.

3.5/5 rounded up.

I absolutely loved everything about this book! The protagonist Everly was spunky, sassy and I found myself crying tears and cheering loudly for her throughout the whole story. It was so refreshing to read a book that embraces and promotes body positivity. Especially in the current culture, I felt this was so important for girls and women to read. I loved Logan and wished that relationship had longer moments. At times if felt a bit rushed, but I loved it still the same. I can’t wait to share this book with my students with this incredible theme. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

On the Plus Side is a sparkling romantic comedy by Jenny L. Howe that follows Everly Winters, a plus-size woman who is secretly nominated for a popular makeover show in the vein of Queer Eye. Everly is content to fly under the radar, but when she's thrust into the spotlight, she's forced to confront her insecurities about her weight and her place in the world.
The taping of the show is initially overwhelming for Everly, but she soon finds comfort in the friendship of Logan, the grumpy but kind cameraman. As Everly's confidence grows, she begins to realize that she doesn't have to hide who she is. But when her growing connection with Logan is caught on camera, it sends the show's ratings into a frenzy.
How is On the Plus Side different from other books:
• It features a plus-size protagonist who is not defined by her weight (what a crazy concept, especially in romance books!)
• It explores the themes of self-acceptance, love, and finding your place in the world without compromising who you are and what you love.
• It has a positive message that will leave you feeling good about yourself. I saw myself in many of the characters and many of them felt realistic and relatable.
Is there anything I didn’t like? Not a lot…
• The romance between Everly and Logan is a bit rushed.
• The book could have been longer to explore the “ending” more deeply (maybe this is just because I didn’t want it to end!)
Howe's writing is witty and insightful, and she does a wonderful job of capturing Everly's journey of self-discovery. The supporting characters are also well-developed, and the romance between Everly and Logan is both sweet and sexy. If you're looking for a feel-good read with a positive message, then I highly recommend On the Plus Side.

Everly Winters doesn't have a problem with her plus-size body, but in recent years she has taken to hiding it -- and herself -- more than she realizes. So when the hosts of her favorite reality makeover show, "On the Plus Side," show up at her workplace and tell her she's going to be on the show, she's utterly thrilled... and a little terrified. It's an opportunity to find herself again, to reach for forgotten dreams, and to let herself laugh and live life out loud again. And it doesn't hurt that the cameraman following her around constantly is a gruff but very attractive plaid-flannel-wearing guy who's always there to lend her his support.

I really appreciate reading about a romance heroine who is plus-sized and totally loves herself at that size. Not "loves herself ANYWAY" or "loves herself BUT" -- loves herself, full stop. The lack of confidence and the desire to be unseen that Everly demonstrates in the book is not about her weight but rather about her grief over losing her grandmother (who also served as a supportive voice to counteract her mother's criticism). So the best parts of the book show how Everly gradually heals from that loss, recognizing how much she has closed herself off to life, and starts to take chances and to stand up for herself again.

Logan is an adorably grumpy hero, and it's pretty clear early on that he is attracted to Everly. There are one or two instances where he kind of crosses the line in defending her, but he listens when she says what she wants from him. Their partnership by the end is hard won and all the more satisfying for it.

Things I didn't enjoy: the side plot with James (almost all of it), the fatphobic comments by Everly's mother (prior to her own redemption arc), the manipulation by the show runner (and Everly's naivete about "reality" shows in general).

Things I did enjoy: the adorable hosts, the support from Everly's boss and another co-worker, Everly finding new friends and new dreams.

All in all, not my favorite fat-positive romance but a good addition to the genre. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you, St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

A very cute story with good representation! I like books that highlight different types of main characters and I liked the plot of this one. Great writing!

Thank you NetGalley and Jenny L. Howe!

This was such a sweet, fun, tenderhearted, story. I loved Everly from start to finish. I related to her so much, & I definitely rooted for her because I wanted to see on page the true & lovely way people of all body-types are worthy of infinite, passionate, absolute love. Everly was a very relatable character who tries to not let her body- image dictate her life, but its so ingrained in everything she just can't help but let it permeate. Her mother had quit the redemption arc she needed to cross, because she represented so realistically the micro, passive, and sometimes active aggression that people direct toward fat, larger people. And it is wholly unacceptable to behave that way, something this book highlights so well. I loved the way the relationship between Everly & her mother was finally handled in this story, not completely absolving her mother of her words/actions but acknowledging there is room to learn & grow with people we love.
Now, onto the gooey part, I LOVED the romance in this story!!! Logan is the sweetest, kindest, grumpiest grump of a hero & I loved him so freaking much! He loves Everly so wholly, tenderly, & fiercely; showing her exactly the kind of love we all deserve regardless of how we look. Seeing what made Logan such a lovable grump also made him such a great love interest. He & Everly are absolutely perfect for each other & I love them so much!!! <3
Overall, great story with a lovely romance, honest representation of people, & sweet, kind, fun people.
Thank you for the ARC!!!

I wish I could give this review to the author in person because, as a plus size girl myself, this was truly a joy to read. The representation, the way fat bodies were centered and it wasn't fetishized, the encouragement to be authentically you and not shrink yourself to take up less space. I loved every bit of it. The reality show part was so clever and was a cross between Queer Eye and What Not to Wear. I need a Jazzy and a Stanton in my life! Reading Everly's journey to finding the version of herself she'd hidden away and seeing her confidence come to life on the page was, to borrow a phrase, striking. #iykyk. I can't wait for the paperback release of this book so I can add it to my shelf and recommend it to all my friends who could benefit from seeing themselves on the pages.

I loved everything about this story! Jazzy and Stanton reminded me of the old TLC show “What Not to Wear” in all the best, supportive, side character ways. Everly was beyond relatable and such a likeable character. I really loved watching her character development as she overcame her anxieties deeply rooted in grief. I also appreciated that the major conflict of the climax wasn’t a third act breakup, but rather a manipulative outside force that seemed very realistic for reality television.

A cute delightful read and that had me staying up way too late. Love the main characters and the overall book. Thank you for the ARC

I know that not every book is for every person, so I never feel right rating anything below three stars. Having said that, this book was probably not for me. The story itself had so much potential, but got lost in redundancy (re-explaining the reasons the main character felt the way she did or how she got to where she was) and description (I started highlighting every mention of cheeks flushing red or a variation and it was a lot). If you’re into romance novels with several very open door scenes and a lighthearted take at some heavy topics, this book is for you.

Whitty, Compelling, and beautifully written.
I immediately fell in love with Everly and her story. Plus I loved the multifaceted sides of Logan and the way the storyline wrapped up.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

As a fat person this book truly effected me at so many points. I feel like it is such a spot on g representation on how it feels to be a fat person, and dealing with that toxic relationship with your body and those around you.

It addresses the "how can that fat girl get that hot guy?" Which always is a thing and I also addresses the ways "well meaning" people can make you feel less than in the name of love.

It’s also funny, sweet, and a little sexy at times, the budding romance between Everly and Logan beyond wonderful and fun. I loved their chemistry and interactions. The addition of the reality show is also great, show how distorted and twisted they can be.

Everly Winter has lost sight of herself and has become content to just hide in the background. But when she’s given a chance to rediscover who she is after someone in her nominates her for her favorite reality television show, On The Plus Side, it maybe just the nudge she needs to stop being a wallflower in life and be the main character.

What starts as a dream come true, quickly becomes a much more difficult journey of self discovery; reconciling how she sees herself versus what people in her life expect of her. Navigating the truths of life, loss and love while being filmed will take Everly’s life in directions she never imagined, but will she come out of it with more than just a killer wardrobe and her story told to the masses?

Thank you to the author Jenny Howe for writing a complex, fat character that I relate to and have had so many of the same experiences as her when it comes to life and the way people view us plus sized woman, as well as how we often hide ourselves away instead of celebrating who we are. Also thank you to the publisher for making this book available to the masses and for giving me the chance toe read the eARC.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book hit me hard at so many turns. It is a wonderful read, a great representation on how it feels to be a fat person, and dealing with that toxic relationship with your body and those around you. It’s also funny, sweet, and a little sexy at times, the budding romance between Everly and Logan beyond wonderful and fun. I loved their chemistry and interactions. The addition of the reality show is also great, show how distorted and twisted they can be. This will definitely be a book I reread again because it just left me with such a wonderful feeling.

This is an incredibly nice romance that's completely made for comfort reading. The heroine, Everly, is so relatable in how she is afraid to live her own life at the outset of the book. Seeing her come to terms with how she got off=track, even confronting forces in her way such as her too-flirty coworker and her mother, makes it so satisfying when she has the strength to believe in herself by the end of the story.

The love interest, Logan, might also just be the sweetest character ever committed to print. He's supportive! He's direct! He stands up for Everly before they're even together! And to top it all off, he's opening a sanctuary for senior dogs, which is just about the nicest thing a person could do. I really appreciated Logan sharing his issues with his body image, as well, as you usually never see male characters in romance having physical insecurities.

A major theme of the book is how difficult it is to live, exist, and be yourself as a fat person in a largely fatphobic culture. The narrative goes into detail about all of the large and small concerns without ever losing the fun and joy of Everly's personal journey. The makeover show that forms the bulk of the book's plot creates a brilliant space for Everly to escape those pressures temporarily, challenge fatphobic assumptions, and rediscover herself. The reality show production machinations (breaking news: reality show producers are shady, more on this at 11) provide just enough drama but really, this is a nice warm hug of a book about two nice people finding each other.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I really enjoyed Jenny’s debut “The Make-Up Test,” but “On the Plus Side” really levels up from TMUT, in terms of character depth and theme complexity. As much as I love romcoms as comfort reading, OTPS dodges a lot of the usual conventions of the genre (hello, no act 3 breakup!), and instead of the romance driving the plot, the romance is something that becomes possible as Everly embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

As a plus sized woman, I loved the positive fat rep in this book. OTPS looks at thin privilege and unconscious fat-shaming in a way that TMUT didn’t really. I also loved that there were multiple(!) fat characters in this book—mostly good people, one that was…not so good, so I liked the message that we fat people should be allowed to exist, some of us sometimes are a-holes, too.

Jenny’s debut was really promising, I thought, and OTPS really shows her growth as a writer. I’m looking forward to continuing to read her books as she writes them.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun read for anyone who has lived in a plus size body or loves someone who is plus size. It did a great job of incorporating common struggles in a relatable way. The main characters development was fantastic, with some twists and turns along the way. The epilogue was satisfying, but I’d definitely read more of these characters! Or— can someone please make this TV show a reality?!

~On thé Plus Side Review~
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4/5
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I love a good plus size rep book so i ofc had to request this book from netgalley! i’ve also been in a huge book slump and am hoping this will draw me out of it because the idea of a reality tv persona falling in love with a camera man seems so fun
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Pros:
+love the authors note at the beginning
+plus size rep!!
+broody men aka logan<3
+reality tv (guilty pleasure of mine)
+wanting to be striking instead of pretty!!!
+teasing
+logan being jealous i CANT
+DOGS
+acknowledging men can be insecure too
+surprise tatbilb reference
+marketing/designer corporate girly slay
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Cons:
-a bit repetitive at times
-mommy issues
-second hand embarrassment
-boooooo nasty capitalist exploitation
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overall i really enjoyed this book! i loved seeing the character growth and the relationship form. it had a solid ending and i came away satisfied despite it not going the way i thought it would.

Have you ever felt seen by a book?

I just finished my ARC read of On the Plus Side by @jennylhowe and I’m very emotional 🥹

As a plus-sized woman, I am very comfortable with who I am. But this book… just, wow. Everly is a character who embodies confidence, light, and love in such a powerful way. I don’t know that a main character has ever resonated so closely with me.

If you love What Not to Wear, lumberjacks (Logan is 😍🥵🔥), grumpy cinnamon roll main characters, and great representation, you should get this book. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, this was a 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 read for me.

Thank you, Jenny, for making me feel so seen.

3.5 stars and very mixed feelings.
So, on the one hand, this author absolutely understands what it means to navigate the world in a larger body. She presents us with a range of characters who have a variety of feelings about that reality. I love to see that. On the other hand, the reality TV setting is somewhat ineffectively captured, in my opinion. Our main character is almost comically naive to the manipulation within the process for being such a fan (not to mention, a general person who exists in 2023). There were also plot elements which were unresolved in a way which had me scratching my head, but I don’t want to give spoilers. All in all, an enjoyable read, but not something I felt compelled to keep turning the pages of.