was not a huge fan of this one, which is definitely a bit of a disappointment because i remembering enjoying howe’s the make-up test. something that’s done well is the focus on everly’s personal journey & rediscovery of her self-confidence. but yea, just didn’t really land for me.

#netgalley

loved this romance between a lumbersexual ( a cameraman) and a designer and finding one's voice and some romance along the way. I loved this show and how it helped her grow and try to have better relationships with mom and brother. Loved the romance and sexy times and loved that she brought up consent and forums to discuss the show.

Thank you St-Martin's Publishing Group for the eARC of this.

I enjoyed this! I was left feeling much the same way as I did when I read the author's first book, the Make-Up Test. It was good, and I loved the representation, but I didn't feel like I connected with the characters all that much? I wasn't invested enough to feel swoony about the romance, so I was left with a mostly eh reading experience.

I'm also getting tired of romances with fat main characters always including the MC going on a "journey" to find/regain her confidence. Yes, it's something a lot of fat people go through and the stories should be told, but it'd also be nice to simply have a fat character just BE. It is possible for fat people to simply love themselves and have their confidence and not need to have other people help them "find" it.

That's my own personal soapbox and has less to do with the book. This was fun and cute! Definitely recommend!

Everly is a receptionist for a marketing brand and her life is fine, she has her best friend, her quiet life, and she feels comfortable. She gets chosen to be on her favorite show, On the Plus Side, and it changes her life.

I really liked this book. I also read Jenny Howe’s first book. I love that she takes fat characters and makes them fully fleshed out. I felt very seen reading this book. Some of the passages could have literally been taken from my life. About being too much. Feeling like you have to hide. Like you don’t know how to be you anymore.

I’ll continue to read anything Jenny puts out. A great story, and a quick read. I read it in one sitting!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for sending me a free e-arc. I am giving this review honestly and freely.

Overall, this story was just a huge chiefs kiss. The main characters were written excellently and just seeing the growth in them was so inspiring. This book had given me exactly what I expected and then some.

I knew exactly what I was getting into when I signed up for this story, but I don’t think I was fully prepared for how this book wasn’t fully lighthearted. I felt the main characters pain though my own, same with her joys. Seeing her grow more into herself was like a breath of fresh air. There was things that Everly went though that was just heartbreaking and I knew it was coming after starting the book, but not before. Just keep in mind that this won’t be a breezy lighthearted romance.

I am a bit disappointed about the side characters, they kind of fell flat. Some of them had a little more depth, but other than that, they felt like they were only there for Everly and to push the story along.

All and all, I really did enjoy this read. This isn’t the first book I’ve read from this author and it certainly won’t be the last. This was a fun read with a touch of realism with struggles bigger people can face. It was a little bit lengthy, but I feel it was necessary to fully wrap up all the loose ends that was brought up. I’d recommend this read wholeheartedly.

On the Plus Side follows Everly as she finds herself nominated for her favorite plus size makeover show, which the book is named after. Everly has spent years withdrawing into herself to not be "too much". Too loud, too boisterous, take up too much space. Her art career has stalled following her grandmother's death, 4 years prior to the start of the book. She has a crush on this guy at work, James, but doesn't want to ruin their work friendship by acting on it.

One day, she's greeted at the office doors by the two hosts of her favorite show - OTPS - and their very grumpy but hot cameraman, Logan.

Follow along as Everly relearns and explores who she is and what she wants in life - and who she wants in life, along the way.

On the Plus Side will leave you with a new OTP.

Free ARC received from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for a review - thank you!

On The Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe is an absolute gem! The characters are engaging and you find yourself rooting for Every and Logan throughout. OTPS is the reality show we all need with the current climate on social media. My only issue with the novel was the spelling of Sadys name, which I read as Sadly through the book. 🤣 I loved this novel! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was, much like Jenny L. Howe's debut, absolutely perfect; it's definitely a new favourite of mine! The fat representation was extremely realistic and relatable, very well done, just like in "The Make-Up Test," and the romance was super well done as well! I loved how the author tackled heavier topics like grief and family and self-expectations, and countered them with lighter humorous themes. The setting of the book was also super fun! I loved the reality tv show style of the book, and watching Everly find herself again was great. And Everly and Logan! My favourites! Their chemistry was amazing, and Howe wrote the romance absolutely spectacularly (love to see a man obsessed). Overall, this is a funny, cute, steamy, emotional, and probably my favourite romance of the year so far!

This is my new favorite plus-size romance book.

Ever.

And I read a lot of them!

Jenny truly has mastered the art of balance in her books—while demonstrating the struggles that fat women go through she also does it without being overwhelming, super negative, and triggering. This book fosters a feeling of community. You truly feel connected to Everly, the main character, and her wins feel like yours—because we’ve all been in her shoes.

This book follows Everly, a plus-size receptionist who longs to be an artist that lives a life trapped in time. She’s stuck in a rut of complacency and hiding ever since the loss of her grandmother, her plus-size role model. We see Everly struggle with her sense of self, her relationship with her mother, her career, her crush on her coworker, and her life direction until she’s nominated for a plus-size makeover TV show, On the Plus Side. We see Everly’s life go through a whirlwind, swept up in the hilarious cast of characters that are the TV hosts…and the grumpy cameraman, Logan. This book is not just about a fat woman falling in love—which is amazing in its own rite—this is a moving piece of literature about a fat woman’s growth, about her journey to find herself—and maybe the love of her life on the way.

Thank you, Jenny, for writing this book—from a girl who feels just like Everly.

This is very cute and enjoyable read. I love to see plus size representation in books and that's mostly why I picked this up. I loved Everly and Colton, their dynamic and relationship was so entertaining .Will be picking up more from the author.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.