Danielle Allen’s Plus Size Player was a refreshing and empowering read. I loved seeing a confident, independent woman unapologetically take center stage and be celebrated for exactly who she is. The story offers a fun, romantic journey that validates plus-size women as fully worthy of desire, joy, and love—something that is still too rare in mainstream romance.

That said, I did find myself pausing at the repeated moments where the main character faced derogatory comments about her weight. As someone who is not plus-size, I recognize that I may not fully understand the frequency or weight of these experiences in real life. However, it did feel a bit overwhelming that nearly every turn included someone making a rude or backhanded comment—“pretty for a fat girl” being a prime example. While I understand the intention to reflect real bias and microaggressions, it sometimes felt like overkill, and I wondered if it detracted from the strength and joy in the character’s story.

Still, the core message was powerful, and I’m grateful for the perspective this book offered. It reminded me how important representation is—and how necessary it is to hear these stories from voices that live them. A bold, affirming, and much-needed read.

I love everything Danielle Allen writes!! If you loved Curvy Girl Summer this is the perfect follow up. I really enjoy just how contemporary and relatable these stories are. What made this book stand out for me was the plot itself. It reminded me so much of America’s Next Top Model in the early 200s. I was invested in the forbidden romance and seeing the FMC, a full figured Black woman, get her happy ending!

Definitely worth the wait and a top reads of the year for me. Not only is Danielle Allen a master at writing but she’s a master at giving us beautiful outspoken black women FMC that take no bs from anyone. Nina Ford falls in line with the other strong FMC’s . Nina is a plus size model/influencer surrounded by other models society deems deserving of the opportunities Nina is snatching. Nina is constantly tested due to her size and look yet that doesnt phase her from her passions ,goals, and deciding the path she takes when it comes to her love life. I wont spoil the book but just know we call all take a few chapters out of Ninas sexy…very sexy love life.. Danielle Allen has given us another top rated book. Highly recommend.

omg i loved this so much! i loved nina, she's sassy and so unapologetically herself. she's what i strive to be. i love the plus size representation -- i want to see more of it in books! this series is so fun, can't recommend it enough!

I really enjoyed Plus Size Player—it was so much better than the first book. One of the biggest improvements was how fatphobia was handled. It didn’t feel unnecessary or overdone. When it did show up, it actually helped explain Nina’s character and gave insight into her world, rather than just being there for drama.

Nina was super likeable. I loved how clear she was about what she wanted and how she rarely backed down. That kind of confidence is so refreshing to see in a main character. And Russ? I actually loved him. He was such a great match for Nina—confident, supportive, and just really cool. Their dynamic worked so well.

It was just an okay read for me. Somewhere along the way, I got a bit bored. I really struggled to feel any real connection between Nina and Russ—it just wasn’t clicking for me. The drama? Honestly, it felt unnecessary. And the fatphobia/fatshaming? Way too much. I wasn’t expecting to read all that, and I definitely didn’t want to. It just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I absolutely adored Nina’s story! Plus Size Player is a love letter to all of the unapologetic curvy girlies who go after what they want. Nina is both effervescent and gritty. She pulls no punches are can read a hater for absolute filth! Nina and Russ developed in such an organic and heart tugging way. This is definitely THE black romance of the summer!

Plus Size Player was IT!

I loved Curvy Girl Summer, but I really ached for the fatphobia shown to Aaliyah and how she struggled to grapple with it. Baby, Nina wasn't having NONE of that! I'm paraphrasing what she said: she might be big, but she'll never be the bigger person! When people went low, Nina went to hell. I loved that for her. Nina was smart and confident and knew exactly what she deserved and what she wanted. I loved that she stuck with her roster of mens until she was ready to let them go and not a second sooner. Even the way she pushed back against her mom when it came to her career was very refreshing and unique to her in a way that made me root for her endlessly.

Russ was so bae. He was truly so special. Even when he got on my damn nerves I loved him so very much. I thought Ahmad was the perfect man, but Russ did not play about Nina or people disrespecting her. The way he just wanted to be in her orbit and took what she gave him until he felt like it was the right time to ask for more was delicious. He also had a very tender caregiving side to him that balanced out how assertive and fun he was so I felt like he was very dynamic and balanced so that when he started to panic at a certain point it was clear that it was his panic and anxiety speaking, not him.

This book had me kicking my feet in the air and giggling and cheesing at 3am. I was addicted and read this in one sitting! Danielle Allen is truly one of the funniest authors around right now. She has such a skill for storytelling and creating characters that are very realistic and close to my heart as a plus sized Black woman. This series is one of my favorites of all time!

Thank you so much to Tor Publishing Group, Bramble, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

5 ⭐️s
3.5 🌶️

I'm so glad I haven't read Danielle Allen's first book so I have something to go back. After reading Plus Size Player I NEED more of her writing ASAP! I believe I've found a new auto-buy romance author.

I loved sassy plus size model Nina Ford. She's sexy and not about to let anyone put her down for her size. Russ is the perfect companion for her although there were times that his possessiveness got on my nerves. I did feel that the ending wrapped up a little bit too quickly especially for the potential conflict that was brewing. I look forward to seeing more of Nina and Russ in the next story as side characters. If you couldn't tell Plus Size Player in the second novel in the Curve trilogy by Allen. It can easily be read as a stand alone, as I did. I'm looking forward to going back to Curvy Girl Summer and reading Aaliyah's story. I can't wait for the trilogy to conclude in 2026, but I really hope this trilogy isn't the last we hear from Allen.

Thank you to Bramble (via Tor) and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

5 very enthusiastic stars for Plus Size Player!!! I love this world & friend group Danielle Allen has created! Nina's personality was so vibrant and I loved reading from the POV of a character who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go out and get it. Also fun to get more of a gender swap in the role of the player here, as we love women in male fields etc.

Danielle Allen's voice is fresh and fun and better than ever, and this spicy romcom is the perfect summer read.

my friends call you which one🙂‍↕️ and he makes her see stars on the first date which is on a helicopter first 3 chapter. this book was everything i needed and more. danielle allen never fails to impress me and ill be forever sad i don’t have a russ 🫠 or where to don’t one. even if having the same confidence as nina

Danielle Allen does it again. Plus Size Player is a celebration—of confidence, self-love, body positivity, and what it means to be the main character in your own damn story. This book is a slow burn in terms of romance, but don’t be fooled—there’s plenty of action along the way.

At first, I found myself wondering, “Okay, where is this going?” But if you know Danielle, you know to trust the process. And she delivers. The characters are deeply developed, their vulnerabilities feel honest, and their chemistry is both believable and hot.

The protagonist is everything I want in a lead: bold, funny, unapologetically herself, and navigating life with the kind of mishaps that make you laugh out loud but also root hard for her. The result is a story that feels grounded and empowering, while still bringing the heat.

If you're here for stories that center plus-size women as sexy, complex, and deserving of love without compromise—this one is for you.

I was really interested in the premise of this, but unfortunately the execution fell a bit flat. The story felt like it was more plot than anything else and the writing was very repetitive.

while i wasn’t able to read and review this book before release date, i have seen NOTHING but raving reviews and i everyone needs to pick up a danielle allen book! i will be posting my review on all retail sites as well 💫

I love Russ and Nina together even though she fought her true feelings for him right until the end. I think that this was even better than Aaliyah’s book. Nothing but grown and sexy vibes.

I hate yall had to wait until today to get your hands on Danielle Allen’s Plus Size Player.

I was blessed to receive an ARC from NetGalley and Bramble Romance. I LOVE that this book takes place at the same time as Curvy Girl Summer. I enjoyed having both sides to the conversations/situations between the girls.

I was grinning and rubbing my feet together from beginning to end. Nina was self assured and knew not only what she deserved but exactly what she wanted. With that I say Nina, you better get your man! I ain’t want to hear about no one but the fun one! I love a man that leads with action and not just words. Russ was very intentional about Nina and the way he was written secured his status as a top tier book boyfriend.

If you’re looking for a feel good romance, with plenty spice, a confident plus size fashionista, supportive community and a swoon worthy man this is the story for you. Run to your nearest book seller and secure your copy today!! I cannot recommend this book enough. I give it 5 stars, 5 chili peppers and stamp it as one of your top reads this year.

A huge thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an early access copy to read. I knew when I read Curvy Girl Summer and was introduced to Nina that she was a real one. Nina Ford is everything I dream to become! She is confident, proud, a true friend and confidant, she knows her worth and will correct you if make a sly remark about her body. I’m so glad that we as the reader were allowed to see her day to day life as an influencer. Her body positivity was so beautiful to read. I love the relationship she has with her parents and especially the sage advice her mom gave her. I loved seeing Nina’s progression to being the ultimate player and thought at the time she needed four men to equal the perfect man. Then to see Nina wrestle with that thought of one being “the one” because all she thought she needed and was looking for was in him.
This book had me smiling every time I sat down to read, I giggled, I kicked my feet and oh man, the spice was spicy with a capital S! I don’t think I’ll read another romance book that made me feel like this one! Ms. Allen set the bar high with this one!

✨QUICK SYNOPSIS: Nina (Aaliyah’s best friend from “Curvy Girl Summer”) is a 30 year old plus size model and social media influencer. She is currently dating several men at once. She has never had one man who was everything she needed until she spends more time with Mr. Russell Long.

✨MY FAVORITE QUOTE: “When I say you’re my escape, I mean my freedom. When I say you’re my escape, I mean I can be myself with you. When I say you’re my escape, I mean that whenever and wherever we’re together, it’s the only place I want to be.”

✨MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this book and it’s probably my favorite book of the series so far. I love how confident Nina is. Mr. Russell Long is a good man Savannah! That man stepped down from his position to be with her 🥺 I gave the book 4/5 ⭐️. This book releases tomorrow, June 10th.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Bramble Romance for the e-ARC.

I really enjoyed this! This is a slooooww burn, in terms of relationship but action is definitely happening in the process! Russ was everything! I loved him so much as a MMC. Admittedly, in the beginning, I wondered ok where is this going. There is some fat shaming and it bothered me. Although it’s not my personal experience, I don’t like to see people, especially women mistreated in anyway. In my mind I’m like are people really this nasty and rude??? And the answer is yes! I enjoyed how Danielle Allen used this as an opportunity for body positivity. Nina was a strong, confident, and fierce FMC. I can’t stand a weak FMC and Nina was everything but weak. I was rooting for Nina ans Russ the whole time and was glad they found a way to make their love work for them.

This is the second book, in an interconnected standalone series. I did NOT read Curvy Girl Summer and I didn’t feel lost. So for anyone else who wants to read this, and hasn’t read Curvy Girl, I think it’d be perfectly fine to do so, though I always recommend reading books in order for a better experience! I will definitely be reading Book 3 when it comes out and circling back for Curvy Girl Summer

First of all, can we talk about representation? A plus-size Black woman as the confident, sexy lead? Yes, ma’am! I was here for every second of it. The chemistry between the main characters was 🔥—fun, playful, and full of tension that actually built instead of rushing straight to the spice (which was so freaking good, by the way).

What I loved most was how the book showed body confidence without turning it into the WHOLE “issue.” The heroine knows she’s fine, she knows her worth, and that energy? Inspiring. The romance felt real, the banter was on point, and there were moments that legit had me smiling at the pages like a goofball.

So why 4 stars instead of 5? A few parts felt a little predictable, like I saw some of the twists and emotional beats coming a mile away. But honestly, I am not a romance girlie so take that with a grain of salt!