𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

Loved this book! This story felt like a love letter to my younger self as I was a very plus size curvy Disney loving girl. I could relate to a lot of the experiences described in this book. The author gracefully captured the less recognized thoughts/feelings of living in a larger body that you don’t think about unless you’ve been there. Then you add in the fun story line, scavenger hunt through the parks, evolving friendships, “magic”, coming of age aspect and a sweet love story and this books skyrockets to the top of my favorite list for the month.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Lia’s life has been pre planned for her, she will work in her family’s furniture store and stay at home in the fall vs go away to college. She’s 18 and this summer is her one chance to flee the nest and experience the “Magic” with her two best friends.

She’s entered to participate in the Fableland’s 50th Anniversary Super Fan Scavenger Hunt and she was selected! So she’s flying to Florida and will be outside her parent’s micromanaged bubble for the first time ever. For the next 6 days she will be working clues hidden across the parks in hops of winning the cash prize. Lia and her besties have big plans for rides, food and making lasting memories.

Lia has high hopes and dream and she’s wishing this competition will change her life. That prize money could be her one chance to escape her fate back home. Fableland certainly has “magic” but it may be in the shape of a 6ft tall boy instead of a bag of money.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“These last few days with you, though”—he hooks his hand under my chin and draws me in for a slow, sweet kiss—“that’s magic I can believe in.”

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔:

* Alliance of Convenience
* 6 Day Scavenger Hunt w/ Cash Prize
* Coming of Age
* Curvy FMC w/ Bestie Squad
* Cute Banter
* Finding the “Magic” in Life
* Parent with Mental Health Rep
* Fableland, Orlando FL
* YA - No Spice
* Single POV

🩵🌟🎡🎠🎢🩵🌟🎡🎠🎢

I loved this so much! I’m not sure if it’s because I really bought into the magic as a Disney adult or what, but this was so much fun! There were so many times that I wished I had a real view of the park because she created this cool ass world with just her words.

Ok so obviously I loved the setting. I LOVE theme parks and this one just seems like something that I would love. And Jenny did a damn good job with incorporating the story of the park in this story. She basically gave us two different stories while also giving the main characters a back story while ALSO giving the back stories and the info for the scavenger hunt. If this book doesn’t tell you the type of author she is, I don’t know what will. She actually did some world-building with this one and I was immersed from beginning to end.

I also really admired the way she handled the mom. As a mom who also has anxiety, I can’t say I blamed the mom lol But as a YA librarian, I also get where Lia was coming from. It wasn’t fair for the mom to use her anxiety to control and make decisions for Lia. I admired Lia for letting it happen for so long tbh. Because she could have rebelled a long time ago. Plus she was 18. She deserved that trip and she deserved to be trusted for what she’d done since before then.

I also want to touch on the fat rep. It was so realistic. The ride thing? Yeah, that’s happened to someone I know as well. That really hit home for me. I wanted to hug her because I understood. And the way she took it on the chin and went on like it didn’t bother her showed that she did that far too often and I hated that for her. And the asshole grabby hands part….. Yeah I wish I could climb into this book and knock them out. I identified with many of her other struggles as well as a midsize teen and woman.

Now the good stuff lol I LOVED the romance. It was so cute! Mason was the sweetest. I DO wish they had some more romance scenes tho. This was such a slow burn that they were barely together. And when they finally decided they were, it was time for her to go. Maybe it’s just me (because we all know I’m not a slow burn person) but I wanted more.

This was cute and so good. Much like Disney I think anyone of all ages will love this one. So read it and let me know what you think. I can tell you it was so much more than just a love story. There’s magic, love, and so much more!

4.5 stars - A whimsical, feel-good Summer read!

This YA romance was an absolute delight from start to finish, making it a perfect summertime escape! The scavenger hunt through Fableland, a theme park straight out of my teenage dreams, made the whole story feel like a nostalgic adventure for true fans of magic and childhood memories.

What made this book especially meaningful was the plus-size rep. Lia's experiences felt so real and relatable, shining a light on the subtle challenges many face that often go unseen. I felt genuinely seen and validated through her perspective, it was like reading pages from my own journal.

The book masterfully balances fun, friendship, and the bittersweet edge of growing up. Watching the characters try to hold on to their connections before stepping into adulthood was both heartwarming and poignant. The audiobook added even more charm, bringing the journey to life and keeping me hooked until the very end.

This was such a cute book! Not only can you feel the magic of Fabledom which is very clearly the authors own version of Disney land (and I love that!) but you end up really rooting for every single one of the characters. I was absolutely pulled into the story. Highly recommend!

DNF @ 39%

The Disney-inspired theme park setting hooked me, but I'm quickly losing interest in this one. The story is about an extravagant scavenger hunt through the park, but I'm not feeling any stakes that really make me want to root for these characters and see them win. The park itself also doesn't seem that exciting to me, which might be because it's based on the lore from a fictional franchise that the reader is not familiar with and that is only briefly explained as the characters solve clues from the different movies. I'm finding myself bored and not invested in any of the characters, so I won't be finishing this one.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Half coming-of-age, half quest, this YA book follows Lia, a plus-sized teen, and her 2 friends, Tess and Issy, as they explore the Fableland parks (think Disney but more fantasy) because Lia is part of a contest to potentially win $50k. Far-fetched premise, but delightfully fun. Add in a love-at-first meeting crush, and away you go on a week-long adventure. I enjoyed this not only because the lore and contest in Fableland were fun and escapist, but Lia grows so much in this core-memory experience. She talks about "fat geometry" and also how she feels she's being left behind by her friends. She also has a mother with an exceptionally intense generalize anxiety disorder, who adds to her stressors. I like how Lia finally stands up for herself and uses her words to figure things out with her friends. And her relationship with Mason is adorable and believable. If you want a cinnamon roll MMC, questing, amusement parks, friends, fat representation, LGBTQIA+ representation in side characters, this is a book for you!

Love at Full Tilt by Jenny L. Howe is another phenomenal duty written by Howe!
This book simply put was just a lot of fun! 
The characters were so much fun, and their chemistry was adorable.
I thought the writing was quick, fun and engaging.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this new title.

Jenny L. Howe is one of my favorite authors. She is absolutely on my autobuy list. And if you have spent time in a fat body, she should be on yours, too.

This book is a little different. Her characters have previously been unapologetically fat - almost aspirational for a lot of women. Period, much less those in fat bodies. But here, we have Lia, a teen girl on the cusp of adulthood, who is still awkward in her skin. She hasn't grown into the ideas of fat liberation and body positivity that so many of us have spent years fighting for. And she is the character that so many of our teen hearts needed when we were her age.

And Mason, her straight-sized love interest is absolutely the love interest we - and the countless loves who have fought to tell us how much they do in fact love us - deserved. He is an absolute peach!!

Representation is important and this book is gorgeous perfection. In addition to the teen aspects of navigating body image, it deals with growing up, leaving the next, serious complicated mental illness, and changing friendships at the end of high school. So many emotions packed into what is essentially a week long theme park trip. You'll never look at those mouse ears the same!

While those most interested and affected by this book will be those like me, who have spent most of their life in a larger body, there is something for all romance lovers. And honestly if you love someone in a larger body, with anxiety, or any serious difference, I really think reading this could be valuable to you.

But honestly, I'm also just shouting from the rooftops that you should read the book because I live Jenny and her writing. She writes books that make me feel seen and that are a delight to read.

I wish young adult me had had this book. Jenny Howe did a wonderful job addressing the challenges of body image, young love, anxiety and what happens when it feels like the world is moving forward while you are standing still.

I truly enjoyed the friendship dynamics in this book as well as so charmed by the romance. I think the book shines when address the family dynamics - I feel like I wish we had gotten more out of the confrontation or the post confrontation between Lia and her mom, but I also think the point is this kind of challenge can't be wrapped up in a pretty bow. Also, if you are a "Disney" kid, this nostalgia hits.

Really enjoyed it. Will definitely be getting it for our library. 4 stars.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for a digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jenny Howe wrote that this was a book for her 14 year old self, but I will be honest - I think my teenaged self would have loved it too. The book starts with a wish fufillment - superfan Lia has been chosen for a scavenger hunt at Fableland, where she meets cute guy Mason.

I deeply felt Lia's dig about Mason carrying a book around at Fableland - I did indeed bring a book on my last trip to Disney World (those lines are long! A book makes them go faster), but I also appreciated that the book models that following your dreams are important. I loved that the book treated Mason's dream to become a science teacher as equally worthy as Lia's desire to tell stories about princesses of all sizes.

But my favourite thing about the book is that it treats the love story between Lia and her friends Issy and Tess as true love, just as important to her life as her and Mason. The friendship gets a structure - the third act breakup, etc - that often is reserved for romance. The older I get, the more I realize that friendships with other women is what sustains you in life, and I think it's an important lesson in a YA novel. This was such a fun book, and I think it is perfect for fans of Kristin Dwyer and Sarah Dessen.

This was so so cute! There was such great rep throughout the various characters (plus-size, queer, mental health) and it was all done so well. I don't read too much YA anymore, but I've read Jenny's adult books and love her writing, so I was excited to read her YA debut!

The characters are just out of high school, and though that was a long time ago for me, I remember those formative years, so I really took to heart some of the stuff they were struggling with. I loved the friendship between Lia, Tess, and Issy, and how even when they were fighting, they didn't give up on each other. Not only were they so fun, but they all showed such growth by the end of the book, and it was refreshing to see young characters who talk things out when needed!

I adored the banter and the ease of the bonding between Mason and Lia. They complemented each other so well, not only throughout the scavenger hunt, but also as people. They were so adorable! This was a fun story with a lot of heart!

Thank you to Jenny and Delacorte for the ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I would like to start this review by saying I have very much enjoyed this author's previous books and will continue to read her. I was absolutely NOT the target audience yet I enjoy reading YA.

The story is well structured and the setting (NOT Disney) was visually written. The events that take place that introduce the "meet cute" were clever and the friend group understandable.

On and Off I didn't like the FMC. I KNOW she is young, I KNOW groups of girls can be full of angst, I KNOW we can change our minds on a daily basis, but there was so much of it. I didn't connect with her through the whole story.

Having said this, LOVE AT FULL TILT is a story I would recommend for a quick read.

Thank you NETGALLEY for this ARC.

CW: fatphobia, anxiety/panic attacks, suicidal ideation (recounted), death of a parent (mentioned), cancer (mentioned), grief, gambling addiction, sexual harassment, sexual assault

I would like to thank Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for inviting me to review a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

There is simply no misses when it comes to books written by Jenny L. Howe and she proves that feat once again in her YA debut, Love at Full Tilt.

I love everything this book had to offer. From Howe's creation of her own version of Disney and the magic she has created in Fableland, to the strong friendships between Lia, Tess, and Issy as they navigate life after graduation, and to the sweetly tender relationship between Lia and Mason as they work together throughout the scavenger hunt. All of this kept me wanting more and also not wanting the book itself to end.

For readers looking for a YA novel that's an easy summer read and features a once-in-a-lifetime scavenger hunt, strong female friendships, and an allies-to-lovers romance, you definitely need to keep an eye on this book.

4.75 stars

Lia has the chance of a lifetime: to get out from under her over-protective parent's and head to Florida with her two best friends to go to the Fableland theme park. Fableland is not just a theme park and this is not just a before college blow-out, but a scavenger hunt contest in the place that Lia has been obsessed with for her whole life. There's a lot riding on this week long contest, possibly her freedom from the life she feels suffocated by, and she can't let herself be distracted by anything, including the cute boy she tripped over at the welcome event, but maybe an alliance wouldn't be too bad. Lia and Mason, along with Tess and Issy spend the week going through this scavenger hunt, bringing up big feelings from all of them, trying to reassure Lia's mother back home, and maybe, hopefully, finding a way to breathe.

I loved this. I really related to the struggles of friends seeming to pull away as life takes turns, and Lia's struggle to both follow her heart and also support her mother who has very real issues with anxiety and letting her go. Mason was so supportive, but also going through his own stuff, and watching him gain some magic back by watching Lia experience Fableland.

It was heart-wrenching, and adorable, and high stakes, and emotional, and it was worth the journey (though my one issue is with the end of the contest). Perhaps the best way to put it was that it was a roller-coaster.

I had a great time reading this book, couldn't put it down and binged it all in one night, and I would do it again.

This book is for everyone who’s ever wanted to buy a souvenir t-shirt and been crushed when the largest size doesn’t quite fit.

I’ve read all of Jenny Howe’s romcoms so far, and I can honestly say that Love at Full Tilt has been my favorite! I loved that this book managed to be body neutral while acknowledging the challenges that people (and sometimes specifically young people) face when living in a world where your body type often doesn’t fit. The romance was nice, the book boyfriend was sweet, but what resonated with me even more was the coming-of-age aspect and the impacts that different college paths have on lifelong friendships. The scavenger hunt was a fun plot device, and I love the world-building/lore that Jenny created for Fableland—it felt “Disney-ish” without feeling like a full-on Disney knock-off or satire.

Love at Full Tilt might be a YA romance, but it a lot of ways, it felt like Jenny’s most mature and accomplished novel yet.

Love at Full Tilt by Jenny L. Howe
Pub Date: July 22, 2025 (out now)
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟(4/5)
Spice: (0/5)

Summary:
Lia is obsessed with Fableland, the movies, the parks, and even the online communities. After she graduates high school, she is whisked off to their theme park to compete in the scavenger hunt of her dreams. However, besides never visiting the parks in person, Lia has never left her mom’s side for more than the school day. Lia has to learn to find her voice and race to the finish line.

Review:
I adored this magical ya romance. Mason is the dreamy protector every princess dreams of. It’s hard entering adulthood differently than your peers and Jenny captures those emotions so well.

If you like:
- Theme Parks
- Anxiety representation
- Plus Size MC
- Enemies to Lovers

QOTD: What’s your favorite theme park ride?

Thank you to Net Galley and Delacorte for proving me with an eARC of this novel.

I didn’t realize I needed this book until I read this book! The way Jenny L. Howe is able to perfectly depict the feelings and thoughts of someone who has always lived life in a large body is nothing short of magic. This book actually had me crying (re: experiencing not fitting in an amusement park ride and fat girl geometry)!! All this to say, it’s literally the sweetest romance and story of best friendship even with challenges. There’s lots of representation in this book and I don’t think I could even list all the amazing representation!! This is a MUST READ!

I really enjoyed this book. The scavenger hunt at the Disneyesque setting was magical. Lia’s relationship with her friends and her romance with Mason had their ups and downs but I loved how it ended. I would definitely recommend this book.

Lia's story was such a good representation (in my opinion) of what life can feel like being a bigger girl in today's world. Add in the pressures of having a parent with a mood disorder, best friends leaving for college, a high stakes prize competition, a bit of whimsy and a new love interest and this one's got a little bit over everything. This is my first Jenny Howe book but certainly not my last! I really enjoyed the somewhat surprising conclusion to this one and the message to follow your dreams no matter what anyone else expects of you.

Love At Full Tilt is a YA Romance written by Jenny L. Howe. The novel tells the story of three friends who have just graduated from high school, and are participating in a contest at Fableland. Fableland is a large amusement park in Florida modeled after Disney World.

This book is a Romance, but also is a wonderful coming-of-age story. At Fableland, Lia and her two best friends work out issues and become closer as they reveal secrets to each other. Lia meets Mason during the contest, and they are instantly drawn to each other. I’m not a fan of insta-love, so this trope didn’t really work for me. However, as they work together to solve the challenges of the contest, they get to know each other and fall in love. They discover that finding each other is a greater gift than winning the contest.

I enjoyed this book overall, but got irritated with the intensity of Lia’s thoughts and feelings. As the narrator, her constant angst and turmoil felt repetitive. This book is a YA Romance, and the main characters are adolescents, so the drama and intense feelings are realistic, but slowed down the pacing of the story. However, I appreciated Lia’s strength and courageousness as she fights tooth and nail to win the contest.

Love At Full Tilt is a YA romance, perfect for readers who love Disney and amusement parks. The author wraps up the story in a positive way and all conflicts are resolved as the book concludes. I was really happy to see Lia solve her own problems, and move forward with a future of her own choosing. The angst of this YA novel with teenage characters was a bit much for me, but I’m sure other readers will enjoy it.

Thank you to Jenny L. Howe, Random House Children’s Publishing, Delacorte Romance & NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.