Happy Fableland Friday, friends!

I think this is genuinely my favorite Jenny L. Howe book yet—and knowing she’s been dreaming about sharing her YA stories with us for YEARS? Girl, you’re born to write these.

Jenny has somehow managed to create her own Disney World. Fableland is rich in lore, background, and adventure. It’s rooted in nostalgia, love, escapism, and hope for a better future. And this is what Lia clings to.

In fact, she sees the magic of Fableland so clearly that she even manages to help Mason feel the magic again of a place he feels he’s grown out of.

I also can’t forget to mention Lia’s two best friends who go with her for this adventure—the friends who help her stop hiding. Who help her speak up about how she’s feeling and what she wants. Because what are friends for if not having your back and wanting the best for you?

And while I absolutely love the scavenger hunt contest that’s woven into the foundation of this story—I think one of my favorite parts is the richly authentic representation of the impact Generalized Anxiety Disorder can have on a teenager when their parent is riddled with anxiety and fear to the extent where it seeps into every opportunity and experience they try to have.

This book was beautifully crafted and artfully narrated. I loved the audiobook and struggled to stop when life kept trying to interrupt me. I wanted to stay at Fableland forever.

Read: July 27, 2025 - August 1, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the chance to read Love At Full Tilt I know I'm late to complete this one but I'm so glad I was able to finish it before I missed it.

Disclaimer for other readers: I read purely for vibes and I super vibes with this book. I hope anybody that picks up this book after me enjoys it as much as I did if not more.

This! This book is a prime example of why I read Young Adult romances as a palate cleanser between all of the adult romances. So fresh, so sweet, so freaking cute.

Love at Full Tilt was a nice change of pace and a very welcome addition to the books I'll reread with heavier set FMCs. I loved reading and relating to every instance of the FMC wondering if she'd fit or thinking, "well, maybe if I do this, then this." Way too relatable.

In addition to loving the way I could relate, can we talk about loving the adorable Mason? No? Too bad. When he was introduced I genuinely thought he was an antagonist. I really thought was sweet boy had ulterior motives and was trying to be an evil distraction but I was so wrong and couldn't be happier about it. Mason, I'm sorry. My bad.

In the end, though I had a love-hate relationship with the FMC, I would recommend this book to anybody willing to listen and would happily reread it just to experience the cuteness all over again and wish that amusement parks would do scavenger hunts like this. So, author, when is the next one?

Lia Baker is playing for her life. She has six days and one opportunity to create the future she wants. If it doesn’t work out, she’ll just have to go back home and work at her parents’ furniture store. But she has one week to win Fableland’s Superfan Scavenger Hunt and win $50,000, which will give her the chance to change that future and do what she really wants to.

Unlike most of Fableland’s other superfans, Lia has never been to the park. She grew up on Fable Industry’s movies, watching them over and over through the years and finding a lot of comfort in them as her mother’s anxiety got worse. She has scoured the online forums about the stories behind the films and the rides as well as the myths and secrets the theme park hides.

But this week is also a chance for her to spend time with her two best friends Tess and Issy before they head to college. Lia feels a little left out of their plans, as she is set to stay at home. Her mother’s anxiety doesn’t let her travel too far. This trip, where Lia won one of the coveted spots in the scavenger hunt, is an anomaly. But it won’t be easy to win. She’s competing as one of 100 people. There are 3 clues given each day, and she will have to complete them by scanning a QR code into the phone app they created for this event. Each day, the number of people left in the competition will go down, until there is just one winner. Lia plans to be that winner. And then she meets Mason.

Mason is also a contestant, and Lia is struck dumb after she trips over his chair. And when she bumps into him again the morning of the first day of the competition, she is torn. He suggests they pair up to tackle the clues together, but Lia is reluctant. She has to win. But she agrees that two heads could probably figure out the clues faster, and any advantage at first would help. So Lia and Mason team up. But as she gets to know Mason, things get more complicated, because she develops feelings for him. And he feels the same for her.

As the days slip by, Lia is pulled in many different directions. She has to solve the clues and scan the QR codes to stay in the game. Tess and Issy want to experience the park with her. She wants to spend time with Mason. And her parents are calling and texting, making sure that she checks in often and is doing okay. As the contestants get dropped from the scavenger hunt and the pressure builds, Lia has to choose what is it she really wants, even if that means someone else gets hurt.

Love at First Tilt is a sweet romance between a plus-size teenage girl and a long-legged teenage boy. There is friendship drama, parent drama, future fears, and good kissing. And that’s before you add in the fun of Fableland and the movies associated with it. I loved the superfan scavenger hunt as the base of the story. There are a couple of scenes where Lia’s size was a challenge, which made me want to go full-on Karen, for her and for the plus-sized teenager I was once. But I was so impressed with Lia’s grace under pressure and her determination to chase her own happiness. This book just made me happy. What more can I say?

Egalleys for Love at Full Tilt were provided by Delacorte Romance through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

Jenny L. Howe writes such cute plus size FMC books, I had to check this one out!

Lia Baker feels stuck as her friends prepare to leave for college, while she’s left behind juggling her mom’s anxiety and a job she hates. But everything changes when she wins a spot in a special anniversary scavenger hunt at Fableland, her favorite storybook theme park. Teaming up with Mason, a charming rival who knows the park inside and out, Lia dives headfirst into the magic. As sparks fly and their connection deepens, she’s faced with a choice: chase the future she’s always dreamed of, or risk it all for a love she never saw coming.

This book felt like the perfect summer read and something wholesome for new adults. Our FMC is 18 and is dealing with the transition from graduating high school to figuring out what to do next. She has her dreams, but she has been too scared to dive into them because of her parents' expectations for her future. I love how this book also dives into body image issues, being happy with yourself but also dealing with societal expectations of your body. Read this for a low stakes, sweet, summer read.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Children's and Delacorte Romance for this eARC!

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.