Love a Full Tilt is now my favorite Jenny L Howe book, and that’s saying something.

This book has all I have come to expect from Jenny’s books in regards to brilliant plus sized representation and romance with a big heart. As a woman who has lived in a bigger body since childhood, I can confidently say that if I had grown up reading books with plus size teens represented as beautiful, loveable, strong and ultimately NOT ashamed, I could have started finding peace and love for my body decades sooner. This, my friends is the power and purpose of positive representation of marginalized people.

This is the coziest, sweetest one yet from Jenny! It felt entirely nostalgic and equally fresh. I desperately wish that I had had this book as a teen, and I hope it finds its way into the hands of many teens today.

But of course like many YA books, while the target audience is teens, as an adult I found a tremendous amount of joy in the pages of this book and suspect many other adults will too. Afterall, readers of all ages can relate to and find comfort in young love, fierce friendships and self-discovery. Highly recommend this book to all fans of contemporary romance, it was sweet and flirty and fun! A hug in book form!

Fat-friendly rating? 💚 a celebration of bigger bodies and one I hope readers of all sizes will pick up!

Thank you so much to Jenny L. Howe and Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the eARC. I love how Jenny included a plus size MFC. This is a cute quick read of a rivals to lovers story. This is a true YA romance book. Definitely Recommend.

Thank you for writing this plus size female protagonist story. I finally felt seen in a book! I also loved the solving mysteries and nostalgia for the theme park!

As a Floridian and ex Disney nerd it is hard to believe some aspects of this book, from the movies to different land experiences. Plus the absolute HEAT AND HUMIDITY IN FLORIDA SUMMER, I don’t think this was brought to life like it could have been. As a fellow fat girl too, it’s hard to see Lia as being healthy when all she eats is stuff that is loaded with sugar and not even remotely healthy. Lia is also INSUFFERABLE and seems incapable of expressing even a hint of her true feelings to the people closest to her for most of the book. The third act breakup was undoubtedly the most unrealistic I’ve ever read, like how do you expect this teenage boy to throw away his whole life and dreams for you after 5 days? Insane.

However the writing style was fine. The scavenger hunt was fine. (Hard to relate to made up characters in comparison to actual well loved Disney characters). The terrible over controlling anxious mom, fine.

This book truly shined in nailing down that “Disney magic”, filled with hope and a belief that everything will work out in the end. That even on the hard days, the heroes get up and keep fighting.

Overall 3 stars. Very middle of the road book.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me ready this one!

I throughly enjoyed this book. The representation of anxiety through Lia's mom and the dealing with being overweight at a theme park is beyond relatable. This was a great book that was a fun quick read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The writing was great, and Lia's journey was relatable, both as a plus-sized person and someone who struggles to express herself with the people she I LOVED this!! Jenny L. Howe knocked it out of the (amusement) park with this title! It was absolutely adorable from start to finish, but with its share of doses of reality. Lia, the main character, was relatable in so many ways, from her experiences as a fat teenage girl to someone who struggles to express herself with the people she cares about the most. Every time she had to do "plus-size geometry" (something I didn't have a term for until now but definitely did my whole life... badly. Listen, I'm a librarian, not a math girlie), I knew exactly what that experience was like. The love story was super cute, featuring a male love interest who immediately accepted and supported her for who she was, and with (very!) believable communication issues for 18 year olds. I generally don't love miscommunication tropes (especially when the whole plot hinges on them, which this doesn't), but these characters do try to express themselves and talk things out, but fumble a lot... as 18 year olds tend to do. Jenny L. Howe has always has a special touch in not making me hate when this trope comes up in her books.

The supporting characters were believable, lovable, and frustrating in their own ways. Lia's mother's anxiety gave me anxiety, and as a middle-aged adult I was sitting there screaming about how this wasn't a healthy relationship and Lia should cut ties... but also knowing how hard that is for a teenager who truly does love their family to do. The complicated family dynamics are shown well through Lia's actions and thoughts, and I appreciated this book showing "they mean well, BUT..." in another light. Additionally, Lia's best friends aren't 100% foolproof, the three of them all stumble as friends here and there, but I enjoyed seeing how they put in effort to fix things when it was needed (and communicated).

A very enjoyable and cute romance, perfect for summer vacations. Honestly, I don't think I'd change a thing. I can't wait for this to hit shelves in July for everyone else to experience!

Love at Full Tilt centers around a big scavenger hunt/contest at Fableland, a Disney-esque park, coincidentally also in Orlando. The main character, Lia, is a recent high school grad trying to figure out what comes next for herself, rather than the path that has been chosen for her.

The book explores a lot of real issues - anxiety, transitioning to adulthood, being plus sized in a fat phobic world, relationships, parental alcoholism and losing a parent and more.

I thought the serious subjects were well handled and important topics. But the whole Fableland world just didn’t draw me in. I think if you are a Disney fan or a fantasy fan you might find more enjoyment out of this one than I did.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Delacorte Romance and Netgalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love at Full Tilt is Jenny L Howe’s remarkable debut into Young Adult romance.

Lia proves to be one of the most genuine characters I’ve read in a very long time. I often felt myself (or at least the self I was when I was 18) reflected in Lia. Her desire for independence mixed with the natural naïvety all new adults have, was not only nostalgic but also a stark reminder of how far we come from when we were all 18.

Mason, our male love interest, was the kind-hearted, gentle soul we can all hope to have one day. Plus who can’t resist a man with adorable dogs?! His attentiveness and honesty towards Lia was adorable and genuinely gives you the warm and fuzzies.

I enjoyed their banter and budding relationship and mixed with the thrill of a competition, we were given an incredibly fast paced and engaging storyline.

Overall, I think Jenny’s introduction into the world of YA was an absolute success and I will continue to look forward to any books Jenny publishes.

Love at Full Tilt is scheduled to publish on July 22nd, 2025.

I highly recommend this book. It was a cute young adult read and was a very fast read. I loved Lia’s character. And my favorite part of this book, the cover and Lia’s size. Beautiful cover.

This was such a fun read! First, Howe's writing is so immersive. She painted such a vivid picture of the theme park in my head but she did it in a way where the book wasn't bogged down with details. I thought Lia was a very relatable character for this age group, and I really enjoyed the romance. I've been reading a lot of insta-love books so this was a nice change. I do wish her relationship with her mom was flushed out a bit more at the end of the book, but other than that, I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be purchasing this for the collection.

This is an adorable coming of age story with a pretty accurate (in my opinion) representation of a plus size young adult. It hit home in a very special way for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the advanced copy!

I just know 16 year old emily would have absolutely adored and loved this. I love YA and this was just the sweetest books ever. I can see so many teens seeing themselves in these characters and just having this book to lean on. It tackled so many issues that teens experience in such a gentle way. I am also a HUGE disney lover so the setting was so perfect. I really enjoyed this one and it’s such a great coming of age YA novel!

Thanks again to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the advanced copy!!

I recommend reading Love at Full Tilt to anyone who likes amusement parks, rivals to lovers, summer romances and plus size heroines.

Love at Full Tilt by Jenny L. Howe is a fast-paced, swoon-worthy rom-com that’s equal parts reality TV chaos and second-chance romance. When Tess, a former plus-size reality star turned academic, is forced to team up with her ex, Sam, for a cross-country race, sparks—and plenty of banter—fly. With delicious angst, slow-burn tension, and a heartfelt emotional payoff, this one’s a must-read for fans of road trip shenanigans and love that’s worth the detour. I loved it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

Thank you so much to Delacorte Romance for an early copy of Love at Full Tilt! 💖
As someone who has read and loved Jenny L Howe's adult plus size romances, I was unbelievably excited to read her young adult debut! I am also obsessed with the fact that this is a plus size young adult romance, which is everything I would've needed and loved when I was younger! 😭 There are a lot of themes of coming of age, finding yourself and your dreams, anxiety, grief, and so much more! But at the same time, the book is full of light hearted jokes and action/adventure through a theme park!
There was also an aspect of suspense that was crazy! I had no clue how the puzzle pieces of the story were going to fall into place and this caused me to not want to put the book down! I may or may not have read 83% of this book in one day... 👀 I also just loved the romance between Mason and Lia, that they kinda found their "homes"/safe places in each other and it's so sweet and cute! I really loved the balance of fun + friends + family + romance and it made such a well rounded story!
I cannot wait for more Jenny L Howe young adult romances!🫶

Lia is Fableland's ultimate superfan. So much so, that even though she’s never been there, she’s chosen to participate in their 50th anniversary scavenger hunt, where the grand prize is $50,000. For Lia, this money could be her ticket to finally living the life she’s always wanted—one of her own choosing, not the one her parents have mapped out for her. She brings her best friends Tess and Issy along to help with the hunt, but also to make the most of their final summer together before Tess and Issy head off to college. Lia is determined to be the first to complete the scavenger hunt and claim the prize, until she meets Mason. Both Lia and Mason need the money for different reasons, and both are intent on reaching the finish line. But will their growing friendship—and a potential romance—get in the way, or will they discover something even more valuable than money?

When I first picked up this book, I was skeptical. Tagged as a young adult novel, I wasn’t sure it would have the depth to hold my attention. I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. The story introduces Lia, a young woman navigating the challenges of becoming her own person while grappling with family expectations, friendship dynamics, and body image issues. It’s rare to see romance novels that feature plus-sized characters, and I was concerned this representation might feel forced. Instead, I found Lia’s experiences in a plus-sized body to be incredibly relatable to my own journey as someone who doesn’t fit the typical ideal. Some scenes broke my heart, and I couldn’t help but wish books like this existed when I was younger—perhaps my own confidence would have blossomed much earlier.

The pacing was spot on, and the book was incredibly easy to read. The situations in the book felt authentic, as if they were drawn from real-life experiences, which added depth to the characters. The backstory provided enough context to understand the story without feeling overwhelming. Overall a charming, easy read.

While there is romance in this story, it’s sweet and innocent, without any steamy scenes. So, if you’re someone who enjoys a bit of spice in your novels, this one may not be for you. However, if you’re looking for a light, heartwarming read that addresses real-life struggles and emotions, this could be the perfect book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Random House Children’s/Delacorte Romance for providing the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was a cute book but I might not be the target audience. I would recommend it to a younger audience who would most likely receive it better. Thank you for the opportunity to review!

As this main charge lives in Boston, I thought it would be appropriate to write my review while vacationing in Boston. This book was such a fun read. I have never been to Disney World, but I kept picturing Lia and Mason in that setting as they ran around Fableland to solve clues for the 50th anniversary celebration.

Both Lia and Mason have good reason for wanting the win the grand prize 🏆. Lia is working towards a new life, hopefully working for Fableland and Mason wants to go to school. Lia is with her friends as a last girls trip before the two friends head off for school. However, Lia “meets” Mason when she tripes over his long legs while he was reading and that is when the spark is lit for these two.

I don’t like to give a lot away, but they end up working together to solve clues and while doing that build a friendship and possibly more while hanging out. Both of these characters are relatable and I loved reading how their relationship grows. I also loved the description of an area of Fableland at the begging of each chapters. I have always been very lucky 🍀 to get ARCs of books and I am so happy I got this one also. Thank you @netgally

This was a cute coming of age read with characters that were relatable. Lia and her friends set off on an adventure of a life time. This is their last summer together before going separate ways. I am always looking for more plus size representation and enjoy when I find a book that is well written for plus size girlies who want a plus size heroine. Thank you NetGalley and Random House, as well as the author, for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jenny Howe is a go-to author for me for adult romance so I was excited for her first YA and I was not disappointed! Love at Full Tilt is swoony and fun while having fully-realized, emotional characters. It hits all the right notes of an upper YA romance. Highly recommend.