Nina is the epitome of what I aspire to be. She’s got this incredible confidence, knows exactly what she wants in life, and isn’t afraid to go after it. She’s a bit of a serial dater, and she prides herself on not being tied down in one relationship. She prefers to have different guys to meet her different needs. But guess what? It turns out that one man can be everything, but there’s this huge complication that might just ruin their chance at forever before they even get started.

This is my first read by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last! This book was absolutely incredible! Narrated by the amazing Wesleigh Siobhan, I didn’t even realize it wasn’t in dual narration. I absolutely adore books with plus-size characters who are confident and self-assured. What makes this book truly special is that not only is the heroine plus size, but she’s also a fashion influencer and she’s completely comfortable in her own skin. I wish every book with a plus sized MFC addressed plus-size issues in a realistic and positive way. What starts as a casual relationship between Nina and Russel, but it quickly evolves into something much more and at the same time, her career is taking off. But when her personal life and career collide, she has to make a difficult choice between love and her career, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Overall, this book was a fun and entertaining listen that exceeded my expectations in the best way possible. I absolutely loved it!

The term player is not normally associated with women much less a plus size woman. In this book, Nina shows that men can have a man for every mood the same way that men do and not be considered less than. Although Nina wants to find the one, she does not settle on dating one person at a time while trying to find the one. Just when she thinks that she has decided how to dwindle her few to one- enters Russ!

In addition to trying to find love, Nina is trying to make a name for herself in the fashion world. Another realm that many believe cannot be conquered by a plus size woman. Nina does it, not without others trying to bring her down.

The fact that Russ is the link between love and fashion for her is a plus and allows both aspects to coexist without losing substance from either.

I feel like the fashion aspect of this book is the equivalent to the treatment that Aaliyah dealt with from her family in Curvy Girl Summer. (This is a standalone. Curvy Girl Summer DOES NOT have to be read first.)

Danielle Allen and Wesleigh Siobhan can’t miss. Had it been anyone else narrating, I don’t think they could have carried it as well as Wesleigh.

I received this ALC courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher to listen and review.

#PlusSizePlayer #NetGalley.

What a beautiful story! This was definitely my favorite in the series. The Main Character definitely had the confidence and the men on their toes… but once she locks in with Big Russ it’s a done deal!

I knew when I read the first book in this series that i would fall in love but not like this. Russ is a different beast and is the epitome of a strong man and spouse. Nina is a bad ass woman who knows what she wants. Together their story is beautiful. I love stories where black women are loved on without a lot of traumas and this is one of those books. Definitely in my top 5 of the year so much so that i bought hardcover copies for my shelves at home. Great job Danielle, I cannot wait to see what you release in the future.

Loved it! Nina was a great FMC and I love how she was so comfortable and confident in her own skin and knew what she wanted in life. I also loved how despite this she didn’t see love coming. Russ swooped in and gave her everything she wanted and needed and I loved that for her! It’s also spicy and I love every second of it. This author always brings the heat and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Loved this story, I absolutely loved this story. This author is amazing. I loved how the story progressed and how I can always relate to her books. Definitely loved the story and how it increased the importance of knowing who you are and what you want from someone.

Plus Size Player lived up to everything I thought it would be! I LOVED Nina and Russ. I devoured Curvy Girl Summer and ran the second this ARC was on Netgalley.

No singular man could meet every one of Nina's needs, that's why she had a roster. She had a Fun One, a Smart One, a Romantic One, and a Funny One. Each one giving her one characteristic she wants in a man. Until someone surprises her. This was so much fun! It was heartwarming, funny, sexy. Nina is a strong badass with enough confidence in herself to chase her dreams and not question the decisions she makes to get there.

Russ and Nina had such great chemistry and the tension was palpable. Danielle writes amazing tension! It was 10/10 and I am gladly going to read again (and annotate!).

I love Wesleigh Siobhan so I knew I had to get this audiobook somehow! I would listen to her read a grocery list.

I really enjoyed this sequel in the Curve series! Nina Ford, what can I say? She exudes confidence in every way , independent , and empowered. This book makes it clear that her time is not to be wasted and she's here for a good time. Thus the title, Nina is a true player. Nina literally has a man for every thing she wants to do, you know how we say "Oh that's my fun friend"? Well Nina has filled that in but with her men. All tax brackets, age groups and social levels, she's covered. Nina is met with a conflict after getting her dream job and she has some very important decisions to make. She's used to just moving around and moving on to the next but without saying too much this one situation has her stumped. One thing I like about the way that Danielle Allen writes is there weren't any lulls for me, its fast past and its happening so keep up!

Now per usual Wesleigh Siobhan narrating delivered! She did her thing! She narrates both characters smoothly with no issues.

.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I couldn't really get into this. Didn't feel the connection between characters and wanted more of a build up I guess!

What I loved about this book is also the saer thinng that made me look crazy on the subway....it was funny!! The romance and spice were all there but there was also a sense of humor that made it feel much more relatable and ennjoyable for the reader.

The thing I was less in love with was the fact that we missed out on somme of the key moments in their relationship that owuld have made the reader connect with the characters more and fall in love with them even more. I also don't thinnk I was enough of a fan of fashion for the descriptins to matter as much to me as they should have.

All in all I loved my time spent with this book. but not sure I would go back for more.

Listening to this one with Wesley Siobhan narrating? Chef’s kiss.

A fun, steamy read - the chemistry between Nina and Russ was undeniable, and the way their relationship unfolded felt real and layered. There was plenty of spice, but also moments of vulnerability that made their story stick with me.

This was such an enjoyable read. I loved the chemistry between Nina and Russell, it was scorching.
Nina is just enjoying her life, dating around and having fun. Russell was on her roster, but soon made it clear that he wanted to be her one and only. When they decide to go official, life throws them a curveball that makes their relationship a question that neither wants an answer to.
Their new circumstances make it impossible for them to stay away from each other, but also puts both of their careers at risk.
I loved the plot, the banter, the push and pull between our characters. All of this made the story a great read.

i thought that this book was so much fun!! Nina Ford is an unforgettable character. i absolutely love her confidence and the way she knows her self-worth and what she wants. I feel like we read so many books about women who are unsure of themselves and are having a difficult time navigating life, so it was so refreshing to follow Nina on her path of certainty when it came to her love life and career. she also doesnt take anyones bullsh*t!!! she is one badass woman. i thought it was funny in the beginning of the book how she had her man for each of her moods, "smart", "funny", "a good time", etc. I think we all kinda knew that Russell was her guy, and i think that the author did a good job of dropping that bombshell in a way where it didn't ruin the book. it added intensity and it also added an additional tension to the character when there was already so much sexual tension! oh and this book was steamyyyy. overall, i have been loving this series so far and cant wait to continue reading this author.

Danielleeeeeee!!!! This was such a great follow up to Curvy Girl Summer. Listening to Nina's story was so fun and I loved how we got to see the inside look of her content creator career. It's still such a new space that seeing it represented in the way it was in this story was nice to see. Of course the spice was on point too and I mean it was high in the sky (IYKYK) teehee. I love how these characters are so unapologetically themselves and that they clap back with no shame and will put people in their place if needed. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

it took me so long to finish this only because i was procrastinating since i liked it so much. i didn’t want it to end 😩 as curvy girl summer was my book of the summer last year, plus size player is my book of the summer this year! the way danielle allen writes is almost addicting she makes me genuinely laugh and swoon and all that. i cannot waaaait for book 3!

Oh my! This was my first foray into romance on audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing Nina and Russ to life (including many spicy scenes!) Nina is a confident BBW playing the field and not wanting to settle for any one man, until Russ comes along and catches her eye.

Where the story was less successful for me was in getting me to care about Nina and Russ as a couple...there was a lot of lust, not sure that the reader actually feels chemistry or romance. Also the repeated incidents of Nina experiencing shaming for her size felt heavy handed...IMO less is more in getting the message across (i.e. that Nina feels confident in her body and her man loves her at her size, not in spite of it).

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

author Danielle Allen + narrator Wesleigh Siobhan = unbeatable combo. i cannot recommend the audio ENOUGH!!!!!

Plus Size Player was sexy and romantic and fun! nina and russ were DELIGHTFULLY freaked out. also, nina was just a treat of an mc to follow, and i enjoyed they way she constantly stood up for herself no matter the setting. one thing she wasn't going to tolerate was any type of disrespect. and russ? he did NAWT play about HER!!! also, i loved watching nina win both her personal goals and her man. their chemistry?????? yeah. at one point people were watching me applaud while we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.

if you want to read about a plus size Black woman getting that good good lovin? getting everything she dreams of, deserves, and more??? then this is the one for you. and again…..it’s hot. i cannot WAIT for book 3. thanks so much to macmillan audio for my copy!!!

This audio was so, so good. I laughed out loud. Gasped. Blushed. And it was unputdownable. Nina's character is such an inspiration, and uplifting. Her confidence gave ME confidence! The microaggressions and flat out bold aggressions she faced in the book is wild, only because I know this is real life for so many black women.

I loved Nina and Russ together. Their chemistry was hot and off the charts. Who he was was obvious to me, but it didn't change my shock and aw when it was revealed. The anticipation was killin me!

The narration was perfect for Nina's character! Again, I was laughing often grinning throughout the book.

One of my fav's this year for both romance and audio! Highly recommend

When the roster starts getting benched and one man steps up as the franchise player, you already know it’s about to get complicated. Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen is what happens when passion collides with purpose... and the timing gets real messy.

Nina Ford is that girl. Confident, curvy, and completely in control of her time, her energy, and her body. She dates with intention, enjoys life on her terms, and isn’t afraid to walk away from anyone who doesn’t add to her peace. But when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lands in her lap, and so does the man who might just be everything she’s been looking for, the game changes fast.

As a plus size woman myself, I felt seen, celebrated, and completely swept away by this story. The way the MMC adored every inch of Nina’s body made my heart do backflips. The chemistry? Off the charts. The tension? WHEW. That will-they-won’t-they dance had me locked in from beginning to end.

This book was sexy, smart, and layered with the kind of love story I wish we saw more of. A plus size Black woman thriving in her career and navigating real love on her own terms? Yes, please. The narration for the audiobook was also chef’s kiss and made the experience even better.

Thank you Danielle Allen, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC of this gorgeous, steamy, empowering read. I highly recommend it to all my romance lovers out there. This one hit all the marks and then some.

💋🅴🅸🅶🅷🆃 🅽🅰🆁🆁🅰🆃🅸🆅🅴 🅽🅾🆃🅴🆂💋
|| ℙ𝕝𝕦𝕤 𝕊𝕚𝕫𝕖 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣 by Danielle Allen ||

𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Wesleigh Siobhan
𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: 12 hrs, 54 mins
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 16, 2025
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Contemporary Romance, Black Romance, Body Positivity

Thank you @brambleromance & @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook. Here are 8 narrative notes about this bold, sexy, and empowering romance:

𝟭. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲?
- Yes, and she never misses. My first book was Curve. I enjoy Allen’s confident, witty, and sexy heroines.

𝟮. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁?
- Nina, hands down. She’s magnetic, unapologetic, and layered. But I was rooting for one of her male companions the most, too. One stands out.

𝟯. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁?
- Nina’s multi-man lifestyle flips the script on traditional romance tropes. It’s sexy, smart, and refreshingly honest about desire and choice.

𝟰. 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆?
- Oh yes. The helicopter ride is etched in my brain. No need for a replay. Sign me up for my ride, immediately.

𝟱. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?
- Wesleigh’s narration is sultry, expressive, and pitch-perfect for Nina’s sass and sensuality. Plus, I forget she also narrates the men’s voices. Such smooth transitions.

𝟲. 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻?
- Absolutely, would you breathe air? Wesleigh brings heat and nuance to every scene. I’d follow her voice anywhere.

𝟳. 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿?
- I wanted more of Nina’s career pivot and how it reshaped her identity. Also, a few of her “rotation” guys deserved more page time!

𝟴. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?
- Listeners who love confident heroines, steamy tension, and stories that celebrate body positivity and emotional growth.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🏷 #DanielleAllen #PlusSizePlayer #BrambleRomance #MacmillanAudio #8NarrativeNotes #BlackRomance #ContemporaryRomance #CandiceReads #HaleYeahBooks #blackgirlsread #wellreadblackgirl #bookreview