Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC of Plus Sized Player.
This book is a spicy, forbidden romance featuring an FMC who is unapologetic about the crowdedness of her love life. Unfortunately, it took me a very long time to become interested in Nina’s story. The overall propulsion of the story was slow for the first 50% or so. At that point, the conflict of the story picked up, and it finally had my attention.
Now, when I say this book was spicy, I mean it. Not for the faint of heart — especially on audio! I have some complaints about FMC’s lack of interest in how MMC was going to fix the problem, but genuinely liked each character. Overall, this is slightly under 3⭐️ for me because of how long it took me to become invested in the story. But once I got past that point, it was enjoyable.

Thank you MacMillion audio for the advanced copy.

Plus-sized Player was an entertaining read. It's fun, sexy, and full of self-love.

Wesleigh Siobhan's narration was outstanding. This book is intimate, and she captured both Russ and Nina with care, bringing their bold personalities to life and making the hot spice even hotter.

I listened to the narration at 1.5-1.75 for most of the book and felt the narration was clear. I would listen to something by Wesleigh easily again.

The spice in this book is plentiful and descriptive, and at times, it rivals the plot development. I loved how much these two were into each other. They could not get enough of each other, and I ATE IT UP.

I did struggle a bit with the telling rather than showing aspects of the writing, and I wish the conflict had a little more depth. That said, I did not see it coming and think it worked well for the plot.


Russ and Nina had lots of physical chemistry, and I enjoyed that they were both independently successful. Also, Nina’s mom is so supportive of her career, which is refreshing! I love positive depictions of parents in a book.

While I initially struggled with the player storyline, Allen did an excellent job of creating NIna’s arc. I also liked her choice to make her a plus-sized influencer, and I think many readers will connect with that aspect.

Overall, this is a light, fun, sexy read that will pair perfectly with a summer day spent reading by the pool!!

Wow, this book was EVERYTHING. Danielle Allen has done it again, and honestly, this series just keeps getting better and better. One of my favorite parts was how the timeline overlapped with the first book, giving us Aaliyah’s story from a totally fresh POV. Watching her navigate those same dates through her lens was such a clever and satisfying touch.

Now let’s talk about Nina. She is bold, confident, and unapologetically herself. A true girl’s girl with main character energy. Her self-assurance was such a breath of fresh air. Watching a heroine so comfortable in her skin, especially in a romance, felt empowering and healing. We need more characters like Nina.

And Russ? Whew. Book boyfriend of ALL book boyfriends. He’s fun, thoughtful, protective, sexy. Their chemistry was off the charts. Those intimate scenes? SPICY. I caught myself blushing more than once.

This was such an enjoyable, feel-good, grown-and-sexy read. I already can’t wait to see what Danielle Allen gives us next.

Another amazing novel by Danielle Allen—the banter between MC’s had me cracking up! No notes! The drama, the twists, the turns, the STEAM 🔥Nina Ford is not one to be tied down. She has men to accompany her with each area of her life—a smart one to satisfy her intellectual needs, a funny one whose banter can keep up with her quips, the romantic lover boy who’s attentive and considerate, and the fun guy who matches her daring energy. Nina enjoys what each man can offer & she doesn’t play favorites… until she realizes that there’s one man that may be able to offer her all of the things that her current her roster provides. Our MMC, Russ, checks all of her boxes but will Nina commit to just one man? She’s worked hard, as an influencer, to reach a large social media following. What would she be willing to sacrifice for a chance at love? Pick up your copy of Plus Size Player—available June 10th 💕

Plus Size Player is sexy, empowering, and full of charm! Danielle Allen delivers a love story that celebrates confidence, chemistry, and authenticity. The characters feel real, the banter sizzles, and the romance is everything. I smiled, swooned, and cheered—an absolute gem!

I Dnf’d this audio book. I loved this authors indie releases and was looking forward to this read . I loved the book cover, narrator voice and premise of the story but it fell flat for me . The fmc was annoying and I just couldn’t connect with her at all. I tried to push through but 11 hours of the fmc was not doable for me .

Plus Size Player is the kind of grown-woman romance we need more of—sexy, empowering, and full of heart.

Nina Ford is 30, confident, successful, and living life on her terms. She doesn’t believe one man can give her everything she wants, so she keeps a roster—each guy with a purpose. But then Russell Long enters the picture. What starts as casual fun takes a sharp turn when he reveals two things: 1) He might just check all her boxes, and 2) He's the CEO of her new job—and company policy says no office relationships. Yikes.

✨ **What works so well:**
💃 A heroine who is plus-size, confident, and unapologetically herself
🔥 A “fun guy” who turns out to have unexpected depth (and CEO energy!)
💼 The workplace twist raises the stakes in a realistic, grown-up way
💞 A central question that hits hard: *Can you have it all—career, chemistry, and compatibility?*

📖 **Read if you love:**
✅ Body-positive stories
✅ Smart, sexy women over 30 owning their power
✅ Workplace romance with real-world challenges
✅ The “situationship” that slowly turns into something more

Danielle Allen writes with warmth, humor, and a clear respect for her characters. *Plus Size Player* is spicy, satisfying, and speaks to the realities of modern dating—with a heroine who knows exactly who she is.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The half-star off is for one key reason: what is understood doesn’t need to be over-explained. The frequent instances of fat shaming—felt excessive and, at times, detracted from Nina’s otherwise empowering portrayal. We already know she’s plus-size and proud; reiterating that through constant critique or commentary felt unnecessary and, frankly, a little tiring.

Still, this is a romance worth reading, especially for those craving stories where confidence, complexity, and chemistry collide.

Thank you so much Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC for this gifted copy.

Nina & Russ were naaaaasty and I loved every bit of it. They're relationship was so refreshing to experience. Nina thought she'd never get the love she'd hoped for but Russ was ready to show her better than he could tell her. They both considered sacrificing their dreams to have the love they deserved. Lastly, I loved that the Aaliyah & Nina's stories were written in tandom. It brought back found memories of Aaliyah['s story. I can't wait for Jasmine's story.

I really didn’t want to put this audio book down . This story is so cute and real . As a plus size player myself i can’t wait to see what life has in store for me . I will definitely. Be spinning the block to read this again . I love this series can’t wait to the next book drop

thank you Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

I knew veryyyyy early on that this would be a 5 star read!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved Curvy Girl Summer last year and Plus Size Player did not disappoint!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Danielle Allen knows how to write romance and make it fun and sexy! I love how she explores the dating scene with her FMCs. The banter between characters is perfect and never cringy! I’m not a huge fan of spice in romance books but again, Danielle Allen knows what she’s doing!

Nina was such a force of a woman and character! I loved every bit of her and her sassy comebacks for all the haters!❤️👏🏾

Russ, one of many in Nina’s dating lineup was THEE man in my opinion! This man had me cheesed up like I was the one on the date! (Not to mention Wesleigh Siobhan’s man voice is very believable, lol)

With all that being said, I think this will stand as my favorite romance read of the year! Yes I’m aware it’s only May. I’m calling it!

The narration is TOP TIER! The story and spice is even better. I stayed engaged the whole time.

Russ is book boyfriend material! He’s sweet, sexy, and so much fun!

Nina and her comebacks had me laughing out loud. I love her confidence, her stance on dating and how Russ changed all of that lol

Their conflict kept me on the edge of my seat. I just kept waiting to everything to hit the fan. I wish it had been resolved a little sooner so we can get more of them being worry free, but overall, I'm very pleased with how everything turned out. Russ once again proves to be HIM!

I can’t wait for everyone to read this.

Absolutely loved it! I love Danielle’s writing. This is a great series. Nina is that girl! Her dating life is fun and my girl doesn’t let her size stop her from having that roster. Such a fun read.

Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen is Book 2 in the Curve Series, and whew—she did it AGAIN! If you loved Curvy Girl Summer (which was already a beautiful ode to a Black woman being loved on right), you’re going to fall for this one too.

This time, we follow Nina—a confident, take-no-crap plus-size influencer who lands a major sponsorship with a top fashion brand. She’s out here dating (as she should!), living her best life, and refusing to let anyone dull her shine. I loved how Nina stood firm in who she was. The way she checked disrespect without breaking her stride? Chef’s kiss. She’s relatable, hilarious, and so deeply real for us plus-size Black women who know exactly what it feels like to be underestimated and overlooked.

And then—sigh—we meet Russell Long. Book bae, certified soft launch material, and everything a romance reader dreams of. The chemistry? On point. The banter? Perfect. The swoon? So real.

This book had me cracking up, cheering Nina on, and feeling so seen. Danielle Allen knows how to balance heart, heat, and humor in a way that feels like she’s writing for us and about us. While the spice was a solid 3/5, the emotional payoff and representation made this a 5-star read all the way.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s sexy, smart, funny, and uplifting—Plus Size Player is IT. Nina is the main character energy we all deserve.

Danielle has a knack for writing banter. Her characters always have me cracking up with their wit. The MC's are clearly obsessed with each other, but I would have liked to see why besides the mind blowing sex. Russ showers Nina in gifts and excursions, but I don't really get why he liked her besides her being hot and funny. There was soooooooo much sex. Normally that's not a problem, but I felt like we lost out on character and relationship development for strait up smut. I enjoyed going on the first couple of dates, but having each guy and their dates described in detailed felt like a waste of page space. We don't get to the plot until more than 50% in, and the resolution was fine, but I wanted more. I do love how confident Nina is and how completely enthralled Russ is with her. Every time someone tried to shade her for her weight, both she and Russ shut that shit all the way down. I will still read more from Allen, and hopefully we get a bit more meat on the bones in the next one.

This book gets 5 stars from me! Plus size representation at its finest. With real life drama clear characters. I want more from Ms. Allen and would love more in this world. What Candaces story as the plus size model who came in as backup? Or any of Nina's friends. Ms. Sioban always brings the characters to life I often forget there only one narrator bc the voices are so distinct tone, cadances, intensity! Beautiful all around.

Plus Size Player is exactly the kind of romance I’ve been waiting for—bold, sexy, grown, and deeply affirming.

Nina is a confident, successful, and beautifully complex plus-size content creator and model. She’s crafted a life (and a roster 👀) that serves her needs, refusing to settle for a man who doesn't meet her standards. Her roster is strategic: each man fills a different need, so she gets what she wants—no compromises. But then one man shows up who checks every single box. Now the question becomes: will Nina take the leap or play it safe?

What I loved most is how Danielle Allen weaves Nina’s confidence with vulnerability. She’s not just sexy and self-assured—she’s also deeply human, navigating real emotions, discrimination, and high-stakes choices. When she’s met with microaggressions, Nina doesn’t shrink—she shines. The way she defends herself is empowering, sharp, and incredibly satisfying.

Let’s talk spice. Baybeeee… there is spice all up and through this one. The tension sizzles, the scenes are chef’s kiss, and if you’re an audiobook listener like me: keep your headphones in! 🔥

Beyond the heat, the love story is grounded in realism. There’s no over-the-top drama, no toxic chaos—just two grown people figuring out love in a way that feels fresh and true. And just when you think you know where this story is going? Think again. It’s anything but predictable, and that made it even more fun to read.

This book left me smiling, swooning, and fully satisfied. Danielle Allen did what needed to be done. Plus Size Player is not just about romance—it’s about choosing yourself, taking chances, and redefining what happily ever after looks like.

Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for the advanced review copy of this book!

Ni’na is a 30-year-old fashion content creator with big dreams of becoming a model. The only child of loving parents whose relationship she deeply admires, she hopes to one day find a love like theirs. Determined to keep her personal life separate from her work, Ni’na maintains an active dating life with a roster she swears by—because no one man can give her everything… right? There’s “the fun one,” “the smart one,” and “the funny one.” But Russ, her designated fun guy, might just be the one.
When Ni’na is discovered at a modeling event by Remedy of RL Fashions and offered the opportunity of a lifetime, her professional dreams begin to take flight. But she isn’t the only one who gets noticed… and what unfolds might just blur the lines between love, ambition, and self-discovery.

I was hooked within the first 10 minutes! The FMC was fun, sassy, and unapologetically herself—she didn’t take anyone’s sh** and made every decision with intention. It felt less like reading and more like hearing a story from one of my girls. The FMCc loved the skin she was in, and that confidence was so refreshing. The characters were perfectly described, the pacing was great, and the writing flowed so well. Where’s my Russ?! First read by Danielle Allen, but definitely not my last!

Get your copy of this book June 10, 2025!

I had to give this review some thought before writing. When I first heard of this book, I’d just finished Curvy Girl Summer and I had a picture in my mind of how this story was going to flow. I was SO wrong. However, the plot of this story was still a great one with positive character growth and plenty of body positivity that (as a larger woman myself) made my heart sing.Overall, a great romance story that keeps you wondering which person will Nina end up falling for. I also enjoyed Wesleigh’s narration being able to establish different voices for each character so that I could easily visualize each person/scene in my head.

Plus Size Player
By Danielle Allen (Curve 2)
Pub Date: June 10 2025
368 pages

Yessssss!!! Danielle Allen did it again, This was a very spicy book. the chemistry between Nina and Russell was so on point. The physical attraction and they always seemed to have my heart racing when they started their escapades in semi-private places. I love how she portrays the plus size woman, and Wesleigh Siobhan is always a star with her narration.

Loved this book and I recommend everyone to read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Superb performance!

Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen is exactly what I needed — a cute, flirty, feel-good romance that left me smiling. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator truly brought the characters to life. Her performance added personality and warmth to the story, making it even more enjoyable.

The main character is confident, funny, and refreshingly real. I loved how the story celebrated body positivity without making it the whole plot. The romance felt natural and swoon-worthy, with just the right balance of humor and heat. You can tell Danielle Allen had fun writing this, and that energy carries through every chapter.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted, empowering, and genuinely fun romance, Plus Size Player should be at the top of your list. Highly recommend — especially in audiobook format!