Thanks for the ALC!

This book was so spicy and amazing! As a fat girl, I loved seeing Nina get so much love and support as a model! And not taking nothing from no one at any point was just AMAZING.

Nina’s relationship with Russ and her journey to accepting that it’s ok to put her faith in one thing, whether for work or for love, was so beautiful. Even tho I enjoyed seeing her little dates with other guys and I loved the idea of having a roster to cover all her bases, it was clear from the start (for me and every single side character lol) that Russ was CLEARLY her favorite and number one choice.

I did see the “twist” coming (the initials, come on), but I still really enjoyed it! Although I kind of wanted there to be a little bit more of a scandal surrounding it, I understand that would have ruined both their careers and veered the story off into a wildly different direction. That said, the threat of drama was constant but a little anticlimactic. Even among the other models, it felt like it was handled a little too cleanly? I prefer a bit more of an explosive conclusion if you’re going to tease me with it the whole book!

Also lowkey, I felt there was a little too much spice? NOW HEAR ME OUT! I enjoyed it, the scenes were HAWT and I was genuinely blushing listening to them. But a lot of them seemed to happen during moments where I wanted Nina to enjoy her gift or accomplishment, and instead here comes Russ (pun intended). ESPECIALLY some of the more public settings that could have really ruined her career, I was like boy if you do not get off her,,, I STILL ENJOYED IT, I just had to pretend they were somewhere else lol.

I still give this book 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for this review. It was such a fun and exciting book, I adored it so much and I loved seeing a big girl follow her dreams 🥺

Plus Size Player by the queen herself, Danielle Allen, is a full-course meal of confident heroine energy, sizzling chemistry, unapologetic joy, and trust me, I devoured every minute of this audio experience like it was the last slice of cake. This isn’t just a romance. It’s a whole vibe, and Nina Ford is the mood.

Let’s start with the audiobook, Wesleigh Siobhan? She understood the assignment. She is Nina, witty, powerful, soft in the right places, and sharp where it counts. Her delivery was pitch-perfect from the very first line, and her male voice work? Chefs kiss. She gave Russ just enough depth and heat to make him feel both swoonworthy and real. If I could bottle the sass and swagger Wesleigh injected into Nina’s every word, I’d never have a bad day again.

Nina is THAT girl. She’s confident, curvy, crushing it professionally, and rotating her dating roster like a fantasy football draft. Why settle for one man when you can collect them like infinity stones? Until Russ shows out and suddenly one man has all the sparkle. He listens. He learns. He sets the bar so high while Nina keeps her crown firmly in place. Their chemistry crackles, their banter slaps, and the spice? Combustion level heat!

Tropes you’ll love:
-Plus size rep that slays
-Empowering Body Positivity
-Career vs. love tension
-Black love
-Great family dynamics
-Dating culture
-He Falls First
-Unbothered, empowered queen energy

What I loved most is how Danielle Allen weaves body positivity and Black joy into every beat. Nina doesn’t shrink herself for anyone, not even for love, not for career, and definitely not for societal expectations. The scenes with her parents were beautifully layered too, supportive, warm, and just enough parental energy to be charming and make you love her family.

Plus Size Player is sexy, hilarious, and empowering, with an audiobook performance that elevates every moment. Wesleigh Siobhan brought the heat, the heart, and the humor. Danielle Allen is in her Curvy Girl Summer era and I am absolutely here for it. 5 stars! Thank you to Danielle Allen, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. I'm ready for the next one in the series!!

5 ⭐ 4 🌶️ 5 🎧

This was everything I was hoping for and more, I absolutely loved Nina and Russ. The fact that the FMC was the player was utter perfection. And combined with a golden retriever MMC? I seriously devoured this one. Could. Not. Get. Enough. And the spice? These two were absolute fireeee.

My only complaint was all the fatphobia... But the way both Nina and Russ handled it made it all okay. He took crap from no one and she was strong as heck, refusing to back down and let people get away with their nonsense. She had a quote along the lines of "I may be fat, but I'm not too big to be petty." and I about dieeeeeddddd. Her personality and confidence was freaking EVERYTHING.

The audio was fantastic. I found Wesleigh Siobhan while listening to Curve book 1 and I was so excited to find she was narrating book 2 as well. She brought so much life to this story and I absolutely loved this listen.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

The audiobook to this story was nothing short of amazing! I’m OBSESSED with this series since I read Curvy Girl Summer last year. I loved the representation of Plus Size women and also a Plus Size model. I loved how Nina was unapologetic her and love and flaunted everything about her down to her size. This story was everything I thought it would be and more. Nina had a different man to meet all of the requirements the she needed and yet she was willing to give that all for her favorite of the men how knew her best. Russel Long is a man who was willing to do whatever it took to the get this woman and also keep her happy. I’m definitely looking forward to the continuation of the series to see where Jasmine’s story takes us.

::Spoilers::
‘Plus Size Player’ was such a relatable read! A woman taking dating into her own hands! Dating with her own purpose! Having multiple men for different uses and labeling them as such: smart, fun, funny, and romantic. Honestly in today’s climate you can’t help but think she had something going on. I love Nina and all her curves. Nina as a plus sized woman living her life as a social media influencer turned model takes no crap from anyone. She’s a force to be reckoned with. And as she’s taking life by storm she falls for the fun guy who ends up being the CEO of her new gig. A wild ride in itself when the man is also in love! The whirlwind of how Nina and Russel find their way to each other is definitely one to read. You’ll love it!

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ARC.

Plus Size Player brings the heat and the sass! Nina Ford is a bold, beautiful, plus-size influencer who’s totally unbothered by the haters. She’s got a different man for every mood—romance, fun, deep convos—you name it. Why settle for one guy when no one seems to tick all the boxes? That is… until he walks in and flips her playbook. Things are going great—until Nina lands a modeling job and realizes her new boo is actually her boss, and her contract screams “no workplace romance allowed.”

The plot? Delicious. The banter? Chef’s kiss. Nina and Rus are fire together, and their slow-burn spark had me hooked. But real talk—this book was spicy. Like, blush-in-public-if-you’re-listening-on-audio spicy. That said, the steamy scenes came a little too fast, and I didn’t quite get to feel the characters emotionally. Nina’s refusal to admit she’s catching feelings got a bit frustrating, and I wish she’d opened up to her friends sooner—they’d have set her straight!

Also, the fat-phobia? Way too much. It’s one thing online, but the face-to-face jabs felt unrealistic for 2025. Still, I adored the glimpse into the curvy modeling world, the fashion, and the overall body-positive vibe. And can we talk about narrator Wesleigh Siobhan? Absolute powerhouse—she brought every single scene to life (yes, those scenes too 😏).

Bottom line: If you liked Curvy Girl Summer, you’ll want to dive into this one—just brace yourself for the trolls. Can’t wait to see what’s next in Jasmine’s story!

The story following Nina as a serial dater finding her own in her career and a relationship that she never expected to find was one I found myself enjoying thoroughly. I followed along easily as she went through the motions of thinking she knew herself to rediscovering herself and her goals with a support system to back her. I definitely liked this more than Curvy Girl Summer. And as someone that prefers reading books in dual-pov, I was completely enamored with Rus through Nina's. He showed up and showed out in ways that made me believe in him as a character that not all writers are able to accomplish well.
I also enjoyed how the timeframe was in alignment with Curvy Girl Summer. I have yet to read a book of a series that is concurrent with another book's timeline since they usually take place in the future after the first book's couple becomes established. It was refreshing and I liked what she did with that. I can tell there will be a third book on their divorced friend and I cannot wait to read that!

Danielle Allen does such a great job of writing strong characters. It's refreshing to read a book about a plus size woman loving herself AND being loved out loud. The characters are also FUNNY! Nina was so funny, I found myself laughing out loud in public at some of the things she said.

There were times that I wanted to job in the book and smack someone upside the head for talking to Nina crazy, or when I wanted to yell at Nina every time she thought something negative about how Russ felt about her.

I am recommending that everyone listen to this on audio AND buy the book! Wesleighh Siobhan does a great job narrating, I felt like I was listening to a friend tell me her love story. I hope she does the next book.

ALC REVIEW: Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Spice: Open Door
Length: 12h 54m
Highly Recommendation

I want to thank @macmillan.audio & @netgalley for the advance listener copy of this book.

This book was so good. Once I started, I couldn’t stop listening.
Nina is a baddie, who knows exactly what she wants and refuses to waste her time + energy on anything less than. I truly felt every emotion while listening to this. The narrator did an amazing job.

The plus size rep was done so well. I truly loved how the FMC handled fat-phobia. Nina is definitely a girl I’d want in my corner.
Russ was absolute perfection, the way he took care of Nina and refused to let her go was heartwarming.

The spice was also well done & definitely had me fanning myself. The MMC was 🤌🏽🤌🏽

I'll definitely be recommending this to other readers.

I finished the audiobook today on my roadtrip and I’m so excited for everyone to hear Nina’s story I thoroughly enjoyed this story and cackled at the fact that the “player” was a lady for once. LOL! The narrator kept me engaged with the story 😉 !

Plus size player releases in 8 days on all platforms please grab a copy in whatever format you enjoy reading in! 5 ⭐️

Plus Size Player was a delight to read. I loved the main character and her outlook on life and romance. The romance was so steamy and I loved them together. The book was great!

The narration was excellent as well.

Wesleigh Shoiban can do no wrong when she narrates!

She can read any character of any book and bring them to life.

Plus size player is a hot hot hot read! It has the perfect balance of emotional and character development, some great spice, and plus size empowerment.
I love a good friends to lovers romance. I especially like that they had to pause wherever they leave off as someone has to travel this way or that way. So they kind of put their situationship on pause in all those breaks. But you can just tell they fall back into each other every reuinion and it is phenomenal.

I love this series so far and cant wait to get to book 3!

This book was everything I never knew I needed! There was comedy, witty banter, steamy scenes, valid emotional rollercoaster rides, and a very real representation of plus-size models in an industry that often overlooks beauty in the plus-size frame.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of this book.

I loved everything about these characters, being a plus-size model myself, the way Nina was treated in the industry was spot on. I loved the way she set people straight right away. The fact that men consider women who are plus-sized to be needy and willing to accept less simply because a man decided to smile at them. Russ is now officially my book boyfriend; he did everything right, and I swooned behind it. This book moved at a comfortable pace, allowing time to get to know the characters, understand the conflict, and watch it all unfold on the pages. Even though I knew how it was going to end, I was invested in the story, and I love that for me.

I think I've found a new author, and I've made plans to check out Danielle's backlog. I had the pleasure of receiving the ALC with the amazing Wesleigh Siobhan narrating; she is narration gold in my book. She has a remarkable ability to convey different voices and translate the emotions and personalities of each character individually, regardless of gender.

I would like to sincerely thank NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Danielle Allen for the advance listening copy of Plus Size Player.

Plus Size Player is a captivating tale of urban love, self-confidence, and the complicated journey toward true connection. Nina, the bold and stylish main character, never believed one man could give her everything she wanted in a partner. So, she built a “team” of men, each fulfilling a different piece of what she longed for. The only real model of lasting love she knew was her parents, and even that felt out of reach.

What truly makes Nina shine isn’t just her romantic adventures it’s her unapologetic confidence. She owns who she is, refuses to shrink herself for others, and channels that power into becoming a top-tier fashion designer. Her strength is inspiring, and her story is full of heart, ambition, and undeniable heat.

This book is perfect for readers who want a romance with depth, real emotion, and a few steamy scenes. The ending will surprise you..in the best way.

Yes! Yes! AND Yes!! 🥵🪭✨😍This book gave✨PLUS✨some. Powerful romance. Loved this book!! Vibes give [Self-love. Humor. Sexy. Complex] Nina is THAT girl 🫶🏾 Bold. Strong. Curvy. Confident.✨& Rus Rus Rus….✨

🎧| MacMillan audio & Narrator, Wesleigh Siobhan 🤌🏾✨👏🏾👏🏾.

Loved the book!!! The audio was amazing and everything was amazing! Danielle Allen has done it again!!!

The ALC is narrated by Wesleigh Siobhan, who delivers an A+ performance effortlessly switching between Nina and Russell’s voices while making them both distict and authentic. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 ⭐️ Danielle Allen's Plus Size Player is a vibrant, empowering, and refreshingly authentic romance that beautifully blends body positivity, sizzling chemistry, and meaningful representation. At the heart of this story is Nina, a confident and successful plus-size woman who refuses to shrink herself to fit into anyone else's expectations. Her journey—both romantic and personal—is one that many readers will find both validating and inspiring.
Nina is a standout heroine. She isn’t defined by her size, but it’s an integral part of her identity in a way that feels realistic and nuanced. Her self-assurance, vulnerability, and complexity make her a deeply relatable character. Allen does a phenomenal job of challenging societal beauty standards through Nina's voice, highlighting the everyday microaggressions plus-size women face, while also celebrating her strength, sensuality, and worth.
Enter Russell—the charming, emotionally intelligent, and supportive love interest. Their dynamic is electric, but what really sets it apart is the mutual respect and genuine appreciation they have for each other’s whole selves. Russell doesn’t see Nina as someone he needs to “fix” or “rescue.” He sees her power and is drawn to it, creating a romance that feels equal, mature, and deeply satisfying.
One of the most significant accomplishments of Plus Size Player is its celebration of Black love. Both Nina and Russell are Black, successful, and complex, and their love story is centered in joy, not trauma. In a genre that has historically marginalized or stereotyped Black characters, Allen’s work stands out as a necessary and beautiful contribution. The novel doesn’t tokenize its characters; it uplifts them, giving readers a romance that is deeply rooted in cultural authenticity and pride.
Representation matters, and seeing Black characters at the center of a passionate, affirming, and emotionally rich romance is powerful. Allen gives readers permission to see themselves in love stories that celebrate their bodies, experiences, and identities without compromise.
Plus Size Player is a celebration of confidence, self-love, and the magic that happens when two people truly see and value one another. It’s funny, sexy, emotionally resonant, and a reminder that everyone deserves to be the star of their own love story—just as they are

I just knew Nina was going to be a wild ride from her little appearances in Curvy Girl Summer. This was not a slw burn like that one. Nina and Russ was getting it in! Russ was almost too perfect. I lowkey thought he had a wife or something. This was such a refreshing romance. Their careers were unique to romances that I’ve read. Nina is my favorite type of FMC. Bold and strong. This book perfectly depicted being a plus size but confident women. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Special thanks to the author @authordanielleallen & @brambleromance for my gifted copy and @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted ALC‼️

Now gather around book friends gather around . . . I’ll be the first to tell you sister Allen was in her BAG with this series‼️ She had me sold with book 1 Curvy Girl but booooook 2 lawd she ATE down no lies all facts. When I say this book had me stuck in my seat from beginning to end I devoured it.

Book 2 follows my girl Nina Ford a confident baddie with many talents. She’s currently dating multiple men because well she hasn’t found the perfect man who’s the total package. Sis really had a man for every day of the week but when Russell Long aka her “Fun Guy” steals the show Nina doesn’t know if she’s ready to give up the player life for just one baller.

Ya’ll the spice in this book was spicing 🥵 and Allen knew exactly what she was doing allowing Wesleigh Siobhan to narrate this book. I came for the book vibes but I stayed for Wesleigh cause when she turns into WESLEY I lose all common sense. Ommmg and when she say Nina, Nina, Nina and adds in the laugh 😩 like girl are you trying to be my man or what 👀 cause I don’t wanna be a player no more. I’m 👏🏽 NOT 👏🏽 a 👏🏽 PLAYER 👏🏽 I 👏🏽 just 👏🏽 CRUSH 👏🏽 ALOT!

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book because it was pure perfection. The character development 👩🏾‍🍳💋, getting to see characters from book 1 was everything I truly loved the friendship dynamics, and I can’t forget Russ my man, my man, my man! If this isn’t on your TBR add it and yes you need both the physical and audio to ride this romance rollercoaster. You’ve officially been influenced‼️

5 stars

Normally I don't request an early copy for a book if I didn't read the first one in the series but I am so glad I did. This book was so good! The main conflict of the book (the forbidden/workplace aspect) doesn't happen until about the halfway mark which actually gave us a lot of time to get deeper into this relationship. Which in turn made the whole conflict that much harder and more emotional. Had they just been casually dating when it came up, it would not have had such an impact imo. Nina was such a badass throughout the book and normally I cannot get behind dating multiple people at once but I really like the way it was handled here. And Russ! What a hottie. I also usually prefer dual POV but I felt we really got to know Russ's personality and feeling incredibly well despite only getting Nina's perspective. (Also, look at me naming the characters! I usually forget those so quickly so you KNOW I liked this one!) Throughout the story, I thought every decision fit the characters and their motivations really well and nothing ever felt out of left field. I absolutely loved these two together!!

One thing I didn't like (in the sense that I HATED that it is probably incredibly realistic and I hate that anyone has to go through it) was the fat phobia Nina faced CONSTANTLY. I hated that for her! And I hate how rooted in reality I am sure it is for people like her. It broke my heart but also Nina always handled it so well and sassily. Hell yeah!

Oh also, this book was HOT AS HELL!

Wesleigh Siobhan is the literal queen of narrating black women, I have no notes. She always does a fabulous job and her male voices are top tier.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!