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!

After loving Curvy Girl Summer, I was excited to dive into Plus Size Player—and it absolutely delivered! Danielle Allen has a gift for writing confident, relatable characters with heart and heat.

Nina is bold, fun, and living life on her terms. I loved her unapologetic attitude and how she embraced her power and curves. The dating roster concept was entertaining, but it was clear from early on that Russ was different. Their chemistry was chef’s kiss, and I found myself rooting for them from the start. It was no surprise (but very satisfying!) to see them grow into something real.

What I appreciated most was how the story balanced romance, career ambition, and body positivity. Nina’s journey as a plus-size influencer felt fresh and empowering without being preachy. The spice? Just enough to make you blush and keep flipping the pages.

If you’re into flirty, feel-good romances with confident women and swoony men, this one’s for you!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the gifted copy!

ARC Recieved: NetGalley
Publishing Date: June 10, 2025

Why 4.5 instead of 5? A couple pacing moments where I wanted just a little more emotional build-up, but that’s me being picky. I still devoured this in one sitting and grinned the whole way through. If you're looking for a romance that’s sexy, smart, and full of unapologetic Black joy, Plus Size Player is it.
Plus Size Player is Danielle Allen doing what she does best: giving us a heroine who knows what she wants, a hero who matches her energy, and a romance that sizzles while still feeling real and grounded. Nina Ford is confident, funny, and refreshingly self-assured. Watching her navigate career goals, complicated dating dynamics, and unexpected emotions was a joy.

The banter? Sharp.
The spice? Top-tier.
The chemistry? Immediate and undeniable.
And the representation? Chef’s kiss.

"I might be fat, but I'll never be the bigger person." IKTR!!

The Curve series from Danielle Allen continues in this second book where we follow Nina who enjoys dating & keeps a roster of men as she's not sure if just ONE man could satisfy all her requirements. She's having a good time and I related a lot to her viewpoint on dating as I felt the same way when I was in the dating world. Get what you want from multiple men until the one that may have it all finds you.

I loved her parents and the relationship she had with them as well as their marriage dynamic. Her parents' interaction was so cute. It's always great to get a healthy couple dynamic and see some Black love with them just enjoying each other. Also, it was refreshing that Nina's parents weren't pushing her to settle down.

Back to Nina! She is hilarious, very confident and a goal getter! I laughed out loud a lot with this book. I also probably needed a fan throughout because the chemistry and spice is amazing! It gets hot while reading this one (especially with the audiobook). All right, helicopter scene! Not giving any spoilers, but I will say that the man who becomes her main character is someone easy to fall in love with as a reader. The strength and assurance that he exudes just makes you want to root for him.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it. Now I can't wait to read about Jazz!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC!

Plus Size Players follows Nina’s quest to find love. She believes she cannot possibly find everything she needs in a single man so she is actively dating and has en massed a rotation of men. There is one particular man, Russell, the fun one, who she can’t resist. Their chemistry is off the charts! The spice is off the charts! And now she is conflicted on whether she wants to pursue a relationship with him and drop her rotation or continue on dating!

Fun and Flirty, Plus-Size Player continues to impress after the first in the series, Curvy Girl Summer. Nina and Russ are spark from the beginning. This fast-passed romance will have you hooked from the first chapter.

Okay this was a hard one, I was into it but also foudn the lead characters incredibily frustrating and naive

This book was such a fun read! The narration was phenomenal! Nina is the plus size player who is also a model. She is at the cusp of getting everything she has ever wanted career-wise. She also has a nice rotation of men who meet her various needs. The fun one, the romantic one, the smart one. From the start the chemistry between Nina and Russ, the fun one, sizzles! Their relationship builds into a passionate romance that feels both steamy and genuine. The spicy scenes are so well-crafted, striking a perfect balance between sensual and emotional connection.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this audiobook from NetGalley! Wesleigh bodied this audio & made the story come to life!

I loved how the book started out with Nina playing the field & truly being confident in herself, her dating life & career but it was easy to see why Russ earned the top spot of the roster, he was everything you want in a MMC. He was thoughtful, intentional, charming & romantic. The 🚁 scene- woo chile! You could feel their passion and chemistry through out the whole book!

Nina was unapologetic, witty & steadfast in her approach to dating & it was refreshing to see she was a plus size woman that had a healthy dating life & was admired by men that others deemed she was not worthy of due to her size. I love that her size never played as a negative with any of the men she had “on the roster.”

The only ick was the constant fat shaming comments by insignificant characters. It felt forced to drive home the fact that she was plus size but that was already understood and so it felt over kill.

Overall I loved It!

Danielle Allen delivers a confident, sexy, and empowering story with Plus Size Player. What I loved most was the boldness of the FMC. She knows who she is, owns every room she walks into, and isn’t afraid to prioritize herself. She has options and she knows it, but that doesn’t stop her from being serious about her career and open to real love.

This story isn’t about settling. It’s about choosing. Watching a plus-size Black woman be both desired and decisive was refreshing. The chemistry, the ambition, the balance of heart and heat? Chef’s kiss.

If you’re into stories where the main character is confident, career-focused, and still makes room for love that meets her standards, this one’s for you.

When I first started Curvy Girl Summer, by this same author, I had a hard time because of the body shaming. Friends convinced me to continue reading and I’m so glad I did because it made me such a huge fan of Danielle Allen! Plus Size Player was just as good! The audio was amazing and Wesleigh Siobhan was amazing per usual at bringing smut to life. I was locked in from the beginning. Great read!

Plus Size Playa was such a fun, confident, and empowering read! I loved seeing a plus-size character living her best life, owning her story, and embracing love and happiness without apology. The humor, heart, and authenticity in this book made it impossible to put down. It was refreshing to see body positivity celebrated in such a real and relatable way. If you’re looking for a feel-good story that will leave you smiling and rooting for the main character, Plus Size Playa is definitely one to add to your list!

We meet Nina, a confident woman, who is confident no singular man can satisfy every need of hers, having a roster of men that creates a perfect man. Nina is plus-sized, and knows she’s a catch, but she’s struggling with accepting that one of these men is perfect for her, beyond what she wants to admit. Nina and Russell’s chemistry is on fire. You are rooting for both of these characters, and you get caught up in their journey, and Nina’s journey. Their love is strong and their pull towards each other is magnetic. The narrator is amazing and brings the story to life, sometimes I feel audiobooks take away from the book, but this narrator definitely adds to the experience of the book.