From the publisher:
What Not to Wear and Queer Eye meet All the Feels in this sparkling romantic comedy by Jenny L. Howe, in which the new guest on a popular plus-size makeover show has her style―and her love life―transformed.
Everly Winters is perfectly happy to navigate life like a good neutral paint color: appreciated but unnoticed. That’s why she’s still a receptionist instead of exploring a career in art, why she lurks but never posts on the forums for her favorite makeover show, On the Plus Side, and why she’s crushing so hard on her forever-unattainable co-worker. When no one notices you, they can’t reject you or insist you’re too much.
This plan is working perfectly until someone secretly nominates Everly for the next season of On the Plus Side. Overwhelmed by the show’s extremely extroverted hosts and how much time she’ll have to spend on screen, she finds comfort in a surprising friendship with the grumpy but kind cameraman, Logan. Soon Everly realizes that he’s someone she doesn’t mind being noticed by. In fact, she might even like it.
But when their growing connection is caught on camera, it sends the show’s ratings into a frenzy. Learning to embrace all of herself on national TV is hard enough; can Everly risk heartbreak with the whole world watching?
“Howe dazzles with this pitch-perfect rom-com about learning to love oneself at any size…timely, humorous, and heartfelt.” –Publishers Weekly (starred)
“Everly is presented as beautiful, capable, and the star of her own story. A romantic comedy that’s both cozy and empowering.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Folks standing up for what is right always makes for a good story, and the friendship-to-love relationship between Everly and Logan is fun and fulfilling. For fans of All the Feels by Olivia Dade and Curves for Days by Laura Moher.” —Booklist
“Featuring a curvy heroine finding confidence while falling in love, Howe’s latest is a fun mix of What Not To Wear and Queer Eye. Recommended for fans of Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun.” –Library Journal
A book set in the world of reality TV? Yes, please! They got me by comparing it to “What Not to Wear” – I miss that show. This book is very loosely based on that premise, but On the Plus Side, the name of the TV show in the book (and the book), focuses on women who are large, and they go beyond the usual makeover. The way the show works is that they select a few women and follow them on their journey throughout the season. They help them figure out their career moves, fashion, and all the usual makeover stuff, plus so much more. Everly is a huge fan, as is her best friend/sister-in-law, so when Everly is nominated, she’s pretty sure she knows who did it.
For most of her life, Everly felt like she was “too much.” Her mother constantly harps on her weight, and they aren’t close. It was her grandmother who most made Everly feel seen for who she was. So when she loses her grandmother, it feels like a part of herself is gone. She retreats from wearing the clothes she loves and being her best and loudest self to try and blend in more. But she is not happy.
Everly has work friends who basically use her, and she doesn’t see it. When Logan, the cameraman who follows her around, breaks the fourth wall to defend her, Everly starts to see that maybe she can be herself after all. As she deals with all the changes in her life, her job, and a flirtation with Logan, things start looking up. Until the show pulls a stunt that could cost Everly her job, not to mention her reputation.
No worries, everything works out in the end, and Everly gets her happily ever after in so many ways. This was such an inspiring, joyful read – I really loved it.
1/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
ON THE PLUS SIDE by Jenny L. Howe. Griffin (December 26, 2023). ISBN: 978-1250837882. 368p.
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