‘A spicy confidence boosting love story with a beautiful and refreshing message that beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes’ ***** Goodreads review ‘I have so much “Adoration, admiration and appreciation” for this book, and I really encourage everyone to read it’ ***** Goodreads review ‘This is such a beautiful representation of modern-day love. There is nothing simple about Mela and King’s relationship, and that is exactly why I adore them and was rooting for them the whole time. There was such vulnerability shown in their characters; something so stunningly human’ **** Instagram review
LOVE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE...
Curvaceous Mela Kramer gives her husband an ultimatum; either to follow her to her hometown Vienna for a long overdue holiday together, or the marriage is over. Mela hopes Henry will see sense despite everybody telling her he doesn't deserve any more chances. In search of herself, she meets a tall, dark and handsome Spaniard, 'King' Rojas, who puts butterflies in her tummy and dangerous thoughts in her head. If she finds the courage to end her loveless marriage, he might just be the man to educate her on all things sensual...
The problem is that King only does one-night stands. But, if it’s just one night, he’ll never learn about her deepest, darkest family secret and why Mela suffers from panic attacks...
Hunky 'King' Rojas wrestles with his own demons; he feels guilty for his best friend’s death. And there is also a reason he only does one-night stands. They are less complicated and have less chance of a psycho ruining his life... again!
With both of them convinced love is not for them, will this just be a summer flirt during a heatwave in beautiful Vienna or will these two broken souls realise they need each other more than they think, and find the courage to admit that to themselves and each other?
Find Me is the first in The Danube River series about Mela & King and a sparkling story that shows that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Get ready to find your inner sass with curvaceous leading lady, Mela and to fall in love with confidence-boosting hunk, King.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF TESSA BAILEY, ELENA ARMAS, KRISTEN BAILEY, COLLEEN HOOVER AND JOJO MOYES
‘There was a truth in the way thirty-something people get their acts together and deal with baggage from their childhoods and early twenties. The butterfly motif was used throughout the book which reminds us of the metamorphosis we go through as we become fully adult’ **** Goodreads review
‘This was a REAL and raw love story, it was about our flaws, our insecurities, our past, our ghosts and finding the courage to love firstly ourselves and then the person who made us realise our worth’ ***** Goodreads review
‘Uplifting, funny, and totally binge-worthy!’ **** Goodreads review
‘This book really was amazing, as a curvier girl I felt truly represented and never have I rooted for a character more than I have for Mela!!’ **** Goodreads review
‘Never have I related more to a main female character, as a curvier lady this story filled me with confidence and hope! Mela is everything I want to be!’ **** Instagram review
‘A real, honest and raw love story with emotional depth.
I live in vibrant London, where I moved partly because of Love Actually, because who wouldn’t want to live in a city where even the weather feels like a rom-com?
Charming rom-coms—whether on page or screen—are my ultimate escape, I’m passionate about writing Contemporary Romance filled with sizzling love stories, emotional depth, and a generous splash of sassy humour.
I’m all about celebrating body confidence and crafting relatable, believable characters who beautifully redefine what “normal” truly means.
As a curvaceous woman myself, I longed for stories where I could see myself represented—falling head over heels with a lead who’s as strong and complex as I am. And trust me, my heroes are far from your typical dominant clichés—they bring heart, depth, and so much more.
I hope you enjoy diving into their worlds as much as I loved bringing them to life!
‘Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we think it is a sign of strength to endure something nobody should ever have to? Why do we see it as a sign of weakness to break up with somebody who brings us nothing but misery?’
This is my first ever ARC that I have received and read, and I have to say, Helly Mayers has outdone herself. 🌹
This is such a beautiful representation of modern day love. There is nothing simple about Mela and King’s relationship, and that is exactly why I adore them and was rooting for them the whole time. There was such vulnerability shown in their characters; something so stunningly human. Mayers incorporates trauma, doubt, miscommunication and arguments. Yet, something so pure flourishes out of this. It is such a raw exploration of love, and yet, so perfect. 🙌
A huge factor in this book for me was having a female main character and love interest being described as having a more curvy body type. Representation is so important in modern day literature, and I felt very seen with this inclusion from Mayers. (I hope Henry is miserable, what a sad little man!) The fact this is something so important to her makes me excited to read more of her work. 💃
The dual POV worked perfectly for this book. Sometimes it can be unnecessary, but to fully understand both Mela and King’s perspective on this situation, I think it worked so well. I feel we may have come to dislike King a bit had we not been in his head. I also love how Mayers personifies Mela’s intrusive emotions and feelings. It felt exactly how mine pop up, and it did make me laugh seeing it written down. 🤭
Overall this was such a fun ARC to read, and it will always have a special place in my heart as my first. This is the perfect steamy summer romance book, so keep your eyes peeled for the 2nd of July! 🔥
✨📚 ARC REVIEW – Find Me by Helly Mayers 📚✨ 📍Book 1 in The Danube River Series
Big thanks for the ARC! 💌💕
When I say I devoured this story… I mean unputdownable 😍🔥 A romance that’s equal parts soul-searching, swoon-worthy, and spicyyy 🌶️💃
Tropes you’ll love: 💘 Slow Burn 🔥 Romance + Spice 😏 Sharp Humour 💪 Self Love Journey
📖 Blurb Vibes: Mela’s had enough of her one-sided marriage 🙅♀️💍 and takes a bold leap back to Vienna to rediscover herself. Cue: King 😏💃 — the magnetic Hispanic club owner of Tropicana. Will Mela find who she used to be… and maybe someone even better? 💫👑
💭 My Thoughts: ✔️ The character build-up? Chef’s kiss 👩🍳💋 ✔️ The chemistry? 🔥🔥🔥 ✔️ The Vienna vibes + personal growth? YES please 💃🏽✨ ✔️ The banter & tension between Mela and King felt so REAL I was blushing 😳📖
I loved this romance ❤️🔥 — empowering, funny, and seriously steamy. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a heroine finding her voice and her passion. 💃🏽🖤
I stumbled across this author on Instagram and saw her debut novel was being released on 2nd July and had such a lovely opportunity to read an ARC 😍
I feel genuinely super lucky to have read this before it's out in the world. Such a BEAUTIFUL story about two people who find each other unexpectedly during and after some really tough times.
I absolutely love that the FMC is curvaceous and such a powerhouse! I found myself in parts of Mela's life and her story, and I think it's safe to say that I fell head over heels for the MMC, King. The love language between the two of them, the slow burn, the spice, the friendship, trust, and beautiful languages spoken between them throughout the story, made the book amazing from beginning to end.
Mela is strong from her battles, curvy, beautiful, funny, and SEXY. Her Austrian roots came through throughout the book, and I loved it.
King, with his Spanish passion, his care for others, his magnetism, and his struggles made him really loveable.
Thank you so much for the ARC @hellymayers 🩷 I absolutely loved it, and I'm excited for so many others to read it 😍
If this is Helly’s debut novel, I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for her readers!
A beautiful story of the blossoming love between King and Mela, whilst having such a consistent message to love yourself exactly as you are and surround yourself with people who, not only encourage your confidence, but support your healing. Truly stunning 🤎
Thank you Helly for sending me this ARC and allowing me to share my review. Good luck with your official release date on Wednesday 2nd July! 🥰
**ARC REVIEW** I will start this by saying that I am absolutely blown away that this is a debut novel! Helly has done an amazing job, tackled some hard topics brilliantly and sensitively and produced one hell of a book! I really loved the representation for us curvy gals and the insecurities that can plague us but also how it can be used against us too. Our FMC is curvy and at the beginning of the novel is very self-conscious of this, mostly from the comments others have thrown her way. I adore that despite this, she dresses for herself and wears what she feels good in and when I picture her I just know she’s a stunner! Our MMC is a hunk of a man, who battles insecurities of his own due to past relationships. Again, this is handled and portrayed in a sensitive and realistic way. He’s also our FMC’s biggest cheerleader and helps her on her journey of self-acceptance and rediscovering herself, which helps heal him too. The plot is very believable and nothing too outlandish happens, which I’m a fan of. I like to escape reality in my reading but with a dose of realism in my romance books! The main characters’ insecurities do lead to multiple miscommunications, which I’m not so much of a fan of. I don’t mind the odd miscommunication, just not too much but that differs person to person and isn’t necessarily a negative. I will say that they did often resolve these pretty quickly and maturely, apologising when needed and learning from their mistakes which if I’m reading a miscommunication is how I like it to be resolved. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed and will absolutely be reading the rest of the series! I can’t wait to see what Helly does next!!
ARC REVIEW “FIND ME” 🩷✨ Book 1 of Danube River Series 🌸
COMING ON 2 JULY 2025!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I will start telling you that this book is a representation about curvy women who have insecurities and bad men who destroy their identity even more. This book is about healing inner scars by the right person. It’s about finding yourself and being loved by someone for who you really are. It’s not a simple love story is about loving yourself no matter how you look.
This book follows Mela’s life journey in Vienna, Austria, in a holiday at her parents’ house. There she meets King, a hispanic club owner of Tropicana. Mela is in a marriage of 4 years and Henry, her scum of husband, doesn’t give her what she needs on the contrary he hurts her even more. Being in Vienna she gives him an ultimatum, but she ends up discovering herself with her friends and King’s help.
King also has some traumas but with Mela’s help he also discovers his worthy for being loved by someone. I really loved their relationship dynamic, firstly they become friends gradually becoming friends with benefits then lovers. He protects her and worships her (as he should) and I absolutely love it so bad.
They help each other to find their truly worth and it’s a journey which reflects reality. It isn’t just fiction, but it is an encouragement for whoever needs some support and hope.
Helly outdid her with this debut and thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read your book! I can’t wait for the 2nd one and I am excited which characters will have their own story.
I was kindly gifted this ARC, this is my 1st review by this author.
The story of Mela and King, Mela is stuck in a loveless marriage with a emotionally unavailable man and decides to go on holiday up visit family and friends, until she decides what she wants to do .
Mela quickly enjoys being away and seeing people that care about her and what she's been missing , she meets King and doesn't like him straight away.
The way their Relationship developed I really liked, the characters were really interesting, a good read i would recommend.
I loved this book. I found it so well written, I loved the story, I love all the characters and the depths they had! I felt the emotions coming from the characters as they told their stories to each other. It's a beautiful story about how there is love out there for everyone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
“Find Me” is the kind of romance that punches straight through the chest and stays there long after the final page. Mela and King are not perfect fairytale characters they’re raw, messy, beautifully human, and that’s exactly why this story hits so hard. Mela’s journey from heartbreak and self-doubt to confidence and desire is powerful, and King’s emotional struggle and vulnerability add a depth most romance novels don’t even attempt.
Their chemistry is electric, the emotional tension is addictive, and the Vienna setting feels like stepping into a cinematic dream. I laughed, I blushed, and I felt every crack and rebuild of their hearts. This isn’t just a love story it’s a reminder that beauty comes in every shape, and that second chances aren’t miracles, they’re choices.
Find Me by Helly Mayers is a refreshingly heartfelt, slow-burn romantic comedy that beautifully balances sharp humor with deep emotional resonance. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Austria and laced with rich Latin flair, this book is about rediscovery — of self, of love, and of what it means to be seen.
We meet Mela, a curvy, fiercely intelligent woman who’s finally had enough of a one-sided marriage and takes a leap — returning to her roots in Vienna to find the woman she used to be. What starts as an escape quickly becomes a journey of healing, fueled by old friends, unexpected allies, and a dangerously charming man named King.
King and Mela’s chemistry is magnetic. Their banter is sharp and full of sass, and watching them slowly peel back each other’s layers was both satisfying and emotionally charged. King is not your typical brooding love interest — he’s complex, full of past wounds, and his warmth with Mela feels well-earned. There’s also a deep vulnerability beneath Mela’s strength that made her incredibly relatable, especially for anyone who’s ever doubted their worth in the eyes of love.
Helly Mayers handles tough topics — gaslighting, emotional neglect, body image, cultural displacement — with empathy and honesty, without ever losing the light-hearted charm of a rom-com. The cultural diversity, found family dynamic, and inclusion of plus-size representation were particularly meaningful to me.
💬 Personal note: If you’re a curvy girl who’s ever felt invisible or not “enough,” Find Me will wrap around you like a hug. This book reminded me that we all deserve to be loved boldly — without conditions, without compromise, and certainly without shrinking ourselves.
It’s funny. It’s romantic. It’s empowering. I couldn’t stop rooting for Mela and honestly, for myself a little too.
Recommended for: Adult readers who love emotional depth with their romance, fierce female leads, curvy girl representation, and cross-cultural love stories that go beyond the surface.
Find me- Helly mayers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 I loved mela as a fmc, she’s strong independent and loving yet vulnerable, trapped and heartbroken. I love her relationship with her friends but also her blossoming relationship with King even though they appear to be from completely different backgrounds. I approve of Helly’s beautiful creation in King! I found myself pulling faces at my kindle whenever Henry was mentioned. I detest the man! But King… even though he’s an emotional unavailable man he treats women 1000x better than Henry does and that’s admirable. I was routing for mela all the way through I really did fall in love with her character and her wittiness. I think the length of the book was perfect, I liked the longer romance as it gave me time to bond with the characters and felt more of an impact from the storyline. Love really does come in all different shapes, sizes, forms and expressions. 🌻
I loved this. I could not put it down. I love plus size representation in books so this was just up my street. I loved the MMC and the FMC in this book. King and Mela are so hot together. This was a bit of a longer romance book than I have read before, but that really allowed for realistic character development and an amazing slow burn.
King is so sexy. I love that he is a bit bigger I love his brooding. He falls so hard.
I don't want to go back too much into the plot. But they both had previous bad relationships and trauma and that really helps them build together.
It felt realistic and romantic.
It was so well written. 5*s Would highly recommend!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Find Me by Helly Mayers is a spicy, feel-good romance with humour and heart. It’s a story about self-acceptance, finding where you truly belong, and embracing love. The characters were well thought out, I adored the sassy Mela but I think my favourite was the strong and brooding King. I also liked that the story was told from both their perspectives.
Full of banter, tension and a beautiful message about loving yourself just as you are. Uplifting, funny, and totally binge-worthy! I also really liked the Spotify playlist that came with it! A nice extra touch 😊
Well, the start of a new series- intriguing! I do urge you to dip in.
I suspect that this story will be branded as romantic/ love etc etc... but actually this is a story of self acceptance, redemption and above all the power of friendship. Those were the bits that were most enjoyable. There was a truth in the way thirty-something people get their acts together and deal with baggage from their childhoods and early twenties. The butterfly motif was used throughout the book which reminds us of the metamorphosis we go through as we become fully adult.
I was interested in the two characters being as I have family in Spain and was born and bred in London. I've also had a yearning to visit Vienna for the art, history and food. This book was certainly a wonderful advert for the capital of Austria. Who knew that there is a thriving Hispanic community there?
Yet, there were some things that could have been tweaked. I have to assume that the lingua franca was English. In which case some of the dialogue didn't ring true for the main character who had been living and working in London for some time. I think it might have been better if the main character's nickname was 'Rey,' or whilst in Austria 'Karl.' That would be more realistic than 'King' which is far too Anglo Saxon. I could have done with more about Mela's life in London and the time the two main characters were in Spain was brief. How much money is there in clubs??? King seemed to be able to access some top shelf treats very easily (that just didn't seem right to me). Also, there were scenes were a character was in one position at the start of the page, but had adopted a different position by the bottom without any reference to movement. Perhaps, this was a casualty of the editorial pen.
Anyway, there was enough here to keep me awake until 2am reading. So I commend this to you.
Thank you Helly Mayers for letting me have an advanced copy of the story in return for this post. I am now invested in the world you have created and look forward to seeing book 2 soon. Who will be the subject of the plot?
I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to the author who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of her book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review…
This is actually the first book in the Danube River Series and I’m really glad to know that there will be more books to come as I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Find Me is a spicy, slow burn romantic comedy and has all the Summer feels in it too and is perfect for reading in the hot Summer weather.
I found this book to be very easy to read and I found myself reading it really fast and each chapter easily pushed me along to the next one, until before I knew it I had devoured it all - perfect!
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a very real and down to earth modern day love story but uplifting and funny too, with an underlying message that beauty comes in all shapes & sizes. There were some wonderful characters, a curvy, sassy heroine and a hunky, swoonworthy, confidence boosting hero and each came with plenty of baggage too and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them both and becoming involved in their lives. I will definitely be coming back for more…..
I was sent this book as an ARC by Helly Mayers and wow!!!! I absolutely loved this. Hooked from the first page and couldn’t get enough of it. Loved the characters and the story. Was beautifully written🥰
ARC REVIEW 🌸✨ This was my first ever ARC book and honestly i loved this book! the slow burn spicy romance was 10/10 ❤️🔥 the body positive and use of plus-size characters was so inspiring and just radiated confidence! Reading this i truly felt like i was in Vienna! 5 stars easily ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
where can I start with this book? this is the perfect book that represents curvy women who have insecurities and the bad men who destroy their identity even more.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to have ARC read this amazing debut from Helly, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I can't wait for the 2nd book and to see who we get to read about it that one😍
It makes such a change to see a book cover in its simplicity enticing you in to the storyline itself. Find Me, is exactly that….. when Mela travels home to see family after giving her husband a final ultimatum, will he come through or do his usual thing and ignore her? After years of being treated badly by her husband, Mela tries to find herself again, hence going back to her roots, and to hopefully sweet talk her way into a new job at the UN too. BUT….. when a gentleman called King is introduced to her all things change. Her focus, her mind and her bodily reactions. Both Mela and King have some big insecurities caused by their exes to overcome but the question is, can they?
Do the scars run too deep both mentally and physically or can they heal themselves with the help of the other person and start their life in a new and positive way…. With the help of Burlesque, some good music and a pair of steady hands I believe this may be possible.
Find Me is a bold, empowering, and heart-melting love story that beautifully celebrates self-worth, second chances, and the magic of falling for someone who sees the real you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
When I saw the ARC sign up for ‘Find Me’, as always, I took a look at the author’s pages and was blown away by Helly Mayers! 🔍 She’s passionate about representation for all walks of life and isn’t afraid to encourage us to embrace our true selves and believe in our own goodness. ♥️ Don’t worry, I also had a look at the blurb of the story! And honestly… how could I resist a beautiful, spicy, slow-burn story by an author who is a wonderful human? I didn’t, I SIGNED UP! ✨
Throughout the entire book the attention to detail is sublime, making it an easy and enjoyable read. - Something I truly adore in this story is that the chapters are in the point of view of the other main character: King. 👑 (I may have fallen for him a little.) The kindness, friendship and trust that is built within this story is magical. Helly Mayers has really managed to emphasise all emotions without making them seem unnatural. It’s incredible!
I don’t want to give too much away, because I’d love for you to read it yourself, but OH MY! The Spice 🌶️ YESSSSS 💁🏻♀️ but it isn’t pointless and random, it flows with the story and is well placed! One thing I really appreciated within this book is the fact both Mela and King had boundaries and they were respected!
I have so much “Adoration, admiration and appreciation” for this book, and I really encourage everyone to read it. ♥️
The story about King and Mela is Helly Mayers debut novel. I really liked the setting in Vienna. The author was able to combine loads of different heritages as well as cultural differences. I enjoyed reading about the Spanish/Latino culture and its festivities in the familiar context of Vienna, which is close to my hometown. Other than that, I also was a big fan of Helly’s topics. The novel gave me the feeling of being accepted as I am. Since Mela is plus-size and had bad experiences about that and how her body was accepted. King’s way of dealing with it and guiding her towards her beauty and who she is apart from her body was lovely to read. Nevertheless, I had also a few things to criticise. I think that the novel was a bit lengthy. The topic – as important as it was – reoccurred several times and did not really change. This lead to boredom when reading it, since I had the impression that nothing new happened and the story did not really move on. This created a feeling of a never-ending story, which I do not particularly like. If the story would have been a bit more compressed it would have been more enjoyable for me. I recommend this book to all who love summery stories set in Vienna. Furthermore, you should be open to sensitive topics and a bit of a longer read.
A bold, beautiful story of rediscovery, desire, and loving yourself first.
Find Me was a total surprise for me—in the best way. I don’t normally gravitate toward spicy romance, but this book had me hooked from the first page. It’s sexy, emotional, and empowering in a way I didn’t expect.
Mela is a curvy, confident, complex woman who isn’t waiting around anymore—for her husband, for approval, or for permission to live her life. Her chemistry with King is undeniable, but what really stayed with me was how much heart and vulnerability both characters brought to the story. It’s messy, real, and honest.
There’s such a refreshing message woven through these pages: beauty comes in every shape and size, and we all deserve love—not in spite of our scars, but with them. As a reader you root for Mela, the Warrior Queen who finds and defends her King.
If you're looking for a story with heat, humor, and heart, this is it. It’s a gorgeous reminder that sometimes, love finds you when you finally choose yourself.
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this debut novel and I absolutely loved everything about it. A real, honest and raw love story with emotional depth. You can just tell the Author has put her heart and soul into it. A spicy confidence boosting love story with a beautiful and refreshing message that beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes. The style of writing is superb, the characterisation spot on. I instantly connected with the sassy FMC Mela, fell in love with the sexy Spaniard King and adored Alejandro and his red sequin trousers! The banter and humorous moments between Mela and King made me giggle throughout. Both suffering with past traumas and with an undeniable connection between them, slowly start to heal each other. The slow burn was tantalising and built the tension perfectly for what was to come and when it did….WOW!!!!
I cannot wait to read the next books in the series.
I have to start this review off with the fact I had to DNF this book😭 this is nothing against Helly, she is an amazing writer and has created a beautiful book but it just wasn’t my taste and I was having a lot of trouble getting into it :(
Find Me starts with Mela leaving for Vienna and giving her husband an ultimatum which is a slay and then she meets King. It’s a very big slow burn story and it’s beautifully written.
King and Mela are very sweet and I see a lot of myself in Mela so thank you to Helly for creating a lovely representation of plus size women.
I think this would be a great book for those who love slow burn romances and stories that feature self-acceptance. I think it’s a very long book and I just couldn’t get into it unfortunately :(
Thank you to Helly for giving me a chance to read an ARC of this book in return for this review 🫶🏻
I need to start by saying this book stole my heart 💕 I woke up feeling slightly hungover this morning after staying up late to finish, I just had to know how it ended. I feel a little sad that my journey with King and Mela has come to an end. This was a REAL and raw love story, it was about our flaws, our insecurities, our past, our ghosts and finding the courage to love firstly ourselves and then the person who made us realise our worth. Mela is everything you want in a FMG, strong, feisty, funny, real, flawed, & honest. King .. I dare you not to fall in love with him. The first half of the book was a real slow burn with all the chemistry, the second half was the perfect mix of spice and story telling with enough will they/wont they to keep you wanting more.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of Find Me by Helly Mayers, debut novel, book 1 in the Danube River series.
I will start off with, this is a well written, genuine love story. It’s got excellent characters and banter, despite some emotional moments. I loved that it has a curvy FMC with lots of body positivity.
However….
This book wasn’t for me. I did enjoy it, I just didn’t love it. I found the constant adding of Spanish and occasionally German slightly confusing, I appreciate that King, the MMC was Spanish but there were some complete sentences in there, I’m thankful for translate on the kindle! I also found it a little slow in parts.