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Cipher Office #1
Weight Expectations
Rian Thompson thought she joined the gym to get healthy. Little did she know she was about to add hundred and ninety pounds of swoonworthy abdominal muscles and arrogance to her life.
Every day in Rians’s life follows a predictable pattern, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s got a nice job, a nice place to live, and a nice family – even if they are a little wedding-zilla-ish at the moment.
She doesn’t need anything spectacular to be happy. She just needs to get healthy – mentally, physically. . . and maybe spiritually if that happens. But she’ll settle for two out of three until her sister finally gets hitched.
Carlos Davies thought his life was perfect. Little did he know it was about to be turned upside down by a woman who is not his type.
In Carlos’s mind, his life is damn near perfect. He’s got a great job, a great place to live, and a great stash of pick up lines that always work. It has occurred to him that maybe no one actually takes him all that seriously. But with these bulging biceps and thick, dark hair, does that even matter since he’s never sleeping alone?
Welcome to Weight Expectations, where great—and unexpected—things happen.
Every day in Rians’s life follows a predictable pattern, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s got a nice job, a nice place to live, and a nice family – even if they are a little wedding-zilla-ish at the moment.
She doesn’t need anything spectacular to be happy. She just needs to get healthy – mentally, physically. . . and maybe spiritually if that happens. But she’ll settle for two out of three until her sister finally gets hitched.
Carlos Davies thought his life was perfect. Little did he know it was about to be turned upside down by a woman who is not his type.
In Carlos’s mind, his life is damn near perfect. He’s got a great job, a great place to live, and a great stash of pick up lines that always work. It has occurred to him that maybe no one actually takes him all that seriously. But with these bulging biceps and thick, dark hair, does that even matter since he’s never sleeping alone?
Welcome to Weight Expectations, where great—and unexpected—things happen.
302 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2019
455 people are currently reading
5316 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 463 reviews
July 7, 2020
3 stars
Weight Expectations is my first book by M.E. Carter and there was a lot to like about this book. The main thing I liked was the heroine, Rian. After a physical with her doctor, Rian decides she should join a gym. Though overall Rian is comfortable in the skin she's in, she knows being healthy is important and now that she's in her late thirties, she decides to take it more seriously.
Rian joins Weight Expectations and after some time there, really starts to come into her own. She's personable and makes friends with her trainer, Able, and other regulars. She also takes notice of Carlos, the most attractive guy there. Carlos is in his early forties and treats his body like a temple. He works out religiously, eats super clean, and doesn't do relationships. He's happy to be single and successful. Then he meets Rian, who is not his type at all, but immediately draws him in.
Rian and Carlos have some great banter and become friendly. They even end up working together. I guess my only real issue with this one (and it's a pretty important one) is that I didn't care for the hero and I didn't believe their romance. If I'm being honest, once I found out Able was single I shipped him and Rian hard. I thought they had way more chemistry than Carols and Rian had.
Some big positives- I love being able to see myself in characters and I can definitely see myself in Rian. I loved her as a character. Honestly, there wasn't anything I didn't like about her. I wish more would have been resolved with her family and I wish she would have ended up with someone better, but I adored her. And I loved getting Quinn cameos! I'll definitely be reading more from ME Carter, especially now that I see Able has his own story!
Weight Expectations is my first book by M.E. Carter and there was a lot to like about this book. The main thing I liked was the heroine, Rian. After a physical with her doctor, Rian decides she should join a gym. Though overall Rian is comfortable in the skin she's in, she knows being healthy is important and now that she's in her late thirties, she decides to take it more seriously.
Rian joins Weight Expectations and after some time there, really starts to come into her own. She's personable and makes friends with her trainer, Able, and other regulars. She also takes notice of Carlos, the most attractive guy there. Carlos is in his early forties and treats his body like a temple. He works out religiously, eats super clean, and doesn't do relationships. He's happy to be single and successful. Then he meets Rian, who is not his type at all, but immediately draws him in.
Rian and Carlos have some great banter and become friendly. They even end up working together. I guess my only real issue with this one (and it's a pretty important one) is that I didn't care for the hero and I didn't believe their romance. If I'm being honest, once I found out Able was single I shipped him and Rian hard. I thought they had way more chemistry than Carols and Rian had.
Some big positives- I love being able to see myself in characters and I can definitely see myself in Rian. I loved her as a character. Honestly, there wasn't anything I didn't like about her. I wish more would have been resolved with her family and I wish she would have ended up with someone better, but I adored her. And I loved getting Quinn cameos! I'll definitely be reading more from ME Carter, especially now that I see Able has his own story!
Want to read
July 28, 2019
THIS IS HAPPENING!!!
October 22, 2019
3.25 Stars
”I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I don’t want the shallow surface-level relationship with you. I want you to know me. And I want to know you. And I don’t know what to do with those feelings.”
Rian Thompson’s always had issues with her weight. Though she’d like to change that, she’s also always been comfortable enough in her own skin to deal with the extra pounds. When her doctor tells her she needs to get healthy, she knows she has to pull up her britches and join a gym. She expected to be surrounded by beautiful, fit people. What she didn’t expect was…Carlos. Queue bigtime swoon and tingly feelings in special places.
Carlos Davies has worked hard to ensure his body is a gorgeous, supremely fit temple. Nearing forty, Carlos has no intention of settling down or even entertaining the idea of a “Ms. Right”. So why does he find himself constantly thinking about Rian after only one casual group dinner together?
There’s a whole lot to love about Weight Expectations so let’s start with the good stuff.
• Rian is a loveable, witty and totally relatable character and I just loved her. She’s realistic about her health concerns and though she’s self-deprecating about her weight, it’s never mean spirited or unnecessarily harsh. She’s been around long enough to know how the world treats overweight people but while she’s skeptical about the interest Carlos shows in her at first, she never doubts her value or puts herself down.
• After being a little leery of his character at first, Carlos grew on me. Once I got past that “seeing through people” thing he does at the gym, it became obvious Carlos has his own set of insecurities. His lack of past relationships has him scrambling a little when it comes to Rian, which helped to humanize him and endeared him to me even more. He took the time to really get to know her, with all the snarky quips and insecurities included, and I appreciate the fact he realized the awesomeness that is Rian.
• Pregnant Quinn is a kick. Knitting in the City series fans, this one’s for you! This alpha husband is on a mission to procure some of the most exotic yarns in the world for his treasured pregnant wife Janie, and god help anyone that stands in his way.
• The writing, flow of the story and added snarky fun bits of dialogue means I had a fabulous time reading Weight Expectations and I’ll most definitely be checking out this author’s backlog.
Now on to the stuff that didn’t work so well. And it’s a biggie. To put it bluntly, I wasn’t feeling the romance between Carlos and Rian. Friendship? Yes. A deep respect and appreciation for what the other brought to the relationship? Sure. But attraction and heat? Not so much. It wasn’t just Carlos coming to terms with his attraction to a type of woman he’s not normally attracted to, though there was a little of that. I wasn’t feeling Rian’s attraction to Carlos either, unless it was in a “gee, he’s pretty” kind of way. It’s almost like they both appreciated the hell out of each other as people but were in no particular hurry to get down to the naked stuff.
Though this book may not have pushed all of my romance buttons, once I started reading Weight Expectations, I was hooked. The dialogue and overall snarky attitude kept me reading until the end and I can’t wait for the next entry in this series. Janie’s pregnancy can only last so long.
ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest, voluntary review
”I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I don’t want the shallow surface-level relationship with you. I want you to know me. And I want to know you. And I don’t know what to do with those feelings.”
Rian Thompson’s always had issues with her weight. Though she’d like to change that, she’s also always been comfortable enough in her own skin to deal with the extra pounds. When her doctor tells her she needs to get healthy, she knows she has to pull up her britches and join a gym. She expected to be surrounded by beautiful, fit people. What she didn’t expect was…Carlos. Queue bigtime swoon and tingly feelings in special places.
Carlos Davies has worked hard to ensure his body is a gorgeous, supremely fit temple. Nearing forty, Carlos has no intention of settling down or even entertaining the idea of a “Ms. Right”. So why does he find himself constantly thinking about Rian after only one casual group dinner together?
There’s a whole lot to love about Weight Expectations so let’s start with the good stuff.
• Rian is a loveable, witty and totally relatable character and I just loved her. She’s realistic about her health concerns and though she’s self-deprecating about her weight, it’s never mean spirited or unnecessarily harsh. She’s been around long enough to know how the world treats overweight people but while she’s skeptical about the interest Carlos shows in her at first, she never doubts her value or puts herself down.
• After being a little leery of his character at first, Carlos grew on me. Once I got past that “seeing through people” thing he does at the gym, it became obvious Carlos has his own set of insecurities. His lack of past relationships has him scrambling a little when it comes to Rian, which helped to humanize him and endeared him to me even more. He took the time to really get to know her, with all the snarky quips and insecurities included, and I appreciate the fact he realized the awesomeness that is Rian.
• Pregnant Quinn is a kick. Knitting in the City series fans, this one’s for you! This alpha husband is on a mission to procure some of the most exotic yarns in the world for his treasured pregnant wife Janie, and god help anyone that stands in his way.
• The writing, flow of the story and added snarky fun bits of dialogue means I had a fabulous time reading Weight Expectations and I’ll most definitely be checking out this author’s backlog.
Now on to the stuff that didn’t work so well. And it’s a biggie. To put it bluntly, I wasn’t feeling the romance between Carlos and Rian. Friendship? Yes. A deep respect and appreciation for what the other brought to the relationship? Sure. But attraction and heat? Not so much. It wasn’t just Carlos coming to terms with his attraction to a type of woman he’s not normally attracted to, though there was a little of that. I wasn’t feeling Rian’s attraction to Carlos either, unless it was in a “gee, he’s pretty” kind of way. It’s almost like they both appreciated the hell out of each other as people but were in no particular hurry to get down to the naked stuff.
Though this book may not have pushed all of my romance buttons, once I started reading Weight Expectations, I was hooked. The dialogue and overall snarky attitude kept me reading until the end and I can’t wait for the next entry in this series. Janie’s pregnancy can only last so long.
ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest, voluntary review
October 26, 2019
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
My eyes widen, both in disbelief and possible terror at what “stretching” might entail. I ate a bean burrito for lunch. Does he not understand the kind of danger “stretching” might put everyone in?
“They’re vultures around here,” she continues which does not make me feel better at all. “And once you get sucked in, you’re stuck for life.” I gasp and throw my hands over my mouth. “Ohmygod. I’ve stumbled into the Hotel California.”
I’ll leave the hacking into national security systems to him. I don’t look good in orange or jumpsuits. The combination of the two would be hideous.
Right on cue, the office essentially stops, every single woman in the room staring at him, jaws agape. Rian included… “Ladies.” He nods in greeting, his British accent ringing out for everyone to hear. Teresa, who just happens to be in the vicinity when the door opens, should be grateful she’s walking by a chair, because her legs literally give out and she collapses into said chair as she watches him walk away… I don’t have a thing for Teresa, but I still don’t appreciate her collapsing dramatically in the office. Quinn needs to stop recommending attractive employees. I have no room in the budget for smelling salts.
I just let them think what they want. I can see now that it’s been biting me in the ass behind my back.” “Well, behind your back is where your ass is located.”
Putting her hands on my chest, Rebecca uses that breathy voice that’s supposed to be sexy, but now it makes me wonder if she has some sort of lung dysfunction.
My Review:
Having struggled with every fad diet verses an unbridled love of food - ALL my life - I totally fell into this story with a plus-sized heroine. M.E. Carter nailed the complications, insecurities, discomforts, and frustrations of living within a curvy and amply proportioned body, and she did so with sparkling wit and cleverly insightful observations. I adored Rian; we could be fun and kickass friends. She was realistically and craftily penned; as were many of the rude reactions, unpleasant comments, and thoughtless behaviors others directed and displayed towards her due to her size, including those of family. M.E. Carter masterfully captured all that noise and still kept me grinning.
The storylines were original and entertaining while the writing was crisp, engaging, and laced with amusing visuals, clever snark, and smirk-worthy levity. The story was character-driven and developed slowly. While I had an instant liking for Rian, Carlos was a piece of work that required a lot more effort for me to fully appreciate, although that grew easier as he began to evolve from the shallow pool of ooze in which he started.
I am totally grooving on these Smartypants Romances.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
My eyes widen, both in disbelief and possible terror at what “stretching” might entail. I ate a bean burrito for lunch. Does he not understand the kind of danger “stretching” might put everyone in?
“They’re vultures around here,” she continues which does not make me feel better at all. “And once you get sucked in, you’re stuck for life.” I gasp and throw my hands over my mouth. “Ohmygod. I’ve stumbled into the Hotel California.”
I’ll leave the hacking into national security systems to him. I don’t look good in orange or jumpsuits. The combination of the two would be hideous.
Right on cue, the office essentially stops, every single woman in the room staring at him, jaws agape. Rian included… “Ladies.” He nods in greeting, his British accent ringing out for everyone to hear. Teresa, who just happens to be in the vicinity when the door opens, should be grateful she’s walking by a chair, because her legs literally give out and she collapses into said chair as she watches him walk away… I don’t have a thing for Teresa, but I still don’t appreciate her collapsing dramatically in the office. Quinn needs to stop recommending attractive employees. I have no room in the budget for smelling salts.
I just let them think what they want. I can see now that it’s been biting me in the ass behind my back.” “Well, behind your back is where your ass is located.”
Putting her hands on my chest, Rebecca uses that breathy voice that’s supposed to be sexy, but now it makes me wonder if she has some sort of lung dysfunction.
My Review:
Having struggled with every fad diet verses an unbridled love of food - ALL my life - I totally fell into this story with a plus-sized heroine. M.E. Carter nailed the complications, insecurities, discomforts, and frustrations of living within a curvy and amply proportioned body, and she did so with sparkling wit and cleverly insightful observations. I adored Rian; we could be fun and kickass friends. She was realistically and craftily penned; as were many of the rude reactions, unpleasant comments, and thoughtless behaviors others directed and displayed towards her due to her size, including those of family. M.E. Carter masterfully captured all that noise and still kept me grinning.
The storylines were original and entertaining while the writing was crisp, engaging, and laced with amusing visuals, clever snark, and smirk-worthy levity. The story was character-driven and developed slowly. While I had an instant liking for Rian, Carlos was a piece of work that required a lot more effort for me to fully appreciate, although that grew easier as he began to evolve from the shallow pool of ooze in which he started.
I am totally grooving on these Smartypants Romances.
Want to read
November 8, 2021
★★FREE BOOK ALERT★★
What is this Monday miracle? Weight Expectations by M.E. Carter is FREE over on Amazon for a VERY limited time. You can snap up this rom com over in the Knitting in the City World for no moolah.
★★Grab your FREE copy TODAY★★
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2oTqutH
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/31F9hBr
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2BB8bvY
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/32OEfsp
** BLURB **
Rian Thompson thought she joined the gym to get healthy. Little did she know she was about to add hundred and ninety pounds of swoonworthy abdominal muscles and arrogance to her life.
Every day in Rians’s life follows a predictable pattern, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s got a nice job, a nice place to live, and a nice family – even if they are a little wedding-zilla-ish at the moment. She doesn’t need anything spectacular to be happy. She just needs to get healthy – mentally, physically. . . and maybe spiritually if that happens. But she’ll settle for two out of three until her sister finally gets hitched.
Carlos Davies thought his life was perfect. Little did he know it was about to be turned upside down by a woman who is not his type.
In Carlos’s mind, his life is damn near perfect. He’s got a great job, a great place to live, and a great stash of pick up lines that always work. It has occurred to him that maybe no one actually takes him all that seriously. But with these bulging biceps and thick, dark hair, does that even matter since he’s never sleeping alone?
Welcome to Weight Expectations, where great—and unexpected—things happen.
‘Weight Expectations’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Cipher Office series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
Read
September 17, 2019OMG you guys... we are officially FOUR WEEKS AWAY! I can't wait!!!
October 15, 2019
As a morbidly obese person, I just could not suspend belief with this story. The heroine, Rian, is fat and trying to "get healthy" at her new gym. I like Rian. She is smart, sassy, and sarcastic. But Carlos, the hot Latin, ugh. He has his own body image issues, but he's just a jerk. There's no meet cute or mutual respect or like. I just didn't get it.
What I do appreciate is how Smartpants Romance is bring inclusivity and diversity to the romance genre.
What I do appreciate is how Smartpants Romance is bring inclusivity and diversity to the romance genre.
October 20, 2019
This is part of the Penny Reid Smartypants romance series.
This story is Carlos, who works with Quinn.
This one didn't work for me.
Obviously the main topic is weight and the setting is a gym.
Carlos is not interested in relationships and is happy single.
He has a few thoughts about attempting to pick up a couple of women before noticing the heroine, who starts going to the gym and needs to loose weight on advice from her doctor.
Carlos meets the heroine, looks right through her. He seemed so shallow not at all how I saw him in Neathdathal seeks human, Quinn and Janie's book.
He goes on a date with another woman after officially meeting the heroine.
"She’s no Rian, but those heels will still look fabulous wrapped around my waist tonight. Although I’m not sure why Rian just popped into my head. I’ve only met the woman once, and while I enjoyed talking to her, she’s not my type at all.
Focus, Carlos. Your date is here and she’s a knockout."
His intention is to wine, dine then have sex with this other woman.
It doesnt work out that way but not because of him.
"More important, I’m not the kind of guy she wants. That’s really what it boils down to—honesty. There is no reason to make her think I’m looking for a relationship. I’m not, and I don’t want to disappoint anyone by pretending otherwise. My interests in women are three-fold:
Holidays and visits with my mother.
Acquaintanceship and fun conversation with co-workers.
One night of pleasure with anyone else who may catch my eye."
He's such a peach.
I honestly thought she was going to end up with the trainer, Abel, they spent so much time together esp at the start.
I did like the author didn't label the heroine with a size, esp as dress sizing varies from country to country but it was for health reasons from her doctor that she was trying to get fit.
Also there was a skinny person with deadly high cholesterol which showed you are not automatically healthy just because you are thinner.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Ex drama.
HEA.
This story is Carlos, who works with Quinn.
This one didn't work for me.
Obviously the main topic is weight and the setting is a gym.
Carlos is not interested in relationships and is happy single.
He has a few thoughts about attempting to pick up a couple of women before noticing the heroine, who starts going to the gym and needs to loose weight on advice from her doctor.
Carlos meets the heroine, looks right through her. He seemed so shallow not at all how I saw him in Neathdathal seeks human, Quinn and Janie's book.
He goes on a date with another woman after officially meeting the heroine.
"She’s no Rian, but those heels will still look fabulous wrapped around my waist tonight. Although I’m not sure why Rian just popped into my head. I’ve only met the woman once, and while I enjoyed talking to her, she’s not my type at all.
Focus, Carlos. Your date is here and she’s a knockout."
His intention is to wine, dine then have sex with this other woman.
It doesnt work out that way but not because of him.
"More important, I’m not the kind of guy she wants. That’s really what it boils down to—honesty. There is no reason to make her think I’m looking for a relationship. I’m not, and I don’t want to disappoint anyone by pretending otherwise. My interests in women are three-fold:
Holidays and visits with my mother.
Acquaintanceship and fun conversation with co-workers.
One night of pleasure with anyone else who may catch my eye."
He's such a peach.
I honestly thought she was going to end up with the trainer, Abel, they spent so much time together esp at the start.
I did like the author didn't label the heroine with a size, esp as dress sizing varies from country to country but it was for health reasons from her doctor that she was trying to get fit.
Also there was a skinny person with deadly high cholesterol which showed you are not automatically healthy just because you are thinner.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Ex drama.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2019
* Romance between these two is NOT believable
* I missed/needed something more
* I am confused if this book was supposed to make Rian more than her weight than why was the weight constantly in the center of a story or maybe that is the why should be than why was nothing resolved with it
* Carlos is not redeemable asshole and I don't buy it, his and Rian relationship
* I missed/needed something more
* I am confused if this book was supposed to make Rian more than her weight than why was the weight constantly in the center of a story or maybe that is the why should be than why was nothing resolved with it
* Carlos is not redeemable asshole and I don't buy it, his and Rian relationship
September 30, 2019
3.5 Stars
I am really grateful to have received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have been loving the Smartypants Romance books but am sad to say this one wasn’t totally for me. This is my first ME Carter book and you can tell she’s a really good writer. I LOVED the heroine, Rian. She was funny and real with a lot of depth. I liked reading about her and her growth. I also applaud ME Carter for creating a real heroine who doesn’t have the perfect body which is what you typically find in romance novels. What I didn’t understand in this book was the romance. The development of the relationship between Rian and Carlos felt off. They didn’t spend that much time together in the first half of the book. Carlos didn’t really have any depth and was superficial and then all of the sudden he realizes he likes our “morbidly obese” main character? It didn’t feel real to me and Carlos just wasn’t likable. I felt more of a connection between Rian and her trainer, Abel. Overall, the lack of connection between the romantic leads hurt the reading experience for me but I would read more from this author in the future.
I am really grateful to have received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have been loving the Smartypants Romance books but am sad to say this one wasn’t totally for me. This is my first ME Carter book and you can tell she’s a really good writer. I LOVED the heroine, Rian. She was funny and real with a lot of depth. I liked reading about her and her growth. I also applaud ME Carter for creating a real heroine who doesn’t have the perfect body which is what you typically find in romance novels. What I didn’t understand in this book was the romance. The development of the relationship between Rian and Carlos felt off. They didn’t spend that much time together in the first half of the book. Carlos didn’t really have any depth and was superficial and then all of the sudden he realizes he likes our “morbidly obese” main character? It didn’t feel real to me and Carlos just wasn’t likable. I felt more of a connection between Rian and her trainer, Abel. Overall, the lack of connection between the romantic leads hurt the reading experience for me but I would read more from this author in the future.
November 10, 2019
I was already done and over this the first 1/4 of reading. The concept left much to be desire, the characters fell flat and I found myself zoning out more times that I could count due to the lackluster plot, so needless to say, this fell in the dropped graveyard.
October 27, 2019
3.5 Stars
I LOVED Rian!
LOVED! LOVED! LOVED HER!
She was such an amazing character and so freaking funny!
Her inner dialogue had me cry-laughing.
Her insecurities were real and relatable.
Her relationship with Abel (secondary character) is what made this book so entertaining and funny.
Carlo's character was very hard for me to like and relate to.
He first came across as arrogant and narcissistic, and then the reader learns about Carlo's own insecurities and fears.
But, even reading about 'why' he was the way he was, I still didn't like him very much.
This was a good read, but not one of my favourites. :-(
"An ARC of this book was provided by SocialButterflyPR in exchange for an honest review."
I LOVED Rian!
LOVED! LOVED! LOVED HER!
She was such an amazing character and so freaking funny!
Her inner dialogue had me cry-laughing.
Her insecurities were real and relatable.
Her relationship with Abel (secondary character) is what made this book so entertaining and funny.
Carlo's character was very hard for me to like and relate to.
He first came across as arrogant and narcissistic, and then the reader learns about Carlo's own insecurities and fears.
But, even reading about 'why' he was the way he was, I still didn't like him very much.
This was a good read, but not one of my favourites. :-(
"An ARC of this book was provided by SocialButterflyPR in exchange for an honest review."
September 28, 2019
I started out really enjoying this book. Rian is so funny and relatable! I couldn’t wait to read a romance about a romance heroine who is described as “morbidly obese.” However, Carlos Carlos Carlos. What the heck?! The hero is obsessed with his looks and with the gym and barely notices Rian. Then all of a sudden he realizes that she is funny and likes her? It didn’t seem plausible to me. So many things just didn’t make sense—and when they are together, they don’t seem to have that amazing of chemistry?! I just felt really distanced from the characters and I’m not sure how I feel about the “morbidly obese” portrayal. It seems like it was switched on and off.
I am really grateful to have received an advanced copy of this book. It definitely opened the doors to some good conversations to be had.
I am really grateful to have received an advanced copy of this book. It definitely opened the doors to some good conversations to be had.
October 5, 2020
Easy read. Nothing overly dramatic or deep about it. A bit unrealistic, but easy flow and fast paced. I wasn't crazy about the characters, yet I was entertained so I say give it a shot if you enjoy this genre.
October 15, 2019
***I received an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.***
Listen. I'm a big girl. I've been big my whole life. I've been compared to my skinny elder sister and have been deemed as "the fat one" since birth. It doesn't matter if I lose weight or inches - my family will always see me as "the fat one." I'm 39, single, and I love the idea of romantic love. Hence, when Penny Reid announced her Smartypants Romance publications, I saw the title had the word "weight" in it and just grabbed hold of it. I had wished/hoped/prayed that it'll be good.
After reading it, I found it to be.... okay. The book heroine, Rian, is me, essentially. I'm a recent gym/dance convert. I'm obese. My mother would even say "morbidly obese." Any doctor would agree with her assessment. I take Zumba/dancercise classes regularly - 5 times a week. I hide my insecurities behind jokes and take pride in being the "funny one" amongst new acquaintances. I can be self-deprecating, but am also highly sensitive when those closest to me relentlessly tease/taunt me with my weaknesses. So, I struggled to really finish this without putting my own shit onto Rian. On this, however, I failed.
Carlos and Rian's relationship felt contrived, like fitting a square peg into a round hole (no pun intended). I did not "feel" any romance between them, honestly. Sure, Rian was actively seeking a partner, but Carlos' eyes passed over her (or just glazed right over) when Rian was standing beside him at the gym, during the first time they met. I've been there, done that. So, if I were in Rian's shoes (which, I can say, I am IRL) there is no way in heaven, earth, purgatory, or hell would I even consider Carlos as The One. In real life, no way could this ever end in HEA. No way.......... not at least, in my eyes.
P.S. I once saw a story on Yahoo (this was, of course, eons ago) of a young, muscular man from Europe moving to the USA to be with his "true love," a morbidly obese Filipino-American who's a comedienne on YouTube/social media. I can't find that story now.
P.P.S. I did find this, however. So, maybe a pseudo-Carlos would be believable. Maybe.
Listen. I'm a big girl. I've been big my whole life. I've been compared to my skinny elder sister and have been deemed as "the fat one" since birth. It doesn't matter if I lose weight or inches - my family will always see me as "the fat one." I'm 39, single, and I love the idea of romantic love. Hence, when Penny Reid announced her Smartypants Romance publications, I saw the title had the word "weight" in it and just grabbed hold of it. I had wished/hoped/prayed that it'll be good.
After reading it, I found it to be.... okay. The book heroine, Rian, is me, essentially. I'm a recent gym/dance convert. I'm obese. My mother would even say "morbidly obese." Any doctor would agree with her assessment. I take Zumba/dancercise classes regularly - 5 times a week. I hide my insecurities behind jokes and take pride in being the "funny one" amongst new acquaintances. I can be self-deprecating, but am also highly sensitive when those closest to me relentlessly tease/taunt me with my weaknesses. So, I struggled to really finish this without putting my own shit onto Rian. On this, however, I failed.
Carlos and Rian's relationship felt contrived, like fitting a square peg into a round hole (no pun intended). I did not "feel" any romance between them, honestly. Sure, Rian was actively seeking a partner, but Carlos' eyes passed over her (or just glazed right over) when Rian was standing beside him at the gym, during the first time they met. I've been there, done that. So, if I were in Rian's shoes (which, I can say, I am IRL) there is no way in heaven, earth, purgatory, or hell would I even consider Carlos as The One. In real life, no way could this ever end in HEA. No way.......... not at least, in my eyes.
P.S. I once saw a story on Yahoo (this was, of course, eons ago) of a young, muscular man from Europe moving to the USA to be with his "true love," a morbidly obese Filipino-American who's a comedienne on YouTube/social media. I can't find that story now.
P.P.S. I did find this, however. So, maybe a pseudo-Carlos would be believable. Maybe.
October 23, 2019
It isn’t often that I get a story with a protagonist whom I love and the other whom I absolutely detest—which incidentally, makes the book rating a very problematic one.
It really was the weightiness of the heroine—pun not quite intended—that carried the story and it was for Rian that I kept reading. I loved her witty, self-deprecating, hilarious perspectives on all things gym-related, her mock-antagonistic relationship with a trainer she’s determined to see as sadistic and her very down-to-earth nature that made her oh-so-relatable.
But there is also where my issues begin. I’d think that morbid obesity as Rian is described as having, is also a condition that comes with its own emotional and mental baggage (in that way, it’s not unlike other health conditions that affect the emotional state) but it wasn’t something that came across too strongly. In fact, Rian’s self-assurance was quite astonishing to read about, her own awareness of her capabilities and the general likability she has each time she comes around.
And if Rian singlehandedly propped the book up, unfortunately, it was Carlos who singlehandedly tanked the entire read for me with his shallow, repetitive mantra about his only purpose being to give women pleasure to explain away his non-committal and player ways. The constant emphasis on Rian really not being his type throughout the book somehow made it even more intolerable—since the implication was that he liked her for her personality than anything else that he could get from his other hookups. His sheer arrogance and smarminess never quite went away throughout and the lack of proper ‘couple’ development time—Rian and Carlos don’t really interact too much for the first half of the book as they do their own things—don’t seem to help flesh him out as a character whose evolution I could buy into.
‘Weight Expectations’ is not a hard read narrative-wise but I finished the book more for Rian than anything else, whom I honestly thought deserved better.
It really was the weightiness of the heroine—pun not quite intended—that carried the story and it was for Rian that I kept reading. I loved her witty, self-deprecating, hilarious perspectives on all things gym-related, her mock-antagonistic relationship with a trainer she’s determined to see as sadistic and her very down-to-earth nature that made her oh-so-relatable.
But there is also where my issues begin. I’d think that morbid obesity as Rian is described as having, is also a condition that comes with its own emotional and mental baggage (in that way, it’s not unlike other health conditions that affect the emotional state) but it wasn’t something that came across too strongly. In fact, Rian’s self-assurance was quite astonishing to read about, her own awareness of her capabilities and the general likability she has each time she comes around.
And if Rian singlehandedly propped the book up, unfortunately, it was Carlos who singlehandedly tanked the entire read for me with his shallow, repetitive mantra about his only purpose being to give women pleasure to explain away his non-committal and player ways. The constant emphasis on Rian really not being his type throughout the book somehow made it even more intolerable—since the implication was that he liked her for her personality than anything else that he could get from his other hookups. His sheer arrogance and smarminess never quite went away throughout and the lack of proper ‘couple’ development time—Rian and Carlos don’t really interact too much for the first half of the book as they do their own things—don’t seem to help flesh him out as a character whose evolution I could buy into.
‘Weight Expectations’ is not a hard read narrative-wise but I finished the book more for Rian than anything else, whom I honestly thought deserved better.
October 24, 2019
I'm teetering between 2 "it was ok" stars and 3 "I liked it" stars with this book but will place it at 3 for now.
Within the story we meet Rian, (which I'm still not quite sure if it's pronounced Ree-Ann, Ry-ann, or Ryan, but anyway) who is another "not-so-typical" female heroine (which is quickly becoming a running theme in the SmartyPants Romance books I've read so far...and I dig it!) who is described as "morbidly obese" and Carlos, the regimented gym rat who is a sexy Latino/Norwegian. I liked their characters enough but really didn't feel any type of connection to them or between them.
My biggest pet peeve with this book is the interactions between Rian and Carlos. Aside from a random dinner out with friends (where they officially meet for the first time despite going to the same gym), and their quick, surface-level convo at said dinner, this is their only interaction until 50-55% into the story. *scratches head* I wasn't able to feel any type of connection between the two of them. I felt more of a connection between Rian and her trainer at the gym, Abel!!!
I was also quite disappointed in Rian's reaction to her mother and sister. I wanted her to stand up for herself more but every time she'd say something sarcastically, it would go over both their heads and nothing would come of it. There were several other things that just felt out of sync or were left without an explanation. I did NOT like how the romantic scenes with Carlos and Rian were glazed over, almost fade-to-black. This would have been the perfect setting to make a point for plus-size women to feel just as sexy and worshiped in the bedroom as all the "skinny, perky model types"...so I'm disappointed in a missed opportunity there. Especially since this book focuses so much on body type, the societal interpretations of those bodies, and how we feel/view ourselves.
I also would have liked to have gotten an update on Rian's gym journey (a weight loss update or something) as well as her relationship with her sister (following the sister's wedding). I just needed more.
It was a decent, low-angst, and very contemporary read.
*arc provided for honest review*
Within the story we meet Rian, (which I'm still not quite sure if it's pronounced Ree-Ann, Ry-ann, or Ryan, but anyway) who is another "not-so-typical" female heroine (which is quickly becoming a running theme in the SmartyPants Romance books I've read so far...and I dig it!) who is described as "morbidly obese" and Carlos, the regimented gym rat who is a sexy Latino/Norwegian. I liked their characters enough but really didn't feel any type of connection to them or between them.
My biggest pet peeve with this book is the interactions between Rian and Carlos. Aside from a random dinner out with friends (where they officially meet for the first time despite going to the same gym), and their quick, surface-level convo at said dinner, this is their only interaction until 50-55% into the story. *scratches head* I wasn't able to feel any type of connection between the two of them. I felt more of a connection between Rian and her trainer at the gym, Abel!!!
I was also quite disappointed in Rian's reaction to her mother and sister. I wanted her to stand up for herself more but every time she'd say something sarcastically, it would go over both their heads and nothing would come of it. There were several other things that just felt out of sync or were left without an explanation. I did NOT like how the romantic scenes with Carlos and Rian were glazed over, almost fade-to-black. This would have been the perfect setting to make a point for plus-size women to feel just as sexy and worshiped in the bedroom as all the "skinny, perky model types"...so I'm disappointed in a missed opportunity there. Especially since this book focuses so much on body type, the societal interpretations of those bodies, and how we feel/view ourselves.
I also would have liked to have gotten an update on Rian's gym journey (a weight loss update or something) as well as her relationship with her sister (following the sister's wedding). I just needed more.
It was a decent, low-angst, and very contemporary read.
*arc provided for honest review*
October 21, 2019
Spoilers
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This story is about Rian and Carlos. Rian has been labeled "morbidly obese" by her doctor, and so she joins a gym to get her health back on track. Carlos works out there, and is a 40 year old bachelor who doesn't do relationships (where have I heard that one before *rolls eyes*). They have a group dinner with some friends at the gym, and thus starts a I guess you could say fascination with each other.
I always like to try books that explore a heroine who is overweight or heavy just to see if the author can pull it off. I haven't found one that does it totally to my satisfaction, but that is why I gave this book a try. I actually quite liked Rian, she didn't dwell on her weight, and the author didn't spend a lot of time describing her, other than a mention in the book she resembled Mia Tyler, the model. She was funny, witty and ok with her station in life even if she didn't have everything she wanted. She was working out for her health not to be any certain size. I felt this aspect was probably the best part of the book so that is where most of the stars I gave it came from.
If this had just been a book about Rian, strictly from her POV, meeting a great guy (her trainer, more on this in a bit) than it probably would have been a four star read for me, unfortunately the book was also about Carlos, and he had a POV every other chapter and he totally bought the whole book down. He was vain and shallow, it just sucked so much being in his head throughout the book. Not only did we have to hear about his gross thoughts about women or how great he thinks his body is, we also had to constantly be in his confusion on how he could possibly be attracted to someone like Rian, see because he likes slim women, with large breasts (I really need my rolling eyes emojis for this review). These were some of his thoughts:
What in the world is happening to me? I shouldn't be attracted to this woman for any reason except some interesting conversation while our friends ignore us...This woman has caught my eye and I don't understand it. At All."
And there goes my opportunity to get laid. I have no interest in daring smart, motivated women.
Just constant stuff like this, where the author was trying to make him more palatable by saying he always was straight up with women, because he just knew he wasn't meant to be in a relationship, he thought he was meant to give pleasure to women, so essentially he thought he was gods gift to women....literally LMAO Anyways, he just came off like the creepy guys at the gym me and my friends avoid when we go work out, which we certainly don't try to get their attention, we try to make sure we get to our cars before ending up in their trunks. I will give the author credit that it wasn't JUST her looks he was not understanding his attraction with, but also because she was smart and had depth which meant she would want more from him then one night. I guess my problem is there was never any moment that bought him down a peg or two to show you why he learned being shallow and vain are not good traits, it was framed more that Rian was just special and she changed him. I would have wanted to see him have some character development to give some depth to his 180 of wanting a relationship.
Overall though I just never bought his 180 of wanting a relationship, there was no finesse to the turnaround. Also they don't even spend more than dinner together by 60%, but yet he is consumed by thoughts of her, and she of him. I had no idea why she liked him other than his looks. There is a whole plot where she ends up working for him, it all just was weak. I sensed no true chemistry between them, no sexual tension was developed, and the sex scene was fade to black probably because the author didn't know how to write a love scene between them. I honestly think she didn't know how to mingle these two character prototypes together romantically, a plus size heroine with a manwhore, which is why they barely had any time together before the book was over.
This brings me to Abel, her trainer at the gym, he should have been the hero. They had chemistry, banter, he was sweet, and wasn't a manwhore. Lost opportunity!
One other aspect I didn't like, creepy Carlos slept with a women after meeting Rian (a no no for me on top of everything else) who he referred later to as a "dead fish in the sack", this guy is such a catch *blank stare into the distance* Anyways Rebecca was one of those OW characters designed to show how the hero treats the heroine differently, he even referred to as a "loose woman" IT IS 2019, STOP THIS! Jeez, a woman doing the exact shit he is doing isn't LOOSE she is just having fun the way he can, you don't have to bring the heroine down to calling petty names and make the hero look like a jerk to show he likes the heroine more, maybe you should have had them interact prior to 60% and that wouldn't have been needed! They have a whole fight over this woman when they barely had talked prior to her entering the story. Also just this constant need to have OW drama, the ability for the hero to be able to have sex to fulfill needs, but the heroine not having had sex in years. Why is it always that way? Why can't authors just write about normal people who have had lives and sex lives? Why do they always have to fit into these stereotypical boxes of how men and women have sex?
Anyways, I would not recommend the book if you want romance, or if you want safe. If you want to maybe see what could have been of an awesome female character in a different plot and you have KU, it might be worth it.
.
.
.
.
This story is about Rian and Carlos. Rian has been labeled "morbidly obese" by her doctor, and so she joins a gym to get her health back on track. Carlos works out there, and is a 40 year old bachelor who doesn't do relationships (where have I heard that one before *rolls eyes*). They have a group dinner with some friends at the gym, and thus starts a I guess you could say fascination with each other.
I always like to try books that explore a heroine who is overweight or heavy just to see if the author can pull it off. I haven't found one that does it totally to my satisfaction, but that is why I gave this book a try. I actually quite liked Rian, she didn't dwell on her weight, and the author didn't spend a lot of time describing her, other than a mention in the book she resembled Mia Tyler, the model. She was funny, witty and ok with her station in life even if she didn't have everything she wanted. She was working out for her health not to be any certain size. I felt this aspect was probably the best part of the book so that is where most of the stars I gave it came from.
If this had just been a book about Rian, strictly from her POV, meeting a great guy (her trainer, more on this in a bit) than it probably would have been a four star read for me, unfortunately the book was also about Carlos, and he had a POV every other chapter and he totally bought the whole book down. He was vain and shallow, it just sucked so much being in his head throughout the book. Not only did we have to hear about his gross thoughts about women or how great he thinks his body is, we also had to constantly be in his confusion on how he could possibly be attracted to someone like Rian, see because he likes slim women, with large breasts (I really need my rolling eyes emojis for this review). These were some of his thoughts:
What in the world is happening to me? I shouldn't be attracted to this woman for any reason except some interesting conversation while our friends ignore us...This woman has caught my eye and I don't understand it. At All."
And there goes my opportunity to get laid. I have no interest in daring smart, motivated women.
Just constant stuff like this, where the author was trying to make him more palatable by saying he always was straight up with women, because he just knew he wasn't meant to be in a relationship, he thought he was meant to give pleasure to women, so essentially he thought he was gods gift to women....literally LMAO Anyways, he just came off like the creepy guys at the gym me and my friends avoid when we go work out, which we certainly don't try to get their attention, we try to make sure we get to our cars before ending up in their trunks. I will give the author credit that it wasn't JUST her looks he was not understanding his attraction with, but also because she was smart and had depth which meant she would want more from him then one night. I guess my problem is there was never any moment that bought him down a peg or two to show you why he learned being shallow and vain are not good traits, it was framed more that Rian was just special and she changed him. I would have wanted to see him have some character development to give some depth to his 180 of wanting a relationship.
Overall though I just never bought his 180 of wanting a relationship, there was no finesse to the turnaround. Also they don't even spend more than dinner together by 60%, but yet he is consumed by thoughts of her, and she of him. I had no idea why she liked him other than his looks. There is a whole plot where she ends up working for him, it all just was weak. I sensed no true chemistry between them, no sexual tension was developed, and the sex scene was fade to black probably because the author didn't know how to write a love scene between them. I honestly think she didn't know how to mingle these two character prototypes together romantically, a plus size heroine with a manwhore, which is why they barely had any time together before the book was over.
This brings me to Abel, her trainer at the gym, he should have been the hero. They had chemistry, banter, he was sweet, and wasn't a manwhore. Lost opportunity!
One other aspect I didn't like, creepy Carlos slept with a women after meeting Rian (a no no for me on top of everything else) who he referred later to as a "dead fish in the sack", this guy is such a catch *blank stare into the distance* Anyways Rebecca was one of those OW characters designed to show how the hero treats the heroine differently, he even referred to as a "loose woman" IT IS 2019, STOP THIS! Jeez, a woman doing the exact shit he is doing isn't LOOSE she is just having fun the way he can, you don't have to bring the heroine down to calling petty names and make the hero look like a jerk to show he likes the heroine more, maybe you should have had them interact prior to 60% and that wouldn't have been needed! They have a whole fight over this woman when they barely had talked prior to her entering the story. Also just this constant need to have OW drama, the ability for the hero to be able to have sex to fulfill needs, but the heroine not having had sex in years. Why is it always that way? Why can't authors just write about normal people who have had lives and sex lives? Why do they always have to fit into these stereotypical boxes of how men and women have sex?
Anyways, I would not recommend the book if you want romance, or if you want safe. If you want to maybe see what could have been of an awesome female character in a different plot and you have KU, it might be worth it.
October 28, 2019
⭐️⭐️
The premise for Weight Expectations was promising and after the thoroughly enjoyable first instalment from the Smartypants Romance world (Baking Me Crazy) I had high hopes for it. Yet, I’m sorry to say this one just must not have been for me.
Rian and Carlos’ chemistry didn’t feel authentic, the strong connection they felt seemed to appear from nowhere and with barely any interaction other than a group dinner. Also, their behaviours and thought patterns came across as too immature to realistically be middle-aged characters.
I was excited to hear from some of the Cipher Security gang, but the portrayal of Quinn was very off for me.
I hate that this isn’t a more positive review, I really wanted to love it and persevered to the end with the hope it would turn itself around, unfortunately it didn’t.
***ARC generously provided by Social Butterfly in exchange for an honest review***
#WeightExpectations
The premise for Weight Expectations was promising and after the thoroughly enjoyable first instalment from the Smartypants Romance world (Baking Me Crazy) I had high hopes for it. Yet, I’m sorry to say this one just must not have been for me.
Rian and Carlos’ chemistry didn’t feel authentic, the strong connection they felt seemed to appear from nowhere and with barely any interaction other than a group dinner. Also, their behaviours and thought patterns came across as too immature to realistically be middle-aged characters.
I was excited to hear from some of the Cipher Security gang, but the portrayal of Quinn was very off for me.
I hate that this isn’t a more positive review, I really wanted to love it and persevered to the end with the hope it would turn itself around, unfortunately it didn’t.
***ARC generously provided by Social Butterfly in exchange for an honest review***
#WeightExpectations
dnf
September 28, 2019Last year I fell hard into a Penny Reid shaped hole - in rapid succession I read all of the Knitting in the City and Winston Brothers book. On the whole, I absolutely loved them - loved getting to know and care about two whole communities of people who were friend groups and also each finding love. Occasionally a book was a miss for me - but that doesn’t stop me from continuing with the rest of the series.
I was so excited to learn about SmartyPants romance and that the Pennyverse would be expanding - with more great authors writing within these worlds I already know and love.
Weight Expectations is the first of these books that I read and unfortunately it was a miss for me and I’m stopping at 52%.
To start with what I like - I enjoyed the author’s writing voice and I really enjoy the heroine Rian. I am always a little cautious entering books where weight is a factor - but I think the representation of Rian and her experiences felt really true to me. I love her personality and her friendship with Francesca. I think she deserves to find an amazing guy.
Unfortunately - that’s where this book lost me. I just can’t connect with Carlos. He is only interested in casual dating which is fine - but will lose all interest in a woman if he perceives her as smart and motivated. I assume at some point he’s going to come around and change his opinions - but having made it more than halfway through the book, I’m not interested in waiting longer for him to become someone I’m willing to spend time with.
I do love that Carlos works at Cipher Security with Quinn - and loved seeing glimpses of characters I love from the Knitting in the City books. Like getting to peek glances of friends I haven’t seen in a long time.
I’m really excited to keep reading more of the Pennyverse books. I would also definitely read other books by the author - I just wasn’t a good match with Carlos.
Thank you so much to the publisher and the author for the advance reading copy.
I was so excited to learn about SmartyPants romance and that the Pennyverse would be expanding - with more great authors writing within these worlds I already know and love.
Weight Expectations is the first of these books that I read and unfortunately it was a miss for me and I’m stopping at 52%.
To start with what I like - I enjoyed the author’s writing voice and I really enjoy the heroine Rian. I am always a little cautious entering books where weight is a factor - but I think the representation of Rian and her experiences felt really true to me. I love her personality and her friendship with Francesca. I think she deserves to find an amazing guy.
Unfortunately - that’s where this book lost me. I just can’t connect with Carlos. He is only interested in casual dating which is fine - but will lose all interest in a woman if he perceives her as smart and motivated. I assume at some point he’s going to come around and change his opinions - but having made it more than halfway through the book, I’m not interested in waiting longer for him to become someone I’m willing to spend time with.
I do love that Carlos works at Cipher Security with Quinn - and loved seeing glimpses of characters I love from the Knitting in the City books. Like getting to peek glances of friends I haven’t seen in a long time.
I’m really excited to keep reading more of the Pennyverse books. I would also definitely read other books by the author - I just wasn’t a good match with Carlos.
Thank you so much to the publisher and the author for the advance reading copy.
October 23, 2019
My first Smartypants book and my first book by this author.
I really enjoyed this opposites attract story.
Rian is a strong heroine, who gradually realizes her strengths and gifts.
She starts to work out at Weight Expectations Gym after her Doctor advises her to get fit.
I enjoyed Rian's interactions with her fitness instructor, Joel. She felt little pressure and an easy rapport since he's married with kids.
Carlos works at Cypher Security. He's a bit of a player and confident with women. He's surprised at his growing attraction to Rian. He kept thinking: 'She's not my type'. He thought this a lot.
I'm glad Rian didn't know how much he thought this. She'd be insulted. I would.
Rian is under appreciated by her bridezilla sister and her mother. Rian gets demoted from maid of honor to bridesmaid. She doesn't mind at all.
Rian's hates her job. Her boss is a jerk. I work with people all shapes and sizes. They don't get treated like Rian does. Lawsuit, HR involvement at the very least. Rian works on resolving that too.
The middle of the book and forward had more growth in Rian and Carlos' relationship. I liked Carlos' growth. Rian wasn't the one that had the biggest changes to go through.
I lot of this is the Eye of the Beholder kind of vibe. Once they got closer, It was more of wow, she/he is so great and I love how she looks, how funny and smart she is, etc. There was less of 'she's not my type'.
I liked Rian from the start. Carlos really grew on me and by the end, I really liked him.
I received an advanced copy from the Smartypants group. this book is out now on Kindle Unlimited.
This is a standalone. Spin off from the Kitting in the City series (Neanderthal Seeks Human) by Penny Reid. Not necessary to read that before this one.
I really enjoyed this opposites attract story.
Rian is a strong heroine, who gradually realizes her strengths and gifts.
She starts to work out at Weight Expectations Gym after her Doctor advises her to get fit.
I enjoyed Rian's interactions with her fitness instructor, Joel. She felt little pressure and an easy rapport since he's married with kids.
Carlos works at Cypher Security. He's a bit of a player and confident with women. He's surprised at his growing attraction to Rian. He kept thinking: 'She's not my type'. He thought this a lot.
I'm glad Rian didn't know how much he thought this. She'd be insulted. I would.
Rian is under appreciated by her bridezilla sister and her mother. Rian gets demoted from maid of honor to bridesmaid. She doesn't mind at all.
Rian's hates her job. Her boss is a jerk. I work with people all shapes and sizes. They don't get treated like Rian does. Lawsuit, HR involvement at the very least. Rian works on resolving that too.
The middle of the book and forward had more growth in Rian and Carlos' relationship. I liked Carlos' growth. Rian wasn't the one that had the biggest changes to go through.
I lot of this is the Eye of the Beholder kind of vibe. Once they got closer, It was more of wow, she/he is so great and I love how she looks, how funny and smart she is, etc. There was less of 'she's not my type'.
I liked Rian from the start. Carlos really grew on me and by the end, I really liked him.
I received an advanced copy from the Smartypants group. this book is out now on Kindle Unlimited.
This is a standalone. Spin off from the Kitting in the City series (Neanderthal Seeks Human) by Penny Reid. Not necessary to read that before this one.
October 17, 2019
The hero was too vain for me
March 13, 2022
And now we are entering the world of Penny Reid from a different section. We are with the folks from the Knitting in the City world and loving it! Our heroine has been told by her doctor to lose weight. So, she decides to tackle the problem with humor and intelligence. She and her friend take turns cooking healthy meals to share. (Brilliant!!) No leaning on Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice. Then she joins a gym where she meets an awesome trainer. She also makes more friends including the bartender at the juice bar. (A gym with excellent people and a juice bar is the dream)
Our hero works for Quin who is in the middle of Janey's pregnancy and losing his mind. (Watching one of my favorite couples from the side lines is so much fun!) Our hero is also one of those guys that never dates, he just hooks up. But meeting our heroine changes his mind.
I love that the insecurities of both Hero and Heroine are addressed with honesty. Although she isn't his type of usual woman (She has a brain) he soon falls for her. Not because of or in spite of her weight, but because of her. Meanwhile our heroine is a wonderful character and roll model. She is kind, intelligent and patient. Going through her many procrastinations is so 'spot on' and realistically funny. I laughed out loud during this excellent story!
Our hero works for Quin who is in the middle of Janey's pregnancy and losing his mind. (Watching one of my favorite couples from the side lines is so much fun!) Our hero is also one of those guys that never dates, he just hooks up. But meeting our heroine changes his mind.
I love that the insecurities of both Hero and Heroine are addressed with honesty. Although she isn't his type of usual woman (She has a brain) he soon falls for her. Not because of or in spite of her weight, but because of her. Meanwhile our heroine is a wonderful character and roll model. She is kind, intelligent and patient. Going through her many procrastinations is so 'spot on' and realistically funny. I laughed out loud during this excellent story!
October 21, 2019
I think this is my first book by this author and I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed it! I really connected with the main character, Rian. Although throughout the book my brain wasn't sure if I should pronounce her name like "Ryan" or "Ri-ann". So much though about her made me think of my own life. The sister that is a marathon runner, the sister that will tell you how you should eat. Not to mention her smart-ass reactions to everything, that is so me! There was even a part where she said she wasn't only "puffing" from exercising, but also just because she wanted to complain, I totally do that as well. Carlos started off though like a total ass. I mean so conceited and arrogant, that it took me a little to start to like him. But once he decided that he was into Rian, I got him a little better as he began to figure things out. Being part of the Knitting in the City world was also so awesome. I loved the Code Pink, and then the Code Red as well. Getting to be in a part of the timeline of the KITC series was so much fun with Janie being pregnant and Quinn being stressed about it. What really stood out for me too though, was how real the characters were, and even though it was about going to the gym and starting to work on losing weight or just getting healthy, we didn't necessarily get a countdown to how much weight Rian was losing. The nickname "ketozilla" totally made me laugh. As someone who is putting her toe in the pool of keto dieting, I have to say that while I've been adamantly disgusted by the thought of cauliflower rice, this story made me think I might actually want to try it. If someone who knew how to make it was the one who made it, and they made it as good as it sounded. Now one thing that I didn't get, why in the world was she shaving in the shower at the gym? I mean I get the taking a shower after exercising, but why in the world would you not shave BEFORE you go to the gym? Anyway, I really liked all the side characters as well. Even though I'm not planning to read the others in this series in the immediate future because of time constraints, I look forward to reading about all of them finding their HEA.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
October 4, 2019
I really liked this book as the main female character is a plus-size character who managed to get the hot guy over a skinny blonde twig. Weight Expectations is the third book I have read in the Smartypants Romance and like Code of Conduct this book takes part in the Cipher Office which features Quinn and Janie Sullivan from the Knitting in the City Universe. In Weight Expectations, we first meet Rian who is in a dead-end job and at their latest health insurance check-up her doctor advised her to lose some weight and get healthy. Rian joins a gym called Weight Expectations in order to become healthy, but little did she know that joining the gym would change her life in ways she never imagined from introducing her to new friends Tabitha and Abel, getting to know her co-worker Fran better and building a long-term friendship with her, getting a new job at Cipher Office and getting a hot guy interested in her - Carlos. However is her new life what she wants or is it too good to be true as why would a hunk named Carlos be interested in an overweight Irish female when he can get Rebecca the blonde from the gym? I really liked this book as Rian was a relatable character and felt like me and you and that anyone can get the guy and that you don't have to look like a model to have an awesome life and that people like us regular janes can be accepted for us and that our Inner beauty does shine through making us likable and wanted over someone who may be beautiful on the outside but cold and shallow and self-absorbed on the inside. If you haven't yet discovered the Smartypants Romance books that are being published, then what are you waiting for and check them out and add to your wishlists.
November 10, 2019
I.... am disappointed.
Listen, I am going to forewarn all readers of my reviews.... I love the smartypants romance series a lot. Mainly because I'm obsessed with Penny Reid so anything closely related to her excites me. So picking this one up, I obviously had higher hopes for a first read and it just fell very short. I feel like there was nothing major that happened. It felt as though it was one-note and could've had a lot more substance to it.
We just aren't going to address the nasty comments her sister was making? We're leaving that behind us? I don't really know about this. I would've loved some kind of confrontation between SOMEONE. ANYTHING. I LIKE DRAMA. THERE WAS NONE. It was just Carlos being all anti-commitment and Rian battling it out with her workouts. Francesca just disappeared too....
There just could've been a LOT more and unfortunately, we are missing this all by the end of the book. So this was definitely not a favourite of mine.
I will continue with the series though because I do think this will be a great collection of stories to read... I just won't be revisiting this one.
Listen, I am going to forewarn all readers of my reviews.... I love the smartypants romance series a lot. Mainly because I'm obsessed with Penny Reid so anything closely related to her excites me. So picking this one up, I obviously had higher hopes for a first read and it just fell very short. I feel like there was nothing major that happened. It felt as though it was one-note and could've had a lot more substance to it.
We just aren't going to address the nasty comments her sister was making? We're leaving that behind us? I don't really know about this. I would've loved some kind of confrontation between SOMEONE. ANYTHING. I LIKE DRAMA. THERE WAS NONE. It was just Carlos being all anti-commitment and Rian battling it out with her workouts. Francesca just disappeared too....
There just could've been a LOT more and unfortunately, we are missing this all by the end of the book. So this was definitely not a favourite of mine.
I will continue with the series though because I do think this will be a great collection of stories to read... I just won't be revisiting this one.
August 13, 2019
I LOVED Weight Expectations! The characters felt so real and I related with Rian immediately. If you like banter, laugh out loud moments, palpable tension and emotional growth in characters that makes you want to stand up and CHEER, this is the book for you!!! I love ME Carter's work, and this is my favorite of all her books.
October 24, 2019
J'ai eu un peu plus de mal à entrer dans ce roman, pendant une bonne moitié j'ai trouvé qu'il se passait pas grand chose, que c'était long, que les deux héros mettaient trop de temps avant de se rencontrer et à interagir ensemble... la personnalité de Rian ne m'intéressait pas et Carlos ne me faisait ni chaud ni froid. A vrai dire, pendant cette partie, c'est plus les persos secondaires qui m'intéressaient xD
et puis alors tout tourne autour de la salle de sport, et la vie perso et pro qui s'organise en fonction de quand sont les séances de cardio, j'avoue que je suis pas du tout dans l'esprit "les haltères c'est la vie". alors même si pour Rian, c'est pour des raisons de santé, ça n'empêche que l'histoire se passe dans un "monde" qui me passionne pas du tout...
après, dans la 2e partie du roman, Rian et Carlos sont enfin en mode séduction ce qui a rattrapé mon avis. ils ont une bonne alchimie ensemble, et Carlos se révèle parfait dans sa la façon dont il aborde ses nouveaux sentiments pour Rian.
une chose qui m'a titillé quand même, j'ai trouvé que ce roman était un peu trop lisse dans le politiquement correct et que l'auteur hésitait à écrire les choses clairement. Rian est décrite, dès le début, comme obèse, et pour prévenir d'éventuels problèmes de santé elle doit changer certaines habitudes (manger plus sain, faire du sport) mais pas forcément dans une optique "perte de poids".
Quand Carlos rencontre Rian, il est attiré et ça le surprend car elle est pas du tout "le genre auquel il s'intéresse à la base" lui qui est habitué aux aventures d'un soir, et ça il se le répète plusieurs fois et toujours formulé pareil. sauf que le lecteur a bien compris que Carlos parle du physique comme critère premier pour aller aborder une femme... mais il se l'avoue même pas à lui-même dans ses monologues internes, alors que ça ne l'aurait pas forcément fait passer pour un plouc. Ce qui est dommage, car Carlos change, il évolue, il comprend que Rian l'attire pour des raisons plus profondes et plus sérieuses et il ne veut pas laisser passer la chance d'avoir trouvé sa moitié (voilà pourquoi j'ai mis qu'il était parfait ^^). de plus, il n'hésite pas à mettre au défis les gens qui doutent de ses sentiments car ils jugent Rian sur son physique. mais pareil, c'est écrit de façon détournée, on le comprend, mais c'est pas dit clairement...
je pense que je roman aurait été beaucoup mieux si l'auteur avait osé être plus directe dans certaines scènes, quitte à avoir des personnages ayant des préjugés au départ : la qualité principale de Carlos c'est qu'il se remet en question, et c'est bien :)
******
this novel was a bit difficult for me to get into, for the first half not much happened, I though that it was long, that the two heroes took too long before meeting each other and interact together... Rian's personality did not interest me and Carlos was irrelevant to me. In fact, during this part, it's the secondary characters that interested me more xD
Also everything revolves around the gym, the personal and professional life of the characters is organized according to the cardio sessions, I admit that I'm not at all in the spirit "barbells are life". so even if for Rian, it's for health reasons, that does not prevent that the story happens in a "world" which does not fascinate me at all...
later, in the second part of the novel, Rian and Carlos are finally seducting each other which has leveled up my opinion of the book. they have good chemistry together, and Carlos is perfect in how he approach his new feelings for Rian.
a thing that tickled me anyway, I found that this novel was a little too smooth in the politically correct and that the author hesitated to write things clearly. Rian is described, from the beginning, as obese, and to prevent possible health problems she must change certain habits (eat healthier, do sports) but not necessarily in a "weight loss" perspective.
When Carlos meets Rian, he is attracted and it surprises him because she is not at all "the kind that he likes", he who is used to one night stands, he repeats it several times and always with the same wordings. except that the reader has understood that Carlos speaks about physical appearance as the first criterion to go to a woman... but he does not even admit it to himself in his internal monologues, even if it would not necessarily have him pass for a asshole. This is a pity because Carlos changes, he evolves, he understands that Rian attracts him for deeper and more serious reasons and he does not want to miss the chance to have found his partner (that's why I wrote that he was perfect ^^). moreover, he does not hesitate to challenge people who doubt his feelings because they judge Rian on her physique. but here too, this is written in a roundabout way, we understand, but it is not the rights words...
I think that it would have been much better novel if the author had dared to be more direct in certain scenes, even if the characters would have had prejudices at the beginning : the main quality of Carlos is that he questions himself, and it's good :)
blog review : http://bananasinthevoid.hautetfort.co...
et puis alors tout tourne autour de la salle de sport, et la vie perso et pro qui s'organise en fonction de quand sont les séances de cardio, j'avoue que je suis pas du tout dans l'esprit "les haltères c'est la vie". alors même si pour Rian, c'est pour des raisons de santé, ça n'empêche que l'histoire se passe dans un "monde" qui me passionne pas du tout...
après, dans la 2e partie du roman, Rian et Carlos sont enfin en mode séduction ce qui a rattrapé mon avis. ils ont une bonne alchimie ensemble, et Carlos se révèle parfait dans sa la façon dont il aborde ses nouveaux sentiments pour Rian.
une chose qui m'a titillé quand même, j'ai trouvé que ce roman était un peu trop lisse dans le politiquement correct et que l'auteur hésitait à écrire les choses clairement. Rian est décrite, dès le début, comme obèse, et pour prévenir d'éventuels problèmes de santé elle doit changer certaines habitudes (manger plus sain, faire du sport) mais pas forcément dans une optique "perte de poids".
Quand Carlos rencontre Rian, il est attiré et ça le surprend car elle est pas du tout "le genre auquel il s'intéresse à la base" lui qui est habitué aux aventures d'un soir, et ça il se le répète plusieurs fois et toujours formulé pareil. sauf que le lecteur a bien compris que Carlos parle du physique comme critère premier pour aller aborder une femme... mais il se l'avoue même pas à lui-même dans ses monologues internes, alors que ça ne l'aurait pas forcément fait passer pour un plouc. Ce qui est dommage, car Carlos change, il évolue, il comprend que Rian l'attire pour des raisons plus profondes et plus sérieuses et il ne veut pas laisser passer la chance d'avoir trouvé sa moitié (voilà pourquoi j'ai mis qu'il était parfait ^^). de plus, il n'hésite pas à mettre au défis les gens qui doutent de ses sentiments car ils jugent Rian sur son physique. mais pareil, c'est écrit de façon détournée, on le comprend, mais c'est pas dit clairement...
je pense que je roman aurait été beaucoup mieux si l'auteur avait osé être plus directe dans certaines scènes, quitte à avoir des personnages ayant des préjugés au départ : la qualité principale de Carlos c'est qu'il se remet en question, et c'est bien :)
******
this novel was a bit difficult for me to get into, for the first half not much happened, I though that it was long, that the two heroes took too long before meeting each other and interact together... Rian's personality did not interest me and Carlos was irrelevant to me. In fact, during this part, it's the secondary characters that interested me more xD
Also everything revolves around the gym, the personal and professional life of the characters is organized according to the cardio sessions, I admit that I'm not at all in the spirit "barbells are life". so even if for Rian, it's for health reasons, that does not prevent that the story happens in a "world" which does not fascinate me at all...
later, in the second part of the novel, Rian and Carlos are finally seducting each other which has leveled up my opinion of the book. they have good chemistry together, and Carlos is perfect in how he approach his new feelings for Rian.
a thing that tickled me anyway, I found that this novel was a little too smooth in the politically correct and that the author hesitated to write things clearly. Rian is described, from the beginning, as obese, and to prevent possible health problems she must change certain habits (eat healthier, do sports) but not necessarily in a "weight loss" perspective.
When Carlos meets Rian, he is attracted and it surprises him because she is not at all "the kind that he likes", he who is used to one night stands, he repeats it several times and always with the same wordings. except that the reader has understood that Carlos speaks about physical appearance as the first criterion to go to a woman... but he does not even admit it to himself in his internal monologues, even if it would not necessarily have him pass for a asshole. This is a pity because Carlos changes, he evolves, he understands that Rian attracts him for deeper and more serious reasons and he does not want to miss the chance to have found his partner (that's why I wrote that he was perfect ^^). moreover, he does not hesitate to challenge people who doubt his feelings because they judge Rian on her physique. but here too, this is written in a roundabout way, we understand, but it is not the rights words...
I think that it would have been much better novel if the author had dared to be more direct in certain scenes, even if the characters would have had prejudices at the beginning : the main quality of Carlos is that he questions himself, and it's good :)
blog review : http://bananasinthevoid.hautetfort.co...
October 14, 2019
Weight Expectations
I am loving the stories in this Smartypants romance collaboration! Weight Expectations is funny and smart and touching.
Rian is an awesome heroine. She has decided to start at a gym and work on her weight and health, but more than anything her self esteem is what needs improvement.
Carlos is a gorgeous guy that Rian can’t help ogling at the gym. He is happy with his single, playboy life. He always has a pick up line at the ready and no lack of beautiful woman to warm his bed.
“I don’t do relationships. I’m forty years old and have never had a girlfriend for a reason. I have no desire to spend time with someone until they decide they’d rather hang out with someone else. Quick, simple, in and out, is better for me.”
This story is a great blend of romance, humor and emotion. It is full of so many fun, interesting and quirky characters. Hop on your treadmill, prop up your kindle and get reading!
-4 Stars!-
-Diane-
I am loving the stories in this Smartypants romance collaboration! Weight Expectations is funny and smart and touching.
Rian is an awesome heroine. She has decided to start at a gym and work on her weight and health, but more than anything her self esteem is what needs improvement.
Carlos is a gorgeous guy that Rian can’t help ogling at the gym. He is happy with his single, playboy life. He always has a pick up line at the ready and no lack of beautiful woman to warm his bed.
“I don’t do relationships. I’m forty years old and have never had a girlfriend for a reason. I have no desire to spend time with someone until they decide they’d rather hang out with someone else. Quick, simple, in and out, is better for me.”
This story is a great blend of romance, humor and emotion. It is full of so many fun, interesting and quirky characters. Hop on your treadmill, prop up your kindle and get reading!
-4 Stars!-
-Diane-
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