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Meant to Be #1
Será que é o meu número?
Conheça a mais nova comédia romântica de Julie Murphy ― autora best-seller do The New York Times que já virou sensação na Netflix ―, inspirada em seu conto de fadas favorito!
Cindy ama sapatos. Seja com um laço no lugar certo ou um salto chique de madeira, é com eles que ela consegue se expressar. Mas ser uma mulher plus size obcecada por moda não é fácil. Ela nunca encontra roupas de marca que funcionem em seu corpo ― embora um par de sapatos especial sempre lhe sirva perfeitamente.
Com um recém-obtido diploma em design de moda, mas nenhum emprego à vista, Cindy se muda de volta para a casa da madrasta, Erica Tremaine, a produtora-executiva do maior reality show de namoro do mundo, o Antes da meia-noite. Quando uma das participantes da nova edição desiste de participar do programa no último minuto, Cindy é jogada sob os holofotes. Exibir sua coleção matadora de sapatos em rede nacional parece uma ótima maneira de impulsionar a carreira. E, já que ela está ali, por que não aproveitar alguns encontros luxuosos com um solteiro cobiçado?
No entanto, ser a primeira e única participante gorda em Antes da meia-noite a transforma numa sensação viral ― e num ícone do movimento body positive ― da noite para o dia. E o mais inacreditável? Ela pode realmente se ver apaixonada por esse Príncipe Encantado. Para chegar até o final, além de encarar os fãs, os haters e uma casa cheia de outras participantes em quem ela não tem certeza se pode confiar, Cindy terá de dar um salto no escuro e torcer para que seus saltos ― e seu coração ― não se quebrem no processo.
Esta adaptação do conto de fadas que Julie Murphy claramente ama é uma história encantadora sobre amor-próprio e sobre acreditar no final feliz que cada um de nós merece.
Cindy ama sapatos. Seja com um laço no lugar certo ou um salto chique de madeira, é com eles que ela consegue se expressar. Mas ser uma mulher plus size obcecada por moda não é fácil. Ela nunca encontra roupas de marca que funcionem em seu corpo ― embora um par de sapatos especial sempre lhe sirva perfeitamente.
Com um recém-obtido diploma em design de moda, mas nenhum emprego à vista, Cindy se muda de volta para a casa da madrasta, Erica Tremaine, a produtora-executiva do maior reality show de namoro do mundo, o Antes da meia-noite. Quando uma das participantes da nova edição desiste de participar do programa no último minuto, Cindy é jogada sob os holofotes. Exibir sua coleção matadora de sapatos em rede nacional parece uma ótima maneira de impulsionar a carreira. E, já que ela está ali, por que não aproveitar alguns encontros luxuosos com um solteiro cobiçado?
No entanto, ser a primeira e única participante gorda em Antes da meia-noite a transforma numa sensação viral ― e num ícone do movimento body positive ― da noite para o dia. E o mais inacreditável? Ela pode realmente se ver apaixonada por esse Príncipe Encantado. Para chegar até o final, além de encarar os fãs, os haters e uma casa cheia de outras participantes em quem ela não tem certeza se pode confiar, Cindy terá de dar um salto no escuro e torcer para que seus saltos ― e seu coração ― não se quebrem no processo.
Esta adaptação do conto de fadas que Julie Murphy claramente ama é uma história encantadora sobre amor-próprio e sobre acreditar no final feliz que cada um de nós merece.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2021
1763 people are currently reading
73548 people want to read
About the author
Julie Murphy
41 books6,815 followersJulie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her and her cats who tolerate her. After several wonderful years in the library world, Julie now writes full-time.
When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.
She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.
Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.
When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.
She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.
Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,386 reviews
March 22, 2022
Julie Murphy absolutely never misses for me. Feeling very emotional right now about the amount of comfort and joy her books bring me and this was no exception.
me: I'm kinda sick of Cinderella retellings
Julie Murphy: here's my first Adult novel and it is a Cinderella retelling with a plus-size main character
me: SIGN ME UP!!!!!!
Instagram | Blog
me: I'm kinda sick of Cinderella retellings
Julie Murphy: here's my first Adult novel and it is a Cinderella retelling with a plus-size main character
me: SIGN ME UP!!!!!!
Instagram | Blog
September 3, 2023
I love love love Cinderella hints/ retellings in books.
I also really liked that about this book buttttt, where was the depth? I was missing so many heartfelt scenes with more emotions and layered characters.
The premise of this book is fun, dramatic and interesting but yeah, I think it should have been at least 50 pages longer to make everything feel more real. Especially the romance.
Like this book was sooo insta love and to me it was just a bit too much love at first sight and not enough slow burn and built up.
I also really liked that about this book buttttt, where was the depth? I was missing so many heartfelt scenes with more emotions and layered characters.
The premise of this book is fun, dramatic and interesting but yeah, I think it should have been at least 50 pages longer to make everything feel more real. Especially the romance.
Like this book was sooo insta love and to me it was just a bit too much love at first sight and not enough slow burn and built up.
July 15, 2021
3.5 stars. This was a lot of fun! I didn't know whether or not I was going to be the hugest fan of the Bachelor-esque premise, but I ended up totally hooked by it and could not put this book down. My only real gripe with this one is that I felt like the ending was kind of.. unspectacular? But I will definitely cut it some slack as this is a Cinderella retelling and I feel like (while maybe a little boring) the ending really did the Cinderella elements justice lol. Honestly y'all this was a LOT of fun and Julie Murphy is an absolute dream come true when it comes to writing positive fat representation. I couldn't be more excited to hopefully read more adult titles featuring fat characters from her in the future and I definitely recommend checking this one out!
CW: death of a parent, terminal illness, car accidents, fatphobia
CW: death of a parent, terminal illness, car accidents, fatphobia
August 16, 2022
Ahh this book is so cute!! I loved that it takes place on a reality dating show. It was such an interesting setting and it was so cool to see the behind the scenes of the show. The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because I wasn't super passionate about the romance and overall it felt a little light and fluffy to me. Overall, it's a really adorable feel good romance with a unique premise!!
August 19, 2021
I so desperately wanted to LOVE this, but I ended up feeling like it was just okay. I love books with a Bachelor-like show premise, and I really enjoyed reading from a plus size protagonist, and I think it’s so important to see that rep in more romance novels, but the romance in this book just didn’t do it for me. I don’t know if it’s because I just read The Charm Offensive but that’s another Bachelor-like show book, and I feel like the romance was a million times better in that book. Since I read it so recently I couldn’t help but compare the two, and I’d definitely recommend that over this. Also, I feel like the plot of this book is somewhat similar to One To Watch and I enjoyed that book slightly more than this one.
I flew through this book though, I got the audio downloaded from my library and I finished it all in one night, so it’s a super fun, quick story, and it has really great characters, I just wanted more from the romance 🤷🏻♀️
I flew through this book though, I got the audio downloaded from my library and I finished it all in one night, so it’s a super fun, quick story, and it has really great characters, I just wanted more from the romance 🤷🏻♀️
January 9, 2026
“Don't you see how belittling this is! I'm not brave for wearing a dress. I'm just living!”Newly graduated Cindy is having a bit of a time breaking into the job market (apparently shoe design degrees don't pay like they used to...).
"Before Midnight" is the hottest dating show in America and a last minute snafu lands Cindy with a spot on it thanks to get stepmother.
Overnight, she becomes an icon (sort of). But not for the reasons she'd hope.
Suddenly everyone is talking about her every move and no one is considering what it's like to be her - they're all too focused on her appearance.
“The future isn’t exclusive, it’s inclusive.”
Despite the obvious superficiality of being on a dating show, Cindy finds herself warming to this fast-paced reality show and maybe (just maybe) to the bachelor himself.
"You look like you’ve got some muscle. She looks like she could pop an implant..."
I've enjoyed quite a few versions of Cinderella and I felt like this one was pretty good, bordering 3.5 stars.
“The truth, though, is that clothing is fashion and fashion should be for everyone because clothing should be for everyone.”
One of the best parts was that this one wasn't a beat-for-beat remake.
The stepmother didn't fulfill her evil stereotype and the family dynamics in this story was surprisingly positive which made for an interesting change from the original story.
Cindy is a go-getter and wants to make an impact in the fashion world (opposed to waiting for her prince to come). I liked that she was shown to have drive and passion for shoes - and wasn't afraid to educate those who needed it.
That being said, the plot felt rather fluffy and predictable.
This could be because it's a Cinderella remake, so there isn't always a lot of room for uniqueness (this wasn't a beat-for-beat remake, but you are obligated to hit certain plot points based purely on it being a remake).
And given it is also bachelor-esque...at times the plot felt hemmed in by these world-building constraints.
I wish there was more oomph behind the character development.
She fights for size inclusivity (which is always wonderful) and provides social commentary regarding that issue but at the same time, we've had books that fought for the same premise before and I feel like I missed the sparkle that could have made this one really stand out.
All in all, not a half-bad way to spend an evening but I'm not convinced I'll be rereading this one any time soon.
May 25, 2022
Y’all!!!! I was not expecting this. I heard that people enjoyed this one but I didn’t know how I would feel about it at all. 4.5 Stars.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to pick this up anytime soon, but then I was sent a copy of the second book in this series. Apparently, Disney is making moves into publishing adult romance novels under the theme of Disney classics that many readers are familiar with. So, before I read that one, I wanted to read the first book so that I could get a better idea of what to expect with the series. This book did not disappointment. Readers follow the main character Cindy as she moves back home after graduation. Like the original story, Cindy has lost both of her parents and lives with her stepmother and siblings. Her stepmother is an executive producer of a reality TV show and when someone drops out of her infamous dating reality TV series, Cindy steps in to fill her spot. What happens next, is such an enjoyable and fun filled romance.
At first Cindy thinks that she’s just going to go on the reality TV show and just showcase her shoes (she’s a designer) but quickly finds that being the first plus size/fat character on the show brings so much more. I loved the pacing of this story and more so the character development. Cindy is such a joy to read about. I love that she had such a close relationship with her stepmother especially because she’s lost both of her parents. I was afraid that her stepmom was going to horrendous. I also loved that Cindy was so confident in her body. This is the fat representation that I was looking for in One to Watch. Yes, Cindy does have to deal with some not so great behavior from other contestants, comments from people who mean well but are actually pretty offensive, and even the crap that comes with being plus-sized/fat in the fashion industry, but she does a hell of a job maintaining a sense of sureness about herself and her body and she doesn’t need validation from anyone else. This attitude combined with the romance and the reality tv show theme was PERFECT.
I also appreciate the sweetness of the romance and the plot development. It was done in a way that made me want more and more of the story. I was never tired reading anything that Murphy gave us on page. From the way the reality TV show worked to the way all of the characters interacted with each other was awesome. It isn’t too often that I find a book where all of the elements of the book work so well together. I was close to giving this 5 stars but the ending needed just a little more energy. It was sweet but I wanted just a little more to close out this amazing story. Honestly, I can’t wait to see what else Disney is going to do with these books. If you’re a fan of reality TV based romances, fairytale retellings, or if you were disappointed in One to Watch then I would definitely recommend checking this one out.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to pick this up anytime soon, but then I was sent a copy of the second book in this series. Apparently, Disney is making moves into publishing adult romance novels under the theme of Disney classics that many readers are familiar with. So, before I read that one, I wanted to read the first book so that I could get a better idea of what to expect with the series. This book did not disappointment. Readers follow the main character Cindy as she moves back home after graduation. Like the original story, Cindy has lost both of her parents and lives with her stepmother and siblings. Her stepmother is an executive producer of a reality TV show and when someone drops out of her infamous dating reality TV series, Cindy steps in to fill her spot. What happens next, is such an enjoyable and fun filled romance.
At first Cindy thinks that she’s just going to go on the reality TV show and just showcase her shoes (she’s a designer) but quickly finds that being the first plus size/fat character on the show brings so much more. I loved the pacing of this story and more so the character development. Cindy is such a joy to read about. I love that she had such a close relationship with her stepmother especially because she’s lost both of her parents. I was afraid that her stepmom was going to horrendous. I also loved that Cindy was so confident in her body. This is the fat representation that I was looking for in One to Watch. Yes, Cindy does have to deal with some not so great behavior from other contestants, comments from people who mean well but are actually pretty offensive, and even the crap that comes with being plus-sized/fat in the fashion industry, but she does a hell of a job maintaining a sense of sureness about herself and her body and she doesn’t need validation from anyone else. This attitude combined with the romance and the reality tv show theme was PERFECT.
I also appreciate the sweetness of the romance and the plot development. It was done in a way that made me want more and more of the story. I was never tired reading anything that Murphy gave us on page. From the way the reality TV show worked to the way all of the characters interacted with each other was awesome. It isn’t too often that I find a book where all of the elements of the book work so well together. I was close to giving this 5 stars but the ending needed just a little more energy. It was sweet but I wanted just a little more to close out this amazing story. Honestly, I can’t wait to see what else Disney is going to do with these books. If you’re a fan of reality TV based romances, fairytale retellings, or if you were disappointed in One to Watch then I would definitely recommend checking this one out.
July 30, 2021
4.25 stars
I loved this book to pieces. If the Shoe Fits is a Cinderella re-telling by the fabulous Julie Murphy featuring a plus size main character who is going on a show similar to The Bachelor. It was fun, made me smile so big and feel giddy while reading. Cindy is one of the best heroines and Henry was wonderful as well. I loved the romance, watching Cindy go after her dreams, and the family/friendship element. Plus all the fashion stuff was really fun!
Last year I read ‘One to Watch’ which has a similar premise, but that one fell flat for me. This was everything I wanted it to be and more! A new adult romance (that I would consider YA friendly, I will be buying this for my 15 year old niece) that I enjoyed so much! I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again and again- thank you Julie for writing relatable plus size characters! I wish we had this kind of representation when I was young.
I loved this book to pieces. If the Shoe Fits is a Cinderella re-telling by the fabulous Julie Murphy featuring a plus size main character who is going on a show similar to The Bachelor. It was fun, made me smile so big and feel giddy while reading. Cindy is one of the best heroines and Henry was wonderful as well. I loved the romance, watching Cindy go after her dreams, and the family/friendship element. Plus all the fashion stuff was really fun!
Last year I read ‘One to Watch’ which has a similar premise, but that one fell flat for me. This was everything I wanted it to be and more! A new adult romance (that I would consider YA friendly, I will be buying this for my 15 year old niece) that I enjoyed so much! I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again and again- thank you Julie for writing relatable plus size characters! I wish we had this kind of representation when I was young.
August 3, 2021
***NOW AVAILABLE***
If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is a modern and creative re-telling of Disney’s Cinderella.
Ms. Murphy’s new cast has been re-imagined with many nods to the classic.
Classic: Cinderella, an orphan who is living with her wicked stepmother and step-sisters. New: Cindy Woods, an orphan, returning to her step-mother’s house in Los Angeles after graduating from Parsons School of Design, emphasizing in footwear design. Cindy had a rough last year of school due to depression. Without a job prospect, she has agreed to be the nanny to her triplet half-siblings. She is a plus-size woman trying to figure out her next steps.
Classic: Lady Tremaine, the wicked stepmother. New: Erica Tremaine, Cindy’s step-mother and the producer of the incredibly popular dating reality show Before Midnight (think The Bachelor). Erica is not wicked and tries to support Cindy the best that she can.
Classic: Anastasia and Drizella, the ugly step-sisters. New: Anna and Drew Tremaine, Cindy’s two older and very attractive step-sisters who are social media influencers. They have always been kind to Cindy, even though she only lived with them for three years in high school. In a last-minute need to fill vacant spots, the two sisters agree to be contestants on Before Midnight.
Classic: The Fairy Godmother, who gets Cinderella to the ball. New: I can think of several characters that acted as Fairy Godmothers to Cindy. My favorite is Beck, the assistant producer of Before Midnight. She convinces Cindy that being a contestant on Before Midnight is a way to promote her talents as a shoe designer.
Classic: Prince Charming, who really isn't interested in looking for a wife. New: Henry MacKenzie, the charming “Suitor” on this season of Before Midnight. He works for his mother’s company in New York.
Classic: The Mice: Gus (Octavius), Jaq (Jaques), Mary, and Perla. New: The triplet half-siblings of Erica Tremaine and Cindy’s father, Simon Woods, are Gus, Jack, and Mary. Petra was the surrogate who carried the triplets.
Classic: The King, Prince Charming’s father, who wants his son to get married. New: Lucy Mackenzie, Henry’s mother, and a famous fashion designer. Unfortunately, her company LuMac is close to going under. She thinks that it will be a great boom to her business to have Henry on Before Midnight.
Classic: Lucifer, the cat who is a bully. New: Addison, the mean girl contestant on Before Midnight.
Classic: The Ball, where Cinderella must leave before midnight. New: The Ball" is a popular event where the girls meet the suitor on Before Midnight.
Classic: The Glass Slippers, one of which Cinderella loses. New: The Jimmy Choo stilettos encrusted with Swarovski crystals clustered together at the toe that Cindy gets to wear during her one-on-date with Henry on the show.
I am not a big fan of romance novels, but I am trying more of them. I am also not a fan of the television show The Bachelor. Imagine my surprise when I really enjoyed this story. I was entertained by the witty dialogue and interesting characters. I even found myself rooting for Cindy to be chosen by Henry. As a plus-sized person myself, I love the way Julie Murphy advocates for fashionable clothing to be made for larger women.
4-plus stars. If The Shoe Fits is the first of a series called “Meant To Be”. Each classic retelling will be written by a different author. This fun novel will be published on August 3, 2021. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion Avenue for my advanced reader copy.
If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is a modern and creative re-telling of Disney’s Cinderella.
Ms. Murphy’s new cast has been re-imagined with many nods to the classic.
Classic: Cinderella, an orphan who is living with her wicked stepmother and step-sisters. New: Cindy Woods, an orphan, returning to her step-mother’s house in Los Angeles after graduating from Parsons School of Design, emphasizing in footwear design. Cindy had a rough last year of school due to depression. Without a job prospect, she has agreed to be the nanny to her triplet half-siblings. She is a plus-size woman trying to figure out her next steps.
Classic: Lady Tremaine, the wicked stepmother. New: Erica Tremaine, Cindy’s step-mother and the producer of the incredibly popular dating reality show Before Midnight (think The Bachelor). Erica is not wicked and tries to support Cindy the best that she can.
Classic: Anastasia and Drizella, the ugly step-sisters. New: Anna and Drew Tremaine, Cindy’s two older and very attractive step-sisters who are social media influencers. They have always been kind to Cindy, even though she only lived with them for three years in high school. In a last-minute need to fill vacant spots, the two sisters agree to be contestants on Before Midnight.
Classic: The Fairy Godmother, who gets Cinderella to the ball. New: I can think of several characters that acted as Fairy Godmothers to Cindy. My favorite is Beck, the assistant producer of Before Midnight. She convinces Cindy that being a contestant on Before Midnight is a way to promote her talents as a shoe designer.
Classic: Prince Charming, who really isn't interested in looking for a wife. New: Henry MacKenzie, the charming “Suitor” on this season of Before Midnight. He works for his mother’s company in New York.
Classic: The Mice: Gus (Octavius), Jaq (Jaques), Mary, and Perla. New: The triplet half-siblings of Erica Tremaine and Cindy’s father, Simon Woods, are Gus, Jack, and Mary. Petra was the surrogate who carried the triplets.
Classic: The King, Prince Charming’s father, who wants his son to get married. New: Lucy Mackenzie, Henry’s mother, and a famous fashion designer. Unfortunately, her company LuMac is close to going under. She thinks that it will be a great boom to her business to have Henry on Before Midnight.
Classic: Lucifer, the cat who is a bully. New: Addison, the mean girl contestant on Before Midnight.
Classic: The Ball, where Cinderella must leave before midnight. New: The Ball" is a popular event where the girls meet the suitor on Before Midnight.
Classic: The Glass Slippers, one of which Cinderella loses. New: The Jimmy Choo stilettos encrusted with Swarovski crystals clustered together at the toe that Cindy gets to wear during her one-on-date with Henry on the show.
I am not a big fan of romance novels, but I am trying more of them. I am also not a fan of the television show The Bachelor. Imagine my surprise when I really enjoyed this story. I was entertained by the witty dialogue and interesting characters. I even found myself rooting for Cindy to be chosen by Henry. As a plus-sized person myself, I love the way Julie Murphy advocates for fashionable clothing to be made for larger women.
4-plus stars. If The Shoe Fits is the first of a series called “Meant To Be”. Each classic retelling will be written by a different author. This fun novel will be published on August 3, 2021. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion Avenue for my advanced reader copy.
September 25, 2021
If the Shoe Fits is a modern day Cinderella retelling with a plus-sized heroine Cindy, who just graduated from fashion school and needs help figuring out what next. When a vacancy opens on her stepmother’s reality dating show, Before Midnight, happens at the last second, Cindy jumps at the chance for some exposure in the hopes of working in the fashion industry. But she gets more than what she bargained for when she actually begins to fall for the show’s suitor, Henry.
I ended up loving this book so much and I honestly didn’t expect to. I can’t help but compare it to the book One to Watch which was so disappointing, and I feel like this book gave me everything I ever wanted from that one that I didn’t get. I loved Cindy as a plus sized heroine, I loved the family dynamics between her and her stepmother/siblings and how they were a loving, supportive family instead of the typical evil family. I’m not a huge fan of shows like The Bachelor, but for this book the fake show Before Midnight worked really well. Loved all of it. I wish Julie Murphy would write more adult romance!
I ended up loving this book so much and I honestly didn’t expect to. I can’t help but compare it to the book One to Watch which was so disappointing, and I feel like this book gave me everything I ever wanted from that one that I didn’t get. I loved Cindy as a plus sized heroine, I loved the family dynamics between her and her stepmother/siblings and how they were a loving, supportive family instead of the typical evil family. I’m not a huge fan of shows like The Bachelor, but for this book the fake show Before Midnight worked really well. Loved all of it. I wish Julie Murphy would write more adult romance!
December 28, 2021
4.5
Wow this one completely came out of nowhere for me! I hadn't even planned on picking this up, but I read it for a video and I'm so happy that I did! This is loosely based on Cinderella, but I loved how Cindy was super close with her stepmom, two step siblings, and three half siblings (the half siblings are named after the mice in Cinderella...so cute!!). Cindy's mom works for a dating show like The Bachelor, and Cindy and her two stepsisters end up going on the show together. The guy everyone is dating is actually the guy Cindy sat on the plane next to from New York to California and they had hit it off. They're definitely surprised and have to act like they've never met. Neither Henry nor Cindy had any high hopes for going on the show, but it obviously turned a lot more serious than they had ever planned.
For Cindy's character, I really loved her and the fat representation in here. Cindy never felt like she had to hide her body from the cameras and was very vocal about having the same accessibility as the other contestants, especially when it came to the clothes they had to wear. You could really feel Cindy's connection to Henry and how hard they fell for each other. I do wish we could have had some of Henry's POV to see him also falling for Cindy while he was dating the other girls. I also think the ending was a little rushed, but overall I loved this one!
Wow this one completely came out of nowhere for me! I hadn't even planned on picking this up, but I read it for a video and I'm so happy that I did! This is loosely based on Cinderella, but I loved how Cindy was super close with her stepmom, two step siblings, and three half siblings (the half siblings are named after the mice in Cinderella...so cute!!). Cindy's mom works for a dating show like The Bachelor, and Cindy and her two stepsisters end up going on the show together. The guy everyone is dating is actually the guy Cindy sat on the plane next to from New York to California and they had hit it off. They're definitely surprised and have to act like they've never met. Neither Henry nor Cindy had any high hopes for going on the show, but it obviously turned a lot more serious than they had ever planned.
For Cindy's character, I really loved her and the fat representation in here. Cindy never felt like she had to hide her body from the cameras and was very vocal about having the same accessibility as the other contestants, especially when it came to the clothes they had to wear. You could really feel Cindy's connection to Henry and how hard they fell for each other. I do wish we could have had some of Henry's POV to see him also falling for Cindy while he was dating the other girls. I also think the ending was a little rushed, but overall I loved this one!
August 2, 2023
Bardzo fajna książka na lato, z nieoczywistym zakończeniem
April 13, 2024
This book was so cute! 😊 Cindy is a recent graduate of design school and has a love affair with all things shoes. 👠She is also still dealing with the death of both her parents. This was a Cinderella telling with some fun twists, as in this version, Cindy gets along well with her stepmother and stepsisters. Her stepmother is executive producer of a TV show similar to “The Bachelor” and gets Cindy and her two stepsisters on as contestants. Cindy is a hit as the only plus-size contestant, although she’s only there in the hopes it will launch her fashion career. Little does she know that she and the Bachelor (Henry) already had a meet cute on a flight a few weeks earlier.
Everything about this book was adorable. I loved Cindy as a character. I enjoyed the friendships and drama between the other contestants as well as the behind the scenes look at how shows like this are somewhat rigged. The slow-burn relationship between her and Henry was well done. They also share a connection in the fashion world, and Cindy’s boldness when standing up for her fashion ideas was awesome. Definitely recommended for romance readers!
Everything about this book was adorable. I loved Cindy as a character. I enjoyed the friendships and drama between the other contestants as well as the behind the scenes look at how shows like this are somewhat rigged. The slow-burn relationship between her and Henry was well done. They also share a connection in the fashion world, and Cindy’s boldness when standing up for her fashion ideas was awesome. Definitely recommended for romance readers!
August 15, 2021
TW: death of parents off page
This is a loosely inspired by Cinderella contemporary romance with a Bachelor esque show. I was a bit skeptical of the retelling aspect since I hate mean girl plots but was pleasantly surprised that the step family was not evil. But as clever as this was, I did not like the romance part. Maybe because my bias against dudes on the bachelor came through.. I just hate how unfair it is to the girls on the show. But I did love that this featured a plus sized lead and that the story didn’t revolve around her body so I will likely continue this companion series.
This is a loosely inspired by Cinderella contemporary romance with a Bachelor esque show. I was a bit skeptical of the retelling aspect since I hate mean girl plots but was pleasantly surprised that the step family was not evil. But as clever as this was, I did not like the romance part. Maybe because my bias against dudes on the bachelor came through.. I just hate how unfair it is to the girls on the show. But I did love that this featured a plus sized lead and that the story didn’t revolve around her body so I will likely continue this companion series.
February 11, 2023
Who doesn't love a good retelling? I certainly do, especially Cinderella-based as it is my favorite fairytale (despite how bad it truly is. Guilty of having guilty pleasures!).
THIS
was not a good retelling though *shrug*
Be prepared for a few light spoilers concerning the growth (or lack thereof) of the story.
It all started beautifully. Of course, with a setting like "The Bachelor", I did not expect a lot of quality development, but it shined when it came to Cindy's home life. She had a very interesting stepmother who was actually a NICE person who cared about her and did not limit her in her options, but was there to support it. Same with her stepsisters. They were supporting her in e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g and it was wonderful. There were some scenes in the past where the sisters weren't too nice in high school, but it really showed how close they are now and despite Cindy's awkwardness sometimes, that she truly loved them. It was a heavenly change to the very beaten stereotype of evil step family.
But that's where all the good things end.
It is with my biggest disappointment to say that Cindy's main (and arguably only) trait was that she was plus size. Where is the self growth? Nowhere in this book!
At first I was intrigued, but it showed me some points of view I had never really considered too much (such as backhanded compliments/insults just for existing) and I appreciated that, but soon it just devolved to Cindy always getting into situations that had to do with only her size. Production failing MULTIPLE times to have prepared any kind of clothes for her, leaving it to Cindy to educate AND convince industry people in less than 10 seconds why inclusivity is the best business plan (which it is, don't get me wrong, it was just the way that ONLY Cindy knows and everyone else is a brainless stick of wood). The only pat on the back I'll give her is that she never truly compared herself to her skinnier rivals and thought lowly of herself.
Then of course comes the meaning to her existence in this book which is Henry, our universally agreed hot guy. Talk about a most underdeveloped romance to the point of making Cindy simply an imbecile. There is immediate attraction between them despite not really knowing each other.
And that's ok. Chemistry is a thing.
What is not ok is Cindy for the entirety of the book going back and forth between her feelings towards him, basically making out whenever she can with him and then thinking that she just MIGHT like him, that he does not like her and he has never said anything, DESPITE being the only "couple" that kept stealing time together, sharing items that were forbidden and generally breaking rules in secret. But no, Cindy is not sure about liking him.
Which brings us to the big finale. Cindy throughout the book is equating her love with Henry to the prize itself. If he does not pick her, then OBVIOUSLY he is rejecting her in every form and does not love her and then she will have to live a few years avoiding news about his happy marriage with one of the other contestants. Because OBVIOUSLY, if Henry proposed to another girl instead of her (since we know all reality tv decisions are made exclusively by the players and never the ratings/ production), he would HAVE to marry her and live the happily ever after ending without Cindy. I kept waiting for some rational thinking coming back to her head, but she keeps saying it ALL. THE. TIME. Not like she thinks reality tv is real, but somehow this made sense in her head.
I will not spoil what her actions were towards the finale, but suffice to say that my opinion of her being a moron never changed. Somehow the author tried to give legit reasons towards the very end, but you can't just delete everything I read for paaaages and paaaaages, Julie!
Now, after Cindy, the 2nd prize of stupidity takes the whole production team. I have never been part of a reality tv show and I will not pretend to know exactly how they work, but more or less, we all related to the book's logic that ratings above everything, right? Yes, because we all realise that this is a financial decision for them, nothing to do with love. So this means they try to make it work as much as possible, right? Well... no. They keep being unprepared for basic things and have no backups for absolutely anything. The point is for them to get all the tears and drama they want, but not with the production being in front of the camera. WELL... They are THAT good, let's say.
In general, the entire show was not really depicted well. It seemed like the whole show lasted what, 5/6 episodes? I never really watched "The Bachelor", but with my experience of general reality tv, I know there is more complexity and duration from what the author portrayed.
The other characters? If Cindy and Henry are that underdeveloped, you can guess for the rest (step family excluded). I think maybe only Stacy had a real enough character, probably because she was a bystander with barely any lines that was actually very likable. There's a mean girl who is even recognised by the characters as the token mean girl, but she is also treated like that in the book too. She's a prop to the author as well, she is forgotten. Maybe Beck was decent as well I suppose, she probably had the most stress out of everyone and yet, she still tried to be as human as possible and made it work. Ah, there is also the token best friend, who has 0 opinion of her own and only exists to cheer for Cindy. Such great friendship <3
That is all I can say. Mishandled premise, not only boring main characters but very badly written characters, a reality tv show that made little sense as to how it promotes itself. For me, they even butchered a part of the body positivity message. I can't find a reason to give this anything more than 1 star.
Be prepared for a few light spoilers concerning the growth (or lack thereof) of the story.
It all started beautifully. Of course, with a setting like "The Bachelor", I did not expect a lot of quality development, but it shined when it came to Cindy's home life. She had a very interesting stepmother who was actually a NICE person who cared about her and did not limit her in her options, but was there to support it. Same with her stepsisters. They were supporting her in e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g and it was wonderful. There were some scenes in the past where the sisters weren't too nice in high school, but it really showed how close they are now and despite Cindy's awkwardness sometimes, that she truly loved them. It was a heavenly change to the very beaten stereotype of evil step family.
But that's where all the good things end.
It is with my biggest disappointment to say that Cindy's main (and arguably only) trait was that she was plus size. Where is the self growth? Nowhere in this book!
At first I was intrigued, but it showed me some points of view I had never really considered too much (such as backhanded compliments/insults just for existing) and I appreciated that, but soon it just devolved to Cindy always getting into situations that had to do with only her size. Production failing MULTIPLE times to have prepared any kind of clothes for her, leaving it to Cindy to educate AND convince industry people in less than 10 seconds why inclusivity is the best business plan (which it is, don't get me wrong, it was just the way that ONLY Cindy knows and everyone else is a brainless stick of wood). The only pat on the back I'll give her is that she never truly compared herself to her skinnier rivals and thought lowly of herself.
Then of course comes the meaning to her existence in this book which is Henry, our universally agreed hot guy. Talk about a most underdeveloped romance to the point of making Cindy simply an imbecile. There is immediate attraction between them despite not really knowing each other.
And that's ok. Chemistry is a thing.
What is not ok is Cindy for the entirety of the book going back and forth between her feelings towards him, basically making out whenever she can with him and then thinking that she just MIGHT like him, that he does not like her and he has never said anything, DESPITE being the only "couple" that kept stealing time together, sharing items that were forbidden and generally breaking rules in secret. But no, Cindy is not sure about liking him.
Which brings us to the big finale. Cindy throughout the book is equating her love with Henry to the prize itself. If he does not pick her, then OBVIOUSLY he is rejecting her in every form and does not love her and then she will have to live a few years avoiding news about his happy marriage with one of the other contestants. Because OBVIOUSLY, if Henry proposed to another girl instead of her (since we know all reality tv decisions are made exclusively by the players and never the ratings/ production), he would HAVE to marry her and live the happily ever after ending without Cindy. I kept waiting for some rational thinking coming back to her head, but she keeps saying it ALL. THE. TIME. Not like she thinks reality tv is real, but somehow this made sense in her head.
I will not spoil what her actions were towards the finale, but suffice to say that my opinion of her being a moron never changed. Somehow the author tried to give legit reasons towards the very end, but you can't just delete everything I read for paaaages and paaaaages, Julie!
Now, after Cindy, the 2nd prize of stupidity takes the whole production team. I have never been part of a reality tv show and I will not pretend to know exactly how they work, but more or less, we all related to the book's logic that ratings above everything, right? Yes, because we all realise that this is a financial decision for them, nothing to do with love. So this means they try to make it work as much as possible, right? Well... no. They keep being unprepared for basic things and have no backups for absolutely anything. The point is for them to get all the tears and drama they want, but not with the production being in front of the camera. WELL... They are THAT good, let's say.
In general, the entire show was not really depicted well. It seemed like the whole show lasted what, 5/6 episodes? I never really watched "The Bachelor", but with my experience of general reality tv, I know there is more complexity and duration from what the author portrayed.
The other characters? If Cindy and Henry are that underdeveloped, you can guess for the rest (step family excluded). I think maybe only Stacy had a real enough character, probably because she was a bystander with barely any lines that was actually very likable. There's a mean girl who is even recognised by the characters as the token mean girl, but she is also treated like that in the book too. She's a prop to the author as well, she is forgotten. Maybe Beck was decent as well I suppose, she probably had the most stress out of everyone and yet, she still tried to be as human as possible and made it work. Ah, there is also the token best friend, who has 0 opinion of her own and only exists to cheer for Cindy. Such great friendship <3
That is all I can say. Mishandled premise, not only boring main characters but very badly written characters, a reality tv show that made little sense as to how it promotes itself. For me, they even butchered a part of the body positivity message. I can't find a reason to give this anything more than 1 star.
September 23, 2021
Julie Murphy's new rom-com asks the question, Can a real happy ending be found on reality television?
So here’s a question: is a “Cinderella story” the same as a retelling of Cinderella? Because while I’ve heard If the Shoe Fits called a retelling, it’s perhaps one in the loosest sense, but that doesn’t detract from its charm.
Cindy is an aspiring shoe designer with a passion for fashion, but as a plus-sized woman, she’s often frustrated by the lack of options she has. With no real career prospects on the horizon, she moves home to live with her stepmother, a famous reality show producer, to help care for her three young half-siblings.
When a contestant is needed on her stepmother’s most famous dating show, Cindy decides to take the chance and fill in. She can show off her fashion sense and maybe jumpstart her career. What she doesn’t expect is that she’ll capture the hearts of the viewing public because of her size and her clothes.
To her surprise, she finds herself actually falling for the show’s eligible bachelor, and she deals with jealous and competitive contestants and the manipulation that comes from “reality” television. But in the end, will the show allow someone like her to get her happy ending, or does she need to go after it herself?
If the Shoe Fits was a sweet story, a kinder, gentler version of the spectacular One to Watch , which was one of my favorites last year. Murphy’s writing is always so positive and charming, but not really focusing on much of the negatives that a plus-size contestant would actually face on a show like this made the book seem more like a fairy tale. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
So here’s a question: is a “Cinderella story” the same as a retelling of Cinderella? Because while I’ve heard If the Shoe Fits called a retelling, it’s perhaps one in the loosest sense, but that doesn’t detract from its charm.
Cindy is an aspiring shoe designer with a passion for fashion, but as a plus-sized woman, she’s often frustrated by the lack of options she has. With no real career prospects on the horizon, she moves home to live with her stepmother, a famous reality show producer, to help care for her three young half-siblings.
When a contestant is needed on her stepmother’s most famous dating show, Cindy decides to take the chance and fill in. She can show off her fashion sense and maybe jumpstart her career. What she doesn’t expect is that she’ll capture the hearts of the viewing public because of her size and her clothes.
To her surprise, she finds herself actually falling for the show’s eligible bachelor, and she deals with jealous and competitive contestants and the manipulation that comes from “reality” television. But in the end, will the show allow someone like her to get her happy ending, or does she need to go after it herself?
If the Shoe Fits was a sweet story, a kinder, gentler version of the spectacular One to Watch , which was one of my favorites last year. Murphy’s writing is always so positive and charming, but not really focusing on much of the negatives that a plus-size contestant would actually face on a show like this made the book seem more like a fairy tale. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
June 15, 2023
Le sigh— my younger self would have loved this book with its cool, hip, shoe-loving heroine (why yes, one of my social handles does include three of those words) who happens to also look like a real girl. Real as in plus sized and not built like Barbie.
Add in a handsome, funny and nice dude with an almost-meet-cute who then turns up later in the craziest coincidence! Add a healthy dose of fake love reality TV and you’ve got the makings of a great escape!
Gotta say that the next time I want a few hours away from my life, which has become work-laden and not in a good way, I will turn to Julie Murphy.
She can really deliver a charming, swoon-worthy ending (along with some heartfelt passages about dealing with grief).
Cheering the ending with some reality-TV cheap champagne!! ❤️
Add in a handsome, funny and nice dude with an almost-meet-cute who then turns up later in the craziest coincidence! Add a healthy dose of fake love reality TV and you’ve got the makings of a great escape!
Gotta say that the next time I want a few hours away from my life, which has become work-laden and not in a good way, I will turn to Julie Murphy.
She can really deliver a charming, swoon-worthy ending (along with some heartfelt passages about dealing with grief).
Cheering the ending with some reality-TV cheap champagne!! ❤️
June 28, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook
I loved that the protagonist was a plus-size woman. You don’t see that often, unfortunately. The plot was unique too. Highly recommended!
I loved that the protagonist was a plus-size woman. You don’t see that often, unfortunately. The plot was unique too. Highly recommended!
July 20, 2021
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Cinderella meets The Bachelor in this fun modern take on a classic!
If you (like me) were disappointed by One to Watch, I urge you to check out If the Shoe Fits! This gave me everything I was hoping for there and didn't get. Great fat rep and body positivity, reality TV drama, and a romance I could really root for. This was so much fun and a fantastic first outing for Disney dipping their toes in publishing romance for adults. (though if you're looking for something steamy, you aren't going to find much of that here)
There are definitely nods to the source material which was very fun. Our heroine Cindy went to design school and has a passion for shoes. The hero is the heir to the throne of his mother's fashion empire, but the couple get to know each other on a reality tv show much like The Bachelor. It's fun, modern, and feminist and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also appreciated that we've moved past the "evil" stepmom & stepsisters, instead just making it a complicated yet affectionate relationship. Which feels appropriate for something today.
I really appreciated how this dealt with Cindy as a fat character too. She's mostly pretty confident and doesn't doubt that the hero could be into her, but we see her deal with microagressions and other very realistic challenges, like finding clothes in the right size on a show mostly populated with thin people. This book gave me exactly what I was hoping for (and didn't get) in One to Watch. I loved the main character, enjoyed the TV show setup, and liked the romance. Although because this is only from Cindy's perspective I don't feel like I got quite enough to know how Henry was feeling throughout. But a really great book regardless and one I certainly recommend! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Cinderella meets The Bachelor in this fun modern take on a classic!
If you (like me) were disappointed by One to Watch, I urge you to check out If the Shoe Fits! This gave me everything I was hoping for there and didn't get. Great fat rep and body positivity, reality TV drama, and a romance I could really root for. This was so much fun and a fantastic first outing for Disney dipping their toes in publishing romance for adults. (though if you're looking for something steamy, you aren't going to find much of that here)
There are definitely nods to the source material which was very fun. Our heroine Cindy went to design school and has a passion for shoes. The hero is the heir to the throne of his mother's fashion empire, but the couple get to know each other on a reality tv show much like The Bachelor. It's fun, modern, and feminist and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also appreciated that we've moved past the "evil" stepmom & stepsisters, instead just making it a complicated yet affectionate relationship. Which feels appropriate for something today.
I really appreciated how this dealt with Cindy as a fat character too. She's mostly pretty confident and doesn't doubt that the hero could be into her, but we see her deal with microagressions and other very realistic challenges, like finding clothes in the right size on a show mostly populated with thin people. This book gave me exactly what I was hoping for (and didn't get) in One to Watch. I loved the main character, enjoyed the TV show setup, and liked the romance. Although because this is only from Cindy's perspective I don't feel like I got quite enough to know how Henry was feeling throughout. But a really great book regardless and one I certainly recommend! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2021
I loved a lot of things about this book, but unfortunately the romance was not one of them. The Bachelor-esque premise, which did give this book a readable quality and fast paced feeling, just wasn't a good breeding ground for a spectacular romance. It was actually quite lacklustre, which I hate to say because I felt potential and chemistry between the love interests.
It was however, a good vehicle to discuss plus size representation in media and in fashion. And I think that's what I loved most about If the Shoe Fits. Cindy is a well rounded character who happens to be plus size, and other romance authors should really be taking notes of what positive plus size representation looks like. Because Julie Murphy has nailed it.
Really looking forward to more reimagined fairytales with modern twists and plus size heroines in this companion series. I just hope the romance becomes more focal in those future books.
It was however, a good vehicle to discuss plus size representation in media and in fashion. And I think that's what I loved most about If the Shoe Fits. Cindy is a well rounded character who happens to be plus size, and other romance authors should really be taking notes of what positive plus size representation looks like. Because Julie Murphy has nailed it.
Really looking forward to more reimagined fairytales with modern twists and plus size heroines in this companion series. I just hope the romance becomes more focal in those future books.
April 20, 2021
I should have known better, but when I saw “Julie Murphy” I just couldn’t stop myself from clicking the request button. The funny thing is I was denied Pumpkin and that will probably end up being a huge winner for me. But whatever. The NetGalley gods – they are a fickle.
So the problem here is I really don’t like Disney princess stuff and I would also rather stick my head in the oven rather than endure even one episode of The Bachelor. Why did I think I would like this again? Oh yeah, because Julie Murphy is a QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN. But I think she’s a queen of YA and this foray into contemporary/adult romance was a bit of a miss. It also didn’t help matters that One To Watch just came out about 12 seconds ago so there’s an obvious apples to apples comparison right at the forefront of my brain. I already have my name on the waiting list for Pumpkin so we’ll simply call this a glitch in the Matrix.
ARC provided by NetGally in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
July 23, 2021
This sweet and sassy peek behind the curtains of a show like "The Bachelor" was just the right fit. Cindy is a plus-size girl and it is about time that America gets behind a contestant who is not in the 0-4 size range. She loves shoes! Henry is the heir to a high-profile designer label and the two were MFEO. I loved their discussion about the intersection of utility and fashion and the fact that we all wear clothes making us all a part of the conversation. Not just the runway models and designers behind them. Looking forward to seeing which fairy tale Julie Murphy decides to feature in "Meant to Be, #2).
Thank you to Hyperion and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Hyperion and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2021
Omg soooooo good!
February 22, 2022
i’ll talk about why i didn’t love this as much as i expected to in an upcoming video about cinderella retellings, but the most pressing issue is that the leads never profess their love?
January 9, 2022
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
Cindy always had a fascination with shoes, because she can bond over them with other people, in ways she can't always do when it comes to clothing, since she's a plus sized woman. She has a good eye for shoe design, but she never managed to chase her dreams ambitiously, since after her parents died, Cindy went into a creative slump, trying to process her grief and the trajectory her life is going to take, a life without her mom and dad. She lost her mom first, during middle school, and her dad eventually moved on to marry another woman, who happens to be a powerful socialite and a reality TV show producer. After her dad's passing, her stepmom became her sole parent figure, and with a twist of fate, Cindy finds herself plunged into one of the reality TV shows she's producing, a show called Before Midnight where several women compete for the heart of a male suitor, and the victor not only gets to leave the show with this prince charming, but with $100,000 in her pocket. Little does Cindy know, that the mysterious suitor she will be competing for isn't the stranger she thought he would be after all...
We follow Cindy's adventures in this reality TV show and her interactions with the other contestants. This is a light, airy and humorous book that gives the reader exactly what they expect. It's a safe read as long as you know that this is the type of story you expect, an entertaining love story set in the modern 21st century social media and reality TV show culture. We get to see firsthand how fabricated and superficial reality TV show settings are, with scandalous scenes and jaw dropping moments being purposely pushed onto the narrative to keep those ratings high. We get to see how people's lives on reality TV isn't so "real" after all, and how the show runners tend to rig the competition and act as puppet masters, only giving the contestants the illusion that they're actually in control of what goes on.
Our main character Cindy is pretty forward and outspoken, especially when it comes to people disrespecting her physique. She's not afraid to call out big fashion designers on their failure to accommodate women her size, and even tweaking some already existing designs to suit her body. The romance part here wasn't really that unique, and we got all the typical tropes and feel-good moments between the two lovers. Since this is a Cinderella retelling, one would expect to see the typical "evil" stepmother and stepdaughters, but pleasantly enough, they were actually Cindy's allies in this story, and seeing how they had Cindy's back throughout the story was heartwarming and a nice trope subversion.
This book was entertaining to read. I can't say it impacted me in a profound way, but it was a fun page turner. I wish the drama between the contestants was a little bit more intense, since one would expect very "catty" and "dramatic" moments between the contestants, as we usually see on reality TV show, but I personally found it to be pretty watered down, and the main "mean-girl" of the story, Addison, wasn't that much of an intimidating presence. I also wish the characters were a bit more fleshed out and interesting. We only focus on a small amount of contestants, the rest mainly being static background noise, and the ones we focus on don't have that much of unique character voices to them.
I'm giving this a 3.5 star rating. It was decent and fun to read but I felt like it could have went a bit deeper. It fits neatly with most cliches and it was a refreshing read. I do recommend it if you're into a safe, feel-good and entertaining story.
“Choose what makes you happy. Things, places, people. Only choose the ones that bring that delight to you. Don’t be a hostage to duty or obligation. I didn’t carry you and birth you and raise you to waste your precious life on anything except unbridled joy. Choose joy.”
Cindy always had a fascination with shoes, because she can bond over them with other people, in ways she can't always do when it comes to clothing, since she's a plus sized woman. She has a good eye for shoe design, but she never managed to chase her dreams ambitiously, since after her parents died, Cindy went into a creative slump, trying to process her grief and the trajectory her life is going to take, a life without her mom and dad. She lost her mom first, during middle school, and her dad eventually moved on to marry another woman, who happens to be a powerful socialite and a reality TV show producer. After her dad's passing, her stepmom became her sole parent figure, and with a twist of fate, Cindy finds herself plunged into one of the reality TV shows she's producing, a show called Before Midnight where several women compete for the heart of a male suitor, and the victor not only gets to leave the show with this prince charming, but with $100,000 in her pocket. Little does Cindy know, that the mysterious suitor she will be competing for isn't the stranger she thought he would be after all...
We follow Cindy's adventures in this reality TV show and her interactions with the other contestants. This is a light, airy and humorous book that gives the reader exactly what they expect. It's a safe read as long as you know that this is the type of story you expect, an entertaining love story set in the modern 21st century social media and reality TV show culture. We get to see firsthand how fabricated and superficial reality TV show settings are, with scandalous scenes and jaw dropping moments being purposely pushed onto the narrative to keep those ratings high. We get to see how people's lives on reality TV isn't so "real" after all, and how the show runners tend to rig the competition and act as puppet masters, only giving the contestants the illusion that they're actually in control of what goes on.
Our main character Cindy is pretty forward and outspoken, especially when it comes to people disrespecting her physique. She's not afraid to call out big fashion designers on their failure to accommodate women her size, and even tweaking some already existing designs to suit her body. The romance part here wasn't really that unique, and we got all the typical tropes and feel-good moments between the two lovers. Since this is a Cinderella retelling, one would expect to see the typical "evil" stepmother and stepdaughters, but pleasantly enough, they were actually Cindy's allies in this story, and seeing how they had Cindy's back throughout the story was heartwarming and a nice trope subversion.
This book was entertaining to read. I can't say it impacted me in a profound way, but it was a fun page turner. I wish the drama between the contestants was a little bit more intense, since one would expect very "catty" and "dramatic" moments between the contestants, as we usually see on reality TV show, but I personally found it to be pretty watered down, and the main "mean-girl" of the story, Addison, wasn't that much of an intimidating presence. I also wish the characters were a bit more fleshed out and interesting. We only focus on a small amount of contestants, the rest mainly being static background noise, and the ones we focus on don't have that much of unique character voices to them.
I'm giving this a 3.5 star rating. It was decent and fun to read but I felt like it could have went a bit deeper. It fits neatly with most cliches and it was a refreshing read. I do recommend it if you're into a safe, feel-good and entertaining story.
“Choose what makes you happy. Things, places, people. Only choose the ones that bring that delight to you. Don’t be a hostage to duty or obligation. I didn’t carry you and birth you and raise you to waste your precious life on anything except unbridled joy. Choose joy.”
September 14, 2021
In spite of all the mixed reviews, I decided to read this for the size representation. I. REGRET. NOTHING! ❤
This was lovely!! 🤗🥰
I'm not big sized, but a very important person to me is and I know the struggles, the comments and the hurt, I've always tried to help but society doesn't so fuck yeah this book rocks!!! And tells it how it is!!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
I mean... Cindy loves shoes because they are inclusive, they fit everyone no matter the size of clothes they wear, gender or whatever else. Isn't that lovely?
And she goes on the "bachelor" (but in here it had another name), just to get people to know her work. She doesn't expect to fall in love, wich she doesn't expect to be accepted for who she is or how she looks, she just wants people to see her shoes.
But she got more than that, people loved her, accepted her and she won the guy WITHOUT leaving behind her own dreams that have nothing to do with dick.
This was equality at it's finest, it was inclusive, entertaining, funny, raw, feminist, IT WAS AWESOME!!!
And the heroine was independent, funny, smart, witty, proud and kind. Perfect!!!
This is not just a romance, it's more complicated than that so beware. 😉❤
This was lovely!! 🤗🥰
I'm not big sized, but a very important person to me is and I know the struggles, the comments and the hurt, I've always tried to help but society doesn't so fuck yeah this book rocks!!! And tells it how it is!!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
I mean... Cindy loves shoes because they are inclusive, they fit everyone no matter the size of clothes they wear, gender or whatever else. Isn't that lovely?
And she goes on the "bachelor" (but in here it had another name), just to get people to know her work. She doesn't expect to fall in love, wich she doesn't expect to be accepted for who she is or how she looks, she just wants people to see her shoes.
But she got more than that, people loved her, accepted her and she won the guy WITHOUT leaving behind her own dreams that have nothing to do with dick.
This was equality at it's finest, it was inclusive, entertaining, funny, raw, feminist, IT WAS AWESOME!!!
And the heroine was independent, funny, smart, witty, proud and kind. Perfect!!!
This is not just a romance, it's more complicated than that so beware. 😉❤
April 12, 2021
Having more plus-size women in fiction is an aspect that should have happened ages ago. The writing industry still lacks body shape diversity and seeing a plus-size protagonist was refreshing. This is why it shame's me that I couldn't get into this story. I found that the plot was too fast-paced, which neglected time for the romance in the story to blossom. There wasn't much drama and since I couldn't connect with both of the main characters, it was hard to be emotionally attached to this tale. I did really appreciate the flaws in the fashion industry that are presented, especially the lack of diversity in clothing sizes. Overall, this story was one that I couldn't connect to but could appreciate the diversity presented and the critics on the fashion industry.
Thank you, NetGalley, Disney-Hyperion and Julie Murphy for the arc.
Thank you, NetGalley, Disney-Hyperion and Julie Murphy for the arc.
October 21, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
This rom-com steeped in the world of reality television matchmaking was just the type of read I needed to relax. When Cindy, an aspiring shoe designer returns to California to help her stepmother, Erica take care of her triplet half-siblings, she and her two stepsisters get swept up in the new season of Before Midnight, Erica's The Bachelor inspired series. While her daughters Anna and Drew are shoe-ins, plus size Cindy is the "dark horse" and maybe the trend of the moment. Who knew that America would fall in love with her? Even more, who would know that Henry, the eligible bachelor has already met Cindy and the sparks are instant for both of them. But can the pair survive the world of Hollywood production?
It was a very cute story and as a plus-size gal myself, I love that women like me are finally being represented. However, I also hate that we are " the flavor of the moment" in both literature and media. Before I met an amazing guy who just loves me for being me, the dating world was full of those who fetishize us ladies with the thick thighs. Seriously, I used to get messages on my Tinder profile that began with I love them thick and juicy( UGH!).
Overall, I would highly recommend the book to all those romantic hearted people.
Publication 03/08/21
Goodreads review 19/10/21
This rom-com steeped in the world of reality television matchmaking was just the type of read I needed to relax. When Cindy, an aspiring shoe designer returns to California to help her stepmother, Erica take care of her triplet half-siblings, she and her two stepsisters get swept up in the new season of Before Midnight, Erica's The Bachelor inspired series. While her daughters Anna and Drew are shoe-ins, plus size Cindy is the "dark horse" and maybe the trend of the moment. Who knew that America would fall in love with her? Even more, who would know that Henry, the eligible bachelor has already met Cindy and the sparks are instant for both of them. But can the pair survive the world of Hollywood production?
It was a very cute story and as a plus-size gal myself, I love that women like me are finally being represented. However, I also hate that we are " the flavor of the moment" in both literature and media. Before I met an amazing guy who just loves me for being me, the dating world was full of those who fetishize us ladies with the thick thighs. Seriously, I used to get messages on my Tinder profile that began with I love them thick and juicy( UGH!).
Overall, I would highly recommend the book to all those romantic hearted people.
Publication 03/08/21
Goodreads review 19/10/21
December 2, 2023
i wanted a prince charming when i was little, now i want a ✨henry✨
January 18, 2022
I gave this one 3.5 rounded up for star selection. I was looking for something light and fun and this book definitely delivered. I am not a fan of reality tv (except for food network competitions) and have never seen the Bachelor/Bachelorette but I totally believe the accuracy of the behind the scenes look this provides. While reality tv wasn’t a selling point for me I love fairy tale reimaginings and I felt like this did justice to Cinderella of the modern age. I was pleased to see that the stepmother and stepsisters weren’t evil and though they were all good character additions. Cindy has finished college and doesn’t have a job yet so she’s heading back to stay with her stepmother and nanny for her half-siblings. When there are a couple of sudden drop outs in the reality tv dating show Cindy and her two stepsisters step in. Cindy is hoping for some exposure to get her shoe design dreams up and running but she discovers more than she could have imagined.
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