One to Watch stars Bea, a plus-size fashion blogger who writes a blistering critique of a romantic reality tv show (similar to the Bachelorette). When the showrunner reaches out and wants to cast her as the lead role, Bea is deeply skeptical. After considering the benefits, Bea agrees to star on Main Squeeze and seek love among twenty-five men. However, the journey is rough as Bea battles cruelty and fatphobia. As Bea confronts stereotypes and learns more about the men competing, the hardest choice Bea has to make is if she will let her guard down.

This book made me laugh so much! Prepare to cringe as well, at some of the men and bullying Bea deals with. This is a very entertaining read, while also discussing serious topics including body positivity, fatphobia, and beauty standards. One to Watch makes fun of and utilizes classic reality tv tropes in equal measure. The result is that you feel like you’re binge-watching a show that you just can’t look away from! A multi-media format is effectively used to communicate a sense of how reality tv shows are dissected and discussed in real life.

Bea is a lovely and very relatable character. As the field of contestants narrowed, I found myself truly conflicted as to who Bea should choose. I was also impressed by how difficult it was to predict who the last man standing would be! The ending truly surprised me and it was very satisfying. I highly recommend One to Watch and I think it is the perfect summer romance read. One to Watch releases July 7, 2020. Thank you to Kate Stayman-London, Random House, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.