Thank you so much to St Martins for an advance copy of this book!

This book will be published on December 26th, 2023.


This is the follow up to Jenny Howe's debut The Makeup Test and honestly I love this one even more! I didn't realize that I was a reality trope girlie until I am constantly reading romances with this and I always love them.

Sigh Everly and Logan.
I loved seeing their relationship grow and how subtle it started until it wasn't subtle at all. I really enjoyed his character and like that Howe mentioned the male's insecurities in his body which I feel like we don't normally see in books. I was okay with this being kind of an instalove trope due to the nature of how they met and how much time they spent around each other. I also love how he had a little bit of an arc from being very close with the showrunner to how their relationship changed by the end.

"Disappearing is safer. Then I might be all the things I'm afraid I am: too weird, too loud, too awkward." Everly had to take a breath before she spoke the last one. "Too much."

There were definitely aspects of Everly story that I could relate to as a fellow plus size woman. The quote above resonated with me as often times I feel like I come off as too much but it stems from just being awkward and wanting to fit in. I also appreciated the complicated relationship mothers and daughters have with one another especially when the mother is putting so much weight pressure on the daught. I know my mom would say things here and there and I know some of her views towards her image came from her mother. I thought the conversation Everly had with her mother was very honest and vulnerable but very much needed. I am glad that Everly was able to stick up to her mother.

Now I will say I do love the color black, it is my safe color BUT I also am not afraid of prints and bright colors. And don't get me started on sparkly tops - I want them all!

I am so happy there are more and more plus size representation coming out in mainstream. I had reached out to Jenny after reading to let her know that her acknowledgements made me emotional. I love that she praised other authors who are writing plus size characters and for inspiring her and then plus size community that is out there. It just meant a lot to know there are others out there like me.

Check this book out if you like What Not To Wear mixed with Queer Eye!

PS - As a Pennsylvanian, I love the Gritty shoutout!

Swoon: 7/10
Karaoke: sadly no