*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

ON THE PLUS SIDE was the perfect feel good, slightly cheesy, romance I was looking for! Featuring a plus size leading lady and a "lumbersexual" (Howe's words, not mine) love interest, PLUS SIDE had my heart fluttering more than once. The idea that everyone deserves a sexy love story, including fat girls, is a trend that I am 100% behind (and directly benefit from as a plus-size girlie myself) and I will continue to support any and every effort to normalize fat stories. However, that mission becomes a lot easier when stories like this one are out there getting published!

Everly Winters has spent most of her adult life attempting to shrink herself. Not physically, but personality wise. She chooses drab clothes so she'll blend in, settles for "good enough" rather than reaching for her dreams to become an artist, and never dares laugh too loud. However, when she becomes the next guest on the fat-ulous reality show On the Plus Side (OTPS) Everly suddenly has the chance to push her boundaries with the support of a whole, fabulous, TV crew. However, when the show suddenly starts to focus on a fictionalized love triangle, will Everly have the courage to stand up for her art (and a budding relationship)?

Is this a perfect piece of literary fiction? No. The characters can be frustrating, one dimensional (at times), and sometimes do illogical things, But, ON THE PLUS SIZE was fun , and that's something we all need a little bit of every once and a while!

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Aspiring author and journalist Helene Janssen has finally gathered up enough courage to make a few important changes in her life.

Change #1: file for divorce against her cheating (and emotionally abusive) husband.
Change #2: focus on her career as a writer and finally finish her manuscript.
Change #3: find new scenery and inspiration in Alaska.

Then, celebrate the New Helene's success with a European trip!

However, things turn sideways when Sebastian Montague enters the local pub. Rugged and handsome, Helene feels drawn to the crab fisherman in a way that feels visceral-- and that's not mentioning the fact that he's somehow been the main male lead in every story she's written since middle school.

Fresh and inspiring, THE HUNDRED LOVES OF JULIET tells the story of two people bound together by time and space-- as well as how true love will always find a way. This story is fun, but the delivery of the story is fairly simplistic. While the premise has promise for an emotional deep and moving story, at it's core JULIET is a love story from the author to her terminally ill husband. That love is woven throughout Sebastian and Helene's story, and the author's note at the end was truly touching.

I would say THE HUNDRED LOVES OF JULIET would be the perfect choice for a mature YA reader (while there are no explicitly spicy scenes, there are mentions of sex, pregnancy, and abuse) who's looking for a story with similar vibes to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or The Time-Traveler's Wife

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Set against the backdrop of the Nevada desert, THE DIVORCEES explores a new part of American history that is rarely explored. Set during the 1950s, Lois Saunders finds herself unceremoniously sent to Reno's most well reputed "Divorce Ranches" where, according to strict instructions by her father, she is to hole up for the state required six weeks, finalize her divorce, and then return straight home to her childhood home. The Golden Yarrow provides luxurious accommodations for her patrons-- a swimming pool, horse back riding, nature walks, daily trips to the town's bars and casino-- as well as the companionship of other pending divorcees. But Lois finds herself unable to fit in with the other wealthy girls, her awkward nature too big a hurdle to overcome, and she soon feels as isolated as she was during her loveless marriage.

Enter Greer Lang, a mysterious woman who appears in the middle of a night with a bruise mottling her beautiful face. Lois feels as drawn to her as a moth to a flame, and Greer, against all odds, seems to genuinely enjoy Lois' company.

This book was definitely character driven, with Lois a protagonist not everyone will relate to. She's awkward, perhaps autism-coded, and unsure of her place in the world-- it's truly only in the last chapters of the book we get the chance to see her truly grow into herself. Alternatively, Greer was a complex and incredibly interesting character-- her personality and traits revealed to the readers bit by bit, almost slowly enough it would be easy to not notice the red flags. I loved the LGBTQA+ undertones of Greer and Lois' relationship, and how, ultimately, it reflected an abusive marriage (which was so perfect when explored on a Divorce Ranch amongst other women trying to escape their own abusive relationships).

This book will not leave you on the edge of your seat, it's slow moving and not as action packed as some may hope-- but the author did a wonderful job of not only capturing one woman's relatively unglamorous experience at a 1950s divorce ranch (which would be so easy to romanticize) as well as a complex female relationship, and one woman's exploration to see how far she's willing to go for freedom.