The Perfect Dress is another fantastic Carolyn Brown book. She writes a story about plus-size women who are going about living their lives, dealing with the chaos of life and the losing and finding of love. Her characters are (as always) very likable and very easy to relate to.
There is the slow and cautious development of the relationship of Mitzi with Graham, a rather awkward with women type of guy who is also dealing with a crazy ex-wife and his very tall twin 15 year old daughters. The attraction between them is sweet...and perfect.
The friendship of the three women running the plus size wedding dress shop is another fantastic aspect of the story. They fuss at each other plenty and don't cut each other any slack when toughness is warranted, but they will always support each other. They have the kind of friendship we all should have in our lives.
As usual, Brown's quirky lines help fill in the story. My favorite was, "The rest of the day went by like a snail headed for his own funeral".
I received this book via Netgalley. I was thrilled until I realized what I'd done. I usually reserve my Audible credits to use on Carolyn Brown's Women's Literature books because I love the accents so much. Even though I've read the book already, I may still have to get the audio--because I love them THAT much. If you haven't tried one of her audio books, you really should!

Well paced, fun read with lots of southern charm.
Three friends since high school stay connected. Though there is loss there is more gain.
Heartwarming story of lasting friendships through life's challenges

Three friends since high school own a made to order bridal shop for plus size women. These big beautiful women have been through a lot in secret pain and together with a pint of ice cream, but now they need each other more than ever. This character-driven small town friends story of new opportunities, friendship, and romance had me wanting to pull up a chair at their kitchen table and sharing about life and whatever snack is being dipped into.

In this standalone women's fic- contemporary romance crossover, Mitzi gets a chance with her high school crush when his daughters need gowns for a wedding, Jody's life goes to pieces when she learns it has all been a lie with high school sweetheart, Lyle, and Paula has to share that she turned out to be 'the other woman' in a cheating husband's affair.

The Perfect Dress is the story of all three women along with Graham and his twin daughters. The ladies and the girls are all plus size so they go through the lows and highs of what that can mean. For Mitzi, its wondering how Graham can want her since she is a big woman and unlike his petite ex-wife even though her heart tells her that she's got something on the inside that woman never had and that, yes, she's gorgeous and especially to Graham. For Jody, its learning that she put up with an emotionally and physically abusive mother so that she was ripe to turn herself inside out for a man who ended up cheating on her and walking away after years only to have a new man who likes her strength and sass try to convince her into meeting him for a cup of coffee. And, for Paula, who was also emotionally abused and down-trodden by a parent, to learn the man she was with was only separated from his wife who now shows up in the neighborhood forcing Paula to be gracious and keep big secrets since that woman was the wronged one.

I loved how the bridal shop was the center of things with them working on the custom gowns, visiting when Mitzi's gran or dad dropped by, and now having the lively Harrison twins brightening the shop with a handsome Graham along to addle Mitzi's wits. The big Dallas Bridal Show is what has them all pulling together to help make the shop have a good showing, but also Jody, Paula, and even Graham's confrontations with exes to clear the past kept things lively enough.

The gentle, comfy, down home feel behind the friendship and Mitzi's slow burn romance had me relaxing and enjoying every page though I confess I could have seen slightly less focus on the big girl stuff. But, overall, it was engaging and fun particularly because Mitzi's gran wouldn't let them mope and they each had their own strength to finally reach for what they really wanted. I'd recommend this one for those who enjoy the crossover between women's fic and romance.

Fantastic story of friendship, love, and being yourself. Mitzi, Jody, and Paula were three women who have been friends since they were in school. Though they went their separate ways for a while, they always stayed in touch. When each of them needed a change in her life, they opened a custom bridal shop for women like themselves - plus-sized women with dreams to match. The shop is the backdrop as all three women experienced unexpected changes, both good and bad, in their lives.

Mitzi is a tall, red-haired, curvy woman. She's had a few bad relationships and is a bit on the cautious side when it comes to men. She is fairly comfortable with who she is thanks to the support of her friends and family. Some of her happiest moments have been seeing the joy her designs bring to the women who wear them. Her life took an unexpected turn when her high school crush, Graham Harrison, showed up in her shop, wanting bridesmaid dresses for his daughters.

I loved the development of Mitzi and Graham's relationship. Neither one was looking for love, but there were sparks between them from the start. The progression was slow, but steady and sweet, with some hilarious encouragement from Graham's daughters, Mitzi's friends, and her outspoken grandmother along the way. Things became complicated when Graham's ex-wife showed up, determined to reclaim Graham. I loved that he didn't even nibble at the bait she threw out there, and he earned major points from me when he told Mitzi about each of the encounters. Mitzi had some doubts about the relationship, first, that the connection between them was more about his daughters than about them, and second that Graham could want her when he could have the petite and skinny Rita. I liked that she and Graham spoke honestly about her doubts and that he gave her the space she wanted while she worked through them. I loved the kick in the pants they each got that finally brought them back together.

Mitzi's friends Paula and Jody also had some significant changes going on in their lives. Jody's fifteen-year relationship with her man came to an abrupt and unexpected end. I ached for Jody but also wanted to shake her for the way she had buried her true self under his expectations of who she should be. I loved the support she received from her friends, old and new. I laughed out loud at the encounter at the bridal show, especially Tabby's brilliantly over-the-top method of revenge. The last thing Jody was looking for was a new relationship, but one found her anyway. I loved Quincy's complete acceptance of her just as she is, and his good-humored reactions to her sass. He did have a couple of moments of foot-in-mouth disease, but his persistence paid off, even though Jody fought hard against her feelings.

Paula's breakup with the man she had been seeing turned out to be the catalyst that brought The Perfect Dress bridal boutique into existence. I ached for her but wasn't too surprised at the cause of the breakup. I liked the way that she took charge of her life, especially after she shared her secret with her friends. Their love and support were crucial, especially given the lack of support from her family. There were a couple of scenes with her ex that I thought were fantastic and showed how strong Paula was.

I loved Graham's daughters, Dixie and Tabby. They had a terrific relationship with their dad, who loved and supported them. Their self-confidence is a direct result of that love. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I loved how they connected with Mitzi. It was so much fun to see their excitement over working at the shop. I enjoyed their conversations with Graham, as they tried to encourage his relationship with Mitzi. I ached for them in their dealings with their mother, who was a real piece of work.

The humor in this book was fantastic and typical of Carolyn Brown's books. The Southern/Texas attitudes had me laughing out loud frequently, with everything from the response "ain't that nice?" instead of "Screw you" to Mitzi's protectiveness of Dixie and Tabby when it came to their mother. None of the women could be accused of being shrinking violets when it came to standing up for themselves or their friends. I also love the small town atmosphere and the challenges of everyone knowing your business. The epilogue was terrific with its updates on the characters' lives. Loved the twist at the fireworks show.

The Perfect Dress by Carolyn Brown was an enjoyable read with female characters you love and want to cheer for. A story about friendship, strengths and following your dreams. When three friends open up a shop for plus sized girls looking for custom wedding dresses, they know they are making women happy.

Mitzi Taylor knows she stands out. She is a woman who is curvy, tall and red-haired after all. She is careful who she opens up too, but even so, she accepts the woman she is. I loved that about her. When Graham Harrison walks into their shop in need for dresses for his twin girls, there is an instant chemistry between them. Their romance is slow burning, sweet and charming.

Happy reading.

I love the women who own the wedding dress shop. Mitzi, Jody, and Paula are wonderfully supportive of one another and their clients. Throw in Mitzi’s dad and grandma, then Graham and his twin daughters show up, and the characters in this story are a perfect blend of genuinely nice and lovable people. While that’s a key ingredient for a story, there was still something missing.

I’ve read stories by this author that are dripping with chemistry. While there is a definite energy between Mitzi and Graham and their connection is very sweet, there is a bit of zest missing. While I was invested in them getting together, I didn’t get butterflies. I feel this story is really more about Mitzi and her friends and the bond they share, and that’s okay. I wanted to see them each get their own HEA, but more important was the journey they took together.

Surprisingly, the writing felt a bit stilted to me. There were also some continuity problems. Nothing major, but not what I’ve come to expect from Ms. Brown. It’s still a good story, it just didn’t seem to be of this author’s caliber.

You can’t go wrong with a Carolyn Brown story. The Perfect Dress is a perfect example of that. In this cross between women’s fiction and romance, with the issues of body image and peer approval take center stage. Two very important struggles that we as women must come to terms in living a happy life. How refreshing it was to have Mitzi Taylor and her friends tackled, tie up and conquer these. I loved the shout out to the Family, Consumer and Career Leaders of America. It may not be as well-known as some other organizations but just as important.

Besides Mitzi and Graham, along with his daughters, there is her two closest friends and her grandmother rounding out this heartwarming story. It brought a smile, a tear and one “Oh,no,” (giving black eyes, even if deserved is not right) as I read. As for the genuinely vivacious Mitzi, I was rooting for her to have all her dreams come true.

The Perfect Dress is a well written romance. I loved the plot and the characters. I highly recommend this book.

Mitzi, Jody and Paula have opened a bridal salon that makes custom wedding dresses in size 14 and above. What a delightful chance. Most books have the perfect sized protagonist. All of the characters were big. It is so refreshing to have a story involving normal people. Kudos to Carolyn Brown for showing all sized people deserve love.

This is a cute read with a great theme. It is written with a southern charm and all of the characters are lovable. The wedding creations are described in such a detailed manner that I can see how beautiful they are.

This is a good read for the beach or snuggled in the recliner at home.


I received an ARC from Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.

An absolutely charming and sweet read this book offered humor, empathy and just sheer delight! I found myself laughing, cheering and enjoying each and every page! A definite sweet read that I so enjoyed---especially the happily ever after. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this title prior to publication---I just loved it!

Such a sweet read! I loved the southern charm and the deep friendship between the three main characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fun, sweet southern read that has all the feels. A journey of sorts for all three of the ladies that run The Perfect dress and how what they gain far out weighs they lost along the way. An abundance of characters that ooze charm, strength and love, as well as a cast of characters we can definitely do with out! I loved all three ladies. The uniqueness of each and what they bring to their life long friendship is inspiring. The way they tackle problems that are thrown at them as well as the torment they have each felt growing up as larger woman has seem them create a circle of love and faith in each other. It's funny and sweet and has the perfect ending to each of their quests in love and life. A perfect five star read for anyone who loves sweet southern romance with all the feels! And let's not forget the works of art they create!

I was unfamiliar with Carolyn Brown but the description of this book caught my interest. Mitzi sounded a whole lot like me and it's not often I identify physically with the heroine of a book I read.

Brown writes well giving us plenty of insight into each character. I liked everyone but loved the twins. Their comfort with themselves, trying new things, handing with adults and their humor had me as enamored of them as Mitzi and the girls are.

I read racier romances most often so the pace of Mitzi and Graham's relationship seemed slow. For real life, it was probably great that they had time to really get to know each other. They're so good together but Mitzi has a hard time believing Graham is attracted to her. There's also the worry that a negative outcome with Graham will get in the way of her friendship and employing of the girls.

Brown gave us a lot of story on each of this fairly large cast of characters. We see as much of Paula and Jody's stories as she did Mitzi's. There's plenty to keep the reader engaged. The Perfect Dress is the perfect lighthearted, entertaining read for those times when you just want a nice story.

r3eviewed by Jem

The best part of this story is the friendship between the women. Next would be the relationships they find. The concept of a wedding dress shop for plus size women drew me in as soon as I read the blurb. This is a great book with humor, love, compassion, and friendship.

Woohoo to Mitzi! Love the idea of a wedding dress shop that caters to larger women and loved Mitzi too. This is a fun second chance romance novel- you know it is the minute that Graham walks in the store with his daughters Dixie and Tabby. What a pair those two are! Nicely written, funny in spots, and always with a good heart, this is a positive entertaining read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Perfect for a lazy afternoon.

Charming story about three friends and business partners as they made their niche in a small Texas town. All three were went into business making the prefect dresses for plus sized brides, a response to their own size and limited availability of pretty dresses above the size 14, because every woman deserves the perfect dress. This book has humor, emotions, heartbreak and good friends oh and love! Mitzi, Jody and Paula support each other as life comes at them along with Mitzi's sassy grandmother. Great read about being comfortable in your own skin and building up a friend instead of tearing down. A real feel good read filled with good times!

It’s little wonder why Carolyn Brown’s books sell so well. Her books are thoughtfully written without any condescending tones. Such is the case in dealing with a sensitive issue of fat-shaming. It seems that society is sensitive to gender and health-related issues but not when it comes to a woman’s size and shape. And our three main characters come up against every weight-related prejudice and then some yet the author deals with each in a meaningful and relatable way. My hope is that this book finds its way not only at book clubs but into the hands of impressionable young girls!
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my volunteer review.

4 Stars
A winning combination- Carolyn Brown brought a woman who had become all she needed to be and the man who was her interest in high school. It was a solid story and had the added benefit of the main woman be natural and more life like - a plus size woman. Terrific.

This book had heart, fun, and HEA just like the way Carolyn Brown delivers.

The Perfect Dress by Carolyn Brown was a hit with me. I love reading her books and this one did not disappoint me at all. I loved the characters and the storyline. Three friends open up a shop that creates Wedding Dresses and Bridesmaid dresses for large women only. It is an interesting concept but allows these ladies to have a thriving business. The story is interwoven when each of the owners finds their own groom. There are other characters in the story that tie this all together as a labor of love in a small community. It is an enjoyable read and I recommend it too.

Mitzi owns a wedding dress shop with Jody and Paula.none of the women are married.jody has been in a serious relationship for years but they can't agree on getting married.The women complain about men.