I am not a fan of reality TV, especially The Bachelor, but it really works as a plot design in If the Shoe Fits. This Disney loose retelling of Cinderella was a fun story. Cindy Woods, is an orphan, but her step-mother and two step-sisters are not evil. She also has half-siblings, triplets who are absolutely adorable. She has just graduated from Design School in New York where she specialized in shoe design. On her way home to Los Angeles, she meets Henry in the airport and they sit together on the plane. She even nicknames him Prince Charming. Cindy's stepmom, Erica Tremaine, is a television producer of a Bachelor type show called, Before Midnight, and the three sisters are all going to be contestants. Erica doesn't really want Cindy to go on the show because she is worried that she will be torn apart in social media due to her being a plus-sized woman. When the show begins, the "Suitor" just happens to be, you guessed it, Henry MacKenzie, Prince Charming from the plane.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters, at least most of them, were likeable and relatable. Henry had issues that are gradually revealed to Cindy throughout the story. I enjoyed their late night talks that were kept secret from the others. Even the women vying for the prize were nice, except for one. As I looked at all the secondary characters, I could see the fairy godmother and even the mice. There is even a glass slipper of sorts in there for you to find. I enjoyed the witty banter, the female friendships, and the family bonds. I was rooting for Cindy to be chosen by Henry all the way through. As a plus-sized person myself, I love the way Julie Murphy advocates for fashionable clothing to be made for larger women, as well as being proud of who you are and strutting your stuff. The theme of following your dream and using your strengths was also evident. A fun story with some great messages and a Happily Ever After. I definitely recommend it.

I really loved this book - more than I thought I would.This is a loose Cinderella re-telling where Cindy (the main character) has just finished fashion school then moves back in with her step-mother and step-sisters (who, by the way, are lovely!) before going on a reality TV show similar to The Bachelor. The book includes a lot of themes, including a plus-size heroine which made me incredibly happy - I think the author did a great job with how plus-size women feel especially when shopping for clothing. This is a truly enjoyable book and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did!

Great writing, cute story, loveable heroine.

I liked the H/h pairing well enough but I also did not find them to have any sexual chemistry.

The Bachelor meets Disney's Cinderella; Kiera Cass' The Selection but make it modern and squeaky clean (no Cinderella's mice pun intended.)

Four and a half stars for the modern Disney retelling. The story was charming with the only tells that this was inspired by Cinderella really being the names of the characters and the description of the book.

While the whole ordeal was extremely fantastical, I did appreciate the fairytale escape provided by this story. You, as the reader, know the second she meets 'Prince Charming' on the plane how the story will pan out, but there is a deep comfort in consuming fairytales when we know the exact ending and all the little half-steps in between. Despite the predetermined nature of the story, there were enough modern twists to the tale that it was still surprising and new.

But can we PLEASE talk about the fact that her three youngest siblings are named after the mice from the OG Disney film? Absolutely odd but funny choice on the author's part to work in those characters. I did enjoy the twists where the stepmom isn't evil and the stepsisters are delights. The diversity amongst the cast characters was lovely to see as well. Henry was a little flat, but Cindy's character had a nice moment overcoming her past.

Overall, while the story is old and worn (no shoe puns intended), this retelling was still interesting and new enough to keep my attention. A modern fairytale to escape the horror and realness of the actual Bachelor franchise.

Thanks to NetGalley, I received this title as an ARC in exchange for this review.

Sweet and sassy

What a delightful book! This sweet and sassy take on Cinderella is perfect for a light read on a hot day (or night). I am definitely looking forward to seeing the next book in the series, and plan to seek out Ms Murphy's previous books.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a time-limited e-arc via Netgalley, with no obligation. This review is my own opinio

Oh my goodness. This book was EXACTLY what I needed! I loved this reimagining of Cinderella for a modern audience. Cindy was quirky and lovable with her own wants and desires. Henry was a joy and though I wish we had a little more insight into his thinking, it was still a wonderful journey to follow.

Their meet cute was wonderful and every point on their journey had me turning the page to find out what happened next. If you're a fan of Cinderella in any way, read this book!

So adorable! I really enjoyed this story!! It felt like a mash up between Cinderella and One to Watch. I do wish the ending had a little more oomph. I felt a bit let down and wanted more from the couple. But overall it was really cute and I am anxiously looking forward to more retellings in this series!

A retelling of Cinderella with a modern twist! Yes, please!
Cindy is a fashion designer suffering from a creative block. She lost her father and her stepmother and stepsisters are the only family she has left. But wait, wouldn't you expect them to be villains? Not in this story, they are amazing and care deeply for Cindy.
When Cindy arrives home, her stepmom is in the midst of producing a reality TV show, Before Midnight. Before the clock strikes twelve, Cindy is a contestant, and the prince, I mean bachelor is Henry, a man she met on the plane ride home. Can true love overcome the perils of being on a reality show? You will have to read this oh-so-fun and charming book to find out.
Romantic comedy is way out of my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed this delightful tale. I adored Cindy and wanted her to get her version of a happily ever after ending. I read that the author has plans to write retellings of other Disney princesses and I am looking forward to what comes next.

The original take on the classic Cinderella story in this novel was refreshing and incredibly well crafted. I loved all of the relationships present in this novel. The author did an excellent job depicting all of the types of relationships and interactions in a realistic and healthy way. The descriptions throughout the book were crafted in a way that could be easily visualized by the reader. This was a fantastic book and a fun read.

Thank you to @netgalley & @disneybooks & @andimjulie for sending me an e-ARC of If the Shoe Fits. I absolutely LOVED this. I ALREADY bought myself a hard copy of it and can’t wait to re-read.
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A cinderella retelling? usually no, but after this, hell yes. This was fabulous. i had SO much fun reading it. You have Cindy who majored in, yes, SHOE DESIGN. You’ve got the step-mother (who actually isnt a huge bitch just a little bit at times). Then you have the step-sisters who are fantastic (you won’t hate them, you’ll love them). Then there’s the gay PA to the step-mother who is… f**king fabulous, obviously. The man? who yes how could i forget, the lovely Prince Charming Cindy met on her flight back from NYC. Cindy agrees to go on the step-mother’s reality dating show along with the stepsisters. OH DID I MENTION THAT CINDY IS PLUS SIZED. Whoops forgot. Cindy becomes a fan favourite quickly & becomes a plus-sized icon.
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Cindy & Prince Charming and f***ing adorable (i’m really passionate about how great this book was #sorrynotsorry). The stepsisters were hilarious and through a couple unexpected twists into it. The only thing i didn’t like was the ending felt slightly rushed, but it also gave me closure at the same time

This was so fun. It had all the right elements of Cinderella while also leaving out the toxic blended family narrative. I love that we got recognizable names in Cindy's family (Gus-Gus, Jackie, Mary, Anna, Drew, etc.) and the plays on iconic Cinderella moments (presenting the shoe) were written into the story so well they didn't feel cheesy at all. Loved it, will be recommending to everyone.

I know I should be professional when reviewing, but for once can I just say:

I WANNA CRY IF THE SHOE FITS IS JUST SO LOVELY AND ENDEARING AND UTTERLY ROMANTIC. I HAVE NO WORDS GO READ THIS BOOK.

Who doesn't love shoes? A stunning stiletto or a fashionable wedge, shoes are everything to Cindy. She is a gorgeous, adventurous and fashion-obsessed plus-size woman who can never find clothes to fit her body, designer clothes that is. Her shoes, always perfect.

Graduation with a design degree but no job opportunities, Cindy moves back home with her stepmother. The executive producer of the world's biggest and most popular dating reality show. Cindy steps into the show when a contestant leaves, but at least she's got her killer shoe collection to make her feel better.

Being the first and only "fat" contestant turns her world upside-down, and the world is obsessed with her and her positivity about being beautiful. Can she balance her love of shoes, fashion and Prince Charming? Or will her shoes trip her up.

I really enjoyed this book! Think the Bachelor but with a person who has a real body! And guess what, she stayed true to herself the whole time and owned her style, worked with the body discrimination she faced throughout the filming of the show and still had a happy ending.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a digital ARC. All thoughts are my own.*

I had such a fun time reading this modern retelling of Cinderella. I am a big fan of adult romance and retellings, so this was such a fun combo for me to read.

I really enjoyed the fresh take on the characters and how some character personality traits were different from the original characters. If you're a fan of The Bachelor (which I've never seen), then you will enjoy this one.

I'm pumped for the rest of this series and to see how the other retellings go.

Easily my favorite read of the year! Modern, loosely-adapted Cinderella story that uses a bachelorette type show background. I loved Cindy and her take on body size and fashion. So many great things in this book that you just have to read it!

I have to admit, when I saw the cover for Julie Murphy’s If the Shoe Fits, I literally didn’t care what it was about; all I saw was the gorgeous plus-size girl on the cover, and I knew I had to read it.

This fun Cinderella retelling for the reality TV age was everything I hoped it would be and then some. The only other book I’ve read with a plus-size heroine in reality TV left me with such a bad taste in my mouth (and seeing red over all the fat-shaming and fatphobia), but If the Shoe Fits more than made up for it. It was funny, sweet, heartfelt, romantic, and I really appreciated and related to the fat rep (and also the representation of grief).

I loved the characters, the friendships and family relationships, the nods to Cinderella (and the ways it differed from the familiar story), Cindy’s love of fashion, and the chemistry and banter between her and Henry. I lost interest in The Bachelor/Bachelorette several years ago, but this is the second book I’ve read recently with a similar dating reality show premise (the other being The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun) and both were 5-star reads for me.

If the Shoe Fits is refreshing and fun. It made me giggle and swoon, and it pulled on my heartstrings. I really connected with Cindy and was rooting for her from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a romance that’s full of heart and humour, look no further.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is the first in a new series from Disney-Hyperion called Meant to Be. Each book in the series will feature a contemporary romance about one of our favorite Disney princesses. In the first installment, Murphy tackles the iconic Cinderella and nails it in my opinion. If the Shoe Fits is a modern Cinderella retelling with a Bachelor twist to up the angst and drama.

Cindy is a newly graduated fashion designer suffering from creative block who returns to her step-mother’s home in the hopes of stirring her muse and finding herself again. I love Cindy. She is spunky, full of sass, and confident in a way most plus-size women (myself included) aren’t. I love that she goes for what she wants when she wants it and doesn’t subscribe to any labels. In short, Cindy is an icon for pleasantly plump women 😉

Over the last few years though, Cindy’s life has changed drastically. With the sudden passing of her father, she’s an orphan. Her step-mother tries to include her, but Cindy doesn’t feel like she has a family left. Now here is one of the many things Murphy altered from the original tale that I absolutely loved. Cindy’s step family is amazing! I love her step-mother for going out of her way to make sure Cindy knows that she is loved and has family even if they aren’t blood. I love her stepsisters too! They are exactly what I imagine sisters to be.

After arriving home, Cindy learns that her step-mother is down two contestants on the show she produces, Before Midnight. This is basically the Bachelor. Her step-mother ropes in her sisters and before she knows it, Cindy is also asked to be in the show. This is the last thing Cindy wants, but it is a good way to get her name out there and she can wear some of her own designs. What’s there to lose right?

Then enters the prince…erhm…Henry MacKenzie. Henry and Cindy met briefly on the plane home, not realizing who the other was. Cindy thinks of him as Prince Charming and turns out he is the bachelor for the show. Falling in love on a reality TV show is not what Cindy planned when she signed up, but who can resist Henry’s charm? I liked Henry as much as Cindy, but like her it’s hard to trust a man that is dating so many other women at the same time 😆

Overall, I really enjoyed If the Shoe Fits. Cindy is a delight, I love Henry, and the concept of Before Midnight is a fun take on finding your prince. It did make me wonder if Murphy has worked on or been a part of any reality TV as her descriptions seem too accurate to be fiction. I highly recommend this one for fans of contemporary romance.

This is my first book by this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a delightful surprise. Even though we saw more of Cindy, both characters are quirky in a very good way. The setting was great for this story and I enjoyed every page of the book. It was a nice departure from the usual fairytale retellings that are so common today.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
I’m definitely adding this one to my recommended list.

BOOK REVIEW: If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (Meant To Be Series)

Although I am not charmed at all by "faux dating" reality shows, the charming heroine of this modern-day Cinderella retelling was enough to win me over to her character's story... ✨😎✨

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.