I keep going back and forth on how I felt about this one. It was well-written (probably my favorite Julie Murphy book), and kept me engaged and interested. I couldn't put the book down. BUT, there was something missing. I felt like there were things in the story that were mentioned once and then never revisited. There were things about Henry that I thought we needed to talk out. He was just a very paper-thin nice guy. Cindy was interesting, and I loved her and how we got to look at fashion through the eyes of someone who can't always find something in her size. It was overall a cute story, but I felt like we needed to delve a little deeper into some things.

Thank you to Disney Books and Netgalley for an advance review copy of “If the Shoe Fits.”

This is the cutest rom-com I’ve read in a while 🤩 It’s a Cinderella retelling loosely based on “The Bachelor,” and it’s YA author Julie Murphy’s first adult novel. Murphy is known for writing books that feature fat protagonists and an honest portrayal of the fat experience.

Our plus-size heroine is Cindy, a budding shoe designer who just graduated from Parsons School of Design and moved home to Los Angeles for the summer. Through her Hollywood power broker stepmother, she ends up on “Before Midnight,” a fictional version of “The Bachelor.”

When Cindy gets to the show’s famed villas, she realizes the suitor is her meet-cute from the flight to LA. The suitor is the son of a famous fashion designer who’s come on the show to revitalize his mom’s brand.

This book comes out just over a year after “One to Watch,” which featured a plus-size woman as the star of a fictional “Bachelorette.” I genuinely liked this book more — it was far more readable and engrossing.

I really am not much of a rom-com person, so if I really enjoyed one you know it’s good! If you are a fan of The Bachelor franchise or love a good rom com, I think you’ll love this one. I’d also pick this up if you just want a light book! It’s a perfect beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley & Disney Publishing Worldwide for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Cinderella reimagining with some twists and turns, Cindy is a shoe designer who is looking for a job and her step-mother (not wicked) brings an opportunity to the table, join a reality show, show off her fashion skills to viewers across the globe, then get kicked off the show and into a million job offers! Problem is, she ends up falling for the main lead of the show, Henry.

A fun rom-com, I really enjoyed the twist with the reality TV show, that was pretty interesting to see. I also appreciated that Cindy thinks about the impact the show has on women, especially contestants such as herself. Do they fight each other the whole time for Henry's affections? No, thankfully not, all the other contestants are pretty nice to each other. There's a lot of lovely friendships they have between each other, it was refreshing to see women not fighting each other over a guy.

I actually was hesitant about reading this because I didn't particularly enjoy Julie Murphy's Faith series, but that was Young Adult and this is her first foray into Adult. I definitely prefer her adult writing style over YA, so I'll keep an eye out for her future Adult titles.

No spoilers, but I wasn't entirely happy with the ending. It didn't feel as satisfying, but that's just me.

I'm always a sucker for retellings, and this adorable modernized retelling of Cinderella was so cute and a super quick read. I have always loved Julie Murphy's writing and humor, and she brings her brilliance to her first adult novel. It was so well-done and I appreciated the changes she made in this retelling. I loved that we didn't have the evil step mom and step sisters. They were supportive of Cindy and were often cheering her on and being her champions. It was so refreshing to read a book with women supporting women in it! I can't wait to see what else Disney does with the rest of this series and what other authors they will work with and what their incredible takes will be on these classic Disney Princesses.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing/Hyperion for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

See this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl!

Thank you to Disney-Hyperion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4/5 stars

If the Shoe Fits was an entertainingly modern take on a classic fairytale.

I can't stand reality TV and any kind, but for some reason I love books centered around it! That combined with a retelling made If the Shoe Fits my rom-com kryptonite! It was exactly what I was hoping for--hilarious, with just a touch of good trashy TV.

I absolutely loved our MC, Cindy! Her passion for fashion (that was an accident, I swear) and her fantastic sense of humor made her a lovable and relatable main character. While I liked our love interest, Henry, he was a little bland. Whenever I try to recall his personality, all I can come up with is mommy issues. Cindy was a fantastic character and Henry was a passable love interest, but I felt no chemistry between them. They had some great banter, sure, but I just didn't see it.

I loved the way that Julie Murphy set out to tackle retelling. I was expecting all the cliché elements of a Cinderella retelling: mean stepmother and stepsisters, losing a shoe to escape the ball before midnight, and all that. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Cindy's stepmom and stepsisters were actually pretty great, and the shoe-losing scene was much better than I expected. There were little hints to both the fairytale and the Disney movie here and there, but Julie Murphy reinterpreted the classic story in a stunningly unique way.

All in all, this was a quick, fun read and a perfect escape!

This was my "pretending I'm on a beach vacation" read. After a number of psychological thrillers, this was the perfect balance of light and fluffy but still well written.

If the Shoe Fits is the first in the Meant to Be series (fairy-tale inspired stories). True to the theme, this story read like a mix of elements of Cinderella & The Bachelor. And it features a plus size main character who is NOT trying to lose weight in order to "find happiness". Cindy has passion for fashion industry & beautiful shoes, carries around a lot of unprocessed grief about the loss of her dad and is torn between her love for New York and her stepmom and siblings living in California. Unexpectedly finding herself a contestant on a TV show Before Midnight (Cinderella spin on The Bachelor) Cindy is thrown into circumstances that force her to face many aspects of her life she kept avoiding.

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. I truly wish I was reading it on a beach but in the absence of that, I really did lose myself in Cindy's world and enjoyed every moment of the ride. If you enjoy Lindsey Kelk & Sophie Kinsella books, you will most definitely appreciate this one. Fun and delightful modern take on a fairy-tale classic, this book will help you escape the reality while reading it. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

Grateful to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It seems like everywhere you look, there's another Cinderella retelling or Cinderella-inspired romance, and I had kind of gotten away from them until I read the blurb for Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits. I was hoping for a refreshing take on the classic tale, and Julie Murphy did that while still remaining true to the story. And she did it with a body-positive character that's loads of fun. There is some comparison to One to Watch, which is quite similar as far as The Bachelor similarities and body-positive storyline, and I'd say that most people will like one better than the other. As for me, I did like Bea better than Cindy, but I liked the chemistry in this book more than One to Watch. The list goes on, and when it's all said and done, I come out about even. If you like fairy tale retellings, then I'd say you'll enjoy this one, and the body diversity representation takes it up a notch from the typical fairy tales.

A Bachelorette meets Cinderella mashup is definitely an untapped book plotline and one that I wasn't sure about. Add a good relationship with her stepmom and stepsisters and you start to wonder how the prince will fit in. Finally a glimpse at the more realistic side to reality tv and real life. Cindi was definitely the dark horse and voice of reason that either thought or spoke what we were all thinking. Henry seemed great at first, a little sketchy during the game, but was most surprising near the end. Will he live up to the fantasy? For Cindy's sake we really hope so. You can't help but root for this girl to find her happiness.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

A fresh take on an old tale.

I found that I quite rather enjoyed this modern Cinderella take, set in LA on a reality show.
Cindy is plus sized, which I did like, Henry is a prince charming (I really liked Henry) and the cast of characters (her step family and the reality show).
While reality dating shows are SO not my thing, I liked Cindy.
The story flowed quickly and was engaging.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy was such a fun surprise. A Cinderella retelling, this one had me turning the pages as quickly as I could. I just loved the characters so much. Cindy wants nothing more than to reach her dreams and I loved her determination. When she has the opportunity to do just that, she jumps at the chance. That is how she finds herself in a dating style reality show and meeting Henry. I just loved Henry. I loved reading about their interactions and watching them fall. One big plus, I loved the positivity of Cindy as a plus size female. A fun and delightful read!

Happy reading!

I loved this book. I don't watch bachelor/bachelorette shows., but love behind the scenes type stuff, like the show Unreal. This reminds me of that but less brutal. This would be a great movie. I loved the retelling element as well and hope there are more in the series. Additionally, a broad representation of different types of people was present. Definitely check this one out.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and of course, Julie Murphy for providing me with an eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review, all opinions are my own.

This book was so cute! Definitely up my alley, with a cute modern twist on Cinderella with all the drama of reality TV. Cindy was such a great MC and I rooted for her from the beginning.

Henry was a great Prince Charming, I liked that he had some development as well.

I’m a sucker for fairytale retelling and this one fit the bill quite nicely. I certainly hope there will be more books to follow!

I am still reading. The beginning of the book is really engaging! I love Cinderella retellings! Will be back to continue the review.

I absolutely adored If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy! I was hooked from page 1, and I just knew I would love it. This modern-day, Cinderella re-telling is full of body positivity, a bachelor-style reality show, swoony romance, and a realistic prince charming. It was such a quick, charming, and fun read that I binged in a single sitting because I didn't want to put it down.

First of all, I love reality dating shows, so I loved the backdrop for this story! The heroine of this novel, Cindy, was such a relatable character. I loved her inner dialogue and that she was so confident in her own skin. I also fell in love with Henry throughout the story. He made an excellent prince charming, and the chemistry between them shown through stolen moments together was my absolute favorite. All of the supporting characters, from Cindy's step-family to the show crew, Cindy's BFF Sierra and Henry's friend Jay, were all amazing. I cannot wait to see what's next in the Meant to Be world!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the gifted ARC of this title which did not affect the contents of my voluntary review. All opinions are honest and my own.

Oh, my goodness, this book is just so much fun to read!

If The Shoe Fits is a modern rom-com retelling of Cinderella and Julie Murphy did a fabulous job at taking this classic fairy tale and making it her own. There is just so much to love with this book: the characters, the story, the settings, and the shoes!

I LOVE the Bachelor reality show aspect of this book, which is strange because I am not a huge fan of the show in real life. But I found myself understanding how people can become obsessed with the show because that is what happened to me with this book. It hooked me in, and I found myself picking out my favourites that I hoped would make it to the next round and pushing my bedtime back just to see who would be staying and who would be going. It was also a lot of fun seeing what happens behind the scenes of a reality TV show; it reminded me of the movie Miss. Congeniality.

Cindy is a fabulous main character and role model. For me, it was wonderful reading a romance novel where the character didn’t have the perfect body. I found myself relating to Cindy’s struggles when it came to finding clothes that fit someone who isn’t a size four. I often dread going into high-end stores because I know I will either find nothing that will fit me; or I will have to buy it in a size that is 2-3 times larger than I usually buy (super depressing). What made Cindy stand out and shine for me was the fact that she was comfortable in her own skin; she knew she was beautiful and knew that her size didn’t matter when it came to finding love on the show. I was also relieved that Julie didn’t try to change her, with some sort of TV show make-over or dieting to change her weight. Which I find happens a lot in both books, tv shows, and movies.

The relationship between Cindy and Henry was charming. The reality TV show aspect really made the romance different from other rom-coms and the classic fairy-tale. Cindy has a hard time figuring out what was real and fake with their relationship, which is the reason why I really struggle with the whole Bachelor show. How can someone truly fall in love with a person when he is dating all these other women? I loved all the secret meet-ups and cute moments that happened between Cindy and Henry. As a reader, you could see the chemistry that existed between these two.

I really want to thank Julie for not following the traditional negative stereotypes that often exist for stepmoms or step siblings. I think readers are getting pretty tired of reading books or watching shows that follow the typical evil stepmom mould. Cindy’s stepmom was not an evil or cruel woman. She was a successful businesswoman and a mom who loves all her kids. She really cared for Cindy and tried her best to help her out and keep her safe. I also adored her stepsisters; they are a lot of fun and have larger-than-life personalities. The family dynamic was fun and different and shows that families come in all shapes and sizes.

If you are looking for a fun romantic fairy tale read, with a diverse cast of characters, some reality tv drama, and heroine that will capture your heart, then you need to read If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy.

Happy Pub Day! Julie Murphy’s new book ‘If The Shoe Fits’ was such a fun ARC. It was sweet, entertaining and the body positivity message made it more enjoyable.

Cindy, the main character, SHINED. She’s talented and nice; but she can be sarcastic as hell which, to me, is a good balance. When others read this book I hope they’ll see that it’s more than a girl in her 20s pretending she doesn’t want love when she does just because she’s on a show. No. Her storyline touches on finding your own way, taking risks, breaking out of creative blocks you’ve had for so long, being comfortable and confident within yourself. And, if you do find love on the way, it’s a bonus.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits is a story that put a smile on my face! I loved Cindy-- she was an awesome main character. I thought her relationship with the MC was a bit weird at first but he grew on me a lot and I ended up rooting for them to get together. I love modern retellings and this one did not disappoint! I loved the added fashion aspect and the strong presence of feminism in this book. This book is perfect for fans of the Bachelor and the Devil Wears Prada.

I don't often name other books in a review, but I'm going to do it today. Remember about a year ago when One to Watch came out? And everyone was like, "This is great! A plus size bachelorette romance! How fun!" And then you read that one and cringed all over and wondered how exactly that was supposed to be body positivity? Well, look no further, because July Murphy has given us plus-sized ladies what we WANTED from One to Watch but definitely did not get!

Cindy is a confident plus size fashion designer, who isn't embarrassed about who she is and doesn't try to make excuses for others. She doesn't question the motives of everyone else, she doesn't think less of herself, and she is just living her best life (while going through some things, including creator's block, sure...).

Henry is a guy trying to save the family business who happens to meet Cindy on a plane. Right from their first meet cute in the airport, they really hit it off and you're left rooting for them throughout the whole story. There are cute glances and secret hand brushes... it's a very romantic slow-burn where they really get to learn about each other, all while keeping some secrets required by the fact that they're ON THE BACHELOR (type) show.

I think Julie Murphy did a fantastic job with the body positivity in this book, which is no surprise coming from the author of Dumplin' to be honest. And while this is marketed as an adult novel, it's clean and wholesome and there is no reason that older YA readers wouldn't enjoy it as well.

Such a fun ARC, If the Shoe Fits was quickly devoured last weekend. The mash-up combines a retelling of Cinderella with a Bachelor-style dating show and a body positive message. Cindy, the main character, is also a Parsons grad who specializes in shoe design. As someone who LOVES shoes, I loved reading the descriptions of her designs and wanted to see them (and try them on). Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion - it's available today for you to enjoy as much as I did!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Funny enough I am not a huge fan of Disney Princesses or the Bachelor, but this one took me by surprise! It was definitely a cute modern retelling of Cinderella and was easily read in one sitting! I love Cindy and loved the other characters as well. I loved the retelling where Cindy is loved and actually gets along with her step-family. As well as the sweet nod to the mice in Cinderella!

Thank you, NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for an Arc of this book!