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!

I’m a huge fan of Julie Murphy in general. Not only is she a Texas author of some rather spectacular young adult books, but she’s also a fabulous human who I love following on social media. Added bonus that she has met Dolly Parton! When I found out that she was writing her first adult, rom-com that’s also a Cinderella retelling with a plus size protagonist, I was all in!!

This story was so much fun and I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one day and fell fast for the leads and their light, love story. I adored Cindy. She intelligent, talented, an expert grilled cheese maker and sarcastic as hell. Her storyline touches on finding your way after graduation, capturing that creative spark, taking risks and showing the world that there is a need and want for plus size fashion. I was happy to see she didn’t have evil stepsister as well.

Henry is the charming, sophisticated, terrified of helicopters, but can rock a perfect five o’clock shadow love interest. Needless to say, I loved him and enjoyed watching these two fall for one another. Did I mention they have an adorable mid flight meet cute and end up dating via a bachelor style TV show? Oh yes, it’s fun and offers some great side drama as well as a look into the not so reality side of those types of programs. Cindy and Henry’s chemistry was perfection. Their quick witted banter left me smiling numerous times. I especially enjoyed their sneaky NY dates.

I can not wait to see what the next story will be in this series!!

This book was very cute and a nice twist of the Cinderella fairytale. I liked that the main character was plus-sized and didn't feel any shame in her size (This isn't that common with a lot of books that center plus-sized characters). I also really liked the love interest a lot, you ship the two characters from the very beginning. There was a lot of LGBTQIA+ rep too which was a great aspect of the book. The only thing I didn't love is sometimes the book felt a bit dry and predictable (but its expected with a story that gets told over and over like Cinderella. 3/5 stars, its a cute romance.

Cinderella is one of my favorite Disney movies and I love retellings of this classic story. When I found out that Julie Murphy was writing an adult romance retelling of Cinderella with a Bachelor style twist? I slammed that request button on Netgalley.

Julie Murphy brought all of her signature stylistic charm to If The Shoe fits - there was a real focus on kindness, both inwardly and outwardly. I really loved that she twisted the concept of Cinderella to be a kinder one - it made this retelling stand out and easily made it one of my favorites.

This was a super unique take on the classic, Cinderella. Cindy’s stepsisters were kind instead of cruel and her step mother was just trying to do her best as a mother figure to Cindy. Her stepmother wasn’t intentionally mean to Cindy, but she was inadvertently harsh and didn’t know how to handle Cindy’s body type. It was small things, like not wanting Cindy to be on her reality show for fear of how the internet would react that gave her minorly evil stepmother moments

As a huge fan of the Bachelor - I was psyched with the idea of mixing Cinderella and the Bachelor. Right off the bat, Cindy and Henry had phenomenal chemistry - even when they were just sitting next to each other on a plane. I just loved how sweet they were together - their little moments were wonderful to read about. I also appreciated that their relationship was not the entirety of Cindy’s journey - throughout the book she learned to accept herself and to handle her grief in more productive ways. I loved that even when the other contestants were cruel to her, she took the high road and was always kind.

I cannot get over how much I loved this book - it was so sweet and lovely and I want to reread it already. I can’t wait for more of these Meant To Be adult romance retellings - I hope Cindy and Henry make future appearances. If you’re looking for other Bachelor style goodness with excellent plus sized rep - check out One To Watch. 5/5

Very loosely based on Cinderella. I loved reading about Cindy, her shoes, and her body positive outlook, as well as getting a backstage view of a dating reality show. I look forward to reading more books in this series!

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits was such a feel good treat! Julie Murphy got two things incredibly right: a Cinderella retelling and a Bachelor reality tv show setting. It was so refreshing that the step-family weren't evil monsters! No direct subversion for our Cindy, and even when things went south, her step-mom was quick to step in and support her. The also loved the little details that were odes to the original story: from the meet-cute to the love of shoes to the name of Cindy's brothers (Gus-gus and Jack) to the name of the show were icing on the cake.

While the Bachelor setting has been used before it was done right here. I think direct comparisons will be made to One to Watch since both came out relatively close together. One to Watch had the protagonist as the Bachelorette character, where she had the pick of suitors, which is the opposite of If the Shoe Fits. The pacing in One to Watch felt clunky I think mainly because plot points were trying to be hit and the romance wasn't really there for me. Also it came off a bit preachy with the fat positive content, IMO.

The pacing in If the Shoe Fits was so smooth! I was worried that the storyline was going to get caught up once the reality show portion started and it just never missed a beat. And the fat positivity wasn't shoved down the reader's throat! It was just part of the character and something she has learned to deal with and advocate for herself.

Perfect for reality tv and Bachelor franchise fans! Julie Murphy did it again!

Thanks to Netgalley, Disney-Hyperion, and Julie Murphy for the galley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What a fun rom-com summer read! I have to admit that I have only seen about 5 minutes total of The Bachelor or any of those types of shows but I really loved this book! It’s meant to sound like a Cinderella story, which it is minus the evil stepmother and stepsisters. Cindy, a graduate of the elite Parsons School of Design, volunteers to be on Before Midnight, the Bachelor-style show that her stepmother produces, along with her stepsisters. Erica, the stepmom, is reluctant to have her on since she knows how social media will react to a plus-size girl looking for her Prince Charming. But Cindy is very self-assured and is a ratings hit! The kicker – Cindy has already met the bachelor on the flight from NY to LA and they had hit it off. Is this match “meant to be?” Well, since it is subtitled “Meant To Be #1,” we can expect more.
#IfTheShoeFits #NetGalley

Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
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After graduating in shoe design, Her Step-mother is the director of the famous reality tv-show Before Midnight and when a spot clears, Cindy takes her chance hoping it might jump-start her career, or at least give her some exposure. What she doesn't expect is becoming a body positive icon on a show where she is the only plus-size woman. What if she finds more than inspiration on the show? What if love is right around the corner?
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This book fixed all my triggers and all the disappointment that had been festering since my read of the book with a similar plot (OTW). It was body positive without using Cindy weight as a punchline or a plot point, the confrontation about her weight were real issues any plus-size person would encounter in their life, and I loved that Henry's love for her was never questioned because of her weight, not even in her head. I even ended up liking the bachelor-esque set-up of the book even if it usually isn't my strong suit. It was witty and charming. I loved their late night talkie-walkie dates. And one final thing, I absolutely adored how Cindy's step-mother and her two step daughters weren't evil, the family dynamic was perfectly executed, we could feel the pain all the characters were in, but also how much love they had for each other even through the awkwardness and the collective loss. I loved that the author didn't fall into this cliche and I thought it was genius to let that one piece of the story heal.
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I want to thank @disneybooks for gifting me an advanced reader's copy via @netgalley . As always, my thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
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If the Shoe Fits in the first novel in the new Meant to Be series. After reading this, I cannot wait to see what the next novel will hold. This story brings together a modern retelling of Cinderella mixed with elements of One to Watch and The Selection. The Cinderella elements have the basics where there is a girl, a stepmother, her two stepsisters, and a Prince Charming. However, I love how the author manipulated these elements to make them feel fresh. This tale is similar to One to Watch as it is a plus-size girl on a Bachelor-like show. While One to Watch has the girl as the suitor, If the Shoe Fits has the girl as a contestant. While both set out to show the obstacles plus-size women go through in a non-plus size friendly environment, I appreciated the execution of this novel a little more. I compare it to The Selection as the two main characters have an encounter prior to the official start of the competition. The suitor and the contestant have a special connection where it seems that their love should be straightforward, but the competition leaves the contestant with a lot of doubt.

The story follows 22-year-old Cindy Eleanor Woods. After a simpler life with just her and her father when her mother passed away, her father announced that he has been seeing someone and will be getting remarried. Cindy gains a new stepmother and two stepsisters. Her stepmother is Erica Tremaine, the pilot force behind the Bachelor-like show, Before Midnight, which takes 24 contestants vying for the love of one eligible suitor. Anna and Drew, 23, were Erica’s daughters from a previous relationship. As they are nine months apart, the two of them started a successful YouTube channel, VeryNearlyTwins, and have since become influencers. After Cindy’s father passed away when she was 18, Cindy was lost and it helped influence her move to New York to attend Parsons School of Design. Cindy’s dream is to design all types of fashion, but she has a special passion for shoes. She was roomed as a freshman with a girl named Sierra and the two of them became best friends. Upon graduating, Sierra decided to stay in New York after obtaining design offers while Cindy is a little more lost with no prospects and decides to return home in Los Angeles. She will be a temporary nanny for her half-siblings, Mary, Jack, and Gus, who are triplets that were born via surrogate.

On her flight from JFK to LAX, Cindy meets her own Prince Charming after running into him at the departure gate. His name is Henry and the two of them hit it off and continue to talk on the plane. The plane scene is one of the first glimpses into Cindy’s life as a plus-size individual. When she sits down, she worries if she will need a seatbelt extender or not and is relieved when she does not. She has a window seat and presses her body into the wall of the plane in order to not crowd the person sitting in the middle. While these were only a few sentences in the narrative, I extremely appreciated these details. Some airlines have seatbelts to fit a US size 30 and others barely fit a US size 12, so extenders are an issue for many travelers. (A true statement through personal experiences for myself and those I know.)The pressing the body to make yourself smaller for your seatmates is completely relatable, so I loved this being included. As someone who has greatly fluctuated in sizes from US 8 to US 24 and everywhere in between, I do this no matter my size because that anxiety never goes away. When Cindy lands, she and Henry part ways and may not see each other again.

Through a series of events, Erica needs more last minute contestants for the next season of Below Midnight, so Drew, Anna, and Cindy all end up on the show. Although they do not know who the suitor is, Cindy is shocked when she comes face to face with Henry. As the only plus size individual on the show, the novel not only goes through the Bachelor-like selection where Henry must eliminate contestants to end up with the one, but also into the obstacles plus size individuals face. When Cindy wears one outfit, she is called brave, which has a very negative connotation. There are many moments like this wear Cindy is forced to stand out as the fashion is geared towards those smaller than her.

While the contestants are competitors, I appreciated the bonds that they formed with each other. Sara Claire and Stacy were amazing characters and I loved the developing friendship between them and Cindy. This was a refreshing take on the competition setting as it is true that they are all against each other for one suitor, but that does not mean that they are all terrible people that cannot be friends. I also appreciated the update to the family dynamics from the Cinderella story. Cindy has an excellent relationship with Erica, Drew, Anna, Jack, Gus, and Mary. Anna, Drew, and Cindy are supportive of the other, so I loved that the author chose to take the “evil” out of the stepfamily dynamic. Another refreshing addition was some complexity given to Henry. He has a complex relationship with his mother and their fashion empire. There are many secrets in their family that he has to keep hidden to keep up their public image yet he is torn with wanting to follow his own path.

Overall, this was an enjoyable quick read. There is a lot of predictability to the story, but it is enjoyable to see Cindy grow a lot over the course of the novel. I do wish that Cindy and Henry got to spend more time together, however, it is difficult given the parameters of the show they are on and the novel itself. I wanted to learn about Henry, as he was an interesting character. As this story is about Cindy and her journey, it was understandable to leave the focus on her. I loved every time Cindy and Henry interacted as they were adorable together. This a very sweet and heart-warming story that gives those nice happily ever after Disney-like vibes with a fantastic main character “princess” and a lovely “prince.” I cannot wait to see what the Meant to Be series will come up with next! [Actual rating 4.25]

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, Disney Hyperion, and the author, Julie Murphy, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I love Julie Murphy's distinctive voice and the characters she creates. She never disappoints me! This book was no exception. It was a light, breezy, fun read.

I am giving it four out of five stars only because it wasn't terribly original or innovative. I enjoyed the Cinderella story but felt like I've read several similar books. However, I love a happy ending and seeing true love conquer all, so it was definitely not a let down for me.

Thanks to Disney/Hyperion and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A cutesy love at first sight romance that reminds me of a mash-up of Cinderella and The Bachelor. A body positive realistic fairytale about the plus size girl falling for Prince Charming on a reality television show. Adorable and binge-worthy, a romcom I can picture as a Disney movie!

Cindy just finished her degree at fashion school and hasn’t been able to find her footing. So, when Cindy gets an opportunity to be a contestant in a reality dating show she jumps at the chance to put her name on the map. Surprising, she falls hard for the bachelor and can’t decide if she should choose true love or a kickstart to her career.

This book is so so adorable and is easily one of my favorite comfort reads this year. I loved the added Cinderella undertones, as well as the trashy reality television shenanigans that go along with the experience of dating numerous girls. The characters were constantly involved in drama and Cindy is a vulnerable, candid, and strong heroine. She fights for larger sizes in fashion and stays true to herself. This an optimistic and delightful romance that is a joy to read!

This was such a fun twist on the classic Cinderella story!

Cindy, our erstwhile Cinderella is home after completing design school and taking some time to find her spark again… She lives with her stepmother, 2 stepsisters and her triplet half siblings in LA- full house!

When spaces open up last minute on the dating reality tv show, produced by her stepmother, Cindy jumps at the chance to go on and get some exposure for her footwear designs. She’s just there for her career and a chance to Wim the cash prize… until she meets the batchelor and its the nice, cute guy she sat with on her flight home from school!

Now they are trying to get to know each other, while he’s seeing all the other girls… and it looks like the odds may be stacked against Cindy and her Prince Charming in ever making it to the finals together!

Oh my! This book hooked me in from the start! Cindy’s representation of a plus-sized character was refreshing to read and added another level to this story. The best bast in this retelling is that they are all so loving and supportive! I simply adored this family dynamic.

This story made me smile so many times! It was joy to read this tale!

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is scheduled to be released August 3rd, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Disney Publishing Worldwide through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#MeanttoBeIftheShoeFits #JulieMurphy #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

If the Shoe Fits is a charming, modernized reimagining of Cinderella with a strong body positive message and an emphasis on inclusiveness.

Cindy Woods is headed from NY to LA when she meets Prince Charming. She’s pretty sure he has another name but that’s what she privately calls him as they share a flight, conversation, a lot of laughter but not nomenclature during their quest to get from one side of the country to another. Once the plane lands, she and his highness part ways and Cindy gets ready to face her gritty new reality as nanny to her stepmother Erica’s triplets

It sounds bad – and is definitely a step away from her dream of designing shoes - but Cindy adores her little half-siblings Mary, Jack and Gus. More, her stepmom Erica and Cindy’s two stepsisters Drew and Anna, all adore her. They know Cindy’s last year in college was brutal. That Cindy had imploded, years of pent-up grief from the death of her father having hit her all at once and Cindy is just home for a little while to regroup.  Cindy’s oft voiced hope is to get herself together and head back to NY, pursuing a job in fashion that she didn’t have the energy to seek after graduation. Erica, Anna and Drew plan to lavish her with all the love, attention and healing she so obviously needs to help her achieve that.

That doesn’t happen. Erica is executive producer of one of America’s most popular reality TV shows, and Cindy’s not even home for a full day before an emergency happens on the Before Midnight set. While the pageant is always prepared for one or two contestants to drop out, a mass exodus is never expected. They need to start filming right away, so Erica fills up three slots by putting Anna, Drew and Cindy in the competition. It will be a great chance for them all to receive free national recognition for their respective careers. Cindy dusts off the shoes she’s crafted over the years and gets ready to strut her stuff down the figurative runway of The Bachelor style reality show.

Cindy knows being one of the first plus size women on a dating competition will prove daunting and fully expects to leave on the first night.  She shows up to the opening ball wearing the best pair of heels she’s ever designed and makes sure they are spotlighted as she saunters into the party. She’s not certain what to expect from the bachelor about to reject her but Cindy does know she doesn’t have much respect for a man who would try to find true love by dating more than a dozen women at once. Then he enters the room and all Cindy’s preconceived prejudices fly out the window. This season’s reality dating star is none other than Henry Mackenzie, her Prince Charming from the plane.

This story shines when it concentrates on the romance. Henry and Cindy are near perfection together from the first moment they meet. They are both a tiny bit awkward in social situations, but their shared sense of slightly quirky, gentle humor and the genuineness of their interactions is delightful. I could easily see this couple living out a happily ever after.

Henry and Cindy also have a lot of common ground to bond over. They are both in the clothing industry and understand the ins and outs of not just designing and manufacturing but merchandising, and what is needed to be successful in today’s market. Both of them have complicated familial situations, with Cindy having a close relationship with her stepfamily while still missing her deceased blood relatives and Henry having complex ties to his own kin. These shared issues help them to communicate well and understand each other on the deepest levels.

Another really well-done aspect of the book is Cindy’s relationship with her competitors. Yes, some of the girls are hateful shrews, but she makes some good friends, too. I liked the exploration of how awkward it is for buddies Sara Claire and Cindy to find themselves interested in the same man, but I also appreciated the text pointing out that such things happen in real life as well.  Cindy has a great relationship with her stepsisters, too, and the little things they do to support each other during the contest are really sweet.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the book is the description of the world of reality television.  The author takes an extremely balanced approach to this portion of her story, showing us some wonderful people doing hard work to bring entertainment to the masses and contrasting it with the nastiness of the manipulation of all the players that also occurs. There is exploitation of real people and their emotions but also the machinations of schemers who are just looking for a launch pad to their fifteen minutes or more of fame. The many reasons people have for participating and working on the show are highlighted with delicate nuance that made me really think about this genre of the entertainment industry. Is it unsavory or just harmless fun? Could it be a bit of both? That’s left up to the readers to decide.

For all that I loved, I did have a few problems with the text. One complaint is the virtue signaling. Some of Cindy’s interactions with people regarding body positivity and inclusivity felt more like lectures than narrative. Additionally, there were moments when I felt like characters were introduced whose purpose was strictly to include a specific type of person rather than to move the plot forward or enhance the story. And finally, the conflict at the end seemed a bit out of character for both Henry and Cindy.

If the Shoe Fits isn’t perfect but it is a lot of fun and contains one of the best sweet, subtly sexy stories I’ve read this year. I’m happy to recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary romances.

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent retailer
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This book was adorable!!!!! I fell hard for Cindy’s character and wanted her to find the most amazing HEA. After all she’s been through in her life, she deserved a win! Henry wasn’t too shabby either.

I wasn’t sure if I’d like the Bachelor-ish reality tv storyline but it was subtle and delightfully fun. The ending had me on the edge of my seat in suspense. I really enjoyed how the author finished up the book but I needed more. It was a great HEA but I didn’t want it to end so quickly. I felt like we need an epilogue in a big way!!!

Thank you Julie Murphy for writing such a wonderful love story about a heroine who wasn’t model thin. Who struggled with her plus size figure in society. Who knew her worth and wasn’t afraid to eat and enjoy food. Cindy was the heroine we all want to read because she’s just like us!

A new Julie Murphy book! If The Shoe Fits is the first entry in a new adult series that is "inspired by the classic fairy tale stories we all know and love, perfect for adult readers who crave contemporary, escapist rom-coms." That's me!
Cindy has a stepmother, two stepsisters (but nice ones), loves shoes and fashion. Hmm, getting an idea yet? There are some balls and …. yes a prince of sorts.

All the elements are in place for an absolutely wonderful escapist fairy tale of a read. Murphy puts her own signature style on this tale. Cindy lands on a reality television show called Before Midnight. She's a plus size woman that viewers adore. Cindy's happy to be a positive model for women. But what about the competition for the bachelor's heart and hand? She's not interested - or is she? I loved Murphy's take on the Bachelor premise.

But it is Cindy that will steal your heart - her love of her family, friends and most importantly - herself. The slow building relationship between Cindy and Henry is just right for a rom-com novel, full of lots of yes/no/maybe so's. But what will happen at midnight? Will Cindy find her prince - or follow her heart and find her own dreams?

I love Murphy's writing - she tackles real issues in her novels, always creates a wonderful protagonist and her prose keep me eagerly turning pages. Sad to say I finished this one in a day. More please!

When I saw this book was a Cinderella retelling with a bachelor type show, plus a fashionista main character who designs shoes, I knew I needed to get my hands on it.

This. Was. So. Good! So much body positivity that I loved and I loved all the connections to the Bachelor or Bachelorette that made me laugh. Like all the names of the other contestants was spot on. There are always like 4 Jens, 2 Hannah’s, 3 Sarah’s etc. There has only been one Corinne and she was a nut ball so maybe I should step in and change the name’s reputation (yea right). Anyway, I loved Cindy’s character so much. She was so confident in who she is and I admired that. Her connection with Henry was perfect from the start and I love how their relationship grew. Ive watched and read way too many rom coms so the whole meet cute on the airplane was perfect and i think about that happening to me every time i fly 🤣 fat chance of that.

The only thing I kept on reminding myself was that she’s only 22! I kept on thinking she was older the whole time, but at the same time, most girls on the Bachelor are in their early 20s so it kinda fits (ha, get it?) also,the ending was too rushed!! I wanted more from their relationship.

Anyone who loves the Bachelor franchise needs to read this!

Rating: 4.5stars

Thank you @netgalley and @disneybooks for the earc in exchange for my honest review!

Love those shoes!

First up I loathe and detest reality shows. Often so dehumanising. I’ve been reading articles lately about contestants who suffer greatly after being on such shows. The suicide rate and severe depression is real. To me such shows are the equivalent of the trials by combat of Ancient Rome, only now the colosseum is our TV screen and the modern Roman citizen watches from the couch tweeting responses of thumbs up or down. So I wasn't really that aware of what I was letting myself in for with this read.
However I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by Cindy, a plump talented shoe designer who’s miles away from the stereotypical contestant. (I was pretty excited about the shoes. I absolutely adored what she did when there were no clothes her size!)
The fractured fairytale Cinderella trope works well. Lots of + + + pluses, including her family, some of the contestants and program’s staff, and Henry’s not bad either.
I loved the way Cindy turned the tables. Brilliant!
Despite my doubt about things, in the end this was a pleasant read.

A Disney ARC via NetGalley

Okay, we're just going to jump right into this. "If The Shoe Fits" spoke to my soul. It is truly the adult contemporary rom-com of my dreams.

I went into this book familiar with Julie Murphy as an author, and was aware that her stories have plus-sized girls and women at the center of them. However, the only one of her works that I'd previously read was "Dumplin'" (which I adored so much), whose main character is a plus-sized teen. All of Julie's previous books have been YA titles, so while I of course could see myself in the pages of "Dumplin'," "If The Shoe Fits" just hit different because I saw present-me fully showcased on these pages.

Cindy was a wonderful main character and I so appreciated the nuanced ways she talked about and approached situations having to deal with the way people see/treat/talk about her body. From little things like offhandedly wondering if she'd have to get a seat belt extender on her flight this time around, to the silent bruises on hips and thighs that form from seats with armrests, to being vocal and standing up for herself when a stylist was unprepared with clothing that would fit her. I greatly appreciated the way Julie interwove the issues fat people face on a daily basis, that straight-sized people simply do not have to think about.

I also loved the team Cindy had around herself. Her best friend, her family, members of the Before Midnight crew, the other contestants she befriended, and of course, Henry. But perhaps my favorite character, aside from Cindy (And, okay, yes, Henry too. What a dreamboat.), was Jay. They didn't have much page time, but the time and moments that they did have? Completely stole the show. All of these characters were a breath of fresh air, but any time Jay popped up, the air was crisp, my skin was clear, my crops were thriving, my bank account was cute. I. Love. Jay.

One of the other things I adored about "If The Shoe Fits" was Cindy's love for shoes. This book is a Cinderella retelling. Knowing that, and based off of the title, I went into this story with somewhat connected dots and knew there were certain tropes and references we would probably see play out. I also knew Cindy would probably be a shoe girl, and I was right, but there was a moment where she explained why she loves shoes so much that really hit home.

She said she loves them because, as a teen, she would spend hours shopping with friends, but would always end up browsing the accessories and shoes because none of the stores her friends shopped at carried her clothing size. But shoes? She could work with that. She could bond over shoes with just about anyone, regardless of size.

When I read that, I was shocked. And I just have to say, I am fully convinced Julie Murphy somehow read my mind, took detailed notes of my own experiences and embarrassing obsession with shoes, and wrote it into this book.

"If The Shoe Fits" was an absolute joy to read. It was fun escaping into this sweet and honest rom-com, and I really can't wait to see what else Julie Murphy has in store for us as far as adult romances go. This was her first, and it certainly shouldn't be her last, because she knocked this one out of the park.