SHE HAS ONCE AGAIN DONE IT Y'ALL! Julie Murphy has once again given us a book unlike any other. I loved the Cinderella themes in the novel! It was so unique and a real treat to read.

I am a huge fan of Julie Murphy so hearing about her adult romance debut I needed my hands on this arc. I have to say that this is probably my new favorite Julie Murphy book.
CW// Grief, Fatphobia

I found myself reading this entire book in one sitting. I could not put it down. We follow Cindy who moves back to LA after graduating fashion school/college. She moves back in with her stepmother and step/half siblings for the summer. Cindy’s step mother is the producer of a prime time show called Before Midnight (think the bachelor) and somehow Cindy finds herself on the show as the only plus size contestant.

I loved the plus size representation here, Julie Murphy did it with Dumplin, but smashed it out of the park with this. I felt like I could be Cindy. I loved her confidence and how she thinks that fashion and clothes are things everyone needs so they should be accessible in all sizes for everyone.
Another plus was having a Non-Binary character. I loved the use of they/them pronouns and how everyone used them for that character without hesitation.

Something I was neutral about; This book gives off One To Watch vibes and that was a bit of a drag for me. Just because it was a plus size character in a Bachelor/ Bachelorette scenario. Obviously different stories, but still basic concept. Also, the grief in this novel was very triggering for me in a way so that is something to watch if you struggle with death of family members.

Something I disliked; I was not a fan of the production team at times. Maybe this is how real production teams work and the behind the scenes. However, I just could not get behind nobody relaying certain information to people prior to the conflict. But this is a fictional story so I guess we need a huge conflict.

My enjoyment for this book is very high that my dislikes are slightly irrelevant to my rating.
4.5 stars!!!

Calling all fans of The Bachelor/The Bachelorette and Miss Congeniality!!!! This book is absolutely for you! I admit I love trashy dating shows, even though I'm aware of how toxic they can be. Basically, I'm pretty similar to the main character in that respect!!

What to know before reading:
-The story is loosely based on Cinderella, but the stepmother is not evil and the stepsisters are super supportive and genuinely nice people!!
-The majority of the book takes place during a reality dating show, but it focuses a lot on the main character and the love interest
-Cindy, the main character is plus size and actually LIKES HER BODY!!! This is unfortunately rare to find in books/movies. She calls out fatphobia in retail, TV, and traveling. I loved it!!
-There is some fatphobia in the book, but it is always challenged.
-There are no sex scenes. This is a super clean rom-com, which won't be for everyone. But honestly the book is really fun, so if you go into it for a cute, fun contemporary romance rather than a steamy romance you will probably like it! (There are a few suggested hookups but they're completely off page/fade to black.)


Overall, I REALLY enjoyed this book and am rating it 4 stars because it was a super quick, fun read. I really didn't want to put it down and could have read it in one sitting, but I had to go to bed to be ready for work in the morning...otherwise I would have stayed up super late to finish it! When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it, which is always a good sign!

This could be a great crossover read for those who normally read YA contemporary/romance and are looking to start reading more adult romance. It's really tame and accessible.

My only complaint is that the ending seemed pretty abrupt and I would have like to see it drawn out a few more pages.

If you are a fellow reality show fan, I really really really think you will like this book! I recommend reading it when there isn't a current Bachelor/Bachelorette season and you're missing the drama, the fancy dates, and some highly produced/edited romance.


TW: death of both parents (one from ovarian cancer and the other in a car crash), fatphobia (but it's always challenged).

If The Shoe Fits releases 8/3 and I can't wait to pick up a finished copy!!

I received an early digital copy of this title complements of the publisher through Netgalley. This did not in any way influence my rating or review.


Note to publisher-I will also be sharing this review on my Bookstagram account (@monstrouslybookish) prior to publication date.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

Cinderella meets The Bachelor in this fun modern take on a classic!

If you (like me) were disappointed by One to Watch, I urge you to check out If the Shoe Fits! This gave me everything I was hoping for there and didn't get. Great fat rep and body positivity, reality TV drama, and a romance I could really root for. This was so much fun and a fantastic first outing for Disney dipping their toes in publishing romance for adults. (though if you're looking for something steamy, you aren't going to find much of that here)

There are definitely nods to the source material which was very fun. Our heroine Cindy went to design school and has a passion for shoes. The hero is the heir to the throne of his mother's fashion empire, but the couple get to know each other on a reality tv show much like The Bachelor. It's fun, modern, and feminist and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also appreciated that we've moved past the "evil" stepmom & stepsisters, instead just making it a complicated yet affectionate relationship. Which feels appropriate for something today.

I really appreciated how this dealt with Cindy as a fat character too. She's mostly pretty confident and doesn't doubt that the hero could be into her, but we see her deal with microagressions and other very realistic challenges, like finding clothes in the right size on a show mostly populated with thin people. This book gave me exactly what I was hoping for (and didn't get) in One to Watch. I loved the main character, enjoyed the TV show setup, and liked the romance. Although because this is only from Cindy's perspective I don't feel like I got quite enough to know how Henry was feeling throughout. But a really great book regardless and one I certainly recommend! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness this modern take on the Cinderella fairy tale was absolutely charming!!! We had a plus sized main character, a TV reality dating show, a shoe designing fashionista, two step sisters, and one absolutely perfect prince charming. From the meet cute to the 2nd meet cute everything was lovely.

The book gave real page space to the realities of being a plus sized woman, to the lack of options in brick and mortar stores as well as the way designers overlook us. It fought for attention and it did not back down. I was in awe of Cindy and I completely want to be here. I found myself crying when she was "shopping" for something to fit at the designer's venue and I was so epically in awe of how she handled every single one of those situations.

The romance was a little angsty and a lot swoony and although the door was well and fully closed the heat still came through. The story felt fresh and believable. The cast was somewhat diverse and the drama was on point.

I am so epically happy to have read this book and I am so read to read anything else Julie Murphy ever writes once I'm done digging through her backlist. I'm also now in line to be Julie Murphy's best friend... :)

This story is a delightful, modern take on the Cinderella story. I love the humor and clever details that Murphy incorporates, including how important shoes are to the main character, Cindy. The plot includes a mashup of reality television tropes and gives some interesting twists to the classic story. I appreciate the body positive messages that many of the characters promote. And, as a librarian, I am happy to see that one of the minor characters is a librarian, but not a stereotype.

I will be purchasing this book for my high school library.

thank you net galley and disney publishing worldwide - disney-hyperion for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. if the shoe fits was a very quick read for me. i like that this book took inspiration from cinderella. the family aspect was very cute. the romance was just average. if you’re looking for an entertaining read, pick this book up. it is very similar to the bachelor which is a show that i personally love. overall, this book was just average to me.

This adorable romance is like if a cross between a modern Cinderella and The Bachelor. Being both a Disney and a Bachelor fan this book was right up my alley!

Cindy meets a handsome stranger on a flight back home. When she agrees to be a contestant on Before Midnight along with her stepsisters she is shocked to come face to face with that same handsome stranger. As she begins to have real feelings for him she is torn between playing for love or for her future career in shoe designing.

I loved this one and cannot wait to read more books in the series. When a classic fairytale takes on modern twists I am obsessed. Julie Murphy’s writing made this one so much fun to read. Thank you Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the eARC in exchange for my review.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is a sweet and sassy romance between a somewhat reluctant dating show contestant and the heartthrob suitor of her dreams. Cindy is a recent fashion school grad heading home to her stepmom's LA mansion to act as nanny to her three half-siblings. Her two older stepsisters and stepmom are loving and well meaning, but Cindy desperately misses her father who died four years earlier. The grief has also affected Cindy's ability to produce work, stalling her dreams of designing shoes. Cindy's stepmom, Erica, is the Executive Producer of a Bachelor-ish reality show called Before Midnight. When there's a last-minute opening for a contestant, Cindy decides to join the show in an attempt to draw attention to her design work. As a fat woman, she's unsure how she'll be accepted by the show's contestants and suitor, but the crew is encouraging. After a small whirlwind of preparations, Cindy arrives to discover that the show's suitor is the man she sat next to on the plane to LA - a hottie named Henry that she immediately hit it off with.

Throughout the rest of the book, Cindy relishes her time with Henry but questions how much of it is real. The two sneak away for forbidden off-camera alone time, but neither ever shares their true feelings. While they seem to legitimately care for each other, Cindy can't be sure. Eventually, Cindy is told that another contestant has been pre-selected by the crew and Henry to be chosen as the finalist. Devastated, Cindy decides to leave the show and head to New York for an interview at a big fashion house. Seeing that Cindy hasn't come for the finale, Henry also leaves the show and isn't seen for weeks. Finally, the two reunite when Henry visits Cindy's office, thinking that she's left for a business trip.

Overall, If the Shoe Fits was charming and enjoyable. Julie Murphy goes beyond meek body positivity to create a confident, fat accepting, feminist heroine. Cindy never doubts herself or her abilities and only one contestant, who is clearly the villain, brings up her weight negatively. Cindy calls out the wardrobe department when her clothing options are limited and never shies away from talking about her body. The romance is lukewarm at times with a final act that falls a little flat. I expected more of a *moment* than Cindy and Henry just bumping into each other at her office. However, Henry is mostly a sweet, likeable love interest. My favorite part of this book was the relationships between women. Cindy's stepsisters, her best friend Sierra, the contestants on the show, and other minor characters create a beautiful web of support and female friendship throughout the course of the show. Aside from one contestant, the other girls are kind and considerate. It was really lovely to read a book that featured so many complex, but supportive relationships among women.

If the Shoe Fits reimagines Cinderella as a contemporary romcom about Cindy, a plus-size shoe designer fresh out of design school competing reality dating show called Before Midnight. It is such a sweet story!

This is a very quick read that I finished it in half a day. The sincere characters, vibrant descriptions of fashion, and easy-to-read writing kept me turning pages, and I applaud the representation for fat and queer characters.

One of my favorite twists on the original fairy tale in this retelling is that Cindy has a positive relationship with her step-family. It's not all sunshines and rainbows, but they support each other and share the grief of losing Cindy's father. Also, the fact that the talking mice from the film appear as Cindy's triplet half-siblings!

I do wish there were more depth to the conflict and romance. It's hard to avoid superficiality with a Bachelor-inspired story, and some of the plot lines were a bit simplistic.

I haven't actually read any of Julie Murphy's young adult novels yet, but I enjoyed her adult debut with the clean, Disney romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I do so love Julie Murphy and her way with Love stories!

I could not wait to gets my hands on this book and Murphy definitely did not disappoint. Even though I knew exactly where the plot was heading at all times, knew how it would all end, and could easily guess any “twists” along the way, I Loved every second of it anyways. This was such and excellent Cinderella story with all the characters a little mixed up but beautifully done.

The characters were great. Cindy was a very relatable character and easy to understand when it came to joy and misery. I loved that the step family was giving a switch to the good side as it was so great to have Dru and Anna on Cindy’s side. Everyone throughout the novel was well flushed out and I would love to get the stories of many these “secondary” characters.

The reality show plotline was a great one. I run along the same thought process as Cindy when it comes to reality TV and found it hilarious to see the “reality” of it all. There was never really of a thought of will they/won’t they, but a little wonder of exactly HOW. This kept the pages turning and my interest peaked as to what exactly would befall Cindy next.

Murphy’s body positive books and insight into the world of a bigger woman is refreshing and accurate. It is a great read with a feeling of empowerment behind it. So glad I got an early read!

I really enjoyed reading Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. I love Cinderella retellings and this fun rom-com hit all the marks for me.

~If The Shoe Fits Review~
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3.5/5
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I always love a plus size main character and seeing Julie Murphy’s debut into adult fiction meant i had to request this one on Netgalley! I’m also super excited cause it’s a modern cinderella retelling and retellings are always fun!
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Pros:
+plus size main character!! we need more of this still
+a very fun meet cute!
+i’ve never actually watched the bachelor or bachelorette but i sure do have a soft spot for books based around dating shows like it
+LMAO PILLOW FIGHT SCENE
+love the idea of a queer bachelor let’s make it happen irl
+inclusion of diversity!!
+fashion! i can just picture the outfits in my head and i love it
+i like the subtle nods to the original cinderella tale but it doesn’t feel too over the top
+i liked henry and all of their “off screen” romance moments
+the step family not being the worst was a good choice
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Cons:
-once again i will never understand the need to include girl on girl hate in books it’s so old and exhausting to read. just let girls exist and not be catty bitches for no reason
-classic miscommunication trope is alive and well in this one
-also the thing about conflict in these kinds of books is that you know it’s going to work out cause then what was the point of writing it from this perspective? and so the conflict doesn’t really hold any weight and it often just feels pointless
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i liked this book! i almost loved it but the end left me a little unsatisfied. i would def recommend it to people who love plus size heroines or the bachelor! It was a quick fun read for sure

Calling all Bachelor Fans! If you enjoy watching the Bachelor, you'll really like this book. This features a plus size woman, Cindy, who recently graduated from fashion school. She has no job prospects so she goes back home to help out her family. As it turns out, her stepmother is the creator of a bachelor-esque reality dating show and it's in need of some last minute contestants.

The story is told from Cindy's point of view and was very body positive. I did find it to be a bit predictable and wasn't really surprised by anything. It was a relatively quick read and I would recommend it for fans of Bachelor Nation.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

If the Shoe Fits is the first in the new Meant to Be series from Julie Murphy the author of Dumplin’. The story is a twist on Cinderella against the background of a Bachelor-like reality tv show. The book is entirely from Cindy’s perspective and it reads more like women’s fiction with a romance subplot than a traditional romance novel, but technically is a romance and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I really liked Cindy. She is plus sized and her struggles of being plus sized both on the tv show and life in general felt very real. Julie Murphy is a plus sized woman so Cindy’s portrayal and the fat-phobia she faces is written so authentically. Cindy’s love of shoes and her desire to be a shoe designer made me very happy. In a wonderful break from the traditional Cinderella story, Cindy’s stepmother and stepsisters all love, support, and accept her for her she is, which I adored. That all being said, this is technically a romance and I did find her relationship with Henry to feel authentic.

I’m genuinely excited to see where this series goes. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC.

Bookstagram post coming July 21, 2021

This book was very smooth and easy. I’m going to say “Cinderella retelling, but she’s a plus-sized lady and a shoe designer who is roped into going on a The Bachelor stand-in.” You already know in your heart if that plot appeals to you. If it does, you’re in for a treat, because the execution of this book is flawless. As a fat lady myself, I appreciated how Murphy deals with Cindy being larger than the other contestants. Cindy is human enough and has a lot more agency in her life than the original Cinderella, and the stepmother, “prince,” and stepsisters are all much more fleshed out than usual. If this is remotely your kind of book, pick it up! It does what it says on the tin!

This was such an adorable Cinderella retelling and I also loved how it was set in the reality dating world. I don't watch reality dating shows but I love reading about them!
I also loved how in this Cinderella retelling the stepmothers and sister's were evil but actually caring and wanted what was best for Cindy.
This was definitely adorable and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

At this point, I'm pretty sure it would be impossible for Julie Murphy to write a book that isn't amazing. This one is an absolute delight. I love Cindy and I was rooting for her the whole time. I didn't know how her happy ending would look but I definitely wanted her to find one.

I love that she had no qualms about wearing whatever she wanted. As another fat girl, that feels so brave and I love her for it. (Also and semi-related, I love how her stepmom and stepsisters genuinely loved her and didn't make fun of her or try to make her feel horrible or ugly. We need more stories about women who aren't in any sort of competition with each other...although okay yes, in this case, there are women who are literally in competition with each other.)

This was just a really fun story and I love everything about it. Highly recommended.

Julie Murphy's writing never disappoints. I loved this adaptation of Cinderella meets reality TV. I'll definitely be reading this one again and again! It was a great easy fun read, perfect for the beach or on the plane.

This one just wasn’t for me. The premise sounded great but I struggled. I had a hard time with the way the stepmom tried to avoid the main characters size at the beginning and couldn’t finish.