Decent story Meant to Be has an interesting plot but the characters could use some depth I felt like I didn't get to connect with them enough

So I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I don't really watch the kind of shows it's set in, but still ended up enjoying the plot and setting. Loved the details of who the protagonist was, and that twist at the end! My favorite part.

What a great twist on Cinderella and The Bachelor! I read this all in one sitting! Also, the body positive inclusion, though with truthful hardships from others, made it even better than you would think.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is such a cute and fun read. I really really enjoyed this one. I was so happy to have a plus sized woman finding love in a book for once. This book stole my heart. It is like a modern day Cinderella story.

Cindy is plus-size and she has never really fit in. I really liked the take on the step-family in this one. Cindy seems to be part of a very loving family and her step-mom really seems to love and care about her.

I really loved the plus-size representation in this novel. I think we need more books where plus-size women get to shine. Plus-size women deserve love too. I think the characters were well written and I really enjoyed them. This story was so fun and enjoyable.

The cinderella switch from having an awful family to such a sweet one is part of the book I really enjoyed. I'm also a sucker for a fairytale retelling with a plus sized main character!

If the Shoe Fits
By Julie Murphy

As a new quirky twist on Cinderella, a plus sized Cindy just graduating with a degree in shoe design school in New York City. She moves back home, to California with her step-mom to nanny her 3 step-siblings until she figured out her next step. Cindy’s step mom is a executive producer for a reality love show Before Midnight, where there are 25 women and 1 man. Beck, executive assistant on the show and to her step-mom, talks Cindy into being on the show. Little does Cindy know that the dreamy Mr. Perfect on the show is the dreamy guy Cindy was flirting with on her plane ride from New York. Cindy is on the show for publicity and to get her name out there as a designer but then she starts to fall for Mr. Perfect. How will she make it through the show with him dating 25 other women?

Cinderella is one of my all time favorites and this story was a nice spin on the classic. I am not a reality show person at all but I have to say I loved this quirky tale of love! Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for the advanced copy in turn for my honest review.

First and foremost, I LOVED Cindy. She’s a fantastic heroine. Strong, independent, smart and sassy. Her ability to hold her own among others was one of my favorite parts to the book.

Henry, when he interacted with Cindy, was a fun, kind of quirky, hero. I enjoyed that he didn’t fit any type of mold and felt he really was a perfect match for Cindy. However, something I really think the book could’ve benefited from was either a dual POV or at least more scenes between him and Cindy. Henry seemed to have more personality in the minds of the woman than we actually were able to see. It was rather lacking where he was concerned and for a good chunk of the book it unfortunately felt more like it was about a house full of woman rather than a romance.

The woman in the house were a mix for me, some were likeable others felt very stiff. The character descriptions in general were a bit odd for me, when describing someone the first characteristic was often their race or sexual identity. While I appreciate the diversity in the book, Beck being my absolute favorite character next to Cindy, it didn’t read well to have that be for some characters their only characteristic, it just doesn’t paint much description and makes it seem like that’s their whole personality.

When I saw this was a plus sized take on the classic Cinderella story I was so excited, the premise from the blurb was very intriguing and it seemed like I would really enjoy it. I think it had a strong start, the middle dragged with little interaction between Henry and Cindy and the ending…I wish there had been a bit more to the ending OR an epilogue as it felt a little unfinished.

So while I enjoyed the concept and certain parts to the story I think other things tended to weigh it down for me.

I really wanted to like this book and I picked it up several times but just couldn't get into it. I couldn't connect with the female main character and honestly found her annoying. The romance didn't connect with me and although I love a good Cinderalla retelling, I've read better Bachelor-esque type books to finally give up on this one.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book!

I very much enjoyed this fun, light-hearted modern-day telling of an old tale. While the majority of the story revolves around a reality TV show, it is a clever variation of the story. Before Midnight (wink wink), is the TV show that is promoted by her step-mom (yes her father has passed) and involves a shoe tycoon. The banter is endearing! I cant wait to read the others in this series!

A cinderella retelling. This book was fun, but not earth shattering and I wasn't completely focused while reading. I'm glad I finished it, but it was just okay.

I've loved quite a few of Julie Murphy's past books and this was no exception!

While it wasn't *perfect*, I still loved how cute and endearing this was. The romance at the heart of this story was so so cute and I didn't mind the Cinderella retelling aspect of it at all. I feel like the Cinderella story is a bit overdone but I think this handled it really well. While some parts were kind of cheesy, I do think that, overall, this was a really cute story.

The two main characters were great (especially Cindy) and their romance was so cute and heartwarming. Definitely rated G though so if you're looking for some...romance...you might want to look elsewhere or just go into this book with some more realistic expectations.

Overall, a very cute romance and I'll definitely read the next book in this series!

I loved this book. It was so sweet and the concept was amazing. A Cinderella retelling. I’m all about these stories based around reality shows. In this one she is a fashion designer

If you, like me, gobble up any and all Cinderella tales and you're hoping for a fresh take on a tale you've read a dozen, no a thousand times, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!

I cannot say how much I loved the fact that Julie Murphy kept just enough of the hallmark Cinderella story and upended so much more, to make it feel it feel truly original. Not since Ella Enchanted, have I liked a Cinderella re-telling so much!

Add in some Bachelor-style reality TV, a heroine with fashion sense, and you won't want to put this book down. READ IT!!!

This was a really fun retelling. This was actually what I wanted one to watch to be! It was body positive. I left smiling and feeling good which is exactly what I want in a rom com.
A mix of Cinderella and bachelor was both witty and fun! Bachelor is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me so I’ve been reading all the takes on it and this was a good one to add to the list.

I love, love, LOVED the main character, Cindy! The author did such a wonderful job making her multi-dimensional and INTERESTING. It's sad how rare that it, especially for a romance featuring a plus-size character. I also love that her size wasn't the central theme. So sweet, fun, I loved it!

Julie Murphy always knows how to write good and relatable characters and this is the same with this cute and romantic novel. Murphy has had such good books and this is another hit with romance and such a good connection between characters.

I'm a huge fan of retellings and this is definitely a Cinderella retelling.

Joining her step mothers reality show, Cindy gets a chance to win $100,000 and get her name out in the fashion industry.

Julie Murphy has done it again. This book was really fun to read. Following Cindy's story was easy and I was rooting for her throughout the whole story. I don't watch the Bachler but I'm guessing this contest is similar.

I am a sucker for reality TV. All of it, the makeover shows, the dating shows, contestant based shows, the ones where everyone is crammed into one house and has to navigate living together. I love it all. So I was so excited to grab this, especially after enjoying but not loving One to Watch, and this was definitely a good read.,

This was a sweet book with very little steam and it was the perfect book for a quick weekend read. Even if you aren't a fan of shows like The Bachelor, I think Murphy will surprise you with this retelling. Her descriptions of fashion were vivid and really added an extra layer to Cindy. She is fresh out of school and straight onto the show Before Midnight. All of the little nods to Cinderella were cute and fun to pick up on, but I never felt like it detracted from the different story Murphy was telling, it was flair.

This would be a good bet to give teens looking to dip into the adult romance market but aren't looking for explicit romance.

I am a big Julie Murphy fan. I have read almost all of her young adult books, so I was very excited to hear that she was coming out with her debut adult novel. I am also a fan of the Bachelor franchise, so this book was right up my alley. This book is about Cindy, a recent grad with a degree in shoe design who ends up on the popular Bachelor-esque dating show Before Midnight, which is produced by her stepmother. Being the show's first plus-size contestant isn't easy, and Cindy goes through many difficult times in her quest to finding love.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the dating show aspect of it and liked seeing the similarities to popular dating shows I currently watch. I thought Cindy was a really interesting character and I liked seeing her go from only doing the show to help her stepmother to actually making friends and building a relationship with the lead. This book is also based on Cinderella, and I thought it was a unique take on the fairy tale. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall I really enjoyed this book and I hope Julie Murphy continues to write adult romance.

I never expected to love this book as much as I did, but it was truly magical! Everything—from Cindy’s confidence, to her relationship with her family, to her Prince Charming— is a true delight. This book would be great for anyone, but especially meaningful for the bigger readers who need a reminder that your size doesn’t define you.