I initially thought this book would be a little too cheesy or predictable, but I was pleasantly surprised! I liked the characters, the size inclusivity, and the Bachelor-like theme (I guiltily am a fan of the show). Also, yay that this is a series! I will definitely read book 2! This is a great summer read, easy to get into and you'll breeze right through it! Thank you, NetGalley!

Adorable story that I couldn't put down! This Cinderella retelling is a wonderful modern twist. Her relationships with her stepfamily have their struggles, but finally dropped the hate between women. I have never watched The Bachelor, but I was pleased that the reality show in the book had the women supporting each other more often than not. I'd love to think that society would embrace and hail a plus-sized contestant as fun and creative as the main character. The ending was predictable, but I enjoyed every moment leading up to it.

So the problem here is I really don’t like Disney princess stuff and I would also rather stick my head in the oven rather than endure even one episode of The Bachelor. Why did I think I would like this again? But the fact that it was a real body heroine I went in hoping for the best. But so many marks were missed. This book promised dramatic reality tv merged with a modern day plus-size Cinderella retelling and that is what we got.
If the Shoe Fits follows Cindy, a recent graduate from Parsons School of Design in New York City who aspires to be a shoe designer. After a tough senior year, she doesn’t have any job prospects in NYC and decides to move home and take care of her three young siblings for the summer. Her stepmother, Erica, is a producer of a Bachelor-esque dating show called Before Midnight. When three contestants drop out of Before Midnight only days before filming starts, Cindy and her two stepsisters fill in the empty spots. Cindy is hoping to jumpstart her shoe design career, and a bit of television exposure is just what she she needs, but what she gets instead might surprise her.

Overall, it was a good read. I think it mostly gave what Julie Murphy promised. The writing was wonderful, I was pulled into the story. It did a great job of keeping Cindy’s character relatable. It was lighthearted while still covering the important topic of body diversity being displayed on TV.
Cindy was an extremely likable character, and I was rooting for her the whole time! I liked that the romantic interest had his own depth. He wasn’t shallow or vain. It was REALLY impressive that Cindy loved her stepmother and stepsisters and got along with them super well, even if she didn't always understand them. It was a great feeling to move past women hating women.
I loved how inclusive this book was. It's little things, like telling what race every single person was in their descriptions, not just specifying the non-white characters. There's a non-binary character that is never once misgendered and their looks aren't described in a way that indicates that they were born as either gender in the binary and I really loved that. There's a lesbian character, and one who's dated both men and women.
My hang ups come with the pacing of the story. It was strange and made it hard to get through the last 3rd of the story. It felt true to the Disney movie, too true, in the way that I didn't feel like I knew much about the love interest. They spent very little time together, especially alone, before she realized she was in love with him. The happy ending was hurried. I feel like I got a better grasp on some of the contestants than I really did on Henry. A lot of time was spent on the behind-the-scenes stuff in the house they lived in while filming, where Henry was kept away from them most of the time. The story lacked that deep connection I wanted from the characters. Overall a good story with a believable HEA.

This was a fun retelling of Cinderella, which I loved as a little girl. It was exciting to see a reality show with a plus-sized lead and a twist with a reality show. I found this to be a quick and fast-paced read. I loved the characters. A Plus-size protagonist who does not apologize for her appearance. Since I'm plus size myself, the author wrote it in a good light. It contains many references to an outdated movie that was updated to fit into today's world. Fun, and full of romance. It was perfect!!!

This was an ARC provided by Netgalley. The review is honest and my opinions are my own.

Contemporary rom com, classic fairy tale reimaginjng for the modern reader. Julie Murphy is not afraid to champion body positivity and creates a fantastic, real, relatable heroine in If The Shoe fits. Empowering, swoony, everything I love in classic rom com but elevated. Can't wait to read more in this series.

How frickin’ sweet! Even though it was, at moments, kind of cliche and a bit absurd, it was also all kinds of perfect! I love Julie Murphy and this is my favorite since the inimitable Dumplin’! More more more, please!

Great book! I love the fact that Cindy was multidimensional and the entire story wasn’t about her weight. I’m still wondering what Addison said to make Henry want to give her the boot. The book was just the right length.

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to read and review this book. This book was my first from Julie Murphy and although I have heard fantastic things about her, I was still hesitant going into this book. However!!!!! I was pleasantly surprised with how much I truly enjoyed this book.
There's a Cinderellaesque story in here but at the same time, it was the kindest Cinderella retelling I have read thus far. This was also the most behind the scenes reality show book I have read so far with a lot of background information on what it takes to create a "bachelor/bachelorette type show but not in a crude way. I also liked the fashion designer concept on top of the play on shoes (as a shoe/accessory girl that hit my heartstrings). I truly enjoyed all the characters also even the one I was supposed to hate because they felt real/three dimensional I could even imagine the actors who have played these characters. Overall, I am excited to see what the future of this series holds and Julie Murphy is now on my radar because of these points, I have to give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was a delight! If you love fashion, shoes, body positivity and representation, and the bachelor this book is for YOU!

This book is all written in one POV and Cindy is exquisite. She’s funny, and just real. The author writes about body positivity and loving our bodies in a fabulous way. So many scenes made me think of scenarios I’ve been in and language I’ve used in reference to my body. I just saw so much of my myself in our heroine.

The author writes funny, and witty, but will also make you sob a little. There were two parts of the book were Cindy, our MC, reads letters written to her that just tugged so hard at my heartstrings. The way grief is incorporated in this book is subtle but really highlight how complex it is for each of us. The aftermath of grief isn’t always immediate and Cindy is battling with that. I think if you have ever been in a place where you’ve lost your drive and the light that moves you, you’ll find Cindy a character you’ll really resonate with.

This book reminds us to never dim our light due to the fear of how other might reach to it. Embrace and love yourself. This book will stay with me for a long time.

This is a closed door romance. CW: body shaming, conversations about body image, parents death, grief, brief mention of cancer, brief mention of surrogacy, brief mention of car accident

Not to be dramatic, but I ~loved~ this book. It was exactly the light romance yet self-empowering story that I needed during a very stressful time. I knew a combo of Julie Murphy (Dumplin’ and Romona Blue Julie Murphy) and Disney (the Disney) would make me fall in love with another novel.

If the Shoe Fits is the first installment in Disney’s new Meant to Be series, which follows Disney heroines on modern day adventures. It feels like it should be a YA concept, but the target audience is actually New Adult. It’s a smart move because YA is already overrun with Disney retellings and aiming towards an older audience lets the romance be a bit steamier than you’d expect.

If the title didn’t give you a massive hint with the word shoe, If the Shoe Fits is about Cinderella. In this case, she’s Cindy, a recent graduate of Parsons, the fashion school in New York City. She’s on a plane to Los Angeles when she run into her Prince Charming– i.e. a super hot guy her age who saves her from having to sit next to a creep on the flight. Never expecting to see Prince Charming again, Cindy agrees to help her step-mother out of a pinch by being a contestant on a Bachelor-esque television show called Before Midnight. Wanting to break into the footwear end of fashion, Cindy thinks being on the show could open new opportunities for her career.

Enter (again) Prince Charming.

Prince Charming a.k.a. hot guy on the plane a.k.a. Henry, Before Midnight’s newest bachelor, pops back into Cindy’s life exactly when she’s not looking for love. (Sure, she’s on a very famous dating show, but that’s not the point.) The story unfolds with cute nods to the original Cinderella (a ball, a lost shoe, etc.), genuine discussions about grief, and way more information about reality TV than I ever asked for.

Something that I absolutely loved: Cindy is fat and very much not afraid to use that word. This is body positivity to the max and I’m here for it. Being in the fashion world, Cindy does run into clothes that aren’t her size, but she never thinks that she has to change her body to fit the clothes. Instead, she uses her voice to advocate for the brands to have inclusive sizing. And while Cindy’s the only plus size contestant on the show, she doesn’t get any stereotypical hate and she’s not made fun of for the sake of *character development*.

Another thing I absolutely loved: There’s no evil step-family. Cindy’s personal trauma does come from losing both of her parents at a young age, but there’s no lasting antagonism from her step-mom or step-sisters. They’re actually a loving and supportive blended family, which is so refreshing because I was not in the mood to see woman hating other women.

Overall, yes, I did love this book, thanks for asking. I don’t think it was perfect because I wanted the end to have a longer resolution, but I usually feel that way about romances in general. (Also, hello, tiny miscommunication trope, I didn’t want to see you here.) For the regular Romance reader, it might feel standard. For YA readers or anyone looking to find something outside of their regular genre, this is fun and flirty. And for anyone looking for a more feminist take on the age old Cinderella, definitely take this book for a spin out on the dance floor.

If the Shoe Fits comes out August 3, 2021.

4.5/5 Stars.

I received a free e-ARC of If the Shoe Fits from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cute retelling! Modern and diverse! Definitely recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars!

Let me first say that I love Julie Murphy, as a human and as a writer. She writes some of the most relatable characters. Not to neglect the fact that her plus-size characters are well written. I love that for the most part, her books don't really focus on the fact that the main character is plus-sized being a problem, but more so just a fact of life.

I am not a huge Cinderella fan but if any book could make me one this one would be it. I loved the bachelor style concept, with the behind-the-scenes look at how the show is produced, also with the kind of meet-cute that the main characters had it was just perfect. There was a huge focus on fashion within this book though I am not really a huge fashion kinda girl I enjoyed those aspects of the book also. I do think that there were some parts that I could have done without, some of the rudeness of other characters, but I understand why it was necessary.

Also, I would like to mention that there is some LGBTQ representation, and the character isn't just someone that is thrown into the story, they are a forward supporting character. Like I'm here for it!

The relationship between Cindy and her stepmom and siblings was just amazing, I loved how real and genuine it seemed. I loved that it didn't follow within the lines of the main Cinderella story. The forced conflict was well done. Honestly, I just loved everything about this book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney~Hyperion for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an incredible book. I was not sure how I would feel about a New Adult book from Julie Murphy, but I was blown away. It was a twist on something that we became all too familiar with during quarantine...trash television.

This is the first book in a new series called Meant to Be. This is a romance novel that breaks a few norms. It is loosely based on the Cinderella story, but doesn't follow many of the expected lines. The main character here, Cindy Woods, is a plus-sized beauty. She has just finished her fashion degree at the Parsons School in New York City, specializing in shoe design. Cindy's mom, Ilene, died when she was a kid, and her father Simon remarried to a powerful media producer a few years later. Her stepmom, Erica, has two daughters just slightly older than Cindy, Anna and Drew, and although they ran in different groups in school, they treated each other in a friendly and respectful way. When Simon died suddenly in Cindy's senior year of high school, all three girls were hit hard as Simon was the homebody, the one that provided an anchor and this loss brought them closer. No evil stepsisters here. Anna and Drew are only 9 months apart in age, look like twins, and have begun a career as Instagram influencers. There are also three younger siblings, Mary, Gus, and Jack, triplets that were born through a surrogate planned before Simon's death and carried through after.
Cindy thought she'd done her grieving at the time of her dad's death, but when her stepmother moved house last year, and all the accumulated possessions were gone through, Cindy found herself hit hard again. Her last year at Parsons wasn't as successful as she'd hoped, which is why she hasn't got plans now, other than to nanny the triplets until a more permanent solution is found.
Even before Erica and Simon married, Cindy was a fan of one of the reality shows that Erica produced, Before Midnight, a bachelor-type show where a man was set up with multiple women and sent on dates, narrowing it down through the series to a woman that he would then marry. The new season is about to start production and when a couple of women drop out last minute, Anna, Drew, and Cindy get drafted in to take their places. For all of them, this will give some more media exposure, helpful to Anna and Drew in their Instagram influencer roles, and Cindy to highlight some of her fashion creations. Erica worries about the possibility that Cindy will attract negative attention, but Cindy isn't phased.
Cindy's best friend was her roommate at Parsons, Sierra, and she is already missing her even as she returns home to sort herself out and decide where her career lies. The two women talk often and the sudden decision to join the show means that they won't be able to connect for a few weeks.
When Cindy discovers that the male lead on the show is a man she's met briefly before, things start to get real.
I loved Cindy's character, she's witty and fun, and a caring person, but not one people can walk all over. She makes friends easily and bonds pretty quickly with some of the other women on the show. We see how, despite the rivalry that naturally exists, people make connections and work together on things. I don't watch reality television, or much of any television really, but this felt a lot more interesting when you learn some of the backstories to the characters that have signed up for the show.
The writing pops and there is lots of humour and emotional connections with the plot. A fun read.

This book promised dramatic reality tv merged with a modern day plus-size Cinderella retelling and it did not disappoint! I love fairytale retellings and all things reality television so this was right up my alley.
If the Shoe Fits follows Cindy, a recent graduate from Parsons School of Design in New York City who aspires to be a shoe designer. After a tough senior year, she doesn’t have any job prospects in NYC and decides to move home and take care of her three young siblings for the summer. Her stepmother, Erica, is a producer of a Bachelor-esque dating show called Before Midnight. When three contestants drop out of Before Midnight only days before filming starts, Cindy and her two stepsisters fill in the empty spots. Cindy is hoping to jumpstart her shoe design career, and a bit of television exposure is just what she she needs, but what she gets instead might surprise her.
This was all around such a good book and I think it fully delivered what Julie Murphy set out to achieve. The writing was really inviting and pulled me right into the story from the very beginning. It was a super fast and fun read about a plus-size woman just living her life. It provided great fat rep without making it the sole focus of the book. It was lighthearted while still covering the important topic of body diversity being displayed on TV.
Cindy was an extremely likable character and I was rooting for her the whole time! I liked that the romantic interest wasn’t just a typical one-dimensional Prince Charming type and he actually had his own depth to him.
I’m so excited that this is the start of a new fairytale-inspired romance series. I had such a great time reading this and I can’t wait to see what retelling comes next!
If you enjoyed One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London then I definitely recommend this one to you as well!

3.5/5 stars

I love Julie Murphy's writing and was really excited to see this pop up. The book was very enjoyable and a quick read. I would've like the plot and characters elaborated on more as I often felt that plot lines or characters were dismissed without good resolution. Despite that, it's a good read, nice and fluffy and easy to breeze through.

I would've liked to see more of the secondary characters (in particular Stacey or Sierra, although maybe they're getting sequels). While I liked the two main characters, I wanted to also see friendships and family dynamics and I think that got a little lost along the way (it was definitely there but I wanted even more). That being said, I did appreciate a Cinderella retelling that made the step-family nice!

Overall, it was a good book and a really quick read.

<spoiler>
The ending was a little too abrupt for me. It felt like everything resolved really quickly and without much issue. While I like a happy ending as much as the next person, I was surprised to see that it didn't matter that Cindy had lied about her family connections to the show or gotten a job at a rival company.
</spoiler>

A feel-good Cinderella retelling with a plus-size character? YES PLEASE!

This is the perfect light, fluffy, beach read that summer is made for. I love the reality tv setting and Cindy owns it. She's true to herself (I seriously love that she ditched the show for a job interview!) and embraces herself without being ashamed of who she is.

Also, I quite enjoyed a retelling where the stepmother and stepsisters weren't evil. Their relationship was a bit odd (I kept waiting for the backstabbing but NOPE! didn't happen) but it was refreshing to see a story where the family actually gets along and there's no drama between the siblings.

I didn't love it and I love Julie Murphey's other writings. Dumplin' is one of my favorite teen books ever. It had the feeling of a rush job and a bit formulaic. I did like the parts that gave a nod to the Disney Cinderella animated movie, but my interest pretty much ends there.

Also a few of the characters felt like boxes being checked. I know I may not totally be the audience for this books, but I do love JM and this just doesn’t seem like her best work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Thank you @disneybooks & @andimjulie for this fun read!

Cindy is a recent Parsons grad that, without promising job prospects, moves home to help her stepmother with her siblings. Her stepmom, however, is the producer of Before Midnight, a Bachelor-style reality dating show, and after a series of casting hiccups, Cindy & her two step sisters find themselves as contestants on the show. But, as another twist, Cindy happens to be the only plus size contestant, and her relatability quickly makes her America’s sweetheart on the show. The real question is, is reality TV actually where she’s going to find her Prince Charming?

Things I liked about this book:
-the stepmom/stepsisters/Cindy relationship is a loving one! The mean step-family storyline always makes me sad so I was so happy to see this one as a positive blended family
-There are a few Project Runway type moments that I was absolutely here for
-I wasn’t lost despite never having watched an episode of the Bachelor 😹
-there are some fun Cinderella references, including some helpful little mice/stylists and a fairy godmother producer 😘

I enjoyed this sweet book and I can’t wait to see what is next in this brand new series of romances from Disney Books. Available for pre-order now, If the Shoe Fits will be released on August 3, 2021 👠🏰

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Super cute retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of a woman going on a “Bachelor” type of show. This reminded me of “One to Watch” a lot but I still enjoyed it! I didn’t read Dumplin by this same author, but I loved the movie and this book, so I might need to pick it up.