I am such a Julie Murphy fan even though I am way older than her targeted audience. Her books are just easy to fall into and just the perfect escape from reality.

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits is a wonderful escape for me. Cindy finds herself with the opportunity to appear on the dating show (think Bachelor) that her step produces as a last minute fill in (along with her two Stepsisters). of course its a modern day spin on Cinderella (Cindy!) but such an adorable spin at that.

I 100% without a doubt adored Cindy. Her confidence level is through the roof and we need more full figured heroines with that sort of confidence.

Thank you so much to #Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book kept me engaged even though I am not in the proper age bracket for it.

I am so unsure of how to rate this book and what audience this story was going for. I don't know if this was considered a young adult or even a bit younger of an audience. There was making out, and any sex to be had was behind closed doors and just hinted at. There may have been some moderate swearing, but I honestly don't remember any.

This was supposed to be a sort of remake on the 'Cinderella' theme...I saw it, but it just didn't fully read that way to me.

This was also a very 'woke' novel; most ethnicities were portrayed and pointed out. I'm not too sure about the gender identity issue; to be precise, a non-binary person. I had no problems with that whatsoever; what I did find confusing (and this is probably my age speaking) was the usage of pronouns and determiners (they and their) being used instead of the person's name. It made for a bit of a challenge for me.

The story itself was very fast-paced, nearly to the point that the falling in love bit didn't quite ring true. I will repeat myself-no matter what issues I had; I still enjoyed the story; I loved that body issues are being addressed in such a fun way. Unfortunately, our heroine did have other issues besides her body, which was a tad depressing for me.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley.

My first book by Julie Murphy since I’ve not read her YA series. Cindy & Henry we’re really cute to whether, and while the machinations of reality TV can be obnoxious, it wasn’t as bad as I was afraid it would be. LGBTQ+ representation as well as diversity in terms of gender identity, but Cindy seems to be the only character with a “fuller figure” as she describes herself. Loved that she had such a strong sense of fashion and had joy in her body and finding/designing clothes that made her feel awesome. Really enjoyed this modern interpretation/adaptation of the Cinderella story, especially since there was no “evil” stepmother and stepsisters! Recommend for fans of the author, fairy tale adaptations and sweet (behind closed doors) romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy!

Meant to Be: Id the Shoe Fits is a contemporary retelling of the age-old classic Cinderella if the title is not glaringly obvious about this. Cindy is an aspiring shoe designer who comes home after college to her reality TV producer step-mom, Erica. The production of Erica's hit show, Before Midnight, is in trouble. Several women cast can't be in the show, and Cindy finds herself competing on the show to promote body positivity and hopefully give her career a push.

And who should be the Prince Charming on The Bachelor-esque show, but the man Cindy flirted with on her flight home... High jinx ensue as Cindy competes for his love in a see of perfect Cinderellas.

To be completely honest, this book was hard to read. The dialogue is so contrived, and there is an attempt to write descriptively about characters; race that is just clunky and awkward. It misses the mark of being woke to downright cringy. I am a huge fan of modern retellings of fairy tales and this one did not do it for me.

Man I love a Bachelor dating style premise book! I thought this one was awesome. I loved the twists and relationships in this one, not just with the “Prince Charming”, but the step-sisters, step-mom, and friends. I couldn’t put it down!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!!

A Cinderella Retelling mixed in with The Bachelor. Cindy is fresh from fashion school and trying to find her place in the shoe design world. When her step-mother takes her stepsisters and puts them on her show Before Midnight ( a reality show that is essentially The Bachelor) Cindy realizes she could promote her designs and win the money to help start her career. After a plan ride with a mysterious guy who definitely reminds her of Prince Charming... she soon finds that her Prince Charming is the actual suitor of the show she’s landed in. Cindy is a plus size gal and she wants the chance to not only jump start her career but to show that reality tv can have plus size gals on them. Soon Cindy and Henry find themselves falling for each other... but the real question... is is it real? or is it all for TV?

A sweet retelling of a classic in a fun new way! I really liked Cindy. She’s sweet and fun and I loved her body positivity. Henry was charming, and I mean he is essentially Prince Charming. The story is sweet and perfect for anyone looking for a sweet romance read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book--Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy.. I enjoyed reading this funny and delightful, yet predictable book. Cindy, a recent graduate with a degree in shoe design, goes on a show similar to The Bachelor as a way to get exposure for her fashion designs. Her stepmother is the producer of the show and Cindy is doing her a favor as a contestant has backed out at the last minute. Cindy, a plus sized woman, adds a unique spin to the contest. Of course, Cindy gets caught up in the love aspect of the show and ends up falling for the bachelor. I was entertained by Cindy's escapades in her journey toward love and I love the body positivity shown in the book as Cindy is plus sized but completely happy in her body. All in all, this book won't be a surprise but it is a fun and comfortable book that provides you with all the warm fuzzies.

Cindy is heading back to LA from New York as a graduate of fashion design, but she’s lacking in inspiration that could start her career. Meanwhile, two contestants drop out of the reality dating show her stepmother produces, and this could be the perfect way to get her name out there.

Have you ever read a Cinderella retelling where the stepmother and stepsisters genuinely love and care about Cinderella? (Also the second I realized that the triplets were the mice, I legit squealed) It was so refreshing to see them have a genuine connection and love for each other, and it was something I appreciated so much.

Cindy was a fun character, and I loved her reactions when the resident mean girl makes a snarky quip about her size. (Pro-tip: calling someone brave for wearing an outfit is NOT COOL. You are essentially telling us that you wouldn’t leave the house looking like we do. And that’s a shame, because we are killing the game 💁‍♀️) overall, I thought she was relatable and I enjoyed watching her navigate the world of reality television. You don’t see women who look like me, or Cindy, in shows like The Bachelor, so all the issues she runs into as a plus size woman on the show feel so real. Watching her advocate for herself and earn the respect she deserved was such a delight.

And I didn’t even touch on the romance! I rooted for the two of them, and my heart was so full watching their relationship develop.

I wish we got to dive into more of Cindy’s designs and that it was a longer story because I want more! I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!

What a wonderful adult debut novel from Ms. Murphy! I really enjoyed that Cindy was plus-sized--that's a rare thing, especially in romance. Henry was also a wonderful Prince Charming. I thought it was interesting to set it on a reality dating show. It shows behind-the-scenes, and that was an interesting way to contrast the romance in the story.

The only issue I had with the book was the descriptions of the characters. I think there might have been too much physical detail given. The characters seemed to only be what they looked like and what they were wearing. I feel like that would've been fine in a YA novel, but in an adult romance, I was expecting more intricate descriptions.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the book. It was a fun rom-com and I can't wait to read her upcoming books!

Thank you Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the advanced reader copy of this lovely retelling.

This was such a fun retelling! I am a big fan of taking a classic and making it something new, so having the twists with not only a reality show and having a plus-sized lead got me all kinds of excited. I really enjoyed it. This was a quick, fun read and doesn't really need to be described to the masses in a review, like I would usually do. It's a Cinderella retelling, you know? I will say that I didn't feel the "evil" in the step-family and that might have been intentional. Maybe Julie wanted to humanize them, I'm not sure. But all in all, fun read. I really love how Julie Murphy writes and is inclusive with her characters. She helps me, not a stick thin person and someone who loves bread, feel seen and I am so thankful for that.

— Okay, y’all! I’m sure you already know this, but Julie Murphy is the QUEEN of inclusivity & dialogue! —

Thank you to @netgalley & @disneybooks for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: August 3rd, 2021

You all know how much I loved One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London (if you don’t know…I LOVED ONE TO WATCH!!! now you know)! This is One to Watch meets CINDERELLA! Hello, what’s not to like?!

This is so modern and fresh, you forget that it is a Cinderella retelling! This retelling has a plus-sized Cindy & a relatively nice step-family! Cindy has had a hard life and has had to continue to grow up during times many would quit. THEN we have the added bonus of reality tv being a major plot point and hello! here we are LOVING Cindy and her “I am who I am” self!

Also — I think this is the first book I’ve read that has a nonbinary character & I LOVE them! I feel like I can see them in my mind and I would want to be their best friend because they are F A B! It was a beautiful way to include any and all pronouns.

Read this book! Especially if you already love Dumplin, Puddin, or any other Julie Murphy gems. This is the 1st book in a Meant to Be series!!! I can’t wait for more!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

If the Shoe Fits is the first in the Meant to Be series and it is a modern take on Cinderella! I’d never really gotten into fairytale retellings and didn’t anticipate liking this one as much as I did. The story follows Cindy, a recent Parson grad who lives with her reality-TV executive stepmom, her two stepsisters, and three younger half-siblings who are triplets. Unlike the original story, Cindy has a pretty good relationship with her stepmom and stepsisters. After her dad died during her senior year of high school, she was left with her stepmom and siblings until she went away to New York City for college.

Now graduated, she’s back home in California and, in a whirlwind of events finds herself as a contestant on her stepmom's reality show, Before Midnight (it’s basically The Bachelor). After a chance encounter on the flight from NYC to LA with a very handsome stranger in which Cindy absolutely trashes the show, it’s only right that when she shows up for the first day of filming, Prince Charming himself is the main event.

Cindy is a plus sized woman and, if you’ve ever seen the actual Bachelor, that pretty much never happens. It doesn’t happen in the world that Julie Murphy has created here either because Cindy takes the audience by storm, capturing both their attention and their hearts. Her fashion school knowledge and style has got people talking about her all over the Internet. I always love plus sized MCs, especially ones who are unashamed and own their bodies! Cindy knows exactly what works for her and what doesn’t, and she’s not afraid to let people know. Her size doesn’t downplay her self-worth but she also understands the role it does play in how other people treat her. Nonetheless, she persists and goes after what she wants even despite some unrelated hesitations. Our Prince Charming, who’s name is actually Henry, is doing this for reasons of his own, however. There’s more at stake here than just finding his true love.

Like any good Cinderella story, they knew they were meant to be from the very beginning, even if the journey there was a little bumpy. My favorite lines comes right before our Happily-Ever-After, when Henry says to Cindy:

"I didn’t know someone like you could exist. Cindy, being with you makes me feel like I can come up for air."

I LOVE A GOOD CHEESY AND ROMANTIC QUOTE LIKE??? HELLO??? YES, THANK YOU HENRY. ALL THE RIGHT WORDS WERE CHOSEN HERE. This may have to do with the fact that he’s a man written by a woman but we don’t have to get into that right now.

Overall, I thought this book was enjoyable! It was easy to read, fun, and fast-paced. It only took me a few hours to finish and honestly, I didn’t want to put it down! So cute and would recommend it as a HEA romance palate cleanser for anyone who’s looking for it. Overall, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This review will be posted on my blog, KamariAnnamareads.com, and other book forums on June 14, 2021.

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits is a super cute update and twist of an old fairy tale. I found the main character, Cindy, to be extremely relatable and likable. A definite good read!

Review coming soon. Thanks to Julie Murphy, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC; the opinions are mine.

Pub Date 8.3.21

I received this ARC from @netgally in return for an honest review. This was a fun twist on the Cinderella story. Instead of Cindy hating her stepmother and stepsisters she actually likes them and they all get along. Cindy grew up with just her dad after her mom passed away. Her dad remarries a woman named Erica with two daughters Anna and Drew. Erica and her dad also have triplets who are born after Cindy’s dad passes away.

Cindy loves shows and goes to Parsons Design school in New York with the hope of one day having her own line of shoes. After college she goes back home to figure out what to do with her life. Erica has one of the biggest reality shows called Before Midnight which is a dating show. One of Erica’s proucters tries to talk Cindy into going on the show while she tries to figure out her life. She is hesitant because she is plus size but ultimately decides to do it, even though Erica tries to keep her from doing it because she wants to protect ehr. But she thinks it is her only option to get noticed and get a job in the fashion world. But she is in for a surprise when she meets the suitore “Prince Charming “ for Before Midnight.


I liked that the twist to this story was the fact that Cindy gets along with her family and loves her siblings. It is inspiring to see a plus size character take a chance even when she is nervous to seize an opportunity in a business that is hard to get into. Especially when you have big aspirations. She and Prince charming develop a special relationship while filming the show along with making some friends during the process. Cind is a strong character who stands up for herself even when it is uncomfortable and always has the support of her family when she needs it.

I was definitely intrigued by the idea of a Cinderella retelling with a Bachelor-esque dating show, and I was not disappointed!

First off, I loved that the stepmother and stepsisters were loving and supportive instead of the cruel characters they usually are in Cinderella retellings. Erica, Drew, and Anna were all very supportive of Cindy and while their relationship wasn't always perfect, I really liked them all as characters!

I also loved the way the author handled having a plus-sized heroine! Her size wasn't really a plot point, and while there were moments where it came up, it seemed a lot more natural and flowed with the story very well. I loved that no one was shaming her just because she wasn't a supermodel, and thought the author did a great job with Cindy! I was very invested in her as a character, and my heart just broke for her when she and Beck had that conversation on the way to the airport.

I loved Cindy and Henry's meet-cute at the airport and on the plane, and thought that their relationship development was very cute. I also loved that Cindy truly bonded with some of the other contestants, as Stacy and Sara Claire were also great women! Love women supporting women! I did feel like the ending was a little rushed, especially with their getting together in the end, but I also think it was very cute.

Overall, a great book that was very enjoyable to read! Thank you to Disney and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

this was a really nice romance. if you enjoy this author’s previous books, you’ll recognize her easy to read and relatable writing style. her characters are dynamic and the romance felt genuine. overall a fun romance for the summer.

Julie Murphy's adorable update of the Disney version of the Cinderella tale satisfied both my Disney Princess loving heart, and my reality fashion show competition enthusiasm (even though the novel's show is a dating reality show). Little touches like the ways in which she reenvisioned Cindy's relationship with her stepfamily; the helper mice; and her fairy godmother were magical (even though there is no paranormal magic in the book). A stellar launch to the series!

A rom-com about a recent fashion college grad going through it and trying to find her footing in the fashion world, has an amazing family and she’s also trying to find her purpose in life, while finding love in the cutest way ever???!!!!

SIGN ME UP!!!!

This is a modern, very modern take on the Cinderella retellings. We meet Cindy, beautiful, and ambitious. She is living in NYC alone after graduation (well with her roommate of course), and her step mom calls her to see if she wants to come on over for the summer, (ok it didn’t really go like THAT, but I don’t want to give too much away, this book is worth reading), anyway her step mom is a famous reality matchmaking creator and we all know where this is going.

Erica, her step mom, is amazing, but she worries that TV won’t be too kind to her because of her size, well let me tell you guys!!! She was HELLA wrong! The show gave me major The Bachelor vibes which Is a franchise I really dislike, but this book made it very bearable to read.

On Cindy’s way back home to California to visit her family she meets this amazing guy, they hit it off so well, but they never exchanged numbers, but leave it up to FATE to do it’s magic!

This book was inspirational, I related so much to Cindy being a fashion student struggling and trying to find her inspiration again, and finally finding love, and living her happily ever after. And did I mention FUNNY??!!!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

This was a genuinely cute romance! I would say it's geared more towards actual young adults - late teens, early twenties - but still very enjoyable for romance lovers. I liked multiple things in this retelling of Cinderella.
1. She's a size 18 woman who absolutely doesn't apologize for her size. I also liked that she didn't view "fat" as a negative word, just another descriptor.
2. There's an actual good relationship between Cindy and her step family. I really didn't want to see that tired trope again. She and her step family genuinely love and care for each other.
3. The conflict at the end of the book wasn't what I thought it would be. So being surprised in that way was great.
Definitely will recommend this to everyone, but especially those who are looking for a softer romance book with no adult content!!