I adored that the MC is plus size, and that throughout the book she has limited wardrobe options and is vocal about that.

This book was cute! A nice spin on "The Bachelor" and Cinderella. Likeable characters, NOT so likeable ones, and a few little plot twists all come together!

Overall this story is wholesome, heartwarming, and also encouraging because Cindy figures out her career path and pursues it. There is love and romance but there is also friendship, found family, and an MC who finds herself as well.

It's not a Cinderella retelling to me in the purest sense, but I appreciated how the author interpreted the story and made her own bits and pieces! If you need a feel-good read that (probably) won't make you cry, go for this! It was just what I needed right now.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy the first book in Meant to Be series was so cute. This Cinderella retelling is brought current by using a reality show as the backdrop. I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters and felt good about al of the self-love. It is great to read a book that embraces self-positivity. I cannot wait for more fairytale retellings in this series. Highly recommend this sweet, fell good novel.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my honest review. *****

Cindy's life is not going in the direction she expects, after graduating from Parson's she doesn't have a job and is heading home to live with her stepmother and stepsisters. On the plane she unexpectedly meets a man, well he seems like a prince but doesn't get his name. Fast forward and Cindy and her stepsisters are last minute substitutions on her stepmother's reality show, Beyond Midnight, and the 'prince' is the man from the plane. Is this fate? A fairytale? Cindy, a plus size woman, agreed to be on it to showcase her shoe designs and hopefully jump start her career but is there a real connection? Or is it really all work?

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for this eARC!

Julie Murphy's books are always adorable and this one is no exception. This is a fun take-off on Cinderella centered around Cindy, an aspiring shoe designer, who goes on a Bachelor-style show. In this Cinderella, thankfully, her step-mom and sisters aren't evil, though some of the other contestants take that spot. The reality show stuff was fun (and slightly gentler than in some depictions of these type of shows and so were the shoes! Funny that this is the second bachelor takeoff with a plus-size protagonist I've read this year. Maybe the actual show should take a hint.

Also interesting that this is being marketed as adult contemporary. I think it is YA friendly for sure.

It seems this will be a series of contemporary fairy tale takes and I'm interested to see who else will be writing them.

This modern day Cinderella retelling is just the right fit for romance lovers.

Cindy has just finished college and has moved back in with her stepmother. Her mother died when she was little, and her father died four years early. Cindy's passion is fashion design, specifically shoes, and she longs to know what her next step is. She has always been fat and also longs to design inclusively in an industry that had never embraced her. Her stepmother, Erica, is the producer of the popular reality dating show, Before Midnight. When they are need of last minute contestants, Cindy and her step sisters Anna and Drew are all drafted to be on the show to help boost their careers. When Cindy finds herself connecting with the suitor, she has to figure out how to put herself first and make herself happy.

This was a very sweet modern fairy tale. Cindy is really a character to root for and is easily related to. The book has also a very diverse cast which is very refreshing for romance novels. The book is also very sweet and touching, as it really delves into Cindy and Henry's lives and backstories. This is a book with a wide appeal and I look forward to reading more in this fairy tale retelling series.

Meant to Be: If the Shoe Fits is a fun, funny closed-door romance for fans of The Bachelor and readers who enjoyed One to Watch. A reimagined Cinderella story, this novel follows Cindy as she attempts to launch her footwear design career by participating in a reality television dating competition. Cindy is fat and it's fine; while other characters may occasionally have something to say about it, Cindy's size isn't the entire plot of this story, making this novel a body positive tale that gives readers what they want to see: a romance about a fat girl looking good, living her life, and falling in love. Murphy presents a character cast that includes queer, genderqueer, and POC characters to create an open, accepting world when it comes to gender and sexuality that unfortunately seems to suffer from tokenism when it comes to racial diversity. It hits all the classic Cinderella high notes, but in its own way-- fairy godmothers look like producers and wardrobe designers, the evil stepmother and sisters are not so evil at all-- with a likeable Prince Charming and a happily ever after ending.

This was an adorable book with a similar inspiration as One to Watch.

I thought this book was better however. The main character, while plus size, seemed much more angry at the lack of fashion choices than how people would treat her. She readily accepted that she was worthy of love and fashion, and I found her complete confidence great.

The book also focused on the fact the main character, Cindy (the whole book is a nod to Cinderella), had talents and interests other than finding a prince. I thought the book was fluffy and fun, and really had no complaints about this entertaining, fun beach read.

What a fun read. Loved Cindy and loved the aspects that reminded me of Cinderella without actually going there. Loved Henry, especially how they met. Murphy has another winner on her hands! It was a fun, giggle inducing read that was very diverse in it's characters, with lots of "inclusivity" thrown in as a reminder to treat others as you wish to be treated...all while not being "preachy" in the least.

Thanks to Hyperion and NetGalley for the ARC!

Some books come at the perfect moment (kind of like the plot of this book, huh?), but then there are Julie Murphy books, which always come at the perfect moment! I stayed up until 2AM finishing this novel in one sitting after work last night— it felt that magical. I’m sure there will be comparisons to ONE TO WATCH, but they felt very different to me, and that missing something I felt from the latter I found here. I felt like so much more for this character and for the way Murphy draws relationships, especially between women. I would have loved more time/development between the heroine and the hero (but hey so would the heroine!)— but this book was really charming, touching, uplifting, emotional and fantastical in the way my reader’s soul needed at this moment!