Member Reviews

This one was fun and I'm sad I waited so long to read it. The characters were great and the relationship was one you couldn't help rooting for. I'm not sure I liked how quickly their miscommunication issue was solved and they went back to normal, but alas, it was still a good story.

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I received this ebook from #NetGalley. Curves for days by Laura Moher is about Rosie and Angus. Rosie has been fat shamed, bullied, abd sexually assaulted in her past. She expects to be aline all her life. She wins lots of money and now people are pouring out of the woodwork trying to get close to her. She is cute and sassy and ends up far from her past, where she makes friends. Angus is tall and huge and rebuilds Rose's new home and falls in love with Rose. He keeps score in his head and is a Veteran who is also a therapist. The relationship progresses until Angus finds out about the money. I enjoyed seeing the growth of the characters and the dialogue. I could picture this as a romantic movie. I also want to shop in the lingerie shop She found. I would recommend this book

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That cover!! I think of it often, and the book more than lives up to it. Fantastic, Moher is one to watch.

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Unfortunately this book was not for me. Angus has ptsd and one of his clients dies by suicide and then rose is bullied and has suicidal ideations among other things. It just was a romance wrapped in trauma. And I wasn’t into it.

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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. As a big gurl, I had high hopes for this book, but I was immediately annoyed and did not finish it.

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The book is a charming and heartfelt small-town romance that I thoroughly enjoyed, earning it a 4/5 rating from me. One of the standout aspects of this book is its unique and refreshing portrayal of a curvy heroine, Rose, which is a rarity in romance novels. Rose's character is not only relatable but also deeply compelling as she navigates her newfound wealth and seeks to rebuild her life in a quaint town.

The chemistry between Rose and Angus, the grumpy townie who becomes her unexpected ally, is palpable from their first meeting. Their relationship evolves naturally, filled with sweet and steamy moments that keep you hooked. Moher does a fantastic job of blending romance with deeper themes, such as body image issues and personal growth. Rose's journey towards self-acceptance and confidence is portrayed with sensitivity and realism, making her an endearing protagonist.

The plot is well-crafted, delving into Rose's struggles and triumphs as she adjusts to her new life. Her backstory and the challenges she faces, including past trauma and societal expectations, add depth to the narrative, making it more than just a typical romance. The small-town setting provides a cozy backdrop, enhancing the story's charm and making it easy to get lost in Rose's world.

However, the only drawback for me was the rushed ending. After such a well-paced and engaging build-up, the conclusion felt a bit hurried, leaving some threads untied. Despite this, the overall storytelling and character development are strong enough to make this a minor flaw in an otherwise delightful read.

In summary, "Curves for Days" is a wonderful debut that combines a heartfelt romance with meaningful exploration of body image and self-discovery. It's a book that not only entertains but also resonates on a deeper level, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

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It's a cozy romance with a serious side. Moher explores difficult topics (sexual assault, PTSD) with care. The banter between Rose and Angus will make you smile.

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I was drawn to this book because the cover features a plus-size woman, which is not often seen in books. The plot seemed cute, and I was excited to read a romance featuring fat main characters. I did like the female main character and the overall plot, but the love interest, Angus, was super annoying. I just couldn't stand him. Also, as a fat person myself, I understand dealing with feelings of not feeling good enough or having body image issues, but this book kept harping on it over and over, and it just brought down the vibes while reading. I wish I could have liked this book more, and I will definitely try another book by this author. It's just that this book missed the mark for me.

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3.5 stars. Sweet story but not without some issues. I liked the idyllic small town vibe and Rosie was a firecracker. But the relationship starts as a slow burn but suddenly moves at lightning speed. Many of Rose and Angus’s problems could be solved with just one conversation, if they would only talk to each other.

I appreciated the author trying to bring attention to serious issues like PTSD, sexual assault, and bullying. Their inclusion almost felt like Very Special Episodes, though, and could’ve been incorporated into the story more.

Also, there’s a subplot involving a couple they’re friends with who meet, marry, and adopt foster kids within what feels like an extremely short timeframe, and we get almost no details. I almost felt like I was missing a book that had preceded this one.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

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DNF’d

Unfortunately, I was not meshing with the plot or the characters. However, I would try reading this author’s work again!

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When Rose wins the lottery, she moves to a small town in North Carolina hires Angus to work on her new house. As their unlikely friendship becomes love, Angus becomes determined to help Rose overcome what he believes are financial troubles. However, Rose's multi-million secrets could mean the end of a beautiful relationship.

First of all, this is a stupid title for a book. Second of all, I thought the plot was bleh. (I don’t honestly remember what I was about 7 months later, but I do remember hating it.) This one is a hard no for me!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
I love body positive books! I'll read more by Moher for sure.

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A slow-burning romance with two plus-size characters and a small town feel. This was a book I knew I would enjoy, and I did. Also, it provides a great explanation of PTSD among former military, as well as the lack of mental health resources available to those who experience it. This made the story tear-jerking, heartwarming, and all too real. The fact that two plus size people can fall in love is real and this book will remain one of my favorites.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.

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This book did not go the way I thought it was gonna do. I think the relationship was cute, the pacing was good and the story overall was good. I just didn't like the third act at all. I thought it was just weird and their personal issues that added to why the third act was what it was, is just meh to me.

I might give this author another chance. Just meh.

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Curves For Days by Laura Moher is an contemporary romance following Rose, a woman that recently won the lottery and has made the decision to move away from her current town to live her life in peace and without the expectations and curiosity others have around someone with money. On her drive, she gets stuck in a snow storm meeting Angus, the male love interest. Their initial meeting is rocky but they meet again later when Angus is hired to work on Rose' new house. Despite Rose' kindness and his attraction to her, Angus is consistently perturbed by her due to feeling like he has a debt to pay to the world and discomfort with others 'oweing' him. Through long hours of working together on the home, Rose and Angus strike up a friendship that blossoms into a romance. Their relationship is going well with the potential to grow into something serious... but Rose still has not told Angus about her eight million dollar secret.

Another book with an intriguing premise that was unfortunately lost in its execution. I would have enjoyed this story significantly more if somethings went differently such as Angus' actions, Miz Ames not being included in the story at all, and for the pacing to be more clear.

1) Angus is bar one of my least favorite male love interests due to his unprovoked and unnecessary anger towards Rose in the beginning the book and his strong "She can not spend money on me or give me anything because she will owe me and I hate that. I think she has financial issues and I want to help her" attitude. I think someone's financial situation is irrelevant to you unless it appears to be a severe concern to them and you. In this book, that was not happening and Rose repeatedly reassured him she was fine, just trying to be responsible and have a better understanding of how to handle money. He was insistent and stubborn, believing what he wanted and proceeded to throw a fit when he found out she had significantly more money than he initially thought. His reaction was too much for me and was frustrating on top of how he's treated Rose previously. She did not need a hero, she did not need his money, just his trust and confidence.

2) Miz Ames is a side character readers only read about when Rose is dining at a restaurant. She has maybe two lines of actual dialogue, the rest is summarized for the reader in paragraphs. This character served no purpose other than to criticize Rose about her weight and her eating habits, give a backhanded note to her later with no resolution. Readers are well aware of Rose' body from the cover, title, and character descriptions. The addition of Miz Ames was unnecessary and more hurtful to people with curvier bodies than it was helpful. If it was intended to be a "yes I'm fat and I don't care, I'm happy the way I am moment" I don't think it was done successfully nor was it necessary since I think readers would have understood that about Rose without the inclusion of Miz Ames.

3) The pacing and setting of this book threw me for a loop. The story read quickly and how events in the story were told felt quick, but it seemed like a significant amount of time had passed that wasn't told explicitly to the reader. In the beginning, Rose is caught in a snow storm. Later, she is swimming in a pool and then going camping with friends. Rose' home appears to be completely renovated or built from the ground up when each room is described but the speed each room was completed felt like it was done in a month. Also, there is a side couple that meet, get married, adopt kids, and make plans for a house that felt quick but I assume intended to be happening over time. I think the story would have benefited from a more clear explanation of time passing like Rose and Angus discussing a timeline for how long the house would take or a mention of X (time) has passed.

Overall, Curves for Days lands middle-of-the-road for me at a 3 star. While I did read an e-arc copy and these three issues I had could have been changed, reading other reviews do not give me hope.. The story included elements I was excited for and think others would love but due to the three previously mentioned frustrations I had, I would not recommend for everyone. I am interested in reading more by the author and will keep an eye out for their future releases.

Thank you to the author and Fiercereads team for this e-arc to read and review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by receiving this arc.

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3.5 stars

The storyline itself was fine, for the most part, but something about the writing style of this book just didn’t quite work for me. I appreciated the body diversity that the novel highlighted, and I can’t honestly pinpoint exactly what I didn’t love, but it just didn’t all hit right for me. Not a bad book; a bit trauma-heavy, but still a story that I’m sure some others will enjoy.

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This was a fun, heartfelt romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. Curves should be celebrated and this book does that. Rose has suffered some terrible things in her past. (Trigger Warning for abuse). I really enjoyed the pacing and character development. This is a great book by a debut author.

This book is a must for any lovers of romance.

P.s It is set in a fictional town in the U.S. and not in the real city/county in Ireland. The series title threw me as I'm Irish and born in Galway.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Laura Moher's "Curves for Days" is a captivating slow-burn romance featuring two wonderfully relatable plus-size characters.

Rose, a sweet but lonely woman, experiences a life-changing event when she unexpectedly wins the lottery. Faced with newfound attention and opportunists, she flees to a picturesque small town to start anew. She falls in love with the community and decides to buy a house while navigating her newfound wealth and philanthropic goals. Soon she meets Angus, a gruff but compassionate veterinarian determined to give back to society. Angus also does contractor work and, as he helps Rose renovate her new home, a friendship blossoms into something deeper.

Set against the backdrop of a charming small town with a heartfelt mission to make a difference, the author skillfully tackles real-world issues like PTSD among military veterans and the lack of mental health resources available to them. The conflicts in the story felt authentic, yet the characters showed remarkable growth as they confronted their own insecurities and worked through them. The story completely invests readers in Angus and Rose's romantic journey, and the representation of fat bodies is handled with sensitivity and authenticity, especially as Rose navigates her journey from insecurity to self-acceptance, with Angus unwaveringly supportive throughout.

There is a perfect balance between heartfelt intimacy and character development, with a focus on emotional connection rather than explicit steaminess. Moher delicately handles Rose's past trauma and Angus's patience and tenderness as they navigate their budding relationship. This delightful novel is sure to be a hit with fans of sweet romcoms and personal growth narratives.

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I really wanted to love this book. But while the story itself was good, the writing style just really wasn’t for me and I couldn’t push myself to finish. Dnf at 25%.

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DNF nearly 50% in. The characters just didn’t grip me enough. Particularly Rose who still is finding herself in the book and the lack of understanding so far as to what happened isn’t gripping me enough

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