This was such a good one! I love Queer Eye, so when the hosts of On The Plus Side stormed into Everly's work place I could perfectly picture how overwhelmed she was.

I think a lot of readers will identify with the body-positive messages of the On The Plus Side TV show. Howe tackles a lot within this book, but every point is seamlessly blended into the story. I loved the romance aspect--Everly and Logan were the perfect match. I loved that they actually communicated and that there was no silly third-act breakup.

I loved how the author snuck at least one friend of hers into the Reddit forums--such a fun easter egg for anyone who caught on! Thanks Jenny for an awesome read--I can't wait to see what you write next.

This was a great read - not dissimilar to When Grumpy Met Sunshine in that we have a very sunshiney but wallflower-like leading lady, Everly, and our leading man Logan who is gruff, flannel-covered and hiding behind the camera of her favourite tv show - the one she’s now a star guest on for its third season.

This book was chock full of action from the first to the last page which I like BUT I also found myself looking down at the status bar on my e-reader and seeing 30% and feeling like so much had already happened! Damned if we do, damned if we don’t. I loved the mingling of online forums and news-like reporting mixed in with the prose (this was very a prospos) and enjoyed the single POV (although it was great to hear from the other voices in the mixed-format).

Everly has been struggling with finding her arc for so long and being a guest of hit reality show On the Plus Side (OTPS) is her chance to really find it for good. Except that even then, reality isn’t always what it seems and Everly has to take the reins to make sure her arc is well and truly hers.

ON THE PLUS SIDE by Jenny Howe was meant to be made for me - a plus size woman who is always looking for representation of realistically beautiful bodies in modern, contemporary romance. However, that representation can backfire when authors manage to write characters as insufferably dull as Everly.

The social media/reality TV element didn't entirely work for me. And don't get me started on the conflict at the beginning of the book between Everly and herself as she tries to gain the attention of her platonic coworker. The secondhand embarrassment was bringing on clinical level symptoms.

The cover alone convinced me to pick up this book. Although I adored Evelyn, I wasn't all that fond of the book's plot. But nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

A wonderful story about learning to love yourself and show the world that size doesn’t matter. Everly was a breath of fresh air: shy and uncomfortable in the spotlight but then growing into the person she was meant to be. I loved the transformation she goes through and how shows like this can be both positive and negative. The writing drew me in from the beginning and kept me glued with Everly’s humor, vulnerability, and her relationships with her family. A great tale about accepting who you are and thriving rather than trying to be something you’re not.

I am participating in the St. Martin's Press boycott. I will not be publicly reviewing this title until St. Martin's Press addresses reader concerns.

this was such an inspiring and moving story, but wasnt too heavy. such a sweet love story and i absolutely loved these two. so easy to read and get lost in this book. their dynamic was great and just loved reading their story! definitely recommend this one!

I thought that the main characters were great and they had amazing chemistry together. I also really enjoyed seeing Everly go through the motions and gain her confidence back. Seeing her do this through the reality show was fun and the hosts of the show were great.

A triumphant celebration of fat women!

This book, YOU GUYS, I am literally BEGGING you to read this book if you’re a contemporary romance lover.

The chemistry between Everly and Logan LEAPED off the page. It was quippy, fun, swoony and guess what? GOOD COMMUNICATION. No games. No miscommunication. Just honesty and vulnerability. They’re so hot for each other physically and emotionally.

Beyond the romance aspect is Everly’s identity as a fat woman. I LOVE that this book opens with a woman who is fat and self-assured in her fatness. It isn’t her relationship with her body that is the pain point, she’s already done the work to dismantle her internalized anti-fatness. No, this is a woman who has other insecurities that are so damn relatable and will speak to many and I felt soooo seen as a fat woman who isn’t interested in altering my body, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t grapple with the way the world sees and treats me for being in a bigger body!

I hope people of all sizes read this book because what Jenny has done here is expertly craft a fun, flirty romcom that also educates about anti-fatness and microaggressions towards fat people in a way that just makes sense. This book is a celebration of fatness, and I want my straight sized friends to not only enjoy the love story, but that fat celebration too!

Fat-friendly? 💚 I think it’s obvious that this isn’t just friendly, it’s celebratory! I always have a little trepidation going into a fat FMC book that it’s going to be one that only furthers anti-fat bias or really misses the mark (like - yeah I’m fat because I eat a lot, but #bodypositivity - that ain’t it)…but this book was such a smart, empathic, and empowering representation of fat folks! I have no notes.

Cheers Jenny! What a masterpiece!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable book however it wasn’t my favorite. Loved the character Everly but the plot was just OK to me.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this ARC.

I regret reading this. I did not like the first book I read by this author and I hated this one even more. This story felt childless and I really found my self not caring. I do like the plus size representation. But other than that I did not like this one.

I just finished this book and had to jump on to wrote the review right away. I don’t even need to sit on what I need to say. This book is a love story between two people, but more importantly, an ode to love oneself.
Everly was comfortable in her own skin, but the loss of her grandmother and her not so healthy relationship with her mother have broken her down. We are introduced to her as a woman that wants to be invisible, blend into the background and not stand out. After having been anonymously nominated, she is selected to star in her favorite reality series, On the Plus Side. We meet some fun characters here - some people truly committed to helping the plus-size community break the molds there are forced into. Enter Logan - the grumpy cameraman - to capture all of her moments.
This is a love story for everyone - a story of healing, a story that reminds us of the love animals can bring into our lives, and even moments of betrayal. I love that this grumpy meets sunshine story has no third act breakup. I love how instead they come together to make sure that their story is told properly - with the support of their friends.
I hope that others can enjoy this story as much as I did.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for a e-arc of this book. The opinons expressed are honest and my own.

Everly is perfectly happy to navigate post-grad life appreciated but unnoticed. That’s why she refuses to apply for her dream job as a graphic designer, why she hides behind an anonymous username on the online forums for her favorite make-over show, ON THE PLUS SIDE, and why she’s crushing so hard on her forever-unattainable co-worker, James. But someone nominates her to participate in the show's next season, and in the whirlwind of the fast-paced production schedule she finds comfort in grumpy but honest cameraman, Logan.
This TV reality show romance was so good! I read The Make-Up Test by the same author last year and I loved it just as much. The author's note at the beginning of the book about fatphobia was chef's kiss, absolutely perfect, and I would give a 5 stars review solely based on it. But the rest of the book is worth just as much. Would I have preferred to read a more confident and badass FMC? Yes. But her lack of confidence was, although misguided and frustrating, justified (not that she was right to be insecure, far from it, but her mother's- and society's, really- constant comments would make it hard not to doubt yourself all the time). Some mothers really need to learn how to be caring and supportive... Although later in the book Everly's mother sort of explains herself and her misguided ways, the critical mom character is very triggering for me. Other then that, the setting was really fun, and the story super entertaining.
I received an advance review of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This book was a great mix of What Not to Wear and Queer Eye, I loved that you got the positive vibes from Queer Eye, and you get the style advice of what not to wear but just so you know this book is so much more. I know that I am considered to be plus size, and I have always been plus size because of my thighs and hips and I truly hated going shopping with my girlfriends because they were all smaller than I was and didn’t understand the hardship it took to find a top that would fit right or trying to find jeans that showed my figure more than just trying to hide it away. For me this book is everything that I felt growing up and then into my adult years as well. So, before I start on the review of the book, I want to say Thank you to Jenny Howe for making another wonderful book but one that many women can relate too.

I loved that this book was funny and serious at the same time. The fat representation was realistic and easy to connect with, but mostly it was the characters and the plot that really shined. I enjoyed that you were in the reality TV show that had the support of the hosts and of course the fans of the show on the chat groups. You can really tell that the author took her time to understand or maybe even she has been in chats because you got to see the good, the bad and the ugly side of them in this book. I loved that the plot wasn’t about women being fat, but to help women and heck even men understand that just because of a size doesn’t mean you can’t feel comfortable in your own skin and having the mindset to understand that size of your clothing and trying to hide in them doesn’t really help women out. We need to embrace that not all people are one size and to start accepting that everyone is different and still loves them as any other human.

I thought the characters were well developed and easy to connect with. I loved Everly, she was so easy to connect with and to see her character development throughout the book was done with justice. I can relate to the fact that I have been called “too much”, I know that I have been called that with my loud voice and my personality too but with the help of my loved ones and understanding that I just don’t care what people like of me has helped as well. I am me and don’t care, so thank you Howe for writing this book and having someone like Everly. I thought Logan's character was great, so much to him and it wasn’t just him being on the back burner of the book, but he was an important part of the book with his feelings and struggles with life. You will get to understand him more than I have other males in a standalone book.

I really hope that you will see my review and if you were on the fence about reading this book you won’t now. If you love great rom coms, with amazing characters, great plots and epic kissing and other scenes then you will have to pick this book up.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this book.

4 stars -I enjoyed this read! I appreciate that the highlight on those that are plus size deserve to follow their dreams even though society can be brutal at times. The reality tv show angle was engaging and provided the extra for the overall plot. Both Everly and Logan had an adorable relationship that worked well for this storyline. I will be adding more works from this author to my short list in the future.

On the Plus Side-a standalone
by Jenny L. Howe-new author for me
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publication 12/26/23, Read 12/6/23

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC💛 ! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

✔️ Contemporary Romance
✔️ Animal lovers
✔️Makeover/Reality TV
✔️ Body positivity
✔️h is an artist

Summary- Everly Winters, 24, makes sure she's forgettable. She dresses in black, shrinks herself around other people, and has a comfortable boring job as a receptionist. She is nominated to be the new guest on a popular makeover/reality TV show "On the Plus Side" which champions plus side women. They help choose a great wardrobe and lifestyle changes. Logan is the lumberjack grumpy cameraman that will be following her everywhere. Everly and Logan get to know each other. He stands up for her and doesn't let her belittle herself. Things become more serious, and their relationship appears on the show.

The characters- Jazzy and Stanton are the best cheerleaders a girl could have. They encourage Everly to follow her dreams and pursue things that she actually likes-art design. James, her coworker & art designer at the marketing firm, is like a lot of men in the workplace. He sees Everly as weak, underestimates her, and uses her to get ahead. Everly has a crush on him but would never act on it. She believes they are friends and helps him whenever he asks. Sady is the show runner who pretends to be concerned about Everly. She turns out to be the enemy against her and Logan. Everly's mother Penny is another enemy. She is so judgmental and pushes her issues about weight onto Everly. The only one in her corner besides Logan is her grandmother Helen who is deceased. She loved her unconditionally and encouraged her to be whoever she wanted.

Overall, the romance was cute. Grumpy boy Logan really softens up to Everly observing what she goes through. He has his own body issues and feels obligated to Sady for taking a chance on him with a job years ago. This is a journey of self-love and falling in love with a big FAT HEA!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
I loved this book! Romance and a reality show always work so well for me, and with this being fat positive, it only made the book better. Everly was such a richly created character. She had such depth and the author shared enough that it was easy to get to know her, yet was never information heavy. And Logan. what a wonderful man he was, and it was easy to root for him. The show concept was so unique and needed. I would easily watch something like this. I enjoyed seeing how Everly grew in all of her relationships throughout this book - especially the one with herself. It felt realistic and inspiring. This was such a fun book, and I know I'll be thinking about it for a while.

Love the positivity in the writing and in the characters. Has humor, body representation so much tension and a grump cameraman.

Sorry. It’s a DNF (at 25%) for me. I was really excited about this one, and I love a book with plus size representation! However, Everly constantly wanted to blend/fade into the background. And I get it…she has been traumatized by her terrible mother her constantly tells her she is “too much.” Additionally, On the Plus Side just could not hold my attention.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publishers for giving me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

“No One should be expected to exhibit self-control before ten in the morning.” Here are reasons to read the contemporary book:

A receptionist - Everly is a receptionist who lacks the confidence to be a graphic designer. She prefers to just sit unnoticed by everyone.
Plus Size show - so when she gets nominated for her favorite plus size “what not to wear” type show, she is excited
Cameraman - She uses the time to figure out what she wants, but can’t help but notice the cute but grumpy cameraman who is always there
Finding herself - But finding herself might mean doing it on her own, so she struggles to understand how he might fit into the picture

When I first started reading this book, I really expected it to be like other plus size tv show books I had read. I was very surprisingly wrong. Everly has trauma from her parents and other people in her life who don’t support her in how she needs, only in the way they know how. She was very relatable in how she sees herself. But also the cinnamon roll of a cameraman is one of the best things about this book. I loved the representation here and how the story was told!