On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe

I absolutely love this book. It broke all barriers of self. When you want to shy away from your true self and when life is not going as planned. This book is one of my favorites and I'm definitely going to grab this when it's released.

I just reviewed On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe. #NetGalley
[https://www.netgalley.com/member/book/288188/review]

I loved so many things about this book. As a fat girl myself I felt I could relate to Everly on a lot of her personal feelings. I also loved the story line and the reality tv show bit. I also liked that there wasn’t a third act breakup I always find that really annoying in books. I brought my rating down a bit as I thought there were a couple pacing issues the beginning of the story seemed to drag out a lot. Giving a lot of details, I do love details. However we get to the end of the book and it felt so rushed and like we were just trying to get to the end. I also wanted more of a wrap up to the whole tv show aspect, I don’t know how necessarily but it seemed like she said we’ll see you in court and everyone went on about their day. I like the ending it just didn’t feel like enough. Overall though I enjoyed the book and would definitely pick it up again, and more books by this author.

“𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎’𝚜 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏.”  

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆  
Spice Rating: 🌶️  
   
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: An ARC of this book was provided to me from the publisher through Netgally. While I am forever grateful for the opportunity to review these books, I will always be honest with my reviews.  
 
I got through this book in a day! It was beautiful, and I loved the plus-size representation. As a plus-size girly myself, it’s so important to get not just representation but a GOOD representation. I liked that the author addressed heavy topics while keeping the book light and fun. When the book started, and I realized the MC would be on a reality TV show, I ALMOST dnf’d the book, but I’m so glad I continued reading because it worked well with the storyline. Now can I have my own personal Logan??  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CteypsAvzlQ/ <- Instagram Review

I will be posting my review on TikTok, and Amazon closer to the publication date!

On the Plus Side is the story of a girl who is nominated to be on tv show that focuses on helping fat people find themselves. The premise of the show was super interesting and there was a lot of good diversity and representation amongst the characters. However, the main character, Everly, was never fully developed for me. I definitely identified with her perceiving herself as “too much”- too loud, too emotional, etc- but I wish the author had done more the show us those character traits. Aside from a few conflicts, we don’t see that in action as much as I would have liked.

All in all, I think she was a relatable heroine, if not incredibly dynamic, and the love story was sweet. It was frankly refreshing to see a male main character who expressed some insecurity about his appearance- it’s an incredibly rare thing in the genre.

I would try another by this author. Overall a nice way to spend the afternoon. : )

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Publishing for providing this arc for an honest review.

I loved this book. This is the most honest representation of a plus size character I’ve read. Everly was so relatable and the On the Plus Side backdrop was perfect for her journey.

Love triangles, queer characters, characters of colour, and even a non-binary casually added to the mix. This book was amazingly inclusive and super relatable. I could see myself in Everly through every page. And the tropes! Grumpy-sunshine, getting caught in the rain... It was delicious. I could also see that this was taking the show "What no to wear with Stacey and Clinton" and crossing it with the Queer Eye reboot of the 2020's. Loved the concept.

Amazingly cute story

4 stars!

This was such a cute and wholesome book.

I am a plus sized woman myself, and found myself relating to a lot of what Everly was going through/had gone through. I am also a huge fan of Queer Eye, thus I really enjoyed the theme of a makeover show. I'm also an animal lover to my core, As you can see, this book had a lot of things I enjoy and could relate to, which made it a very enjoyable and interesting read.

I really enjoyed the writing style and will definitely be checking out her other book - The Make-Up Test.

What a delightful read that includes a medium many of us know well - reality TV - through the lens of a protagonist who isn't often given airtime or space. Everly was given depth and constantly pushed to be treated as an individual with her own dreams, desires, and goals absent of a love interest. It's not that love doesn't matter, however, and there was plenty of real estate given to Logan and James throughout the novel. I found myself rooting for Everly on her journey back to herself, even in the moments where the details felt redundant and overemphasized. All of the interludes included on the "Read-It" platform (nice pun for Reddit) didn't move the narrative forward or provide color/nuance, but again, these slight low notes didn't minimize my appreciation for Howe's overall storytelling. Great appreciation to the folks over at NetGalley for allowing me to review this novel before it debuts later this year.

This book is a breath of fresh air! While it's the perfect mix of rom and com (I laughed hard many times!) it also manages to be refreshingly realistic. You can't help but root for Everly, a protagonist who is strong, outspoken, and stands up for herself in a way that will make you scream, "Yes girl! Good for you!" I sometimes find the miscommunication trope to be frustrating, and I love that Howe avoided this altogether by creating two leads who say exactly what's on their minds. It's clear that Howe really understands her characters; the decisions they make feel authentic because they are so well-drawn. I also loved that there was no contrived third-act break-up. Instead, these characters have fun, enjoy a (very!) steamy romance, and learn to navigate the world together. I can't recommend this enough!

This book was like Queer Eye and What Not to Wear with romance mixed in and I completely loved it. I loved reading about the main character, Everly Winters and watching (reading) her grow as a person through out the show. Everly knew what she wanted in the life and through On the Plus Side she learned how to achieve her dreams. I enjoyed the chemistry between her and Logan but found myself interested in Everly learning to be the person she once was more.

I will also say that I enjoyed how eloquently the author included plus size people into the book without being offensive. Not only is there an explanation in the beginning of the book, but also explains how society perceives “fat” people and how Everly was affected by this through out the show. This included clothes shopping, being out there more and just day to day life. As a plus size person myself, I related to this book even more because of it. Overall, this was a fun read and will be looking out for more books from this author in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to review On the Plus Side.

Well-written and pretty wholesome, with a bittersweet sort of happy ending. I liked Everly and Logan’s relationship, but I thought it was maybe a little too fast-paced in the beginning; they fell in love fairly quickly. I also didn’t get James’ motivations at all. I really loved the relationships between all the other characters, particularly Everly and her mother and Jazzy.

CW: fatmisia, death of a grandparent (mentioned), cancer, toxic parent relationship

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for inviting me to review a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Jenny L. Howe was one of the first authors I discovered on NetGalley when I was able to get an e-ARC for her debut novel, The Make-Up Test, last year. I remember feeling so connected to her writing amidst the storytelling of fat people finding love and being their authentic selves. When I got the email from St. Martin’s Press asking me to review her upcoming novel (as well as one of my most anticipated reads of the year), On the Plus Side, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the e-ARC and I’m happy to report that Howe does it again with On the Plus Side.

On the Plus Side features Everly Winters, who always prefers to blend in than stand out after the loss of her beloved grandmother, is nominated for her favorite reality TV makeover show, On the Plus Side. Taken under the wings of the show’s outgoing hosts, a meddling showrunner, and a grumpy cameraman, Logan, Everly goes through a journey of self-love and regaining the ability to stand out. Yet, as she falls for Logan, she has to decide if she wants to put herself out there on national TV.

The thing that really makes On the Plus Side stand out is how Howe uses the concept of a reality TV show to provide an interesting perspective on fat representation. Howe does a good job of illustrating a platform for plus-size folks to be accepted for who they are but also deals with issues regarding being able to decide how one wants to present themselves to the world. For those of you who read The Make-Up Test, Howe dives more into the themes of fatmisia and fat advocacy in On the Plus Side, which makes the reality tv makeover a unique setting for these themes to be explored.

Another thing I really liked about On the Plus Side is that Everly and Logan are great MCs. I can really relate to Everly’s internal struggles with people saying she’s “too much” and I’m sure many other readers will relate to Everly too. I also like how Howe was able to develop a more fuller character for Logan as the love interest and dive into some of his motivations and struggles. Their relationship was really great to see play out on page (bonus points for no third act break-up) and you could tell how good they are for each other.

I can’t wait for On the Plus Side to be released in December and this book is definitely worth the wait. Along with cameos from characters in The Make-Up Test, you will also love this book if you are looking for a rom-com diving into fat advocacy and/or a new grumpy x sunshine book to try out.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

"Because no matter who we are and what we look like, we all deserve a mirror. We all deserve to be understood. We all deserved to be seen." I LOVED THIS BOOK! Jenny Howe knocked it out of the park from the author's note in the beginning to the end. As someone who has long navigated weight struggles and a diehard fan of What Not to Wear in the early 2000s, I was immediately drawn in. It was easy to relate to the FMC Everly. At the start of the book, she is struggling to accept who she is, not how she looks. She has long hidden behind her screen and avoided publicly showcasing her creativity in fear of getting rejected for being "too much." Through her time as a guest on On the Plus Side, Everly learns to love herself and believe that she is deserving of making her dreams a reality. I was absolutely #TeamLoverly and really loved how inclusive and supportive the characters were of Everly and her experience. Jazzy and Stanton seem amazing, and I just wish they made this show in real life! Everyone should read this book when it comes out this December.

I really enjoyed this romance. I loved the makeover show aspect and the characters. Everly has forgotten who she really is as she tries to blend in with the world and not be too much. I loved her story arc and the crackling chemistry with camera man, Logan Samuel. Their grumpy/sunshine witty banter and slow burn romance was a lot of fun. The running theme of body positivity was great too. I'll definitely look out for more books from this author.

If you are looking for a warm, generous, fat-positive romance, look no further.

Everly has been intentionally hiding in plain sight since the death of her grandmother, who had always encouraged her to live her most authentic life and to not be afraid to be fully herself. In her grief after her grandmother's death, she allowed her mother to encourage her to become more muted and not draw attention to her fatness--resulting in her living a quiet, nondescript life without much passion. That all changes when she is nominated to participate on her favorite reality TV show, On the Plus Size, where over the course of eight weeks, she will have opportunities to come back out of her shell and take chances in her career, her art, her attire, and her love life.

While she is more focused on rediscovering herself through this process, she can't help but notice the flannel-clad, bearded hottie behind the camera that followed her nonstop for weeks. She begins to break the fourth wall to exchange quips with Logan, who may seem like an utter grump but who very quickly proves himself to be her fierce supporter. He becomes her gruff champion throughout her on-camera journey. As their attraction builds and spills over onto the TV show, Everly must decide if she is ready to trust him and accept romance as part of her journey of self-rediscovery.

Throughout the book, Everly is aware that she is a fat woman and that after the death of her grandmother--a bold and unrepentant fat woman--she has responded to cues from the thinner people around her to shrink her life when her body will not. Yet it's clear she does not think herself to not be attractive--striking, in her words--or worthy of love or career success; she just needs help emerging from the cocoon she built when she was grieving. This means that as she considers two possible love interests, we don't see her doubting whether or not they could love her and her body. The story balances acknowledging the constraints Everly experiences as a fat person while still showing that she loves herself and is loved for all her attributes.

Everly and Logan have great chemistry and I found them delightful as individuals and a couple.

This was such a lovely read for me! It really gripped my heartstrings the entire time and it was so easy to fall in love with our two main characters. Their love is sweet, spicy, and over all made me feel so good!

On The Plus Side did a great job at plus-size representation in this book, making it so much more enjoyable and relatable. The author hit it on the head when she was writing this, and everything within the book feels genuine and real.

The realness of this book makes it! I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read more from Jenny L Howe!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: December 26, 2023

Rating: 4 stars

This is my first book by Howe and definitely won't be my last! Her writing was easy to fall into and get transported. I loved reading about Everly and Logan's relationship. I felt that I could resonate with Everly's character of losing who we are especially after a dramatic life change. Logan's grumpy personality was perfect!

This would have been a five star read if there was a little less descriptions of all the different settings throughout the book, it was first person POV plus a few chapters of Logan's point of view.

Perfect for fans:
Grumpy/Sunshine
Reality TV
Third Person POV
Women's Fiction

CW: Grief, Loss of a Loved One

Overall this is a cute, romantic book. I love books that are about reality TV. I enjoyed all the characters, the plot and the author’s style of writing. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

"On the Plus Side" by Jenny L. Howe is a delightful contemporary romance that combines heartwarming moments, self-discovery, and the courage to embrace change. With its relatable protagonist, charming love interest, and a touch of reality TV drama, Howe delivers a captivating story that will leave readers with a warm smile.

"On the Plus Side", by Jenny Howe, focuses on Everly, a hard working businesswoman who prefers to stay in the background. She's content with doing the bare minimum to get by without drawing attention to herself. When she's nominated to participate in a popular reality TV show, she decides it's finally time to do something for herself for a change. While filming the show, she develops a bond with the camera man (Logan), who sees her for all she truly is: a fabulous woman despite the culture's disparaging attitude about her size.

I enjoyed how Everly learned how to stand up for herself, and how she learned that she is worthy of love exactly as she is. The chemistry between Everly and Logan was sweet and enjoyable. My only complaint is that this book was similar to several others that have come out recently, and so it paled in comparison. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.