DNF @ 15%

My toxic trait as a reader is that I have a hard time with insecure main characters. I know that in doing the show Everly will find the strength that’s been in her all along or whatever, but I just can’t force myself through the rest of the book to get there.

Generally, I liked the idea of the reality TV show. I think I needed to see more positive moments from the hosts so that I could see why Everly loved it so much. It felt like the community surrounding the show was a much larger aspect than the show itself, which made it hard to connect to the situation Everly was in.

It had some cute moments and I may end up coming back to read it by audio, but it's just too slow to read it with my eyes.

The concept for this book is an absolute delight and i loved it. As someone who grew up watching makeover shows, it hit me in a both nostalgic and grown up spot. I really enjoyed how much Everly was allowed to grow and how it felt very organic. I appreciated how much thought went into developing the show and related characters. The banter was super fun and there was a solid spice level. Overall, a super fun read!

This has such great representation of the plus size community and is just a really good story. I was rooting for Everly and Logan the whole time but also toward the end I had a moment of OMG noooooo, which I feel made this book even better in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everly Winters was anonymously nominated by someone in her life for her favourite show - ‘On the Plus Side’. She has really connected with the plus-sized makeover as she has felt herself fading into the background for years. She is looking forward to the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone to reclaim who she knows herself to be.

As the show starts airing, she is not comfortable with how she is being portrayed. Will she be able to stay true to herself while all of the cameras are on her.

I wanted to like this one soooooo bad. I absolutely loved the premise of it, but in execution it really fell flat for me. Everly was painfully annoying, the writing was repetitive, and every character was so surface level. I love a reality tv book. I love a plus-sized FMC, but this one was not ittttt.

On the Plus Side is a reality TV romcom featuring plus-size Everly and gruff cameraman Logan. After living a life of working to belong in the background, Everly finds herself chosen to get a makeover on her favorite TV show titled On the Plus Side. I thought this was a good book with fun and relatable characters. I liked how Everly and Logan's relationship developed both in and out of the TV show and how supportive he was. I would've liked him to be more developed on his own outside of his relationship with Everly, but overall, he was likeable and I loved how supportive he was. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a body positive romance who also loves reality TV/ makeover shows.

4⭐ on 🎧

Review withheld due to St Martin's Press boycott please see Readersforaccountability on Instagram for specific requests

I have mixed feelings about this one. I so badly wanted to like this, reading the summary it seemed to have similar vibes to One to Watch (which I loved) but it didn’t quite live up to expectations. Everly (2 of the last 3 books I’ve read had this name for the main character…weird), gets submitted to be on the reality TV show On The Plus Size (think a plus size Queer Eye). She hopes to get her mojo back with the show and over the course of filming also finds love. I didn’t really like Everly, which for the premise of this book, I think that’s a pretty big issue.

I would love to see On The Plus Side be a series with each book following a different cast of the show and the same staff (with one exception of course) following them around on their love story. What made this book so good was that it dealt with fat phobia and well meaning but inherently traumatizing comments so well. Everly isnt trying to change anything about herself except maybe a fun makeover of getting her hair done and buying new clothes, she is not trying to lose weight, she is not trying to dress for her body shape or minimize her problem areas, she is just trying not to hide anymore or take up less space. I loved that. I loved her brother and sister in law/best friend who support her through everything, I loved Logan and all the dogs. It was a great take on a plus size romance that just felt natural and just ok for existing, a nice change of pace.

If you are looking for a book that features a plus size protagonist, a swoon worthy love interest with physical insecurities of his own, and a supportive community of lovable side characters, then look no further than Jenny L Howe’s On The Plus Side.

Everly Winters had no idea she was secretly nominated for her favorite reality show, On The Plus Side. But when she learns she has been chosen out of thousands of applicants, she hopes the experience will serve as a catalyst to finding her authentic self. Will Everly regain her confidence in the spotlight, or will it push her further into hiding?

Jenny Howe deserves a standing ovation for her latest book, On The Plus Side. Despite being a romantic comedy, Howe uses her pen to highlighting the way the world views and treats plus size women all while pinpointing the shortcomings and failures of reality television. This was a smart, funny, and thought provoking read that left me thinking about it for weeks after.

Special thanks to Netgalley, St Martin’s Press, and Jenny L Howe for gifting me a copy of On The Plus Side in exchange for my honest review. I loved this book so much, I immediately reached out to the author. I am a new fan of all things Jenny L Howe and will be acquiring all of her books from this point forward!

Give me a reality TV setting and body positivity - and I am in! Overall, I really enjoyed this romance - we get the ultimate cinnamon roll of a man to help our leading lady out during uncomfortable situations; he was truly the best part of the novel and I was excited to read scenes that included him in them (yes, even the non-spicy scenes).

However, I will say this one felt a bit slow for me - and our heroine's evolution was a bit lacking. While she ultimately did stand up for herself, I felt there were some insecurities that were never addressed (like, it's okay to be an administrative assistant!) and left to linger by the end of the book.

I did prefer Howe's The Make-Up Test more, but still really enjoyed On the Plus Side and will continue to read her novels!

Really enjoyed this story of a plus girl gettin the encourage,ent to be herself, fight for her own goals, and find love on a reality show. It was humorous, touching, and lots of love.

Thank you for this ARC. This might very well be my new favorite contemporary romance. I have never felt so seen by an author before. I needed this book to remember that I matter and I am enough the way I am. Everly and Logan touched my heart and made a permanent residence there.

On The Plus Side talks about fat phobia, expectations from plus sized people and how we forget to not hide our magic, how we might at times need the right push to remember our worth, how our family's and friend's reactions to possibly small things matter a lot and how it might change our overview about ourselves. We don't need you to continuously tell us that we are fat and "should" to behave a certain way. We are aware of our own bodies, thank you, and we love it the way it is. Now, don't come at me saying, we do all that so you'll be healthy. Yes, health is important, and fat people can also be healthy. Our size doesn't define our health.

Jenny does all this in her book, but in a way that is not overwhelming. There's humor, amazing banter between characters AND there's Logan, the perfect boyfriend. Logan shows us how good communication is so important in a relationship. The way he treats Everly is something every guy should learn from. I so hope people of all sizes read this funny, flirty, educative romantic comedy.

Here are my reasons why you should read this:

♡ You like reading about self-love and acceptance.
♡ You like reality makeover TV shows.
♡ You like grumpy x sunshine.
♡ You like plus-size positive romance.
♡ You need a reminder that you are amazing the way you are.

First thought: I love relatable plus size FMC and Everly did not disappoint one bit. There are were alot of relatable moment especially her mom, I experienced a very similar relationship. Thanks for giving us a plus size girly we can get behind and for giving her a HEA.

Everly is a designer but is afraid to put herself out there, putting her art out there was vulnerable thing to do. She is obsessed with the reality show On the Plus Size, which is an 8 episode life makeover show. Someone had nominated her to be in the show and she was chosen, now she’s living her best and worst dream. She’s having to face who she is and who she wants to be. This show is a journey to the new Everly!

Logan is a grump in plaid behind the camera of this reality show. He is a man of little words except when it comes to sticking up for Everly, when she wasn’t portrayed the way she wanted to be. He is a giant softy that loves to adopt senior dogs and will be working to follow Everly around and film her non stop during her 8 episode stint on the reality show.

This is a fun ride as they film, and are forced to get to know each other. Everly is a walking hurricane around Logan, and he can’t help but starting to fall for her. Then Everly kisses him and runs away, this was suppose to be a makeover show not a dating journey.

This is a story about embracing who you are and finding self worth. It has the overwhelming message that you are BEAUTIFUL no matter what size and that winning in life isn’t about the size of your clothes but if you are confident in your own skin, healthy and happy.

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Grumpy vs Sunshine
* Reality TV Show
* Body Positivity
* Plus Size FMC
* Man in Plaid
* Slow Burn
* No Third Act Breakup

🎥💙🧡🎥💙🧡🎥💙🧡🎥💙🧡🎥

On the plus side was a really cute read. I enjoyed this and the positive vibes it had.

I liked the happily ever ending it had. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing the chance to read and review. This was a four star rating.

As a plus size woman, a book with a plus size leading lady will always be one of my favorites. This book had a bit of it all, humor, sadness, joy everything I love in a good book. Will definitely be reading more from this amazing Author!

I really liked this one! It was so great to see Everly, the MC, come into her own and learn to accept her body. We also stan a brooding love interest who thinks their girl is beautiful every step of the way! My one note is that a lot of the commentary felt more like author soapbox moments than part of Everly’s natural internal monologue, which was a bit distracting, but I’m sure it will work for some people. Overall, the author’s writing style is just so readable and fun.

I love seeing all sizes represented in books and it's become more and more popular. I love all Jenny Howe books and I can't wait for more. I really enjoyed reading about Everly and Colton.

LOVED this book. One of my favorite romances I’ve read in a while. The main character is relatable and fun. The dynamic between her and the love interest is real and exciting. The spice level of the book perfectly fits the vibe.

I feel refreshed in my "plus size" body after reading this book. The dynamic between Everly and Colton was interesting and I enjoyed reading about them.

I devoured this book!

The romance trope is what first intrigued me, but I loved reading this book.

This is one that I have recommended so many times, and I’ll continue to recommend it.

Please read it!