I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this book. It was spicy right from the start. The journey that Aaliyah goes on to find a man before her 30th birthday was hilarious and heartwarming. She has the help of Ahmad the bartender who forces his way into her love life. They both have their own traumas and reservations that lead them on a journey of figuring out what was right. I found myself screaming at my kindle while reading this like will you guys do it already?! Their relationship was adorable the way they would tease each other but at the same time speak to each other with so much respect and love. The only questions I have is what happened to Marcus?? He led her into the party and we never see her again. Sigh the whole story was worth every second for the office and bedroom scene. 10/10. Would love to see follow up stories for the 2 friends finding their love story.

“ What’s the worst that could happen?"
•

opening on a sizzling sex scene, Curvy Girl Summer is full of heat and humor.

Aaliyah is an almost-thirty-year-old plus-sized woman with too much pressure on her to find love. with the goal of finding a date to invite to her birthday bash in two months, she steps into the world of online dating. although it’s as messy as you can imagine, she does befriend Ahmad, the bartender at her go-to date location. Ahmad is full of wit and sarcasm, but he also has a soft side. he could be the perfect guy…but he’s married! what’s a girl to do when the only promising connection she’s made is with a married man that has more secrets than she realized?

while Curvy Girl Summer is a romantic HEA, it definitely hits with heavy topics like fat-shaming, death, the pressure of other people’s expectations, and mental health. the conversation around women and their bodies is so important. the body positivity Aaliyah has is enviable and a great reminder to women of all sizes that our bodies are beautiful. this book is raw and relatable as well as bright and hopeful.
•

this and that:
♡ banter
♡ befriending the bartender
♡ birthday bashes
♡ boss women
♡ concerts/music appreciation
♡ online dating
♡ open door spice
♡ plus size rep
♡ slow burn
♡ therapy
♡ tight-knit friendship groups (female and male)
♡ will-they-won’t-they
♡ yachts
•

triggers:
☞ death of a loved one
☞ familial pressures
☞ grief
☞ ptsd
☞ weight-shaming
—

thank you to Bramble Romance for the gifted copy of Curvy Girl Summer!

Overall: 4
Spice 2

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I definitely enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the rest of their books. Being a curvy girl, I connected with this book from the beginning. I too found the love my life by becoming friends with the least likely person and having a hard time accepting someone like them would want someone like me. We are slowly making the move away from skinny is the only that's beautiful, but it's hard to unlearn all the things. This book does a great job detailing going on details as a plus size person.

Let me say right now… THIS👏 BOOK👏 IS 👏FIRE!! I had so much fun reading Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen. Why, you ask? I'll give you five reasons to pick this up for your HOT GIRL SUMMER READ!

First off, Chemistry🔥 - Aaliyah and Ahmad are freaking beautiful, confident, and sexy as hell! Confidence turns me all the way ON, and I was here for it!

Next up, Angsty Slow Burn - I couldn't wait for those sexy looks, lip bites, and the will-they-or-won't-they moments to turn into more. The anticipation... Danielle delivered, and that spicy payoff? Let's just say my panties were definitely wet!

Thirdly, Character Development: Aaliyah and Ahmad's relationship developed so well, and the swoon was on point… It got me in my feelings, okay? Feeling all warm and fuzzy.🤗😍

And let's talk about how HILARIOUS this book is - the online dates and the one-liners had me LMAO in bed!😂😂 So much so that my partner said, "Please read in another room!" Hahaha…

Lastly, Girlfriend Circle - Let’s not forget about my favorite side characters, NINA and JAZZ. Can they be my new besties?! I hope Nina gets her own book because she had me dying with her sass… "I hope your date goes well! If you're feeling the effects of the drought, I won't judge you if you fu*k him." - Nina

I LOVED Curvy Girl Summer, its bringing 5-star energy and Danielle came through with the spice at a 4 chili pepper level!🌶 So if you're looking for a fun, spicy, swoony read, go pick it up when it's OUT in June 2024.🎉

Y'all, I played myself. I started reading this an hour before it was time for me to go to sleep. Guess who watched the sun rise while reading about Aaliyah getting her back blown out? That'd be me, and I have zero regrets. Though I’m not usually a fan of slow burns, Danielle's writing is a master class in building intense anticipation and emotional connections. Curvy Girl Summer perfectly captures natural chemistry and the organic development of attraction between characters.

If you're a fan of heroine's who know their self worth, you'll love Aaliyah. I love that she continued to stand up for herself, refusing to let negative opinions or stereotypes define her. Our leading man was the perfect blend of best friend and lover, balancing humor and authority effortlessly. When Jill Scott said “ If you CAN tell me what to do, you can tell me what to do but If you can't tell me what to do ...you CAN'T tell me what to do,” he is him. And that's displayed in the friendship and even more so as the relationship progresses.

“𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥.”

Talk about opening with a bang! Danielle Allen needed to be done with this story and I hate that I finished it already. I love an author that can give a complete story, no questions went unanswered, the characters had layers to them, the romance was great, the build up was amazing, I have no complaints.

I loved the main female character Aaliyah, she was a woman after my own heart. Headstrong, stylish, knew what she wanted, and sought out the things that she desired. My girl didn’t take no mess, she never settled, and she was super funny. I loved the back and forth between her and Ahmad. He was a really good guy from jump and he matched Aaliyah’s funny. Everyone deserves someone in their corner like Ahmad because he was truly looking out and had her best interest at heart.

I enjoyed the pacing of this book, the author did a great job of telling the story and moving it along nicely instead of filling it with unnecessary fluff. There wasn’t a page or a word wasted! This truly checked all the boxes for me: great side characters, comedy, romance, resolve. Although I haven’t had a chance to deep dive into Danielle Allen’s catalog, this is not my first read by this author and it surely won’t be my last.

This was a really good book 🤗! Aaliyah was just living her best single life and here come family getting all up in her business! In all honesty they was just saying something she was scared to admit out loud. But it wasn’t their place . Anyway something so lovely came out of out of it , she actually found something real and he was right up under her nose the whole time. I call it from the beginning but got side tracked by all the situations lol 😂!

I was hooked within the first 🧨🔥few pages.💥💥 This is a well written slowburn. As Aaliyah the Beautiful and Curvy Fmc and Ahmad the handsome bartender become friends. His advice helps her through her bad Tinder dates,
However, something else was starting to develop between them at the same time The office scene eas great.🥰🤣The characters, the mental pain the both worked through together was great.

Thank you to Bramble Romance @Brambleromance, @Authordanielleallen and Netgalley @Netgalley for a physical and e-arc copy. All thoughts are my own.


Aaliyah is determined to celebrate her thirtieth birthday with a boyfriend. And after a failed blind date, the local bartender, Ahmad, suggests she joins a dating app.

Filled with lies, catfish, and fetishizing, the wild world of online dating makes Aaliyah think she’s in over her head.

And she is. But with her two best friends and a protective bartender by her side, what could go wrong?

Everything.

Everything could go wrong.

And that’s the problem.

Because as Aaliyah is set on finding exactly what she’s looking for, she ends up finding something she never expects.

This book opened with the Spice with a capital S! It was hot. Things calmed down in the middle of the book and I loved how sweet the story was. I don’t want to say what tropes this book has because that would be a spoiler, but it ended up being one of my favorites and I didn’t know that going in! It was perfect. I originally requested this book because I had a hunch that the author’s voice would really shine through the pages, and it really did. While I was reading a fictionalized story, it felt at some points that I was having a conversation with Danielle Allen, it was just so down to earth, relatable, and well done and this always brings me joy. This book was also funny and had me in stitches at a few scenes. The love story that develops is a true delight and shines in ways that were unexcepted yet unsurprising. I still can’t believe that in 2024 we treat bigger people as less than, but this book showed that they are fully capable. I appreciated how Aaliyah dealt with haters, not only her dates, but her own toxic family members. No one deserves to be treated as less than for their physical appearance and I applaud the author for writing this story and bringing attention to this.

I highly recommend this book for those looking for a wonderful romance (don’t be shy and keep reading – the first paragraph is a special delight!).

Thank you @Authordanielleallen for sharing your story with me. And you most certainly brough that main character energy to life and showed that everyone, no matter their size, is deserving of love.

I absolutely loved this book, as a bigger girl myself and reading Aaliyah's journey of more self love. It is a fun, cute and slightly hits home for me, as many comment Aaliyah has had, I have heard countless times and I'm only in my early 20's.

After breaking up with a clingy ex and going on a terrible dates and having her family wanting her to settle down because they are ready to become grandparents, being compared to her older sister, a uncle who always seems to run his mouth. And a best friend who makes sure Aaliyah knows she is worth everything. I loved the characters, I loved her banter with Ahmad and the way be always made sure she felt seen and knew she was beautiful while going on datea to try and find Mr. Right.

I love how she knew her worth unwilling to settle for less, even though people implied she should because of he weight and personality. I just loved this book and will forever be a fan of Danielle Allen . Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this arc it was amazing!!

If you're looking for a book that's as sizzling as a summer day and as hilarious as your funniest friend, look no further than Danielle Allen's "Curvy Girl Summer"! Strap in for a wild ride through the ups and downs of modern dating, where Bridget Jones's Diary meets the trials and tribulations of finding love in a world obsessed with swipes and likes.

Aaliyah James is on a mission to find her person, and she's done with the games. No more casual hookups or flings for her—she's ready for the real deal. But with her family nudging her about her ticking biological clock, Aaliyah feels pressured to find Mr. Right and fast. And when they dare to suggest that her curves might be a hindrance, she's not having any of it! Aaliyah knows her worth, and she's not settling for anything less than a man who appreciates every inch of her.

Enter Ahmad Williamson, the charming bartender who becomes Aaliyah's unexpected ally in the chaotic world of online dating. With his wit, charm, and undeniable chemistry, Ahmad has Aaliyah questioning whether her perfect match might be closer than she thinks. But with every swipe, she's torn between the promise of something new and the comfort of what's right in front of her.

DANIELLE ALLEN!! Excuse meee report to the front of the class because baybay THIS 👏🏽 BOOK 👏🏽 RIGHT 👏🏽 HERE, 👏🏽 THIS 👏🏽 BOOK 👏🏽 RIGHT 👏🏽 HERE. The black women were black womening. The banter was bantering. The jokes were joking. Top tier A1 dialog. Idc what no one says Ahmad is a book bae of the year contender fr. Listen I’m gonna head out and go read some more of Danielle Allen’s book catalog because I was unaware it was like this. I want to thank the publisher for approving me for this ARC. Listen when I tell you this book hit the spot. I am this book’s target audience because it did it for me. Loved it!

Favorite Quote: "You doubted me. You should never doubt me.”

Favorite Scene In 1-3 Words: Onyx Office

First off, I am OBSESSED with this cover!! It's just so damn good and the story itself definitely matches in this super sexy friends to lovers romance that sees almost 30 year old Aaliyah online dating in order to find a guy before her birthday. While she goes on a series of disastrous dates at her favorite bar, she becomes friends with the hot bartender, Ahmad. The banter and chemistry between the two was sizzling and I was rooting for them to get together right from the start. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Talia Hibbert and Taj McCoy! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Spice level: VERY steamy

♡𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 & 𝐞𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
5 🌟
-
This cover is gorgeous. 𝑰𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝑴𝑬! First, this story is extremely relatable! Uncle Al had me ready to square up with him because we all have that nosey ass uncle who thinks he knows what's best for everyone.
The banter between Aaliyah and Ahmad had me on the floor because it was just so heartwarming, home feeling, and just overall GREAT. They gave me homegirl | homeboy vibes turn lover. this is my first book by this author, Danielle Allen, and now I want the entire catalog. This book was purely amazing! Highly, highly recommend this book.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•black romance
•curvy female lead
•hilarious banter
•strong female lead
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 :
•fat-shaming (fatphobia)
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♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 June.11♡
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Thank you, Netgalley, MacmillanAudio (ALC), -Audiobook, and Tor Publishing Group (eArc) for my honest review.

This might be my new favorite DA book! The story development, the character growth, the sensitivity and respect to trauma and the complicated family dynamics, all of it I loved! This just secured my forgiveness for Broken Clocks

The first chapter of this book had me wondering if it was erotica, but I'm glad that I pushed through. It's definitely got spice, but it's also got an incredibly well-developed slow burn with an incredibly satisfying ending. All the characters are lovable (except those whom you will love you hate), and you can't help but cheer for every part of this. It's not exactly a light read; there's plenty of fatphobia and discussion of trauma, but Allen does so in a respectful and relatable way without derailing the plot. Overall, a solid and much-needed entry to the genre.

such a fun read! i am always looking for more curvy rep and this did not disappoint! this was my first book by danielle and it won't be my last. i loved getting a curvy and confident fmc!

A strong voice. Admirable female lead!

It's refreshing to a romance start out with the heroine knowing what she wants and being clear about it.

Since I adore Danielle Allen so much, I was eager to read this book. I was interested to see how Aaliyah would fare in the end because the story had a promising beginning. I cherished the friendship that grew between Ahmad and Aaliyah. The readers are pulled deeper into Aaliyah's world as she navigates the dating app world, sharing her every longing, hope, and fear-inducing moments. I felt sorry for Aaliyah because of the hilarious dates she went on. The story gained a humorous touch from Ahmad and Aaliyah's back-and-forth banter.  The plot became plodding as it went on—almost too plodding for my taste. Ultimately, Aaliyah found what she was seeking from an unexpected person. Curvy Girl Summer is a humorous, slow-burning romance that will leave you both cheering for and annoyed with the lead character.

I absolutely loved this book, especially Aaliyah and Ahmed's relationship! They made me laugh, they made me angry, they frustrated me, they made me laugh again, made me sad, and made me so darn happy! This book pulled many emotions from me and I appreciate Danielle for that. She is a phenomenal writer!
Aaliyah is a plus size, beautiful WOC on a mission to find a boyfriend before her 30th birthday. She wants to prove her family wrong (that she can and does have a man), and inherit her uncle's yacht. She decides it's time to finally step back into the dating scene, with the support of her two best friends, Jazz and Nina, and the protection of her newest bartender friend who has volunteered to watch her back as long as she brings her dates to his bar.
That is how Ahmed's and Aaliyah's relationship began, and boy, was it entertaining! They had the greatest, most comfortable relationship, where one could cut up without the other taking offense, and they genuinely cared for each other enough to be honest with each other (well, honest enough.. lol). However, they both have past trauma that makes it difficult to be transparent and completely trusting of one another.
This book was wonderful! I love how Danielle cut straight to the chase with this one. The opening sentence had me wowed and invested lol, and the book itself just kept getting better and better. I appreciate how she made this read feel so realistic and modern-day. She included colloquialisms and slang that we use in our everyday lives, which was very relatable. I love how she shined light on "fat-shaming"/"fatphobia", and the ignorance surrounding it, body positivity, and the importance of standing one's ground. This was such a great read and I will be buying the physical copy once it is released!


Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Danielle Allen for an outstanding ARC!