I loved the banter between fmc and mc. It was very funny and enjoyable. This was a slow burn friends to lovers and I I loaded it . The only thing was how long it took for them to realized that the other person had feelings for them.

Wow…such a sensual, romantic, and amazing ride with these two characters. The author showed the many layers of love and growth within in a long distance relationship. I enjoyed the flow of the story and how it got better and better as the story progressed. Just an amazing book and the realism in this fictional story was the best.

I loved everything about this Story. Aaliyah is a plus sized Beauty with hips and curves to go along with hee Amazing Personality. She just wanted love and for her family to see her for who she was and not compare her to her sister Aniyah.
The Plot is her trying to find a boyfriend for her upcoming Birthday. After her Uncle said some very hurtful this to her along with her Parents. After being stood up she meets Ahmad a bartender at a local bar. She joins a dating app and forms a great relationship with Ahmad. I love their friendship. He was their for her and looked out for her during her dates and she was their for him also. Her bestfriends Nina and Jazmyn were a trip especially Nina you never knows whats going to come out of her month. I love the Aaliyah found her boyfriend and love in the end. I definitely need a book 2, because Nina, Jasmyn and Asia needs a Story.
Thank you Danielle Allen for giving Curvy women some much needed attention andove.

I was excited to read this one due to it's diverse representation, but sadly it was too graphic for me. Still finished because I always want to see how a story ends, and the premise of the story was promising, but I felt it was overshadowed by the crude language and graphic scenes - and I don't mind spicy, but this surpassed the threshold for me. If you don't have a threshold, you'd probably enjoy this book more than I did.

Never tell a woman what she can or can't not do. People, especially family should never put a time on when and how you should live your life. Whatever make you happy and what you are content with, that's how you should live. Another great read by Danielle Allen!

Danielle Allen is a phenomenal indie author, and I know there is some worry when indies break in to traditional publishing, but worry not. Curvy Girl Summer DID NOT disappoint. It was EVERYTHING you expect from a Danielle Allen novel. If you've never read her before, what are you waiting for?
Curvy Girl Summer is funny, sexy, and relatable. The characters are amazing and well written, even the ones you don't quite vibe with. I will admit that I felt personally harassed by one character in particular, but what that says about the writing is bigger than my imagined harassment. When a story can pull you in to feel ALL the things, even the not so good things, it has done its job.
When I say I was deeply involved in this story. I was in that bar 24/7. Waiting and watching for Aaliyah to show up. Aaliyah and Ahmad did not do me wrong!

I was very excited about this book because it started off so strong, like at 100. I was invested immediately. And then it just dropped off and I was no longer interested anymore. Also this book was very long, and romances/ women's fiction novels have no business being that long or slow paced.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

This was an entertaining friends-to-lovers romance! I was intrigued by Ahmad's backstory. I knew that it wasn't as simple as him not being available. It seemed that he was into Aaliyah but he couldn't act on it. But why? It wasn't what he initially led us to believe and I needed to know why.

Ahmad and Aaliyah had great chemistry from the start. Their banter had me laughing out loud. They made fun of each other in a playful way and it was kind of like foreplay. This was a slow burn romance because it took a while for them to get it on, but once they did, HOT DAMN!

On top of those steamy scenes between Ahmad and Aaliyah, I really do enjoy a book that starts with a hot sex scene!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥½
⚠️: grief, body shaming, infidelity (not between the main characters), mention of fatal car accident and death of a loved one

I enjoyed this story and what it represented. This is definitely a slow burn. One thing I point out is that the relationship between Ahmad and Aaliyah gradually developed and I truly loved the unique way they bonded. Ahmad was a real one as he was determined to give her pointers on how to carry herself while dating. He pointed out that body language and the facial expressions were hindering her from success. But my girl Aaliyah was stubborn as hell. Wheeeew she was stubborn. So stubborn that she almost missed her blessings.

There’s no misunderstanding that Aaliyah is a BBW. Some of the conversations may be triggering, however, I do believe that these are real conversations. I loved that she was written to be one who took care of her body whether others may have thought so and had an issue with her weight. Sis was a fashionista. She did exude confidence outwardly and carried herself with respect. I did wish that this had some of Ahmad’s POV to get more into his head. There were a few areas that I wanted to know more about, but understood that this was more about Aaliyah’s journey.

Aaliyah’s friends were a great support system. They gave Aaliyah truths she didn’t want to hear. You need honest people around you like this to hold you accountable.

I must say that I had such a hard time with the fat phobia in the book. It literally made me want to fight all of her dates and her uncle.

What I loved most about the book was the banter between Aaliyah and Ahmad. They had me cracking up for the entire book. And also her friendship with Nina and Jazz.

I would love to see more of Aaliyah and Ahmad post their first date.

More than anything, I like the POV of Aaliyah’s character. Reading the experience of a Black, plus size woman about to turn thirty is a win in my book. Particularly when it comes to the topic of dating. I also appreciated the commentary on women being questioned about finding a husband and having children. I’m glad Aaliyah put herself out there, but wasn’t willing to settle for the sake of the ticking clock society pushes in women’s faces all the time.

My biggest problem is the story reads very formulaic. There’s a cycle to the scenes which made the reading pretty predictable. I wanted more variety. There are also several instances of repetition. Whether it be saying the same thing in a different way or literally the exact same thing…that was something I noticed and didn’t like. Plus, the banter between Aaliyah and Ahmad was always very similar as well.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but this isn’t a traditional romance plot. This isn’t a book where Aaliyah and the man she ends up with pursue each other with intention for the majority of the story. As the description says, this story is about the struggles of online dating. Aaliyah meeting men online and going on a bunch dates is the meat of this story. It’s important that readers understand this before reading so they can set their expectations and not be disappointed.

My problem isn’t the plot, but the writing. The cycle of scenes and repetition…I wasn’t a fan of.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eARC.

Overall: 4.5/5
Spice level: 2.5/5
Tropes: Friends to lovers, slow burn

Representation: fat FMC, Black romance

Ok, so this book definitely started with a bang. Literally, Aaliyah was getting her back blown out. We love to see it. That being said, it wasn't with the MMC so the overall story was a really slow burn. But with good reason, which I won't spoil.

Ahmad and Aaliyah were absolutely hilarious together though. They were constantly roasting each other and had so many laugh out loud moments. But also, the way Ahmad had her back through multiple first dates, protecting her was just...swoon worthy. He was also off limits through much of the book so it made it hard for Aaliyah to look at him as anything more than a new friend in her life.

This book was unexpected in the best ways. It had some emotional scenes that really drew me in and made me feel so much for these characters. Both have endured some traumas but with Allen providing a focus and space for healing and mental health treatment, there was a wealth of depth to the fun-loving characters. Great character development!

Also, I want Aaliyah's fashion sense! Her wardrobe was top tier. She knew how to put together a look!

Ahmad is a top ranking book boyfriend. He was hilarious and sexy and smart, but the icing on the cake was how he paid attention and care to Aaliyah from the very beginning. *heart eyes*.

Lastly, I loved how Aaliyah had a strong voice to stand up for herself to others when fatphobia inserted itself into conversation. She shows the rest of us how to approach the situation and really handle it. 

Curvy Girl Summer also really gets down to the nitty gritty and highlights the online dating experience, which is less than fun.

Also, I need books for Jazmyn and Nina. Stat!

“Yasss Queen! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Danielle Allen’s ‘Curvy Girl Summer’ is an absolute vibe! From the first page (You know what I’m talking about👀🤤😍)to the last, I was living for every moment of this empowering read. Danielle brings attitude honey, slay, and self-love to the forefront, serving up a refreshing dose of confidence and body positivity. The characters are relatable AF, and the storyline had me cheering, crying, and laughing all at once. It’s like the ultimate girl squad road trip mixed with Spicy romance and a whole lot of slayage. And can we talk about the cover design?! (I had too lol I’m so proud) Working with Danielle on bringing Aaliyah and Ahmad to life on the cover was an absolute dream! The way the characters perfectly capture the essence of the story had me swooning! Thank you for trusting me Danielle! Oh one more thing, Can we talk about how terrible Uncle Al is – he’s the epitome of a villain you love to hate. If you’re looking for a book to uplift your spirits and make you feel like the fierce, fabulous goddess you are, then ‘Curvy Girl Summer’ is your must-read! Get ready to slay the summer away, honey!” DANIELLE YOU DID YOUR BIG ONE!!!!!🍷👗📱

This was a very good read that kept my attention. It has the woes of dating down pretty good. Aaliyah felt like she was living in her deceased sister’s shadow. Her family was expecting her to be like Aaliyah and they thought her weight was affecting her finding a boyfriend/husband. Her friends think she should start dating. When she’s stood up on a blind date, she meets Ahmad the bartender who suggests a dating app. She meets her dates at his bar. She and Ahmad become friends who then become lovers.

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc. I absolutely loved this book. Being plus sized I can relate to this book. I loved the way it was written everything!!!! Love Love Love!

Take Me Down to the Bar!

One thing Danielle Allen is going to do is make you feel all the emotions! This book took me through it. There were characters that had me ready to throw hands. There was angst and trauma bonding. There were so many funny moments. And when it got spicy, it got real spicy! I absolutely loved the eventual couple. They both were such dynamic characters. I would choose Aaliyah to be in my girl gang in a heartbeat. I would be putty in Ahmad’s hands. Lawd!

Danielle is a master at crafting relatable contemporary romance stories. This book gave me everything that I needed. I wanted to stand up and applaud when Ahmad and Aaliyah finally got out of their own way. I loved their courtship. They deserved all the good things that happened for them.

This was a solid five star read. It’s going right on my favorites shelf. Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble, and Danielle Allen for an opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book. Danielle, I felt your grandmother’s love in these pages. She’s so proud of you, girl!

And another HIT for The Danielle Allen!! Curvy Girl Summer is exactly how I would love my summer too go this year. It’s relatable as hell, funny, sexy, and all around a great book. The best friends in this story are hilarious and keep it so real with Aaliyah. I loved how they supported each other and knew exactly what each needed without them coming out and saying it. The relationship between Aaliyah and Ahmad is a slow burn and frustrating lol I wanted to shake Aaliyah so many times and found myself clapping at all of Nina’s comments. All in all this was a fun, flirty, funny read and I would definitely read it again!! I give it a 10 out of 10!! As I stated about Danielle Allen never disappoints, she definitely has another HIT on her hands. Cheers to a Curvy Girl Summer 2024

**ARC received from Netgalley courtesy of the author.

I received an ARC of this book on Friday evening,(2/2) and when I started reading it, I had a visceral reaction when being introduced to Aaliyah's family. Particularly her Uncle. Throughout the entire book I was wishing he and anyone/everyone who thought as he did never made an appearance or cameo in this amazing read, and not until the very end did I see and understand the necessity of their roles. Aaliyah, although she was a beautiful, confident, successful woman, had some people in her life who did not deem her worthy for whatever reason. Be it her weight(🙄 really?) Or her relationship status. She had some odds stacked against her, and I could feel how betrayed, confused, and saddened she was. A chance meeting of a very sexy, funny, handsome bartender changed the trajectory of Aaliyah's dating life. He became the voice of reason that she needed and gave her sound advice from a man's perspective. Watching their friendship unfold throughout this story was epic. As a reader, I could feel the chemistry and underlying feelings they developed for one another. Aaliyah is determined to find love before her 30th birthday and even experiencing blind dates and online dates from the swamp, she continued to press on.
This story was so well told, with so much emotion and passion. I laughed, I raged, I swooned, I cried and I cheered. I finished reading this book in one weekend. Definitely a great read, and I'll definitely be recommending it. Danielle Allen knows how to write a LOVE story.

Perfect amount of spice, drama, and comedic charm. I never laughed and agreed with side characters so much in a book! This was a fresh take on the pressures of online dating because Aaliyah WENT THROUGH IT with these men. I didn't want to put this book down until I knew how it would all play out in the end, and it definitely doesn't disappoint. Everyone needs a friend like Nina! Lol I will be looking into reading more of this author work.

Thank you TOR publishing for the ARC!