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le3713's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Delightful take on Cinderella, with a Bachelor-inspired setting. Many aspects reminded me of One to Watch. I particularly loved the way that this book evoked, and then changed, the familiar Cinderella story. Henry and Cindy have one of my favorite meet cutes in recent memory. This was a quick read and lacked some of the depth of character and relationship development I look for in romance, but was still very enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident and Cancer
itsmeyseniab's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
THIS WAS SO CUTE!
If you're looking for a fluffy, make-you-smile-from-ear-to-ear, butterflies-in-your-tummy romcom this is the one for you! AND it's a body-positive, Cinderella retelling (with a different family dynamic than we're used to seeing in the original)?! Set in a Bachelor/Bachelorette-esque television show?! With a confident, talented, and funny female lead who has goals beyond finding a partner?! This book is literal perfection and it's being shelved in my mind as a book to pick up whenever I'm feeling sad and need a little pick me up!
If you're looking for a fluffy, make-you-smile-from-ear-to-ear, butterflies-in-your-tummy romcom this is the one for you! AND it's a body-positive, Cinderella retelling (with a different family dynamic than we're used to seeing in the original)?! Set in a Bachelor/Bachelorette-esque television show?! With a confident, talented, and funny female lead who has goals beyond finding a partner?! This book is literal perfection and it's being shelved in my mind as a book to pick up whenever I'm feeling sad and need a little pick me up!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Fatphobia
Minor: Infertility, Death of parent, Cancer, Car accident, and Miscarriage
marthabethanreads's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow what a great read! I really enjoyed this Cinderella retelling and thought it was so cleverly done. I really liked how it moved away from the traditional “evil stepmother” plot to her having a good relationship with her step mother and sisters. This meant there was more emotional depth to the story and it was lovely to read about how they had bonded as a family.
The reality tv element was so fun and I could picture it all happening. I thought it was a great premise and I really enjoyed this element of the book.
The plus sized rep was SO brilliantly done in my opinion. I loved how Cindy was unapologetically herself and that she didn’t doubt whether the love interest was into her due to her weight. This never even came into their relationship and I really liked that. I also liked how she handled fatphobia and the issues around sizing in the fashion industry - it provided great insight and context without having a overly negative plot about her weight. She also had NO desire to lose weight or change who she was - let’s celebrate this more please! I love seeing people who are happy in their own skin and embracing who they are, and this was personally my favourite element of this great book.
Overall I really enjoyed it, despite not being super invested in the love story, and definitely recommend!
The reality tv element was so fun and I could picture it all happening. I thought it was a great premise and I really enjoyed this element of the book.
The plus sized rep was SO brilliantly done in my opinion. I loved how Cindy was unapologetically herself and that she didn’t doubt whether the love interest was into her due to her weight. This never even came into their relationship and I really liked that. I also liked how she handled fatphobia and the issues around sizing in the fashion industry - it provided great insight and context without having a overly negative plot about her weight. She also had NO desire to lose weight or change who she was - let’s celebrate this more please! I love seeing people who are happy in their own skin and embracing who they are, and this was personally my favourite element of this great book.
Overall I really enjoyed it, despite not being super invested in the love story, and definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer
nbreezy17's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was so freaking cute. Julie Murphy can do no wrong!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I thought this book was a very cute read about a plus-size bachelor-style contestant! What I loved most about it was that Cindy's body was a main focus for everyone else in the book but her. She didn't care what others thought of her and she loved her body. Even more important, she did her part to take matters into her own hands to showcase her body in a way that highlighted it's beauty. I appreciate that Henry not once mentioned her body - he took her exactly as she is with no caveats or asterisks involved.
Grief ran as an undercurrent of the plot and I think it was done so well. Julie Murphy really did a great job showing how one doesn't ever move on from grief, just learns to live with it, and how it can still sneak up on you and punch you in the gut when you least expect it. I LOVE that she subverted the whole "evil stepfamily" plotline that is typical of Cinderella stories because this is not always the case and it is so important to show that family isn't always blood.
This is a zero on the steam scale, for those who are wondering. But cute, nonetheless!
Grief ran as an undercurrent of the plot and I think it was done so well. Julie Murphy really did a great job showing how one doesn't ever move on from grief, just learns to live with it, and how it can still sneak up on you and punch you in the gut when you least expect it. I LOVE that she subverted the whole "evil stepfamily" plotline that is typical of Cinderella stories because this is not always the case and it is so important to show that family isn't always blood.
This is a zero on the steam scale, for those who are wondering. But cute, nonetheless!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Cancer and Car accident
saffyre's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, and Chronic illness
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
If the title didn’t make it obvious enough - this is a Cinderella retelling but make it modern day bachelor esque about an early twenties plus sized female MC. I did appreciate the little Disney nods when it came to the names of the characters. I just wish Cindy’s motive for being on the show had been consistent. This was written better than Dumplin and I like when authors take time to grow & improve on their writing. I do feel some aspects of the plot could have been strengthened but overall not a bad book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Grief
Minor: Cancer
readwithde's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was the perfect rom-com, and that's coming from someone who really dislikes Cinderella and Cinderella retellings.
The fast pace left little room for how "real" the narrative might be, but I liked that it focused on the "actiony" bits instead of a lot of commentary. While I think the book did a great job of showcasing problems with sizes in the fashion industry, as well as inclusivity in media, it felt very natural and past of what was happening.
I really liked Henry and Cindy, but they seemed not-quite three dimensional; I could honestly barely remember Cindy's name! I think that's what made it such a fun read, though: I could picture almost anyone going through this, including myself.
Overall, it was like a cookie skillet sundae: warm, gooey, a bit original but still pretty vague, yet comforting. And best if indulged quickly.
The fast pace left little room for how "real" the narrative might be, but I liked that it focused on the "actiony" bits instead of a lot of commentary. While I think the book did a great job of showcasing problems with sizes in the fashion industry, as well as inclusivity in media, it felt very natural and past of what was happening.
I really liked Henry and Cindy, but they seemed not-quite three dimensional; I could honestly barely remember Cindy's name! I think that's what made it such a fun read, though: I could picture almost anyone going through this, including myself.
Overall, it was like a cookie skillet sundae: warm, gooey, a bit original but still pretty vague, yet comforting. And best if indulged quickly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual content
aqtbenz's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer
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