Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - On the Plus Side

I honestly cared more about Everly’s story than the romance. That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy the relationship between Everly and Logan - I definitely did - that’s just how much I enjoyed reading about Everly growing into herself (with Logan, can’t forget him).

I wish Sady groveled to get Everly back, got fired, or literally anything to make it feel like that part isn’t quite tied up. Just wasn’t satisfying enough, maybe a public apology by Sady would have felt better. I need some justice specifically on Sady for Everly and Logan.

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bookishmillennial's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

I thought this was a fun addition to the romcom genre! We get a fat main character who is nominated for her favorite tv show “On The Plus Side,” and gets so much more than she expected. It’s everything you love about books where the premise has reality tv in them — plots to manufacture stories, characters realizing this isn’t living up to their expectations, and obviously finding love!

I liked the commentary on fatphobia, and am so relieved that from the very beginning, Everly was already proud of herself and loved herself, rather than hating her body because she was fat. Those characters who go through a body positivity journey are absolutely valid and I’m not saying they’re not realistic but it’s truly such a breath of fresh air to just have a fat character who doesn’t *want* to be smaller. Everly was moreso insecure about her dreams and her relationships, and we got to see her examine those in depth.

I loved the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Everly and Logan (the cameraman), and their initial exchanges were very goofy. I also thought the media/gossip articles and Read It (like Reddit, get it? ha ha) thread inserts were fun; I really do enjoy anything that gives you a stamp of the current zeitgeist.

I also deeply appreciate the the messaging of #AdoptDontShop & to be responsible pet owners. Pets are for *life* yall! Please do not drop them off at the shelters — American shelters are full & we have an overpopulation crisis due to *human choices*. I don’t mean to harp on that but it breaks my heart.

Overall, this was a sweet romcom & I’ll be on the lookout for this author in the future!

steam rating: okay, so there is vague steam that happens on-page but it’s not entirely explicit if that makes sense. it’s described but nothing “smutty” so a 1.5/5

cw: fatphobia, unethical reality tv production behavior, mentions of cancer and the death of a loved one (in the past), mentions of emotionally abusive parents (in the past), and a brief mention of the surrendering a pet to a shelter in its old age and its death (in the past)

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meshell's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe was cute and funny, and an easy, feel good read. I couldn't put it down and stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it.

I thought the main characters, Everyly and Logan, were both people to root for, and I was cheering for their love on the sidelines. I am not into reality TV, or makeover shows, or any of that stuff, but this was a fun imagining of what that might look like in a fat-affirming environment.

I found the instances and descriptions of fatphobia in this, appropriate and not-gratuitous. The main character wasn't 100% body positivity rah rah in the beginning, but she also didn't hate herself, which I think can sometimes be a fine balance in stories centering fat experiences in fiction, but something that I think the authour did really well. I thought some of the situations in the story were also very relatable more broadly.

I loved the character growth from start to finish - it also felt like the natural outcome of what was happening in the story.

The grumpy cinnamon roll is a romance trope I am fond of, so that hit the spot for me. There are a few spicy bits in this novel, I didn't find them particularly explicit, but they were also not fade to black.

Some serious themes in here that were touched on, and offered as a heads up in the beginning of the story, and most of these circumstances didn't just feel plonked in there for arbitrary reasons, but meshed well with who the characters became, their motivations, and some of the ways they responded to the world.

Over all, I thought this was very enjoyable and well done. There were a few points in the story that gave me pause, but not enough to be hugely negative. If you know too much about the tattoo industry, you might need to suspend some disbelief, but I didn't think that was a biggie. There are a certain amount of fantasy outcomes here, as in any romance, and I think books like that are very comforting and just a worthwhile respite from reality.

Thanks to Netgalley, and the publisher for an early copy of this book. It's coming out December 26, 2023.

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