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A review by criticalgayze
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one works to confirm my working theory that I will enjoy straight romance, as long as it is written by someone with a marginalized identity, and I was happily surprised to have enjoyed a read I picked on a whim for an obscure prompt on a reading challenge I'm doing with my family.
Let me start with my minor quibbles. I think this book is a little over reaching in what it asks the reader to believe about the television show that makes up the basis for the book's primary setting. The idea that none of these crew members besides the assistant producer know these girls are the show runner's daughter seem overly far fetched. I also find it wholly unbelievable that wouldn't be leaked by a "friend" of at least one of the trio of sisters. I thought the novel waited too long to really have the main character start sneaking around with the love interest, and I think that should have either been downplayed for the female friendships story that makes up most of the book's first half or leant into, as it is for the back half of the novel. Instead, the book sits in this limbo. It was also an odd choice for weight to be a discussion between the main character and literally everyone other than her love interest. Not bad or wrong necessarily, just odd.
While I know that seems like a lot of quibbles, I think Julie Murphy really is a gifted writer, and I was happy to love this one after finding Dumplin' to be just so-so. The writing is fun and sharp and quick and inclusive, and I found this to be a nice little champagne fizz of a story.
Let me start with my minor quibbles. I think this book is a little over reaching in what it asks the reader to believe about the television show that makes up the basis for the book's primary setting. The idea that none of these crew members besides the assistant producer know these girls are the show runner's daughter seem overly far fetched. I also find it wholly unbelievable that wouldn't be leaked by a "friend" of at least one of the trio of sisters. I thought the novel waited too long to really have the main character start sneaking around with the love interest, and I think that should have either been downplayed for the female friendships story that makes up most of the book's first half or leant into, as it is for the back half of the novel. Instead, the book sits in this limbo. It was also an odd choice for weight to be a discussion between the main character and literally everyone other than her love interest. Not bad or wrong necessarily, just odd.
While I know that seems like a lot of quibbles, I think Julie Murphy really is a gifted writer, and I was happy to love this one after finding Dumplin' to be just so-so. The writing is fun and sharp and quick and inclusive, and I found this to be a nice little champagne fizz of a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief