Jenny L. Howe

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Allison Avery is elated to learn she had been accepted into the PhD program at Claymore University to study medieval literature under a professor she's admired for years. Much to her disappointment, she discovers that her ex-boyfriend, Collin Benjamin has been accepted into the same program. Just as she is trying to balance other areas of her life helping her ailing father, the last thing she wanted was to compete with Colin again. The competition to impress their instructor becomes just as challenging as graduate school itself. Their competitive nature is put to the test when they learn there is only one spot for a coveted research trip opportunity overseas.

This was a nice debut into the rom-com genre but did lack a bit of both. The romantic aspect struggled as the relationship between Allison and Collin took a painfully long road to reconciliation of any kind just to work together let alone reunite what "may have been" from their undergrad days at Brown University. The story between Allison and her father, Jed, fat-shaming her was uncomfortable and seemed almost like an unnecessary side note. It seems that Allison has accepted her full-figure and has the confidence to succeed that her weight barely needs any focus.

I rounded up this novel for its earnest attempt as it might be appealing to some people. It just didn't impress me.… (altro)

Book Review: On The Plus Side
Stare: 4 x 5
Author: Jenny L. Howe @jennylhowe
Publisher: St. Martin‘s Griffin. @macmillanusa
Thank you @Netgalley for the ARC

On The Plus Side is Reality TV show for plus side makeovers. Everly Winters is a plus side girl who gets nominated to be on the show. Everly is a sweet introvert who wants to stay out of the limelight. She loves this shows and knows that it will help he come out of her shell and pursue her dreams of becoming an artist. Everly currently works as a receptionist at a marketing design firm. She accepts the invitation to be on the shows and her life is turned upside down. She first has to meet everyone. Sadie the Show- runner/Boss
Jazzy the stylist/makeup artist/host
Stanton the Host/event guy
and Logan the grumpy camerman

Then there is Everly’s family, her mother and brother and her best friend Becca who is married to her brother. Her mother is quite something. Seems that she is always putting Everly down and comments about her weight constantly.

As the shows start to film, Everly had cameraman Logan following her every move and she is not too happy about it. But as the shows starts to progress the fun banter between her and Logan evolve. The show also tries to exploit the relationship and between Everly and her coworker James buy making it appear to be more then it is. This doe not sit well with Everly. As time goes by Logan and Everly become closer and closer.Sadie the show runner sees this attraction as does the audience. The shows also shows other aspects like Jazzy and Everly going though all her clothes and then Everly trying on new clothes. It even shows Everly getting a tattoo. It not only provides new wardrobe and styling for Everly but it also has events and projects for Everly to do that will help her become more confident. So the big question is as Everly and Logan start to become a due will the call off there budding romance or will it bloom in full?

This book doe not focus on the “fatness” of Everly but it focuses on the person who needs help embracing who she is and what she wants. A person’s shape should not define you and stop you from going after what you want. As a plus size person, it was so nice to read about a topic being plus size in today’s world.… (altro)

I read this because a Valentine themed online quiz at Book Riot recommended it to me and since it also had blurbs from authors I liked, I gave it a shot.

I give it points for getting me to read it in one day so obviously there’s something here BUT there were so so so many things that I did not like.

First of all please do not start a romance by telling me the hero reminds you of Ichabod Crane. I’m all for tall, skinny, nerds (I’m married to one!) but Ichabod is not a romantic hero.

Please do not mention hair gel in every single romantic scene. Like EVERY ONE.

I can not take a charter seriously who drinks SEVEN beers in like two hours hours, spilling it all over herself more than once, and it’s treated as if it’s kinda normal?There are multiple scenes with vomiting/near vomiting from alcohol. Also she is in this state of drunkenness when there’s a major relationship breakthrough. Sl like a critical plot twist happens when she is literally covered in beer and is throwing food at the guy when he’s doing something nice. and somehow this convinces him to bear his soul to her? What now?!

The behavior confounds me. They are quite young but they should be too adult for this kind of behavior. More likely I’m just too old for this book.

Lastly the timeline made no sense. I suppose this is supposed to be happening in the future even if it seems present day. The lead mentions being a Junior in high school during the pandemic but is now pursuing a PhD. That’s can’t be right since it’s barely 2023. I know that is a nitpick but it irritated me anyway.

I think the author wanted me to fall in love worth Chaucer as I fell in love with the main characters and that didn’t happen for me at all and I ultimately felt like the actual romantic relationship didn’t have enough behind it because too much time was spent on academic talk when it could have been spent on the relationship and when the climax of the story requires me to appreciate Middle English….it just fell flat.… (altro)