If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy ~ 304 pages ~ to be published 8/3/2021 by Hyperion Avenue
Goodreads Synopsis:
After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America’s favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.
Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn’t expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn’t fit, maybe it’s time to design your own.
What I Thought:
*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for this ARC!*
I am always a sucker for a fairytale retelling, and this Cinderella-esque retelling was so much fun! If you are a fan of reality dating shows like The Bachelor and fairytales, then this book is for you!
I loved the premise of this book. Getting to see what happens behind-the-scenes on shows like The Bachelor is something that has always fascinated me. I would love to see what makes people make the decisions they do on these shows. The show in the book, Before Midnight, gave me all of The Bachelor feels that I could ever want. Also, I would absolutely love to see more diversity on these types of shows. The main character in this book is plus size, which is fantastic. I would also love to see some contestants with disabilities, just to mix things up.
I was a big fan of Cindy. She was spunky and talented. To top it all off, she was also very kind and had so much confidence without being cocky. I loved her meet cute with Henry on the airplane. It was so fun to see such instant chemistry between the two, but that it wasn’t insta-love, which can be unbelievable to the extreme. I was also happy to see her relationship with her stepsisters and stepmom were actually really positive and well-adjusted (for the most part). This was a different take on the Cinderella tale that I found to be very refreshing.
I liked the relationships that Cindy developed with the other girls in the house. My only complaint is that I wish it had delved into those relationships even a little deeper. I wanted to see more from her friendship with Sara Claire and Stacy. I loved that Cindy was also close to one of the producers, Beck. It gave the behind-the-scenes parts some more depth.
Overall, I thought this was a really fun and cute romance. It gave me all of the reality dating show fun with some extra sweet romance too. Also, the main character’s professional ambition gave this story an extra edge that I think it needed. This was a really fun read!
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I gave If the Shoe Fits 4.5 Stars!
Are you interested in learning more about this book? Check out the links below!
Pre-order If the Shoe Fits on BN.com
Are you a fan of fairytale retellings? Are you a reality dating show fan? Which ones are your favorites? Let’s chat in the comments!
Love and happy reading,
Whitney
Whit Reads Lit 