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Everly Winters has been a fan of reality show On the Plus Side since its first season. She and other viewers love how the show focuses on fat people (note that this adjective is used merely as a neutral descriptive term and not a pejorative) gives them not just a clothing and hairstyle makeover, but a whole life makeover. It helps its “guests” really find their best selves and live life on their terms.
So Everly is shocked but excited when OTPS’s hosts show up at the marketing company where she works as a receptionist and tell her she’s the next guest. Granted, she’s a little nervous, too. She’s been living a bit more quietly for a few years than she had before her beloved grandmother’s death, choosing to blend in and not take risks. Is she ready for OTPS to bring color (literally) back into her life? No more neutral outfits, no more avoiding risks.
The experience does turn out to be liberating: the hosts are amazing people who live out loud and bring a great energy to Everly’s life. But from the beginning, the show brings more than she had expected — the cameraman, Logan, starts out gruff but then says kind and encouraging things to her. As time goes by, it’s clear the two have chemistry. And that even comes across when the shows start to air.
Problem is, the “love angle” of the show gets a lot of attention from fans and makes the ratings soar. But it could take away from what Everly wants from the experience: for it to focus primarily on the strides she’s making in reclaiming herself and working toward a career in art. Can she show the rest of the world that fat people can have full and happy lives (without ever thinking about losing weight) through this program? And can she claim that happiness while adding in a possibility for love?
As a plus-size person myself who was straight-sized when I was younger, I found so much of On the Plus Side to be refreshing and heartening. It’s inclusive in many ways with its characters, and Everly says several times how great it feels for her to be around others like her, to be able to try on and wear clothes that fit and feel good, to be supported for who she is. So kudos to the author for all of the heart she pours into this book.
On the other hand, I felt like some of the plot just didn’t work for me. The conflict near the end felt completely unnecessary; it didn’t fit with the rest of the book. Without spoiling it, something a bit outrageous happens, and I think the story would have been more believable and consistent in tone without it. I also liked Logan, but he went very quickly from “gruff,” “grumpy” and “curmudgeonly” to … not. (On that note, why in the world do I see so many romance books whose love interests are grumpy but hot men? Some kind of mini-sub-genre that’s popular now, apparently.) I think it would have worked fine making him just be the cameraman, who’s supposed to quietly do his filming, but in this case got involved.
Despite my problems with the plot, I love what Howe is doing with her books (I also read her first plus-size romance, The Make-Up Test; I think I liked that one better) and hope she keeps on going.
Rated: High. Profanity includes 23 uses of strong language, around 40 instances of moderate profanity, about 25 uses of mild language, and 50 instances of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content includes several steamy, somewhat lengthy scenes.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
