scijessreads

On the Plus Side is heartfelt, charming, and unexpectedly deep in its exploration of living life as a plus-size person in a world that can often expect you to change yourself to fit into what everyone else thinks you should be.

Everly is nominated to be on ‘On the Plus Side,’ a show that showcases plus-size bodies and their journeys to embrace themselves (think Queer Eye and What Not to Wear). She has been holding herself back after the loss of her grandmother, blending in rather than being herself. We get to see her transformation not only outwardly via clothes but also inwardly in her realization of how much she has let go of her dreams. In the process of being involved in the show, she manages to find herself falling for the grumpy, plaid-wearing cameraman, Logan, who sees so much more than Everly realizes.

There is reality show drama, workplace issues, family dynamics, and a cast of supporting characters that are all vibrant and have clear personalities all their own. And the banter between Logan and Everly is so much fun. The dialogue sounds real and sharp, and the slow unfolding of their relationship is executed perfectly. I love that the major conflicts are actually addressed and communicated clearly, instead of falling into a miscommunication trope.

Everly’s character arc was a joy to read. The nuances of living life as a plus-size person (as well as the focus on learning how to reclaim your dreams and stop hiding) were handled with care. On the Plus Side serves up smiles, laughs, and a look at how to make changes in your life without losing yourself or your values in the process.

I read this book as an ARC. All opinions are my own.