Queen B’s Decree: If the Shoe Fits is basically a body positive play on Cinderella meets The Bachelor.
What was great about If the Shoe Fits is that the evil stepmom is missing. Cindy’s stepmother is incredibly loving and supportive and the relationship Cindy has with her stepsisters is #goals. Her mom is a producer on a reality TV show that is EXTREMELY similar to The Bachelor and when a couple of contestants drop out right before filming, Cindy and her stepsisters take their place.
The suitor ends up being the hot man she met on her airplane ride home and their chemistry is still there. But for me the story was less about the romance and more about the show, friendships formed, and the sisters. Cindy barely gets any one-on-one time with Henry so their romance felt forced and rushed.
If the Shoe Fits was still a fun and easy book to read. The author included characters of all size, nonbinary and queer, and BIPOC, which almost made it feel like it was trying too hard to be inclusive, yet it worked and felt natural.
Fun and light with no steam, it was a nice start to this new series.
Book: If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
Series: Meant to Be #1
Genre: Contemporary
Hotness: mild salsa
Plot Devices/Tropes: plus-size woman, Cinderella