Cinderella retelling meets The Bachelor in Julie Murphy's new romcom

     From the New York Times Bestselling Author of Dumplin’ comes a retelling of a classic Disney story that will have you hooked from the very beginning. Set to be released on August 3rd, If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy kicks off the Meant to Be Series with a witty and drama-filled romcom retelling of Cinderella.  
     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.
     This book was like if Cinderella and The Bachelor had a baby that highlighted body positivity! This romance includes a meet-cute encounter, reality television dramatics, and fun fashion moments galore! I’m a sucker for anything Bachelor-related so I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting a peek at the inner workings of a reality TV show. I also liked how this Cinderella retelling is more modernized and updated for 2021 and that it’s more of a loose retelling than a page-by-page recreation of the classic fairy tale!
     While this novel is obviously a romance book, I did find the story to focus more on Cindy’s life and the antics surrounding the television show rather than her and Henry’s relationship. This is also a closed door romance, so there’s not much steam in this book either. Despite this, I still enjoyed Cindy’s story and learning about how she copes with the loss of her parents and how the world views her as a plus-sized woman.
     Reminiscent of One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London, this book was funny, cute, and just a great romp of a romcom! I will definitely be checking out the rest of this series once it’s released and highly recommend this book if you're looking for a clean and quick romantic comedy.

*I received an ARC from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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