Welcome to Litsy!

This fills the same spot in my head as reality TV, which is what they were going for so cheers to that. Unfort, Bea is just…idk. She feels so blah? And she makes some INTERESTING (derogatory) choices throughout this book, starting with knowingly sleeping with a woman‘s fiance?? Girl.

3 stars | #romance #twowitches #twowitchesbeltane

Gonna try this out and see if I like it. I‘ve heard mixed things about it

Top 2 are #TBR and loved bottom one! Love Cyril ❤️

#PinkStack
#LuckyinLove

💗💗💗

In general, I really enjoyed this experience. Discovering love regardless of one's size can be difficult, intimidating, and demanding. I cannot fathom having to go through this process again. (Fortunately, my spouse and I are still going strong.) It would have been great to receive a small booklet containing all the fashion photographs.#BlameItOnLitsy

I'm finding this book enjoyable overall, but the constant fat-phobic comments are a bit difficult to stomach. I'm aware it's a work of fiction, but the cruel comments people make online can be really hurtful.

I‘ve seen a lot of mixed reviews for this book and criticisms about the main characters and other characters view her. It‘s a book….not reality. I loved the story and was totally invested in “the show”. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Off to a slow start this year, but a great light read. Bea isn‘t the typical reality love show contestant but she overcomes her past experiences and finds love. A great Valentine‘s read! Light and fluffy! ❤️💕❤️💕

I thought this was cute! As a plus sized woman, I could relate and I liked the way the author cuts between the characters narrative and viewers watching the “show”. Fun and easy quick read

I‘m late to the party on this one. It‘s good (especially if you‘re a Bachelor fan, which I‘m not). Cute love story with a happy ending that took a few turns to achieve.

Perfect for the Reality TV obsessed person trying to get back into reading. I would actually watch the Bachelorette if it went down like that!⬆️⬆️⬆️

Loving the chick-lit moment I'm having. Fun spin on "the bachelorette" series.

Book#1 of 2022! Loved this book, very cute, quick, fun read

Book #3 of the year!

Ok - let me start with a confession. I‘ve seen most of seasons of both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. So I already loved the premise of this book. I am also thick and know what it‘s liked to deal with parts of society who think thick beauty is not main stream beauty. But even if you aren‘t a fan of the franchise - you will enjoy this book. It‘s funny and romantic and relatable. We all need a bit of escape and romance and fashion. Right? Enjoy!

I don‘t watch reality dating shows but I LOVED this book!! Bea was the perfect heroine. She brought a fresh, and much needed, perspective to the world of reality tv. If you love a sweet rom-com with a picturesque ending, this is the book for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finally getting to posting my review of this #newyearwhodis book from @hes7 @monalyisha I definitely enjoyed this fun rom-com about Bea, a plus-sized blogger, who goes on to be the first non-traditional lead of a reality show that is clearly a Bachelor type show. Not perfect by any stretch, this has a lot of heart. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/06/review-one-to-watch-by-kate-stayman.htm...

Bea is a plus size blogger who loves the reality show Main Squeeze, but she‘s sick of the lack of representation of body size. When her post goes viral the producer asks her to be next up to pick her husband on the show.

I‘m leaving this as a pick because there was so much I liked about it around body representation, calling out fam shaming and more. But these kinds of reality shows make me feel itchy and I almost out it down 2X.

While I would ordinarily avoid reading troll-scribed vitriol online, there are times that the novel's readers are forced to read what trolls write about the plus-sized protagonist, and honestly there should be a trigger warning for some of what they write. It's hard to read, although it's sadly realistic. Still, a worthwhile "pleasure" read although there are moments that the ugliness of humanity breaks your heart.

Here are my #bookspin and #doublespin books for the September #bookspinbingo
I‘m really having fun with this.

The author really phoned this one in; it's essentially just an anthology of tweets and emails that rode the body-positivity hype-train to mass-market.

I went thru this whole audiobook in two days, it was so good 🤍 it has the best elements of a rom com, with crappy reality tv, and loads of good old character development. I was cheering the whole time!
#2021

Just checked this out from the library… it‘s going to be a fast read and for sure take to the beach chic-lit 😂 … about a plus size fashion blogger, I can already see this on the big screen 😊 #katestaymanlondon #onetowatch #greatsummerread

A plus-size fashion blogger ends up as the new star of a reality TV romance franchise. As a critique of the Bachelor/ette, I thought it was interesting. But as a romance I wound up feeling like all of the men were kind of terrible?

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ • An easy, fun read for fans of the bachelor franchise.

Thanks @samanthagutt for all the goodies! I had to get a few starbursts before the picture. haha I can't wait to read the books and use my new mug. Thank you! #LitsyLove #LLSS #LitsyLoveSummerSwap @rsteve388 @Bookgoil

Book Riot 2021 Read Harder Challenge: A Fat Positive Romance

As eagerly as I started and fell in love with Bea in the early chapters I quickly remembered why shows like the Bachelorette are just not my cup-o-tea. I just feel like she compromised too much of herself too easily when keeping her platform centered in her new role on the show. Owell.

#Pink #CuriousCovers

I went into this book with a level of anxiety because I‘m not a fan of Bachelor type shows, but the premise of this book sounded good. I enjoyed it, I thought Bea was great even when she drove me a bit nuts. I didn‘t like the love triangle feel of the book though. It‘s a trope I hate and the reason I couldn‘t truly love this novel.

I was really surprised by how much I liked this book, because I hate reality TV and never watch it. It was a fun and enjoyable read, although I have a feeling I won‘t remember all that much about it a year from now. A perfect summer book.

#pop21 #bodypositive
#readharder #fatpositiveromance

#AnyWayYouReadathon

Emma: 2 hr 42 min
One To Watch 🎧 📖: 1 hr
Total: 3 hr 42 min/ 10hr

On track so far to meet my goal!

@AkashaVampie Krysti! Thank you so much for this awesome box of goodness!! The books sound really good and I love the journal and bookmarks! I love everything! Thank you so much for your kindness 💛💛💛💛

I‘m here for body positivity and representation but there was just something about the protagonist, Bea, that made it hard for me to cheer her on. She was on the reality dating show for her career and it showed in her behavior towards the men. Of course, some of the men‘s behavior was horrendous. There was one scene that bothered me but I won‘t spoil the story. I did love the descriptions of the places and “dates”.
#audiobook #UnpopularOpinion

This is the book I didn‘t know I needed right now! It‘s my pick for the #bodypositivity #pop21 prompt, and that was the main reason I started listening. It is so good! And as someone who gained weight during Covid and struggling with body image at the moment, it really hits home with the positive message.

Working on one of the puzzles @wanderinglynn sent last year while I listen! #audiopuzzling 🎧 📖
#catsoflitsy #hellokitty

So good! Sparkling and smart, well written and pointedly honest. Equal parts entertaining and thought provoking, I can‘t wait to read more by this author after this great debut! #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

This book was so cute and fun! The way the story was broken up between a regular dialogue, texts, podcast transcripts, interviews, etc was such a unique technique. It helped keep the story interesting and give it more of a real-life feel.

This was such a fun read! I loved how each chapter was broken up w transcripts from a podcast (would love for a podcast like that to exist IRL), texts, interviews, and the main events of the reality show Bea (the protagonist) is on. It‘s not often you have a plus size female lead in a romance book. I‘m very happy with the ending and Bea‘s character growth and think it‘s the right message to send to women, particularly plus size women.

Bea, an overweight fashion blogger is the main protagonist of the book and her journey to find love is the primary premise of the book. The biggest takeaway from the book is to not let your insecurities cloud your judgment and become an obstacle in achieving what you deserve. The storyline is predictable. I recommend this book if you like reading light romantic books.

I‘m likely in the minority of folks who don‘t watch The Bachelor - it makes me feel icky. Soooo, I thought this book would be a certain so-so for me, but I loved it! You go, Bea! And look at RíEllie. she‘s ready to take on the world, too - even if she has to start with her brother!

Sarah said it was good and she was right! #staffpicks

Thanks @RamsFan1963 for the tag!
1. Coffee shops
2. Historical fiction
3. Scone if I can find one
4. Lucky charms
#playtagshare @BooksCoffeeNurse

So good

I‘m in the middle of this one and I so want Bea to find her future Mr Right. I love that this is about a bigger lady being cast in the spotlight as they should be. Everybody deserves love.

If you‘re a fan of the Bachelor/ Bachelorette franchise you‘ll definitely enjoy this novel. Bea, a plus size fashion blogger is chosen to be a contestant on The Main Squeeze, a reality TV dating show. Hoping to break down stereotypes and change the way viewers define body types, Bea quickly learns that maybe it‘s not just viewers but her as well that needs to rethink her approach to body images. An easy read with a likeable MC💜

So this feels like a perfect beach read 🐚🍹🏖thanks for the rec @britt_brooke @Megabooks

My brother brought me 3 of my #BoTM books down to Florida today / look @britt_brooke it must be kismet 💫✨ ✨💫

⭐️⭐️⭐️ After slamming its blatant lack of diversity, plus-sized fashion blogger Bea stumbles into the lead spot on the newest season of Main Squeeze (think The Bachelorette). She trepidatiously agrees. I LOVE Bea and all she represents. I want to be friends. She‘s amazing; genuine and lovely. The other characters felt super forced and often clichéd. I‘m not entirely surprised I didn‘t love this. I loathe reality dating shows. So cheesy.

Random #shelfie
Let‘s see yours.

Definitely a good book to have while sipping a drink 😌