Player No More?: Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen
A confident plus-size model trades in her roster of men for the guy who feels like the one … until she realizes he’s her boss.
Hi Librarygoer!
The horrors persist but so does romance. I hope you are taking care of yourself.
Falling between the pages has been one of the biggest sources of joy lately and I’m so grateful for an overabundance of titles to choose from. I’ve been reading my shelves lately, I haven’t seen the inside of a bookstore in weeks, and I’m kicking myself for not getting to some of them sooner!
Today’s review is about a book that is delightfully messy, scorching hot, and relatable AF to anyone that’s held themselves back because they choose safety over the risk of going after their full potential.
Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen
If you read and loved Curvy Girl Summer then you’ll recognize Aaliyah’s best friend Nina, the FMC in this story. I hope you love her as much as I did!
-Aleia
Note: If you purchase books linked below via Bookshop, a) I may receive a small commission and b) you’ll be able to support an indie bookstore of your choosing.
Thank you to Bramble Romance for this advanced gifted copy.
If You’re Into These Tropes, Keep Reading
🖤Black Romance
📲She’s a professional content creator
⌛️She’s fat and it’s not an insult
🗣️Banter on 1,000
👜🤫Forbidden, workplace romance
🎤🍆🤤He talks her through it
🚁He surprises her with creative dates
˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*Strong friend group
Story Synopsis
Content warning: Lots of encounters with fatphobia (& she lets none of them phase her)
Nina is a plus-size fashion content creator living a hot girl life with a guy for every occasion. There’s The Smart One, The Funny One, The Romantic One, and The Fun One. She keeps it honest with them but keeps them all in rotation because she doesn’t think there’s one man that can ever be everything for her.
And then she starts catching real feelings for The Fun One. At the same time, things are really changing for her in her career. Just like with men, she never puts all her eggs in one basket and has spent the last few years working as a plus size fashion Content Creator.
Then an opportunity comes up for her to take a chance on putting all of her eggs into one career basket. While she’s also considering putting all of her eggs into the one man basket?
Suddenly, everything Nina’s ever believed for herself is turned upside down and she has to figure out what right side up looks like.
Why I Loved It:
Nina’s confidence is inspired! I get the feeling that she’s gotten a lot of backhanded compliments in her life, but she’s turned them into fodder for her snappy comebacks. There are a LOT of opportunities for her snappy comebacks because a crazy amount of people take the opportunity to talk to her sideways. From jealous coworkers to women who can’t imagine why a rich, fine man would be interested in a curvy woman—Nina has something for all of them.
I appreciate so much that the catty characters in this story didn’t take Nina out of who she knew she was. When people were bold with insults, her rebuttals were just as strong and without any inclination that it hurt her spirit. Love to see it!
I love that Nina unleashing her confidence is what ultimately leads her to the next level of her career and her love life. She overcomplicated her career and love life to stay emotionally safe but was holding herself back in the process. Stepping all the way into her confidence was the key to unlocking her happiness and it was a joy to witness.
And that damn Russ. Whew! Danielle Allen can write the hell out of a book boyfriend. I love his drive and I especially love how he applies it to loving, protecting, and supporting Nina.
And I REALLY love how he talks her through it.
Overall, this is the perfect, messy fast-paced read of a woman getting exactly what she deserves alongside the man made for her.
Books with the Same Vibes
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen - Book 1 in this series. Aaliyah needs a date for her 30th birthday party and begins to audition them at a bar with a very attentive bartender. (See full review).
The Fastest Way to Fail by Denise Williams - She pitches a story to secretly write about a new fitness app for the lifestyle website she works for and gets paired with a trainer—the app’s CEO.
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma - She’s planning their best friend’s wedding and is forced to get help from Bunty, her personal nemesis all the while someone is trying to ruin the wedding.
Are you a fan of romantic mysteries? Tell me your favorites below!
adds to TBR immediately!