Here's a compelling story that focuses on the lives of fat people. Really. Both the author and the main characters would claim this honor with no regrets. It's part of their plan for "fat activism."

Everly Winters has been a "plus size" gal for most of her 20-something years. She's learned to accept the contours of her body and to compensate for not being as thin as other people. She's learned not to care about what people think of her appearance. She does her receptionist job at a marketing firm with as much talent as she can ... even though she'd like to be one of the designers someday. So far, she's kept her artistic leanings mostly to herself.

Suddenly, Everly is nominated by a friend and is chosen to appear on her favorite reality TV show, On the Plus Side. The program hosts, Jazzy Germaine and Stanton Bakshi, happen to be larger people themselves. The crew will closely follow Everly as she works at her job and as she lives her daily life. They will also provide a personal wardrobe makeover, as well as encouragement and connections to help her to live her best life and to achieve her artistic goals. At least, this appears to be the deal.

Everly is shocked by this offer, yet she can already sense the possibilities it presents for her. Never mind the intrusiveness of the genre. She's in.

It is a tedious task for Everly to constantly talk about what she's doing, how she's feeling and what she wants to do with her art, all for the sake of the TV audience. Alas, both the show's producer and the camera have captured how Everly feels about her office-mate James, too. It also breaks through "the fourth wall" to reveal the budding friendship between Everly and Logan, the man operating the camera. Everly doesn't want such tricky and personal relationships beamed to every household tuning in to the show. The producer maintains that it all makes for "good TV." Maybe so. But what will happen whenever the crew and the cameras are gone? And when Everly has to start a newly discovered life, or return to the old one? It's a good thing that Jazzy and Stanton taught her how to stand up for herself. She's going to have to call upon this strategy, when the realities of reality TV finally come to the surface.

On the Plus Side is not a superficial "rom-com." The narrative and the plot line are much stronger than that. This book is an enjoyable read all around, and it is one that offers more than just mere entertainment for a few days. The author and the characters vicariously remind us that we should ALL strive to be our authentic selves, no matter what shape we are in. Both literally and figuratively. This is good advice to hear every once in a while, even from the pages of a fiction book. I highly recommend this title to all romance readers and to anyone who needs a boost to their self-esteem. I don't believe that you'll be disappointed.