I’ve been hoping for inspiration, for something to get me out of my rut. What if it’s here right in front of me? Sierra’s getting her shot. What if this is mine wrapped in a reality-TV-shaped box?

If the Shoe Fits (From ARC, quotes may have changed in publication copy)

Thank you, NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sum

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.

To anyone who knows me in real life, you know how much I love Cinderella. I watched the movie on a loop as a child. I dressed up as Cinderella 3 years in a row for Halloween. I have a skirt printed with Cinderella’s castle (pictured above). My wedding dress is even inspired by Lily James’s wedding dress in the live-action remake in 2015. 

So, when I saw If the Shoe Fits on NetGalley, I hit that request button as fast as I could and crossed my fingers that I would get approved. Thankfully, I did, and let me tell you, this book far exceeded any expectations I had going in. 

The story follows Cinderella pretty closely in terms of character back story with a few exceptions. Cindy is a plus-size orphan who moves back to LA after graduating from design school in New York. Shoes are her life’s passion, and she dreams of being a shoe designer. But she’s still struggling with her grief over her father’s death four years ago, leaving her design blocked. So, when she gets a chance to go on her stepmother’s reality dating show, she takes it. 

She’s only there for the opportunity to get her name out there and to maybe win the prize money at the end, but that’s before she realizes who the male bachelor is—the handsome man she met on her flight back home. She tries not to fall for him because she knows that everything on the show is fake, but after a few chance encounters where they actually get to be alone, their developing relationship starts to feel everything but fake. 

If the Shoe Fits was absolutely amazing. Seriously, I loved, loved, loved this book. First, I loved the representation. I am not plus-size and therefore can’t say with any authority whether the representation was good or not, but It’s not often that I see plus-size heroines in books, so I loved seeing it. I especially loved it because Cindy is content with who she is. She’s confident and isn’t seeking to change herself to fit society’s mold. She is on the receiving end of a lot of fat-phobia, but she faces it with courage and kindness, which felt true to the Cinderella brand. 

Speaking of the Cinderella brand, I loved all of the nods to classic Cinderella elements. The naming conventions are so clever—Cindy as Cinderella, Anna and Drew as Anastasia and Drusilla, Erica’s last name is Tremaine, and the triplets Jack, Gus, and Mary as the mice Jaq, Gus Gus, and Mary. I loved Beck as the “Fairy Godmother” character, getting Cindy on the dating show then proceeding to help her along the way. 

But I also loved the details Murphy changes. Ultimately, Cindy has a loving relationship with her step-family. Her step-sisters Anna and Drew adore her and constantly seek to include her. While their relationship is strained at times, her stepmother wants to do what is best for Cindy. It was a nice change from the usual evil step-family that a Cinderella character has. 

And I couldn’t end this review without talking about Cindy and Henry. From their first meeting on the plane, I knew they would be a great match. Their humor meshes well, they’re comfortable with each other, and they have fantastic chemistry. The series of walkie-talkie dates they secretly have while on the show is just too cute, and anytime they manage to get time alone, it’s clear how smitten they are with each other.

Overall, I highly recommend If the Shoe Fits. Julie Murphy does an excellent job weaving the Cinderella elements into the plot while also putting her own twist on them. If you love Cinderella, swoon-worthy romances, and strong but kind female leads, this book is definitely for you.