by Julie Murphy
Part of Meant to Be
First published 2021
Cindy clutches her design degree but faces an empty job market. She moves back with her stepmother Erica Tremaine, who produces the massive dating reality show Before Midnight. When a contestant drops out suddenly, Cindy steps into the spotlight. She sees the show as her chance to display her stunning shoe collection on national television and launch her fashion career. The dates with the charming bachelor seem like a bonus. But Cindy becomes the show's first plus-size contestant, transforming her into an instant viral sensation and unexpected body-positivity symbol. The attention brings fans and critics in equal measure. Living with competitive contestants she cannot trust complicates everything. Cindy discovers genuine feelings for the bachelor as the cameras roll. She must navigate the treacherous reality TV landscape while staying true to herself. Her heart and her future hang in the balance as she fights to reach the finale.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, adult-fiction, comedy, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, empowering, feel-good, lighthearted, witty
Tropes: fake-dating, forced-proximity, slow-burn-romance, underdog-story
Setting: Before Midnight (television show)
Period: contemporary
292 pages · Paperback · Hyperion Avenue