8 romance books to kick back with at the tail end of July
By Sabrina Reed
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Main Squeeze is an American pastime equivalent to baseball for reality TV watchers. It’s all about romance, drama, fantasy dates, and finding the one. So why is it the only people who seem to be worthy of love on this show happen to fit the sample size? It’s sickening to Bea Schumacher, a fan of the show but not of its one size fits tiny practices.
Bea is a stylish, plus-size fashion blogger who doesn’t see why a woman like her couldn’t be on the show. She has sworn off love after a major heartbreak, and a willingness to date is a prerequisite for Main Squeeze, so that bit is in her way — but the point still stands. Besides, it’s reality television. How “real” does the love have to be anyway?
Deciding that she can totally be a part of a dating show without actually falling in love, Bea agrees to be the star of the next season. It’s a prime opportunity to grow her career, kick anti-fat beauty standards into the garbage, and inspire women. Plus, who doesn’t want to go on a fantasy date? A hot air balloon ride doesn’t mean forever neither does letting men vie for her attention.
Trouble is, just because cameras are rolling doesn’t mean real feelings aren’t at play. Sure, the editors are going to chop things up to make them more saucy and salacious but some of these suitors really are looking for love and they’re hoping to find it with Bea. Trust can be a tricky thing and it’s even trickier when the whole country is tuning in. Bea may find her own happiness where she least wants it to be, on prime-time when she swore it off for good.
One to Watch is Kate Stayman-London‘s debut novel. The book is available now in print, audio, and e-book format.