I wasn't sure about this book to start with but as I read i really connected with Bea. Although the ending was predictable, that isn't a bad thing. A sweet read that I would recommend.

A great book about body acceptance and self confidence. The main character Bea is strong, witty and likable (although the fact that she is 'plus-size' is rather laboured in some chapters). An easy read that you can whip through for some feel-good emotions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to read.

Bea is a plus-size fashion blogger who has been successful in her career, but failed spectacularly when it comes to relationships. She's been in love with her friend Ray for years, and despite one drunken kiss five years ago that meant everything to her, but apparently nothing to him, she still cannot move on. So when he comes to visit her and they end up sharing a bed and making love, she cannot quite believe it's real. Imagine the pain then, when the next day he disappears before she wakes up, and ignores all her attempts to text or ring. There's also the matter of him being engaged to someone else.

When she has a drunken rant about the lack of diversity on a popular reality show, The Main Squeeze, she's shocked when the producers contact her asking her to be on the show. To be the one woman who must choose from 25 men all vying to be her perfect match. She's unsure, but decides to do the show, not in a bid to find love, but to further her career.

There is the inevitable backlash and trolling from those who feel it's ok to comment on someone's body shape in the most disgusting of ways. Some of the men are vile to her, but as she whittles the contestants down, she is surprised to find herself falling for more than one man. There is one she can see herself sharing a life with, but in a shocking twist, another contestant enters the show right at the end, and this changes everything.

Whilst I loved the idea of challenging body facism and celebrating diversity, I found Bea at times to be at times frustrating, and the plot was somewhat predictable. I didn't really connect strongly with any of the characters, and there was just something missing for me. It was an enjoyable read, but I felt that perhaps the point of Bea being plus-sized was laboured a little too much.

With a mix of narrative styles, this book is fresh, funny and insightful on body positivity issues. I enjoyed the relationship between the main character and her best friend, who rose above the sassy sidekick role. The use of the reality TV concept was well done, even if we didn't see enough of the actual aired shows, or the men's opinions. The romance was probably not the strongest element, but a driver for Bea to become more self confident.
All in all, a fun read well worth your time

Just finished 'one to watch' and it was a good, fun, fast paced story. I actually preferred to read the story which is based on a reality TV show rather than watch it.
Bea the main character is strong, witty and most important of all likeable. I wanted the best for her from the start of the book.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

A refreshing, feel-good novel! I was looking forward to reading this book based on its blurb, and it didn't disappoint!

Based on shows such as 'The Bachelor', 'One to Watch' tells the story of Bea, a plus-size fashion blogger, who makes reality TV history when she appears as the main contestant on 'Main Squeeze', a gameshow in which 25 men compete for her love.

I loved the rawness and honesty of Bea, a realistic character who showed her strengths and confidence, as well as her vulnerabilities and insecurities.

Highly recommended!

'One to Watch' was a delight from start to finish: pure escapism, like watching the most gripping, indulgent reality TV show but even better because in this novel you can see the inner workings of the show behind the scenes alongside the inner life of the main contestant on the show: the lovely, inimitable Bea. 5/5, highly recommended, especially for fans of UnReal and reality TV.

Bea is overweight, she knows this and makes no bones about it and in One to Watch we find Bea joining a TV dating show where 25 men vie for her hand in marriage.
Stayman-London covers the issue of prejudice and how people are very quick to judge a person's qualities based on their outward appearance.
The premise of the book centres on an American TV show where Bea is given fabulous outfits that show off her curves yet the language and behaviour some of the contestants use towards the main character is deplorable. We discover how each man treats Bea and in turn how she deals with her inner demons and battles.

Stayman London covers some very interesting topics, the book is well written and was enjoyable to read.

This was such a great read! I loved the premise of the book - I do enjoy reality tv shows along these lines, but I don’t think that they need to be your favourite type of tv in order for you to enjoy this book. Our main character, Bea, is relateable, strong and brave and I found myself really rooting for her throughout. The twists and turns in the story are satisfying and I loved the ending. I also really enjoyed the format of the book with a great mix of narrative, emails, blogs and texts making you feel like you were really watching it all unfold. I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this author.
Thank you so much to netgalley, the author and the publishers for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Extremely funny, entertaining and humorous read that I highly recommend.
Bra is a plus sized blogger in love with her best friend Ray, but when Ray run’s out on Bea she she writes about her experience on her blog about an unrealistic reality show based on dating. If you miss love island, get your reality tv fix from this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed One Too Watch.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't say if it's so trash to be art or is art that use trash. I just know I loved it and couldn't put it down.
A great book about body acceptance, diversity with a lot of humour and a great dose of interesting satire.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In addition to Bea, who is plus-size, there is a lot of diversity in the guys she's supposed to date (which she demanded on her show). One of the love interests is Asian, one of the love interests is black. There is a character in here who is gender-nonconforming and a character in here who is asexual. One of the (male) love interests is a virgin, and it's treated so respectfully and there's LGBTQ+ rep in this book as well. It doesn't feel forced to be in the book and is really well done.

It’s so much fun, it's entertaining, fast-paced and also super smart about body image and the way the media treats women and I loved it a lot.

‘One To Watch’ by Kate Stayman-London is a bit like the reality TV it satirizes. It’s needlessly melodramatic, it’s trashy – but once you start, you can’t really stop.

The novel follows Bea, a plus-size fashion blogger who, after writing a drunk blog post about a reality dating show almost identical to The Bachelor, is asked to be its next leading lady. You can pretty much guess what happens next.

I’ll preface my review by saying – I really liked this book. It’s not exactly short and I finished it in about two days, which is quick for me. I loved the mixed-medium element of the book – outside of the traditional chapters, there are text, podcast and forum transcripts, as well as blog posts and articles that the author has written to supplement the action of the book. It’s a style that won’t be for everyone (see the opinions of Daisy Jones and the Six by TJR) but it’s not so overwhelming that it’ll take away from your enjoyment of the book. Bea is a wonderful, well-rounded character with that all important third dimension that is often missing from characters. She doesn’t fall into common clichés and stereotypes and there are moments where you’ll pump your fist and shout ‘YOU GO GIRL’, which we always appreciate.

ALSO, no spoilers, but there is a little moment of asexual/aromantic representation and while it is incredibly minor, I still appreciated that it was there.

It’s not perfect, however. For one, the book is too long. 400+ pages is pushing it for a romantic comedy and you can see where the writing begins to run out of steam or where it seems to be repeating itself. The pacing gets funny around the 2/3rds mark, when suddenly a lot is happening that didn’t have much build up.

Something I did recognise, and perhaps this is just because I recognise it in scripts and screenplays that I write and read, but there seemed to times when there was ‘drama for drama’s sake’, rather than feeling entirely motivated and necessary. Sometimes, it slips past the sort-of-satire that the book is intended to be and becomes like a scene from The Bachelor – people essentially acting like teenagers, yelling, storming out, making big deals out of small things. It didn’t feel right in a book like this, particularly one that was clearly taking steps to make the story appear like a sharp take on the reality TV genre.

If you pick this book up, you’ll fly through it. Much like a reality TV show, you want to know what’s coming next, you want to know what will happen.

For the record – this would make a brilliant TV show. You need the right people, but it would be awesome.

wasn't sure if I would like this book but it was a real treat!
I thought the plot on reality TV would annoy me as I make a point of not watching that genre. I was wrong. A real page turner!

I started this book fully expecting to dislike it. I assumed it’d be chick lit at its worst with every cliche & lazy writing in the book (excuse the pun). I’m delighted to say I was very wrong. I warmed to Bea immediately. She’s secure and confident in her body on the outside but a very real person with issues and heartache. The author has created a multi dimensional character with whom we can all relate (despite sadly being many years her senior).

The book is well written & thoroughly proof read so none of the irritating errors that make reading a chore. It’s entertaining & easy to read and gives an interesting insight into the world of social media and reality television and how we are manipulated on a daily basis by the media!

I enjoyed this book so much that I tweeted the author direct! this was even better than watching favourite reality tv shows because they only show you what they want you to see - it’s all in the edit. however, this gave us the opportunity to get to know the character behind the reality tv creation and if you didn’t totally identify with Bea, i’m guessing you’ve never had a moment of worry about how you’re seen by others, never looked around to decide whether you’re the largest person in the room and never had to worry whether you’d have the embarrassment of asking for a seatbelt extension on a plane. a vulnerable lead character but not a loser. i hope this book is a huge success and i’m now following the author on twitter in the hope of a new book in the not too distant future.

Missing your Love Island fix this year? .. this book might fill the void.

When Bea, a fashion blogger, rants on her blog about “The Main Squeeze” a reality TV show having no diversity she is approached by the company to star in the next series. Bea agrees to go on it to be a positive role model for plus size women.

I liked the character of Bea and I think it was important to show all her insecurities but also to highlight that she was happy with who she was.

I liked the style of writing for the book with a mixture of texts, email and transcripts for the show it made it interesting and for me a quicker read.

Another added bonus is the description of the fabulous clothes that Bea gets to wear.

So did Bea find love on the show? ….

One to read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Bra is a plus sized blogger in love with her best friend Ray, but when Ray run’s out on Bea she realises life has to change, offering her opinion on her blog about the unrealistic women TV series Main Squeeze show, News is offered the opportunity to be the Main Squeeze herself, with plenty of surprises in store for Bed, she eventually learns to love herself.

A great read I really enjoyed One Too Watch.

This was a very different style of writing to me. Lots of transcripts of conversations, from text conversations to interviews.
I personally found it quite hard to get into due to the style but some readers may really like how this book is written.
The main character is very likeable, right from the first chapter. It deals with challenges different people encounter in life and is very thought provoking.
A must read for people who enjoy a romance in this modern style of writing.

I was really excited for this book. I mean, a plus size character in a reality tv show sounds amazing. I did enjoyed the majority of this book but I wish we got to see more of her confidence. I know not everyone can be confident 24/7 but she was always second guessing herself and moaning after her ex boyfriend.
I liked that we got to see a plus size person fall in love and the reality of what it's like to be hated for how your body looks and how mean people can be. The internet is a scary place, for real.
3,5/5⭐ is my final rating.