Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Serena just goes to show you can be a plus size protagonist and not overtly fatphobic (I’m looking at one very specific YA novel here btw), and that she can still grow and emerge, confident and radiant at the end. The internalised fatphobia is with us all (that scene in the f-ing lift!!)

This is a story of a year of self care, of self discovery, of learning self worth, and it is DELIGHTFUL.

It starts off being typical 'protagonist sets herself a challenge' trope, but develops into so much more. The sub plots (CW toxic workplace / coercive behaviour), deepen the main plot, rather than detracts from it - it makes the story real, or rather, more believable - single women going on dates without safety concerns made this a little less believable in some instances (perhaps a me issue, not a book issue) - but this subplot allowed some reality to slip though. .

Bethany somehow crawled into my brain and wrote two amazing YA novels that teenage me needed. She has now, confidently, crawled into my brain and written the book that 37 year old desperately needed.

Thank you.

(Also, please let there be a sequel, please and thank you)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this as I hadn't read any of the author's YA books. However, she gives really great Twitter (including her own cute line of home made ceramic earrings) so I thought I'd give this a go, On the morning of her wedding, plus-size beauty Serena finds herself in a Harvester with a glass of wine and an ice-cream sundae. She doesn't know why but she can't go ahead with her wedding to Alastair. After a strong beginning, the next chapters were a bit repetitive with Serena repeatedly justifying her decision and saying she felt guilty for pages and pages. Thankfully, when she gets a new job copywriting for a jewellery business near Old Street, the narrative really picked up and I fell for Serena, her new friend Nicole and old mate Lola who help her forge her new life, have a lot of no-strings sex and make fierce plus-size dresses. I'd love to hang out with these women! Sadly they're not real, so I might buy some of Bethany's earrings in the meantime.

Serena realises in the nick of time that marrying Alistair would be a very bad idea indeed. So she doesn't.

Escaping the rampant disapproval of absolutely everyone for the wedding day jilting, Serena moves in with her friend Lola in Noth London, and begins to make a new life for herself.

One which involves some very bad dates indeed.

this book is ADORABLE and very quick and easy to read, I read it one sitting in a few hours. I loved writing, the story, the characters and the setting, everything just worked perfectly. I loved it

I absolutely loved this. All the charm of Bethany’s YA books (which I adore) with a main character you are going to love.