What an amazing story! This book is all about being true to yourself, which is easier said than done. It is a tale of supportive friends, new opportunities and spectacular growth. A gem to read.

Abbey Reilly has left her job as an architectural engineer to return home to look after her mother. She has always heard about having a pretty face; but she is on the cubby side. She is now working in a bakery and is a great baker; but is missing out on life. She has never really had a steady boyfriend. She is asked out by a judge that comes into the bakery often; but finds out later he's married. When returning to Philly for her BFF's bachelorette party she meets a really nice handsome and rich guy. He seems to pursue her and they ghost her. They meet again at the wedding, and he tells her he is not sure about dating since he recently broke up with is fiancé. Abbey needs to learn to accept and love herself.
Great story of Abbey finally standing up for her herself and taking charge of her own life. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Compared to other books featuring an overweight main character, this one was quite good!
It didn't offer false affirmations and didn't glorify obesity. It was just realistic, Abbey was a big girl according to the measurements written in the dress fitting scene. She isn't obese, but she was big enough to be bullied by her peers growing up.
Her insecurities about her body and looks were understandable. While I disagree with her putting all her value on how she looks, I know how shallow and mean people could be to others.
However, there was something mentioned that I thought should've more spotlight; Abbey's relationship with food. Leaving the weight aspect aside, dealing with stress, or problems in general, with food is extremely dangerous. I didn't understand why the people around her didn't tell her to go to therapy until the very end, and they suggested it for her self-esteem only. Instead of telling her to love herself, the more pressing concerns should've been how to regulate her emotions and deal with them in a healthy manner.
Moving on to the romance, I thought it wasn't supposed to be a priority. Truth be told, the three men weren't at all suitable for her. One was married, the other was just looking for someone to have fun with and Jax was just a typical perfect love interest who has the sole job of loving Abbey and being supportive. There was no chemistry because there wasn't any semblance of balance. Their whole relationship was just to prove that Abbey is loveable, which made it feel forced and unauthentic.
The last part of the book was kind of disappointing. It was like one day a switch was turned and Abbey chose to be confident. She was basically waiting for people to validate her to be able to rise to her potential.
I liked the side characters, Caroline was definitely my favorite, she was at times the only interesting character. Such main character energy.
Overall, I liked it enough to keep reading and not feel bored.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

A quick read but ultimately unfulfilling. Abbey really annoyed me. I found her to be very immature and much of the story felt like a middle school diary. Her sister was an absolutely horrible person. All the mean girl, low self-esteem comments aren't what I'm looking for in a romance (is that what this is?). Caroline and Magda were the best parts of the book. The ending was too perfect. Can't recommend.

A pure delight … Abbey bakes to make a living but this hasn’t always been her life once a talented respected architect she moved back home to care for her mother who suffered a stroke . At a friends pre wedding party she meets Jax and something special begins . Everyone loves Abbey but being a curvy girl she doesn’t always see what others see in her and the doubts begin . I loved this book the characters the cakes and the added recipes at the end … definitely makes you want to Eat Desert First !!!

Abbey's mother had a stroke; on her father's death bed, she promises to take care of her mother. In order to do that, she sets her architect job aside and moves home ... taking a position in a bakery to help make ends meet.

In the mean time Eat Dessert First is also a romance. And this book also contains Nona's Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe. Sounds yummy! (Although I still don't understand why one would add so much food coloring to a cake? I want to try it without the food coloring, would it just then be a Velvet Cake?)

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Eat Dessert First in exchange for an honest review. 07 May 2024 is the publication date, approx 316 pages.

Loved this book. It started off slow with the main character always thinking she wasn’t good enough. The book turns around when she finally lets go of that notion and ends up just where she wants to be.

I really enjoyed this book, it was hard to put down. Abbey was an awesome main character and I loved following on with the ups and downs of her life. Highly recommend.

THIS BOOK!! It was so so good. I couldn't wait for my company to leave so I could finish it in one day. It's going to leave a book hangover for sure.
This book is all about self appreciation, learning to self love and knowing that it's more than just a pretty face that matters.

Abbey, named after her fathers love for the Beatles, thinks she's this larger than a blimp sized woman who is "just" a baker. She doesn't see what other see, this accomplished, beautifully curvy, tenderhearted woman who changed her lifestyle and career to take care of her mother after her father died. Jax is a well-known real estate mogul with a love for old record albums who was told he couldn't follow his dreams because it didn't fit the picture his parents had of their family.

Pros-
-There wasn't much I didn't like about this book.
- Abbey definitely got her esteem back in the end. SHE got to pick who she wanted when some men in her life came around.
-The banter in the book was funny and easy.
-The characters VERY likeable and relatable.
-The storyline around Abbey having to take care of her mother, and her mother getting her own HEA was nice.

Cons-
-The ONLY thing I can think of is Abbeys weakness and indecisiveness when it came to the men in her life. It made it relatable because I personally would've done the same. "Do I go back to safe, or explore something new that's not a for sure thing?" I would choose safe, so I'm glad she didn't but I wanted her to be stronger.

Overall, I'd give this book a 4.8-5.0. I loved it. I will be recommending this everywhere and buying it on its release date.

I received this ARC in return for an honest review. The opinion is of my own and completely unbiased.

Grab this book, dont hesitate.

If you are looking for a light read this is the book for you. Everything about it is okay- it by the next day you will have probably forgotten what it was about.

I chose this book because of the title and the amusing premise that 'life is too short not to eat dessert first' which is where the title comes from.
Unfortunately, this was the last amusing thing in the novel. Which was a shame as so much could have been made of that concept. Whilst it was intended to be a story about a larger than average girl who, presumably, learns to love her size as her romantic interest does, it failed to provide this idea in any format which could appeal. Basically, it lacked the necessary lightness of touch that the premise requires.
Besides which, this is now too well worn a path without something extra to develop the reader's interest and desire to continue reading.

Abbey Reilly, had an architectural career, but when her mother had a stroke, she made the decision to give it up and move back to become her mother's caregiver. When she moved back home, she got a job in a bakery. Abby was overweight, and she just couldn't seem to believe in herself. Caroline, the owner of the diner, see her as she truly was, and tried to help Abbey see it too.
She was at a dress fitting because she was in her best friend's wedding, and the seamstress told her after asking her who picked out this dress, and Abbey said she did. Magda, the seamstress, told her that the dress was horrible for her and proceeded to find the dress that would make her feel beautiful. When she was going to take two identical dresses and sew them together and make her beautiful, Abbey. Poor Abbey felt even worse, but what could she do. When it came the day for Abbey to pick up the dress, she was surprised, because she was beautiful in the dress. Magda said she was a magician who created magic, and when she went to the wedding, others saw the confidant, beautiful, Abbey, One of the groom's college friends, Jax asked her out. She really didn't believe he was sincere, and they left each other without trading numbers.
Abbey was working at the bakery, when Jax showed up, because Yelp, said they had the best chocolate chip cookies. They were comfortable talking to each other, but Abbey's lack of self-confidence, was dragging her down. Caroline and Magda, tried to get her to see what they saw, but the only one who could change what she believed was herself.
She did make progress because she had given up her career, moved back home to take care of her mother, and when she had a date and asked her sister to watch their mother, her sister said no. She finally stood up for herself. We started to see a new side of Abbey, and her journey took a new path. You will have to read the book to see what her new journey is, but a new path has many ways to go, things to learn and to see, and I don't want to spoil it for you. Hope you buy the book and enjoy it as much as I do.
I received an ARC from Books Go Social through NetGalley.

Eat Dessert First was a fun and quick read. I found the main character, Abbey, to be relatable and humorous, albeit rather anxious and desperate. I also enjoyed the cast of supporting characters, especially Caroline and Magda. Cooking and baking are hobbies of mine, so I always like reading books where those activities are show cased, and this book even includes a recipe at the end for Nona's Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, which is featured several times throughout the story. Make it ahead of time to enjoy with the book!

The premise of the book, is that Abbey had to give up a promising career in architecture at a company in Philadelphia to take care of her mother after she had a stroke. Abbey then settles for a low-paying job in a bakery, simply because it's within walking distance of her mother's house where she's staying, and because she's passionate about baking. This results in some financial hardship for Abbey. I struggled with this career move for several reasons, but clearly, the bakery is integral to the entire plot so I chose to accept it and move on with the story. It is fiction, after all, and anything can happen.

As far as the romance aspect, I didn't feel like there was much chemistry between Abbey and any of her three suitors. I wasn't sure if Abbey decided to try dating the guy she ended up with because there was something really there, or because she was desperate. Although, by the end it did seem like they had some things in common, and had at least developed a foundation as friends.

While I enjoyed this book overall, I wish there had been a little more growth on Abbey's part. I didn't feel like Abbey was able to accept herself until she had some external validation, which didn't happen until practically the epilogue when she finally found some contentment and pride with herself, despite already being a pretty capable and accomplished human being.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light, quick, and fun read that has a happy ending and doesn't get too deep.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free Advanced Reader Copy

Here’s a delicious new book to add to your TBR.
The author is a master with characters, each one felt unique and perfect for their role in the story.
The message of accepting and loving yourself, as well as not letting yourself think that everyone is out to get you, really hit close to home with me.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to just kick back, relax, and enjoy a cute read that will have you kicking your feet and giggling with glee.

We follow Abbey, our FMC, as she struggles with self worth and self sabotage, and watch her grow and blossom into a confident woman with the help of the people around her (including two spunky and awesome fairy-godmother-like women who I absolutely LOVE).

Abbey struggles with accepting her body size, and has a love/hate relationship with food, so just keep that in mind when you are deciding whether or not to read this book. As someone who struggles with that same problem, I feel like this book handled the subject very well.
Abbey does not magically become skinny and “beautiful” at the end of the book, it’s not that type of book.

Unfortunately can’t red this book as the font isn’t my custom font and I find it very difficult to read have tried changing the font but it won’t allow changes. I have retinopathy in my eyes so my books are set to be read a certain way

Entertaining and fast koving rom-com, good for a weekend or vacation quick read. Touches on society's ideation of what is beautiful and the trials of those that may not fit the ideal of a busty size zero, which is really AI fantasy. A happy ending for the curvy heroine through a rocky road to get there.

I really Rnjoyed Eat Dessert First and look forward to acquiring it for our location. I love the ficus in a real plus size woman looking for love in all the wrong places. I also enjoyed that she was a baker and I could relate to being a caretaker as I currently do the same for my mom. I loved the handsome man she meets at the bachelor party and the twist of the horrible ex made the book exciting and unputdownable to see what happened. I love how our MC not only potentially funds love but herself along the process, Michelle Paris is an exceptional author and I look forward to hearing more from her soon.