Book Synopsis:

Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Survival of the Thickest in Danielle Allen’s CURVY GIRL SUMMER, a smoking-hot, hilarious novel about the perils of online dating.

“There’s got to be an easier way than dating. I want the shortcut. I just want to find my person and start our lives together.”
After a one-night stand with her clingy ex, Aaliyah James has an epiphany: this ain’t it. She knows what she wants, and she’s ready to move past casual hookups, flings, and situationships.

But for her family, the clock is ticking—after all, she’s almost thirty. And when they imply that her personality (and her body) might be too big to land a man, she lets them know they’ve gone too far—and her (nonexistent) man loves her curves, thank you very much. Now, she has seven weeks to find the perfect boyfriend to rub in their faces at the big, fancy birthday celebration she’s been planning.

After her first blind date goes wrong, charming local bartender Ahmad Williamson consoles her with a drink and some playful banter. Aaliyah takes him up on his suggestion to use a dating app—but the more she sees of his warm, funny, and easygoing nature, the less she wants to check her DMs. Will her next swipe bring her closer to true love—or is her real match closer than she thinks?

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My Review:

Y’all, I played myself. I started reading this an hour before it was time for me to go to sleep. Guess who watched the sun rise while reading about Aaliyah getting her back blown out? That’d be me, and I have zero regrets. Though I’m not usually a fan of slow burns, Danielle’s writing is a master class in building intense anticipation and emotional connections. Curvy Girl Summer perfectly captures natural chemistry and the organic development of attraction between characters.

If you’re a fan of heroines who know their self worth, you’ll love Aaliyah. I love that she continued to stand up for herself, refusing to let negative opinions or stereotypes define her. Our leading man was the perfect blend of best friend and lover, balancing humor and authority effortlessly. When Jill Scott said “ If you CAN tell me what to do, you can tell me what to do but If you can’t tell me what to do …you CAN’T tell me what to do,” he is him. And that’s displayed in the friendship and even more so as the relationship progresses.

When this drops, run to read it and let me know your thoughts!