Plus Size Player

The wonderfully confident heroine of this refreshingly body-positive romance from Allen (Curvy Girl Summer) avoids attachments both professionally and personally. Indeed, when it comes to relationships, successful Black plus-sized fashion influencer Nina Ford believes in having a roster of beaus to scratch different itches: she’s got Russ (the Fun One); James (the Funny One); Dru (the Romantic One), and Tyrell (the Smart One). But lately, she’s noticing deepening feelings for Russ, who lives out of town and whose life outside of their liaisons she knows relatively little about. When Nina is invited to an influencer get-together in New York City, she lands a job as a brand ambassador for RL Fashions, an up-and-coming fashion label that requires she be exclusive to them while under contract. Though she balks at the constraint, the offer is too good to pass up. Then she discovers that Russ is the company’s owner and CEO—and there’s a prohibition on dating coworkers. Allen skillfully ratchets up both the chemistry and the stakes as Nina and Russ attempt to resist their attraction. The romance is spicy and believable, but the real draw is Nina, who makes no apologies for her life or her body and delightfully stands up to haters. Readers are sure to be inspired. (June)