Reviewed by Kristin
Cindy Woods loves a good pair of shoes. Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Balenciaga, or even a good pair of Converse—Cindy loves them all. She loves shoes so much that she even graduated from design school and now is ready to launch her fashion career. Except, she’s in a bit of an inspirational slump and is instead going home to nanny for her triplet half-siblings, Gus, Mary, and Jack. When she meets a tall, dark, and handsome stranger on her flight from New York to L.A., it’s exactly the type of meet-cute that you would expect from a modern-day fairy tale. And of course, it doesn’t end there; fate brings Cindy and Prince Char—I mean, Henry, together again.
Cindy loves her stepmother Erica Tremaine, a high-powered reality TV executive producer, as well as her two stepsisters, Anna and Drew. Cindy may have always felt like the less popular, chubby outsider, but she really does count them as family. When Erica suddenly needs a few extra women to fill the slots on Before Midnight, a Bachelor-esque dating show, Cindy, Anna, and Drew are catapulted into the spotlight. And who is the male suitor ready to meet his one and only true love on live television? You guessed it: Henry.
This may sound like your typical romantic comedy, full of parallels to the classic Cinderella (step-family, shoes, Before Midnight, and even the names of most of the main characters match!) but the writing is well done and entertaining. Cindy has her insecurities but stands up for herself, and makes decisions to make her own dreams come true, without just waiting on the incredibly good-looking Henry to make his choice from the crowd of young women waiting for him in the Before Midnight chateau. Other supporting characters spice up the story: from gruff Beck, a production assistant with dreams of her own show; to mean girl competitor Addison; to sweet Southern girl Sarah Claire; to best friend and college roommate Sierra; to Jay the non-binary fashion designer; oh, the list could go on.
The ending was almost anti-climactic, but I won’t give it away. Did Cindy get her happily ever after with the man of her dreams? Or did she ditch Mr. Charming and go on to her own success story?
Julie Murphy has published a string of young adult novels and is brilliant at creating characters who emerge from their struggles full of body positivity and self-confidence. Sure, they are a little idealistic but I have enjoyed several and plan to seek out more of her other writing.
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