Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen

Narrated by Wesleigh Siobhan

Second in a concurrent series. Stands alone easily.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this title early. My review is 100% my honest opinion and does contain affiliate links. Quotes are transcribed from audio and may be a little different than the book.

I absolutely loved Curvy Girl Summer (the first in Danielle Allen’s Curve Series) when I read it last year, partly because I found it so relatable—especially the way her family was constantly on her case about her weight. So I was excited (and a little nervous) to dive into Plus Size Player. This time, Danielle Allen gives us an uber-confident, plus-sized Black fashion influencer in a sizzling, empowering, and refreshingly modern romance that celebrates confidence, passion, humor, and living life on your own terms. Honestly, because I have such a lack of confidence myself, I thought I might have a harder time connecting with this book, but I’m so happy to say I was wrong. I LOVED Plus Size Player!

Nina is pure sass and self-assurance. She’s dating multiple men who each satisfy different needs—a fun one, a smart one, a funny one, a passionate one… she has a full roster and keeps her boundaries firm. If any of them get too serious, she replaces them without hesitation. She keeps relationships surface-level, never even discussing work as a rule. They’re all great guys, but one stands out as just a little more special—and he’s starting to check all the boxes.

When Nina is approached by the owner of a big streetwear company and asked to represent them as a model, it’s the break she’s been dreaming of. But it’s also a major risk: the contract is exclusive (and Nina doesn’t like exclusive in anything), and she’d have to pull back from the other brands she’s worked with. I loved the modern setting. As someone who follows a lot of plus-sized influencers, it was so fun to peek behind the curtain… and sad too, because competitive mean girls are everywhere. But Nina knew exactly how to put them in their place.

“This body positivity bullshit messed everything up for hard-working ‘real’ models.”

“When you’re ugly on the inside, that shit starts to seep through your pores.” (Nina’s epic reply.)

Nina’s big break is everything she could hope for—being the one plus-sized model/influencer on the team, finally representing the girls who never get to see themselves in cool clothes. But right after she signs the contract, a huge problem is revealed. That guy who checked all the boxes? He’s now officially off-limits, or they could both lose everything.

Let me tell you…the simmering tension between these two? WOW. HOT. Try as they might, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, and I was on edge the whole time worrying they’d get caught! Plus Size Player delivers all the heat, heart, and badass confidence you want in a summer romance—unapologetic, sexy, and impossible to put down.

“Nina, I was never running away from work and life, I was only ever running toward you.”

Likes:

It was spicy—and the spice wasn’t cheesy.
It runs concurrently with Curvy Girl Summer; it’s fun seeing some scenes from different eyes, but you don’t need to read that first.
Nina’s confidence was through the roof, and I loved how she teased him: “I think you like me!”
All of the influencer stuff felt so modern and trendy.
It had a unique storyline, which is getting harder and harder to find.
Nina was unapologetic about dating multiple guys.
Nina was proud of her sexy full figure.
The humor that was naturally woven through the story without it feeling like a romcom.
I loved the friend group.
Her love interest (not naming him to avoid spoilers) is hot AF, I loved him SO much.
He was SO ROMANTIC. The dates he planned? Swoon.

Dislikes:

I wish there had been better descriptions of the other characters, especially the models. I had a hard time picturing everyone. Were they all Black? Were they all skinny and waif-like except for her?
I wasn’t completely happy with the outcome for them at work.
I wanted a little more epilogue, but if the series is continuing, it makes sense.

The Narration:

Wesleigh Siobhan was AMAZING. I’m so glad it wasn’t dual narration, because her male voice might be sexier than any man they could have cast. Her narration absolutely added to my enjoyment of the book, I rarely give 5 stars narration to a single narrated book but she was that good.

The Down & Dirty:

I loved Plus Size Player! Nina’s journey was empowering, sexy, funny, and completely inspiring. Plus Size Player is a love letter to confidence, self-worth, and the magic of finding someone who sees you—and loves you—exactly as you are. I loved how Nina lived boldly, unapologetically, and refused to settle for anything less than what she deserved. The book brought the heat without ever losing the heart or humor of the story—every scene built the relationship and tension perfectly. I highly recommend Plus Size Player if you’re looking for a fresh, spicy, funny and feel-good summer romance that will leave you smiling.