Synopsis
Aaliyah is twenty-nine, plus-size, and sick of relatives timing her love life like a two-minute drill. Determined to present a boyfriend at her milestone birthday, she downloads the Tinder-Fish app after a nudge from Ahmad, the charismatic bartender who serves up unsolicited wisdom with every cocktail. Summer becomes a parade of dating-app disasters: the secret father, the married smooth-talker, the fetishist who sees curves as a checkbox, and the human monologue. Each bad date chips away at Aaliyah’s confidence, yet Ahmad’s late-night pep talks—and sparks—keep her swiping.
But Ahmad’s own relationship status is hazy, and Aaliyah’s communication skills are MIA. As her birthday looms, misunderstandings mount, family fatphobia hits peak toxicity, and Aaliyah must decide whether chasing a deadline romance is worth the emotional bruises. Curvy Girl Summer is a body-positive rom-com about dating-app chaos, messy families, and finding the courage to ask for what (and who) you really want.
Character Summary
- Aaliyah – 29, single, plus-size, and ready to recite Ciara’s prayer word-for-word (IYKYK).
- Ahmad – the meddling bartender who pours sage advice while swatting away thirsty patrons.
- Jazz & Nina – Aaliyah’s besties and, frankly, the only people with some sense.
My Thoughts
I tried to read this book once and bailed while reading the first chapter. But because Plus Size Player is on my TBR (and I didn’t realize it was part of this series), I took one for the team and doubled back. Unfortunately, the audiobook version made it even harder to digest. Chapter one opens with a sex scene so aggressively written, it made me pause and reevaluate all my life choices. And I don’t say that lightly—sex scenes across the board usually give me the ick, but this one? Gag.
Now, if you can make it past that opening scene (and that’s a big if), you’re met with a lukewarm romance built on miscommunication and missed signals. The chemistry between Aaliyah and Ahmad is there—but buried under a mountain of childish back-and-forth and frustrating missed signals. Aaliyah, girl, ask the man if he’s married. You’re not 17. Her refusal to ask basic questions felt less like character development and more like plot padding. I’m an over-communicator, so this trope never lands well with me.
What really killed the vibe, though, was the sheer amount of fatphobia—especially from her own family. Uncle Al, in particular, was a walking red flag with a foul mouth and zero consequences. His constant stream of insults and body-shaming comments were not only offensive, but exhausting. And the fact that no one checked him? Not even once? Major letdown. I kept waiting for Aaliyah to snap or someone to slap him with a folding chair, but nope—we just moved along like that wasn’t traumatizing. It was a disservice to Aaliyah and to readers who’ve experienced similar family dynamics.
And let’s talk about the dates. Whew. While wildly entertaining in a “this is why I deleted Hinge” kind of way, the app matches leaned so hard into caricature that I couldn’t fully enjoy them. Yes, the guy who lies about having kids is real. Yes, there are men who fetishize fat women. And yes, the married men on dating apps are very, very real. Danielle Allen did her homework, and I can’t fault her there. It was painfully accurate—but also made dating feel hopeless, which may not be the energy you’re looking for in a rom-com.
All that said, the bright spots in this book were Jazz and Nina. Their friendship with Aaliyah was the saving grace. They gave good advice, weren’t afraid to call her out, and brought some much-needed levity. Honestly, I’d read a spin-off series about them in a heartbeat.
In the end, Curvy Girl Summer had potential—but it tripped over the tropes, leaned too hard into the trauma, and missed the emotional depth that would’ve made the romance feel earned. I finished it out of obligation more than enjoyment, and I’m now cautiously side-eyeing Plus Size Player. We’ll see how that goes.
Final Verdict
Jazz and Nina outshine Aaliyah. One star for their solid advice and comedy. I finished only because I didn’t realise Plus Size Player is part of the series. If book #2 follows this pattern, I’ll tap out there. (Think Farrah Rochon vibes: The Boyfriend Project, The Dating Playbook, The Hookup Plan.)
whitneydaniell 
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