Curves for Days

Starred review from June 5, 2023
Moher’s sparkling debut kicks off when curvy and gumptious Indianapolis waitress Alice Rose Barnes wins $80 million in the lottery. Beset by people looking to take advantage of her newfound wealth and struggling to cope with a recent trauma, Alice decides to flee her old life for somewhere she’ll feel more comfortable. Landing in Galway, N.C., she reinvents herself as Rose and though she keeps her wealth secret from her new neighbors, she becomes a kind of fairy godmother to the town, anonymously donating to local causes. Along the way, she falls for gentle giant Angus Drummond, an Army vet turned therapist who works as a builder on the side. The pair meet when Rose hires Angus to remodel her new home, and, despite a rocky start, their chemistry is undeniable. But what will happen when Angus learns all the secrets Rose is keeping? It’s easy to root for these deserving and well-matched characters on their bumpy road to love, and the charming small-town setting only adds to the appeal of this complex yet cozy tale. An emphasis on body positivity combines with heartfelt romance to make this a winner. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary.

Starred review from June 1, 2023

DEBUT Alice Rose Barnes has spent the last 16 years alone, unable to trust anyone after a traumatic high school experience. Then she wins the lottery, and suddenly people she barely knows are calling and banging on her door. Desperate for peace and frightened for her safety, Alice runs away, eventually landing in Galway, NC. Using the name Rose, she begins to make friends and build a life there, all while hiding the fact that she's now a multimillionaire. When she employs grumpy carpenter Angus Drummond to do extensive renovations on her new house, she doesn't realize how much he's going to change her life. Angus is happy to have finally found someone who is open and honest, with no pretenses or secrets--except Rose does have a secret. The protagonists of this opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance are authentic and relatable. Their sexual tension is instant, and the slow burn of their relationship realistic. Rose's past trauma is revealed gradually and is treated sympathetically, as is Angus's (and other military veterans') mental health issues. VERDICT Readers will love the banter between Rose and Angus and cheer them on as they slowly build their relationship.--Heather Miller Cover

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2023
Alice's desolate life is upturned when her only friend, an elderly man she serves every day in the restaurant she has worked in since she was 16, dies in her arms after giving her a winning lottery ticket. Escaping the incessant harassment of everyone who wants a piece of her $80 million fortune, she flees Indianapolis, changes her name to Rose, gets stuck in the snow in North Carolina, and is rescued by Angus, a giant of a man. Rose and Angus both narrate as these two kind and generous but very private people, who aren't looking for love, become friends as he updates the house she buys. It is a joy to see plus-size Rose discover a whole new life as she acquires friends and confidence and takes classes at a community college while figuring out how to divest herself of her fortune in a way that will assist others. In addition to being a contractor, Angus also counsels fellow veterans. It is lovely to see two people who have issues with body size discover that the other's perceptions can be different than expected while they try to navigate a relationship they never thought could happen. Readers of this heartfelt debut will hope for more from Moher.

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