One to Watch

Bea Schumacher is a leading fashion blogger, known for her honest body-positive message. But after an unexpected heartbreak, Bea's confidence is shaken and she feels hopelessly alone. In the midst of her sadness (and some drunken internet rantings), she receives a surprising proposition- Would Bea like to be the first plus-size woman to star in the next season of reality dating competition sensation Main Squeeze?

Against her better judgment, she accepts. The producers promise it will be the most diverse cast yet and a great opportunity to expand her brand. And while she knows she'll never find love, she might find distraction from her broken heart and inspire other plus-sized women to believe that they have a right to the spotlight too. But as the cameras roll, she is forced to face down judgement, ridicule, and expectations amidst over-the-top dates and international travel with a line-up of men who feel like fantasies (a sexy French chef, a sardonic professor, a playful younger man) as she ultimately discovers the truth behind the fairytale, and the reality of falling in love.

In this witty, heartfelt debut, Kate Stayman-London shines a light on how the complex standards of female beauty affect how we define ourselves and who deserves to be seen...and loved.

“"Thoroughly charming" --Hillary Clinton "[E]ffortlessly fun and clever . . . I found the tension impeccable . . . and that made my reading experience incredibly propulsive. Read it in a day and a half."-- Emily Henry, #1 bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation "One to Watch is a fundamentally entertaining and uplifting book. . . . A powerful imagining of how reality TV could look . . . Stayman-London dismantles stubborn and destructive ideas about plus-size women: Namely, that they can't be fashionable, popular, or successful. [Bea is] complex in a way that fictional plus-size characters often aren't. . . . As the title makes clear, One to Watch is a book to watch." -- O: The Oprah Magazine "Bea Schumacher is an irresistible heroine, and One to Watch will win you over just as quickly. Its clever skewering of reality TV tropes is balanced by a sweet sincerity and a real belief in true romance. The Bachelor should be so lucky as to land a Bea of its own." --Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, bestselling authors of The Royal We and The Heir Affair "A delicious and whip-smart page-turner about the complication of being a complicated woman in the world today." --Jo Piazza, bestselling author of Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win " One to Watch is a powerful story about the love we have for ourselves and others. It's a vibrant, tender, stylish, sexy, and outrageously joyful book, and I couldn't bear to put it down for one second." --Hannah Orenstein, author of Love at First Like "A fast, furious read, one that is brimming with wit but also packs a serious punch. The compelling narrator--Bea Schumacher--won my heart immediately, and Stayman-London's storytelling sizzles." --Fiona Davis, nationally bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls " One to Watch drew me in from the first chapter; this book was relatable, incredibly smart and thoughtful about body image and the way the media treats women, and just plain entertaining. I adored this extraordinary debut and had so much fun reading it!" --Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date and The Proposal "Bea's journey shines a bright spotlight on the treatment of plus-size women in fashion, entertainment, and social media, but the character shows beautifully that women are more than their dress sizes. Creative, intelligent, and vulnerable, Bea brings depth and emotion to a story purposely set in a shallow environment. Whether readers loathe or adore reality TV, this unconventional love story deserves the final rose." -- Shelf Awareness "Stayman-London's charming debut is chatty and fun, brilliantly capturing the highs, lows, and drama of reality TV. . . . This smart, delightful page-turner is a great way for dating show fans to pass the time while waiting for the next season." -- Publishers Weekly”

“Thoroughly charming”—Hillary Clinton

“[E]ffortlessly fun and clever . . . I found the tension impeccable . . . and that made my reading experience incredibly propulsive. Read it in a day and a half.”—Emily Henry, #1 bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation

“One to Watch is a fundamentally entertaining and uplifting book. . . . A powerful imagining of how reality TV could look . . . Stayman-London dismantles stubborn and destructive ideas about plus-size women: Namely, that they can’t be fashionable, popular, or successful. [Bea is] complex in a way that fictional plus-size characters often aren’t. . . . As the title makes clear, One to Watch is a book to watch.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

“Bea Schumacher is an irresistible heroine, and One to Watch will win you over just as quickly. Its clever skewering of reality TV tropes is balanced by a sweet sincerity and a real belief in true romance. The Bachelor should be so lucky as to land a Bea of its own.”—Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, bestselling authors of The Royal We and The Heir Affair

“A delicious and whip-smart page-turner about the complication of being a complicated woman in the world today.”—Jo Piazza, bestselling author of Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win

“One to Watch is a powerful story about the love we have for ourselves and others. It’s a vibrant, tender, stylish, sexy, and outrageously joyful book, and I couldn’t bear to put it down for one second.”—Hannah Orenstein, author of Love at First Like

“A fast, furious read, one that is brimming with wit but also packs a serious punch. The compelling narrator—Bea Schumacher—won my heart immediately, and Stayman-London’s storytelling sizzles.”—Fiona Davis, nationally bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls

“One to Watch drew me in from the first chapter; this book was relatable, incredibly smart and thoughtful about body image and the way the media treats women, and just plain entertaining. I adored this extraordinary debut and had so much fun reading it!”—Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date and The Proposal

“Bea’s journey shines a bright spotlight on the treatment of plus-size women in fashion, entertainment, and social media, but the character shows beautifully that women are more than their dress sizes. Creative, intelligent, and vulnerable, Bea brings depth and emotion to a story purposely set in a shallow environment. Whether readers loathe or adore reality TV, this unconventional love story deserves the final rose.”—Shelf Awareness

“Stayman-London’s charming debut is chatty and fun, brilliantly capturing the highs, lows, and drama of reality TV. . . . This smart, delightful page-turner is a great way for dating show fans to pass the time while waiting for the next season.”—Publishers Weekly

Kate Stayman-London has spent more than a decade working at the intersection of fiction, screenwriting, and politics. She served as lead digital writer for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She's worked with GLAAD, MoveOn, EMILY's List, and the National Abortion Rights League. Her feminist comedy blog, Ladies Against Humanity, was named a BlogHer Voice of the Year.

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