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As a plus-size woman, I’ve had a complicated relationship with plus-size romance books.
They can be hit or miss—either the character’s size becomes the whole storyline, or it’s barely mentioned, and neither feels quite right.
I’ve spent plenty of time sifting through the shelves (virtual and physical) to find stories that actually respect plus-size characters for who they are, not just their body size.
After all that reading, I’ve pulled together a list of books that truly get it right.
These are stories where the love is real, the characters are multi-dimensional, and their size doesn’t define them.
These picks are fully vetted and ready to provide you with the heartfelt, uplifting reads you deserve.
1. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
Charlie Vega is a smart, funny, and ambitious girl who’s struggling with her body image and the pressure to be thinner in a world that seems to value that above everything else.
With a mom obsessed with weight loss, Charlie’s life is complicated, especially when she starts dating Brian, a guy who once liked her best friend.
As her relationship with Brian unravels, Charlie faces issues with her self-esteem, her cultural identity, and her body.
This coming-of-age story is full of humor, heart, and honesty about growing up in a body that doesn’t fit the world’s expectations.
2. Blindsided by Amy Daws
Freya Cook, a plus-sized seamstress, has always been the quiet, invisible type.
But when her footballer best friend, Mac, offers to give her lessons in seduction, things get… interesting.
As they spend more time together, their banter turns into sizzling chemistry.
What starts as a playful, “don’t fall for your best friend” experiment turns into something much more intense.
With a mix of awkward moments and undeniable attraction, this rom-com is full of laughs, heat, and all the confusion that comes with realizing you’re in love with your best friend.
3. The Love Con by Seressia Glass
Kenya Davenport loves anime and cosplay, but her STEM family doesn’t quite get it.
To make it big, she joins the reality show Cosplay or No Way, but she needs a boyfriend to compete.
Her best friend Cameron steps in, and they pretend to be a couple for the cameras. As they roleplay, feelings begin to blur, and what was supposed to be fake starts to feel too real.
Can Kenya and Cam keep their friendship intact while exploring the spark between them?
This romantic comedy explores love, friendship, and the risk of falling for someone who knows all your secrets.
4. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
August moves to New York City, determined to prove that love stories and magic are just myths.
But everything changes when she meets Jane, a mysterious, charming woman on her subway commute.
As August’s feelings for Jane grow, she learns that Jane is stuck in time, displaced from the 1970s.
August has to use everything she knows to help Jane return to her time—while also questioning everything she thought she knew about love.
This whimsical lesbian romance is full of magic, heart, and the excitement of discovering that sometimes the impossible happens when you least expect it.
5. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
Hallie Welch has had a crush on Julian Vos since she was fourteen, but now he’s back in town, and their personalities couldn’t be more different.
Hallie, quirky and fun, is hired to help out on Julian’s family vineyard, and their sparks start flying.
One wild girls’ night leads Hallie to leave a secret admirer letter for Julian, and before she knows it, they’re caught up in a whirlwind of chemistry and misunderstandings.
A clash of personalities soon turns into a love story, proving that opposites really do attract.
6. Rein Me In by Kayla Grosse
Blake Tanner returns to her small hometown to help after her mom’s injury, but the grief of losing her brother still haunts her.
She’s forced to face her past when she reconnects with Gavin Montgomery, her late brother’s best friend.
Gavin’s life is also full of hardship, and their shared grief leads to an unexpected romance.
From a charity auction to the mechanical bull, Blake and Gavin begin to heal each other’s wounds.
This cowboy romance is full of heart, but also deals with loss, guilt, and the healing power of love.
7. From Scratch by Katrina Jackson
Mary Woods moves to Sea Port, a tiny town in the South, to start fresh after her academic career falters.
She opens a bakery and is immediately drawn to the town’s cop, Miguel Santos, and fire chief, Billy Knox.
As the three of them navigate their chemistry and growing attraction, Mary finds herself entangled in a passionate love triangle.
8. Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Ari Abrams, a sunny and optimistic TV meteorologist, is tired of being overlooked at work.
Her only ally is Russell Barringer, a reserved sports reporter. When their boss’s tumultuous relationship interferes with the workplace, Ari and Russell decide to meddle in an attempt to bring them back together.
But their good intentions lead to a surprising connection between the two of them. As they work closely, they realize they might have more in common than they thought.
This romantic comedy is full of charm, laughter, and discovering love where you least expect it.
9. Teach Me by Olivia Dade
Rose Owens, a high school teacher, has a cold, distant attitude towards Martin Krause, her new colleague.
She’s hurt that he was given her beloved history class, but as she gets to know him, she discovers he’s a kind, warm man who could use some guidance.
Over the course of the school year, the two teach each other about trust, vulnerability, and love.
What starts as professional rivalry grows into a passionate romance that changes both of their lives.
10. Set on You by Amy Lea
Crystal Chen, a curvy fitness influencer, is all about body positivity, but after her breakup, she’s focused on her workouts, not on men.
Enter Scott Ritchie, a firefighter and gym regular who’s constantly stealing her favorite squat rack.
Their rivalry turns into a flirty battle for gym supremacy, and when they bump into each other at a family event, they realize there’s a lot more going on between them than just gym competition.
As they bond over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, Crystal and Scott’s relationship faces the ultimate test when a viral photo threatens it all.
11. Mile High by Liz Tomforde
Evan Zanders is the cocky bad boy of Chicago hockey—he spends more time in the penalty box than on the ice and has a new girl on his arm after every game.
But he’s met his match in Stevie, the new flight attendant who works for him. She’s not impressed by his charm, and he’s determined to get under her skin.
As their banter heats up during their travels, the lines between hate and attraction blur, and neither of them can ignore the growing chemistry.
What started as a game may just turn into something real.
12. A Walk in the Park by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Andre Monroe is heartbroken and thinks adopting a dog will help heal his wounds.
He bonds instantly with Zeus, but then learns the dog’s been promised to someone else—Janelle Johnson, a woman who’s equally attached to the pup.
They agree to co-parent Zeus for a month, but their shared time with the dog turns into something more.
As Andre and Janelle grow closer, they discover that while caring for Zeus may be challenging, it might also lead to a love they didn’t expect.
13. If the Dress Fits by Carla De Guzman
Martha Aguas is comfortable in her own skin—she’s got a great job, a puppy, and a killer wardrobe.
But when her cousin Regina gets engaged to Martha’s first love, Enzo, things get complicated.
Suddenly, Martha’s the target of everyone’s questions about her love life, so she ropes in Max, her dependable friend, to play the role of her fake boyfriend.
As the family wedding festivities unfold, Max’s support might be the one thing Martha really needs—but is there more to their friendship than just pretending?
14. D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins
D’Vaughn and Kris are on a mission: to plan a wedding in six weeks. But here’s the catch—it’s all fake.
D’Vaughn needs a reason to come out to her mom, and Kris sees this as the perfect way to boost her influencer career.
They’ve got a lot to prove, but as they fake it for the cameras, the chemistry between them feels real.
As the weeks go by, the stakes get higher, and they’ll have to decide if their fake wedding is just a game or the start of something much deeper.
15. For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding
Nina Rice’s life is a quiet one after a messy breakup. But when she meets Ari Fox, a rising actress, everything changes.
Ari’s determined to convince Nina to start writing again and break out of her shell.
As their connection deepens, Nina has to navigate her fears of falling for Ari, a Hollywood star with her own baggage.
This heartwarming lesbian romance shows how second chances in both love and career can sometimes be exactly what you need, even when you’re not looking for them.
16. If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
Cindy, a recent shoe design grad, never expected her stepmother’s reality dating show to change her life.
When she volunteers to fill a spot on the show, she becomes an unlikely body positivity icon.
As the only plus-size woman on the show, Cindy’s not only challenging beauty standards but also finding herself—both in her career and in love.
Between designing shoes and navigating the drama of reality TV, Cindy realizes sometimes the best way to find happiness is to break the rules and follow her heart.
17. The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams
Britta Colby, a writer for a lifestyle website, needs to prove herself.
When she gets the chance to review a body-positive fitness app, she’s paired with Wes, the app’s CEO. They bond over their shared struggles, and their connection grows as Britta works with Wes to improve her fitness.
As their attraction turns into something more, they face challenges—Britta’s career could be ruined if their relationship goes public, and Wes has his own issues to work through.
This fun romance explores the balance between love, career, and self-worth.
18. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Chloe Brown is determined to get a life after almost dying. She’s got a list of things to do—ride a motorcycle, go camping, and do something bad.
To check off some of these boxes, she recruits Redford ‘Red’ Morgan, a tattooed handyman who’s secretly an artist.
As Chloe’s list grows, so does her connection with Red. Despite their differences, they can’t ignore the chemistry between them.
This funny and sweet romance tackles love, self-discovery, and breaking out of your comfort zone in a heartwarming way.
19. Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
Marcus Caster-Rupp, a star of a popular TV show, has a secret: he writes fanfiction under a pseudonym.
April Whittier is a fan of his work but doesn’t know the truth about Marcus. When their worlds collide, Marcus is drawn to April’s confidence and passion.
As they bond over their shared love for the show, Marcus’s career and his online persona are at risk.
This book is a fun, steamy romance that dives into fandom, identity, and the surprises that come when you stop hiding who you really are.
20. One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Bea Schumacher is a plus-size fashion blogger who’s tired of the lack of diversity on reality dating shows.
When Main Squeeze offers her the chance to be the next lead, she agrees on one condition: she won’t fall in love.
But as the cameras roll and the suitors compete for her heart, Bea finds herself questioning her no-love rule.
Between battling body standards and trying to navigate a real connection in a manufactured reality,
Bea learns that love isn’t as easy to control as she thought—and it might be worth the risk.
Plus-size romance deserves more love, and these stories show exactly why.
If any of these books caught your eye, why not check them out and start reading today?
Also, don’t forget to share your thoughts or any other must-read plus-size romances in the comments below.
