Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen

Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen was such an enjoyable and refreshing read. At the center of this story is Aaliyah — a woman who embodies confidence, self-respect, and knowing her worth. I loved that she didn’t allow her size to define her or limit the way she moved through the world. She knew exactly who she was, and more importantly, she knew what she deserved.

I really enjoyed watching Ahmad become Aaliyah’s bartending wingman as she navigated the dating scene, although it was clear pretty early on that his intentions weren’t completely selfless. The attraction was there from the beginning, but I appreciated that it wasn’t just physical. Ahmad was drawn to Aaliyah’s mind, her confidence, and the way she carried herself. Those subtle moments — like him removing his wedding band (not in an infidelity type way)— hinted at him slowly letting his guard down and allowing himself to be open to something new.

The conversations around desirability, confidence, fetishizing and being seen as worthy of love without needing to shrink yourself were important. Aaliyah’s journey was a reminder that confidence isn’t about waiting for someone else to validate you — it’s about knowing your own value first.

Now… the uncle. Whew. 😂 He made me so frustrated! He definitely had moments where I wanted to tell him a thing or two, but I also understood that his intentions came from a place of love (even if his delivery needed some serious work). His character highlighted something that feels very real: sometimes in Black families, love and support exist, but the communication around those feelings can be complicated. The desire to protect can sometimes come out in ways that don’t actually feel supportive.

I also appreciated the discussion around the pressure to have life figured out by 30. That expectation is so unrealistic and yet so common. As a 38-year-old plus-sized woman who got married at 36 and is just beginning my journey toward motherhood, this message really resonated with me. Life does not have a deadline. There is no one timeline that determines when you are “on track.” Sometimes life is just beginning when you thought you were supposed to already have everything figured out.

Overall, Curvy Girl Summer was a beautiful story about confidence, love, vulnerability, and embracing life exactly as it comes. Danielle Allen created a heroine who knew her worth and a romance that showed the importance of being loved for all the things that make you who you are.