One To Watch - by Kate Stayman-London (Paperback)

About the Book

"Bea Schumacher is a leading fashion blogger, known for her warm, 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"--

Book Synopsis

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - Real love . . . as seen on TV. A plus-size bachelorette brings a fresh look to a reality show in this razor-sharp, "thoroughly charming" (Hillary Clinton) debut.

"Relatable, incredibly smart . . . an extraordinary debut."--Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date and The Proposal

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Time - NPR - Marie Claire - Mashable - "Divinely witty and engrossing . . . Grade: A"--Entertainment Weekly

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers--and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition--under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She's in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That's it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She's in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, wickedly observant debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men--and herself--for a chance to live happily ever after.

Review Quotes

"Divinely witty and engrossing . . . Grade: A-."--Entertainment Weekly

"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

About The Author

Kate Stayman-London is a novelist, screenwriter, and political strategist. She served as lead digital writer for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and has written for notable figures ranging from President Obama and Malala Yousafzai to Anna Wintour and Cher. When not writing or traveling, Kate can be found obsessively ranking Taylor Swift songs, laughing loudly with friends over really good bottles of wine, and of course, watching reality TV. She lives in Los Angeles.