Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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katestaymanlondon.com

ONE TO WATCH

Kate Stayman-London

How do we decide what beauty means? Who deserves a happy ending? In this fresh and clever debut romantic comedy, we follow plus-size model Bea who is, after a cruel heartbreak, on the rise when she is cast for a reality-TV-show.

Popular plus-size fashion blogger Bea Schumacher is living her best life. She's beloved by an online following that cherishes her warm, body-positive message, and she dismisses the trolls with a razor wit. But after an unexpected heartbreak, Bea's confidence is shaken, and she finds herself feeling lost and hopelessly alone. In the midst of her sadness (and some drunken internet rantings), she receives a surprising offer: Would Bea like to be the first plus-size woman to star in the upcoming season of reality dating sensation Main Squeeze? (No, actually, she would not.) But against her better judgment, she accepts. When the cameras roll, Bea finds herself faced with a lineup of ridiculous suitors who feel like fantasies. Will she find her way through the media glitz to discover the truth behind the fairytale and the reality of falling in love?

Readers follow Bea's journey through emails, podcast transcripts, texts, and blog posts, as well as through her own sharply critical eyes. ONE TO WATCH is a perfect summer read, a funny, heartfelt takedown of the lies society tells us about who deserves to be seen - and loved.

Kate Stayman-London has worked as a screenwriter, humor blogger, and digital strategist with Barack and Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton. Her feminist comedy blog, Ladies Against Humanity, was named a BlogHer Voice of the Year.

Available products
Book Published 2020-07-07 by Dial Press
Book Published 2020-07-07 by Dial Press

Comments

Delightful, debut rom-com. Read more...

Stayman-London's debut is a smart, pop culture-aware update to the romance novel... One to Watch is a novel that succeeds in finding a tone light enough to qualify it as an exceptional summer read, while also imparting a message substantial enough that you'll want to take it into the next season.

If you call yourself a fan of The Bachelor/The Bachelorette franchise, there is simply no excuse not to pick up this book... Funny, emotional, romantic yet realistic - this book has it all... this is a smart novel written by a smart woman.

Hillary Clinton posted a recommendation for ONE TO WATCH, including a buy link, to her 4.7 million followers on her Instagram Story on 7/7, calling it "a thoroughly charming break from the news!"

ONE TO WATCH is a June Book of the Month Club selection Amazon Best Book of the Month (Romance) One of TIME MAGAZINE's "100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2020"! BITCH Magazine's BitchReads Book Club Pick! Target's Book Club Pick for July! Random House Book Club's Spotlight Pick for July!

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. Read more...

It is hot. It is sweet. A lot of it is [Bea] just figuring out how to be a vulnerable human being. It's so deeply satisfying and great... I'm pretty sure it is actually the best rom-com I've ever read.

One to Watch' is a heartfelt tale about Bea learning how to open herself up to heartbreak in an attempt to find love. The sweet novel is great for readers looking for a light and positive summer read and destined to be a popular book club pick.

[A] hilarious and poignant rom-com debut... for readers who enjoyed Bridget Jones's Diary and Me Before You.

refreshing debut Read more...

ONE TO WATCH is a Goodreads Choice Awards 2020 semifinalist (in Romance and Debut Novel categories)!

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!

A delicious and whip smart page turner about the complication of being a complicated woman in the world today.

Excited for the first Black Bachelor? Now prepare for the first plus-size lead. Well, at least that's the premise of this charming debut from Stayman-London... Timely, refreshing and delightful, you'll be rooting for Bea throughout her journey of self-love, drama and romance.

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 real belief in true romance. The Bachelor should be so lucky as to land a Bea of its own.

...smart about dating shows and about weight and about media, and gets some things about thos things so right it's unsettling...

Fans of The Bachelor will love this summer beach read. Read more...

If you watch The Bachelor, this book is the takedown we've all been waiting for, and Stayman-London is hardly subtle about it, which I love... Fun, sexy, and full of heart, you'll devour this book in a day.

There's a lot to love about One to Watch, including its sharp commentary on our fatphobic culture, its BTS depictions of the entertainment industry, and how it keeps you guessing... On top of being a lot of fun, it's also earnest and ultimately joyful. It'll hit you right in the feels if you've ever doubted you're 'worthy' of love.

Just know that if you have ever felt insecure or ashamed of your body in dating experiences, this book will stand out to you. It was a five-star read... A women's fiction book centered on the issues many plus-size women deal with dating and truly just existing... This book really made me believe that I could find love as a plus-size woman. Or at the very least, it made me want to believe it could happen and actually made me want to try.

An entertaining novel about reality TV, romance, fat-shaming, and self-esteem that will appeal to rom-com fans and likely strike a chord with plus-size readers.

UK/Co: Two Roads / John Murray Press ; Brazil: Companhia das Letras ; Portugal: Editore 20/20 ; Russia: Eksmo

The best rom-com I've read in a while! Overall score: A+!

[Stayman-London]uses her powerful voice to produce a fun and sassy narrative that keeps readers excited, while delivering an important message about diversity... She really captures the zeitgeist of the modern era, making this aspect of the book refreshing and fun. A romantic, feel-good journey, ONE TO WATCH is perfect for anyone who loves dating shows like "The Bachelor" and "The ?Bachelorette," has an affinity for France, or believes in romance in any capacity.

ONE TO WATCH is named One of the Most Anticipated Books of the Summer by: PopSugar - Cosmo - Bustle - Shondaland - Huffington Post - E News - Flare - Greatist - Betches

A fast, furious read, one that is brimming with wit but also packs a serious punch. The compelling narrator won my heart immediately, and Stayman-London's storytelling sizzles.

...smart, snappy first novel... This rom-com is no simple work of fan fiction. ... Creative, intelligent and vulnerable,... Whether readers loathe or adore reality TV, this unconventional love story deserves the final rose.

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.

Every author hopes for a debut as divinely witty and engrossing as One to Watch, but few actually stick the landing. Kate Stayman-London delivers the fizziest summer read, guaranteed to have readers enamored within only a few brief pages...

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.