One to Watch

A Novel

By: Kate Stayman-London

Narrated by: Kristen Sieh

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

National best seller

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 best-selling 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.

©2020 Kate Stayman-London (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“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, best-selling 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, best-selling 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) 

One to Watch was Hard to Read (but still good!)

3.5 stars for this realistic and quirky new romance.

As a plus-sized woman myself, it was really difficult to read parts of this book where the main character speaks about her difficulties with her own feelings about her body as well as how others react to her. While the concept of a beautiful and successful plus-sized woman going on a fictional version of The Bachelorette, it realistically scares the shit out of me. The reactions in this book were so real it almost hurt. But this story is so much fun also! Don't let my own insecurities dissuade you from reading it because you absolutely should!

-written by Olivia (steve's daughter)

Fun, well-performed summer/beach read

While this is a modern romance about a young woman finding love, don’t make the mistake of dismissing this book as just another one of the sappy and poorly-written romances that flood the market each summer. This book has a depth and complexity that goes beyond the ‘pretty girl who doesn’t realise how pretty she is until a man shows her’ trope that is so often seen in this genre. The plot is fast-paced, and is told from a variety of perspectives, which both maintains your interest and reflects the multitude of ways we receive information in the modern age.

As a plus size woman, I found the book particularly relatable, so much so that, at times, I found myself tearing up a little at descriptions of situations so familiar to my own experience. The book accurately portrays how plus size women are treated, the comments we face on a daily basis, and how this (often unconsciously) affects how even the most confident among us experience the world - all without being preachy.

Having said that, you don’t have to be plus size to enjoy this book. While the main character’s size is an ever-present context, the issues she faces are not so different to those of most young women, making this a relatable and enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates this genre.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish

Kristen Sieh— I give you a standing ovation! Wonderful narration, truly. This was a delightful story matched perfectly with superb narration. I’ve returned several audibles due to distracting narrators, but this was a one woman show worth listening to. This audible made me into those crazy people who start talking to the screen at movie theaters— just that good. Kate Stayman-London— you take your reader/listener on a vivid rollercoaster ride of fun. I smiled the whole book through. Thank you both!

Take a chance, you’ll not regret it. Great book.

Dragged on

The narration was great, the story was very disappointing. I did not find the main character likeable - I actually found her annoying throughout the entire book. She complained about the same feelings throughout the book, with little character development until the very end. Every long chapter was virtually the same thing - main character doesn't like herself, she thinks nobody likes her, her clothes description is given in great detail, she goes on an elaborate date or similar, and then she still doesn't like herself or think anyone likes her - over and over again in great detail.

High School Social Media Drama

If you like listening to someone read imagined texts, emails and podcast commentary with a gushing, high school girl's drama queen delivery, you'll love it. It was irritating, but the narrator did nail it. I listened to an interview where the author said it took about 2 years for her to write it. Seriously? Two years to basically cut and paste stuff from social media about The Bachelorette and change a few words? The story line had promise (the first plus-sized lead of Bachelorette), but it quickly got lost in the author's desperation to be relevant in the emptiness that is social media.

Representation matters, but...

I wanted to love this book. I really, really did. The more and more I read I decided that the only reason I was still reading is because FINALLY there is a main character in a book that is representative of a plus size woman...not a funny best friend, or the girl who has to get skinny to find love, but a fat woman learning to be the main character in her own story. The rest of the story is very predictable.

Just Wonderful

I can't begin to say how much I loved this book. Stayman-London hits the nail so squarely on the head as she depicts the struggles of a plus size woman believing herself worthy of love. So perfectly explaining the dichotomy of confidence and crippling self doubt. It was like finally reading a fairytale that I could actually see myself in. Love love love it.

A great read!!

This book was funny, positive and kept gripped for the next chapter. I loved the story line and the twists and turns. I felt that Bea’s character was totally relatable and you couldn’t help but root for her and her shooters! I found myself laughing out loud with it’s one liners. I also loved the narration by Kristen Sieh-she really brought the book to life. This is a great summer read/listen!

easy breezy

with all the turmoil going on this was a nice, light story that was an easy listen and was super cute. most amazing is how did the narrator keep up with all the voices she had to do that was quite a feat!

Great for Bachelorette fans!

This book was really fun to listen along to as a Bachelorette fan. It’s basically a fictional version of the show where you have more insight into how the lead is feeling and making decisions. She develops feelings for several men and her feelings ebb and flow as each week/“episode” takes place. The book uses mixed media (including emails, texts, TV transcripts) which adds some fun. I recommend it if you are looking for a thoughtful romance, plus it has a plus size lead!