Rian Thompson thought she joined the gym to get healthy. Little did she know she was about to add hundred and ninety pounds of swoonworthy abdominal muscles and arrogance to her life.
Every day in Rians’s life follows a predictable pattern, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s got a nice job, a nice place to live, and a nice family – even if they are a little wedding-zilla-ish at the … wedding-zilla-ish at the moment.
She doesn’t need anything spectacular to be happy. She just needs to get healthy – mentally, physically. . . and maybe spiritually if that happens. But she’ll settle for two out of three until her sister finally gets hitched.
Carlos Davies thought his life was perfect. Little did he know it was about to be turned upside down by a woman who is not his type.
In Carlos’s mind, his life is damn near perfect. He’s got a great job, a great place to live, and a great stash of pick up lines that always work. It has occurred to him that maybe no one actually takes him all that seriously. But with these bulging biceps and thick, dark hair, does that even matter since he’s never sleeping alone?
Welcome to Weight Expectations, where great—and unexpected—things happen.
‘Weight Expectations’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the Cipher Office series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
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Weight Expectations by M.E. Carter is the second book in the Smartypants Romance series – a set of interconnected standalones set in the Penny Reid multiverse of awesome romance – and is the first book in the Cipher Office series. A story of a curvy woman dealing with other people negative body images, learning how to be healthy without stressing about getting thin and finding the perfect man in the unlikeliest of bad first impressions. Rian is quirky, funny, kind and was a great and strong female character. Carlos was just the right amount of flawed to make his outward perfection bearable and believable. Light on the sexy times but will still get all your emotions flowing (*wink*). The office setting for Cipher Systems was fantastic and I’m super excited to see what happens next in the world we first met with Quinn and Janie from the Knitting in the City Series. Loved it! Enjoy!
This book was wonderful. It was sweet and sassy. I definitely recommend this book, this author, and this series.
I went in without any expectations from Weight Expectations. Ha Ha! I know I just made a pun. What I got was a little insightful message about body image and self worthy and care. But as a obese person, I can without a doubt tell you that what she, our heroine was experiencing happens. Everyday. No, not the romance stuff but the physical ramifications of being overweight. How it affects you not just physically but emotionally and definitely mentally.
Parts of the book I fell in love with while other parts I didn’t. Maybe because I am too close to the meat of the book. Weight and being healthy is such a big issue in the world, I just had to read it.
Here’s what I did love:
The writing and dialogue: It is witty and snarky and flowed easily. There were no stilted paragraphs or boring chapters…but. (Yep. Read in what I didn’t love)
The heroine: Rian. She was very relatable. I mean, I am her, basically. Her concerns about health and how she feels internally is so on point. But it is never extremely harsh to the point of her giving up. Her own experiences with the world never made her doubt her self worth. Even when Carlos showed his interest in her.
The Hero: While it took a while for me to connect with Carlos and his issues, he grew on me. I liked that he took his time getting to know her but…(read in what I didn’t love)
The Cameos: I love them. Especially with the characters that I knew! Ahem, Quinn. Yep, he’s back and in dire search of exotic yarns for prego Janie.
What I didn’t love:
While the writing and dialogue was good, the heroines and hero interactions were sparse and didn’t really appear until halfway through the book. It took me a while to feel the connection and romance between the hero and heroine.
I honestly thought there was going to be some sort of love triangle with her trainer, Abel. Because she had more conversation with him than the hero. I also wished there was more heat in the bedroom scenes, instead of this fade-to-black. This is where I would’ve taken the story in a entirely different way. It was a way from a plus sized heroine to be portrayed as sexy and uninhibited, like all the rest of the skinny heroines are. I also wanted a little more about her own weight-loss journey later.
In all I really loved Rian. She carries the book entirely. If anything read it for her.
Weight Expectations was promising. An heroin with weight issues i loved this idea. Not just a few pounds but she’s “morbidly obese”. That’s a first for me. I wanted to see a strong woman who assumes her body but who struggles with the consequences because let’s be honest that doesn’t make life easy. So yes we have a strong heroine, Rian is amazing! She’s funny, really smart, she’s the best at her job, she has depth, she accepts her body more than her family. I liked her, i rooted for her!
Too bad she falls for a narcissist idiot. I think she deserves better, like her coach with whom she has a good chemistry. But no she falls for Carlos. He spends his time telling and thinking how handsome he is, how smart he is, how successful he is, how good in bed he is… He only has eyes for brainless bombshells so the way he perceives Rian doesn’t feel realistic. He thinks she’s not his type but never references to her “morbidly obesity”. For someone who is obsessed with looks that’s just not plausible. I would have liked to see him gradually falling for her, talking with her, spending time with her… They don’t meet before several chapters (too many), we have just glimpses of their first conversation (he was a douche), and BAM they’re attracted to each other and can’t stop thinking about each other. And i’m not talking about Carlos’s date with another character…
I liked ME Carter’s writing, and i liked her heroin… I just had issues with the story itself.
However i’d like to thank her for Rian who is amazing and for the cameos with Quinn and Janie.
I absolutely loved this book. Rian changes her lifestyle for herself…trying to make herself healthy. She’s funny. She’s real. Her personality is amazing. Carlos at first is a self centered jerk. But, he grew on me. AFTER he had his own reality check. Not everyone is meant to be perfect and everyone is meant to be loved. I kinda feel like a part of their story is missing, but the characters are awesome together!
What a brilliant read! Adored it!
“She’s captivated me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time.”
Rian Thompson has just been told that she’s ‘morbidly obese’ by her doctor. So, in an effort to get healthy, she joins the gym and starts eating clean foods. When she first meets Carlos Davies, he looks right through her. When she next meets him, she warms up to him until he says something to make her conclude that he might look like a god, but his ego is up there, too!
“She smiles and it hits me straight in my gut. There’s a genuine happiness on her face, and I put that look there. It’s an oddly satisfying feeling.”
Carlos loves his life. He’s gorgeous, buff, successful, and can have any woman he wants. He loves the shallow, one-nighters because he has no intention of ever having a committed relationship. He’s seen what love does to people whilst growing up, and there’s no way he’s putting himself in the firing line. Rian is not his type at all – she’s so opposite to the vapid, skinny but buxom women he normally goes for. And, that’s a big problem for him. He makes it an even bigger problem for himself when she becomes his newest hire at work.
“I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I don’t want the shallow surface-level relationship wth you.”
I absolutely adored this story! Couldn’t put it down! Rian is a delight! She is an amazing and beautiful person. I loved her fiesty, comedic personality, yet she’s so kind and thoughtful of others. I loved her banter with Abel, her trainer. They had amazing friend chemistry between them. I geniunely believed that she was happy in herself and it was other people’s opinion of her that got her down. She had a fabulous addictive personality with a big can-do attitude that was driven by a bit of stubborness, as well as a smart head.
Carlos seemed full of himself at the beginning of the story. He’s worked hard on his image and knows that he’s very attractive to women. However, there was such a core of vulnerability about him that it was difficult to hold his narcissm against him. I loved that he quickly acknowledged to himself how much Rian interested him, and how confusing he found his feelings. Once they started spending time together, I loved how he treated her and made her feel beautiful. They were so adorable together – such a fun, amusing couple, full of banter and teasing. Fabulous read!!
Setting a goal to become healthier doesn’t necessarily mean observing a ‘skinny girl’ in the mirror. For Rian – the objective she is trying to tackle isn’t that of someone looking for a total body transformation. In fact – Rian states in the beginning of her quest that she only cares about her health. The reality that you can be ‘bigger’ and healthy at the same time is the focus of Rian’s goals.
Carlos has no plans for finding love. His philosophy of ‘no strings attached’ has always worked in the past, so why change things? During his gym time, Carlos finds that his attention is pulled to a girl that is so far from his normal preference that it is a jolt to his system. In spite of trying to ignore the need to discover more of Rian, Carlos can’t quite be enamored by the confidence that Rian exudes. When an opening in his firm comes to light, Carlos pushes Rian to apply. With her presence a part of his daily routine, will Carlos be able to remain professional?
Weight Expectations is the first book in the Cipher Office series, and is part of the SmartyPants Romance collection. This series starter follows Carlos and his desire for a no strings attached relationship in his personal life. His journey coincides with Rian’s quest for health. The two don’t fit into the expectations that the world would place on a relationship about two individuals who posses different physical attributes. While Rian seems to have a very relatable issue with her weight, Carlos comes off as an arrogant and not necessarily likeable guy.
While I found myself wanting to experience the dynamic between Carlos and Rian, I felt that this book skimmed over a HUGE chunks of their attraction. There is a lot of back history in the book, and the connection really doesn’t happen until around 40% in the book. One minute the two are at a dinner with friends, and the next they are so drawn to each other they can’t ignore the pull. All of the action in between the two characters is pushed to the side, and it feels like we are missing vital thoughts and interactions that definitely would have added to the relationship.
This disconnect is evident in the way the plot seems to pull Rian and Abel together instead of Carlos and Rian. While the story had the best intent, it was evident that the two characters didn’t posses the realistic qualities I would expect from a romance. Even though the romance fell flat between Carlos and Rian for me, I found the interoffice buzz very interesting!! I love learning more about Cipher Security and wouldn’t mind delving deeper into the lives of the office crew.
Rian is attempting to get health and finds herself at Weight Expectations. Coming here was the best thing Rian could do. She will soon meet true friends and the love of her life.
Carlos is all about staying fit and healthy and most of all staying single. That is until he meets Rian.
Such a fun read and really reminds people to look past outward appearances!
ARLOS & RIAN (pronounced Ryan) ARE AMAZING!! I am seriously in love with their story! Rian is so wonderfully sarcastic. I literally LOLed for most of the book. I loved that I got to be part of her journey and see how she becomes comfortable in her skin. Carlos was such an interesting character. His growth from being a pompous ladies man to falling for Rian was great to see! I loved their slow burn!!
M.E. did such an amazing job bringing their story to life! I was smiling throughout the whole book. It was impossible to put down…I actually had to set an alarm so I’d be able to shower before work!
This book was fabulous! Rian and Carlos are such REAL characters! Rian is sassy/sarcastic/funny, I want to be her friend!
The first time that Abel (personal trainer) has her work out her aggression with a punching bag, for me right in the feels. I was right there with Rian, I got emotional for her heartache, and wanted to be there holding the bag for her.
Carlos and Rian balance each other out perfectly, I’m paraphrasing here from the book, but she knocks him off his high horse, and he helps by putting her on a pedestal.
Excellent book, and I loved the way that Rian could ‘handle’ Quinn. It was perfect.
I really really enjoyed this book. In my opinion, it’s ME Carter’s best romcom yet! Rian is one of my favorite female heroines ever. She was hilarious, witty and extremely likable. She is the kind of character that you wish you could be best friends with. If this book had been written in just Rian’s POV instead of being a dual POV with our hero Carlos, then this book would have been an easy 5 stars for me.
ME Carter loves to push boundaries when she writes. My favorite thing about her books is that she goes against the stereotypes. So having an overweight female as the heroine was a great way to step outside of the romance norm, and prove that all sizes belong in the book world.
As far as our hero Carlos goes, he wasn’t my favorite character. I struggled with his outlook on life in the beginning, but I do believe that he redeemed himself toward the end. But I think Carlos is the kind of guy that would have been more likable had I not had to be inside of his head. I do think that ME Carter wrote a character that is very realistic. I personally know more than a few men who think very similar to the way Carlos did in the beginning of this book. But having to see things from his perspective was very frustrating for me at times.
But I really did enjoy this book. Even my issues with Carlos didn’t keep me from needing to find out what was going to happen next. It was a fun and unique story with an amazing heroine who gave me some serious laugh out loud moments. And the slow burn romance was exactly what this story needed in order to feel authentic. So if you’re looking for a light read that steps outside of the romance genre box, then this is your book. Just go into it knowing that our hero finds some serious redemption in the end.
WEIGHT EXPECTATIONS by M.E. Carter can just as easily be called ‘weighty expectations’ because expectations in many forms are weighing our characters down.
Outwardly, Rian Thompson and Carlos Davies are a mismatch: physically, they don’t fit what we are told are society’s standards for coupledom. Professionally, one is driven and goal oriented, the other has been unconsciously treading water. They hold different, sometimes incompatible, opinions about topics. Most importantly for a romance novel, one’s not interested in a relationship while the other’s ambivalent. Given such differences, I am glad this story was written using dual points of view.
I enjoyed getting to know both characters. Rian is funny, a bit quirky, and the kind of friend you want to have in your life. Carlos was a surprise. He is vain, a tad egotistical and quite regimented about his life and routine. I enjoyed him because beyond this he admits to himself he feels he falls short when compared with his uber-fit, uber-intelligent work colleagues. It’s rare to find a romance book hero who will be so forthright about their short-comings.
As much as I liked the characters and their story, there were some parts that didn’t quite work for me. Firstly, we only get small glimpses into this relationship. It felt like a large chunk of the already small amount we get takes place off page. We are told what happens; we rarely get to experience it along with Rian and Carlos. Second, it took way too long for these two to come together. With only 30% of the book left, both Rian and Carlos are still pondering about this indefinable something that the other has, but this is never fully explored. It’s also at this point Carlos tells Rian he is interested in her as more than a work colleague. I need my romance couples to admit they have feelings for each other far earlier than this.
Readers familiar with Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series, may recall Carlos being a minor character in some of the books can without doubt be read as a standalone book.
I am looking forward to more office romances in the Cipher Office world.
***4 ‘#TeamRian’ Stars***
This book took me on a bit of a ride. Not a full on emotional roller coaster, more one that pushed a lot of buttons for me in good and bad ways, but kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next and, in the end, giving me a story that I truly enjoyed.
So, if my little rating at the top isn’t clear. I frickin’ ADORED Rian. She’s sweet, sassy and even though she has her own insecurities, she is very comfortable in her own skin and owns who she is. But what I did connect with the most were her inner monologues while at the gym and her conversations with her torturer aka trainer, Abel. I’ve been there and couldn’t help but agree on many of her musings.
And then there is Carlos. I had a hard time with him. I liked his honesty about how he viewed relationships and the kinds of people he wanted to have them with, but I really, REALLY, wanted to Gibbs smack (or choke) the shallow out of him. Which is part of the reason I kept turning those pages. I wanted to see him evolve and open his eyes to all that he was missing out on.
As for Rian and Carlos’ journey to their HEA. I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy it, because I did, but it is definitely a slow burn one and while I do wish they’d collided sooner, I can’t deny that I liked that it did take a while for both of them to figure their feelings towards each other and actually do something about it since they both had a bunch of issues to work through. But I really did like them together and how they helped each other grow and become stronger and happier for it.
This is my first read by the author and I really enjoyed it. The writing was engaging, the pacing varied for me, but I really enjoyed the dual first person POV’s and the crazy cast of the characters that brought this story to life. We get to see Quinn A LOT in this one, and I just wanted to hug him, but I loved and adored Francesca, Tabitha and Abel ~ and even Nick ~ so I’m hoping that we’ll get to see more of them as the Pennyverse continues to grow.
Also, I have to say that I appreciated the path she took Rian on when it came to her health. It wasn’t about numbers or crazy diets, it was about taking baby steps and weaving those steps into your life and having them become the norm instead of the exception. Also, as I stated earlier, I totally connected with Rian when it came to her relationship with her trainer because I had a similar one with my own Torturer.I told him he was the younger brother I never wanted, threatened to throw the weights at him and cursed his name many times over, but I kept at it and he’s become a friend.
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
I can tell you that if this is the start of a Cipher Office series then we are all in for a nice treat. I enjoyed this book so much. But oh my stars did I wanna punch Carlos in the throat at first lol I mean the man had some serious issues. But then again once you delve into his story you understand why he is the way he is. But now my girl Rian. Well she’s my kinda people. I wanted to hang with her on the daily. Her banter and her jokes and her over all personality made me want to hang with her all day long. And I mean strawberry margaritas YES PLEASE.
This story builds so appropriately well. And it’s so nice to see a couple actually GET TO KNOW one another before hauling off into bed.
I can’t wait for more of this series. Real grown up love stories.
This book had me excited from the beginning. The first smartypants book I was reading. A “big” girl. I was excited to read a story with a “big” girl. I haven’t read very many stories like this. The book was on the slower side for me. I did enjoy seeing Rian take care of herself first. The book had great characters. Some very funny parts. Frank was a hoot! Rian and Carlos were perfect together. Can’t wait to read the rest of the SP books.
A fun story with great characters
Book 1 in the Cipher Office series, the Penny Reid book universe, Knitting in the City world, this book shares its setting (and some characters) with the KitC crew, specifically, Quinn’s business, Cipher Systems (timeline wise, the events take place during Dating-ish, KitC book 6). While I thought this worked well as a standalone, Quinn and Steven both have brief appearances, while Janie and Alex get a few mentions, so having read the KitC books, particularly Neanderthal Meets Human (Janie and Quinn’s book) and Love Hacked (Sandra and Alex’s book), will give you a little extra background on both characters and setting. Note this story takes place partly in parallel to book 2 in the series, Sticking to the Script by Stella Weaver.
Rian is a new character and I adored her intelligence, competence, and, of course, her sarcasm. Carlos (Janie’s boss in NSH) was a little shallow in the beginning, but as we and Rian got to know him, there was a lot more depth than he initially showed. Basically, he was a good guy with some baggage that kept him from getting involved with any of the women he hooked up with. Rian had a different set of baggage to deal with, mostly body issues that weren’t helped by her bridezilla of a sister. I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship as Rian realized there was more to Carlos, and Carlos realized his fascination with Rian could, *gasp*, lead to the kind of relationship he’s worked so hard to avoid.
The author did a great job meshing with the existing KitC world, and I especially loved Carlos and Rian’s various interactions with Quinn—Rian’s interview was epic! There were also great, new, secondary characters here (I loved Abel and Tabitha, and I hope to get more with them), including a couple love to hate, or at least intensely dislike, types.
A fun story with great characters, this is a wonderful addition to the pennyverse. 5 stars
B2B Kelly
When Rian heard the three dreaded words her life was never the same. Obese. Exercise. Eat healthy. Three horrible words she did not want to follow. Lucky for her she found the most perfect place to work out. With a hunky trainer, whom she loves to spar with, verbally, a smoothy bar with a woman she might just end up being friends with and enough quirky characters to keep her on her toes. Especially the tall dark and handsome Carlos, womanizer, shallow, not even on the same planet as her. But something about him keeps sucking her in. And Un unexpected offer bring then closer to each other. What is she going to do?
Carlos is beyond satisfied with his life. Giving women pleasure for a night, and then moving on. He loves his job, his Gym and his single status. But one suprise dinner with Rian has him on edge. He can’t stop thinking about her, watching her, obsessing over her. What is it about the woman who is so not his type? Smart, beautiful and witty she is everything he does not want, they are trates you look for in a partner. Not a one night stand. Even the Gym is not a safe place. What is going on with him?
Well, your just gonna have to read this witty romance that will you with feelings of serious guilt over your lack of a gym membership, a healthy attitude towards food and your lack of a hunky Carlos!
I am loving the stories in this Smartypants romance collaboration! Weight Expectations is funny and smart and touching.
Rian is an awesome heroine. She has decided to start at a gym and work on her weight and health, but more than anything her self esteem is what needs improvement.
Carlos is a gorgeous guy that Rian can’t help ogling at the gym. He is happy with his single, playboy life. He always has a pick up line at the ready and no lack of beautiful woman to warm his bed.
“I don’t do relationships. I’m forty years old and have never had a girlfriend for a reason. I have no desire to spend time with someone until they decide they’d rather hang out with someone else. Quick, simple, in and out, is better for me.”
This story is a great blend of romance, humor and emotion. It is full of so many fun, interesting and quirky characters. Hop on your treadmill, prop up your kindle and get reading!
-4 Stars!-
I’m really having a great time with all these Smartypants Romance Books!
Great Expectations is the first book of the Cipher Office series and takes place in Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City World. If you’ve read the Knitting in the City series, you’ll recognize some people. Don’t worry if you haven’t, it’s a stand-alone.
I really enjoyed this one!
Okay, first of all–Weight Expectations is the name of the gym–how cute is that?
Anyway, Rian (pronounced RYAN) joins a gym to get healthy. Let me say that again–she joins the gym TO GET HEALTHY. This is important to me because this is not a book about a fat girl who loses weight and the hot guy then notices her and they fall in love. This is a book about a plus-size woman who finds love while basically discovering herself, much of that through going to the gym to improve her health.
This is a lot different from other M.E. Carter books in that it’s a slow burn with very little sexy times. There’s not a lot of interaction between the hero and heroine until the second half of the book and weirdly, that was okay with me. The author takes the time to build the characters and really show us who they are as individuals and it built my anticipation of when and how they would end up together. It just worked for me.
I loved Rian! She’s snarky with a odd sense of humor that I can relate to. She’s open and honest and just a fun person to be around. One of my favorite things about this book is the banter between her and her trainer, Abel. They had me giggling throughout the book. Her inner dialogue was also hilarious.
“There it is. The death machine. Otherwise known as a treadmill by people who think walking but never getting anywhere is fun.”
And then, there’s Carlos. A lot of people aren’t going to like Carlos. He’s hot and he’s vain. He’s a man-whore. He’s unapologetically single and wants to stay that way. I have mad respect for him. He’s honest with what he wants and he picks women that feel the same.
“I like my lifestyle but I also don’t want to disrespect anyone by pretending I can give them what they want. And I don’t want to waste their time on me when who they’re looking for is out there somewhere.”
I liked Carlos. I mean, he had his issues but who doesn’t? And at the end of the day, honesty is a big deal for me. I also feel like he had a lot of growth in the book and he was easily redeemed in my eyes.
This was a book of self-discovery. As Rian and Carlos become closer, they both uncover some truths about themselves and I felt like I was a part of that journey. With a great cast of characters, it was witty and funny and just left me with a smile on my face. I’m looking forward to the next book!
Overall Grade:
“Welcome to Weight Expectations. Where Great Things Happen.”
The slogan for the fictitious gym in M.E. Carter’s newest book, Weight Expectations, goes far to show the “greatness” of this book. Carter’s story is an admonition, a reminder, of the need to love yourself as you are, so that we don’t become stagnant as we fail to meet impossible societal expectations. It’s that realization that we often find ourselves settling in situations because we fear trying something new and failing. This suggestion along with Carter’s craftsmanship of her heroine, Rian, a BBW, challenges her reader to be more to find the “great things” that happen in her book.
The story follows Rian, as she strives to lose weight and become healthier at the request of her employer. She decides to join a gym as a means to this end. This is not an easy move for her, as she has never joined a gym previously, and the experience is foreign to her. Thankfully, her trainer, Abel, along with Tabitha, the smoothie maker extraordinaire for the gym, help her attempt to adjust to this new experience. For the most part, Rian has been self-conscious of her weight for most of her life. She accepts that she is a heavier woman, but other people’s expectations and comparisons of her have made her more comfortable by herself.
Carlos is a gym rat. Like Rian, he began working out as a way to fit in with the security specialists of his employer, Cipher Systems. Even though he is a successful COO of his company, he, like Rian, compares himself to the brawny security personnel and strives to create a body that can compete. Unfortunately, there is a part of him that never believes he quite lives up to his perception of them. Therefore, he lives a highly-structured fit lifestyle.
Additionally, Carlos is not interested in relationships, given his parents’ divorce. He prefers bedding women in one-night stands or short flings. He finds a “type”: more physically attractive in the traditional sense than deep in substance. This works fine for him. Through Tabitha, Carlos and Rian meet. Rian is not Carlos’s type, yet he finds himself drawn to her intellect and personality. Yes, he finds her attractive, but, again, she isn’t his usual interest. Unfortunately, Carlos cannot seem to forget Rian, while Rian believes that Carlos would never choose a woman like her. Are Carlos and Rian destined for each other? That seems to be the question of Carter’s romance.
From the outset of this book, I fell in love. Well, at least, I fell in love with Rian. See, I absolutely connected with her self-image struggles and the way in which she girded herself up against the societal judgment regarding her weight. Her most impactful support system, her family, is actually fraught with problems because they fail to see the true Rian. Instead, they criticize her lifestyle choices and fail to provide her the support she needs to recognize her worth. I think we all see a bit of ourselves in Rian. It doesn’t matter if the problem is weight-related or some other perceived personal deficiency. At some point, we’ve felt that we simply don’t meet someone else’s expectations of us, and we make choices to remain comfortable instead of challenging ourselves to be better for ourselves. Rian’s character is the first representation of this in the book, and Carter does such a beautiful job of crafting Rian’s insecurity. Her words become the words that we say to ourselves in our own insecurities. Yet, Carter overrides those negative words through Carlos’s love of Rian.
Like Rian, Carlos also struggles with a failure to meet expectations. Yes, it seemingly looks like a body image issue. However, as his story progresses, his struggles relate to relationships. He doesn’t believe he can offer the necessary feelings for anything long term, so as Rian does with her weight and her career, he hides behind meaningless flings. Everyone around him can see the depth of his character, as Carter creates it. Yet, his lack of belief in his ability to love another person fully stunts any meaningful connections with women. Until Rian.
Through Carlos and Rian, Carter’s words find purchase in your soul. As Rian struggles to accept Carlos’s love, your heart hurts for her because Carter crafts it to be so. The truth of these two characters is challenged throughout the story through the wise words of Tabitha, Abel, and Frank. When Carlos almost misses his opportunity with Rian, Carter’s words cut at my heart a little. Thankfully, she repaired it through the wisdom of the other characters in the story. This occurs multiple times throughout the story that, once the words act as a salve, you can’t help but consider your own negative self-talk. There is so much wisdom about loving yourself and meeting your own expectations in this story that you’ll find yourself highlighting Carter’s writing like mad because it’s just so darn good.
As a professor of writing, I love ideas. In reading romance, it’s easy to feel your heart pulled into the relationship between the characters and their stories. It’s easy to read the same story over and over again and continue to fall in love with an author’s vision. Yet, there is something more profound in reading romance that has a mission: to offer a truth about life that is bigger than the romantic story. That exists in M.E. Carter’s Weight Expectations. Yes, there is a beautifully written story about two unlikely people falling in love despite their internal challenges. Yes, this romance has its requisite happy ending. And yes, there is the tension-filled climax, threatening the reader will all kinds of turmoil. What Weight Expectations has that many other romances don’t have is a reminder, a heady message of personal acceptance. Trying to meet other people’s expectations will leave us discouraged always. Instead, Carter shows us that we are wonderful just as we are, and that is truly where “great things happen.”