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NATIONAL BESTSELLER Real love . . . as seen on TV. A plus-size bachelorette brings a fresh look to a reality show in this razor-sharp, divinely witty (Entertainment Weekly) debut.

Effortlessly fun and clever . . . I found the tension impeccable . . . and that made my reading experience incredibly propulsive. Read it in a day and a half. Emily Henry, #1 bestselling author of Beach Read and The People We Meet on Vacation

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Time NPR Marie Claire Mashable

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.

Thoroughly charming Hillary Clinton

[E]ffortlessly fun and clever . . . I found the tension impeccable . . . and that made my reading experience incredibly propulsive. Read it in a day and a half. Emily Henry, #1 bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation

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

What do you think?  

Bea was standing before an oversized mirror in the wardrobe room, where Alison had placed her in a navy Zac Posen jumpsuit with long sleeves, flowing legs, a ruffled collar, and a plunging neckline, all woven through with sparkling thread that gleamed copper and silver and gold, making Bea shimmer like a galaxy. With her makeup soft and romantic (and caked on thick enough to withstand hot lights and high-def cameras) and her hair in glossy waves, Bea almost felt like the television star she was about to become. 

I think you re a magician, she said breathlessly, and Alison beamed. 

Okay! Lauren clapped her hands as she strode into the room. Let s see our Main Squeeze.  

Bea did a little twirl for Lauren, who grinned with approval. This is perfect!

Lauren herself looked game-day ready in her uniform of skinny jeans with a white tee, black blazer, and heels, her auburn hair pulled back in a perfect ponytail. 

You good to go? she asked Bea. Time to head to set!  

What happens if I say no? Bea s heart started pounding as it sank in that this was really happening. Had she been completely insane to say yes? What if the whole adventure was an unmitigated disaster? 

It s gonna be a piece of cake, Lauren assured Bea as she guided her toward the makeshift studio the crew had constructed on the mansion s front lawn. I know it s your first time doing anything like this, but this is my fifth season running this show, and Johnny could host a Main Squeeze premiere in his sleep.  

The host of Main Squeeze, Johnny Ducey, was an erstwhile teen heartthrob (he d famously mauled hearts in the fantasy Shakespeare crossover Whither the Werewolf?). After several public bouts with addiction and subsequent stints in rehab, he d settled into his lucrative and unchallenging work on Main Squeeze, where, it was rumored, he d slept with female contestants more than once. After so many years watching him conduct earnest interviews with assorted reality stars, it was wild for Bea to contemplate that, in a matter of minutes, she d be the one sitting opposite him. 

Let s run down the schedule one more time, Lauren continued. Act 1 is the video package introducing you to America, then your interview with Johnny that s eight minutes total. Then we cut to commercial  

And then we intro the first five men, Bea broke in, reciting the call sheet she d memorized by rote. Another break, another five men, another break, and so on until I ve met all twenty-five of them. Then they all put on noise-canceling headphones while I give my impressions of them, then I put on noise-canceling headphones while they give their impressions of me.

Bea paused here as she tried to stave off a wave of nausea why exactly had she agreed to let a bunch of strange men judge her on live television?

You re sure these men are what I asked for? she asked Lauren. Diverse, smart, open-minded?

Bea, absolutely. Lauren gave Bea s arm a squeeze. There are a couple of villains in the mix we re still making a television show but I don t want you to worry. You re going to love spending time with these guys.

But what if they don t love spending time with me? Bea hated herself for letting her insecurities creep in like this, but the closer they got to air, the more she could feel her anxiety taking hold. What if they hate me, and the audience does too?

I pro

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.