The author of the bestselling YA novel Dumplin, Julie Murphy, has started a series of modern romances inspired by Disney princess films with the Cinderella-inspired If the Shoe Fits.
If the Shoe Fits has a lot of elements from the original animated Cinderella. For example, the main character's mother is Ilene Woods (the voice actor of Cinderella) and her stepmother's last name is Tremaine. Her stepsisters also have shortened versions of Anastasia and Drizella. She has three little siblings who represent the mice, too. Finally, the protagonist's name is Cindy (shortened from Cinderella).
At the same time, Julie Murphy incorporates the body-positive theme from her previous novels; Cindy is a plus-sized woman who loves fashion. She has problems with the lack of sizes for her, but that does not prevent Cindy from following her dreams.
Cindy moves from her dream life in New York back to her stepmother's house in California at the beginning of the novel. Before long, she stars in her stepmother's reality television show Before Midnight. Cindy starts out developing feelings for Henry (formerly "Prince Charming"), whom she met on the plane ride. However, the positive fan attention later changes fate (which she initially didn't believe in) for her.
If the Shoe Fits is overall well-written; it clearly portrays Cindy's internal conflict regarding her dream career, family obligations, and (of course) body size. Her relationship with Henry is also much more developed than that between the animated Cinderella and Prince Charming.
Cindy and Henry's date in New York even involves a few Disney references beyond Cinderella. For example, they see a Disney Broadway production together.
If the Shoe Fits mostly takes inspiration from the animated Cinderella, but it also has a few references to the 2015 live-action remake. For instance, Cindy loses her mother in elementary school and her father during her late adolescence. She also receives an empowering message from her late mother.
As well-done as If the Shoe Fits is, it has a lot of the problems I find with a lot of secular adult fiction. There were lots of swearing and using God's name in vain along with romantic individualism. Such content might make this novel a difficult read for Christians. Besides, even though I found the elimination aspect of Before Midnight interesting and I knew how Cindy felt, I only related to the secular story to a limited amount.
Still, If the Shoe Fits is a modern fairy tale with a positive representation of a plus-sized woman. Fans of Disney's Cinderella and body-positive advocates will enjoy the novel.
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