On the Plus Side Summary, Characters and Themes

On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe is a heartfelt, empowering novel that follows Everly Winters, a plus-size receptionist who is content with her life, despite battling insecurities about her appearance. 

Her world is turned upside down when she’s unexpectedly selected for the makeover reality show On the Plus Side—a show that celebrates the beauty of plus-size individuals. As Everly embarks on her transformative journey, she faces challenges that push her beyond her comfort zone, reawakens her creative passion, and ultimately leads her to embrace self-love, confront her past, and explore the potential of a new romantic relationship.

Summary

Everly Winters leads a comfortable life as a receptionist at a marketing firm. While she harbors a secret crush on her coworker, James, Everly feels insecure about her plus-size body and struggles with the idea of being noticed. 

She hides behind loose clothing and prefers the safety of blending in. However, her quiet life is upended when the hosts of her favorite show, On the Plus Side, a makeover series for plus-size individuals, surprise her at work and offer her the opportunity to be part of the show.

Initially overwhelmed and unsure, Everly’s excitement starts to build as she gets to know the team. 

Jazzy Germaine and Stanton Bakshi, the enthusiastic hosts, encourage her to embrace her journey and help her step out of her comfort zone. The process of the makeover isn’t just about clothes—it’s a holistic transformation that also involves her personal growth and self-confidence. 

She begins to question the ways in which she’s been holding herself back and starts to open up to the possibilities around her.

Everly’s best friend and sister-in-law, Becca, is thrilled by the news, but Everly is filled with uncertainty about being on national television. 

She begins to suspect that Becca might have secretly nominated her for the show, though Becca denies it. Nonetheless, Everly embraces the opportunity, even though it challenges her in ways she didn’t expect. 

One of the most daunting parts of the process is the presence of Logan, the gruff and enigmatic cameraman who will be shadowing her every move. Initially, Logan seems indifferent, and his serious demeanor frustrates Everly, but over time, their relationship evolves, and the tension between them builds.

As the filming progresses, Everly encounters various personal challenges, including social media attention—some supportive, some cruel. 

The public scrutiny becomes overwhelming, and Everly struggles with her self-image, particularly when faced with negative comments. But with the support of her team, especially Stanton and Jazzy, she learns how to navigate the negativity and embrace her narrative. In particular, Stanton helps her reawaken a passion for art that she had long abandoned. 

Everly decides to submit her work to the Cape Cod Collective, an art festival she had always dreamed of participating in, but never had the confidence to pursue.

Tensions rise between Everly and her mother, who disapproves of her decision to participate in On the Plus Side.

Their strained relationship, marked by her mother’s critical views on Everly’s weight, becomes a major hurdle in Everly’s emotional journey. However, through the show, Everly learns to stand up for herself and assert her worth. 

This pivotal moment of self-empowerment is a key turning point in her transformation, and she slowly starts to believe in her own beauty and value.

As Everly grows more comfortable with her new self, she starts to question her feelings for James, the coworker she had long admired from afar. 

After an awkward lunch date, it becomes clear that James isn’t interested in her as more than a friend, forcing Everly to confront the reality of her crush. 

She realizes that she’s been seeking validation from the wrong person, and her feelings for him start to fade.

Meanwhile, Logan’s role in Everly’s transformation becomes more significant. Their professional relationship evolves into something more personal, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. 

Everly finds herself drawn to him, but she’s hesitant to act on her feelings, uncertain about whether he sees her in the same way.

The climax of Everly’s journey occurs at the Cape Cod Collective, where she presents her artwork for the first time. It’s a nerve-wracking experience, but she finds herself exhilarated by the process. 

The support she receives from the On the Plus Side team, along with her newfound self-assurance, helps her realize that she belongs in the art world. Afterward, Logan and Everly share an intimate conversation, and they finally admit their feelings for one another.

In the finale of the show, Everly watches her transformation unfold on screen and sees herself in a way she never did before. The experience has changed her life, and she’s finally embraced her true self—flaws and all. 

The book ends with Everly feeling confident in her artistic talents and opening herself up to a potential relationship with Logan. The story concludes on a hopeful note, as Everly begins a new chapter in her life, both personally and professionally.

Characters

Everly Winters

Everly Winters begins as a self-conscious, introverted plus-size woman who is content with her predictable life and struggles with insecurities about her body image. As a receptionist in a marketing firm, she avoids stepping outside her comfort zone, both professionally and personally.

Her life changes drastically when she is selected for the reality makeover show, On the Plus Side. This opportunity forces her to confront her deep-rooted fears of rejection and societal judgment.

Throughout the book, Everly undergoes significant personal growth. As she steps into the spotlight, she learns to embrace her identity, rediscover her passion for art, and pursue her dreams of participating in the Cape Cod Collective.

Her transformation is not just physical but emotional as well, as she learns to challenge both external judgments and her own self-doubt. Ultimately, Everly learns to accept her worth, shed her past insecurities, and open herself up to love, particularly with Logan, the cameraman, who plays a key role in her emotional journey.

Logan

Logan starts off as a distant and reserved figure in the background of Everly’s transformation. As a cameraman on On the Plus Side, Logan is not keen on the spotlight and prefers to maintain a professional distance.

He initially appears indifferent to Everly, but as he spends more time with her, he begins to see her as more than just a subject for the show. His reserved nature stems from his own insecurities and past experiences, and his developing attraction to Everly causes him to confront his reluctance to engage with others emotionally.

While he does not initially express his feelings, Logan’s quiet support and interactions with Everly help her grow in confidence and self-worth. Over time, their bond deepens, and Logan begins to open up about his own struggles with self-image, which parallels Everly’s journey.

By the end of the book, Logan realizes that he wants to be more than just a bystander in Everly’s life and finally acts on his feelings, choosing to pursue a relationship with her.

Jazzy Germaine

Jazzy Germaine is the bold, confident co-host of On the Plus Side, and she plays a pivotal role in Everly’s transformation. As a fashion expert and plus-size role model, Jazzy represents body positivity and empowerment, encouraging Everly to embrace a new wardrobe and step outside her comfort zone.

While Jazzy initially appears to be all about glamorous makeovers, her character is more layered. She is shown to have her own vulnerabilities, particularly related to the pressure of being a public figure and a role model for others.

Throughout the book, Jazzy becomes a mentor to Everly, pushing her to take risks in her personal style and reminding her that beauty is not just about appearance but confidence and self-love. Their relationship evolves from a professional one to a deep, mutual respect, with Everly looking up to Jazzy not just as a mentor but also as a friend who understands the complexities of living in the public eye.

Stanton Bakshi 

Stanton Bakshi, the charming and stylish co-host of On the Plus Side, specializes in career coaching, and his interactions with Everly focus on helping her discover and pursue her artistic dreams. He helps reignite Everly’s passion for art, a part of her life she had abandoned due to self-doubt and fear of rejection.

Stanton’s role in the story is to challenge Everly to think beyond the surface level of transformation and to invest in her personal growth—especially in terms of her career and her place in the art world. He is also the one who helps Everly navigate the social media backlash that comes with being on a public show.

Stanton represents the encouragement Everly needs to be bolder and to pursue what truly excites her. By the end of the book, he is proud of the person Everly has become, and his role in her journey is crucial to her rediscovery of her self-worth and creative potential.

James 

James, Everly’s long-time crush, represents the idealized romantic interest that she initially believes she wants in her life. At the beginning of the story, James appears to be supportive and friendly toward Everly, which causes her to believe that she might have a chance at a romance with him.

However, as the story progresses, James becomes a symbol of Everly’s past insecurities, as he ultimately reveals that he is more interested in the idea of her newfound confidence than in who she truly is. This realization forces Everly to confront the fact that she has been seeking external validation from someone who does not truly appreciate her.

When she finally lets go of her feelings for James, it marks a significant turning point in her character arc, as she begins to prioritize her own self-worth over seeking approval from others.

Everly’s Mother

Everly’s mother is a critical and distant figure who embodies the societal pressures Everly faces regarding her body. Her mother’s constant judgment and disapproval of Everly’s weight and choices create a strained relationship between them.

Throughout the book, Everly’s mother serves as a source of emotional conflict, as Everly struggles to meet her mother’s expectations while also trying to carve out her own path. The tension between them escalates as Everly becomes more involved with On the Plus Side, with her mother refusing to accept the importance of the show and continuing to criticize her participation.

Despite this, Everly eventually stands up for herself, asserting her right to be happy and make decisions based on her own needs and desires. While her relationship with her mother is not completely healed by the end of the story, Everly’s ability to assert her boundaries and embrace her own identity marks a significant moment of growth.

Themes

Embracing Self-Worth and Rejecting External Validation

One of the core themes in On the Plus Side is the journey of embracing self-worth and rejecting the constant need for external validation, particularly in a society that often rewards superficial standards of beauty. Everly Winters, the protagonist, begins the story consumed by self-doubt and the belief that her value is dependent on how others perceive her, especially her crush, James.

As she embarks on her journey with On the Plus Side, Everly faces the challenge of stepping into the spotlight and confronting the negative voices, particularly those from her mother and social media. The transformation she undergoes isn’t just physical—her internal growth is marked by learning to love herself as she is, regardless of how others may react.

The narrative subtly critiques the societal pressures to conform to certain body standards, showing that self-worth cannot be defined by approval from others. Through Everly’s character arc, the theme stresses that true confidence comes from within and that happiness is achieved when one stops seeking validation from external sources, learning instead to trust one’s own worth.

Navigating the Complexities of Body Image in a Beauty-Obsessed Society

Another profound theme in On the Plus Side is the exploration of body image, particularly the struggles faced by plus-size individuals in a world obsessed with thinness and traditional beauty ideals. Everly’s initial reluctance to participate in the makeover show reflects her insecurities about her body.

Throughout the story, the book doesn’t just focus on her external transformation but also on how she learns to navigate the complexities of body image. Being a plus-size woman in the public eye, Everly faces both the joys and the struggles that come with changing her image.

She undergoes wardrobe changes, new beauty regimens, and faces public scrutiny—both positive and negative. The journey is a poignant reminder that changing how one looks doesn’t automatically solve deep-seated insecurities.

Yet, through her interactions with characters like Jazzy Germaine, who teaches her to embrace her style and herself, and Logan, who appreciates her for who she truly is, Everly learns to view her body with acceptance and pride. This theme highlights the importance of self-love amidst the pervasive pressure to conform to narrow beauty standards.

The Intersection of Personal Growth and Pursuit of Artistic Passion

The theme of personal growth intertwines with Everly’s rediscovery of her artistic passion. In the beginning, Everly is disconnected from her true self, hiding behind the confines of her receptionist job and shying away from opportunities that once inspired her, such as the Cape Cod Collective art festival.

The book portrays the delicate process of self-discovery and the power of creativity as a transformative tool. Through Stanton Bakshi, who reignites her passion for art, Everly is encouraged to step out of her comfort zone and pursue her dreams.

The art festival becomes a symbol of her personal growth, where she must confront her fear of failure and rejection, but also embrace her creative identity. The theme emphasizes that pursuing one’s passion, whether in art or any other field, is not only a pathway to personal fulfillment but also an essential step in claiming one’s worth and embracing one’s true potential.

Everly’s artistic journey is interwoven with her emotional and psychological evolution, showcasing how following one’s dreams can catalyze a broader transformation of self-empowerment.

Challenging Family Expectations and Building Independent Identity

The strained relationship between Everly and her mother underscores the theme of challenging familial expectations and carving out an independent identity. Throughout the story, Everly’s mother acts as a source of internal conflict, her critical attitude toward Everly’s weight and life choices representing a larger societal belief in the need for her to conform to a specific ideal.

This relationship exemplifies how familial love can sometimes be complicated by unrealistic expectations. Everly’s mother’s refusal to support her participation in On the Plus Side reflects how deeply ingrained expectations can limit personal growth.

The turning point in the narrative comes when Everly finally asserts her autonomy, standing up to her mother’s disapproval and refusing to shrink herself to fit into someone else’s view of success or beauty. This theme portrays the painful but necessary process of breaking free from toxic familial relationships and learning that one’s happiness and self-acceptance do not require approval from anyone else, not even close family members.

The Slow and Often Complicated Journey of Vulnerability and Intimacy in Relationships

A significant emotional arc in On the Plus Side revolves around the theme of vulnerability and the complexities of intimacy in relationships. The relationship between Everly and Logan develops gradually, marked by emotional and physical tension that both characters resist.

Initially, Logan seems cold and detached, and Everly is skeptical about his intentions. However, as they spend more time together, their interactions deepen, revealing vulnerabilities in both of them.

Logan, despite his tough exterior, begins to open up about his own insecurities, while Everly wrestles with her fear of being judged, especially in the public eye. Their growing connection highlights the difficulty of letting one’s guard down, particularly when past experiences have led to emotional wounds.

Their relationship challenges both characters to confront their fears of being seen and truly known by another person. This theme illustrates the messy, vulnerable process of learning to trust someone with your deepest insecurities and the reward of finding love in places you might least expect.

By the end, their relationship is built not on surface-level attraction, but on mutual understanding, respect, and emotional honesty, offering a nuanced exploration of intimacy.

The Impact of Media and Public Perception on Personal Identity

The theme of how media and public perception shape personal identity is also central to On the Plus Side. Everly’s journey on the makeover show is not just about self-discovery, but also about how she learns to navigate the public eye.

As a participant in a reality show, she faces the scrutiny of both supportive and critical social media responses, with comments on her body, her choices, and her authenticity. This theme delves into the psychological effects of living under the microscope, where personal identity can be influenced or distorted by the opinions of others.

Everly grapples with balancing her newfound public persona with her desire for privacy and personal growth. The book highlights the complicated relationship between public personas and private selves, suggesting that while public perception can affect personal identity, it is the inner acceptance and self-definition that ultimately matters.

The Power of Friendship and Mentorship in Personal Development

Throughout On the Plus Side, the theme of friendship and mentorship plays a significant role in Everly’s development. Jazzy Germaine and Stanton Bakshi, the hosts of On the Plus Side, become not just mentors but also genuine friends who guide Everly through her transformation.

They push her to step outside of her comfort zone, challenge her perceptions of beauty, and support her creative journey. The dynamic between Everly and these two mentors is an exploration of how strong relationships can provide the support necessary for personal growth.

Additionally, the bond between Everly and her best friend Becca, though complicated by Becca’s initial involvement in nominating her for the show, also showcases the importance of having people who believe in you and push you toward your goals.

The book emphasizes that personal development is rarely an isolated process—it is often shaped and supported by the relationships we form with others, who offer guidance, encouragement, and perspective along the way.