Slow Burn

A sporty, feel-good, body-positive rom-com pits a plus-size teen against her bullies to prove what she already knows--that she has exactly the right stuff.

Sixteen-year-old Ruby has worked hard to be happy in her body, even when other people--including her brother and her PE teacher--insist there's something wrong with her for being fat. All Ruby cares about is hanging out at the skate park this summer with friends. But her brother's bullying words get under her skin, and in order to prove to him (and her impressionable little sister) that fat girls can do anything, Ruby finds herself signed up for the annual 5K Dawson Dash. There's just one problem: She can't run. The cute new boy next door can, however, and when Ollie offers to help her train, Ruby takes him up on it, even if it means he'll see her at her sweatiest and most vulnerable. Young athletes of all stripes, especially those marginalized in sports due to body differences, will find a hero in good-humored Ruby. With its all-audience appeal, her joyful story delivers upbeat romance and affirmation that our bodies are just right, just the way they are.

Author: Bethany Rutter
Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
Published: 03/03/2026
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 7.88h x 5.13w x 1.03d
ISBN: 9781536243833
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2026
School Library Journal 02/01/2026 pg. 58

About the Author
Bethany Rutter is a writer, podcaster, and author of novels for young readers and adults, including No Big Deal and Melt My Heart. Cohost of a podcast about all things books, What Page Are You On?, Bethany Rutter lives in Southeast London.