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M.E. Carter
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Smartypants Romance
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Weight Expectations: A Bad Boy Workplace Romantic Comedy (Cipher Office Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Smartypants Romance (Author), M.E. Carter (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 885 ratings
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 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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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Cipher Office
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 15, 2019
  5. File size
    1.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

In 2017, several authors expressed interest in writing stories for a theoretical Pennyverse (Penny Reid's Universe) in some capacity (whether that be writing a canon story about new characters within the Pennyverse, writing a continuation of a current couple's story within the Pennyverse, writing a fanfic in an alternate timeline using Pennyverse characters, etc.). The result was Smartypants Romance, a small collaborative writing Universe that is indie-minded.

Stephanie Rose is a Los Angeles-based romance audiobook narrator. Her recordings include Worth Forgiving by bestselling author Vi Keeland and the popular The Ex Games series by J. S. Cooper and Helen Cooper.



ME Carter is the author of many books, including Kissmas Eve, the Hart series, and the Texas Mutiny Soccer Romance series. She lives in Texas with her four kids.

Alex Kydd is a Tri-State Area-based actor specializing in contemporary and classical theater. His passion for performing began in his early teens and has progressed into a lifetime motivation. Classically trained, Alex attended The William Esper Studio in New York City, one of The 25 Best Drama Schools in 2015, as recognized by the Hollywood Reporter.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07Z6Q7LX7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Smartypants Romance (October 15, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 15, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1949202208
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 885 ratings

About the authors

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  1. M.E. Carter

    M.E. Carter

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    My name is ME Carter and I have no idea how I ended writing books. I'm more of a story teller (the more exaggerated the better) and I happen to know people who helped me get those stories on paper.

    I love reading (read almost 300 books last year), hate working out (but I do it anyway because my trainer makes me), love food (but hate what it does to my butt) and love traveling to non-touristy places most people never see.

    I live in Texas with my four kids, Mary, Elizabeth, Carter and Bug, who was just a twinkle in my eye when I came up with my pen name. Yeah, I'll probably have to pay for his therapy someday for being left out.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Smartypants Romance

    Smartypants Romance

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Find us online at www.smartypantsromance.com

    In 2017, several authors expressed interest in writing stories for a theoretical “Pennyverse” (author Penny Reid’s Universe) in some capacity (whether that be writing a canon story about new characters within the Pennyverse, writing a continuation of a current couple’s story within the Pennyverse, writing a fanfic in an alternate timeline using Pennyverse characters, etc.) We collated the data we received, marinated in it, and created this collaborative business model.

    Smartypants Romance is a small publisher that is indie-minded. It is a business whose mission is:

    1) To be self-sustaining.

    2) To be value added to: a) the authors and professionals (support personnel) who are published by/within/work for the SRU, b) the Penny Reid Brand, and c) the romance community and world at large.

    3) To set an example of best practices, inclusion, representation, professionalism, mentorship, and craft-excellence.

    4) To be drama free and efficient.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
885 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story interesting and relatable, with good dialogue and banter between characters. They appreciate the well-defined characters, particularly the likeable heroine, and describe it as a beautiful, entertaining read. The book receives positive feedback for its intelligence, with one customer noting it flawlessly enters the Smartypants Universe. The romance aspect receives mixed reactions, with several customers noting the absence of romantic elements.

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28 customers mention "Story quality"24 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story of this romantic comedy, finding it sweet, interesting, and relatable, with one customer specifically mentioning the good sex scenes.

"...of interconnected standalones set in the Penny Reid multiverse of awesome romance - and is the first book in the Cipher Office series...." Read more

"...But she also had this vulnerability that made her so relatable and easy to root for. Especially as she started to take her life into her own hands...." Read more

"...but one of the reasons I read romance is to enjoy good sex scenes. Not gonna apologize for that, either...." Read more

"...The women that most stories disregard and this was a wonderful story that showcased how normal any woman can be...." Read more

22 customers mention "Humor"19 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it clean and witty with good dialogue, with one customer particularly appreciating the banter between Abel and Rian.

"...Rian is quirky, funny, kind and was a great and strong female character...." Read more

"...I adored Rian. She was sassy and witty and sharp. But she also had this vulnerability that made her so relatable and easy to root for...." Read more

"Overall, this was well written. Good stuff--strong dialogue. Well defined characters. I liked that the characters were older, and not 23!..." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. I loved the witty banter between Rian and her trainer Abel. I'm excited to read his story when it comes out...." Read more

22 customers mention "Readability"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and entertaining.

"...right amount of flawed to make his outward perfection bearable and believable...." Read more

"Overall, this was well written. Good stuff--strong dialogue. Well defined characters. I liked that the characters were older, and not 23!..." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. I loved the witty banter between Rian and her trainer Abel. I'm excited to read his story when it comes out...." Read more

"...This is a fun read from a different perspective (the obese, almost-on-the-shelf-but-don’t-care heroine) than what we normally see in this genre...." Read more

20 customers mention "Character development"17 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the well-defined characters in the book, particularly the likeable heroine, and one customer notes the varied author voices.

"...Rian is quirky, funny, kind and was a great and strong female character...." Read more

"...She's a real woman with a real figure. Hallefrickenluliah! Not so good stuff--too much repetition of the h's body issues...." Read more

"...I'm excited to read his story when it comes out. He is a great character...." Read more

"...There are some fun side characters like her trainer Abel, and smoothie bar tender Tabitha...." Read more

4 customers mention "Intelligence"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the intelligence of the book, with one mentioning it flawlessly enters the Smartypants Universe.

"...She’s smart, kind, witty, and likable...." Read more

"...I'm looking forward to the next one. I think this was a brilliant endeavor by Penny Reid and all of these amazing authors." Read more

"I love all the smarty pants books. This one was great because the characters were ADULTS! And the woman was overweight!..." Read more

"Flawlessly enters the Smartypants Universe!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Beauty"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful.

"Cute, funny & Witty! I definitely enjoyed it. It did drag in some areas. But for the most part it was enjoy able. I hope Francesca gets a book. &..." Read more

"Loved this so much! A well written, beautiful, witty romance. Can’t wait to read about the rest of the office and security!..." Read more

"Cute and well done...." Read more

3 customers mention "Love story"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the love story in the book, particularly the characters Rian and Carlos.

"I loved Rian and Carlos. Especially reading a romance about 'non-twenty somethings' was a bonus...." Read more

"Loved Rian and Carlos!..." Read more

"LOVED LOVED LOVED!!!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Romance"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the romance in the book, with some finding it very happy and kind, while others say there is no romance at all.

"...Rian is quirky, funny, kind and was a great and strong female character...." Read more

"...That's overkill. Also, there was virtually no sexual jeat between these two. When the sex finally did happen, it was hazy with virtually no details...." Read more

"...She’s smart, kind, witty, and likable...." Read more

"...The developed a friendship that was accompanied by a healthy attraction." Read more

Not my favorite of the bunch.
2 out of 5 stars
Not my favorite of the bunch.
I’m all for heroines who are happy with themselves and who they are and that their confidence and personality makes them likable. I just didn’t get it with this book. I’ve read several other of the smartypants books as I got them early at a convention. I’ve loved many that I’ve read, but this is not the best of them. There was no real drama in the book. No angst or anything really. The hardest part I had trouble believing is that this super handsome six pack toned guy was interested in someone who needed to lose 100 pounds. (Actual number listed.) I know it’s all of our fantasies, but I don’t find it really realistic. It wasn’t a plump or slightly overweight thing but the doctor said morbidly obese. And there didn’t really seem to be any reason to be attracted to her. So it was a miss for me. Second star simply because it was generally fine grammar wise and it wasn’t awful, just not one I’ll reread.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Lisa Hines
    5.0 out of 5 stars Review: Cipher Office 1: Weight Expectations
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    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!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • ANJasper
    4.0 out of 5 stars full of humor, life and heart
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Yes, yes, yes, yes YES!! This is my very first book from M.E. Carter and I absolutely LOVED IT! One of my favorite things about Weight Expectations was they way health and fitness was portrayed so realistically.

    I adored Rian. She was sassy and witty and sharp. But she also had this vulnerability that made her so relatable and easy to root for. Especially as she started to take her life into her own hands. Her health, her job, her mindset, her relationships. If only her new boss would stop giving her mixed messages.

    Carlos took me a minute to warm up to. He was friendly one moment, the next looking right through Rian. Except her wasn't really. He was trying not to look too hard. For some reason he couldn't get her out of his head.

    I loved how these two balanced each other out. Nerves of steel to anxiousness. Confidence to shyness. Compassion to aloofness. And so much more. Carlos lifted her up when she needed it, and she brought him back down a few notches when it was warranted. Carlos and Rian's opposites attract romance was so much more than learning to love someone else, it was learning to love yourself for all that you are and aren't.
    One person found this helpful
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  • RB
    3.0 out of 5 stars Some good dialogue and characterizations
    Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Overall, this was well written.

    Good stuff--strong dialogue. Well defined characters. I liked that the characters were older, and not 23! No virgins in sight, or surprise pregnancies, thank you, thank you, thank you! Also liked that the h was not super body perfect by impossible standards. She's a real woman with a real figure. Hallefrickenluliah!

    Not so good stuff--too much repetition of the h's body issues. Really, like every page it came up. That's overkill. Also, there was virtually no sexual jeat between these two. When the sex finally did happen, it was hazy with virtually no details. And, it was about 15 pages before the end of the story. I kept thinking there was something about to happen, but nope. I don't need porn (nothing wrong with that), but one of the reasons I read romance is to enjoy good sex scenes. Not gonna apologize for that, either. Gabriel's story was smokin hot, so I'm not getting the blurry, " imagine it in your mind" method here. Just sayin.

    Not sure if I want to read others in the series if they are as tepid as this one.
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  • Sassycatsmom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved Rian and Carlos!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book. I loved the witty banter between Rian and her trainer Abel. I'm excited to read his story when it comes out. He is a great character. Carlos was someone who really didn't know what a real relationship was like. He was satisfied with casual sexual encounters until he happened to meet Rian by chance. Rian was a bigger girl who decided to start working out and the gym and eating healthier. She had some insecurities about her appearance, but don't we all. She wasn't his normal type, but he soon realizes that she was the one he was waiting for all of his life. I feel like the two of them really balanced each other out quite well. He builds her up, and she reins in his ego. It's Code Red at Cipher Security! 😉
    One person found this helpful
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  • JR
    4.0 out of 5 stars Feisty, likeable heroine
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Our heroine, Rian (pronounced Ryan) is morbidly obese. After a dismal doctor appointment, she is told she needs to start exercising and eating better to get healthy. I like that she’s a bit older, at 37, and her focus is on health, not losing weight or appearance. There’s a lot in here about big women and all the comments people feel free to make about/to them regarding all aspects of their lives. She’s smart, kind, witty, and likable.

    Carlos is a vain, but more or less good hearted person who at the age of 40 is so scarred by his parents’ relationship and friends’s divorces that he has never even had one romantic relationship in his life. He focuses on his body, health, and awesome job at Cipher Security Systems.

    There are some fun side characters like her trainer Abel, and smoothie bar tender Tabitha. The book switches perspective from Rian to Carlos, and is about their relationship and friends, with mention of characters from Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series (Janie is pregnant on bed rest and Quinn is losing his mind). There’s growth in both characters as the story progresses.

    This is a fun read from a different perspective (the obese, almost-on-the-shelf-but-don’t-care heroine) than what we normally see in this genre. Definitely recommend.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • violetjem
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cauliflower mash!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I actually enjoyed this book it was funny & had emotions that we've all dealt with
    Rian is our lead & due to health worries joins a gym were the banter between her & Abel the trainer was hysterical
    The part about ''bambi'' had me laughing out loud
    Carlos is our very self assured male lead, an older guy he is a total gym buck doesnt do love or dates till he meets Rian & has to second quess his choices in life
    Report
  • D.S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars 100% would recommend
    Reviewed in Canada on November 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    There is nothing I did not like about this book. I liked it that the characters were flawed. I liked it that he had cringe worthy moments. I liked it that she struggled but deep down knew her worth. I laughed, a lot, reading this book. All feel good, no angst, fun.
    Report
  • Kindle-Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super
    Reviewed in Germany on January 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Es war eins der lustigsten Bücher, die ich seit langem gelesen habe. Es hat Spaß gemacht und war herzerwärmend. Ich kann es nur empfehlen.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Motivating
    Reviewed in Australia on January 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Ok so some of us ladies that read romance are over 30 and just maybe on the curvier plus size side and this story was never condescending but managed to highlight a heap of insecurities that I'm sure we've all faced. It also made me laugh out loud. Worth a read
    Report
  • MrsDemon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Okay
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the story, I liked the characters and I liked they got their happy ever after ending, but it took a long time to get there! I like the fact that we get glimpses of characters from Penny Reid's universe.
    Report

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