The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Stayman-London, Kate. One to Watch. The Dial Press, 2020. Paperback.

One to Watch starts with Bea Schumacher beginning her journey in Paris where she is inspired to write about fashion. Ten years later, Bea is a successful plus-sized fashion blogger who struggles with her feelings toward a man named Ray. The two sleep together, even though he is engaged to another woman, but Ray abandons her and refuses to return any of her calls or emails. Bea is heartbroken, but her friend Marin helps her through it as they decide to watch the reality television show Main Squeeze. This is where a group of men or women all try to get the affections of one person known as the Main Squeeze. After Bea gives a scathing review of the show, she is surprised to meet the new director Lauren who offers Bea a position as the next Main Squeeze. Bea accepts and is caught up in a whirlwind of press releases and interviews before the show airs.

However, when Bea meets the men, many of them seem surprised by her weight and one man even walks off stage. Lauren later reveals that she orchestrated that to make the audience love Bea, but promises not to do something like that again. This is where Bea meets Asher, Sam, Luc, and Wyatt, four of the numerous suitors. Bea has Lauren choose who to send home on the first night.

Bea’s first date is on a yacht, where Lauren convinces her to wear a bikini even though Bea does not want to. On the yacht, many of the men make fun of or objectify Bea, and Asher says that he thinks she is not looking for love like the other Main Squeezes. This angers Bea, even though she knows it is true. At night, Luc visits her hotel room, and Bea gets her first kiss.

After the ratings for the first episode tank, Bea promises to do better and is surprised to learn that Marin chose the first two men for Bea’s solo date: Asher and Sam. She and Sam go to Disneyland where they develop an instant connection even though Sam is younger than Bea. When he tries to kiss her, she rejects him, as she is afraid of getting hurt. Later, she meets Asher at a museum and he apologizes, saying that he did not realize that the men had treated her so poorly. The two enjoy their time together. However, when Bea expects to kiss Asher, he turns her down, upsetting Bea.

The fourth episode sees Bea and the men traveling to Bea’s hometown to meet her family. At first, Bea goes on a prom date with Wyatt where she learns that he has never had sex. At home, Bea talks to her parents, Sue and Bob, who tell her that she needs to choose love and a family in order to be happy. Bea talks to Asher who reveals that he did not kiss her because he does not want to let his children down. Meanwhile, Bea’s brothers are talking to the various men and even pull a prank on the season’s villains, Nash and Cooper, for calling Bea a cow.

The fifth episode takes the remaining men and Bea to Morocco where she spends time with everyone but Wyatt. Her first date is with Sam where the two enjoy belly dancing at a fancy restaurant and a spa day. The two kiss and both admit that they like each other. Her second date is with Luc who visits her room after the date with no cameras. The two argue because Bea believes he is only on the show to further his career, while Luc argues that Bea is doing the same thing. The two make up and share a kiss. Bea’s third date is with Asher and Jefferson. After a comfortable time with Jefferson, Bea learns that Asher is jealous over the other men. Bea soothes his fears by saying she did not sleep with Luc and the two talk about Asher’s children, Gwen and Linus. He says he is afraid of putting them on national television and that it is up to Bea to choose whether or not to meet them.

At the kiss-off ceremony, Bea kicks off Jefferson. However, he insults her weight and says that the other men have been saying mean things behind her back, leaving Bea heartbroken. However, the remaining four men all assure Bea that they want to be there, and Bea accepts their own kiss-off ceremony.

Bea then visits all of the men’s hometowns except for Luc, whom she visits in New York. It is here that she learns that he sleeps with lots of women and is concerned about a relationship with him. When they are alone, Luc tells her that she believes Jefferson because she does not see herself the way he does. He allows her to slap him.

Bea then goes on a date with Wyatt and his family, where she learns that Wyatt does not have romantic feelings for anyone. He tells her that he would be happy to stay on the show and propose to her just so she can have a happy ending, even though they would never marry.

Her next date is with Asher where she enjoys one of his teaching seminars before meeting his children. Linus is excited, but Gwen is skeptical. Bea tells them that her own father walked out on her family when she was younger and says that she is not trying to replace their mother. Once Bea says they all have to chose each other, Gwen seems to loosen up.

Bea’s last date is with Sam and his family where she learns that Sam’s parents are putting a lot of pressure on him to move out and find a stable job. She defends Sam and he thanks her. At the kiss-off ceremony, Bea initially chooses Wyatt, Sam, and Asher. However, she decides to send Wyatt home instead of Luc, and he admits his asexuality on camera and leaves the set.

The group then goes to Paris where she enjoys dates with the remaining three men. After her date with Sam, he refuses to spend the night with her, as he wants to show that he loves her without sleeping with her. While Bea is hurt by this, she then goes on a date with Asher and learns that his former wife, Vanessa, cheated on him and ended the marriage because she was unhappy after having children. She asks him to spend the night, but he too rejects her, thinking about his children. Finally, she has a fairy-tale esque date with Luc who does agree to go back to the hotel with her, and the two sleep together. However, the next morning Bea catches Luc with Lauren and decides to kick him off the show. Suddenly, Ray arrives proclaiming his love for Bea and saying he broke off his engagement to be with her. Asher is furious and leaves, meaning only Sam and Ray are left.

The next day, Bea is furious that Lauren brought Ray onto the show and talks to her best friend Marin about it. The two get into an argument when Bea says she should give Ray a chance even though he hurt her for such a long time. Bea decides to go on date with Ray and the two talk about all the times he rejected her over the years. She then goes on a date with Sam and realizes she knows what decision she wants to make. In the end, Bea rejects both Sam and Ray and chooses herself.

Bea returns home and announces a break from her blog and is finally free of her feelings for Ray. In preparation for the Reunion Show, Bea believes that Asher will not come. Bea meets Lauren before the show and says she changed Bea’s life. Bea talks about her experience on the show and the various men arrive one at a time. This includes Ray, and Bea admits that she ignores all of his messages and even reached out to Sarah to apologize. Bea says she will never let Ray hurt her again. Sam arrives and is announced as the next Main Squeeze. Bea then learns that everyone in the audience is plus-sized and sent her letters during production. In the end, she learns that Asher refused to join the show. Asher’s children then tell him that Bea was disappointed to not see him, and they make him promise to think about Bea.

Later, Asher meets Bea at a museum and apologizes for what he did. He admits that he struggled with the show because of his jealousy and Ray exasperated it. Bea admits that she wants to be with him. In the epilogue, the author ensures that the reader knows what happened to all of the characters and Asher eventually proposes to Bea. The novel ends without her giving an answer.