Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - Mile High

I’ve seen many people speak very highly of this book. I thought I'd try it because I wanted a quick and easy read. To start with the good, I found this book funny in some parts and heartfelt in others. I liked the concept of the “forbidden trope” with no fraternization with clients. I thought it made the storyline intriguing. I liked Zander's sweet side and that we could see his fears and vulnerabilities. I found Stevie funny at times and relatable at points.

Now, I do have some reservations about this book. First and foremost, I found that writing style could use some revision. How the characters were described made me question whether I wanted to continue reading. Let's be honest; how many times did I have to read that Zander is a 6’5 defensive hockey player who wears chains? I also understand that his niece is three. These are just some descriptions to make examples of. There are many ways to describe someone's stature, appearance, and age. Once someone is specifically described, re-using the same descriptors is comes off as unnecessary. Recycling descriptions are one of my book pet peeves 😫. Secondly, I understand that Zander’s “persona” was a big part of the plot and that his agent was the middleman. I kept thinking that Zander was not a rookie, and if he had suspicions about his agent, it couldn't be impossible for him to reach out on his own. Especially given how skilled the book portrays him to be. I kept getting frustrated with how easily this problem could have been solved.

WARNING! This is my opinion! I found Stevie's mother borderline… prejudiced. It just didn’t sit right with me some of the excuses that Stevie had for her mom. She is a white southern woman who has a half-black daughter and… “she’s not used to curves” or “But I don’t know what she expected. Her husband, the other half of my DNA, looks nothing like the ginger hair, freckled, thin-framed side of my mom’s family.” Stevies white side of the family. Or “I want to be proud that I’m half of a remarkable man, but it’s hard to be proud of anything when my own mother is disappointed in everything I do.” This just made me uncomfortable and the book didn't address this at all! Only that her mom is toxic but in the harsh meddling mother type of way. I thought that Stevie and her mother's issue had a racial aspect. I could go down a rabbit hole with this one but I digressed 🤷🏾‍♀️.

Overall I did enjoy this book but I’m unsure if I’m going to read the rest of the series, I don’t think it’s for me.

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Hero keeps a notes app where he rates his sexual partners across the country, so he knows who to hook up with when he visits those cities for his games. Why do female authors keep writing male characters like this, thinking it’s somehow sexy or appealing? He’s depicted as the biggest womanizer yet claims not to be what the media portrays him as. Deep down, he’s supposedly a sweet and good guy, but the author never shows this. Just going to therapy doesn't make him a great person; he should ask for a refund because he’s still an asshole.

Then there's the heroine, whose work clothes are too small because her weight fluctuates. Why didn’t she just get a bigger size? This seems like a subtle way for the author to call her fat, which I find offensive. I hate female characters who are so insecure that they constantly compare themselves to other women as if they’re in competition. Her energy screams "not like the other girls," as she can be rude to him, unlike other women who are supposedly starstruck by him. How realistic.

This book comes across as extremely misogynistic. I seriously question anyone who read it and didn't feel uncomfortable with the stereotypes and derogatory descriptions of all the characters. Stop objectifying people—it's not cute.

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