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therecoveringbookworm's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Fatphobia
Moderate: Biphobia
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.25
Finished reading: September 5th 2024
“I'm fat and I take up space, but that's okay... I'm allowed to take up space just as much as anyone else.”
WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion review!!
I confess that I only picked up this title because I needed a book about K-pop for the POPSUGAR challenge. I hardly know anything about K-pop, although I read XOXO earlier this year which gave me some insight... I did like the sound of the premise of I'll Be The One with the plus-sized main character joining the K-pop star reality TV contest, and I was hoping for a fun and empowering read. Sadly, I ended up struggling considerably with this story instead. This mainly had to do with the main character and the overpowering focus on the fact that she is plus-size. It seems to be her main and just about only character trait apart from her singing and dancing talent... Don't get me wrong, I love a story focusing on body positivity, but why does Skye have to almost feel like a martyr instead of a strong but relatable human being?! Seriously, the bodyshaming, fatphobia and abuse is CONSTANT and coming in from all angles, and it overshadowed the rest of the plot for me. I felt like I never got to know Skye beyond this abuse, her talent and the fact that she is bi, and she just felt way too one-dimensional for me. I actually liked the side characters a lot better! The romance itself felt quite cliche though and I never felt the connection was there. This might just have to do with the fact that Skye's personality lacked fleshing out... Either way, I'll Be The One was most definitely a miss for me, and not the fun and engaging YA contemporary I thought it was going to be. I seem to be in the minority though, so it might just be my fickle reading mood acting up again?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
brookey8888's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
This was so cute!
I just loved the body positivity and the fat representation and how inspiring Skye was. I honestly didn’t care much for the competition or the K-pop stuff, but it was cute. The romance was adorable as well as the friendships. I also really appreciated the talk of emotional abuse.
I just loved the body positivity and the fat representation and how inspiring Skye was. I honestly didn’t care much for the competition or the K-pop stuff, but it was cute. The romance was adorable as well as the friendships. I also really appreciated the talk of emotional abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, and Cultural appropriation
peachylite's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Eating disorder and Xenophobia
delia's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
This was a fun read! And it might be the first time while reading a book I've thought, "This would be such a cute movie!" I did feel like there were some weird moments of characterization that felt slightly inconsistent to me. But it ultimately was nothing big enough to stop me from finishing this in one sitting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
zgreyz's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Fatphobia
musicalcows's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Would’ve been 3.5 but the author acknowledges at the end that she isn’t plus-size herself, and it’s really uncomfortable when people tell stories that aren’t theirs to tell.
Otherwise cute, very body positive, queer representation, a little family growth. I’m a sucker for the “falling for the celebrity” trope. This would've been life-changing to read in middle school, but again, non-fat people shouldn't tell fat stories.
Otherwise cute, very body positive, queer representation, a little family growth. I’m a sucker for the “falling for the celebrity” trope. This would've been life-changing to read in middle school, but again, non-fat people shouldn't tell fat stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Fatphobia
Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A solidly decent book— I liked it enough and there wasn’t anything I actively disliked, but it didn’t wow me in any way. It was a cute concept and had lots of potential, but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
While I loved the bi + Korean + plus size rep, I honestly could have had less focus on Skye’s body. I did like the confrontation she ended up having with her mother and that things were positive in the end, but I think the writing was missing the finesse to make it really hard hitting.
Overall, not a bad debut and I think I would read from this author again. But there were WAY too many Harry Potter references for a book published in 2020.
While I loved the bi + Korean + plus size rep, I honestly could have had less focus on Skye’s body. I did like the confrontation she ended up having with her mother and that things were positive in the end, but I think the writing was missing the finesse to make it really hard hitting.
Overall, not a bad debut and I think I would read from this author again. But there were WAY too many Harry Potter references for a book published in 2020.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria
evilplants's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia