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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
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
sehenry20's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
geno's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
cheezyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Okay that was really stinking cute. I picked it up for a reading challenge and honestly I am glad I did. It deals with hard topics but does it in a way that feels natural.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
nuuamuikkunen's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Lighthearted and easy to ready. Loved all the depictions into what it’s like to grow up within the korean culture. I think the book is a refreshing perspective to dealing with fatphobia. Also the bi representation was just a cherry on top of everything! . I’m hoping more of the books from the author have very similar topics in them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia and Cultural appropriation
whitedaylilies'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, and Fatphobia