chasingholden's review
4.0
What happens when we adopt the one-size-fits-all mentality that has been expected of society for far too long? Jo Watson has taken this question and answered it in a very cute way with Big Boned.
Lori has always felt different. She never looked like the popular girls and growing up , she learned early that kids can be cruel, driving her to an Art school where she thrived until her mom decides to uproot her and her brother and move outside the city forcing Lori to enter a new school, one where everyone and everything seems perfect, Well, everything except Lori herself that is.
With sharp wit and beautifully crafted prose, Big Boned addresses many difficult themes, shattering stereotypes with her multidimensional characters and expertly crafted, highly relatable metaphors woven throughout the story this is an adorable rom-com perfect for teens.
It did take me a bit to get in to the story but once I did I was hooked. This is the type of YA novel I wish I had had available to me when I was a pre-teen, and one that I will be sure to put on my daughters shelf as soon as possible. I highly recommend this for anyone above the age of 12 or so.
Don't miss the opportunity to experience the magic this gem has to offer us and our children!
Thank you to netgalley, Wattpad Publishing, and Jo Watson for providing an advanced e-copy for me to read and share my honest opinion.
Lori has always felt different. She never looked like the popular girls and growing up , she learned early that kids can be cruel, driving her to an Art school where she thrived until her mom decides to uproot her and her brother and move outside the city forcing Lori to enter a new school, one where everyone and everything seems perfect, Well, everything except Lori herself that is.
With sharp wit and beautifully crafted prose, Big Boned addresses many difficult themes, shattering stereotypes with her multidimensional characters and expertly crafted, highly relatable metaphors woven throughout the story this is an adorable rom-com perfect for teens.
It did take me a bit to get in to the story but once I did I was hooked. This is the type of YA novel I wish I had had available to me when I was a pre-teen, and one that I will be sure to put on my daughters shelf as soon as possible. I highly recommend this for anyone above the age of 12 or so.
Don't miss the opportunity to experience the magic this gem has to offer us and our children!
Thank you to netgalley, Wattpad Publishing, and Jo Watson for providing an advanced e-copy for me to read and share my honest opinion.
aclopez6's review
5.0
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read an arc version of this book!
Big Boned focuses on Lori Patty Palmer, an artistic 17-year-old who has recently moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town. She misses city life and recognizes that her family is moving to provide a more supportive environment for her 9-year-old brother, Zac (who is on the autism spectrum), and to help her Mom expand her business. As the title suggests, Lori is on the heavier side. Some of the language at the start of the book could be triggering to folks navigating body image (ex. "my pale, flabby thighs that touch, my stomach that oozed..those flappy bits of fat on your arms that jiggle when you wave at people"). However, Lori does grow throughout the book!
There are a lot of humorous moments throughout this book (ex. "...he was stupidly good looking. The kind of good looking that should not be allowed to exist in nature. It was almost unnatural. As if he was the product of some secret CRISPR experiment), and it is ultimately a feel-good, body-positive, therapy-positive book. Some of the writing feels disjointed, and as though one more round of editing could make it feel smoother, but the actual plot and characters -- love it. I would gratefully add a copy to my classroom library.
Big Boned focuses on Lori Patty Palmer, an artistic 17-year-old who has recently moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town. She misses city life and recognizes that her family is moving to provide a more supportive environment for her 9-year-old brother, Zac (who is on the autism spectrum), and to help her Mom expand her business. As the title suggests, Lori is on the heavier side. Some of the language at the start of the book could be triggering to folks navigating body image (ex. "my pale, flabby thighs that touch, my stomach that oozed..those flappy bits of fat on your arms that jiggle when you wave at people"). However, Lori does grow throughout the book!
There are a lot of humorous moments throughout this book (ex. "...he was stupidly good looking. The kind of good looking that should not be allowed to exist in nature. It was almost unnatural. As if he was the product of some secret CRISPR experiment), and it is ultimately a feel-good, body-positive, therapy-positive book. Some of the writing feels disjointed, and as though one more round of editing could make it feel smoother, but the actual plot and characters -- love it. I would gratefully add a copy to my classroom library.
jennifergallo's review
3.0
Big Boned by Jo Watson
New nerd on the block, Lori, falls for her brother's hot jock friend, Jake. This is a standalone, YA contemporary romance novel. A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl overcoming body-issues with self-love and the support of her family and friends. This is the first book I've read by the author but I'll be sure to pick up more of her titles! Any fans of Dumplin’ or Leah on the Offbeat would enjoy this book.
Check out Big Boned by Jo Watson and be sure to get this standalone YA rom-com wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3kmHXo3
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3AqSy6W
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/2XwVj8t
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/2Z5TTSV
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3zlQOLa
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/2XuWXqU
TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, new adult romance, young adult, YA romance, mental health, anxiety, depression, bullying, underage drinking, autism
MY RATING: 3.5/5 stars
MY RATING SYSTEM:
1 star = I don't recommend the book
2 stars = I would not read the book again
3 stars = I enjoyed the book
4 stars = I liked the book and would recommend to others
5 stars = Everyone should read the book; I would read the book again & again
*Thanks to NetGalley, WattPad Books and Jo Watson for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #NetGalley #BigBoned #JoWatson #WattPadBooks @JoWatsonWrites @WattPadBooks
New nerd on the block, Lori, falls for her brother's hot jock friend, Jake. This is a standalone, YA contemporary romance novel. A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl overcoming body-issues with self-love and the support of her family and friends. This is the first book I've read by the author but I'll be sure to pick up more of her titles! Any fans of Dumplin’ or Leah on the Offbeat would enjoy this book.
Check out Big Boned by Jo Watson and be sure to get this standalone YA rom-com wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3kmHXo3
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3AqSy6W
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/2XwVj8t
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/2Z5TTSV
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3zlQOLa
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/2XuWXqU
TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, new adult romance, young adult, YA romance, mental health, anxiety, depression, bullying, underage drinking, autism
MY RATING: 3.5/5 stars
MY RATING SYSTEM:
1 star = I don't recommend the book
2 stars = I would not read the book again
3 stars = I enjoyed the book
4 stars = I liked the book and would recommend to others
5 stars = Everyone should read the book; I would read the book again & again
*Thanks to NetGalley, WattPad Books and Jo Watson for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #NetGalley #BigBoned #JoWatson #WattPadBooks @JoWatsonWrites @WattPadBooks
gwensadventure's review
3.0
As a lifelong fat person who never saw any positive representation in books or literally any media, I just KNEW I had to get my hands on this one. I spent a lovely day on the beach and read this whole book!
I liked how the main character went to therapy, communicated with her support network and eventually worked out her issues (but was still dealing with them in the end--not knowing your worth is not something that changes overnight!!) The book deals with TONS of serious issues including mental health issues, denial of self worth, inattentive parents, and having a sibling with a disability and I thought it was interesting to see the intersection and all of that was addressed in a healthy way.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and had fun reading it once I got into the story. I felt the beginning was a little slow, but it does pick up!! I also felt like the book was cheesy and predictable...and I LOVED that about it. This was cute and could definitely be a good read, especially for young people who are dealing with any/all of the issues addressed!
I liked how the main character went to therapy, communicated with her support network and eventually worked out her issues (but was still dealing with them in the end--not knowing your worth is not something that changes overnight!!) The book deals with TONS of serious issues including mental health issues, denial of self worth, inattentive parents, and having a sibling with a disability and I thought it was interesting to see the intersection and all of that was addressed in a healthy way.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and had fun reading it once I got into the story. I felt the beginning was a little slow, but it does pick up!! I also felt like the book was cheesy and predictable...and I LOVED that about it. This was cute and could definitely be a good read, especially for young people who are dealing with any/all of the issues addressed!
raebrock's review against another edition
5.0
I am blown away by how much I loved this book. This might be the most accurate depiction of life as a fat girl that I’ve ever read, at least in my experience. It was uncomfortably real sometimes. I teared up quite a few times because I just related so much. The bullying from others that becomes so ingrained that you become your own most spiteful tormentor. The anxiety and fear and loss of trust so that someone being nice to you feels so foreign you assume it must be a trick - especially when the other person is conventionally attractive. And her relationship with her autistic brother was so thoughtfully portrayed as well. I didn’t expect this much from this book going in but I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
jessicat10's review
3.0
I feel conflicted on this one. It had a good overall message. I enjoyed that it was about a plus size girl. I liked how her and her crush bonded over their lives. I feel like this book tried to be too many things at once though and tackle too many subjects.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
kookie9200's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGallley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
I thought this novel was a sweet coming of age story. It wasn't too complicated or drawn out, and it didn't focus on the main character changing to become someone she wasn't or losing weight to fit in. Instead, it was about growth and acceptance.
I thought this novel was a sweet coming of age story. It wasn't too complicated or drawn out, and it didn't focus on the main character changing to become someone she wasn't or losing weight to fit in. Instead, it was about growth and acceptance.