mrsherrera's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Racism
behindherpages's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Grief, Eating disorder, and Death of parent
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
- 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
Charlie has come second place her whole life to her skinny and stunning best friend Amelia, boys talk to her just to get to Amelia, and even her Mother seems more focused on complimenting how skinny she is then noticing Charlie. As much as Charlie strives to be body positive and love herself, finding out her new boyfriend actually asked out Amelia first sends her spiraling, and brings up must needed conversations.
I have never read a more realistic depiction of a Mother/Daughter relationship, and it was so heart wrenching. (I cried like a baby reading this) I would have given the world to be exposed to this book as a child, there were absolutely zero stories about fat brown girls in the library when I was a kid, let alone imperfect Mothers. (No, seriously)
I was hoping Charlie's relationship with her Mom would be resolved, but the fact that it isn't just hits harder, and is more realistic than if she just stopped being an emotionally abusive narcissist. (The highs and lows of narcissism and body shaming really took me back to my childhood guys)
If you want to read this please check your content warnings first, especially if you have ever suffered from fatphobia, body shaming, or have general mommy issues.
A must read for anyone, this is a true gem.
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia
hannaws's review against another edition
- 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 book. This book.. Wow! I finished reading yesterday and I have been trying to gather my thoughts around before sitting down to write this. I'm not a good reviewer normally anyway, but with scattered brain, even worse. But I tried to sort through my thoughts and organize them, so we'll see what this becomes in the end. (spoiler: I'm pretty sure it'll be a mess, like always)
I see so much myself in Charlie. I, too, have a shitty relationship with my mom, if any even. She has always only seen my little siblings, I've been, and still am apparently, the biggest mistake and disappointment. So I kind of liked seeing a character go through that. I mean, obviously no one ever deserves being treated that way! But you know, see that maybe not everyone has their life all perfect.
Anyway, Charlie has it hard on all fronts. She definitely deserves a crown, okay! Because she is going through some shite in her home that no one ever should be going through, but on top of that, it is not easy for her in her social life either. But SHE. WALKS. THROUGH. IT. Like the freaking Queen she is. I agree that she could have handled some things a little differently, but at the same time I understand. She has been putting up with a lot, and when the bubble bursts, there's no stopping it.
I very much liked all the other characters as well. Brian especially. Though, being an adult this feels kind of wrong saying this. Anyway, I think we all should learn something from Brian, okay. He sees Charlie as an amazing person. Exactly, he sees her as a person! He doesn't see just a fat brown girl. He sees an amazing person.
All the character are well written. They all have different personalities, different hardships in their life. I'm saying that I went through all kinds of feelings with them.
Cal can burn in hell. That's all I'm saying. And the mom too.
And from mom we get to move on to the plot. I really liked that. It moved on in a rather nice speed. There are so many lessons in there for each of us to think. None of us is perfect, literally no one is.
But I still hate the mom quite bad. That is something I haven't gotten past. Every single time she made an appearance, she never once had anything nice to say! And every single time I felt like ripping the book apart. You can not treat your daughter like that! What the heck is wrong with you?! Yes, you both lost someone. Charlie a dad, you a husband. But that still doesn't give you the right to deal with that by bullying your own freaking daughter! Like what?!
During yet another argument where she has again been bullying her daughter about everything, mostly about her being fat, again. She ends it by saying: I'm sorry I care about you, Charlie. Sooo sorry! And let me tell you, I haven't been that much in rage in a long time. That is not a genuine apology. And you too shouldn't even be in that situation! If you are not fine with your own body, you have no right to take it on your daughter! Gosh.
They did have some kind of a conversation, to make it all better. Talk it over and all that. But I still don't really think that the mom really realizes what she did wrong. I don't the she grew to be any better.
But Brian's moms were amazing!
All in all, now that I have gotten all that rant out of me. This is an amazing book about a young lady growing up. It was a little hard to read at some points because it took me back to my childhood, which was pretty much as shitty with my mom and being fully bullied at school. But I think that on some levels that made the book just that much better. Being so true, you know.
Graphic: Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
monicalaurette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“Life may be shitty. But in moments like these, everything feels like it might just be all right.”
“And now I’m not sure I ever want to think about loving someone ever again.”
“It’s the first year where I don’t waste my wish on being skinny; I wish for more happy moments like this.”
Spoiler
I’m glad that after the dance, Cal was basically not seen again. If he kept coming back into Charlie’s life and playing with their emotions I would not have liked this book as much.Spoiler
I also remember when I first realized that I was bigger, and it changed my life forever since. And like Charlie it was another classmate that said it. So I hope that kids growing up now and in the future will maybe….not do that.Spoiler
THE BOOKSTORE CAT BEING NAMED CHAPTER WAS THE CUTEST PART OF THIS WHOLE BOOK I’M UPSET I’VE NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT!Spoiler
Called Amelia an ally (for plus-size people) and then she was pan. TALK VALENTINA!Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Dysphoria, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
Minor: Toxic friendship and Sexual content
ksuazo94's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexism and Death of parent
bookwormbullet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I would've liked to see more conversations between Charlie and Amelia and Charlie and her mom about the issues Charlie had with them and the issues she had with herself because of what she perceived of them. It seemed like Charlie would just have to suffer the constant low-key emotional abuse from her mom and no one was going to do anything about it.
The characters themselves- some I really liked some I had mixed feelings on. Loved Charlie's cousins. When she said how they would kind of make fun of her for not knowing Spanish reminded me of my cousins making fun of me for not knowing Indonesian. Would've liked to see how Charlie interact with her mom's side of the family though! I overall liked Charlie but there were so many moments in the book where I got annoyed or frustrated with her and rolled my eyes at the things she said/did. Same goes for Amelia but to a lesser extent since she wasn't the main character/focus. Brian was def the most consistently liked main/minor character for me although there were times I was like "he's TOO sweet/perfect/understanding" and i would've liked if Charlie could've gotten out of her own head and realized that he probs gets a lot of her body insecurities because he's chubby/fat too. But she's a teen and I remember when I was a teen and wrapped up in my insecurities. I think I'm just getting old haha
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Toxic friendship