pages_with_panda's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
Liked it! Cute, coming-of-age story (female main character is 17 (high-school age), romantic, humorous, heart-warming.
I would've loved to see a book like this when I was in high school.
(Just an FYI, the majority of this book is about Charlie being fat and it being a major plot point. It's not just a book with a fat character, which I know makes a difference to some people).
I liked how fleshed out all the characters were. They all had their own insecurities, personalities, stories and it was a very diverse cast of characters.
Charlie's growth was really cute and I'm glad she got to stand up for herself. Her relationship with Brian was really cute and I like the realistic portrayal between her and her mother - like not everything end nicely wrapped in a bow, but some small steps are progress.
The beginning was a bit hard to get through because of all the negativity, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Charlie really comes around and learned to love herself, stick up for herself, and prioritize her happiness.
Some quotes:
I would've loved to see a book like this when I was in high school.
(Just an FYI, the majority of this book is about Charlie being fat and it being a major plot point. It's not just a book with a fat character, which I know makes a difference to some people).
I liked how fleshed out all the characters were. They all had their own insecurities, personalities, stories and it was a very diverse cast of characters.
Charlie's growth was really cute and I'm glad she got to stand up for herself. Her relationship with Brian was really cute and I like the realistic portrayal between her and her mother - like not everything end nicely wrapped in a bow, but some small steps are progress.
The beginning was a bit hard to get through because of all the negativity, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Charlie really comes around and learned to love herself, stick up for herself, and prioritize her happiness.
Some quotes:
I believe that people can be healthy at any size. I think other fat girls are absolutely beautiful. But my mind struggles to bridge the gap between the two ideologies. (p. 25). Holiday House. Kindle Edition.
“I’m just over all these men! They want so much from you. Be beautiful but not too beautiful; thin but not too thin; feminine but not too feminine. On dates, it’s the same thing—talk, but not too much. Ask them questions about themselves, but not too many questions. I’m exhausted.” (p. 98). Holiday House. Kindle Edition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
reading_christine's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Emotional abuse
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
This is one of those rare gems of a book that just makes me feel so incredibly seen, and tugged at my heartstrings in the best ways. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is at its heart a romance, but the way Crystal Maldonado depicts friendships, and being a daughter to an emotionally abusive Mother is what captured my love for this book.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia
hannaws's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
You can’t. You have to really be kind to yourself and look out for yourself because the world can be cold and cruel. Don’t feel bad, ever, about putting yourself first. Promise!
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
monicalaurette's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
“Life may be shitty. But in moments like these, everything feels like it might just be all right.”
This book was like a hug to my younger high school self. Now I wish I was more like Charlie growing up - as I’m a little like an adult version of her (just white, so maybe not an adult version). I picked up this book without knowing anything about it one day at the bookstore. I knew that I at least had to give it a try for my past and present self as a plus-size girl & woman.
I enjoyed following Charlie in this book. Her and I are very similar in the way we see the world and some of the people around us in our lives: so that was great to unpack with myself while reading 😅. At the beginning of the story when she was getting ready for the dance and her date - I was so nervous about how that scene would play out that I just didn’t pick up the book for a while. I didn’t want to read any fat-related humiliation: but to be a slight spoiler: don’t worry it’s not that way, it’s not like a big scene in front of everyone like I thought it would be. After I was able to get past that point in the book I read the rest of the book in two days through work.
“And now I’m not sure I ever want to think about loving someone ever again.”
There were really only two things I didn’t like about the book, one of which was the third act break-up from a relationship & friendship. I knew that she’d find out Brian asked Amelia out first as it was in the summary, but I didn’t realize how close to the end of the story it would be - and then the following reconciliations afterwards I felt were very fast and didn’t give as much as I wanted from the self-esteem journey that Charlie went through at the end. I wished there had been more of that part to experience.
The other part I didn’t like was how many parentheses were used to convey an additional thought or clarifying bit of information from in Charlie’s head. I’m not against that type of grammatical piece, but I felt that it was used too much when those additional thoughts could have just been part of Charlie’s inner monologue and almost (to me, mind you) aged her down below sixteen/seventeen.
Besides those two things though, I found that by the end I really liked the book and found a few tears in my eyes. I hope that this book stays a great book for young, plus-size girls to let them remember that they deserve that happy ending and just a happy life in general. If I had gotten this book while in high school I know I would have loved it. Charlie may have even been an inspiration to change my life sooner, but it’s never late than never to make Charlie proud.
“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!
Content Warnings
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexism and Death of parent
olliereadabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
river_the_enby's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming
Moderate: Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
well i absolutely love Charlie and hope she’s doing great 🦋
this is really good YA fiction - not only does Maldonado address fat phobia and body shame, and fully embrace body positivity, she gave us a full array of diverse characters to love and empathize with and admire. it has realistic friendships anddd i thought the relationship with Charlie and her mom felt extremely authentic and relatable. this is such an important book and am so happy for every person who sees themself represented here
i will never get over how beautiful the cover is 😍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse