mrsherrera's review against another edition
emotional
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: Toxic relationship, Grief, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Racism
eicart_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Wonderful book. Don't read the back cover copy first (it spoils something that happens at the 85% mark!)
Charlie Vega is a fat, Brown girl trying to shine in a world that does its best to make her feel less than. Sixteen, soon to be seventeen -- life is hard in so many ways. (I'm so glad I'm not a teenager!)
This book was difficult at times, watching Charlie deal with fatphobia and fat shaming, especially from her mom. Diet culture is so pervasive that even a mom who used to be fat still pushes that slim "ideal" on her daughter.
But this story is also filled with joy, growth, an amazing best friendship, and hope. I loved reading about Charlie's journey!
I wish I could have read this book when I was a fat teenager who had a complex, often difficult, relationship with my mother. I'm glad I read it now as an adult, and I'm happy it's out there for teens who will read it and feel seen and validated.
CW for
I read half on audio, half in print. The audiobook narrator was good but didn't really use different voices for the different characters. I switched to print so I could finish more quickly for my book club deadline!
Charlie Vega is a fat, Brown girl trying to shine in a world that does its best to make her feel less than. Sixteen, soon to be seventeen -- life is hard in so many ways. (I'm so glad I'm not a teenager!)
This book was difficult at times, watching Charlie deal with fatphobia and fat shaming, especially from her mom. Diet culture is so pervasive that even a mom who used to be fat still pushes that slim "ideal" on her daughter.
But this story is also filled with joy, growth, an amazing best friendship, and hope. I loved reading about Charlie's journey!
I wish I could have read this book when I was a fat teenager who had a complex, often difficult, relationship with my mother. I'm glad I read it now as an adult, and I'm happy it's out there for teens who will read it and feel seen and validated.
CW for
Spoiler
fat shaming, fatphobia, diet culture, toxic/gaslighting dynamic with mother, past death of father.I read half on audio, half in print. The audiobook narrator was good but didn't really use different voices for the different characters. I switched to print so I could finish more quickly for my book club deadline!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent
regent_ace's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions.
Things I love about this book is I loved the conversation the book had for the most part of the struggles of being a plus sized woman/person and how many project that and/or internalized that fatphobia. It's not often that the topic is the main conversation of the book especially while exploring how that struggle personally affects Charlie's relationships with others. I also found Charlie and her friends (Amelia and Brian mostly) really fun characters for the first half of the book and I found both of their relationships to Charlie really fun to read. I enjoyed 75% percent of the book the most and felt that I was really seeing Charlie's growth as a character and her relationships with her best friend and crush getting good development.
However
I began to find myself less invested in Charlie as a character due to her suddenly becoming unlikable as a character after her relationship with Brian. She became increasingly self absorbed and kind of made her self worth tied directly to Brain which was a message I didn't like especially since before her relationship she was on a good journey to learning how to love herself and her body. I also found her fight with Amelia kind of confusing since it tried to frame only Amelia as the bad guy when Charlie was also at fault. I also felt like the whole breakup thing was completely unnecessary and felt that it was resolved wayyy too quickly which I found a common trend in the book.
We spent a lot of the early portion of the book seeing Charlie unhappy with her body but her growth and learning to love herself was put at a halt and than suddenly rushed towards the end which made me a little disappointed and left wanting more. Her relationship with her mother was complicated and toxic for many reasons but then suddenly after one discussion it was just completely patched up? It felt rushed.
Overall I liked this book a lot and found the overall message done well and important but the last third of the book and some of the pacing at the end fell flat for me
Things I love about this book is I loved the conversation the book had for the most part of the struggles of being a plus sized woman/person and how many project that and/or internalized that fatphobia. It's not often that the topic is the main conversation of the book especially while exploring how that struggle personally affects Charlie's relationships with others. I also found Charlie and her friends (Amelia and Brian mostly) really fun characters for the first half of the book and I found both of their relationships to Charlie really fun to read. I enjoyed 75% percent of the book the most and felt that I was really seeing Charlie's growth as a character and her relationships with her best friend and crush getting good development.
However
I began to find myself less invested in Charlie as a character due to her suddenly becoming unlikable as a character after her relationship with Brian. She became increasingly self absorbed and kind of made her self worth tied directly to Brain which was a message I didn't like especially since before her relationship she was on a good journey to learning how to love herself and her body. I also found her fight with Amelia kind of confusing since it tried to frame only Amelia as the bad guy when Charlie was also at fault. I also felt like the whole breakup thing was completely unnecessary and felt that it was resolved wayyy too quickly which I found a common trend in the book.
We spent a lot of the early portion of the book seeing Charlie unhappy with her body but her growth and learning to love herself was put at a halt and than suddenly rushed towards the end which made me a little disappointed and left wanting more. Her relationship with her mother was complicated and toxic for many reasons but then suddenly after one discussion it was just completely patched up? It felt rushed.
Overall I liked this book a lot and found the overall message done well and important but the last third of the book and some of the pacing at the end fell flat for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Body shaming
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
bookwormbullet's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
4.75
Ouchie her relationship with her mom hurted
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Toxic friendship
karcitis's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
drraytay's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent
nitya's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Read for MLIS elective
4 stars alone for the LJ mention in the author's thank yous tbh 😭😭
This book was fantastic, and I loved the plus size rep, strong female friendships and romance!!! I just wish there was more depth to Mrs. Vega's redemption, she really didn't apologize enough for her abuse.
4 stars alone for the LJ mention in the author's thank yous tbh 😭😭
This book was fantastic, and I loved the plus size rep, strong female friendships and romance!!! I just wish there was more depth to Mrs. Vega's redemption, she really didn't apologize enough for her abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death of parent
alliemikennareads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Overall, I really enjoyed Fat Chance Charlie Vega! It took me a long time to settle in, but once I did I was very invested. The first 1/3 really dragged on, but it got better after the school dance and I enjoyed it from there!
I’m having a hard time with connecting to YA lately and with this one it’s because the voice does read extremely 16 year old at times. Sometimes I wanted to skim/just get through it, but I’m maybe outgrowing these types of stories, and that’s not a negative on the author - they’re not meant for me. This is perfect for teens and I think they’ll heavily relate.
What I liked:
- The dialogue feels realistic and not forced.
- I feel both Charlie and Amelia were round and well written characters that both have a clear arc and growth. I appreciate their friendship and its fullness and that at times they’re both in the wrong in a totally teenage way, but they also make up in a totally teenage way.
- I appreciate that Charlie isn’t perfect. She can sometimes be a self absorbed teenager but also sometimes has self awareness about her feelings and when she’s putting her emotions on her friend.
- A little predictable but still got me in the feels.
- I felt like the ending showed a lot of growth and wrapped up well. I liked how much this book was about friendship and self love and first love was really secondary.
- The pansexual rep!! The intersectionality!!
Overall, I’d recommend this to fans of YA that don’t mind a bit younger narrative voice.
I’m having a hard time with connecting to YA lately and with this one it’s because the voice does read extremely 16 year old at times. Sometimes I wanted to skim/just get through it, but I’m maybe outgrowing these types of stories, and that’s not a negative on the author - they’re not meant for me. This is perfect for teens and I think they’ll heavily relate.
What I liked:
- The dialogue feels realistic and not forced.
- I feel both Charlie and Amelia were round and well written characters that both have a clear arc and growth. I appreciate their friendship and its fullness and that at times they’re both in the wrong in a totally teenage way, but they also make up in a totally teenage way.
- I appreciate that Charlie isn’t perfect. She can sometimes be a self absorbed teenager but also sometimes has self awareness about her feelings and when she’s putting her emotions on her friend.
- A little predictable but still got me in the feels.
- I felt like the ending showed a lot of growth and wrapped up well. I liked how much this book was about friendship and self love and first love was really secondary.
- The pansexual rep!! The intersectionality!!
Overall, I’d recommend this to fans of YA that don’t mind a bit younger narrative voice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Bullying, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Additional TW: body shaming, difficult mother - daughter relationship, dieting