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
regent_ace's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Body shaming
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
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
olliereadabook'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
3.75
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
river_the_enby'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: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming
Moderate: Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
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
michaelion'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? It's complicated
4.0
The only real problem with this book is the sheer amount of current pop culture references. Like, yes it's contemporary, but this book is amazing, wonderful, great, damn near perfect, beautiful, stellar, insert more synonyms here!!! And if not for the pop culture references, I think this book could've been a timeless classic instead of just a modern one.
I wasn't just in the mind of a fat brown teenage girl, I was me again. (Except, I'm black.) Me, just a few years ago. Me, right now. Me, feeling something more than the buzzword representation. I wanna hold this book to my chest and tattoo the letters on to my heart. I want my nonexistent kids to read this book and know they are worthy, they are beautiful, they are loved, and here's the reasonable, sometimes realistically frustrating, sweet book that will show them that, if they didn't know it already.
What a lovely book to start with as my introduction back into reading! 🥰
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Gaslighting