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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
2.25
“I'm fat and I take up space, but that's okay... I'm allowed to take up space just as much as anyone else.”
WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion review!!
I confess that I only picked up this title because I needed a book about K-pop for the POPSUGAR challenge. I hardly know anything about K-pop, although I read XOXO earlier this year which gave me some insight... I did like the sound of the premise of I'll Be The One with the plus-sized main character joining the K-pop star reality TV contest, and I was hoping for a fun and empowering read. Sadly, I ended up struggling considerably with this story instead. This mainly had to do with the main character and the overpowering focus on the fact that she is plus-size. It seems to be her main and just about only character trait apart from her singing and dancing talent... Don't get me wrong, I love a story focusing on body positivity, but why does Skye have to almost feel like a martyr instead of a strong but relatable human being?! Seriously, the bodyshaming, fatphobia and abuse is CONSTANT and coming in from all angles, and it overshadowed the rest of the plot for me. I felt like I never got to know Skye beyond this abuse, her talent and the fact that she is bi, and she just felt way too one-dimensional for me. I actually liked the side characters a lot better! The romance itself felt quite cliche though and I never felt the connection was there. This might just have to do with the fact that Skye's personality lacked fleshing out... Either way, I'll Be The One was most definitely a miss for me, and not the fun and engaging YA contemporary I thought it was going to be. I seem to be in the minority though, so it might just be my fickle reading mood acting up again?
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
caitlinemccann'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
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria
sehenry20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
lilybear3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship
zombiezami'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
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
kaneli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, Outing, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
lily1304's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Also, oh my god,
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
modern_day_wonder'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
5.0
Graphic: Fatphobia and Toxic relationship
thereadingshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship
rosita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Let's start with the good: I feel like it is such an important book, and i loved the asian, fat, and queer rep. I feel like the romance was super cute and did have chemistry, and i was very interested in what the competitions was going to turn out like!!! I had a lot of fun reading the book, and finished it in like a day. And the queer rep!!!! i was so exited that sky, who is bi
The bad: The book has a point to make (about body positivity and fatphobia), and it makes it clear. Especially at the beginning i kept thinking "ok, people judge you because you are fat, we get it, can we move on with the story please?". The characters also talk like they are buzzfeed writers? idk how to explain it, but they sound fake and millenial-like. The writing was very juvenile, which is great for a ya i guess, but i just didnt like it.
The ugly: the audiobook sucks. I am sorry to the va, but she sounded to me like the watchmojo lady, and that kept making me annoyed. I feel like it could maybe have been better if i had read it physically, but sadly, i wasnt able to, so i had to deal with her
In conclusion, if you want to read it, please dont let me discourage you. It is a fun, light, and fluffy read, with great representation, but the writing can be awkward at times. And dont listen to the audiobook, please.
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Cultural appropriation