alice_hesse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
aggystacked_'s review
funny
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
theloadedbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jeskareadsandteaches's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
4.0
jaywithwhiskey's review
3.0
This book has food porn all over it. It's amazing.
The romance was sweet and the family dynamics were fun to read about, also enjoyed the semi-love triangle drama. Always fun. I did think it could have been shorter and I did find the official reasons for the final fight/argument to be weird. Like it came out of nowhere I was a bit confused.
The romance was sweet and the family dynamics were fun to read about, also enjoyed the semi-love triangle drama. Always fun. I did think it could have been shorter and I did find the official reasons for the final fight/argument to be weird. Like it came out of nowhere I was a bit confused.
littlebookterror's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
The romance was maybe not the most developed but I really enjoyed Martha as a protagonist and especially her attitude toward her fat body. This book deals with fatphobia from strangers and relatives, discusses how Filipino culture allows such comments, and how Martha deals with that. She is not yet at a place where she has completely accepted her weight or her looks but is internalizing a body-positive perspective. It helps that Max is just as eager to reassure her that her weight is not a problem.
I also love how we see her ingenuity and her love to help other people shine through and be a driving force in the story.
I also love how we see her ingenuity and her love to help other people shine through and be a driving force in the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
iffer's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. Friends-to-lovers isn't one of my favorite tropes, but it's one that I like, and Martha and Max's friendship, and love, felt real. I loved reading about a woman who both loved and valued herself (especially a fat woman), and yet still felt pinpricks of hurt and self-consciousness at the comments of both family members and strangers. Though Martha's family is of a much higher socioeconomic status than most of my family who still lives in the Philippines, and I am a second generation Filipina-American, I felt a sense of being seen in the way in which families, family ties, and Filipino culture were portrayed. It was also extremely relatable to feel the tension between responsibility to family and independence, especially when it's hard to explain these things to people who don't have the same strength, quantity, and type of family ties. Also, so many delicious food descriptions, and dogs!
anabelsbrother's review
3.0
Special shoutout to April for lending me her Kindle copy!
I really like the story and the characters a lot. Martha especially feels like my kindred spirit; I love her thoughts on her fatness and how it's hers and she works it. She's definitely more confident than I was when I was heavy. Her family (especially her Titas, good lord) drives me a little bit crazy, especially when they comment on her fatness (#warflashbacks). I think I've mentioned this before in one of the #romanceclass books I read and reviewed, but the way family is written in #romanceclass books is more relatable to me. Maybe it's a SEA thing, or maybe it's the connection between Filipino and Malay cultures, I dunno. Anyhow, I totally get why Martha held her tongue whenever she got those weight-related comments and why she still did favours for her Titas and cousin no matter how much they annoyed her.
That being said, I wish the romance worked for me. Carla did a great job showcasing Max and Martha's tight friendship, but the transition from BFFs to lovers was a bit off for me. I also felt like the conflict between them was not adequately resolved.
Overall, this book is a good introduction to Carla's writing. I have The Queen's Game on my Kindle that seems to be a fan favourite, and I'll surely be reading that soon.
I really like the story and the characters a lot. Martha especially feels like my kindred spirit; I love her thoughts on her fatness and how it's hers and she works it. She's definitely more confident than I was when I was heavy. Her family (especially her Titas, good lord) drives me a little bit crazy, especially when they comment on her fatness (#warflashbacks). I think I've mentioned this before in one of the #romanceclass books I read and reviewed, but the way family is written in #romanceclass books is more relatable to me. Maybe it's a SEA thing, or maybe it's the connection between Filipino and Malay cultures, I dunno. Anyhow, I totally get why Martha held her tongue whenever she got those weight-related comments and why she still did favours for her Titas and cousin no matter how much they annoyed her.
That being said, I wish the romance worked for me. Carla did a great job showcasing Max and Martha's tight friendship, but the transition from BFFs to lovers was a bit off for me. I also felt like the conflict between them was not adequately resolved.
Overall, this book is a good introduction to Carla's writing. I have The Queen's Game on my Kindle that seems to be a fan favourite, and I'll surely be reading that soon.