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sarahstarbell's review against another edition
1.0
As an overweight person myself, I don't think snapping and calling names to a doctor who is trying to help (especially your first time visiting said doctor), and telling you the side effects of being overweight is an appropriate response. I really didn't like the girl's attitude in this book and that was where I DNF'ed.
jezatrix's review against another edition
5.0
After reading and enjoying The Marvellous by Kann, I was excited to get my hands (ears?!) on an ARC copy of the audiobook for If It Makes You Happy, thanks to NetGalley.
Kann does an incredible job of making realistic characters that you like, but not because they fit “likeable” molds.
The main character cares a lot about her friends and family, has love for herself, and definitely smarts and humour. Actually, I want you to read this book for her. I think this is lovely and imperfect young woman deserves a chance to be your next in-book friend.
Kann does an incredible job of making realistic characters that you like, but not because they fit “likeable” molds.
The main character cares a lot about her friends and family, has love for herself, and definitely smarts and humour. Actually, I want you to read this book for her. I think this is lovely and imperfect young woman deserves a chance to be your next in-book friend.
eliza_k's review against another edition
4.0
I don't feel like writing a review but I do want to give my thoughts on this book, so I will be writing a list:
-I can relate to Winnie hating running SO. MUCH. I kinda started a running program a few days ago (um I haven't actually done it since) and I was in PAIN.
-I cannot believe this book has a queerplatonic relationship. This is the first book with one of these that I've read and I'm just so excited.
-There were times that I could relate to Kara so much, in some things that she said. She was most certainly my favorite character
-I honestly don't understand why Winnie was so mad about Kara asking Dallas to stay away? I mean yeah, maybe she should have talked to Winnie first, but also Dallas was being low-key creepy? I don't know, it felt really weird to me for Dallas to be doing that.
-The relationship between Winnie and her brother, Winston, was AMAZING. Best sibling relationship I have EVER read.
-I can relate to Winnie hating running SO. MUCH. I kinda started a running program a few days ago (um I haven't actually done it since) and I was in PAIN.
-I cannot believe this book has a queerplatonic relationship. This is the first book with one of these that I've read and I'm just so excited.
-There were times that I could relate to Kara so much, in some things that she said. She was most certainly my favorite character
-I honestly don't understand why Winnie was so mad about Kara asking Dallas to stay away? I mean yeah, maybe she should have talked to Winnie first, but also Dallas was being low-key creepy? I don't know, it felt really weird to me for Dallas to be doing that.
-The relationship between Winnie and her brother, Winston, was AMAZING. Best sibling relationship I have EVER read.
librarianicole's review against another edition
3.0
Gilmore Girls vibes but with a queer, fat, Black main character. The plot was very all over the place and sometimes the dialogue seemed to jump from point A to point Z, but the characters and representation were great.
nedge's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
elissazimmer's review against another edition
3.0
This book takes on a LOT--Blackness, queerness, family relationships, open relationships, fatness and body positivity, intersection of being Black and fat and female, and more. Sometimes I was confused, perhaps because a lot of these identities are not my own and I struggled to relate and to read between the line, and perhaps sometimes because there was just so much going on. I did have to stop myself at first from putting whatever stereotypes I have consumed about Black families and intergenerational relationships on this story and I accepted and celebrated this as one representation of many possibilities (that white people are afford automatically). I appreciated Winnie's introspection, and the fact that things weren't wrapped in a bow and boxed up at the end. For Winnie, there were some tough realizations about her relationship with Granny that couldn't just be solved in the span of a summer or a few weeks, but Kann leaves room for hope that maybe things could be better. She definitely hinted at the trauma experienced by someone of Granny's generation. I wonder if you need a little bit of life experience to understand all the moving parts in this book but maybe I'm selling younger teens short. It was a lot to take in but still a good read.
authorlisaard's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the diverse voices presented in this YA novel. Winnie is black, identifies as queer, and stands up for who she is and how she looks because she feels good and likes herself. Realistic? I don’t know many teen girls like this but I’d sure like to!
minkattmossy's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
paigeturner22's review against another edition
Ya know...I tried. I really did.
I also tried with [b:Let's Talk About Love|31625039|Let's Talk About Love|Claire Kann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505836080l/31625039._SY75_.jpg|52306893] and I'm beginning to think that maybe as much as I really, really want to like them both, it's just too many words/thoughts/internalized feelings and subconversations for me. And I'm sad about it. LOL Because I mean, I like Virginia Woolf for goodness sakes, and she is the QUEEN of all around the mulberry bush. But I just couldn't finish these. So maybe Claire Kann is just not the author for me...and that's okay.
I really like Winnie, and I hope everything works out with her non-relationship, or her pushback against the patriarchy, or her fight against fat injustice, or her cantankerous relationship with her granny, or her buddy comedy with her cousin and brother,.... but like seriously, by page 140 or so, ,...I didn't care anymore. About ANY of it. And I kinda gotta care to keep going on this ride with ya Winnie girl. :(
But hey, go head black girl getting these two books written and published! You go girl!
I'm just umm...gonna...
I also tried with [b:Let's Talk About Love|31625039|Let's Talk About Love|Claire Kann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505836080l/31625039._SY75_.jpg|52306893] and I'm beginning to think that maybe as much as I really, really want to like them both, it's just too many words/thoughts/internalized feelings and subconversations for me. And I'm sad about it. LOL Because I mean, I like Virginia Woolf for goodness sakes, and she is the QUEEN of all around the mulberry bush. But I just couldn't finish these. So maybe Claire Kann is just not the author for me...and that's okay.
I really like Winnie, and I hope everything works out with her non-relationship, or her pushback against the patriarchy, or her fight against fat injustice, or her cantankerous relationship with her granny, or her buddy comedy with her cousin and brother,.... but like seriously, by page 140 or so, ,...I didn't care anymore. About ANY of it. And I kinda gotta care to keep going on this ride with ya Winnie girl. :(
But hey, go head black girl getting these two books written and published! You go girl!
I'm just umm...gonna...
breesays's review against another edition
4.0
While this was not a page-turner or the kind of book that had brilliantly crafted sentences that stunned you into awed silence, it has SO many things other books (or media in general?) does not.
1. A fat main character who did not care to lose weight, or have self esteem issues
2. A QPR - not without it's issues, but still
3. Polyamory - a soon-to-be college student who didn't necessarily identify as such but who knew she could be in a relationship with more than one person
Does this belong on GoodReads? Yes, perhaps. That said, it wasn't easy to get into. Winnie is not a super likeable character (but also she wouldn't care that I said that) and it takes awhile for you to get the gist of allllll the relationships she has - family and friends. But this work of fiction is important for the sheer amount of representation that is not so easily stumbled upon. I can't even fully express how much that means to me, but when I get around to articulating it, I will write my own book. Thank you, Claire Kann.
1. A fat main character who did not care to lose weight, or have self esteem issues
2. A QPR - not without it's issues, but still
3. Polyamory - a soon-to-be college student who didn't necessarily identify as such but who knew she could be in a relationship with more than one person
Does this belong on GoodReads? Yes, perhaps. That said, it wasn't easy to get into. Winnie is not a super likeable character (but also she wouldn't care that I said that) and it takes awhile for you to get the gist of allllll the relationships she has - family and friends. But this work of fiction is important for the sheer amount of representation that is not so easily stumbled upon. I can't even fully express how much that means to me, but when I get around to articulating it, I will write my own book. Thank you, Claire Kann.