Reviews

Three friends who met at fat camp as teenagers reunite to hear the traumatic news that one of them is on her death bed. In her last moments, Emerson challenges Georgia and Marley to finish the bucket list they created as teenagers. This list is filled with seemingly-shallow things that thick teens dream of: hold hands with a cute guy in public, shop at a “normal” store, tell off someone who was mean to you when you were fat, etc. As a chunky woman, who’s been chunky her whole life, there were several list items that resonated with me. There were times when I was screaming YES! in agreement with this book. There were times when I was screaming “Oh, get over yourself!” with this book. There were times when I was so annoyed with the emphasis these women put on their own weight that I just wanted to shake them. But that’s the point I think… yes, there are people out there who will devalue a woman based on their weight. But more often, a woman will devalue herself based on her weight. Even if it’s just in a roundabout way. The story of Emerson, and Marley, and Georgia is less about becoming someone others deem acceptable, and more about becoming someone they themselves deem acceptable. Letting go of the anger and the hurt that they’ve held onto that has prevented them from allowing themselves to be loved. The real story here is loving yourself, and allowing others to love you (or leave you) just the way you are. And often times, in the process of learning to love yourself, you become the person you wanted to be.

Pros: intriguing side characters, huge character growth, #girlboss, love story, found family, happily ever after- even if not in the way we think.

Cons: I wanted more side character story, big emphasis on weights throughout the story (I know that’s the point, I just got annoyed with it).

gatergirl's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

sek73's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh this book! I have loved Higgins’s books for how much they make me laugh. This one made me sob and my heart hurt. It’s told in the first person perspective of three women who met at fat camp as young teens and kept up their friendship 20 years later although two are besties and the other has withdrawn. You don’t have to have struggled with your weight to enjoy this book. But that is my story and it brought up memories of being fat shamed and hated by the one person who was supposed to love me no matter what. So this story hurt. But I recommend books that makes the reader feel.

mcmao's review against another edition

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2.0

Only finished because of book club.

jjayess1's review against another edition

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This story has a strong focus on overweight people and constant fat-talk; with my own personal struggles with my weight, I just personally cannot read this type of content--it's way too depressing.

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