linzozil's review against another edition
Too much negative self talk by the characters. Very real portrayal of how we talk to ourselves when we are overweight. I just couldn’t hear someone else saying those things when I’m dealing with them myself. Too real
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Body shaming, Death, and Eating disorder
If you’re overweight and struggle with self image, this may not be the book for you. I didn’t make it halfway through.zasou_reads's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Child abuse
Minor: Pedophilia and Incest
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a all-too-acfurate deep dive into issues women face every day: body image, beauty standards, and self-worth. The story is about three friends who meet at fat camp the summer they turn 18 before jumping fifteen years into the future. All the women are struggling, but Emerson, we discover, is suffering the most. In the first chapter, we learn that Emerson has died due to extreme obesity. Her dying wish is that her friends, Marley and Georgia, complete a bucket list that they all wrote that one glorious summer.
The rest of the novel alternates between Marley and Georgia, and includes a few of Emerson's journal entries. The women go on a journey of self-acceptance and self-discovery. They learn how to cope with trauma and heart break. They learn how to take responsibility and when to realize that the blame isn't entirely on them. They seek balance, and, through trial and error, eventually find it.
The book is realistic, and often painful. You really feel for the characters, even when you don't agree with them. I knew I was hooked when I found myself talking back to the page and giving my advice as if they could hear me, as if they were my friends.
Though the book has some pretty heavy themes--pun not intended--it ultimately leaves the reader feeling hopeful and happy for the two women.
The rest of the novel alternates between Marley and Georgia, and includes a few of Emerson's journal entries. The women go on a journey of self-acceptance and self-discovery. They learn how to cope with trauma and heart break. They learn how to take responsibility and when to realize that the blame isn't entirely on them. They seek balance, and, through trial and error, eventually find it.
The book is realistic, and often painful. You really feel for the characters, even when you don't agree with them. I knew I was hooked when I found myself talking back to the page and giving my advice as if they could hear me, as if they were my friends.
Though the book has some pretty heavy themes--pun not intended--it ultimately leaves the reader feeling hopeful and happy for the two women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, and Incest
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Mass/school shootings
falon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
I would first like to call attention to criticisms of this novel; mainly, that the fat rep within this novel is offensive and perpetuates harmful stereotypes against fat people. I am not in the position to state whether the fat rep in this novel is offensive, or to absolve the author of any wrongdoing. Fatphobia is pervasive within our society and listening to the voices affected by fatphobia is essential to having productive conversation. We must start centering fat people within discussions of fatphobia.
That being said, I did enjoy this book. I quickly grew attached to the characters. The novel switches from Georgia and Marley's point of view, and sometimes shifts to Emerson's (although less frequently). It really pulls at your heart strings; I think everyone can relate to the way body image can control your self-esteem. I found myself really invested in their lives and grieving Emerson alongside Marley and Georgia as they try to understand her passing; I laughed when they laughed and cried when they cried. This was a well written book.
But I do have something to quibble about (which I guess actually affirms some of the criticism surrounding the book). Emerson's excerpts from the book were very powerful - you could really feel her loneliness; however, there were times when her perspective felt almost voyeuristic instead of personal. Like, the author was hammering home her weight, and how much she binged that day, and how she couldn't fit into certain places. The use of such facts felt very dehumanizing at times, like we're supposed to be repulsed by Emerson herself instead taking the time to understand the trauma that Emerson has and the situation she was in. I felt like sometimes it distracted from the real message Emerson wanted her friends to understand. I'm not saying that health should not be talked about at all but I think it distances Emerson from the important things: her lack of acceptance in society, her vulnerability to people who would take advantage of her, her isolation from people who genuinely loved her, and her own self-consciousness. I do think that it was an interesting look at diet culture, but I think the messaging got scrambled. It made her into a number, or worse some kind of over eating monster, which is definitely not what I think Higgins was going for.
I will be refraining from giving this a star rating.
That being said, I did enjoy this book. I quickly grew attached to the characters. The novel switches from Georgia and Marley's point of view, and sometimes shifts to Emerson's (although less frequently). It really pulls at your heart strings; I think everyone can relate to the way body image can control your self-esteem. I found myself really invested in their lives and grieving Emerson alongside Marley and Georgia as they try to understand her passing; I laughed when they laughed and cried when they cried. This was a well written book.
But I do have something to quibble about (which I guess actually affirms some of the criticism surrounding the book). Emerson's excerpts from the book were very powerful - you could really feel her loneliness; however, there were times when her perspective felt almost voyeuristic instead of personal. Like, the author was hammering home her weight, and how much she binged that day, and how she couldn't fit into certain places. The use of such facts felt very dehumanizing at times, like we're supposed to be repulsed by Emerson herself instead taking the time to understand the trauma that Emerson has and the situation she was in. I felt like sometimes it distracted from the real message Emerson wanted her friends to understand. I'm not saying that health should not be talked about at all but I think it distances Emerson from the important things: her lack of acceptance in society, her vulnerability to people who would take advantage of her, her isolation from people who genuinely loved her, and her own self-consciousness. I do think that it was an interesting look at diet culture, but I think the messaging got scrambled. It made her into a number, or worse some kind of over eating monster, which is definitely not what I think Higgins was going for.
I will be refraining from giving this a star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Grief
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