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micaelamariem's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was so excited for this book. As someone who, though I’m not plus sized, struggled with body image and low self esteem my whole life, I was ecstatic at the idea of a badass plus sized women taking the reins to prove that bigger women are beautiful and deserving of love, too (just like any body type is!). What I got instead was a main character who was similarly full of self-hatred and constantly believing that no one could truly love her, despite constant evidence to the contrary.
Now, having been hurt in the past, I can totally understand Bea’s outlook and her journey to discovering self-love was in itself a beautiful theme. However, I don’t think this was how the book was advertised and it’s not something I was prepared for. I wanted, like I said, the unwavering confidence and body positivity to help inspire me in my own struggles. So I think part of the issue is just the book being different from my expectations and that influenced my enjoyment.
Plus, Bea was a bit insufferable at times. I get it was her journey to self love but each page being “he couldn’t possibly be attracted to someone like me” was so repetitive, boring, and annoying.
And I would have also loved more male body diversity in this. It felt a bit hateful to me that Bea’s first thought was “well a heavier man I could settle for” when all bodies are beautiful!!
I did love the creativity of adding in interviews, blogs, podcasts, and messages. It created a mixed media novel and if the novel was just told in these forms, that would’ve been super fun and I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more.
But as we have it, it was hard for me to get behind because it differed from my expectations and honestly, I didn’t like the MC. 🤷🏻♀️
Now, having been hurt in the past, I can totally understand Bea’s outlook and her journey to discovering self-love was in itself a beautiful theme. However, I don’t think this was how the book was advertised and it’s not something I was prepared for. I wanted, like I said, the unwavering confidence and body positivity to help inspire me in my own struggles. So I think part of the issue is just the book being different from my expectations and that influenced my enjoyment.
Plus, Bea was a bit insufferable at times. I get it was her journey to self love but each page being “he couldn’t possibly be attracted to someone like me” was so repetitive, boring, and annoying.
And I would have also loved more male body diversity in this. It felt a bit hateful to me that Bea’s first thought was “well a heavier man I could settle for” when all bodies are beautiful!!
I did love the creativity of adding in interviews, blogs, podcasts, and messages. It created a mixed media novel and if the novel was just told in these forms, that would’ve been super fun and I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more.
But as we have it, it was hard for me to get behind because it differed from my expectations and honestly, I didn’t like the MC. 🤷🏻♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
buddinbookworm's review against another edition
I like the concept but I don’t really care for books that jump around in format. Emails to social media posts, to texts and back to conversations. Plus a personal pet peeve of mine is too much profanity. This book has a love of the
f-bomb. Not for me.
f-bomb. Not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
notsobinaryart's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Cursing and Infidelity
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
kaitlinnoodles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
meggiemeggie52's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
While nothing is *graphic*, a big part of the book is that the plus-size MC has a history of being bullied and body shamed. The book itself isn't fatphobic, but characters in the book are. There's a brief attempt at sexual harassment/almost-assault, but MC stops it before it goes too far.casey_sunshine's review against another edition
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Death of parent
camilleemcl's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining and fun read, but not something I would feel the need to read again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content
memorable's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think this book highlights a lot of important topics while being completely realistic in terms of reality shows. I’m not a huge fan of those; therefore, it was a bit too much drama for me. Nevertheless, I loved the different characters and representation in this book! Sometimes, it’s even painful to read but knowing that people actually say and believe these things makes it so important!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Acephobia/Arophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
bodiesinbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
spearly's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
TW: sexual assault, fatphobia, misogyny, infidelity
“You said yes because you knew some people would object?”
“I wanted to prove that I had every right to be here,” Bea answered. “That I could star in a show about love just like any other woman."
One to Watch follows fashion-blogger Bea, as she is thrust into the public eye as the first plus-size woman to star in Main Squeeze, a reality show akin to The Bachelorette.
This was a nice read. Stayman-London has a way of crafting a very atmospheric, romantic story without getting too technical. For obvious reasons, this reminded me a lot of MTV's Unreal, only sweeter and more satisfying. Still, it's important to mention the obviously heavy themes of fat phobia, fat-shaming, online harassment (including rape and death threats), misogyny, and a very uncomfortable sequence where be a talks about being assaulted in high school.
I loved trying to guess who of Bea's suitors were ~there for the right reasons~. I made a few wrong calls, a few right calls, and Stayman-London definitely threw me at the end there, but it was hella enjoyable!
More important that the romantic side plots, I loved the way Bea came into her own through the story. Even in the beginning, as a body-positive fashion blogger, readers still got a sense of her deeply-rooted insecurities, of how she never allowed herself to be vulnerable, of how she never believed anyone could be attracted to her because it was easier to believe no-one wanted her than to open herself up to being hurt. And yet, despite these insecurities, she was always strong in her convictions, steadfast in ignoring the haters, and, after some trepidation, eager to show the world that being plus-sized doesn't mean you can't get your fairytale ending.
Her journey throughout the show, while yes, was dramatic and luscious to read about, became less about the romance for me and more about the way Bea began to see herself as she started trusted the guys. And, gosh, did she have a good bunch at the end there. Mostly.
Sam was my fave, obviously. If he wasn't yours, then I think you need a re-read!! I was iffy about Luc from the beginning, but I truly felt he played the largest part in helping Bea on her journey to believing she was beautiful. Wyatt was wonderful, and I loved his friendship with Bea, the way he protected her until the very end. And Asher... well, let's just say I liked him fine. I could tell he was genuine. But if I were Bea, I doubt he'd have made it as far as he did.
I will say... I wish the story had ended with Bea on her own. The whole reconciliation with Asher was, yes, expected (it's still a romance, obviously), but unnecessary. I was more interested to see Bea maneuver through the world with everything she'd learned about herself because of the show. Honestly, I think the strongest ending would have been for Bea to be taking herself out on a date, and to catch the eye of stranger while Taylor Swift's Begin Again starts to play. I mean, if this was a movie. Idk. Maybe I just didn't really like Asher.
But I do understand all the glowing reviews and high star ratings from my mutuals! Definitely worth the read.
“You said yes because you knew some people would object?”
“I wanted to prove that I had every right to be here,” Bea answered. “That I could star in a show about love just like any other woman."
One to Watch follows fashion-blogger Bea, as she is thrust into the public eye as the first plus-size woman to star in Main Squeeze, a reality show akin to The Bachelorette.
This was a nice read. Stayman-London has a way of crafting a very atmospheric, romantic story without getting too technical. For obvious reasons, this reminded me a lot of MTV's Unreal, only sweeter and more satisfying. Still, it's important to mention the obviously heavy themes of fat phobia, fat-shaming, online harassment (including rape and death threats), misogyny, and a very uncomfortable sequence where be a talks about being assaulted in high school.
I loved trying to guess who of Bea's suitors were ~there for the right reasons~. I made a few wrong calls, a few right calls, and Stayman-London definitely threw me at the end there, but it was hella enjoyable!
More important that the romantic side plots, I loved the way Bea came into her own through the story. Even in the beginning, as a body-positive fashion blogger, readers still got a sense of her deeply-rooted insecurities, of how she never allowed herself to be vulnerable, of how she never believed anyone could be attracted to her because it was easier to believe no-one wanted her than to open herself up to being hurt. And yet, despite these insecurities, she was always strong in her convictions, steadfast in ignoring the haters, and, after some trepidation, eager to show the world that being plus-sized doesn't mean you can't get your fairytale ending.
Her journey throughout the show, while yes, was dramatic and luscious to read about, became less about the romance for me and more about the way Bea began to see herself as she started trusted the guys. And, gosh, did she have a good bunch at the end there. Mostly.
I will say...
But I do understand all the glowing reviews and high star ratings from my mutuals! Definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual content