The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
justreads93's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
As someone who was a fat teen and is now a fat woman I could really relate to Elizabethâs struggles with low self esteem and body image but at points this got uncomfortable to keep reading. The way that fat people are constantly depicted as gross and disgusting just felt over the top at some points, like we get it Beth hates that she is fat and is reflecting that on others as well but Christ.
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Let me preface this review by saying that this rating has nothing to do with the quality of the writing in this book. I love how Awadâs writing feels psychedelic, like a fever dream, I can only describe it as wading through something thick and fluid. And I also love how she creates complex, flawed characters, the tone of her writing is quite apathetic so thereâs a little bit of disgust felt for each character, but at the same time you still feel some sympathy for Lizzie, our protagonist, because although sheâs a pretty awful person, you can see how her complicated relationship with her mother and the way she was taken advantage of by older men as a teen has shaped her into the adult she is. A lot of her experiences are so relatable as a fat girl - not wanting to look in the mirror for fear of ruining how you think you look in the outfit you picked out; subconsciously scrutinising other peopleâs bodies because youâre so used to picking out the flaws in your own; feeling frustration and despair in a clothing store changing room; the hideousness of plus size fashion!!
So, the writing is definitely five stars. Itâs a good book. But itâs not an enjoyable book. I felt a deep sense of discomfort and despair the whole time I was reading this book. It explores some difficult and potentially very triggering topics in a lot of detail. Itâs message seems to be that if youâre fat and youâre not content with the way you look (or even if youâre thin and not content), youâre never going to live a fulfilling life, but at the same time if you donât do anything about your weight people will look down on you and youâll die of diabetes or heart failure - you canât win! Itâs depressing. Maybe I would have liked it more if there was more of a resolution at the end.Â
So overall, five stars for writing, two stars for personal enjoyment. Iâm glad I read it, but Iâm not going to be reaching for it again any time soon, nor would I recommend it to someone else.Â
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
So much internalised fatphobia and misogyny from the protagonistsh_m22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Eating disorder
emily_stimmel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
sleeson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
asbat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
chandle5's review against another edition
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
bookishbrittany's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Death of parent
angel_kiiss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
In the beginning, the girl is a fat girl second and character first. A fat girl with deep and complex wants and needs outside of being fat, even if her weight is a significant aspect of the characterization. In the, letâs call, the second half of the book, it takes a turn as it covers the adulthood of a depressed young woman, with an eating disorder and violently negative view of herself and other women.Â
The beginning is layered and indie-feeling, and I initially thought it would cover 13 different stories about 13 different girls. However, it becomes clear that it is just covering the life of one girl from preteen to adulthood and her struggles with weight.Â
Chapter 14 might be considered fatphobic, but I guess itâs up to the interpretation of character as writer identity or character motif deliverer. For me personally, it felt a bit much - for one fat girl to body shame the other women around her and make internal comments about their appearance. With that in mind, there had been an unusual amount of describing fat as obese, and associating obese with fatphobic writing by tropes - her so many chins, the comically large fat girls, etc.Â
I imagine, however, that this could be the projection of our main character, otherwise, it is an unfortunate reflection of the author Mona Awad, who is not fat herself and may prescribe to the harmful rhetoric that has come before her for describing fat people. I would have suggested she reevaluate using some of the caustic thoughts and self-prejudices of a fat person before writing a book about teen and coming of age girls who are fat and how that affects them
There are numerous times where the protagonist slut-shames other girls who are skinnier than her, but I feel thatâs just a projection of the protagonistâs own insecurities so I wouldnât take it at face value initially.Â
I, personally, lost interest as the âfat girlâ got older and her life evolved from a teenage Sundance movie to a downward spiral of failing to find happiness. But it picks up in the end and I think it is actually a really good commentary on weight loss and the âweight loss industryâ as our girl struggles to lose weight after doing everything she is âsupposedâ to do. Thereâs a subtle-not-subtle commentary around how the industry pushes âwork out moreâ and âeat lessâ yet women were still struggling to see results because thatâs not actually a healthy way to live.
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Death of parent
lynnreadsmanybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Eating disorder and Sexual content