A review by itsinthewords
The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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

4.75

Denise Williams delivers a very thoughtful portrayal of entering the fitness world as a fat woman, and looks at the way society views exercise as a weight-loss tool rather than as something that can feel good for a person. Britta faces many judgmental folks who make all kinds of assumptions about her and her exercise journey, but I was very impressed with how gently Williams treats this topic. Britta never once feels she needs to lose weight or prove herself to anyone, and the fatphobia she encounters is always from someone we know is not worthy of her. Williams always seems to know how to treat darker subjects with a tenderness that makes it feel like she is holding your hand through it when things get rough. I never once felt overwhelmed or like I needed to tap out. I could just enjoy these characters!

There is some lying by omission in this, and sometimes that is not something I can handle. Even so, I still really really loved this book! The characters felt humanly flawed, with anxieties and fears I recognized, and I felt like the HEA was deeply earned by both MCs. They had their own issues to sort out outside of their relationship in order to make it work, and I deeply appreciate when an author does that for us!
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