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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
this book is SO ADORABLE OH MY GOD. big shoutout to laura for recommending it to me. you're right, this book is the best.
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley
The cover of this book says so much. Sweetie is having a wonderful time and readers get to share the joy. Obviously, there is a problem or there wouldn’t be a story, but Sweetie truly has a lot going right in her life. In the ARC, there is an author’s note at the beginning and Menon lets reader know that this story is personal. At times in her life, Menon has been fat and she wanted to share a story of a strong, athletic, and fat young woman who is comfortable and happy with the body she has. Sweetie’s mother is very protective and wants the best for her daughter, but to her, the best is for Sweetie to be thin. This leads to many painful exchanges between Sweetie and her mother.
As someone who has been thin most of my life, I know my lived experience has been different than Sweetie’s. I appreciate books like these because many people, including myself, have conversations about weight and our bodies with close family members and friends. Loved ones are often contributing to the harmful attitudes people have about body shapes and sizes.
In addition to the body positivity going on here, there is a relationship blooming. It’s a fun one especially if you enjoy the contract dating trope. If you loved Dimple and Rishi, you’re sure to enjoy this sweet romance. One slight bump in the road for me was the timing. Ashish is a basketball player and his championship game is in May during Sweetie’s track season. Basketball typically ends in March so this was bothering me. It’s a small concern though and perhaps things are different in other states.
Recommendation: Get it soon especially if you love romantic comedies.
Related
The cover of this book says so much. Sweetie is having a wonderful time and readers get to share the joy. Obviously, there is a problem or there wouldn’t be a story, but Sweetie truly has a lot going right in her life. In the ARC, there is an author’s note at the beginning and Menon lets reader know that this story is personal. At times in her life, Menon has been fat and she wanted to share a story of a strong, athletic, and fat young woman who is comfortable and happy with the body she has. Sweetie’s mother is very protective and wants the best for her daughter, but to her, the best is for Sweetie to be thin. This leads to many painful exchanges between Sweetie and her mother.
As someone who has been thin most of my life, I know my lived experience has been different than Sweetie’s. I appreciate books like these because many people, including myself, have conversations about weight and our bodies with close family members and friends. Loved ones are often contributing to the harmful attitudes people have about body shapes and sizes.
In addition to the body positivity going on here, there is a relationship blooming. It’s a fun one especially if you enjoy the contract dating trope. If you loved Dimple and Rishi, you’re sure to enjoy this sweet romance. One slight bump in the road for me was the timing. Ashish is a basketball player and his championship game is in May during Sweetie’s track season. Basketball typically ends in March so this was bothering me. It’s a small concern though and perhaps things are different in other states.
Recommendation: Get it soon especially if you love romantic comedies.
Related
“She was constantly being forced to think of herself as the before picture, but when she spoke to her cousin, she saw that the after picture could include her just as she was right now.”
" 'Ashish, what's that song you kids all like?'
He stared at her. 'Um ...'
'The song! The song!' she said, getting irritated. Oh god, this was going to turn into an even bigger circus.
'Oh, um ... Happy Birthday?' Ashish said, grasping at straws.
'No, not Happy Birthday!' Gita Kaki said, agitated. 'Oh! I know. Macarena!' Sing that for me, Ashish. Sing it!'
'Gita Kaki, I have no idea what song that--'
'Now, Ashish! Sing it!' she yelled, clapping her hands kind of savagely."
" 'Ashish, what's that song you kids all like?'
He stared at her. 'Um ...'
'The song! The song!' she said, getting irritated. Oh god, this was going to turn into an even bigger circus.
'Oh, um ... Happy Birthday?' Ashish said, grasping at straws.
'No, not Happy Birthday!' Gita Kaki said, agitated. 'Oh! I know. Macarena!' Sing that for me, Ashish. Sing it!'
'Gita Kaki, I have no idea what song that--'
'Now, Ashish! Sing it!' she yelled, clapping her hands kind of savagely."
“She was constantly being forced to think of herself as the before picture, but when she spoke to her cousin, she saw that the after picture could include her just as she was right now.”
" 'Ashish, what's that song you kids all like?'
He stared at her. 'Um ...'
'The song! The song!' she said, getting irritated. Oh god, this was going to turn into an even bigger circus.
'Oh, um ... Happy Birthday?' Ashish said, grasping at straws.
'No, not Happy Birthday!' Gita Kaki said, agitated. 'Oh! I know. Macarena!' Sing that for me, Ashish. Sing it!'
'Gita Kaki, I have no idea what song that--'
'Now, Ashish! Sing it!' she yelled, clapping her hands kind of savagely."
" 'Ashish, what's that song you kids all like?'
He stared at her. 'Um ...'
'The song! The song!' she said, getting irritated. Oh god, this was going to turn into an even bigger circus.
'Oh, um ... Happy Birthday?' Ashish said, grasping at straws.
'No, not Happy Birthday!' Gita Kaki said, agitated. 'Oh! I know. Macarena!' Sing that for me, Ashish. Sing it!'
'Gita Kaki, I have no idea what song that--'
'Now, Ashish! Sing it!' she yelled, clapping her hands kind of savagely."
Obviously, I love it.
Obviously, Sweetie is my new favorite character.
Obviously, I may never recover from the constant squeezing of my heart throughout the journey with Sweetie and Ashish.
And, less obviously, the story of a mother and daughter finding peace is still bringing tears to my eyes.
This is a wonderful book. It is sweet and so endearing and I am so very grateful for this perfect testament to the the power of just being who you are. Even if you’re fat. Because that’s just a thing that you are. Like Indian. Or a librarian. Or a runner. Or whatever.
Thanks, Sandya Menon. This fat chick thinks you are something really special. 🤓💜📚
Obviously, Sweetie is my new favorite character.
Obviously, I may never recover from the constant squeezing of my heart throughout the journey with Sweetie and Ashish.
And, less obviously, the story of a mother and daughter finding peace is still bringing tears to my eyes.
This is a wonderful book. It is sweet and so endearing and I am so very grateful for this perfect testament to the the power of just being who you are. Even if you’re fat. Because that’s just a thing that you are. Like Indian. Or a librarian. Or a runner. Or whatever.
Thanks, Sandya Menon. This fat chick thinks you are something really special. 🤓💜📚
emotional
funny
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
Liked this one even better than the first, especially the gentle way the author handled the complicated relationship between MC and her mom, without making mom into an idiot or villain.
Thank you to Netgalley and Katherine Teigen Books for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this companion to When Dimple Met Rishi. Sweetie, much to her mother’s dismay, is fat. She likes herself. She’s a track star. She has great friends. But her mother cannot get over Sweetie’s figure. When she catches the eye of Ashish Patel’s mother (yes, Rishi’s brother) at their farmers’ market booth, Sweetie is hurt to overhear her mother turning down the Patels’ proposal for their children to date. Sweetie and Ashish decide to secretly start dating, but don’t expect what comes of it. Super cute, sometimes a little too cute, and refreshingly body positive. Recommended for grades 8+, and it’s out next week!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this companion to When Dimple Met Rishi. Sweetie, much to her mother’s dismay, is fat. She likes herself. She’s a track star. She has great friends. But her mother cannot get over Sweetie’s figure. When she catches the eye of Ashish Patel’s mother (yes, Rishi’s brother) at their farmers’ market booth, Sweetie is hurt to overhear her mother turning down the Patels’ proposal for their children to date. Sweetie and Ashish decide to secretly start dating, but don’t expect what comes of it. Super cute, sometimes a little too cute, and refreshingly body positive. Recommended for grades 8+, and it’s out next week!