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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I really liked the representation in this book, and the lesson/message at the end. But I had a tough time connecting with the characters. I'm the polar opposite of a gym bro, and a lot of it takes place in a gym, so maybe that's why?
IDK they both seemed to be pretty flat characters too, like they were interested in working out and doing their jobs and not much else. As an introvert (which, they are both supposed to be homebody types) I can say that we still have plenty of interests that we don't have to leave the house for!
IDK they both seemed to be pretty flat characters too, like they were interested in working out and doing their jobs and not much else. As an introvert (which, they are both supposed to be homebody types) I can say that we still have plenty of interests that we don't have to leave the house for!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Racism
chasingpages1's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, and Body shaming
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Medical content
samcanuel's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I adored this book. I loved Crystal, who was strong, funny, and relatable. Scott was the perfect love interest, a fictional man that I will be thinking about for a long time. I really liked the influencer element of this book and all the gym banter. Crystal and Scott had INTENSE chemistry. To summarize, I would absolutely recommend this book. I couldn’t put it down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Racism and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Cancer, and Terminal illness
saeruh's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this since it’s a love story involving a fat girl like me but it fell flat for me. The humor was way too millennial to really be enjoyed by any other age group. There was way too many buzzwords that I feel like the story just lost its main message. I didn’t like Scottie at all, his whole attitude was very much “pulling your second grade crush’s pigtails because you’re too shy to talk to her” but at his grown age it just made me cringe. There was way too many side characters that I didn’t care about. Felt weird to me that the one of the main reasons Crystal and Scottie saw each other all the time was because their grandparents were marrying each other… technically making the main romance INCEST on a certain level which grossed me out so bad. Also it was really marketed as a multiracial love story between a mixed girl and a white boy but I felt like there was very little actually brought up about Crystal’s Chinese heritage unless she was directly talking to her dad. This sorta just made it feel like Crystal became the author’s self insert character since the two are so connected. On that note, I just didn’t like crystal all that much either. She made snap decision judgements and REFUSED to change her mind even when she hurt others with those assumptions and had CLEAR proof to show otherwise. Another thing I HATED was how they made out in the PUBLIC locker room when she didn’t even know his name/anything about him, like girl be fucking for real right now, this dude could be a serial killer for all you know. I thought the message of the story was a good one (respecting one’s body rather than loving it all times) but it came around much too late in the narrative so that I was just sick of this book and desperately trying to finish it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
decklededgess's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
3.0
trigger warnings: sexual content, alcohol, sexual harassment, racist microaggressions, fatphobia, depression and anxiety, bullying
I can’t get over the fact that they get together while her grandma and his grandpa also get married….it’s giving Life With Derek.
Anywho
I thought the romance was fun. The chemistry between Crystal and Scott felt a little flat. There was a lot of telling me she has the hots for him and it didn’t feel authentic. On the flip side the initial meet gate was great. The animosity was palpable and I sincerely hated Scott a lot as well. Would have been nice if that level of tangible emotional tension carried through the book.
Crystal’s body positivity turned body acceptance journey was interesting. I appreciated the open conversation about how fat and curvy people are looked down on by outsiders to their relationship, how they’re constantly dealing with roadblocks with the fashion industry, the constant micro aggressions people sling, and on and on. It felt raw and honest when Crystal broke down due to the pressure of social media and I liked her growth past that point.
I felt at times that the author was skirting around the use of the word fat but that could also be because the author wanted to ensure she wasn’t stepping on toes of fat representation when this character is described as chubby/curvy. I’m an outsider on both counts considering i’m not fat, curvy, or chubby so first hand reviews would give you better opinions on that.
I never liked books that harp on health and exercise and actually spend time on that aspect of the story. It bores me to tears and this did not change my mind on that. I skimmed so much. Thankfully other parts of the story carried enough that I enjoyed reading what I did spend time on.
Overall, very meh but a solid debut so I look forward to Amy Lea’s second book.
I can’t get over the fact that they get together while her grandma and his grandpa also get married….it’s giving Life With Derek.
Anywho
I thought the romance was fun. The chemistry between Crystal and Scott felt a little flat. There was a lot of telling me she has the hots for him and it didn’t feel authentic. On the flip side the initial meet gate was great. The animosity was palpable and I sincerely hated Scott a lot as well. Would have been nice if that level of tangible emotional tension carried through the book.
Crystal’s body positivity turned body acceptance journey was interesting. I appreciated the open conversation about how fat and curvy people are looked down on by outsiders to their relationship, how they’re constantly dealing with roadblocks with the fashion industry, the constant micro aggressions people sling, and on and on. It felt raw and honest when Crystal broke down due to the pressure of social media and I liked her growth past that point.
I felt at times that the author was skirting around the use of the word fat but that could also be because the author wanted to ensure she wasn’t stepping on toes of fat representation when this character is described as chubby/curvy. I’m an outsider on both counts considering i’m not fat, curvy, or chubby so first hand reviews would give you better opinions on that.
I never liked books that harp on health and exercise and actually spend time on that aspect of the story. It bores me to tears and this did not change my mind on that. I skimmed so much. Thankfully other parts of the story carried enough that I enjoyed reading what I did spend time on.
Overall, very meh but a solid debut so I look forward to Amy Lea’s second book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, and Infidelity
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