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lesleygetslit's review against another edition
- 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, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Grief
skye_era_books's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I love Charlie. I love Brian. I love Amelia (sort of). I hate hate hate HATE Charlie’s mom. Anywho, fat rep? Brown girl rep? Queer side character rep? Written by Crystal Maldonado? Count me the fuck in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Bullying
Minor: Grief
thehomiemona's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
theswordandthesea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I’ve been reading less and less YA lately but this one was so worth it. I wish every teenager who’s struggled with self-image and insecurity would read this (basically: every teenager). Charlie’s story is incredibly sweet and relatable. Her contentious relationship with her weight-obsessed mother is also very relatable. Is anything more complicated than the relationship between a teenage girl and her mother? Brian was bound to be a pretty perfect love interest since not only is he written by a woman, he’s raised by two of them. There’s so much to love in here. Even in the difficult moments of the story, this book felt like a warm hug.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Racism
lit_with_lauren's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
_lilyonbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
mrsherrera's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Racism
pages_with_panda's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
Liked it! Cute, coming-of-age story (female main character is 17 (high-school age), romantic, humorous, heart-warming.
I would've loved to see a book like this when I was in high school.
(Just an FYI, the majority of this book is about Charlie being fat and it being a major plot point. It's not just a book with a fat character, which I know makes a difference to some people).
I liked how fleshed out all the characters were. They all had their own insecurities, personalities, stories and it was a very diverse cast of characters.
Charlie's growth was really cute and I'm glad she got to stand up for herself. Her relationship with Brian was really cute and I like the realistic portrayal between her and her mother - like not everything end nicely wrapped in a bow, but some small steps are progress.
The beginning was a bit hard to get through because of all the negativity, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Charlie really comes around and learned to love herself, stick up for herself, and prioritize her happiness.
Some quotes:
I would've loved to see a book like this when I was in high school.
(Just an FYI, the majority of this book is about Charlie being fat and it being a major plot point. It's not just a book with a fat character, which I know makes a difference to some people).
I liked how fleshed out all the characters were. They all had their own insecurities, personalities, stories and it was a very diverse cast of characters.
Charlie's growth was really cute and I'm glad she got to stand up for herself. Her relationship with Brian was really cute and I like the realistic portrayal between her and her mother - like not everything end nicely wrapped in a bow, but some small steps are progress.
The beginning was a bit hard to get through because of all the negativity, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Charlie really comes around and learned to love herself, stick up for herself, and prioritize her happiness.
Some quotes:
I believe that people can be healthy at any size. I think other fat girls are absolutely beautiful. But my mind struggles to bridge the gap between the two ideologies. (p. 25). Holiday House. Kindle Edition.
“I’m just over all these men! They want so much from you. Be beautiful but not too beautiful; thin but not too thin; feminine but not too feminine. On dates, it’s the same thing—talk, but not too much. Ask them questions about themselves, but not too many questions. I’m exhausted.” (p. 98). Holiday House. Kindle Edition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
eicart_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Wonderful book. Don't read the back cover copy first (it spoils something that happens at the 85% mark!)
Charlie Vega is a fat, Brown girl trying to shine in a world that does its best to make her feel less than. Sixteen, soon to be seventeen -- life is hard in so many ways. (I'm so glad I'm not a teenager!)
This book was difficult at times, watching Charlie deal with fatphobia and fat shaming, especially from her mom. Diet culture is so pervasive that even a mom who used to be fat still pushes that slim "ideal" on her daughter.
But this story is also filled with joy, growth, an amazing best friendship, and hope. I loved reading about Charlie's journey!
I wish I could have read this book when I was a fat teenager who had a complex, often difficult, relationship with my mother. I'm glad I read it now as an adult, and I'm happy it's out there for teens who will read it and feel seen and validated.
CW for fat shaming, fatphobia, diet culture, toxic/gaslighting dynamic with mother, past death of father.
I read half on audio, half in print. The audiobook narrator was good but didn't really use different voices for the different characters. I switched to print so I could finish more quickly for my book club deadline!
Charlie Vega is a fat, Brown girl trying to shine in a world that does its best to make her feel less than. Sixteen, soon to be seventeen -- life is hard in so many ways. (I'm so glad I'm not a teenager!)
This book was difficult at times, watching Charlie deal with fatphobia and fat shaming, especially from her mom. Diet culture is so pervasive that even a mom who used to be fat still pushes that slim "ideal" on her daughter.
But this story is also filled with joy, growth, an amazing best friendship, and hope. I loved reading about Charlie's journey!
I wish I could have read this book when I was a fat teenager who had a complex, often difficult, relationship with my mother. I'm glad I read it now as an adult, and I'm happy it's out there for teens who will read it and feel seen and validated.
CW for
I read half on audio, half in print. The audiobook narrator was good but didn't really use different voices for the different characters. I switched to print so I could finish more quickly for my book club deadline!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent
cover2covertx's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that brought me back into the mind of my teenage self until this book. It’s funny, charming, heart breaking & real. I loved this so much ♥️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Genocide
Minor: Sexism