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tillynancy's review against another edition
Disturbing graphic imagery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Self harm
justreads93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- 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
I don’t know if I liked this book or not. It felt more like a car crash I couldn’t look away from. I think the title is misleading, instead of 13 distinct ways of looking at Elizabeth the fat main character, all but two of the vignettes are told from her POV and all of the vignettes depict Elizabeth as a deeply unhappy and insecure person. I think if maybe we had the POV from her friend Mel, her mom, her dad, and maybe the nail lady we could have those more distinct “ways” of looking at a fat girl. I also feel like this story just ended and I feel like there’s a lot more of Elizabeth to explore but instead the book just ends.
As someone who was a fat teen and is now a fat woman I could really relate to Elizabeth’s 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.
As someone who was a fat teen and is now a fat woman I could really relate to Elizabeth’s 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.
Content Warnings
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
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
A series of vignettes depicting moments in a fat girl’s life from her teens to her late twenties or so.
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 Awad’s 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 there’s 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 she’s 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 people’s bodies because you’re 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. It’s a good book. But it’s 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. It’s message seems to be that if you’re fat and you’re not content with the way you look (or even if you’re thin and not content), you’re never going to live a fulfilling life, but at the same time if you don’t do anything about your weight people will look down on you and you’ll die of diabetes or heart failure - you can’t win! It’s depressing. Maybe I would have liked it more if there was more of a resolution at the end.
So overall, five stars for writing, two stars for personal enjoyment. I’m glad I read it, but I’m not going to be reaching for it again any time soon, nor would I recommend it to someone else.
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 Awad’s 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 there’s 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 she’s 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 people’s bodies because you’re 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. It’s a good book. But it’s 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. It’s message seems to be that if you’re fat and you’re not content with the way you look (or even if you’re thin and not content), you’re never going to live a fulfilling life, but at the same time if you don’t do anything about your weight people will look down on you and you’ll die of diabetes or heart failure - you can’t win! It’s depressing. Maybe I would have liked it more if there was more of a resolution at the end.
So overall, five stars for writing, two stars for personal enjoyment. I’m glad I read it, but I’m not going to be reaching for it again any time soon, nor would I recommend it to someone else.
Content Warnings
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
sad
slow-paced
- 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
This book really did not appeal to me. As a fat woman myself I found the book depressing and honestly nothing like my and my other plus friends' experiences. It never gets any better, every single chapter including the end was the same depressing self-hate and fatphobia. Don't recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Eating disorder
emily_stimmel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
sleeson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- 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
This book is everything. If you ever had issues with weight or food, you will just get this novel. The experience the main character goes through is spot on. The author did such a good job going after those uncomfortable and vulnerable moments. Moderate swearing and sexual content.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
asbat's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
I’m not sure what to take away from this book. It has left me slightly disturbed. There is no character development just eternal misery.
Content Warnings
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
I thought this book would eventually redeem itself, but I couldn't stomach reaching the end to find out. I think this is honestly 1 of 3 books I've ever didn't finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
bookishbrittany's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
“13 ways to not be a nihilistic fat girl,” it should be called.
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, let’s 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.
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.
Chapter 14 might be considered fatphobic, but I guess it’s 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.
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 that’s just a projection of the protagonist’s own insecurities so I wouldn’t take it at face value initially.
I, personally, lost interest as the “fat girl” 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 “weight loss industry” as our girl struggles to lose weight after doing everything she is “supposed” to do. There’s a subtle-not-subtle commentary around how the industry pushes “work out more” and “eat less” yet women were still struggling to see results because that’s not actually a healthy way to live.
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, let’s 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.
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.
Chapter 14 might be considered fatphobic, but I guess it’s 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.
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 that’s just a projection of the protagonist’s own insecurities so I wouldn’t take it at face value initially.
I, personally, lost interest as the “fat girl” 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 “weight loss industry” as our girl struggles to lose weight after doing everything she is “supposed” to do. There’s a subtle-not-subtle commentary around how the industry pushes “work out more” and “eat less” yet women were still struggling to see results because that’s not actually a healthy way to live.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Death of parent