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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
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
An interesting take on thin girls and eating disorders.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
dark
emotional
inspiring
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death of parent
3.5 rounded up to 4. This book needs a serious content/trigger warning for so many issues- most obviously eating disorders. This review also needs those CW/TW. I struggle with books that describe issues like this so accurately because reading a book about eating disorders at age 13 is what gave me the knowledge about the ways in which to pursue my own ED and hide those behaviors. Fortunately my own attempt at anorexia and bulimia at age 14ish never became a full blown ED and I sought help when I started having a lot of dizziness. However, I’ve struggled with my relationship with food ever since then. I share these things mostly as a warning about who should and shouldn’t read a book about eating disorders. There were parts in the beginning of the development of Rose’s disorder that felt like looking back at one of my journals. I do not believe anyone recently recovering from ED should read this as it would be too triggering.
I was also worried that this novel might come across as fat-phobic, especially as it became clear that overeating was going to be one of Lily’s disorders. However, Rose seemed more concerned about the underlying issues driving Lily to overeat. When the “thin girls” complain about being “fat” it’s pretty clear that ED isn’t about vanity but the desire to control something, and often times, to simple disappear or numb pain. The author does an amazing job describing the different thought processes in anorexia. It’s very clear to the reader that’s it’s not just about body image.
What I think is important in this book is that it shows the range of ED, the internal and external influences in ED, the real life consequences of ED, etc. As a former clinician I’m not sure how accurate the ED treatment was for an American facility- but I assume this book was based more on Australian treatment since the author is Australian. Additionally the book describes the treatment center as not well funded - which may explain why the “girls” get away with so much there.
I like that we see so much context in this book- from LGBTQ+ issues, alcoholism, orthorexia, the diet industry, domestic violence, not to mention the unique relationship of twins.
I was a bit concerned about confusing BDSM with domestic violence. At one point Lily admits that she’s not into Phil’s kink as much as he is...but as I see it, it’s not kink but abuse. I wish this was fleshed out a bit more. Either an acknowledgement that the abuse is abuse and not kink, or that the writer never conflated the two (as she does when the couple goes shopping for kink related toys). It’s pretty clear to me that there isn’t any enthusiastic consent, so I’m not sure why the author went down that unnecessary path?
Ultimately this book shines a light on anorexia and all eating disorders. Even some of the worst characters become relatable. I’m always a fan of books that show the full range of humanity, and this book does that.
I was also worried that this novel might come across as fat-phobic, especially as it became clear that overeating was going to be one of Lily’s disorders. However, Rose seemed more concerned about the underlying issues driving Lily to overeat. When the “thin girls” complain about being “fat” it’s pretty clear that ED isn’t about vanity but the desire to control something, and often times, to simple disappear or numb pain. The author does an amazing job describing the different thought processes in anorexia. It’s very clear to the reader that’s it’s not just about body image.
What I think is important in this book is that it shows the range of ED, the internal and external influences in ED, the real life consequences of ED, etc. As a former clinician I’m not sure how accurate the ED treatment was for an American facility- but I assume this book was based more on Australian treatment since the author is Australian. Additionally the book describes the treatment center as not well funded - which may explain why the “girls” get away with so much there.
I like that we see so much context in this book- from LGBTQ+ issues, alcoholism, orthorexia, the diet industry, domestic violence, not to mention the unique relationship of twins.
I was a bit concerned about confusing BDSM with domestic violence. At one point Lily admits that she’s not into Phil’s kink as much as he is...but as I see it, it’s not kink but abuse. I wish this was fleshed out a bit more. Either an acknowledgement that the abuse is abuse and not kink, or that the writer never conflated the two (as she does when the couple goes shopping for kink related toys). It’s pretty clear to me that there isn’t any enthusiastic consent, so I’m not sure why the author went down that unnecessary path?
Ultimately this book shines a light on anorexia and all eating disorders. Even some of the worst characters become relatable. I’m always a fan of books that show the full range of humanity, and this book does that.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
TW: eating disorders (all of them! ranked!), physical abuse/domestic violence, self-harm, alcoholism, rape (and a cult? thing?)
There is so much going on in here. I don't even know if I liked it or not but I'm giving it 4 stars because it is relevant and it did not romanticize disordered eating. Also, I find it fun when books about eating disorders bring up the "ED ranking" (aka: anorectics "are better" than bulimics; this is something that I can guarantee is a thing and it causes tension and drama in ED recovery groups lol).
Anyhow, yeah, I don't recommend this to everybody unless you 1) have no emotions, 2) can compartmentalize and "forget" about stuff easily, or 3) you're in for a weird, sad, problematic ride. Absolutely not for people who may relapse into disordered eating or get worst with it (I personally am at a better place now and this book and how it presents anorexia made me feel it is gross, but that may not be everyone's case so tread carefully).
There is so much going on in here. I don't even know if I liked it or not but I'm giving it 4 stars because it is relevant and it did not romanticize disordered eating. Also, I find it fun when books about eating disorders bring up the "ED ranking" (aka: anorectics "are better" than bulimics; this is something that I can guarantee is a thing and it causes tension and drama in ED recovery groups lol).
Anyhow, yeah, I don't recommend this to everybody unless you 1) have no emotions, 2) can compartmentalize and "forget" about stuff easily, or 3) you're in for a weird, sad, problematic ride. Absolutely not for people who may relapse into disordered eating or get worst with it (I personally am at a better place now and this book and how it presents anorexia made me feel it is gross, but that may not be everyone's case so tread carefully).