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buddinbookworm's review
f-bomb. Not for me.
Graphic: Cursing
notsobinaryart's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity and Cursing
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
ohheyitskaitlin's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Bullying
Minor: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Rape
meggiemeggie52's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
While nothing is *graphic*, a big part of the book is that the plus-size MC has a history of being bullied and body shamed. The book itself isn't fatphobic, but characters in the book are. There's a brief attempt at sexual harassment/almost-assault, but MC stops it before it goes too far.casey_sunshine's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, and Misogyny
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Abortion, Death of parent, and Death
camilleemcl's review
3.0
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content
memorable'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
4.25
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Biphobia, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Outing, and Panic attacks/disorders
bodiesinbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol
spearly's review
- 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
4.0
“You said yes because you knew some people would object?”
“I wanted to prove that I had every right to be here,” Bea answered. “That I could star in a show about love just like any other woman."
One to Watch follows fashion-blogger Bea, as she is thrust into the public eye as the first plus-size woman to star in Main Squeeze, a reality show akin to The Bachelorette.
This was a nice read. Stayman-London has a way of crafting a very atmospheric, romantic story without getting too technical. For obvious reasons, this reminded me a lot of MTV's Unreal, only sweeter and more satisfying. Still, it's important to mention the obviously heavy themes of fat phobia, fat-shaming, online harassment (including rape and death threats), misogyny, and a very uncomfortable sequence where be a talks about being assaulted in high school.
I loved trying to guess who of Bea's suitors were ~there for the right reasons~. I made a few wrong calls, a few right calls, and Stayman-London definitely threw me at the end there, but it was hella enjoyable!
More important that the romantic side plots, I loved the way Bea came into her own through the story. Even in the beginning, as a body-positive fashion blogger, readers still got a sense of her deeply-rooted insecurities, of how she never allowed herself to be vulnerable, of how she never believed anyone could be attracted to her because it was easier to believe no-one wanted her than to open herself up to being hurt. And yet, despite these insecurities, she was always strong in her convictions, steadfast in ignoring the haters, and, after some trepidation, eager to show the world that being plus-sized doesn't mean you can't get your fairytale ending.
Her journey throughout the show, while yes, was dramatic and luscious to read about, became less about the romance for me and more about the way Bea began to see herself as she started trusted the guys. And, gosh, did she have a good bunch at the end there. Mostly.
I will say...
But I do understand all the glowing reviews and high star ratings from my mutuals! Definitely worth the read.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual content
elisabethjoe's review
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Infidelity