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yennn's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I LOVE THE COVER and I am guilty of picking this one up because of that…Not only is the art gorgeous, it’s so nice to see such an inclusive and proud cover.
Told through multiple POVs, the story follows 6 characters as they navigate the start of a zombie apocalypse at ground zero in their fat camp, uncovering each other's secrets and the origins of what’s happening around them.
Personally, the multiple POVs didn’t work for me. The frequent shifts, sometimes employed as cliffhangers, felt jarring and disrupted the flow - I wasn’t able to connect to or really root for any of the characters. I was also not the biggest fan of the stereotypical character trope labels that the characters assigned to themselves right at the start (Action Girl, The Jerk, The Basket Case, The Nerd etc.,) but this could just be me hating labels in general.
The ending felt rushed and inconclusive, with frustratingly loose ends and a lack of a real conclusion or indication of what happens from here for the characters and their world. I really thought it would go a different route (coughs Shaun of the Dead) but it is what it is. Props to Kelly deVos though for taking risks with the characters and not feeling the need for a happily ever after ending. I’m throwing hands about some of those risks but it’s refreshing to see this, especially in YA.
Overall, it’s not particularly groundbreaking, but I’d recommend it if you're looking for a fast paced, inclusive story, with body positive messages and fat representation with a side of zombie apocalypse.
asparagusisreading's review
4.0
EAT YOUR HEART OUT follows a group of teens on a bus in route to a weight-loss camp. The teens have varying feelings and motivations about attending the camp with most not knowing what to expect or feeling like this will not be a very fun event. What none of them expected was to be driving into the camp with a "miracle cure" for obesity, a camper has already gone missing, the power is out of wack, and there is an impending zombie apocalypse in the middle of a the town's worst blizzard in history.
First of all, we have a title that works both for the zombie apocalypse setting and the weight-loss camp setting. Second, we have an amazing plus sized female main character that not only WHOOPS ASS, but she stands up for herself and others, AND leads the group. AND SHE IS ON THE COVER. The characters are fighting for their lives but also solving a bit of a mystery. There is discussion of serious topics such as a diet culture and fatphobia in society, but its sprinkled in with humor and satire, lightening the blow of what's being discussed and what's happening to the characters. It makes the story enjoyable but also allows for the necessary conversation to happen.
This book follows mutiple perspectives (if I remember correctly, they were all on the same bus and same pod so you meet each character in the first few chapters.) If you're someone that isn't a fan of reading more than 3 POVs in a book, this may not be for you. Each of the characters fit a movie character stereotype, playing into the satirical side of the book. For example, we have The Jock and a Nerd. When I say I enjoyed reading in almost every character's perspective...
I had no idea where this book would go when I started and once I finished, I was not complaining. In fact, I think I read the entire thing in one day. I could not get enough and wanted to know more. I was surprised by my enjoyment because it was a random book I picked up on a whim. I had never heard of it at the point. I just thought the cover snd description was interesting and borrowed it from my library. Who know a randomly picked up book would captivate my attention and almost make it was one of my favorites of the year?
Be warned, multiple of the trigger and content warnings that I'm about to list are spoilers: fatphobia, murder, death, vomit, cursing, violence, dieting and food shaming, injuries, ableism, dead bodies, grief, [gun violence, kidnapping, death of friends, car accident, teen pregnancy]
First of all, we have a title that works both for the zombie apocalypse setting and the weight-loss camp setting. Second, we have an amazing plus sized female main character that not only WHOOPS ASS, but she stands up for herself and others, AND leads the group. AND SHE IS ON THE COVER. The characters are fighting for their lives but also solving a bit of a mystery. There is discussion of serious topics such as a diet culture and fatphobia in society, but its sprinkled in with humor and satire, lightening the blow of what's being discussed and what's happening to the characters. It makes the story enjoyable but also allows for the necessary conversation to happen.
This book follows mutiple perspectives (if I remember correctly, they were all on the same bus and same pod so you meet each character in the first few chapters.) If you're someone that isn't a fan of reading more than 3 POVs in a book, this may not be for you. Each of the characters fit a movie character stereotype, playing into the satirical side of the book. For example, we have The Jock and a Nerd. When I say I enjoyed reading in almost every character's perspective...
I had no idea where this book would go when I started and once I finished, I was not complaining. In fact, I think I read the entire thing in one day. I could not get enough and wanted to know more. I was surprised by my enjoyment because it was a random book I picked up on a whim. I had never heard of it at the point. I just thought the cover snd description was interesting and borrowed it from my library. Who know a randomly picked up book would captivate my attention and almost make it was one of my favorites of the year?
Be warned, multiple of the trigger and content warnings that I'm about to list are spoilers: fatphobia, murder, death, vomit, cursing, violence, dieting and food shaming, injuries, ableism, dead bodies, grief, [gun violence, kidnapping, death of friends, car accident, teen pregnancy]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Fatphobia, Ableism, Eating disorder, Vomit, Body shaming, Cursing, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Car accident
mellamaron's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
4.5 stars rounded up because I feel like the overall rating here is too low.
This book is basically a horror / thriller movie and I really enjoyed reading it. We get multiple povs and while there was a tiny bit of confusion (they’re all first person so sometimes I forgot who’s speaking…) it still worked really well overall. Each person had a distinct personality and “archetype”.
It’s been a good few weeks since I found another book that I just constantly wanted to read. And this was it. I really truly felt like I was watching a film and it would be SO amazing to see this in live action. Can you imagine the amazing talent we could get in here of fat actors? Think Heavyweights but with zombies! I would love it!!
I do think this book has a niche audience though and that is… people who like comedic thrillers (The Blackening esque) You do have to suspend disbelief a little but I guess I was able to just sit back and enjoy and that made all the difference.
So if you like movies like The Blackening or tv shows like All of Us Are Dead, definitely give this book a try!
This book is basically a horror / thriller movie and I really enjoyed reading it. We get multiple povs and while there was a tiny bit of confusion (they’re all first person so sometimes I forgot who’s speaking…) it still worked really well overall. Each person had a distinct personality and “archetype”.
It’s been a good few weeks since I found another book that I just constantly wanted to read. And this was it. I really truly felt like I was watching a film and it would be SO amazing to see this in live action. Can you imagine the amazing talent we could get in here of fat actors? Think Heavyweights but with zombies! I would love it!!
I do think this book has a niche audience though and that is… people who like comedic thrillers (The Blackening esque) You do have to suspend disbelief a little but I guess I was able to just sit back and enjoy and that made all the difference.
So if you like movies like The Blackening or tv shows like All of Us Are Dead, definitely give this book a try!
samwhy's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
omgreads's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
mehsi's review
5.0
I received this book from the publisher/blog tour in exchange of an honest review.
I have been trying to write a review for DAYS now. It is now the 9th and I finished this book on the 4th. So I am just going to make a good/not so good review, though for most it will just be good. Because I really LOVED this book and that is why I just don’t know words any more. Haha.
GOOD
I have been trying to write a review for DAYS now. It is now the 9th and I finished this book on the 4th. So I am just going to make a good/not so good review, though for most it will just be good. Because I really LOVED this book and that is why I just don’t know words any more. Haha.
GOOD
clichemarker's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
This was really good!
It never got boring, there was always something going on.
Bit of a bummer ending though
It never got boring, there was always something going on.
Bit of a bummer ending though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
hermoonreads's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This was one of those books where I saw the cover, read the blurb, and immediately downloaded it to read. The beginning felt a little slow, we had a lot of set up to go through and six character POVs to establish afterall, but once the main plot got underway it was a RIDE.
I really enjoyed having a twist on the usual slow dumb zombies, giving them such speed and strength really ups the stakes and changes the game for our hero's!
The ending is really the only thing that stopped this book from being a 4 or 5 star read for me. It was decent enough and I understand why it worked out the way it did, I just expected (and wanted) more.
This was one of those books where I saw the cover, read the blurb, and immediately downloaded it to read. The beginning felt a little slow, we had a lot of set up to go through and six character POVs to establish afterall, but once the main plot got underway it was a RIDE.
I really enjoyed having a twist on the usual slow dumb zombies, giving them such speed and strength really ups the stakes and changes the game for our hero's!
The ending is really the only thing that stopped this book from being a 4 or 5 star read for me. It was decent enough and I understand why it worked out the way it did, I just expected (and wanted) more.
toadlovesreading's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5