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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed it well enough. Bumped up the score a tad for the good body positivity/HAES attitude throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Abandonment, Fatphobia, and Medical content
itsinthewords'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
4.75
Denise Williams delivers a very thoughtful portrayal of entering the fitness world as a fat woman, and looks at the way society views exercise as a weight-loss tool rather than as something that can feel good for a person. Britta faces many judgmental folks who make all kinds of assumptions about her and her exercise journey, but I was very impressed with how gently Williams treats this topic. Britta never once feels she needs to lose weight or prove herself to anyone, and the fatphobia she encounters is always from someone we know is not worthy of her. Williams always seems to know how to treat darker subjects with a tenderness that makes it feel like she is holding your hand through it when things get rough. I never once felt overwhelmed or like I needed to tap out. I could just enjoy these characters!
There is some lying by omission in this, and sometimes that is not something I can handle. Even so, I still really really loved this book! The characters felt humanly flawed, with anxieties and fears I recognized, and I felt like the HEA was deeply earned by both MCs. They had their own issues to sort out outside of their relationship in order to make it work, and I deeply appreciate when an author does that for us!
There is some lying by omission in this, and sometimes that is not something I can handle. Even so, I still really really loved this book! The characters felt humanly flawed, with anxieties and fears I recognized, and I felt like the HEA was deeply earned by both MCs. They had their own issues to sort out outside of their relationship in order to make it work, and I deeply appreciate when an author does that for us!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fatphobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug abuse
Hidden identity, lying by omissioncaitlinemccann's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, and Drug use
carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I feel like if you are into exercise you would enjoy this book a lot more than I did. For me, it was mid. The writing is good and the premise and source of conflict is classic, kind of a recipe for success, but I got extremely bored with the entire book and almost every conversation Britta has revolving around exercise, nutrition, and whether she will or won't lose weight. I also felt that Wes was a significantly more interesting and well-rounded character, even if all of his texture came from trauma. Also, you have to wait SO LONG for them to have sex and it is honestly not even worth it (imo). It wasn't that bad because I did finish it, and the authors project is clear to me, and I definitely respect it! I'm just not the niche audience for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder
This book deals almost exclusively with topics of food, eating, exercise, and weight loss or gain. It's done sensitively and the authors note at the beginning of the book does a good job describing the nature of the content, but it might not be for everyone depending on your history with these topics.kayleigh_reads_romance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This book was everything I wanted to to be and more even more than I needed! I will forever read everything that Denise Williams writes (and especially listen if Teddy Hamilton narrates!) The fat representation was great and even the 'weight loss' app, which I was a bit worried about if I am honest, was more about loving your body as it is and being healthier than just the numbers on a scale.
The side characters were good. I did find Britta's friends to be a bit one note, there were too many of them and they weren't fleshed out enough, but I loved Cord and Pearl!
Favourite parts:
-Teddy Hamilton!!! I would listen to this man read an appliance manual, he is that good!
-The fat rep, as a curvy girl myself I love being about to relate to a character
-The author puts trigger warnings at the beginning of the book!!! All authors need to do this!
Thoughts:
-Love everything Denise Williams writes!
-Not a huge fan of the thrird act break up but it works
-MMC is an attentive listener but doesn't always stand up for FMC when it comes to her being fat shamed, especially by his ex-girlfriend
-New book about Cord and Pearl coming late 2023! I love her! She doesn't put up with bulls***
The side characters were good. I did find Britta's friends to be a bit one note, there were too many of them and they weren't fleshed out enough, but I loved Cord and Pearl!
Favourite parts:
-Teddy Hamilton!!! I would listen to this man read an appliance manual, he is that good!
-The fat rep, as a curvy girl myself I love being about to relate to a character
-The author puts trigger warnings at the beginning of the book!!! All authors need to do this!
Thoughts:
-Not a huge fan of the thrird act break up but it works
-MMC is an attentive listener but doesn't always stand up for FMC when it comes to her being fat shamed, especially by his ex-girlfriend
-New book about Cord and Pearl coming late 2023! I love her! She doesn't put up with bulls***
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
chronicallybookish's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Addiction
Moderate: Toxic relationship
sarah_thebooknerd's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
5.0
5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶️
This is a book I never realized I needed.
Fat rep: amazing! I loved that this book shows a fat FMC who isn’t interested in losing weight but wants to feel good in her body in terms of exercise and food.
The slow burn was amazing and the build to the relationship was incredible. Wes is top tier book boyfriend material. The way he loved Britta was everything. Britta is funny and was so relatable to me and I felt so seen with this book and where I am at with my body image and wanting to move my body and all the questions you get as a plus sized person about what your weight loss goals are when you do love your body vs just exercising like everyone else. This quote is perfect.
“Like, if you're fat, exercise has to be this big statement instead of something you do like everyone else."
1.5 🌶️
This is a book I never realized I needed.
Fat rep: amazing! I loved that this book shows a fat FMC who isn’t interested in losing weight but wants to feel good in her body in terms of exercise and food.
The slow burn was amazing and the build to the relationship was incredible. Wes is top tier book boyfriend material. The way he loved Britta was everything. Britta is funny and was so relatable to me and I felt so seen with this book and where I am at with my body image and wanting to move my body and all the questions you get as a plus sized person about what your weight loss goals are when you do love your body vs just exercising like everyone else. This quote is perfect.
“Like, if you're fat, exercise has to be this big statement instead of something you do like everyone else."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, and Body shaming
lexa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
5.0
Ooof. I love a swoony romance that tackles hard topics, and Denise Williams does it so well. Definitely check the content warning and/or read the authors note at the beginning.
Bonus points for the epistolary element which I have a soft spot for (texts and emails).
Bonus points for the epistolary element which I have a soft spot for (texts and emails).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Eating disorder, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Body shaming
localpeachthief's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Eating disorder
takarakei's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I really enjoyed the main message behind this book, where a woman is on a fitness journey and not one solely aimed at weight loss. I think that was done really well and the struggles with following an exercise program were spot on.
However, I didn’t enjoy the other aspect of this book which was the romance. Personally I didn’t really believe the two main characters falling for each other, and their relationship seemed a bit superficial and not based on a whole lot of depth. Spice was alright, but nothing mind blowing.
I can also accept that as someone who is petite this book just wasn’t written for me and that’s ok. I do understand why a lot of people seem to like it but the romance just didn’t do it for me *shrug*
3/5 🌶️
However, I didn’t enjoy the other aspect of this book which was the romance. Personally I didn’t really believe the two main characters falling for each other, and their relationship seemed a bit superficial and not based on a whole lot of depth. Spice was alright, but nothing mind blowing.
I can also accept that as someone who is petite this book just wasn’t written for me and that’s ok. I do understand why a lot of people seem to like it but the romance just didn’t do it for me *shrug*
3/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Medical content
The male main character has a mother who has struggled with addiction his whole life. And an estranged sister who has a past history of eating disorder.