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kaleys23's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cheywin16's review
challenging
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
4.5
kendallk5's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
3.25
I like it, but the end seemed to drag on longer than it needed to. I did love Savvy's and Spencer's connection and Savvy's growth throughout the story. I listened to the audiobook, and I liked the narrator. I will probably listen to more of her.
ibubbles_30's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
happyblkhippie's review against another edition
Ugggh! I really wanted to like this one! I was looking forward to rooting for a positive, uplifting story about a curvy Brown girl MC but this wasnt it sadly. So many things just didn't hit the mark for me. The writing, the pacing, the narrator ( I listened to the audiobook), the characters and character motivation, the dialogue between the characters, the message. It left a lot to be desired. So many things fell short for me. I got to around 33% (Ch. 10) before calling it quits.
Spoiler's below
The narrator and the writing just isn't it for me. The narrator over does the Joanie southern accent in a stereotypical way and the men's voices sound flat, dull, disinterested and don't have any difference to them.
I didn't like the writing style at all. It's like it's overly written in some areas and under written in others. The way some of the secondary characters were written seemed overly dramatiatized. Like the lady at the salon, Savvy's mom, and Joanie.
Savvy's character is written in a way that makes her seem really insecure even for someone who has body and self esteem issues. I get she's a people pleaser but something about it just doesn't seem authentic or maybe just not relatable to me. Joanie's character seems to takes center stage more than Savvy which isn't great. I also didn't love Savvy's motivation for improving her health was for a revenge body and a man iccckk! The inner dialogue writing of comparing herself to everyone else didn't seem authentic either.
The fact that Savvy ignored her sexist, asshole ex's comments multiple times and still wanted to appease and even considered taking him back??! The fact that she immediately assumed Stephen was homeless just because his clothes were a little disshelved and tattered screams privilege to me. Like why was that the first conclusion to jump to without ever asking questions? They saw each other plenty of times to establish that earlier. I understand that it's set in L.A. where homelessness is an unfortunately extremely common thing and was used as a plot point but it wasn't a good one. I just didn't connect with any of the characters. Yeah it's a no for me on many fronts.
Spoiler's below
I didn't like the writing style at all. It's like it's overly written in some areas and under written in others. The way some of the secondary characters were written seemed overly dramatiatized. Like the lady at the salon, Savvy's mom, and Joanie.
Savvy's character is written in a way that makes her seem really insecure even for someone who has body and self esteem issues. I get she's a people pleaser but something about it just doesn't seem authentic or maybe just not relatable to me. Joanie's character seems to takes center stage more than Savvy which isn't great. I also didn't love Savvy's motivation for improving her health was for a revenge body and a man iccckk! The inner dialogue writing of comparing herself to everyone else didn't seem authentic either.
The fact that Savvy ignored her sexist, asshole ex's comments multiple times and still wanted to appease and even considered taking him back??! The fact that she immediately assumed Stephen was homeless just because his clothes were a little disshelved and tattered screams privilege to me. Like why was that the first conclusion to jump to without ever asking questions? They saw each other plenty of times to establish that earlier. I understand that it's set in L.A. where homelessness is an unfortunately extremely common thing and was used as a plot point but it wasn't a good one. I just didn't connect with any of the characters. Yeah it's a no for me on many fronts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Cursing
joannas's review
4.0
I had jaw surgery just under a week ago, and I was saving this book for my “post-op feel good” TBR. so because my face kinda hurts, I won’t go too in-depth if that’s ok!
Anywho, I liked the story! The first 40-ish pages were, honestly, difficult to get through, but I’ll also leave a disclaimer that I was so out of it I couldn’t really focus and just wanted to sleep. However, like many other reviewers have said here, a good first chunk of the book centred around diet culture, calorie counting, and fat-shaming. In addition to all this, there’s the idea that Savvy needs a “revenge body” to get back at the scumbag that is her ex-boyfriend, Jason. I didn’t really like that, BUT (!!!) she later reassess her motivation to continue a healthier lifestyle, and drops the idea of a revenge body (amen to that).
This also wasn’t really a romantic comedy to be honest, though I went into it expecting it to be one. It was more focused on Savvy’s journey in loving herself and feeling good-as-hell, which I really enjoyed!!
The love interest, Spencer, was really great; treated Savvy well (obvious bare minimum), but also just seems to have a good head on his shoulders. And he had a dog. I’m sold. I didn’t like that he was the butt of the joke for the entirety of the novel, especially since the “joke” was Savvy originally thinking he was homeless. I dunno, it just wasn’t funny the first, second, or fifteenth time it was mentioned.
Nevertheless, I love love loved Savvy’s support system. She has some really really great friends: Joanie, Maggie, Beth, Sarah, Lina!!! I would have loved to see more of Joan and Maggie to be honest — oh and Joan and Beth (who were super cute— and savvy even said she hadn’t asked Joan how her and Beth were doing, and then just never proceeded to ask?? But oh well).
I really like the feel-good vibes, and it was a good recovery read for sure! :)
Anywho, I liked the story! The first 40-ish pages were, honestly, difficult to get through, but I’ll also leave a disclaimer that I was so out of it I couldn’t really focus and just wanted to sleep. However, like many other reviewers have said here, a good first chunk of the book centred around diet culture, calorie counting, and fat-shaming. In addition to all this, there’s the idea that Savvy needs a “revenge body” to get back at the scumbag that is her ex-boyfriend, Jason. I didn’t really like that, BUT (!!!) she later reassess her motivation to continue a healthier lifestyle, and drops the idea of a revenge body (amen to that).
This also wasn’t really a romantic comedy to be honest, though I went into it expecting it to be one. It was more focused on Savvy’s journey in loving herself and feeling good-as-hell, which I really enjoyed!!
The love interest, Spencer, was really great; treated Savvy well (obvious bare minimum), but also just seems to have a good head on his shoulders. And he had a dog. I’m sold. I didn’t like that he was the butt of the joke for the entirety of the novel, especially since the “joke” was Savvy originally thinking he was homeless. I dunno, it just wasn’t funny the first, second, or fifteenth time it was mentioned.
Nevertheless, I love love loved Savvy’s support system. She has some really really great friends: Joanie, Maggie, Beth, Sarah, Lina!!! I would have loved to see more of Joan and Maggie to be honest — oh and Joan and Beth (who were super cute— and savvy even said she hadn’t asked Joan how her and Beth were doing, and then just never proceeded to ask?? But oh well).
I really like the feel-good vibes, and it was a good recovery read for sure! :)
classysassreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
oliviaaschmitz's review
1.0
the tennis scenes made me bored tbh. also if you don’t want your ex to contact you? block him. done.
geevenchy's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5