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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
bookishmillennial's review
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This felt a lot more like fiction with a coming-of-age story than a capital R romance, which is totally fine! I could see this as a movie on Hallmark!
I think Savvy’s journey felt authentic because it was messy and imperfect. I appreciated her own growth in finding her confidence and her voice especially.
I am very anti-diet culture and all about body neutrality, so while I understand society’s desire for everyone to “eat healthier,” I also would love to stop framing food as “good” or “bad”🥺
I loved Savvy’s relationships with all the side characters (besides her ex Jason) and felt the care between all of them 🤎
cw: fatphobia, toxic relationship, emotional abuse, side character is an ex-cop, sexism, misogyny
I think Savvy’s journey felt authentic because it was messy and imperfect. I appreciated her own growth in finding her confidence and her voice especially.
I am very anti-diet culture and all about body neutrality, so while I understand society’s desire for everyone to “eat healthier,” I also would love to stop framing food as “good” or “bad”🥺
I loved Savvy’s relationships with all the side characters (besides her ex Jason) and felt the care between all of them 🤎
cw: fatphobia, toxic relationship, emotional abuse, side character is an ex-cop, sexism, misogyny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
kyrstin_p1989's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
3.0
I felt like this book treated fatness as a problem to solve instead of fully allowing Savvy to embrace her figure, the only way she begins to love herself is by noticing how her body has changed from the beginning of her workout journey til the end. To me, body positivity is about loving the skin you’re in without having to change yourself and this book didn’t really espouse those ideals. I liked the romance aspects and the friends made me laugh out loud often so the book wasn’t a total wash.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Body horror, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
theespressoedition's review against another edition
I have a feeling that this would've eventually gone in a really positive direction, but I struggle a LOT with reading about body shaming, negative body imagery, and verbal abuse. So, this was one that I had to give up at the 35% mark. I'm sure it's a great pick for others, but it just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia
brttny_anne's review against another edition
I am trying to have a healthier relationship with food without shame or negativity. This did not have that this is diet culture porn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Emotional abuse
livetgjennomb_ker's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.0
Savvy Sheldon is unfortunately not my cup of tea.
Her lack of confidence and both the internalised and external fatphobia she faces is ridiculous; and as such she came across as grating as opposed to charming.
I liked her friends, though.
🌶️/5
Her lack of confidence and both the internalised and external fatphobia she faces is ridiculous; and as such she came across as grating as opposed to charming.
I liked her friends, though.
🌶️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Emotional abuse
fromtheshelf's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Fatphobia
raisinglebarre's review
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was the perfect lighthearted read. I really appreciate how strong and healthy friendships was such a big part of this book. I cackled multiple times because it felt so relatable and there were many times I could see some of my friends doing and saying the same things. Even though it's a romance, this book is truly a testament to the importance of having great friends as an adult.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
eevacasey's review
Diet culture, revenge body, jokes about unhoused people
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
aproudmc13's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fatphobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming