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beccabees's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
2.75
I loved the main love interest! I wish Savvy had got to feeling good as hell a little faster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Details about dietinghappyblkhippie'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
kaykaysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.5
What to expect: post break up, fat rep, neighbors, weight loss
I liked most of this book, but didn't love the way it handled weight loss. The friend group was really well done, and the romance could have benefitted form a little more development.
Spice: 2.5/4
I liked most of this book, but didn't love the way it handled weight loss. The friend group was really well done, and the romance could have benefitted form a little more development.
Spice: 2.5/4
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
stateofiction's review
3.5
idk why I went into this thinking it was a rom-com, but I quickly readjusted my expectations. this is definitely women's fiction about self improvement and self love with really supporting friends and a hot guy with a dog. overall I enjoyed this, but it just isn't something I'll think about again. I will say that this book made me hungry as fuck!! Savvy is a creative hobby chef and everything she makes is described in detail and.... can I come over?
however, while the food descriptions were phenomenal, the character descriptions lacked. I didn't even know Savvy wore glasses until over halfway through the book when she was getting contacts. I didn't know a character was holding something until they interacted with it further. it was just things like that that made me go "wait did I miss something?" and the answer was no it wasn't me it was the author.
also there is a HP reference in a book published in 2022 so shame on that.
however, while the food descriptions were phenomenal, the character descriptions lacked. I didn't even know Savvy wore glasses until over halfway through the book when she was getting contacts. I didn't know a character was holding something until they interacted with it further. it was just things like that that made me go "wait did I miss something?" and the answer was no it wasn't me it was the author.
also there is a HP reference in a book published in 2022 so shame on that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
ohsnapsabrina93_'s review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not really into romance novels but this one was cute story. Alot of challenges on the way, but the main character made it through & it inspired me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Body shaming
igood54's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming
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
leo_k's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The story was cute but it read like a wish fulfillment fanfiction. The plot is all over the place & what is the central tension?!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
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
kellyskubic's review
hopeful
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship and Fire/Fire injury