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alongreader's review against another edition
3.0
There's nothing *wrong* with this book; it's a good solid story, there are some nice themes, the characters are fun and interesting. However, I personally had no urge to get back to it; I wasn't desperate to know what happened next; I very easily could put it down to do something else.
I also didn't realise for several chapters that it had two POVs; my kindle wasn't showing the headers, and the voices weren't distinct enough for me. It wasn't until one narration mentioned 'that girl Willowdean' that I realised something was going on.
A good book, a good read, but sadly not a great one.
Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.
I also didn't realise for several chapters that it had two POVs; my kindle wasn't showing the headers, and the voices weren't distinct enough for me. It wasn't until one narration mentioned 'that girl Willowdean' that I realised something was going on.
A good book, a good read, but sadly not a great one.
Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.
bookmarvel's review against another edition
3.0
12/1
Well this book did live up to its claim on the aspec rep front, //spoiler// I thought it would be Callie but I’m happy with Amanda.
Also Callie is kind of a bitch.
12/12
I really liked that I got to see more of Millie’s friendships with the rest of the girls who were in the pageant, I think it’s really good.
And it’s nice that they eventually became friends with Callie and that Callie became friends with them, even though she’s still kind of a bitch.
Well this book did live up to its claim on the aspec rep front, //spoiler// I thought it would be Callie but I’m happy with Amanda.
Also Callie is kind of a bitch.
12/12
I really liked that I got to see more of Millie’s friendships with the rest of the girls who were in the pageant, I think it’s really good.
And it’s nice that they eventually became friends with Callie and that Callie became friends with them, even though she’s still kind of a bitch.
mellabella's review against another edition
4.0
I definitely think every once in a while you need a "feel good" book like Puddin'.
Puddin' is cute, honest and well written. The characters seem very real. They seem like people you might know. Or have known.
Millie is a relatable teenage girl. As you read from her and Callie's pov's, their blossoming friendship, and family lives take you back to what it was like being a teenager.
I thought Millie and Malik and, Mitch and Callie are positively adorable.
I like how body image, race, sexuality was handled.
I had a small issue with the fact that the Shamrocks left Callie to take the fall for trashing the gym. Yet, everyone acted like her being angry and trying to get revenge was unheard of.
Especially her mom. Never once was that addressed. But, again it as a small thing.
Both her and Millie grew so much as he book progressed.
Two books in and I'm a fan of Julie Murphy.
Puddin' is cute, honest and well written. The characters seem very real. They seem like people you might know. Or have known.
Millie is a relatable teenage girl. As you read from her and Callie's pov's, their blossoming friendship, and family lives take you back to what it was like being a teenager.
I thought Millie and Malik and, Mitch and Callie are positively adorable.
I like how body image, race, sexuality was handled.
I had a small issue with the fact that the Shamrocks left Callie to take the fall for trashing the gym. Yet, everyone acted like her being angry and trying to get revenge was unheard of.
Especially her mom. Never once was that addressed. But, again it as a small thing.
Both her and Millie grew so much as he book progressed.
Two books in and I'm a fan of Julie Murphy.
missy_evanko's review against another edition
4.0
Just as good as the first book, but with less Dolly Parton and more cross stitch and rom com references. Millie and Callie are the main characters, but everyone from Dumplin' is still included.
jennagrace_m's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one even more than I liked Dumplin'! A quick, fun, heartwarming read. Girl friendship forever.
deekabee's review against another edition
4.0
So I'll admit that as a school librarian, I'm a little biased, but my favorite quote from the book is from the scene where the girls attend a school board meeting: "And why is everyone always trying to take money away from libraries? Aren't books sort of the reason we're even in school at all?"
powisamy's review against another edition
4.0
Review to come...
I read Dumplin' when it first came out and really loved it. It was a great read and was one of the first books that I read about a plus-size protagonist. I was, therefore, super excited to read Puddin' which is the sequel/prequel to Dumplin'. I really enjoyed Puddin' with its strong focus on female friendship.
Although I really did like the story when I started it, I read it around exam time so this impacted how I first saw the story. I felt like the beginning was a bit slow and I didn't really get what I needed from it. I know that had I read it at a different time, I could have loved this much more than I did but the end. It is a great heartwarming story that I devoured once I got into it.
As mentioned this book focuses on the friendship of Callie and Millie after they are kind of forced into each other's lives. It is definitely an enemy to friends type deal and what Callie does to Millie and makes them closer is quite bad but I think that from this their friendship is just a lot purer and realistic. I think that by the end of the book it is clear how great their friendship is and the lengths that they would go to each other which I loved.
Like with Dumplin', Puddin' does deal with being plus-sized and dreams. This was a part that I loved and I think as a person who is plus-sized themselves, I felt like Puddin' was deeply personal to me and I learnt so much about my body from reading it and have wanted to change how I see my own body since reading the book. I love Julie Murphy for including this as part of the story and for continuing to include fat characters in the story as this is the only time where I see myself on the page. She does it well and I love it!
The Verdict:
Puddin' is a prequel that will please Dumplin' fans but should be pushed into the hands that need it. Julie Murphy is a great writer and this book proves it.
I read Dumplin' when it first came out and really loved it. It was a great read and was one of the first books that I read about a plus-size protagonist. I was, therefore, super excited to read Puddin' which is the sequel/prequel to Dumplin'. I really enjoyed Puddin' with its strong focus on female friendship.
Although I really did like the story when I started it, I read it around exam time so this impacted how I first saw the story. I felt like the beginning was a bit slow and I didn't really get what I needed from it. I know that had I read it at a different time, I could have loved this much more than I did but the end. It is a great heartwarming story that I devoured once I got into it.
As mentioned this book focuses on the friendship of Callie and Millie after they are kind of forced into each other's lives. It is definitely an enemy to friends type deal and what Callie does to Millie and makes them closer is quite bad but I think that from this their friendship is just a lot purer and realistic. I think that by the end of the book it is clear how great their friendship is and the lengths that they would go to each other which I loved.
Like with Dumplin', Puddin' does deal with being plus-sized and dreams. This was a part that I loved and I think as a person who is plus-sized themselves, I felt like Puddin' was deeply personal to me and I learnt so much about my body from reading it and have wanted to change how I see my own body since reading the book. I love Julie Murphy for including this as part of the story and for continuing to include fat characters in the story as this is the only time where I see myself on the page. She does it well and I love it!
The Verdict:
Puddin' is a prequel that will please Dumplin' fans but should be pushed into the hands that need it. Julie Murphy is a great writer and this book proves it.
sleepiebear's review against another edition
3.0
fun. a bit too dramatic for me, bit still good. I like the time taken with each character. they are each definitelie a real person.
sleepygirlreads_'s review against another edition
5.0
I borrowed this from the library but I think I’m gonna buy it because there’s so much good about this book