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reedalot's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
5.0
migimon2002's review against another edition
4.0
It was fun to revisit the ‘world’ of Dumplin’ through this sequel/companion novel. I adored the character Millie. Callie, on the other hand, is the type of character you love to hate! She did grow on me by the end. As always, Julie Murphy delivers positive messages through her writing. This novel was sweet & fun, and had many comical (and heartwarming) moments.
sunshine169's review against another edition
4.0
As a forever fat girl, and one who was bullied in high school for it, I went through a whirlwind of emotions with the character Callie. Most of the book she was very fat shamy. Every opinion she had about Millie revolved around her looks.
She also made light of the fact that she participated in the total destruction of Millie's Uncle's gym. Callie and her dance teammates were angry that the gym pulled their funding. Instead of getting mad at the school board for not funding them in their first place, they took out their anger on the gym without thinking about why funding was pulled. Obviously the place couldn't afford it anymore. Destroying it as a prank does nothing to help the situation. Callie was the only one recognized in the video so she took the blame for it and didn't rat out her teammates. This was both silly and commendable... and her only redeeming quality early in the novel. I honestly didn't start to like Callie until near the end when she had her "awakening" and all of a sudden saw Millie as her best friend.
I have been known to neg a book for this kind of character but recently I realized that a bad attitude character doesn't mean it is a bad character. It is just realistic that people have these thoughts and at least Callie was able to grow away from them.
Millie is a bad ass.
Read this book.
She also made light of the fact that she participated in the total destruction of Millie's Uncle's gym. Callie and her dance teammates were angry that the gym pulled their funding. Instead of getting mad at the school board for not funding them in their first place, they took out their anger on the gym without thinking about why funding was pulled. Obviously the place couldn't afford it anymore. Destroying it as a prank does nothing to help the situation. Callie was the only one recognized in the video so she took the blame for it and didn't rat out her teammates. This was both silly and commendable... and her only redeeming quality early in the novel. I honestly didn't start to like Callie until near the end when she had her "awakening" and all of a sudden saw Millie as her best friend.
I have been known to neg a book for this kind of character but recently I realized that a bad attitude character doesn't mean it is a bad character. It is just realistic that people have these thoughts and at least Callie was able to grow away from them.
Millie is a bad ass.
Read this book.
lacestow7's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a quick, easy read that was so lighthearted and cute. I was able to read this book, and relax, and not feel like I was being weighed down with sadness or introspection. It was the perfect thing to read after a book like ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’.
I love Millie’s character. I loved her in ‘Dumplin’, and I’m so glad that we get to see more of her in ‘Puddin’. I like how we get to see a little more complexity to her as we get an inside look at her thoughts. She is such a strong character, that has had to deal with years of stares, whispers, judgements, and nasty comments. In spite of this, she still remains so positive, and is determined to try to change the way people think about and see fat people. I love her spunk and energy.
I ended up liking Callie in the end, but it took me so long to come around. It took about half of the book, before Callie started to realize that she can act differently than she always has by just choosing to be a better person. And even with this change, I still didn’t completely warm up to her. She took much longer to grow on me which is my main reason for the four star rating. She infuriated me to no end for the longest time, but she did change for the better thoughtout the book, and had an amazing character arc, which I am a sucker for.
I definitely recommend this book as a good palate cleanser between a heavier book, or just to branch out of your typical genre if you need a break.
I love Millie’s character. I loved her in ‘Dumplin’, and I’m so glad that we get to see more of her in ‘Puddin’. I like how we get to see a little more complexity to her as we get an inside look at her thoughts. She is such a strong character, that has had to deal with years of stares, whispers, judgements, and nasty comments. In spite of this, she still remains so positive, and is determined to try to change the way people think about and see fat people. I love her spunk and energy.
I ended up liking Callie in the end, but it took me so long to come around. It took about half of the book, before Callie started to realize that she can act differently than she always has by just choosing to be a better person. And even with this change, I still didn’t completely warm up to her. She took much longer to grow on me which is my main reason for the four star rating. She infuriated me to no end for the longest time, but she did change for the better thoughtout the book, and had an amazing character arc, which I am a sucker for.
I definitely recommend this book as a good palate cleanser between a heavier book, or just to branch out of your typical genre if you need a break.
farfallarelatable's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
allysonbogie's review against another edition
4.0
I had moments where I thought this book was going on a bit too long but overall, I really loved it. One of my favorite parts was the way it was written from Callie and Millie’s perspectives. Each character was developed fully and I loved getting to know each of them through the first person perspectives.
gina_readsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
“All I need is for you to say yes. Someone closed the door for you, but you have the chance to open it for me.”
I was really excited to get to the second in this series. I didn’t really read the synopsis, and I was honestly a bit disappointed in this one.
What I loved was Millie’s story. Her struggle with weight and her mother’s pressure to lose it is so relatable. She has big dreams of broadcast journalism camp and it’s inspiring to see her submit her application. She starts to stand up for herself and what she really wants.
I didn’t love Callie’s storyline, and I found her hard to like. She’s incredibly independent, which isn’t a bad thing, but she doesn’t feel like she wants friends even later in the story when she is adopted by Millie’s friend group. She’s more likable by the end, but I really would have preferred to follow Millie.
This was overall pretty good, and I’m sure I’ll read the last book in the series. I just wish it would have had a tighter focus instead of oscillating between the two girls.
rmarcin's review against another edition
4.0
Puddin’ is the story of teenage girls learning about the meaning of true friendship and not excepting what others have planned for you. It is a companion to Dumplin’. Dumplin’ introduced us to this group of unlikely friends. Puddin’ gives us more insight into Millie and Callie.
Millie is always positive and upbeat. She dreams of being a broadcast journalist. She works at her uncles gym before and after school. Callie is a member of the shamrocks, the schools dance team. When they lose funding, the team vandalizes their ex-sponsor, the gym.
Callie’s life changes in that moment when Millie identifies Callie as one of the vandals. Circumstances bring Millie and Callie and a close contact and a friendship grows. But, can it last when Callie finds out that Millie is the one that identified her to the police? Funny and heartfelt, it is a great book to help you believe in yourself, and to follow the motto: Don’t let others hold you back!
#Puddin’ #JulieMurphy
Millie is always positive and upbeat. She dreams of being a broadcast journalist. She works at her uncles gym before and after school. Callie is a member of the shamrocks, the schools dance team. When they lose funding, the team vandalizes their ex-sponsor, the gym.
Callie’s life changes in that moment when Millie identifies Callie as one of the vandals. Circumstances bring Millie and Callie and a close contact and a friendship grows. But, can it last when Callie finds out that Millie is the one that identified her to the police? Funny and heartfelt, it is a great book to help you believe in yourself, and to follow the motto: Don’t let others hold you back!
#Puddin’ #JulieMurphy
ashleyraye's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
4.5