Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - If I Had Your Face

Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

22 reviews

jchtilianova's review against another edition

reflective relaxing medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed reading this book, I finished it in less than 24 hours. I enjoyed the setting, all the girls, and hearing their stories. It is an incredibly short book though and like other reviews suggest I think there were too many topics to actually deeply explore in such a short span of time. I was definitely longing to hear more of all the stories but I suppose in the end it did all wrap up well enough. The parts that weren’t gone into detail about my mind can easily fill in the gaps. Overall, it was a very enjoyable book.

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potatokao's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

an intimate look into each of the women’s lives ranging in their 20s, living in seoul. the way it was written with perspective changes shows their raw and honest thoughts about their individual struggles and responses to their environment. things you wouldnt want to say out loud. it makes the characters more whole, neither good nor bad, a product of their upbringing. heavy themes of friendship, family, in laws, women in society.

at first i felt like the pace and setting the author set made it so that the girls were only suffering and not able to enjoy anything in life and it made me sad to get into the book. maybe halfway when the plot seems to progress a little more, the characters become more active and living.

the connections between all the girls is what makes the book. i love how intertwined they are. they judge each other, they love each other, they get annoyed, they care, they go through life together. not the best of friends, but clearly helped by each other’s company. not family, but all they have for some of them. people who are important to them and people they can be honest with.

i only wish i didnt have to wait half way into the book to see that and there are some parts of their past that are never fully explained. but i understand it’s hard to develop individual characters AND their relationship with one another. once all the characters and their backgrounds are in place, it is well worth it to get to know them.

the ending of the book is what makes it for me. this gradual warmth and hope, like spring air has blown in. it could have ended in any way but this warm ending is what makes me feel that their connection is so full of love and care. life isnt going to suddenly be better but i hope they stay together and work through life together. sending hugs to the girls.

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