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thereaderfriend's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I went into this not knowing anything about it for plus size readathon and lesson learned: don't read a book if you're not feeling it. I kinda hate read this around about the last third.
First half was going good. Thought it was chick-lit, then the second half transitioned to a goofy, Scooby-Doo like mystery. Tons of amateur sleuthing. FMC trusting this man she randomly runs into who is a suspect. And there's insta love between them. Did not like that and many things about the FMC decisions.
The FMC handled many situations wrong and weird. Namely the end. How can you dismiss that character and with "We're all people" ?? No. Wtf? A lot of moments I was asking wtf.
First half was going good. Thought it was chick-lit, then the second half transitioned to a goofy, Scooby-Doo like mystery. Tons of amateur sleuthing. FMC trusting this man she randomly runs into who is a suspect. And there's insta love between them. Did not like that and many things about the FMC decisions.
The FMC handled many situations wrong and weird. Namely the end. How can you dismiss that character and with "We're all people" ?? No. Wtf? A lot of moments I was asking wtf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
kasssidyy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is not like anything I expected. From the cover, I was expecting a fun, inclusive beach romance. I was wrong.
What I got was a tough and real journey of a woman struggling with inner and outer pressures to fit into the thin, beautiful mould society has built for us. We got the life of a woman learning that being fat is okay, it isn’t a bad word - and people should never make you feel less than who you are.
This book was hard to read at times, as someone who has struggled with disordered eating for most of my adult years - there were a few chapters that hit a bit to close to home, but were so worth reading.
The murder mystery was a really fun addition, I didn’t see it coming (I also didn’t read the synopsis) - but it was really well written. Especially after the prologue left me feeling confused!
I didn’t find the characters super fleshed out, but I also didn’t mind - I enjoyed their stories and getting to know Daphne on her journey. & <3 Nick.
What I got was a tough and real journey of a woman struggling with inner and outer pressures to fit into the thin, beautiful mould society has built for us. We got the life of a woman learning that being fat is okay, it isn’t a bad word - and people should never make you feel less than who you are.
This book was hard to read at times, as someone who has struggled with disordered eating for most of my adult years - there were a few chapters that hit a bit to close to home, but were so worth reading.
The murder mystery was a really fun addition, I didn’t see it coming (I also didn’t read the synopsis) - but it was really well written. Especially after the prologue left me feeling confused!
I didn’t find the characters super fleshed out, but I also didn’t mind - I enjoyed their stories and getting to know Daphne on her journey. & <3 Nick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Eating disorder
Moderate: Murder and Suicide
iamthelizardqueen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not what I thought it was going to be but amazing nonetheless
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Death, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Violence, and Suicide attempt
lozdouglas's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The twist really got me! I’m not normally a mystery reader but this one appealed as I suspected a light, funny novel. It was more than that. Reading a novel about a plus size main character was honestly brilliant, it’s not often I feel represented in that way
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Fatphobia
Minor: Eating disorder
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Daphne is a plus-sized influencer who reluctantly agrees to be her former best-friend Drue’s maid-of-honour. The wedding doesn’t go according to plan and Daphne and her friends end up investigating why.
I appreciated the fat-positive message and reading the micro and macro aggressions Daphne faced as a fat person was instructive. There were also some salutory lessons about toxic friendship and rich people behaving badly.
I was in the mood for a lighter book when I picked this up and it was fine in that regard. But certainly not a book that will stick with me. And I the genre mix didn’t work for me.
As an aside I don’t think this cover gives an accurate feel for what the book is about. And given that the main character is plus-size I think it is a shame the cover doesn’t reflect that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Murder
reasek's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Murder
Minor: Abandonment and Homophobia
knunderb's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The characters felt very real and the plot was interesting. the shift from romance/gal pal novel to murder cozy mystery was a bit abrupt. But also unexpected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia
silvani's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I didn't enjoy this book. The pacing was odd and there was a lot of flashbacks to the main character's trauma surrounding fatphobia and ED. I felt that the relationships were rushed as well, the main character immediately trusted the romantic interest despite having very little reason to do so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Murder, and Sexual content
linren16's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
jcstokes95's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I have been in a bit of a (self-imposed) slump lately, so after finishing up my book about tree bark and one of all immoral characters I was really looking for an easy, buzzy read. This was definitely that. I was not expecting the sudden twist into a whodunnit and mysteries are not really my forte. But Weiner keeps things pretty breezy throughout. Daphne is likable enough and her feelings towards Drue are incredibly relatable as a former fat sidekick myself. I also really enjoy the complex friendships here. Dashi is sometimes mean -spirited and cruel while Daphne often abandons her. But their relationship is clearly more solid than Daphne and Drue's. It sets up the two friendships as great foils to each other and shows how much respect matter in friendship, even if you are different from one another.
My major complaints about this book are honestly that same things that made me enjoy it after a reading slump. It's incredibly low stakes. Even with a murder, it feels like we aren't really living in a world with consequences The characters lack any real depth, even Drue, who it feels like we're supposed to think had "more than meets the eye" to her, is a bit flat. The love interest is...the worst love interest I've read all year. He has no personality and I was kind of hoping in the end they'd go their separate ways. I was way more interested in Daphne than him. In fact, I was way more interested in his mother's story than his. I think he certainly brought down my enjoyment of the book.
The other thing that brought down my enjoyment was the final showdown with our perp. Like murder is wrong and insane. But also I felt bad for them? Which was weird. And a little annoyed that Daphne was making odd comparisons. I don't know. A strange scene entirely.
What I really like about the book, is that it answers the questions 'Do bitches deserve justice?' with a resounding yes. And I really liked that part of it. Much has been written about the kind of woman who gets justice and Drue seems like the type many would argue not to fight for, but Daphne does. It kind of reminds me of the idea that a lot of woman are against slut-shaming until it's someone they don't like. And Daphne's line in the sand here is that every person deserves justice and respect. Which is a moral I enjoyed.
My major complaints about this book are honestly that same things that made me enjoy it after a reading slump. It's incredibly low stakes. Even with a murder, it feels like we aren't really living in a world with consequences The characters lack any real depth, even Drue, who it feels like we're supposed to think had "more than meets the eye" to her, is a bit flat. The love interest is...the worst love interest I've read all year. He has no personality and I was kind of hoping in the end they'd go their separate ways. I was way more interested in Daphne than him. In fact, I was way more interested in his mother's story than his. I think he certainly brought down my enjoyment of the book.
The other thing that brought down my enjoyment was the final showdown with our perp. Like murder is wrong and insane. But also I felt bad for them? Which was weird. And a little annoyed that Daphne was making odd comparisons. I don't know. A strange scene entirely.
What I really like about the book, is that it answers the questions 'Do bitches deserve justice?' with a resounding yes. And I really liked that part of it. Much has been written about the kind of woman who gets justice and Drue seems like the type many would argue not to fight for, but Daphne does. It kind of reminds me of the idea that a lot of woman are against slut-shaming until it's someone they don't like. And Daphne's line in the sand here is that every person deserves justice and respect. Which is a moral I enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Fatphobia