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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I did not finish this book. I'm really disappointed because I've always loved Kristan Higgins' books. But, this one was just too much about being overweight. Too much of a trigger for me. I did not like it at all.
While I think Higgins did a good job expressing realistic emotion, the self loathing felt repetitive to me. I was bored.
“True peace was rare when you were fat. When you were fat, you wore armor to protect and deflect. You were either sharp and bitter, inspiring fear in potential bullies, or you were extra cheerful to show nothing mattered at all, not the snubs or the insults or the degradation. When you were fat, you worked so hard to be invisible. You lived in fear of being noticed, singled out, of having someone point out what you already knew.”
“Going to the doctor when you’re fat is a string of humiliations. The second you walk in, you only have one problem. You could have a spear through your heart, and the doctor would say, Eighteen hundred calories a day, lots of green leafy vegetables, and forty-five minutes of cardio every day, and that spear will be no problem!”
I am so grateful to Higgins. She helped me look at some of my ingrained prejudices through this incredible book. I also wish I could thank the reviewer who led me to this story, but once again, I have no idea who it was.
Lately, I have realized that I have some expectations of people who are overweight that are not appropriate. I seem to think, even though I know better, that anyone can lose weight. I have a friend who has an eating disorders that cause her to see herself as overweight and I have sympathy for her, but I don’t see fat people in the same way.
I figured out that being overweight makes it hard to get doctors to notice anything besides weight, but it took Higgins to show me other aspects of life where I am very prejudiced against fat people.
Higgins tells a good story and does not preach. She introduces three characters whose lives have been awful because people see their weight first, them second. I really liked these three women, and I could relate to them in many ways. Unfortunately, all women seem to have shame about our bodies and some of our behaviors. Our shame may be about different aspects, but we are all adversely influenced by our society.
Higgins also introduced me to the concept of feeders and I am astonished. The world has some weird people in it.
Anyone who thinks they have no prejudices about weight and obesity should read this novel. They might surprise themselves.
“Going to the doctor when you’re fat is a string of humiliations. The second you walk in, you only have one problem. You could have a spear through your heart, and the doctor would say, Eighteen hundred calories a day, lots of green leafy vegetables, and forty-five minutes of cardio every day, and that spear will be no problem!”
I am so grateful to Higgins. She helped me look at some of my ingrained prejudices through this incredible book. I also wish I could thank the reviewer who led me to this story, but once again, I have no idea who it was.
Lately, I have realized that I have some expectations of people who are overweight that are not appropriate. I seem to think, even though I know better, that anyone can lose weight. I have a friend who has an eating disorders that cause her to see herself as overweight and I have sympathy for her, but I don’t see fat people in the same way.
I figured out that being overweight makes it hard to get doctors to notice anything besides weight, but it took Higgins to show me other aspects of life where I am very prejudiced against fat people.
Higgins tells a good story and does not preach. She introduces three characters whose lives have been awful because people see their weight first, them second. I really liked these three women, and I could relate to them in many ways. Unfortunately, all women seem to have shame about our bodies and some of our behaviors. Our shame may be about different aspects, but we are all adversely influenced by our society.
Higgins also introduced me to the concept of feeders and I am astonished. The world has some weird people in it.
Anyone who thinks they have no prejudices about weight and obesity should read this novel. They might surprise themselves.
* Thank you Berkley Publishing for my free review copy. *
Emerson, Georgia, and Marley meet at weight-loss camp as teenagers and have been friends ever since. When Emerson passes away, she leaves them with a list of "To Dos" they created that last year at camp. As they work through the list, they realize that Emerson's final with was for her best friends to truly love themselves as they are.
This book was an emotional journey. It tackles an issue that everyone grapples with - body image and self-love. As they challenge themselves to complete the items on the list, both Georgia and Marley slowly shed the ingrained perceptions they have been carrying with them for their whole lives.
The story is told in alternating perspectives - Georgia, Marley, and Emerson's diary entries. Each woman shares their history with food, their weight, their families, and their relationships. They also share their hopes and fears.
I adored this book. I felt incredibly connected to these main characters - rooting for them when they tried something new, and feeling frustrated when they took steps backwards. Through these main characters, I also felt connected to the "supporting" characters, the family and friends that surround them. I cried, happy tears, a few times which does not often happen for me.
There is a lot of talk about disordered eating, diets, and body image, so anyone who is sensitive to that should be cautious. For me, this book was informative to the experiences of individuals who look physically different from me. Although fiction, this book looks at very real topics.
So yes, the story wraps up a little too nicely. Things are tied up in a little bow and everyone seemingly lives happily ever after. But, it's fiction and isn't that part of the point? I have to believe that after that last page, these characters still struggle to maintain all those changes they made throughout the story, but have this understanding that they can do it.
Emerson, Georgia, and Marley meet at weight-loss camp as teenagers and have been friends ever since. When Emerson passes away, she leaves them with a list of "To Dos" they created that last year at camp. As they work through the list, they realize that Emerson's final with was for her best friends to truly love themselves as they are.
This book was an emotional journey. It tackles an issue that everyone grapples with - body image and self-love. As they challenge themselves to complete the items on the list, both Georgia and Marley slowly shed the ingrained perceptions they have been carrying with them for their whole lives.
The story is told in alternating perspectives - Georgia, Marley, and Emerson's diary entries. Each woman shares their history with food, their weight, their families, and their relationships. They also share their hopes and fears.
I adored this book. I felt incredibly connected to these main characters - rooting for them when they tried something new, and feeling frustrated when they took steps backwards. Through these main characters, I also felt connected to the "supporting" characters, the family and friends that surround them. I cried, happy tears, a few times which does not often happen for me.
There is a lot of talk about disordered eating, diets, and body image, so anyone who is sensitive to that should be cautious. For me, this book was informative to the experiences of individuals who look physically different from me. Although fiction, this book looks at very real topics.
So yes, the story wraps up a little too nicely. Things are tied up in a little bow and everyone seemingly lives happily ever after. But, it's fiction and isn't that part of the point? I have to believe that after that last page, these characters still struggle to maintain all those changes they made throughout the story, but have this understanding that they can do it.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was real hesitant to read this book because I have tried this author before and didn’t like the swearing in one of her other books which I DNFd. This book was chosen for bookclub by Jen and Lisa. I was happy they chose this book because it was perfect timing in my life dealing with weight watchers myself I know the struggles of losing weight and trying to get into smaller clothing.
The book consists of three friends all dealing with weight and difficult life situations such as abuse. All three deal with their issues differently some positive and some negatively. It was a sad journey.
The book consists of three friends all dealing with weight and difficult life situations such as abuse. All three deal with their issues differently some positive and some negatively. It was a sad journey.
3.5 Stars
In my opinion this is a book everyone should read. No matter what shape you are, you can find yourself in all three girls. This book reminds you that everyone is fighting their own battles and to stop being so hard on yourself. Overall the story was entertaining and the ending left you full of joy. Before you skip over this book for “fat shaming”, read a few chapters and you will realize that Higgins is doing the exact opposite.
I won an copy of the book from Berkley Publishing, however, that in no way affects my review or opinion.
In my opinion this is a book everyone should read. No matter what shape you are, you can find yourself in all three girls. This book reminds you that everyone is fighting their own battles and to stop being so hard on yourself. Overall the story was entertaining and the ending left you full of joy. Before you skip over this book for “fat shaming”, read a few chapters and you will realize that Higgins is doing the exact opposite.
I won an copy of the book from Berkley Publishing, however, that in no way affects my review or opinion.
So many emotions with this book.
At different points in the book, I both sobbed and laughed out loud! Loved the friendship between Georgia, Marley and Emerson. A great story of friendship but more importantly of self image and loving yourself for who you are now.
At different points in the book, I both sobbed and laughed out loud! Loved the friendship between Georgia, Marley and Emerson. A great story of friendship but more importantly of self image and loving yourself for who you are now.
I’m conflicted on my feelings for this book. On one hand, I find extreme importance in the message given about checking on your friends because you do not always know people’s private battles. However, I felt like the “being skinny is the end all be all” in life and our world is was a little like beating a dead horse. As someone who has constantly struggled with body image and being “skinny”, I totally understood and have myself been through some of the points that were made but 456 pages of that was a little too much for me... I don’t know, I think it had more potential than the final product. Also felt the story lines were a tad cliche and choppy at points. Not my favorite.