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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I think what really drove this book home was its stellar main character. I loved following her, feeling her insecurities and why she does what she does in spite of it. I also really loved the supporting characters, they had fun interactions and were people that I could root for all the way.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
This book is delicious. Such a great story for any girl who is curvy. I cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy of this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy is a young adult novel about a teenage girl, Willowdean, and her friends, Millie, Amanda and Hannah, who compete in a beauty pageant to prove that everyone can, even if they’re not traditionally “beautiful”. It’s a really nice, easy read and has a wonderful message, about focusing on what you think of yourself and not what others think of you. The plot, characters, relationships between the characters and struggles experienced by the characters seemed real and true to life. The main character, Willowdean, was quite endearing and funny in her dialogue with others and her inner thoughts. The only negative of this novel, however, was that it was quite predictable what was going to happen. As a reader, I could guess what events would unfold later in the book, which made it a little less exciting. There is also a movie created based on this book, also called Dumplin’, that’s on Netflix. I would recommend both the book and the movie!
-Review by Shanna
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I watched the movie Dumplin about a year ago and discovered that it was based on a book so I had to pick it up and it was not a disappointment. All the characters were unique and easy to root for and the message about body positivity was very uplifting. The only critique I have of this book is that I wish that it focused on the pageant a bit more. As much as I enjoyed the progression of the protagonist and her love interest’s relationship I think it should have been more of a side plot compared to the preparations for the beauty pageant which I found far more interesting. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It is perfect for anyone who needs a fun and heartwarming read in the summer.
-Review by Sienna
-Review by Sienna
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dumplin’ gives out a good message about body positivity and self-acceptance. But I wish it did a better job at it. The story is about Willowdean, a fat girl who decides to enter a beauty pageant to make a statement about body image issues. And this is clear right from looking at the cover. I don’t like to know pretty much the entire story from the cover of a book. Giving away the story is not a cover’s job.
Now, keeping the cover aside, the story doesn’t really touch. As I said, the main message is nice and important, but Willowdean is difficult to sympathize with not only because she is an extremely confused teenager, but also because the girl is insensitive and hypocritical. Her defense mechanisms are up to a level of super-annoying. And then there is one completely unnecessary forced love triangle. There were a lot of scopes where this book could have been amazing, but it missed to hit all those marks.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Now, keeping the cover aside, the story doesn’t really touch. As I said, the main message is nice and important, but Willowdean is difficult to sympathize with not only because she is an extremely confused teenager, but also because the girl is insensitive and hypocritical. Her defense mechanisms are up to a level of super-annoying. And then there is one completely unnecessary forced love triangle. There were a lot of scopes where this book could have been amazing, but it missed to hit all those marks.
2.5 stars rounded up.
I jumped on this since the movie is coming out, and while I appreciated the main message of the book, I think I liked analyzing it more than reading it.
The main theme of the book is that you shouldn't wait for yourself to become accepted by others in order to live your life. The book mainly tackles fatphobia, but also a few other issues - I was divided because this was pretty well-written regarding fatphobia and self-acceptance, but it really skimmed over other issues to the point that I wish they hadn't been included at all. The protagonist simultaneously pities herself more than anyone else, but also won't let anyone escape her judgement. This comes up when she talks about people bigger than her and judges them for doing things she thinks will make them look foolish - things she cannot bring herself to do.
But at the same time, she's portrayed as the worst-off of all of them - this rubbed me the wrong way, considering that one of the supporting characters is an Afro-Latina lesbian. I don't think Murphy should have written about her experiences that were not her own, but I think skimming over the racism and homophobia experienced (especially in the South) in favor of pushing the main narrative was the wrong choice. Fatphobia is a serious problem, but the protagonist is otherwise white, straight, able-bodied, etc. and I feel like where she does have privilege isn't considered.
I also wish the book had talked about classism more - the main family is poor, and I feel like while that was a part of the story, she just forgot about it sometimes? Money only really came up when it was convenient for the plot - otherwise it felt like it was just a forgotten detail. Also, it's a little thing, but she came off as so bratty when she quit her job just to get away from a guy she had a thing with.
The love triangle sucked: both guys were bland and I think the book should have been written without them. They felt like they were written in to show that she could get love interests, but it really detracted from the story. It was really hard to keep up with why she liked who when neither of them had much of a personality or back story.
Overall, I wasn't a huge fan and I won't be picking up the books after this. I like the idea, but I really wish this had been written better.
The main theme of the book is that you shouldn't wait for yourself to become accepted by others in order to live your life. The book mainly tackles fatphobia, but also a few other issues - I was divided because this was pretty well-written regarding fatphobia and self-acceptance, but it really skimmed over other issues to the point that I wish they hadn't been included at all. The protagonist simultaneously pities herself more than anyone else, but also won't let anyone escape her judgement. This comes up when she talks about people bigger than her and judges them for doing things she thinks will make them look foolish - things she cannot bring herself to do.
But at the same time, she's portrayed as the worst-off of all of them - this rubbed me the wrong way, considering that one of the supporting characters is an Afro-Latina lesbian. I don't think Murphy should have written about her experiences that were not her own, but I think skimming over the racism and homophobia experienced (especially in the South) in favor of pushing the main narrative was the wrong choice. Fatphobia is a serious problem, but the protagonist is otherwise white, straight, able-bodied, etc. and I feel like where she does have privilege isn't considered.
I also wish the book had talked about classism more - the main family is poor, and I feel like while that was a part of the story, she just forgot about it sometimes? Money only really came up when it was convenient for the plot - otherwise it felt like it was just a forgotten detail. Also, it's a little thing, but she came off as so bratty when she quit her job just to get away from a guy she had a thing with.
The love triangle sucked: both guys were bland and I think the book should have been written without them. They felt like they were written in to show that she could get love interests, but it really detracted from the story. It was really hard to keep up with why she liked who when neither of them had much of a personality or back story.
Overall, I wasn't a huge fan and I won't be picking up the books after this. I like the idea, but I really wish this had been written better.
I happily received this in a subscription box - while I was intrigued by the premise, it is probably not something I would have gone out and purchased on my own. (I have a fantasy addiction)
I did enjoy this book, and it definitely had some good messages and a lot of diversity - but I am still yet to read a contemporary that I LOVED.
There's generally always some aspect that has me eye rolling, frustrated, or just generally feeling is problematic.
Like the fact the love interest still had to be the incredibly good looking jock, the utter terrible communication between characters, some of the general reasoning behind decisions, and the fact there was still a level of shaming even carried out by the main character, a self proclaimed fat girl.
(It also featured one of the tropes I am most sick of seeing - a love triangle where for one of the guys involved, it is clear the girl will never really see him as more than a friend)
In saying that - it was an easy read that I did consume in one evening, it was well written, and a lot of fun.
I did enjoy this book, and it definitely had some good messages and a lot of diversity - but I am still yet to read a contemporary that I LOVED.
There's generally always some aspect that has me eye rolling, frustrated, or just generally feeling is problematic.
Like the fact the love interest still had to be the incredibly good looking jock, the utter terrible communication between characters, some of the general reasoning behind decisions, and the fact there was still a level of shaming even carried out by the main character, a self proclaimed fat girl.
(It also featured one of the tropes I am most sick of seeing - a love triangle where for one of the guys involved, it is clear the girl will never really see him as more than a friend)
In saying that - it was an easy read that I did consume in one evening, it was well written, and a lot of fun.