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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I picked up this book, thinking I’d get a body-positive message out of it. But it fails on that account. A fat girl who cringes at other fatter girls — even while coming to their aid against bullies — and makes a mockery out of the one thing that she was going to use to send a message about body positivity; that’s what I got. In a nutshell, that isn’t the kind of show that I came to watch.
The pageant thing really got my goat. If you’re going to use a platform to rebel, then, at least, respect its rules. The heroine did close to nothing for the different tasks that make up the competition. If she meant to put out the message that fat girls are lazy, well that one, she got across fine!
Yet another thing that really bothered me was her relationship with the guy whom she worked with at the diner. He was everything that she wasn’t, so when they’re together at the end, it only reinforces one thing: good fat girls are rewarded with not-fat hot boyfriends. How’s that progressive in any way? And, give me one good reason why the book needed a love interest in the first place. Also, that whole phase where she and her guy suck face in remote places just made the whole thing seem dirty.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the way Will treated the jock who was interested in her. I kept thinking, maybe, for once, the girl will end up with the guy who values her for her. But nope, she went straight to the cardboard cutout of a guy, Bo.
How the mother and daughter deal with their grief in different ways was the best thing about this book.
The movie is different from the book in several ways. I don’t know if that’s for the better or not but I’ll mention some. Firstly, the whole dirty remote-kissing phase isn’t part of the movie. Secondly, the major part of the book concerned itself with the fight between the MC and her BFF, Ellen. The movie shortens it so much that it loses the powerful effect it had on both the girls’ lives. Healthy female friendships are a good thing and that is the one of the few things that I liked while reading this mess of a book. But the movie got rid of that.
And ugh, they combined two characters to create a very stereotypical goth one. Not cool at all. They held their own in the book.
To me, the movie felt rushed and incomplete. And I found the book to be a mess.
This book was awesome! Breaking down stereotypes that should be left in the dust! It was amazing Willow Dean is confident but she confronts her fears and realizes her confidence! A phenomenal read cannot recommend enough!
This is another book that has been on my radar for a while. I’ve owned the book for a few months and it was always kind of in my peripheral vision when choosing which books to read but I always felt like it wasn’t quite the right time. So when I found Puddin’, the sequel for this book in hardcover, and on sale for half price I couldn’t resist picking it up. I hate having the sequel for a book without having read the first one, so I knew it was finally time for me to read this. I really enjoyed Dumplin’ and I loved the story and the characters. Willowdean was a little annoying at times and there were some things I wish she’d done differently, but overall this was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend picking it up.
I grew up as the funny fat girl in my high school. So, Willowdean's story hits me with nostalgia and ALL the feelings. The strength she finds in the end is super adorable and heartfelt. Her friends are so wonderful, and I wish I had friends like that in high school.
Super cute story...wish Willowdean could’ve had more self acceptance a little earlier, but in general good story!
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
emotional
inspiring
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
Honestly, her mom’s life is pathetic. You won some beauty in pageant years ago, and that and fitting into that dress is all care about. That’s not healthy, and genuinely depressing.
I was a little disappointed with this one. I feel like there wasn't much character development or growth. I guess I was just expecting something else. It wasn't bad at all, I just would have liked to see more happen with the main character's attitude.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced