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abbyreads2's review against another edition
3.0
First of all, I like the plot. I like the idea behind this book. Once I read it though, I tried to get into it. I liked it even. But what I didn't like was the fact that Angie character seemed to be too selfish. Like I get it... you're fat. Like okay, we get it she's fat. Her brother is stupid. Like what's so funny about outing your own sister? And the mother pissed me off beyond. Like who the fuck tells their child to skip dinner?? Well, I know some people who do but that's encouraging eating disorders. I mean, she's the one buying the food, right? She can buy healthier choices that makes it harder for Angie to eat but even so, she should love her regardless and approach it a more healthy way. KC, I liked. Her character was great. But I didn't like that Angie never seemed to be there for her. Like when Angie found her in the bathroom, I get it. She just found her sister is dead...but it was to be expected. KC might've really needed her and she wasn't there. I lost respect for her. I completely just couldn't. I didn't feel their connection or any spark between them. This characters in the book didn't really overcome anything. She didn't overcome her weight issues. KC though might've but they didn't really show us her point of view or anything. Their story was awkward in a cute and cringy way. I didn't mind. It was adorable, sort of.
jenreadalot's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning was a little slow, and I felt myself growing distant from the novel. But then something clicked. Her drive was extraordinary. Her mother and Stacy Ann made me uncomfortable, and Angie didn't manage them well, but it grew better. As Angie switches between calling herself Fat Angie and Angie, it showed that her self confidence was growing and the book was so exceptional and almost brought me to tears. 4.7/5.
jazz_maree's review
4.0
This one still focused on Angie. It talks Angie a lot and follows from the first book. It introduces her new best friend, a transgender person and it introduces issues involving transgender people (eg: bathrooms, pronouns,etc) but at a a bystander point of view, whitch I liked because it did not take away from Angie’s story but introduced a very important issue. It also introduced issues with homophobia, especially highlighting Angie’s bad mum and the threading to send her to a “de-gay” camp due to the belief that Angie’s sexuality is for attention (and other issues) and how friends can be a great support for homophobic behavior. It taked a lot about Angie’s sister and the grief process that goes behind loss, and how it’s messy for everybody. And it also talked about the incredible bond between two sisters and how to keep this bond going when one passes away.
Also, Angie learns to not let the bullies get to her: promoting self love and self acceptance. It was good to see Angie loving herself at the end! :)
I loved how a YA book talked about such IMPORTANT issues!
Also, Angie learns to not let the bullies get to her: promoting self love and self acceptance. It was good to see Angie loving herself at the end! :)
I loved how a YA book talked about such IMPORTANT issues!
vikkisgrotto's review against another edition
This book was just not for me; the narrative style felt clunky, and it was very much the type of YA that I feel I've grown out of enjoying. I could tell this wouldn't be a 4 or 5 star, so I'd rather save my time for books that might be.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I had read this in realism a couple months ago--I'd really love to discuss this book with others to help me parse through my feelings. On the one hand, I really liked it! It's style, it's narrative structure, the characters all made for something compelling and interesting. But I felt rather uncomfortable with this book being written in third person and having Angie be referred to as "Fat Angie" nearly the entire time--but perhaps my discomfort was the intended feeling?
However, in regards to her being called "Fat Angie" all the time by the narrator, I did appreciate, in a weird way, that that name didn't go away--that it didn't go away after she and KC fell in love, when she gains friends, a better understanding of her brother. Being called "Fat Angie" seems pejorative, but being fat is not.
Not only that, but I also did really like the fact that each and every teen that we meet in this book has their own fair share of problems--and isn't that what being a teen is? Or at least feels like? I also really liked that all of the adults we see in this book, for the most part (obviously excluding Angie's mother and therapist), really do try to help everyone out, even if it's in their own misguided way. But they do care, and it's obvious that they care despite their methods. And that's something I do really.
Overall, this was a thought-provoking book in regards to my own external and internal fatphobia. While I would not necessarily categorize this book as "feel-good" or as though it's supposed to teach us a lesson, I do think that there's a lot to be learned from this book, and a lot to admire and to discover.
Review cross-listed here!
However, in regards to her being called "Fat Angie" all the time by the narrator, I did appreciate, in a weird way, that that name didn't go away--that it didn't go away after she and KC fell in love, when she gains friends, a better understanding of her brother. Being called "Fat Angie" seems pejorative, but being fat is not.
Not only that, but I also did really like the fact that each and every teen that we meet in this book has their own fair share of problems--and isn't that what being a teen is? Or at least feels like? I also really liked that all of the adults we see in this book, for the most part (obviously excluding Angie's mother and therapist), really do try to help everyone out, even if it's in their own misguided way. But they do care, and it's obvious that they care despite their methods. And that's something I do really.
Overall, this was a thought-provoking book in regards to my own external and internal fatphobia. While I would not necessarily categorize this book as "feel-good" or as though it's supposed to teach us a lesson, I do think that there's a lot to be learned from this book, and a lot to admire and to discover.
Review cross-listed here!
lisas_novel_idea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The writing style slowed me down and I feel like the POV switched occasionally in an awkward manner. I could be wrong. I liked the story, but because I couldn’t get past the style, only a 3 star for me. However, I also think the fragmented style fit the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Violence, and War
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
em_reads_romancex's review against another edition
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
I HATE HATE HATE THIS BOOK!
I HATE HATE HATE THIS BOOK!
zohannah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I haven’t rated a book below 3 stars in at least 5 years but this one barely deserves the 2 I’m giving it. Angie wasn’t given any real empathy in the narration and I got so tired of her being referred to as “Fat Angie” five times a page. If the book described her chin as doubled or reminded me about how her belly hung over her jeans one more time, I was going to lose it. I know this book is trying to give some nuanced critique of fatphobia but all it does is shame and ogle at Angie. A real shame of a book overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Bullying, Body shaming, Grief, Self harm, Death, and Lesbophobia
mckinlay's review against another edition
if i had to read "Fat Angie" one more time i was going to snap! i just counted how many times it was said just on the first 3 pages, 20. TWENTY! i made it through 3 chapters. i deserve a cookie.