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monicalaurette's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
“Life may be shitty. But in moments like these, everything feels like it might just be all right.”
This book was like a hug to my younger high school self. Now I wish I was more like Charlie growing up - as I’m a little like an adult version of her (just white, so maybe not an adult version). I picked up this book without knowing anything about it one day at the bookstore. I knew that I at least had to give it a try for my past and present self as a plus-size girl & woman.
I enjoyed following Charlie in this book. Her and I are very similar in the way we see the world and some of the people around us in our lives: so that was great to unpack with myself while reading 😅. At the beginning of the story when she was getting ready for the dance and her date - I was so nervous about how that scene would play out that I just didn’t pick up the book for a while. I didn’t want to read any fat-related humiliation: but to be a slight spoiler: don’t worry it’s not that way, it’s not like a big scene in front of everyone like I thought it would be. After I was able to get past that point in the book I read the rest of the book in two days through work.
“And now I’m not sure I ever want to think about loving someone ever again.”
There were really only two things I didn’t like about the book, one of which was the third act break-up from a relationship & friendship. I knew that she’d find out Brian asked Amelia out first as it was in the summary, but I didn’t realize how close to the end of the story it would be - and then the following reconciliations afterwards I felt were very fast and didn’t give as much as I wanted from the self-esteem journey that Charlie went through at the end. I wished there had been more of that part to experience.
The other part I didn’t like was how many parentheses were used to convey an additional thought or clarifying bit of information from in Charlie’s head. I’m not against that type of grammatical piece, but I felt that it was used too much when those additional thoughts could have just been part of Charlie’s inner monologue and almost (to me, mind you) aged her down below sixteen/seventeen.
Besides those two things though, I found that by the end I really liked the book and found a few tears in my eyes. I hope that this book stays a great book for young, plus-size girls to let them remember that they deserve that happy ending and just a happy life in general. If I had gotten this book while in high school I know I would have loved it. Charlie may have even been an inspiration to change my life sooner, but it’s never late than never to make Charlie proud.
“It’s the first year where I don’t waste my wish on being skinny; I wish for more happy moments like this.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Dysphoria, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
Minor: Toxic friendship and Sexual content
bookwormbullet's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
4.75
Ouchie her relationship with her mom hurted
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Toxic friendship
legalplanner's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a book that I was hooked into early. But I also was very frustrated. Overall I felt like most of the character development was good and it was a quick read that packed a punch for me. I was very happy with the diverse nature of the characters, even thought it follows the same four characters generally (would have loved to see more of the others) their background and origins were very diverse and it was a nice not all white cast.
About the book: possible spoilers for theme.It had similar vibes to Dumplin, but Charlie felt less toxic to others in my eyes. She wasn’t leading one boy on while having feelings for another like the former. Her behavior to her best friend didn’t scream bad news until about 60-75% of the way through the book which was hard to see that turn. It’s also hard to see the mothers hate the daughters in curvey/body positive books. While I know that is a reality for many people it was sometimes hard to watch that relationship between Charlie and her mom. Overall the eventual growth and the feel good ending was nice.
About the book: possible spoilers for theme.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
watson_my_shelf's review against another edition
4.5
This is the book that my teenage self needed. As someone who as always been on the curvier/plus size, I really really related to Charlie. The author does a good job of showing the internal and external struggles someone living in a larger teenage body experiences. And in such a great way. Charlie is perfectly fine with who she is - she is just trying to get the rest of the world (i.e., her mom) on board with it. We get to see Charlie navigate love, friendships, and dealing with the loss of one parent and a hard relationship with the other.
More stories like this - that encourage teens to be OK living in their bodies just as they are - need to exist. I wish I'd had this book when I was in middle/high school. Plus, we get a cute love story!
More stories like this - that encourage teens to be OK living in their bodies just as they are - need to exist. I wish I'd had this book when I was in middle/high school. Plus, we get a cute love story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Death of parent
theespressoedition's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
If you're looking for a cute YA book with a pretty stereotypical plot-line, this is it. It's honestly the kind of book to get you out of a reading slump because it's not much more than fluff (which isn't always a bad thing).
I think the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was how the mother was written. If you're going to give us a toxic character, you either need to redeem them or dispose of them, and this book did neither. Instead, the problem just kind of dissolves, and you're left with a bad taste in your mouth. Considering the fact that the whole book, Charlie is accepting of her own weight and who she is - her mom being fatphobic and just flat-out cruel was something that needed to be resolved better. It was a major discussion throughout the book and then it seemed as though Charlie's best friend wound up being the antagonist in the long run, which didn't settle well with me at all!
I realize that this is a YA book and that it might not be the most practical occurrence to have a 16-year-old just decide to dip because her mom is emotionally abusive, but it would've been a really good conversation to have. In fact, it would've added so much necessary depth to the story had that been a discussion at any point!
I think the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was how the mother was written. If you're going to give us a toxic character, you either need to redeem them or dispose of them, and this book did neither. Instead, the problem just kind of dissolves, and you're left with a bad taste in your mouth. Considering the fact that the whole book, Charlie is accepting of her own weight and who she is - her mom being fatphobic and just flat-out cruel was something that needed to be resolved better. It was a major discussion throughout the book and then it seemed as though Charlie's best friend wound up being the antagonist in the long run, which didn't settle well with me at all!
I realize that this is a YA book and that it might not be the most practical occurrence to have a 16-year-old just decide to dip because her mom is emotionally abusive, but it would've been a really good conversation to have. In fact, it would've added so much necessary depth to the story had that been a discussion at any point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship
starryorbit12's review
Charlie has a huge victim complex and never seems to take responsibility for any of her problems. They all were caused by other people to her, and she could never acknowledge her own problematic thoughts and action. The people around here constantly had to tell her that she was not at fault as well.
This is clear with Cal. Everyone around her has to tell her that he lead her on and that she not at fault when he literally told her that he wanted her to bring Amelia. She was the one who didn't listen when he spelled out what he wanted. Is it kind of shitty to try a get someone not interested to come with you through their best friend? Yeah, but it's not leading someone on when you told them exactly what you wanted. He not terrible for getting upset that Amelia wasn't there when Charlie agreed and then later sought him out to tell him she was excited though. In fact, he was also clear in the fact he liked Amelia from the beginning. He a jerk, but he was a honest jerk who was clear in his intention. Charlie has too have her mom, Amelia, and Brian all tell her it wasn't her fault and he was leading her on though.
Her victim attitude is clearer with the way she treats Amelia. Charlie consistently vilified Amelia for being physically smaller than her. She would constantly make snide comments in her mind and take out unfounded anger on someone who is supposed to be here best friend. Amelia never does anything besides be skinner and more outgoing then her. Amelia is constantly a good friend to her while Charlie takes out her self-esteem issues on her. The things is that Charlie is aware that what she doing is unfounded, which makes her behavior worse. She is constantly thinking or doing shitty things to Amelia, acknowledging that it's unfounded, and then continuing the behavior insecurity suddenly justify it.
Thoughts and social issues are shallow and flawed. For example, Amelia is a dark skinned, queer black girl in predominantly white school.
While Amelia does experience thin privilege, there is no intersectional. Charlie is fat, but she is also a light skinned straight half Puerto Rican. Being dark skinned, black, queer, and afab comes with a lot of oppression that the Charlie herself would never experience would not experience. Fatphobia is terrible, but it's not doesn't care the same death threats that homophobia and racism does. She is envious that Amelia can shop anywhere while Amelia cares the possibility of being the victim of hate crime for her skin and sexuality. Not to mention the scene with her cousins. She actually says that she use to think she was better than her cousins because she spoke better English and went to a "better" (whiter) school despite the fact they were angle and she never even attempted to learn Spanish. Knowledge is this thought is internalized racism but doesn't reflect on it at all and goes on to continue to judge cousins through the rest of the scene because she jealous of Amelia "fitting in" better. Really, she just complains that Amelia fits in better na dis more popular when in reality she just doesn't bother to engage with those around her.
Charlie portrayed like she is supposed to progressive, she really isn't. Charlie glosses over her best friend's race and sexuality in favor of thinness. Brian, the love interest, is Korean American IVF child of two queer moms. The racism he experience end up being one of things her mentions, Charlie feels bad about, and then are never mentioned again. Frankly all of the deeper issues are glossed over or discussed in a superficial manner. Any social justice talked about it spoonfed to the reader in takes that feel reminiscent of 2012 Tumblr. Fatphobia is the only thing that is discusses with any depth, and Charlie thoughts typically only center on the Body Positive Movement. It ends up feeling hollow because Charlie constantly body shames Amelia and never bothers to fix her behavior even when she acknowledges that it's wrong. Body positivity is supposed to be accepting bodies as they come. Instead, she is constantly thinking toxic things about her friends body because she is unable to to apply her Fat Positivity to her own. She is very much a performative activist.
Outside Charlie's characterization, all the other characters lack depth. Amelia is nice but "prettier and popular" best friend. Brian is the love interest. Cal is the jerk jock. Her mom is toxic fitness mom. They don't really have any depth to them, and nothing about them is memorable.
The plot is also non-existent. It's basically just Charlie reacting to things because she doesn't really actively much to engage with the plot. Things just happen to her rather than her actively propelling some sort of plot forward. The things that do happen are usually petty.
The relationship with her mom is really the only thing of substance that happens to her, and her mom just a disordered eating fitness nut that projects her warped beauty standards from her weight loss on her daughter. Her mom projects, Charlie gets sad or mad, and her mom punishes her when she lashes out. Everytime it seems like we are going to learn more about why she changed when she lost weight, it just goes back to the same cycle. Her mom is just like Charlie, she doesn't really develop or change no matter how many conflicts they have had so far. She just continues her toxic thought cycle.
Besides the paper thin plot, the pacing is so slow and clunky. Slow isn't bad if the characters and plot are developing. They don't though, and the fact that there really isn't much plot makes it so it's just boring until the next event for Charlie to react to comes along.
This is clear with Cal. Everyone around her has to tell her that he lead her on and that she not at fault when he literally told her that he wanted her to bring Amelia. She was the one who didn't listen when he spelled out what he wanted. Is it kind of shitty to try a get someone not interested to come with you through their best friend? Yeah, but it's not leading someone on when you told them exactly what you wanted. He not terrible for getting upset that Amelia wasn't there when Charlie agreed and then later sought him out to tell him she was excited though. In fact, he was also clear in the fact he liked Amelia from the beginning. He a jerk, but he was a honest jerk who was clear in his intention. Charlie has too have her mom, Amelia, and Brian all tell her it wasn't her fault and he was leading her on though.
Her victim attitude is clearer with the way she treats Amelia. Charlie consistently vilified Amelia for being physically smaller than her. She would constantly make snide comments in her mind and take out unfounded anger on someone who is supposed to be here best friend. Amelia never does anything besides be skinner and more outgoing then her. Amelia is constantly a good friend to her while Charlie takes out her self-esteem issues on her. The things is that Charlie is aware that what she doing is unfounded, which makes her behavior worse. She is constantly thinking or doing shitty things to Amelia, acknowledging that it's unfounded, and then continuing the behavior insecurity suddenly justify it.
Thoughts and social issues are shallow and flawed. For example, Amelia is a dark skinned, queer black girl in predominantly white school.
While Amelia does experience thin privilege, there is no intersectional. Charlie is fat, but she is also a light skinned straight half Puerto Rican. Being dark skinned, black, queer, and afab comes with a lot of oppression that the Charlie herself would never experience would not experience. Fatphobia is terrible, but it's not doesn't care the same death threats that homophobia and racism does. She is envious that Amelia can shop anywhere while Amelia cares the possibility of being the victim of hate crime for her skin and sexuality. Not to mention the scene with her cousins. She actually says that she use to think she was better than her cousins because she spoke better English and went to a "better" (whiter) school despite the fact they were angle and she never even attempted to learn Spanish. Knowledge is this thought is internalized racism but doesn't reflect on it at all and goes on to continue to judge cousins through the rest of the scene because she jealous of Amelia "fitting in" better. Really, she just complains that Amelia fits in better na dis more popular when in reality she just doesn't bother to engage with those around her.
Charlie portrayed like she is supposed to progressive, she really isn't. Charlie glosses over her best friend's race and sexuality in favor of thinness. Brian, the love interest, is Korean American IVF child of two queer moms. The racism he experience end up being one of things her mentions, Charlie feels bad about, and then are never mentioned again. Frankly all of the deeper issues are glossed over or discussed in a superficial manner. Any social justice talked about it spoonfed to the reader in takes that feel reminiscent of 2012 Tumblr. Fatphobia is the only thing that is discusses with any depth, and Charlie thoughts typically only center on the Body Positive Movement. It ends up feeling hollow because Charlie constantly body shames Amelia and never bothers to fix her behavior even when she acknowledges that it's wrong. Body positivity is supposed to be accepting bodies as they come. Instead, she is constantly thinking toxic things about her friends body because she is unable to to apply her Fat Positivity to her own. She is very much a performative activist.
Outside Charlie's characterization, all the other characters lack depth. Amelia is nice but "prettier and popular" best friend. Brian is the love interest. Cal is the jerk jock. Her mom is toxic fitness mom. They don't really have any depth to them, and nothing about them is memorable.
The plot is also non-existent. It's basically just Charlie reacting to things because she doesn't really actively much to engage with the plot. Things just happen to her rather than her actively propelling some sort of plot forward. The things that do happen are usually petty.
The relationship with her mom is really the only thing of substance that happens to her, and her mom just a disordered eating fitness nut that projects her warped beauty standards from her weight loss on her daughter. Her mom projects, Charlie gets sad or mad, and her mom punishes her when she lashes out. Everytime it seems like we are going to learn more about why she changed when she lost weight, it just goes back to the same cycle. Her mom is just like Charlie, she doesn't really develop or change no matter how many conflicts they have had so far. She just continues her toxic thought cycle.
Besides the paper thin plot, the pacing is so slow and clunky. Slow isn't bad if the characters and plot are developing. They don't though, and the fact that there really isn't much plot makes it so it's just boring until the next event for Charlie to react to comes along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent
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