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thenovelmaura's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Unfortunately, the romance aspects didn't really work for me (maybe because I'm not a fan of the Bachelor franchise?). But I didn't feel like we had enough time to get to know her suitors and I wasn't rooting for any of them. I also wouldn't recommend the audiobook, since the female did all the voices for the different suitors and it just wasn't very sexy, especially with the bad French accent. I think reality TV fans will love this one; it was just missing that spark for me!
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Bullying and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship
strickortreat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
claudia_bow's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Body shaming, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
spearly's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
“You said yes because you knew some people would object?”
“I wanted to prove that I had every right to be here,” Bea answered. “That I could star in a show about love just like any other woman."
One to Watch follows fashion-blogger Bea, as she is thrust into the public eye as the first plus-size woman to star in Main Squeeze, a reality show akin to The Bachelorette.
This was a nice read. Stayman-London has a way of crafting a very atmospheric, romantic story without getting too technical. For obvious reasons, this reminded me a lot of MTV's Unreal, only sweeter and more satisfying. Still, it's important to mention the obviously heavy themes of fat phobia, fat-shaming, online harassment (including rape and death threats), misogyny, and a very uncomfortable sequence where be a talks about being assaulted in high school.
I loved trying to guess who of Bea's suitors were ~there for the right reasons~. I made a few wrong calls, a few right calls, and Stayman-London definitely threw me at the end there, but it was hella enjoyable!
More important that the romantic side plots, I loved the way Bea came into her own through the story. Even in the beginning, as a body-positive fashion blogger, readers still got a sense of her deeply-rooted insecurities, of how she never allowed herself to be vulnerable, of how she never believed anyone could be attracted to her because it was easier to believe no-one wanted her than to open herself up to being hurt. And yet, despite these insecurities, she was always strong in her convictions, steadfast in ignoring the haters, and, after some trepidation, eager to show the world that being plus-sized doesn't mean you can't get your fairytale ending.
Her journey throughout the show, while yes, was dramatic and luscious to read about, became less about the romance for me and more about the way Bea began to see herself as she started trusted the guys. And, gosh, did she have a good bunch at the end there. Mostly.
I will say...
But I do understand all the glowing reviews and high star ratings from my mutuals! Definitely worth the read.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual content
sunnyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
supersandra's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
On the one hand, for the overall narrative of the book, I'd give maybe 3.5 or 4 stars. It's a little bit unbelievable at times
On the other hand, as a fat woman, this book was REALLY HARD TO EXPERIENCE at times. If you're a fat person, especially a fat woman, and you're not in a good headspace to read very accurate depictions of the types of things that internet trolls and asshole men routinely say about and to fat women, I don't suggest this book, and I especially don't suggest it as an audiobook. The audiobook transitions from chapter to chapter were extra jarring in this regard. So for me that's what brings the score down. I'd probably rate this 2.5 stars, but I don't want to scare off folks who are in a good place to experience this book, as I think it has some really meaningful themes, especially for people who do not understand what it is like to live in the body of a fat woman.
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexism
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
Detailed online harassment and threats toward a fat woman, including rape threats/descriptions, comments that she will die from being fat or that she should just kill herself, etc.meg_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Bullying
beauty_andbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It was rather nice to read a plus sized female lead. There are too many size 0 females on covers of books and in movies and television. However, the reality television scene is definitely not my favorite and made it hard for me to love the book.
If you like reality television and are looking for more diversity in fiction though this is a good book.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
kry_yang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Homophobia