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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
There is a lot going on here, but nothing felt wrapped up at the end, or super-well developed. I wanted more of the grandmother's back story (& Winnie's family in general). Winnie is a true people-pleaser, and this personality aspect is well-portrayed, even if I ended up feeling like Kara walked all over Winnie even though they had an agreement about W dating other people. I did love that Winnie is secure in her body, and tries to get the adults in her life to understand what it means to be fat & healthy and to stop fat-shaming her!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
This book was such a joy to read! A hilarious and witty, fat black queer girl who tells it like it is - this feels like what's been missing from my bookshelf for years. I'm so happy to see a queer-platonic relationship portrayed in a way where the characters don't constantly feel the need to explain how their relationship works, I think a lot of LGBTQ readers will find that validating. I also really appreciate that the manipulative relationship in Winnie's life didn't have a perfect ending or solution, that sometimes you just have to do what's right for you. It's just an all round easy to get into book and the narration by Caroline Sorunke was perfect.
I love Winnie! She is a plus-size girl with a plus-size personality to match. She is a straight shooter who doesn't take no s**t from no one.
Winnie spends every summer proudly working at her granny's restaurant, Goldeen's, in a small town called Misty Haven with her brother, Winston and her cousin Sam works babysitting for local families. Each summer Misty Haven and its sister town, Merry Haven put on a summer-long array of events. At the beginning of the summer, Winnie's name is selected out of the hat to be the Queen (she did not submit her name and does not know who did). As Queen, anyone who wishes to be her King (or Queen) competes for the role. Throughout the summer and the book, they attend events and legend has it that the Queen and her escort always go on to get married in the future. A side plot is a cooking show that is filming their pilot episode in town. Winnie's ungirlfriend (they are kind of together but not really exclusive), Kara, lives in Misty Haven and is a great baker and has entered the contest. Winston wants to enter as well, however, Granny refuses to allow it.
There is a bit of fatphobia and subtle racism but nothing too extreme. I think that there is an opportunity there for a sequel, maybe a few years down the road after they graduate from college or maybe focus it on another character, such as Winston or Sam
Winnie spends every summer proudly working at her granny's restaurant, Goldeen's, in a small town called Misty Haven with her brother, Winston and her cousin Sam works babysitting for local families. Each summer Misty Haven and its sister town, Merry Haven put on a summer-long array of events. At the beginning of the summer, Winnie's name is selected out of the hat to be the Queen (she did not submit her name and does not know who did). As Queen, anyone who wishes to be her King (or Queen) competes for the role. Throughout the summer and the book, they attend events and legend has it that the Queen and her escort always go on to get married in the future. A side plot is a cooking show that is filming their pilot episode in town. Winnie's ungirlfriend (they are kind of together but not really exclusive), Kara, lives in Misty Haven and is a great baker and has entered the contest. Winston wants to enter as well, however, Granny refuses to allow it.
There is a bit of fatphobia and subtle racism but nothing too extreme. I think that there is an opportunity there for a sequel, maybe a few years down the road after they graduate from college or maybe focus it on another character, such as Winston or Sam
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book a lot! Winnie had such a great voice, and I found myself genuinely invested in her and her life. This book was cute and fun, but also complex and tender, & vulnerable in big scary ways.
A LOT happens in this book. By this, I mean instead of what typically occurs in a book (one or two major conflicts or plot points, & 2 or 3 smaller ones) - this book was full of misunderstandings & arguments, and complicated relationships. Winnie’s constant internal dialogue, along with the jam-packed plot, and the (kind of) up in the air ending felt like it belonged more like a TV show (or book series) than in a single book. The way the book ended left me a little unfulfilled - not in a bad way - I just felt like the pacing was so breakneck throughout the book, that I kept expecting more and more to happen - but instead it ended, and leaves the reader with their questions, to make their own conclusions... honestly, I just want more! Hoping Claire Kann visits this book, this world, and these characters again - because there is definitely more story there!
A tender and sweet Summer read - hope you love it as much as I did!
I enjoyed this book a lot! Winnie had such a great voice, and I found myself genuinely invested in her and her life. This book was cute and fun, but also complex and tender, & vulnerable in big scary ways.
A LOT happens in this book. By this, I mean instead of what typically occurs in a book (one or two major conflicts or plot points, & 2 or 3 smaller ones) - this book was full of misunderstandings & arguments, and complicated relationships. Winnie’s constant internal dialogue, along with the jam-packed plot, and the (kind of) up in the air ending felt like it belonged more like a TV show (or book series) than in a single book. The way the book ended left me a little unfulfilled - not in a bad way - I just felt like the pacing was so breakneck throughout the book, that I kept expecting more and more to happen - but instead it ended, and leaves the reader with their questions, to make their own conclusions... honestly, I just want more! Hoping Claire Kann visits this book, this world, and these characters again - because there is definitely more story there!
A tender and sweet Summer read - hope you love it as much as I did!
lighthearted
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
hopeful
lighthearted
Winnie spends all her summers in Misty Haven with her siblings working in her granny's diner and hanging out with her Ungirlfriend Kara. Winnie is a Plus-size Black, Queer Girl who does not like any sort of Spotlight on her. The small town of Misty Haven has its annual summer King-Queen contest which is a popularity contest where the selected King-Queen are treated like royalty and go around the town all summer attending events.
This year Winnie is selected as the Queen and Dallas one of the most attractive boys in town volunteers as her King.
Now Winnie has to choose between Dallas and her QueerPlatonic relationship with Kara.
The only negative point of the plot for me was that if Winnie did not enter for the summer contest then who put her name
This year Winnie is selected as the Queen and Dallas one of the most attractive boys in town volunteers as her King.
Now Winnie has to choose between Dallas and her QueerPlatonic relationship with Kara.
The only negative point of the plot for me was that if Winnie did not enter for the summer contest then who put her name
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes