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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
This was such a fun, heartwarming, teary and cuddly story, that gave me so many smiles and something comforting to think about. A Black, fat, polyamorous and queer main character, a cast of side characters that are tied to her with so many amazing bonds, queerplatonic relationship representation, cooking and joy are all the ingredients that made this story sweet like candy and sparkly like a fizzy drink, and it was much much better than the author's previous book. I highly recommend if you are looking for a fun contemporary read for the summer, full of sunshine chaotic characters, the power of being yourself, in your own terms, and softness being seen as a strength ♥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, Abandonment
There's also a scene with an asthma attack, if that triggers you please take care ♥
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming
Winnie loves spending every summer working at her granny's diner, Goldeen's, in idyllic Misty Haven. This year is no different until she arrives and things go south. Granny and her keep butting heads. Her best friend and ungirlfriend Kara is jealous, making their once perfect relationship tense. Her cousin, Sam, is being a pain. And then there is Dallas. The cute boy in the next town over who seems to be taking an interest in her. While the two of them get closer, Winnie also tries to become the person she knows she is.
I had a lot of issues with If It Makes You Happy. I went into this expecting a book as great as Kann's first, but was left unsatisfied and kind of confused.
The biggest problem with If It Makes You Happy is that there is almost too much plot, but nothing happens with any of it. Kann throws in a cooking competition; the workings of the diner; Winnie's relationships with granny, Kara, Winston, Sam and Dallas; and a beauty pageant of sorts. But none of it really gets the focus meaning they all feel dropped and not fully explained. This could have been a great book if just one of these things was kept and the rest gotten rid of. For example, Winnie and Dallas did not need to be the King and Queen of Misty and Merry Haven. Most of their time together was outside of their duties of that anyway and their relationship could have been exactly the same if that plot point was cut.
Also, it feels like Kann was trying to hit on a lot of different social issues, some of which were done beautifully and some that didn't hit the mark. Winnie is fat and beautiful and strong and confident. She is a great character and has a lot of positive aspects that I thought were refreshing. Winnie is a kind person, but she has a temper when pushed. I liked this for the most part. But Kann has one scene that explores what it means to be a black business owner dealing with white customers. The lesson and meaning is great, but the way it fits into the story seemed weird and out of no where.
But then Kann introduces Kara who Winnie is in a queerplatonic relationship with. I'll admit this was new to me and something I hadn't heard of before. Kann did a beautiful job explaining and showing an asexual character in her first book, so I was confused why she glosses over exactly what Winnie and Kara have. It felt like they were just close best friends who love each other intensely -- but aren't allowed to date anyone else unless the other gives approval? I just never really fully understood what their relationship was. I liked that this book introduced a type of relationship I was unfamiliar with, but it left me feeling more confused by it. The biggest confusion was that Winnie didn't seem to be fulfilled by this queerplatonic relationship. She very obviously wanted a romantic and affectionate relationship and Kara seemed to selfishly hold her back and I didn't like that.
I liked If It Makes You Happy for its diverse representation. Winnie is a great character and one we don't see a lot of in YA. I really liked her and she had a great, stand-out voice. But she gets lost in a muddled plot that could have been streamlined a bit. This works well as a quick, light summer read. But not much more.
**I received an e-ARC from Netgalley**
I had a lot of issues with If It Makes You Happy. I went into this expecting a book as great as Kann's first, but was left unsatisfied and kind of confused.
The biggest problem with If It Makes You Happy is that there is almost too much plot, but nothing happens with any of it. Kann throws in a cooking competition; the workings of the diner; Winnie's relationships with granny, Kara, Winston, Sam and Dallas; and a beauty pageant of sorts. But none of it really gets the focus meaning they all feel dropped and not fully explained. This could have been a great book if just one of these things was kept and the rest gotten rid of. For example, Winnie and Dallas did not need to be the King and Queen of Misty and Merry Haven. Most of their time together was outside of their duties of that anyway and their relationship could have been exactly the same if that plot point was cut.
Also, it feels like Kann was trying to hit on a lot of different social issues, some of which were done beautifully and some that didn't hit the mark. Winnie is fat and beautiful and strong and confident. She is a great character and has a lot of positive aspects that I thought were refreshing. Winnie is a kind person, but she has a temper when pushed. I liked this for the most part. But Kann has one scene that explores what it means to be a black business owner dealing with white customers. The lesson and meaning is great, but the way it fits into the story seemed weird and out of no where.
But then Kann introduces Kara who Winnie is in a queerplatonic relationship with. I'll admit this was new to me and something I hadn't heard of before. Kann did a beautiful job explaining and showing an asexual character in her first book, so I was confused why she glosses over exactly what Winnie and Kara have. It felt like they were just close best friends who love each other intensely -- but aren't allowed to date anyone else unless the other gives approval? I just never really fully understood what their relationship was. I liked that this book introduced a type of relationship I was unfamiliar with, but it left me feeling more confused by it. The biggest confusion was that Winnie didn't seem to be fulfilled by this queerplatonic relationship. She very obviously wanted a romantic and affectionate relationship and Kara seemed to selfishly hold her back and I didn't like that.
I liked If It Makes You Happy for its diverse representation. Winnie is a great character and one we don't see a lot of in YA. I really liked her and she had a great, stand-out voice. But she gets lost in a muddled plot that could have been streamlined a bit. This works well as a quick, light summer read. But not much more.
**I received an e-ARC from Netgalley**
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure if I'm too old for contemporary YA romance or if I'm just too old for this particular main character's voice. Oh well.
This book was on my radar mostly because of the QPR rep and that part was really interesting, especially because this book isn't afraid to show that relationship problems don't just exist for romantic relationships.
The book never truly gripped me though, that's how it got the rating I gave it.
This book was on my radar mostly because of the QPR rep and that part was really interesting, especially because this book isn't afraid to show that relationship problems don't just exist for romantic relationships.
The book never truly gripped me though, that's how it got the rating I gave it.
I enjoyed Kann's previous book, and loved the cover for this one, so I thought I would give it a try. I struggled with this one a bit more, and I think it's because I was trying to figure out what queerplatonic meant. It wasn't a term I had heard before, and I looked it up, and I'm still not sure I have a handle on it. I did like how insistent Winnie was on communication and being direct, which I think was a good demonstration for any relationship. She could have used some more of that outside of Kara and Dallas, but I understand it can be harder with family than partners. I also think this book does a good job of illustrating fatphobia and how insidious it is.
slow-paced
So I really liked the main character in this book, but having already read Let's Talk About Love, also by Claire Kann, this one just wasn't as good. Overall, it was worth reading, but not necessarily one of my favorite books.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am done. I have made it 65% of the way through this audiobook and cannot take it anymore. There are still 3 and a half hours to go, and I just cannot do it anymore. This book is a nothing but whinny drama. The reason I stuck with it for so long is that it has excellent fat representation. When Winnie goes to the doctor for a school blood test, a battle of wills ensues over her weight and standing on the scale. I have been that fat teenager, and I completely get this section of the book. I had to share it with friends it is so accurate. And it was these moments, like the grandmother who made her exercise and would only feed her “healthy” food while her siblings got what ever they liked that made me feel seen. However, our gal Winnie is dealing with more than her weight. Cara, her best friend, her “ungirlfriend” is not making the summer any easier. Cara and Winnie have been best friends for years. They only see each other in the summers but they are bonded for “life”. The “ungirlfriend” think is a bit hard to wrap your head around. It is explained 3 different times, and the best short explanation given by Winnie herself is “queer platonic”. It’s confusing, but I can roll with it, let me learn new things and ideas. Winnie also really likes Dallas, but Cara is in the middle of that too. This book is a character study, which I rarely like, but to me what makes this one worse is the “whininess” of the two main characters. I cannot stand it. However, saying that, this book isn’t without merit. I can see patrons liking and even loving this book. It being exactly what a young fat teen girl needs, that girl was just never me.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
TW: fatphobia, gaslighting, racism
Such a funny, sweet, and enjoyably relaxing slice of life read! I had many lol moments! Claire Kann has upped her game again, covering intensely important topics but never once making the book heavy.
Such a funny, sweet, and enjoyably relaxing slice of life read! I had many lol moments! Claire Kann has upped her game again, covering intensely important topics but never once making the book heavy.