Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Thank you NetGalley for the audio-Arc of the book.
I loved this story about family, friendship, love and queer platonic relationship.
It talks about being fat and how people body shame you for that. But also about racism, and expectation for a young black woman.
The characters were lovely and had a great development.
Also the food description? Awesome
I loved this story about family, friendship, love and queer platonic relationship.
It talks about being fat and how people body shame you for that. But also about racism, and expectation for a young black woman.
The characters were lovely and had a great development.
Also the food description? Awesome
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism
this was so much fuuuun and so goooood pls read it now.
Thank you to Swoonreads & Edelweiss for this review copy!
Thank you to Swoonreads & Edelweiss for this review copy!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Winnie is a very likeable and relatable character as are her friends and family. I really appreciated how Winnie talked about and felt about her body; she's fat and she doesn't think that makes her any less attractive or worthy of love. She's not revolutionary she just is who she authentically is; willing to stand up for herself and for those she loves.
* a great summer read.
* a great summer read.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I have mixed feelings about this one. On the positive side: a Black, fat, queer MC in a QPR? Yes, please! I absolutely adored Winnie. I loved how confident she was in herself, her body, and her queerness. I loved the discussions about race and being fat, they were done so well. I loved Winnie's relationship with her younger brother, it was so precious.
I wish the same attention to detail was given to the QPR. First of all, because the book never gives you a definition, let me tell you that QPR is a queer-platonic relationship, which is often seen as an alternative to a romantic relationship. It's a committed relationship with the romance (and often but not always sexual element) removed from the equation. It's the second book I've ever read with a QPR (after Royal Rescue) and, since I'm aromantic, it meant so so much... but also it wasn't handled well.
In the book Winnie is in an open queer-platonic relationship, with an understanding that both parties might seek out additional partners. And that's what happens to Winnie, as she starts to spend more time with her long-time crush (crash? don't ask me, I'm aro, i don't know allo terminology) that she doesn't believe have any chance of becoming something more. However, it's obvious that her "ungirlfriend" doesn't want Winnie to have a romantic partner.
Now, that's a brilliant set up and it could have been done so well. It could have explored these insecurities and where they stem from (and they stem from the way romance is prioritized above other sorts of relationships in our society). Instead, for most of the book Winnie's "ungirlfriend's" insecurities are downplayed and presented in a pretty arophobic manner as she's painted as a villain. Yes, she does some horrible things and I really think these were unnecessary, it could have been handled way better. We get so, so few aro characters in books, we didn't need her to be a villain.
Because of this representation and the lack of explaination of the relationship between the girls, most of the reviews are arophobic. And it pains me especially coming from an aspec author who wrote one of my absolute favorites, Let's Talk About Love. Why couldn't we approach aromanticism with the same sensitivity as LTAL did for asexuality? Why aromanticism always has to be villanised?
My other issue was that I didn't understand the plot at all. Maybe I lack some vital US knowledge but I didn't understand what the kings and queens thing was about, I often lose track in plots like these.
All in all, I'm on the fence about this one. I finished it yesterday and I'm still not sure if I liked it.
***Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook! ***
I wish the same attention to detail was given to the QPR. First of all, because the book never gives you a definition, let me tell you that QPR is a queer-platonic relationship, which is often seen as an alternative to a romantic relationship. It's a committed relationship with the romance (and often but not always sexual element) removed from the equation. It's the second book I've ever read with a QPR (after Royal Rescue) and, since I'm aromantic, it meant so so much... but also it wasn't handled well.
In the book Winnie is in an open queer-platonic relationship, with an understanding that both parties might seek out additional partners. And that's what happens to Winnie, as she starts to spend more time with her long-time crush (crash? don't ask me, I'm aro, i don't know allo terminology) that she doesn't believe have any chance of becoming something more. However, it's obvious that her "ungirlfriend" doesn't want Winnie to have a romantic partner.
Now, that's a brilliant set up and it could have been done so well. It could have explored these insecurities and where they stem from (and they stem from the way romance is prioritized above other sorts of relationships in our society). Instead, for most of the book Winnie's "ungirlfriend's" insecurities are downplayed and presented in a pretty arophobic manner as she's painted as a villain. Yes, she does some horrible things and I really think these were unnecessary, it could have been handled way better. We get so, so few aro characters in books, we didn't need her to be a villain.
Because of this representation and the lack of explaination of the relationship between the girls, most of the reviews are arophobic. And it pains me especially coming from an aspec author who wrote one of my absolute favorites, Let's Talk About Love. Why couldn't we approach aromanticism with the same sensitivity as LTAL did for asexuality? Why aromanticism always has to be villanised?
My other issue was that I didn't understand the plot at all. Maybe I lack some vital US knowledge but I didn't understand what the kings and queens thing was about, I often lose track in plots like these.
All in all, I'm on the fence about this one. I finished it yesterday and I'm still not sure if I liked it.
***Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook! ***
I received an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book had some really excellent conversations about navigating a polyamorous/QPP relationship and experiencing fatphobia from loved ones. There was clear thoughts behind each topic, but they also weren't clear cut. The author gave the characters room to be messy and make mistakes, which is great especially in YA. Winnie and her family felt especially real to me. However, I do think the romance got a bit lost in everything else. Compared to Claire Kann's previous book, I didn't feel particularly connected to the relationship.
This book had some really excellent conversations about navigating a polyamorous/QPP relationship and experiencing fatphobia from loved ones. There was clear thoughts behind each topic, but they also weren't clear cut. The author gave the characters room to be messy and make mistakes, which is great especially in YA. Winnie and her family felt especially real to me. However, I do think the romance got a bit lost in everything else. Compared to Claire Kann's previous book, I didn't feel particularly connected to the relationship.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I will say, I really liked the narrator.
My problem with this book was that it was trying to be too many things at once, without committing to anything. I was super pumped about the fat rep and the doctor’s office scene (how I wish to have the opportunity to put an asshole doctor in their place) but then that plot line took a turn I didn’t like. The cooking competition seemed like it was going to be a bigger part of the story than it was. The relationship with Winnie and her grandmother was toxic at best. And the romance was fun, but not enough to save some parts of this.
If there had been a clearer focus, I think I could have enjoyed this one a lot more. I appreciate the fat girl rep, but Winnie deserved more.
My problem with this book was that it was trying to be too many things at once, without committing to anything. I was super pumped about the fat rep and the doctor’s office scene (how I wish to have the opportunity to put an asshole doctor in their place) but then that plot line took a turn I didn’t like. The cooking competition seemed like it was going to be a bigger part of the story than it was. The relationship with Winnie and her grandmother was toxic at best. And the romance was fun, but not enough to save some parts of this.
If there had been a clearer focus, I think I could have enjoyed this one a lot more. I appreciate the fat girl rep, but Winnie deserved more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
TW: toxic relationship
This story didn't really have any overarching plots, just mini ones that helped fuel the main driving forces of the novel. They are Winnie's relationships and her confidence to stand up for those she loves and for herself.
Let's start with the toxic relationship between Winnie and her granny. Whenever something happens around Winnie, whether it be her fault or not, or even her Granny's fault, Granny always blamed Winnie for it and would give her the silent treatment until she dained that Winnie had apologized enough, and even then she treated her poorly. If there was an overarching plot, it would be Winnie learning to stand up against her Granny.
Then there's Winston, her brother. He is very serious around other people, but when he's around Winnie, she brings out his passion and loving ways. She is the protective big sister who would do anything for her brother, and he is willing to help his sister, even if he doesn't like what that is.
Kara is Winnie's ungirlfriend. They're more than just best friends, they have feelings for each other but aren't in an official relationship, though, everyone in town believes that they are. There was one point in the book where Kara displayed a red flag behavior, but she eventually realized how wrong she was behaving.
I liked how Winnie was big on conversations and communicating with others. She even tries, and fails, with Granny. I think that, and her protectiveness over her loved ones, is her best quality.
I loved the writing style and the insertion of quotes from movies (whenever I got them). And I liked some of the humour sprinkled throughout the story.
This story didn't really have any overarching plots, just mini ones that helped fuel the main driving forces of the novel. They are Winnie's relationships and her confidence to stand up for those she loves and for herself.
Let's start with the toxic relationship between Winnie and her granny. Whenever something happens around Winnie, whether it be her fault or not, or even her Granny's fault, Granny always blamed Winnie for it and would give her the silent treatment until she dained that Winnie had apologized enough, and even then she treated her poorly. If there was an overarching plot, it would be Winnie learning to stand up against her Granny.
Then there's Winston, her brother. He is very serious around other people, but when he's around Winnie, she brings out his passion and loving ways. She is the protective big sister who would do anything for her brother, and he is willing to help his sister, even if he doesn't like what that is.
Kara is Winnie's ungirlfriend. They're more than just best friends, they have feelings for each other but aren't in an official relationship, though, everyone in town believes that they are. There was one point in the book where Kara displayed a red flag behavior, but she eventually realized how wrong she was behaving.
I liked how Winnie was big on conversations and communicating with others. She even tries, and fails, with Granny. I think that, and her protectiveness over her loved ones, is her best quality.
I loved the writing style and the insertion of quotes from movies (whenever I got them). And I liked some of the humour sprinkled throughout the story.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Perfekt sommarläsning! Så mysig och fin. Bra med representation och en gullig historia.