Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
fast-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
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very cute slice of life book! Characters were very lovable, but the narrative was a bit unusual
Definitely not the book I expected at first! I wanted more of the contest and more of the town but I loved the characters and the honesty of the MC. I’ll buy for my classroom, for sure.
I loved this book so much. So many moments of "YES, this is what complicated relationships (familial and otherwise) can be like!" and "YES! this is what being fat is like." and "YES! this is what it's like to have someone in your life basically tell you that you don't get to have an opinion or rights on what you do with your life."
If you're queer, particularly poly or ace, if you're fat, if you've been in a difficult or an unhealthy familial relationship, and given how on target she is on those, I would assume also if you're black, you'll 100% recognize moments in here, and for me this felt really vindicating and empowering.
I especially loved this for basically handling a bunch of life being difficult and sometimes pretty bullshit at you, but getting through it in a way that doesn't feel hopeless or like you have no agency. It's a lot of characters having believable flaws, making believable mistakes, having believable conflict, and then working through it and mostly doing better. Just simultaneously a very realistic book, and still a very hopeful book, and wow is that something I'm appreciating in 2020, heh.
I also just enjoy Claire Kann's sense of humor. :)
If you're queer, particularly poly or ace, if you're fat, if you've been in a difficult or an unhealthy familial relationship, and given how on target she is on those, I would assume also if you're black, you'll 100% recognize moments in here, and for me this felt really vindicating and empowering.
I especially loved this for basically handling a bunch of life being difficult and sometimes pretty bullshit at you, but getting through it in a way that doesn't feel hopeless or like you have no agency. It's a lot of characters having believable flaws, making believable mistakes, having believable conflict, and then working through it and mostly doing better. Just simultaneously a very realistic book, and still a very hopeful book, and wow is that something I'm appreciating in 2020, heh.
I also just enjoy Claire Kann's sense of humor. :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-Audiobook copy of this book. My opinions are my own and are unbiased.
I really enjoyed this one! I read "Let's Talk About Love" earlier in the year by the same author, and wanted to pick up another book by the author. I've been reading less YA Contemporary recently as I'm getting a bit further away from being a teenager myself, but I really wanted to try this one.
This book has a queer, fat main character called Winnie who works in her Grandmother's diner during the summer before she goes to college. The book details the different things that she goes through, and her relationships. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a queer YA contemporary, with hard hitting themes as well as some very cute moments. I'd also really recommend the audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job of portraying the story.
I would check trigger warnings though, as there is some fat shaming, and difficult relationships with family members, so take care.
I really enjoyed this one! I read "Let's Talk About Love" earlier in the year by the same author, and wanted to pick up another book by the author. I've been reading less YA Contemporary recently as I'm getting a bit further away from being a teenager myself, but I really wanted to try this one.
This book has a queer, fat main character called Winnie who works in her Grandmother's diner during the summer before she goes to college. The book details the different things that she goes through, and her relationships. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a queer YA contemporary, with hard hitting themes as well as some very cute moments. I'd also really recommend the audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job of portraying the story.
I would check trigger warnings though, as there is some fat shaming, and difficult relationships with family members, so take care.
The way I felt seen in this book was just so incredibly amazing. It felt like a difficult soul-searching while also a heartwarming read about family friends and loved ones.
Winnie is fat girl I could relate to. On an average day, she's confident about herself and who she is. She's bubbly and cute, the responsible girl who everyone loves. But underneath that exterior she's always struggling to keep her anger in check, trying to stand up for herself while being respectful and doing her best to not be an anxious mess.
I thought this book did a beautiful job writing complex and difficult interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. Each and every character is well-written and stands out. They're there for a reason and they make you take notice. Winnie's relationships with her family and friends aren't as perfect they seem and I love how real and messy they get. Every issue and obstacle that Winnie faced felt real and relatable. She herself was written like a teen who doesn't know everything there is to the world but knows enough to try standing up for herself and her loved ones.
Also, I love reading about cooking competitions and pageants so this book just checked off multiple boxes for me. I think this was the first time I was reading about queerplatonic relationships and one of the few times I came across polyamory so I'm still a bit uncertain as to how I feel about some events in the romance plot but I'm also not the best person to comment on this.
I could see myself in Winnie in so many ways so I grew really emotionally attached to this book. But that set aside, I would still say that this is an amazing read and I would definitely urge you to pick it up if any of the themes I mentioned are your cup of tea.
Winnie is fat girl I could relate to. On an average day, she's confident about herself and who she is. She's bubbly and cute, the responsible girl who everyone loves. But underneath that exterior she's always struggling to keep her anger in check, trying to stand up for herself while being respectful and doing her best to not be an anxious mess.
I thought this book did a beautiful job writing complex and difficult interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. Each and every character is well-written and stands out. They're there for a reason and they make you take notice. Winnie's relationships with her family and friends aren't as perfect they seem and I love how real and messy they get. Every issue and obstacle that Winnie faced felt real and relatable. She herself was written like a teen who doesn't know everything there is to the world but knows enough to try standing up for herself and her loved ones.
Also, I love reading about cooking competitions and pageants so this book just checked off multiple boxes for me. I think this was the first time I was reading about queerplatonic relationships and one of the few times I came across polyamory so I'm still a bit uncertain as to how I feel about some events in the romance plot but I'm also not the best person to comment on this.
I could see myself in Winnie in so many ways so I grew really emotionally attached to this book. But that set aside, I would still say that this is an amazing read and I would definitely urge you to pick it up if any of the themes I mentioned are your cup of tea.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Really more like 2.5. I really, really wanted to like this more than I did. It has a representative protagonist that has so much personality that everyone else pales in comparison. Plot lines seem to scatter everywhere. It felt like this book was trying to do too much and it didn't quite get there.
Refreshingly positive and upbeat, Claire Kann tells aa story of a young woman trying to please everyone around her while staying true to herself. The book tackles family dynamics, relationships, self-image, and much more through a fun storyline that I haven't seen before.
As far as the classroom, while the main character is in between her senior year in high school and freshman year in college, there is nothing in this book that would keep it off of a middle school shelf. There are some swears, but I know that my middle schoolers would love that! :-)
As far as the classroom, while the main character is in between her senior year in high school and freshman year in college, there is nothing in this book that would keep it off of a middle school shelf. There are some swears, but I know that my middle schoolers would love that! :-)