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donnicakelsey 's review for:
The Make-Up Test
by Jenny L. Howe
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
+plus-sized heroine
+academic rivals
+second-chance romance
I wanted to love this book. The premise had me hooked. I especially loved this section from the author's note: "The word fat doesn't have to be ugly. But to make that so, we need to disempower it. I believe that stories are such a crucial first step to this. Fat people are more than their bodies. We deserve happily-ever-afters, both romantic and otherwise. I am so thrilled that I get to give Allison one."
After reading that, I was locked in, but this wasn't a happily-ever-after. There is nothing Jenny L. Howe wrote that made me believe, Allison, our leading lady, wasn't settling. Nothing in this book made me think the love interest, Colin, wasn't a complete douchebag. I hated this character, and there's no way he deserved a second-chance-at-love with Allison.
Throughout the book, which I forced myself to complete (though I strongly contemplated DNF'ing around 30%) I was hoping Allison grew a backbone, gave Colin the middle finger and kept it moving, focusing on her academic goals. Realistically, I know women who let men walk over them or easily excuse their behavior because they had a reason, but I didn't want that for this character. So, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated at the relationship and the immaturity of these characters.
+academic rivals
+second-chance romance
I wanted to love this book. The premise had me hooked. I especially loved this section from the author's note: "The word fat doesn't have to be ugly. But to make that so, we need to disempower it. I believe that stories are such a crucial first step to this. Fat people are more than their bodies. We deserve happily-ever-afters, both romantic and otherwise. I am so thrilled that I get to give Allison one."
After reading that, I was locked in, but this wasn't a happily-ever-after. There is nothing Jenny L. Howe wrote that made me believe, Allison, our leading lady, wasn't settling. Nothing in this book made me think the love interest, Colin, wasn't a complete douchebag. I hated this character, and there's no way he deserved a second-chance-at-love with Allison.
Throughout the book, which I forced myself to complete (though I strongly contemplated DNF'ing around 30%) I was hoping Allison grew a backbone, gave Colin the middle finger and kept it moving, focusing on her academic goals. Realistically, I know women who let men walk over them or easily excuse their behavior because they had a reason, but I didn't want that for this character. So, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated at the relationship and the immaturity of these characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Death of parent