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A review by joanna1905
Dumplin' Movie Tie-In Edition by Julie Murphy
4.0
So like a year after watching this movie, I finally got around to reading the book - and I have pretty mixed feelings, but overall I really enjoyed it!
I definitely think there's certain parts of the book that are far better executed than the movie - predominantly Willowdean's relationship with Bo. There's so much more build-up and even just more general time spent with Bo, whereas in the movie the romance plot felt like it was such a minor plot point it was almost unnecessary. Will and Bo only talk to each other like three times and we're just supposed to ship it (which like, I totally did but still I preferred the development the book provided).
What I didn't like in this book was Ellen, in the book shes so much worse. She holds the grudge for so long (and I'm not saying Willowdean was in the right) but every scene with her before the fight Ellen consistently makes it about her. She also puts Willowdean in situations that are obviously going to make her uncomfortable. If Callie was ballsy enough to say those horrible things to Willowdeans face you can almost guarantee she was saying it to Ellen to convince her she's better off without Will.
Also Ellen never really apologises for any of this? and there's no acknowledgement that she was also in the wrong. She carries the fight on for so long and every time Willowdean is trying to bridge the gaps so they can work things out she just ignores her.
Willowdean was also a bit more annoying in this, considering her whole story is about how hard it is that people judge her based on her weight she is INCREDIBLY judgemental of everyone else; and there are some moments where she has some self-awareness but she never really addresses this properly and realises she also needs to do better.
I also wish there was some healing between her and her mother - even though we know her mother loves her it really seems like she doesn't at some times - and I wish there was a moment where they grieved over Lucy together or her mother told her she loves her and is proud of her no matter what.
All in all, this was definitely a nice quick read, I think neither the movie or the book do a perfect job but when you combine the two in your head it really is a great little story!
I definitely think there's certain parts of the book that are far better executed than the movie - predominantly Willowdean's relationship with Bo. There's so much more build-up and even just more general time spent with Bo, whereas in the movie the romance plot felt like it was such a minor plot point it was almost unnecessary. Will and Bo only talk to each other like three times and we're just supposed to ship it (which like, I totally did but still I preferred the development the book provided).
What I didn't like in this book was Ellen, in the book shes so much worse. She holds the grudge for so long (and I'm not saying Willowdean was in the right) but every scene with her before the fight Ellen consistently makes it about her. She also puts Willowdean in situations that are obviously going to make her uncomfortable. If Callie was ballsy enough to say those horrible things to Willowdeans face you can almost guarantee she was saying it to Ellen to convince her she's better off without Will.
Also Ellen never really apologises for any of this? and there's no acknowledgement that she was also in the wrong. She carries the fight on for so long and every time Willowdean is trying to bridge the gaps so they can work things out she just ignores her.
Willowdean was also a bit more annoying in this, considering her whole story is about how hard it is that people judge her based on her weight she is INCREDIBLY judgemental of everyone else; and there are some moments where she has some self-awareness but she never really addresses this properly and realises she also needs to do better.
I also wish there was some healing between her and her mother - even though we know her mother loves her it really seems like she doesn't at some times - and I wish there was a moment where they grieved over Lucy together or her mother told her she loves her and is proud of her no matter what.
All in all, this was definitely a nice quick read, I think neither the movie or the book do a perfect job but when you combine the two in your head it really is a great little story!