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librarianryan 's review for:
If It Makes You Happy
by Claire Kann
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.