A review by bookish_sabrina
Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

An endearing novel about Majella, a young woman who works in a chip shop. From the surface, she seems somewhat standoffish and bristly, but if you stick with her you see a woman overwhelmed by grief with no means of catharsis. Her mother is an alcoholic and Majella must do the emotional labor for the both of them. On top of that, Majella puts up with nightly harassment from customers at the chip shop. This novel is a journey about self-discovery on a very small scale. To the outside observer, the changes and risks Majella takes in this book seem inconsequential. However, by being in Majella's perspective, we see just how damn revolutionary buying a new comforter might actually be. I found Majella to be really endearing, funny, and crass. I wanted someone to help her so badly, but will have to settle for her hard-earned tiny triumphs. This isn't my typical novel, since it's really driven by the dry humor of the narrative voice, but I'm glad I stuck with it because I was rewarded with small glimpses of Majella's deeper feelings, which made her journey feel all the more impactful.