sillyfroggy 's review for:

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade

2.0

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I really enjoy the not-so-subtle digs at "Game of Thrones" throughout this book. I like that the MMC and FMC are not your typical drop dead gorgeous, perfect bodied hero and heroine. However, does it really need to be constantly pointed out that the two love interests are fat?

"Like him, she was fat, with a rounded belly and a soft chin."

"... odd that the showrunners chose fat actors for characters not specified as fat in the source material.."

.."I'm especially delighted because fat acceptance is a passion of mine..."

"..why else choose two fat actors for characters stranded on a chilly, desolate, windswept island for years?"

"...publicity you've received for casting fat actors on your show?"

There are many more examples.

It would be nice if we could normalise characters having different characteristics than what is 'standard' in romance books, but when it's constantly referred to then it just seems gimmicky. Which is ironic because one of the quotes about the FMC describes exactly that:

"Again and again, she'd used her moments in the media spotlight to advocate for more films starring fat people that had nothing to do with fatness."

In this story, the only time their 'fatness' is actually relevant is when they are asked to lose weight for the show and she refuses. Other than that, it is a non-issue. Or it would be if it wasn't constantly referred to.

What can I say. It bugged me.