A review by eicart_reads
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Wonderful book. Don't read the back cover copy first (it spoils something that happens at the 85% mark!)

Charlie Vega is a fat, Brown girl trying to shine in a world that does its best to make her feel less than. Sixteen, soon to be seventeen -- life is hard in so many ways. (I'm so glad I'm not a teenager!) 

This book was difficult at times, watching Charlie deal with fatphobia and fat shaming, especially from her mom. Diet culture is so pervasive that even a mom who used to be fat still pushes that slim "ideal" on her daughter. 

But this story is also filled with joy, growth, an amazing best friendship, and hope. I loved reading about Charlie's journey! 

I wish I could have read this book when I was a fat teenager who had a complex, often difficult, relationship with my mother. I'm glad I read it now as an adult, and I'm happy it's out there for teens who will read it and feel seen and validated. 

CW for
fat shaming, fatphobia, diet culture, toxic/gaslighting dynamic with mother, past death of father.


I read half on audio, half in print. The audiobook narrator was good but didn't really use different voices for the different characters. I switched to print so I could finish more quickly for my book club deadline!
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