To preface, I am a fat person.
If you like fluff without much substance, I think you’ll like this book.
I had high expectations for this book. I was excited for the premise. I was excited to read a story about a young girl who doesn’t fit into society’s standards of beauty, who was traumatized by public exposure and shaming while she was at her lowest, and finding love and self-acceptance regardless. But that girl doesn’t exist.
Our main character Libby’s positivity is so forced. Right from the get-go she is self-assured. Sometimes she brings up how bad her past was. Sometimes she reacts poorly in scenarios where any average person would be embarrassed or uncomfortable. There is hardly any of the “fat experience” in this book. Six hours in and not a single relatable moment from the main character. Her fatness isn’t part of her character at all, and that’s not a positive thing. Fat people’s fatness is a part of who they are. A character like Libby should struggle and overcome in this book. Her characterization is a flat line.
Our other main, Jack, of course falls for Libby. (Conceptually it’s already a little icky that the only person who seems to be attracted to Libby is one that can’t recognize faces. Seems a little backwards for a book that is supposed to be empowering.) But there’s no build up. There’s no insight into how he feels about her body. Is he attracted to her? Is he disgusted by her physically at first but learns that this part of her isn’t important? Who knows? He just goes from someone who is aware of her, then suddenly finds himself wanting to kiss her. That’s it.
I tried to be very patient with this book but I opted for a refund after trudging through most of it. This is not an empowering love story. This is fake fat-positivity at its finest.