This had so much potential. Unfortunately it was riddled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

I could not stand the main character, insome ways she was more the villain. Coming from someone who is plus size themselves? This was hard to admit.

I enjoyed the sibling relationship though, that was heartwarming.

So much potential, but fell flat.

While it took some time to get into, after the first few chapters I flew through this book! I liked the representation of autism and ADHD and whilst it was a little cliché at times, I actually found this to be a really lovely read!

Well, I give this one a go... But it really wasn't my cup of tee.
I just don't have a good this yo say about this one. Just okay for me. 2 stars read...

“In that moment, dirty and paint-stained, on my hands and knees on the side of the road in the middle of the night, I felt more connected to something greater than myself than I had ever felt before. I felt imbued with a kind of purpose that I didn’t even know I had. Even if I didn’t quite understand what that purpose was exactly, I could feel that what I was doing was important and that it meant something.”

Lori’s world has exploded in the last few years. Her dad left to be with a younger woman, her mum seems to have quit the position of ‘mum’ to be a Botox filled real estate agent instead and they’ve moved across the country, leaving behind Lori’s art school and friends, so her brother can finally get the support he deserves. Now Lori’s at a new school where art feels like a foreign language, sports are mandatory, and her weight seems like a plus-size sign over her head that says ‘different'. But then there’s Jake and he doesn’t seem to subscribe to the same smoothie magazines as everyone else, but a guy like that can’t like a girl like her- right?

The hot guy-new girl cliché may be a bit overdone, but Lori was a relatable plus-size character, her insecurities and worries that hit deep and really showed a depth of character. Especially entwined with the various responsibilities she carried, such as looking after her brother and buying the groceries whilst trying to get into art school, Lori is more than her weight and so are her struggles and worries. Yet, it is still a commanding presence in her life, one that isn’t solvable and passionately approached.

More than just the inclusion of a plus-sized main character, Watson normalises using different pronouns, sexualities and learning difficulties, as well as the importance of looking after your mental health. Lori’s brother is on the autism spectrum and Watson really explores their relationship and how their love is expressed which is so sweet and real that I loved reading it.

One of the very few things that niggled at me though was the ‘gay best friends’ they felt more like stereotypes and really undeveloped compared to the majority of other characters. Being out of the picture most of the book, Lori only seemed to interact with them for some encouragement or a plot tool to reveal or discuss Lori’s relationship. It also seemed a little unlikely that for all Lori’s comments on the previous school she attended and the acceptance and respect she had, she only made two friends. Although I’m not trying to judge this, it just seemed to really emphasise the underdeveloped ‘gay best friends’. Additionally, there were one of two other stereotypes like the head mean girl, ‘Amber’ but there was an acknowledged effort to break them down using other characters with layered personalities within that ‘mean girl group’.

This was only a small part of an easy to read and wonderfully touching book. I also loved the South African setting (I definitely want to read more from this area of the world) and also read more from Jo Watson, she is obviously an incredibly talented writer and I wish I had this book when I was younger. The fat girl getting the guy cannot be understated in its importance and I hope to see more books like this on the shelves.

Read an e-arc for this
Well.
Stories about big girls are hard to find, among the ones we find there are some that are hard to read, some are too easy to read because they don’t touch on the hard topics and some use a hot guy to solve everything (nothing bad in that sometimes we just want to read about someone finding love and that’s it). There are books out there that make you believe In yourself just a little harder and this is one of them. I love stories about big girls who do not just end up finding validation by getting a hot guy to tell them
They’re attractive and love them, no the ones that the girl finds love for herself and independence and confidence! The ones that learn to recognise the crutch they’ve used to stay superficially happy and throw away and find true relief and happiness yes!
Slight spoiler! The ending was sad but in a bitter sweet way. She didn’t hate herself having to leave, she recognised that she needed to.
I’ll try to avoid the hard spoilers but more people should read this.

I struggled with the main character so didn’t get to finish it as I just didn’t want to spend anymore time with her unfortunately

I enjoyed following Lori on her journey to self-acceptance and healing in this book set in South Africa. Lori moved from the cold, hard city to the warm and free beach side, where she transformed her inner thoughts and pushed her boundaries as she settles into her new school. There are lessons to be learnt for all of us here. We are hard on ourselves and our own biggest bully. We also forget that others can be going through something tough without letting it be known – appearances can be deceptive. This is an easy read even though there are a lot of serious issues dealt with in this book. I hope to read more from Jo Watson in the future.

One of the things that surprised me about this book was how much I saw myself in Lori. And in a way it was comforting to see Lori's insecurities talked about because it made me feel less alone. I know a lot of people who read this book will probably feel the same, but it was nice to read a book for once and not compare myself to the main character in a negative way.
I really enjoyed the romance in this too. It felt so natural and real and never once did I feel like the author was forcing it. The same can be said about the friendships and family relationships. Having neurodiverse characters in the book and seeing how the characters dealt with and navigated day to day life with them made the main MC's feel more rounded and personally it set the book apart from similar books in the YA genre.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy so much was the overuse of the '!' and there were a ton of errors, spelling mistakes etc that brought me out of the story.

I really loved this book. It's an engaging story with a complex main character, and deals with some hot topics in a thoughtful and relatable way.

What I particularly liked about Lori was that she was resolutely her own person. Although she doesn't always realise this, her battle to overcome her inner bully wasn't to try and compromise her own agency, identity and appearance. Instead she learns to value her differences, celebrate her successes and understand her own agency and the impact she has on others around her. (She does have a good support network, and does come from a good socio-economic background which clearly helps).
There were some side stories that looked at mental health, grief, family structure as well as wider social issues around who and what is considered important and what this means. There is also Lori's younger brother Zac, who is autistic. The relationship Lori has with him and the challenges that his autism present for the whole family was interesting to read about and added an extra depth to the book.

It's a great read, and wraps up with a wonderful happy ending that left a big smile on my face.

I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

TW: Fatphobia, body-shaming, eating disorders

Plus-sized Lori hates her body. She can’t look in the mirror and, frankly, she doesn’t want to. She knows what will be staring back at her. Moving to a new school where students care about beach bodies and thigh-gaps above all, is her worst nightmare. Hoping to survive senior year unnoticed doesn’t last long when she notices the hot guy - Jake - at her little brother’s school, who turns out, likes spending time with them both. Surely, they can’t have anything in common, can they?

—

For the first part of this book, I absolutely hated it. Lori is like me. She’s plus-sized like me. She has the same eating disorder as me. Based on the idea that I’m the target audience for this book, the first part felt like it was telling me everything I hate about myself, or if I don’t, what I should. Flabby arms when you wave hello or goodbye, walking on the beach in the sand - things fat people can’t do, apparently.

Obviously, I know this is about a MC who does hate herself at this stage so I understand why the author needed to point this out. But the manner in which it was done, it felt as though it was an attempt to overload the reader into all the ways you should hate yourself in a bullet point format, rather than integrating it into the story.

So how did I end up rating this four stars?

Because, despite all of that, this book is real. There are so many different subjects touched on (perhaps too many for such a short story) - but the hero of this storyline is Lori’s little brother and his autism. The way this was written really brought this book to life. It wasn’t just a connecting factor to bring the two love interests together, it discussed the in’s and out’s of living with someone with autism and the lack thereof of help and guidance for the family members - how true this is to real life, I’m not sure, but I’d love to hear more from people who are living through this and their perspective on it.

I adored the therapy scenes that Lori has - and all the plant references - but one of the most magical moments in this book is Lori finding her voice through her art. Finding a purpose. Everyone at that age asks themselves the same question - what am I doing here? Where am I going? And it was no different for Lori. That self-discovery of who she is and what she wants to do, was wonderful to read. I would’ve liked more development towards the end of the book, rather than the direction that it took, but it still worked really well.

As for the love story, I usually tell myself that these “not like other girls” falling in love with the hot, playboy of senior year is ridiculous but with Jake and Lori, I couldn’t help but fall in love with their love. It was beautifully written and I was gripped. However, there was a hint of “hot guy eradicates all of the fat girl’s insecurities”. I would’ve liked to have seen a flash of insecurity for a moment or two before she reminded herself everything she’s overcome herself.

This is the first type of book that I’ve read so I can’t really recommend anything similar but if you love books about self-discovery and want to cry and laugh at the same time - this is the book for you.

Yeah, I’m sorry, but this was not it. I think society has moved far behind needing these negative stereotypes in a fictional book. You don’t need to have an loving myself arc when it centres around someone else loving them first. Would not recommend.

My initial reaction to this novel was disappointment. I'm kind of tired of seeing 'body positive' descriptors on books where the opening pages slate the physical appearance of the main character (especially from the main character's perspective). When you add the fact their arc includes 'learning to love themselves, once an attractive person does the same,' it worries me that this is a moral we're sharing with impressionable readers. You don't have to start your journey hating yourself. And it means that, as a reader expecting body positivity, the fatphobic comments are twice as jarring.

I was also nervous around the descriptors of neurodivergent characters prior to finding out it's Own Voices. Whilst I appreciate that Watson may have personal experiences similar to Lori's narrative, it just isn't the one for me. I found it very difficult to read.

I’d describe this as a modern-day fairytale for teens. It contains some clear messages about body acceptance and self-belief packaged in a teen romance. I liked the narrative voice and the protagonist’s relationship with her little brother was beautiful. I did feel that the protagonist’s extreme artistic talent was a tad unrealistic, however, and the ending was all a little too good to be true, but that’s part of what gives the book such a modern fairy-tale vibe. It’s light and escapist, with some really positive messages and I’m all for that!

This book is so awful I can't even begin to describe it. I only read 20 percent and already it falls into the not like other girls only friends with guys the girls at my new school are really mean stereotypes. Also it has those fat girl only learns to love herself because a hot guy likes her vibes and I am.not here for it.

This was a great story.

It made me think back to the bad old days of school and bullying even if it was supposed to be friendly / funny.

A wonderful story with great characters showing there is always light at the end of the dark tunnel.

This YA book deals positively with themes of self image, school bullying, neurodiversity and being a young carer. Although at times the storyline & writing is a little too heavy-handed it mostly works. I imagine this would appeal to mid/late teens.

Sometimes you just need to read something light and entertaining and this delightfully sparkling book just hit the spot this weekend
Whilst I suppose this book might best be in the young adult section ,I was drawn to it by the title alone being one of life’s big boned women but immediately caught my eye
The book is exactly what i would recommend to young people for its strong body positivity message .The fat girl gets the school hunk and her intellectual and artistic abilities shine through
I loved the descriptions of the autistic younger brother it was accurate and positive ,yes he had difficulties with life but his potential as an innovator shone through as did his character and humanity .It is great to have positive images of autistic individuals and those with learning difficulties in literature .
The writing is witty and the book moves with speed and lightness through the story holding my attention fully .
There’s a bit of sex nicely done and responsible I’d think parents would find this acceptable for their early teenagers
The setting was exotic for a uk reader but the similarities with life here were enough for me to recognise my own school life
I felt the book would make a great movie and I’m sure the rights will sell quickly
Not my usual read but very enjoyable

This was a really heartwarming and emotional journey following Lori's life as she moved to an new city with new people and had to learn to accept herself.

I thought the characters were likeable and relatable and the story was exciting. Watsons writing is easy to read and I loved the rep in the book and I found the whole experience really enjoyable.

"My body has lines and dents and wobbly bits and bits that bulge but its mine. I own it."

I read this book in one day. I just couldn't put it down.

Its a YA romance but I'm in my 30s and took so much away from this book. So much care and love clearly went into portraying the autistic brother made me so happy and the relationship that builds throughout the book between our protagonist and her body just made me want to give myself a big hug.

You'll probably guess where the story is going but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. I've had a great day. 5/5.

⭑⭑⭑ 3 stars

themes of:
- romance
- neurodiversity
- self acceptance
- bullying
- artistic movements

"This is one of the hardest parts of having a brother like Zac, few get to see the boys that I see. They only see the 'bad' and make their assumptions based on that. I'm the one always trying to convince them of his other side, the side that isn't abrupt and doesn't scream in public if he has a sensory meltdown. The world is cheated out of this other version of my brother, and maybe that's one of the saddest things."


Goodreads synopsis:
Lori Palmer is the new girl at Bay Water High, where students prize glossy hair, beach bodies, and school spirit above all else. She misses her old school―where her talent as an artist carried more weight than she does―and longs for her old family life, before her parents got divorced and her mom reinvented herself.

So Lori decides that the only way to survive the rest of the year is to blend into the background, but her plans go awry when she discovers that the most popular (and hottest) guy at Bay Water High, Jake, is a volunteer at her brother’s school. When her brother befriends Jake’s sister, Lori is suddenly thrust into his unfamiliar and exhilarating world of water polo, parties, and stargazing.

But with her relationship with her mother deteriorating, old anxieties resurface and Lori finds a new artistic release that unknowingly ignites a powerful movement. When the authorities start asking questions, Lori realizes that finding her voice might have gotten her into a world of trouble…but sometimes standing up for what you believe in is as important as standing up for yourself.

Plot
I enjoyed the plot, it wasn't a twisty-turny sort of novel, but it was a nice unfolding of a teenage struggling with their place in life. The (illegal) art movements sounded incredible and reduced me to tears many times.

Characters & Dynamics
I actually didn't like Lori at first, I felt she was so negative and harsh in her monologue about others. She lived a life in fear of ridicule and yet did nothing but ridicule her new classmates in her own thoughts, so it did take me a while to warm to her. I realise now that this was part of Lori's character arc development as she had been traumatically bullied in the past and needed to learn to be surprised by the goodness in people.

I wasn't a massive fan of the romance between Lori and Jake. But I also think it's because I'm too old for the teenage swooning to be anything other than cringed by it. Lori's gushing about Jake felt repetitive and it simply wasn't my favourite part of the story.

In fact, my favourite part of the story was the dynamics between Lori and Zac. It was raw, refreshing and insightful to hear about their relationship between neurotypical Lori and neurodiverse Zac. I enjoyed the author pushing the theme that more should be done to support neurodiversity in society which I am wholly in agreement with. Lori's care and frustration towards her brother and how best to manoeuvre life with him felt entirely believable, I was extremely invested in their relationship. And I also enjoyed that Lori and Jake bonded over having neurodiverse siblings, it felt a more profound route to build the blocks of friendship.

I enjoyed Lori's blossoming friendship with Thembi and hearing Thembi's own coming-of-age struggles. But my favourite character was Dr Vicky Strider, Lori's therapist. The metaphors of the succulents and the gentle encouragement of self acceptance were a running theme that felt dictated by this character. She was quirky yet effective and I appreciated everything she said. I sincerely enjoyed Lori's appointments with her.

Likes
- The therapist
- Lori and Zac's relationship
- The plot

Dislikes
- The romance
- The resentfulness of Lori's inner monologue towards other people that she had no right to judge

Final Thoughts
Overall, this was a compelling young adult novel full of sunshiney warmth. It was realistic and well written. The dynamics and character development were particularly flourishing and enjoyable.