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valdez's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
daniellearider's review against another edition
3.0
This book had so much to offer: two sympathetic and likeable main character, and a fascinating premise. Who amongst us hasn’t agonized over the weight on the scale? But, to what extremes would you go to make the number change? This book explores that, in the context of a documentary cum reality show.
But, there was also so much to dislike about this book. First, the author takes on too many things and therefore does none of them well. Second, the pacing of the story was at times jerky and confusing. And third, while there is some resolution, there’s also a lot that’s left unresolved.
But, there was also so much to dislike about this book. First, the author takes on too many things and therefore does none of them well. Second, the pacing of the story was at times jerky and confusing. And third, while there is some resolution, there’s also a lot that’s left unresolved.
kaleenazagrzebski's review against another edition
3.0
Waisted follows two women, Alice and Daphne, who have an obsession with their weight, and have struggled with eating disorders and obesity most of their lives. The women meet at Waisted, a program that promises weight loss to it's participants; however, when they get there, the experience is far from an enlightening weight loss journey.
There is a strong underlying message about weight loss in this book, and how not to let it ruin your life. Although, I thought it was hidden under an interesting plot, maybe a bit overdone. Both of the main characters in this book come from plenty of money, which is mentioned multiple times. Many women who struggle with their weight loss, do so because fast and unhealthy food is more affordable and convenient than healthy food.
There is a strong underlying message about weight loss in this book, and how not to let it ruin your life. Although, I thought it was hidden under an interesting plot, maybe a bit overdone. Both of the main characters in this book come from plenty of money, which is mentioned multiple times. Many women who struggle with their weight loss, do so because fast and unhealthy food is more affordable and convenient than healthy food.
bookslifeandeverythingnice's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Randy Susan Meyers for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
Like:
- The chapters about adults living at fat camp - almost like the book version of The Biggest Loser (tv show). Gives good insight into their thought processes about their bodies, mental state and personalities
- The overall concept for the book
- The social commentary and discussion about body image, weight, and discrimination
- The camaraderie between the women
Love: —
Dislike:
- The first 75 pages or so weren’t what I expected based on the summary (lots of backstory but it didn’t really help me get to know the characters well)
- Story became weird/also boring again after they left fat camp. Also some of it then didn’t make sense in the storyline.
- Didn’t capture my attention or interest me like I hoped it would
- Very underwhelming storylines and characters
Wish that:
- I related to the main characters more. There were several with different personalities and life stories, but I didn’t really connect (or care) about any of them. Sounds harsh, but true.
Overall, a good, unique concept for a book, but unfortunately a let down based on the summary and my expectations. It’s not terrible so I won’t recommend against reading it, but I’m also not going to be telling everyone to read it either. To note: I’m a young adult, white woman, and average/thin body frame, so that may have biased my opinions in some way.
Like:
- The chapters about adults living at fat camp - almost like the book version of The Biggest Loser (tv show). Gives good insight into their thought processes about their bodies, mental state and personalities
- The overall concept for the book
- The social commentary and discussion about body image, weight, and discrimination
- The camaraderie between the women
Love: —
Dislike:
- The first 75 pages or so weren’t what I expected based on the summary (lots of backstory but it didn’t really help me get to know the characters well)
- Story became weird/also boring again after they left fat camp. Also some of it then didn’t make sense in the storyline.
- Didn’t capture my attention or interest me like I hoped it would
- Very underwhelming storylines and characters
Wish that:
- I related to the main characters more. There were several with different personalities and life stories, but I didn’t really connect (or care) about any of them. Sounds harsh, but true.
Overall, a good, unique concept for a book, but unfortunately a let down based on the summary and my expectations. It’s not terrible so I won’t recommend against reading it, but I’m also not going to be telling everyone to read it either. To note: I’m a young adult, white woman, and average/thin body frame, so that may have biased my opinions in some way.
minseigle's review against another edition
3.0
(Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.)
I wish I had better things to say about this book. The premise was interesting to me, but I just don't think it was fully developed. More could have heppened to the characters, especially after they left the mansion. I wanted to know more about that! Just ok.
I wish I had better things to say about this book. The premise was interesting to me, but I just don't think it was fully developed. More could have heppened to the characters, especially after they left the mansion. I wanted to know more about that! Just ok.
justjoel's review against another edition
2.0
I received my copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway which has no impact on my review.
After reading the author's note at the end, I have a slightly more difficult time pointing out the book's flaws, but I'll do so in the interest of giving an honest review.
This book begins with 7 women of various cultural and monetary backgrounds going to a retreat of sorts that is supposed to help them learn to lose weight and keep it off. However, what they think they signed up for isn't the reality that awaits them.
The novel is told from the perspectives of 2 of the 7 women. One is a white woman, the other biracial. The women face humiliation, degradation, and multiple forms of abuse before coming up with a plan to get out of the situation.
I was disappointed in the way the women were initially presented. My parents were obese, and I have had many friends who have been or are overweight as well. What I know is that there is often more to gaining and retaining weight than simply eating. Sometimes it is genetic, sometimes it is emotional, sometimes it is glandular. But the way this group of women was initially presented, none of the other options were even hinted at. It wasn't until much later in the book that any of those possibilities were even mentioned, and I think that was a missed opportunity.
After the beginning where it seemed time was compressed and we were with the women on most days, the erratic time jumps from the middle to end were irritating. The pacing of the entire story seemed wrong. It felt like the author realized that there was a lot of ground to cover in why women would feel pressured to be thin, and instead of devoting time to each of them, she hurriedly skimmed the surface of a couple of issues and called it a day.
I wish I had liked this better. There was so much potential here. Of the main protagonists, Alice will stick with me for a while, but I'll forget Daphne's name before I'm halfway through my next book.
2 out of 5 stars.
After reading the author's note at the end, I have a slightly more difficult time pointing out the book's flaws, but I'll do so in the interest of giving an honest review.
This book begins with 7 women of various cultural and monetary backgrounds going to a retreat of sorts that is supposed to help them learn to lose weight and keep it off. However, what they think they signed up for isn't the reality that awaits them.
The novel is told from the perspectives of 2 of the 7 women. One is a white woman, the other biracial. The women face humiliation, degradation, and multiple forms of abuse before coming up with a plan to get out of the situation.
I was disappointed in the way the women were initially presented. My parents were obese, and I have had many friends who have been or are overweight as well. What I know is that there is often more to gaining and retaining weight than simply eating. Sometimes it is genetic, sometimes it is emotional, sometimes it is glandular. But the way this group of women was initially presented, none of the other options were even hinted at. It wasn't until much later in the book that any of those possibilities were even mentioned, and I think that was a missed opportunity.
After the beginning where it seemed time was compressed and we were with the women on most days, the erratic time jumps from the middle to end were irritating. The pacing of the entire story seemed wrong. It felt like the author realized that there was a lot of ground to cover in why women would feel pressured to be thin, and instead of devoting time to each of them, she hurriedly skimmed the surface of a couple of issues and called it a day.
I wish I had liked this better. There was so much potential here. Of the main protagonists, Alice will stick with me for a while, but I'll forget Daphne's name before I'm halfway through my next book.
2 out of 5 stars.
brooke_review's review against another edition
2.0
When I read the summary for Randy Susan Meyers' new book Waisted, I imagined a sharp and witty satire about the struggles women go through to project a perfect image of themselves, which most often enough boils down to how they feel about their bodies. The addition of the "fat camp-reality show" hybrid was the sprinkles on my sundae - I was looking forward to relating to and laughing along with these women in their ambitious attempts to achieve a body that is "acceptable" to society. I soon learned, however, that Waisted is not the book I was expecting to read. Not even close.
The biggest issue I had with Waisted is that what drew me in - the weight loss reality show - is hardly a focus of the novel at all. It doesn't show up in any significant way until you are well into the novel and have already learned everything you could possibly ever want to know (and everything that you DIDN'T) about these characters' husbands, kids, and parents. This book is definitely more about what it means to be a "less than perfect" wife/mother/daughter than it is about a controversial weight loss documentary, and it is really unfortunate because these characters are just not interesting enough for readers to want to spend chapter after chapter after chapter reading their dull backstories.
Race also plays way too big a part in a novel that describes itself as being "provocative, wildly entertaining, and compelling." There is nothing "wildly entertaining" about having a character's race issues thrown in your face every couple of pages, especially when many of her points were not even valid. Waisted takes itself way too seriously and is in stark contrast to the way it was marketed - there is a definite disconnect between the novel we got and the novel we thought we were getting.
On the other hand, I didn't entirely dislike the book. Would I have picked it up had I known that the fat camp played such a small role in the book? No. But despite the misleading synopsis, I wasn't completely disengaged from the storyline - I just would have rather have had more realistic expectations going into it, especially since I chose to read it because I was in the mood for a funny book. I can state emphatically that a funny book is not what I got. Unless mommy issues, dismissive husbands, self-hate, & caustic race relations are your thing, you may choose to pass on this one.
Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The biggest issue I had with Waisted is that what drew me in - the weight loss reality show - is hardly a focus of the novel at all. It doesn't show up in any significant way until you are well into the novel and have already learned everything you could possibly ever want to know (and everything that you DIDN'T) about these characters' husbands, kids, and parents. This book is definitely more about what it means to be a "less than perfect" wife/mother/daughter than it is about a controversial weight loss documentary, and it is really unfortunate because these characters are just not interesting enough for readers to want to spend chapter after chapter after chapter reading their dull backstories.
Race also plays way too big a part in a novel that describes itself as being "provocative, wildly entertaining, and compelling." There is nothing "wildly entertaining" about having a character's race issues thrown in your face every couple of pages, especially when many of her points were not even valid. Waisted takes itself way too seriously and is in stark contrast to the way it was marketed - there is a definite disconnect between the novel we got and the novel we thought we were getting.
On the other hand, I didn't entirely dislike the book. Would I have picked it up had I known that the fat camp played such a small role in the book? No. But despite the misleading synopsis, I wasn't completely disengaged from the storyline - I just would have rather have had more realistic expectations going into it, especially since I chose to read it because I was in the mood for a funny book. I can state emphatically that a funny book is not what I got. Unless mommy issues, dismissive husbands, self-hate, & caustic race relations are your thing, you may choose to pass on this one.
Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
bookapotamus's review against another edition
4.0
Raise your hand if you've made a New Year's Resolution to lose weight. To eat better. To exercise more? If you've cried in a dressing room trying on a bathing suit, or while attempting to squeeze into those favorite jeans from high school. If you've ordered the salad, but really wanted the burger, or have looked at another woman and wished you looked like them or had their confidence...
Are there any women who are NOT raising their hand right now? I'm fairly confident there are few.
Waisted is truly a heartbreaking, eye opening and extremely relatable story, Whether you want to lose 5 or 50 pounds, or just want to feel better about yourself and how you look - we've all been there. And for Alice and Daphne - both accomplished and amazing women - they are both held back by their weight and those dreaded numbers on the scale. They decide to enroll in a reality show slash documentary - similar to a Biggest Loser type show - but soon find themselves in a cruel and humiliating experiment - where they need to decide: How far is too far?
I cried with these women. I laughed with them. I rooted them all throughout the whole journey. It's a tough world out there for women and I wish everyone would read this book. Those extra pounds are the most visible burden of some women - but what is invisible in what goes on inside - the hurt and anger, the obsession over the numbers and the counting, the fear, desperation and instability... I wanted to reach in the story and wrap up Alice and Daphne and the other contestants in a huge hug and let them know they are more than just a number. A brilliant story.
Are there any women who are NOT raising their hand right now? I'm fairly confident there are few.
Waisted is truly a heartbreaking, eye opening and extremely relatable story, Whether you want to lose 5 or 50 pounds, or just want to feel better about yourself and how you look - we've all been there. And for Alice and Daphne - both accomplished and amazing women - they are both held back by their weight and those dreaded numbers on the scale. They decide to enroll in a reality show slash documentary - similar to a Biggest Loser type show - but soon find themselves in a cruel and humiliating experiment - where they need to decide: How far is too far?
I cried with these women. I laughed with them. I rooted them all throughout the whole journey. It's a tough world out there for women and I wish everyone would read this book. Those extra pounds are the most visible burden of some women - but what is invisible in what goes on inside - the hurt and anger, the obsession over the numbers and the counting, the fear, desperation and instability... I wanted to reach in the story and wrap up Alice and Daphne and the other contestants in a huge hug and let them know they are more than just a number. A brilliant story.
illidia316's review against another edition
4.0
Having struggled with extreme weight problems for my entire life, I was excited to read this book. This is a very real, honest look about society and weight problems. Parts of it are very hard to read, but at the same time, are very relatable. This is a good book with a great message that everyone should read.
angstyp's review against another edition
2.0
TW: book contains a lot of weight/diet talk, ED behaviors, a lot of self hatred
Really had me in the first part and during the camp. Lost me about halfway through. I wish this book had followed all the women in the camp and gone into all the back stories.
V disappointed, though it was a quick and engaging read.
Really had me in the first part and during the camp. Lost me about halfway through. I wish this book had followed all the women in the camp and gone into all the back stories.
V disappointed, though it was a quick and engaging read.