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redroszetta's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
casspro's review against another edition
3.0
This book got me through a lot of my overweight and angsty high school days. I definitely felt like I found a friend in the protagonist.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
Virginia had such a strong voice; it was impossible to put her story down. I really enjoyed her growth, and her family's slow transformation. As a parent, though, it was SO HARD to read about the adolescent psychologist mother making such terrible parenting decisions. I don't see how she couldn't see what she was doing to her daughter; I was taking adolescent psychology not too long before this book came out, and it was so blatant.
bug_lightyear's review against another edition
Read 30% in 7h at 65% speed
I stopped after Virginia went to a doctor that sounded nice, listened to her, and said as long as she's healthy her weight isn't an issue, then when she half heartedly agreed to let her mother speak to him about her weight, the doctor goes on to unleash all the fatphobic stuff possible and tell her her weight is bad etc. And then she starts starving herself because her being thin is the only thing she wants after that.
The I read from summaries that the book deals with sexual assault later on and I don't want to read about that.
Also the book description says it's a new edition with foreword but that isn't present in the audiobook, it goes on straight to the story.
I stopped after Virginia went to a doctor that sounded nice, listened to her, and said as long as she's healthy her weight isn't an issue, then when she half heartedly agreed to let her mother speak to him about her weight, the doctor goes on to unleash all the fatphobic stuff possible and tell her her weight is bad etc. And then she starts starving herself because her being thin is the only thing she wants after that.
The I read from summaries that the book deals with sexual assault later on and I don't want to read about that.
Also the book description says it's a new edition with foreword but that isn't present in the audiobook, it goes on straight to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
vegprincess's review against another edition
4.0
This was book dealt with a couple of serious issues but ultimately it was cute and even funny at times. The ending was nice.
stephxsu's review against another edition
5.0
Virginia Shreves is certain that she was accidentally switched at birth. That’s the only way she can account for the differences between her and her parents and two older siblings. She’s sure that somewhere in the Tri-State area there’s an obese, blond-haired, pop-culture-loving family wondering why they have a slim, brown-haired, and culturally enlightened daughter. Because that’s what Virginia knows she is. Fat.
Being fat is a huge handicap for Virginia. She can’t make her weekly make-out trysts with Froggy Welsh the Fourth into a serious relationship. She is fearful of imposing herself upon unfriendly classmates, and so she’s all alone this year, her best friend Shannon having gone to Walla Walla for the year.
Then Virginia gets some news that shatters all of her beliefs. Her brother, Byron, whom she used to worship, was accused of date rape, and her family struggles to pretend everything is normal. But Virginia has had enough. She is tired of her parents making light of Byron’s criminal offense when they rag on her to lose weight all the time. It’s time for Virginia to begin to love herself.
It’s hard to summarize up this extremely good story in a few short sentences. Virginia’s tale is a hearty cry for self-acceptance. Thoroughly believable and utterly uplifting, don’t miss this great book.
Being fat is a huge handicap for Virginia. She can’t make her weekly make-out trysts with Froggy Welsh the Fourth into a serious relationship. She is fearful of imposing herself upon unfriendly classmates, and so she’s all alone this year, her best friend Shannon having gone to Walla Walla for the year.
Then Virginia gets some news that shatters all of her beliefs. Her brother, Byron, whom she used to worship, was accused of date rape, and her family struggles to pretend everything is normal. But Virginia has had enough. She is tired of her parents making light of Byron’s criminal offense when they rag on her to lose weight all the time. It’s time for Virginia to begin to love herself.
It’s hard to summarize up this extremely good story in a few short sentences. Virginia’s tale is a hearty cry for self-acceptance. Thoroughly believable and utterly uplifting, don’t miss this great book.
sariberri11's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.75
4saradouglas's review against another edition
5.0
Virginia is an overweight girl whose family members are all gorgeous, thin, and perfect. Her mother is constantly pressuring her to diet and her father is always commenting on how he likes his women thin. Virginia can’t help but hate her body and always follows her “Fat Girl Code of Conduct” when it comes to boys. When her brother is accused of date raping a girl, Virginia’s world becomes even harder to deal with.
This is a truly fantastic book that everyone should read if they’ve ever had issues with their bodies. And who hasn’t? Virginia is a fun character to get to know and she is very easy to relate to. The book deals with larger issues than just body image and handles them all very well. Overall this book is very insightful and inspiring and could help teens deal with a lot of issues that are common in their world.
This is a truly fantastic book that everyone should read if they’ve ever had issues with their bodies. And who hasn’t? Virginia is a fun character to get to know and she is very easy to relate to. The book deals with larger issues than just body image and handles them all very well. Overall this book is very insightful and inspiring and could help teens deal with a lot of issues that are common in their world.
rachcannoli's review against another edition
4.0
This book really grew on me. At first it's a bit whiny and her family are truly unconscionable, but then again the main character is supposed to be 15 so I suppose that makes sense. My rating would really be more of a 3.5, but I relate so hard to Virginia that the book hit me hard in a lot of places it won't with everyone. I can unfortunately say, with experience, that this book is pretty accurate to what it's like being overweight, especially when young and no one else really looks the way you do. The important people, like Shannon, won't even blink twice. They see you for who you are and while they're not blind to your size, they don't care because it's not important, just another fact about one of their fav people. Boys don't really care, they either like you or they don't, as shown in this and I absolutely adore Froggy and am so happy Virginia has some positive energy in her life.
My problem with this book is it tries to do WAY too much without really giving it time. I think it handles the big issues with the main character really well: parents not understanding and being overbearing about her weight when they mean well but just come off as assholes, having to deal with changes like friends not being there or siblings moving on so you lose that support system, and figuring out who you are as a person not just who others perceive you. But the big issue they don't really tackle well is her brother and what he did. I like his actions affecting Virginia and the concept of someone you think so highly of not being who you thought, but we never really see any moments of Byron being a good brother (at least in Virginia's eyes) to her or even doing anything great. He's kind of the worst from the beginning so it's not surprising to me when the scandal erupts. I also feel like they don't give him enough consequences and don't really cover it well. I know the story is about Virginia so it mainly matters how it affects her, but I still think they could have fleshed it out a lot more.
I also wish there was a bit more of Virginia finding herself and more happy moments at the end. It does leave off in a really positive light and I have hope for a bright future for Virginia, especially college where she's bound to find her niche even more and truly blossom. But so much is dedicated to Virginia feeling less than, I would have loved a bit more scenes of how she's going to be all right and has found herself while realizing not to care so much about what other people, especially her parents, think of her.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was a bit paint by numbers fat girl YA novel, but had some interesting bits and too real moments that kept me engaged. I recommend to anyone, but specifically for any girl who's struggling at a younger age about their size or how they look, it's important to know you're not alone and that things will get better, just have to learn a bit of self love, the hardest but most rewarding thing of all.
My problem with this book is it tries to do WAY too much without really giving it time. I think it handles the big issues with the main character really well: parents not understanding and being overbearing about her weight when they mean well but just come off as assholes, having to deal with changes like friends not being there or siblings moving on so you lose that support system, and figuring out who you are as a person not just who others perceive you. But the big issue they don't really tackle well is her brother and what he did. I like his actions affecting Virginia and the concept of someone you think so highly of not being who you thought, but we never really see any moments of Byron being a good brother (at least in Virginia's eyes) to her or even doing anything great. He's kind of the worst from the beginning so it's not surprising to me when the scandal erupts. I also feel like they don't give him enough consequences and don't really cover it well. I know the story is about Virginia so it mainly matters how it affects her, but I still think they could have fleshed it out a lot more.
I also wish there was a bit more of Virginia finding herself and more happy moments at the end. It does leave off in a really positive light and I have hope for a bright future for Virginia, especially college where she's bound to find her niche even more and truly blossom. But so much is dedicated to Virginia feeling less than, I would have loved a bit more scenes of how she's going to be all right and has found herself while realizing not to care so much about what other people, especially her parents, think of her.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was a bit paint by numbers fat girl YA novel, but had some interesting bits and too real moments that kept me engaged. I recommend to anyone, but specifically for any girl who's struggling at a younger age about their size or how they look, it's important to know you're not alone and that things will get better, just have to learn a bit of self love, the hardest but most rewarding thing of all.