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bethanyread's review against another edition
5.0
I love Heather Wardell books. This book is about a woman who works in the fashion industry in New York (new locale for Heather) in an admin job. When her sister is hurt in a random attack, Valerie, who is estranged from her whole family, finds her life shifting as she tries to control her weight going from a size 6 to a size zero with a fad diet -- hoping this control will somehow help save her sister's life. Along the way, Heather develops the story and the characters so that you understand how the family got to this point and why Valerie is so controlled. Heather's books don't really have a happy ending -- more of the start toward a resolution. I did receive an advance reader copy of this book, but have also purchased a copy myself. Definitely recommend this book as well as any other Heather Wardell.
anedia's review
5.0
Heather Wardell is one of my favorite authors of all time and this book is another winner.
I read a lot of fantasy / sci fi / dystopia / etc. etc. but Heather's books are just so real. They take place in the real world and could easily be true stories - that is what I absolutely love.
I highly recommend this book!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I read a lot of fantasy / sci fi / dystopia / etc. etc. but Heather's books are just so real. They take place in the real world and could easily be true stories - that is what I absolutely love.
I highly recommend this book!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
walkman2020's review against another edition
Who is really in control?
Is the constant theme which flows through Heather Wardell’s latest Holding out for a Zero.
Please note I received an Advanced Reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows the main character, Valerie, having suffered a devastating loss years prior having evolved into a uber-control freak. Everything from her personal life (weight), career (promotion) and relationships with her family are not deemed as variables but elements which she believes she can control.
When she has to face yet another family tragedy, Valerie resorts to works for her – she attempts to take control. And this is where the skill of Heather Wardell kicks in, you are not only a witness to Valerie’s journey but you feel her every frustration, her joy and her humbling defeats.
This story is will take you on a roller coaster emotional ride which, at times, will have you screaming at the characters (I’m looking at you Valerie). This realistic portrayal of someone who doesn’t have all the answers, who stumbles as much as she triumphs, provides a refreshing ring of truth for a main character who are too often portrayed as Hollywood perfection.
Buckle up your seat belt and prepare yourself for the ride.
Is the constant theme which flows through Heather Wardell’s latest Holding out for a Zero.
Please note I received an Advanced Reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows the main character, Valerie, having suffered a devastating loss years prior having evolved into a uber-control freak. Everything from her personal life (weight), career (promotion) and relationships with her family are not deemed as variables but elements which she believes she can control.
When she has to face yet another family tragedy, Valerie resorts to works for her – she attempts to take control. And this is where the skill of Heather Wardell kicks in, you are not only a witness to Valerie’s journey but you feel her every frustration, her joy and her humbling defeats.
This story is will take you on a roller coaster emotional ride which, at times, will have you screaming at the characters (I’m looking at you Valerie). This realistic portrayal of someone who doesn’t have all the answers, who stumbles as much as she triumphs, provides a refreshing ring of truth for a main character who are too often portrayed as Hollywood perfection.
Buckle up your seat belt and prepare yourself for the ride.
donnah's review
5.0
Holding out for a zero is an intense and emotional story about how life events and our perceptions of them can take control of our lives. Valerie's journey begins when her little brother dies and circumstances look like she was to blame for his death. Thinking if she can keep tight control in all areas of her life nothing bad like that can happen again. But when she loses a promotion at work then her sister is violently assaulted, her need to control gets skewed by connecting her eating with saving her sisters life.
This is well written and leaves us breathless at times.
This is well written and leaves us breathless at times.
buy_the_book's review
4.0
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. I am a big fan Heather Wardell books so I was very excited to receive a copy to review honestly.
I always find it so easy to relate to the characters in Heather’s books, but when I started this book I thought there is no way I would relate to Valerie. I was wrong. Valerie is not an easy person to like but I was able to understand the inner workings of her mind. I rooted for her to get it together.
Please understand that when you start reading, you will more than likely not like her at all. You will not want to root for her but don’t give up on her, you will eventually tolerate her. She is not very nice, she is complicated and she is hard to understand. Valerie is an example of how we just don’t know what causes people to act the way they do. If Valerie was a real person, (and to some of us, she may be a real person that we know) you would not be her friend. Heather Wardell did an excellent job of giving us insight into what causes Valerie to be the way she is and even if you yourself would not be her friend, you may still root for her to get better and be better. I know that’s how I felt about her.
The book was very realistic in that it wasn’t all wrapped up nicely with a little bow at the end. At the end, some will wish that she did things differently and some will understand exactly why she did things the way she did.
I would definitely recommend this book. Be aware that it is a heavy story. If you tend to not like books with heavy themes, you may not want to read it, but I would encourage you to read it. We all know or know of a Valerie.
I always find it so easy to relate to the characters in Heather’s books, but when I started this book I thought there is no way I would relate to Valerie. I was wrong. Valerie is not an easy person to like but I was able to understand the inner workings of her mind. I rooted for her to get it together.
Please understand that when you start reading, you will more than likely not like her at all. You will not want to root for her but don’t give up on her, you will eventually tolerate her. She is not very nice, she is complicated and she is hard to understand. Valerie is an example of how we just don’t know what causes people to act the way they do. If Valerie was a real person, (and to some of us, she may be a real person that we know) you would not be her friend. Heather Wardell did an excellent job of giving us insight into what causes Valerie to be the way she is and even if you yourself would not be her friend, you may still root for her to get better and be better. I know that’s how I felt about her.
The book was very realistic in that it wasn’t all wrapped up nicely with a little bow at the end. At the end, some will wish that she did things differently and some will understand exactly why she did things the way she did.
I would definitely recommend this book. Be aware that it is a heavy story. If you tend to not like books with heavy themes, you may not want to read it, but I would encourage you to read it. We all know or know of a Valerie.
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