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felisa's review against another edition
2.0
The best thing about this book is probably the generous list of recipes at the end. But, I haven't cooked them so I'm not even sure about that. This book did encourage me to order the buttermilk soaked fried chicken at NOLA, which I'm not sure I would have otherwise (AMAZING). Basically the best thing about the book is anything but the story. Sorry, Melanie/Nadia/Kai/Nathan just weren't believable or sympathetic. But I did totally believe in the food that was described in it. One star because I didn't quit and one for the recipes.
knit_and_purl's review against another edition
3.0
Cute, fluffy read. Bit predictable but that didn't bother me. Light and fun, a good vacation read.
girlinacardigan's review against another edition
5.0
http://jennsbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/good-enough-to-eat-by-stacey-ballis.html
afro75's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. The main characters weight loss journey mirrored my own so closely it was scary. I found myself identifying with the need to balance a love of good food with the need to have and maintain a healthy body.
krisis86's review against another edition
2.0
So I started this book loving it. I love Melanie, and the characters, and the whole idea of Mel's business.
But then it started getting all language-y, and a little too rated R in the bedroom, and then the ending was like, what was that? Was that an ending? That was a crappy ending.
So what I am saying in this intensely badly written review is, I wish this book had been cleaner, and ended more solidly. If for those things, it would have been a 5 star review. Alas, 2 stars it is.
But then it started getting all language-y, and a little too rated R in the bedroom, and then the ending was like, what was that? Was that an ending? That was a crappy ending.
So what I am saying in this intensely badly written review is, I wish this book had been cleaner, and ended more solidly. If for those things, it would have been a 5 star review. Alas, 2 stars it is.
brianajae's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty quick read. I enjoyed it a lot. It's not my favorite thing ever but I'll definitely be checking out more books from this author.
cleonardodavinci's review against another edition
2.0
This book started off so strong. I liked Melanie. I liked Nadia. The first half of the book had me hooked. The second half was dull and made no sense. I’ll be honest, I skimmed a lot of the second half.
The ending seemed...rushed. As if the author was only allotted a certain amount of pages and was quickly approaching her page limit and needed an ending.
I’m more pissed than anything that I wasted my time on this book. I was rooting for Melanie and it just ended abruptly.
The ending seemed...rushed. As if the author was only allotted a certain amount of pages and was quickly approaching her page limit and needed an ending.
I’m more pissed than anything that I wasted my time on this book. I was rooting for Melanie and it just ended abruptly.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
Picked up this one from the library and really enjoyed it. If I had to classify it, I would call it more women’s fiction, however there is some romance in it. Melanie, the protagonist, has lost a lot of weight, basically a whole other person. On top of that she has changed careers, giving up the law for a healthy eating food business and just as she is feeling the success of these positive changes her husband leaves her. The fact that he left her for a heavier woman and a woman who was her friend just added salt to the wound.
This could have been a very typical “fat girl gets thin, finds love, lives happily ever after”, however it is not. The author does a great job showing that the weight is not the defining feature of Melanie, there is so much more to her, and any person than his or her body size. The supporting characters, Kai, Phil, Nadia and Nate all have interesting lives and are well fleshed out. The intersection of this particular group of people is believable and works with the plot of the story.
The treatment of food addiction/comfort eating/unhealthy relationship with food is well done. Food is a really difficult addiction to live with and conquer, mainly because you can’t just go cold turkey on it :) and it is not a very sympathy inducing addiction. This struggle is really brought to life well through Melanie, her actions and reactions and her relationship and conversations with her nutritionist, Carey. As someone who struggles with my own weight, I could so relate to Melanie’s feelings and experiences and they rang very true to me.
I loved the ending…I won’t give it away but definitely not typical. Highly recommended read!
This could have been a very typical “fat girl gets thin, finds love, lives happily ever after”, however it is not. The author does a great job showing that the weight is not the defining feature of Melanie, there is so much more to her, and any person than his or her body size. The supporting characters, Kai, Phil, Nadia and Nate all have interesting lives and are well fleshed out. The intersection of this particular group of people is believable and works with the plot of the story.
The treatment of food addiction/comfort eating/unhealthy relationship with food is well done. Food is a really difficult addiction to live with and conquer, mainly because you can’t just go cold turkey on it :) and it is not a very sympathy inducing addiction. This struggle is really brought to life well through Melanie, her actions and reactions and her relationship and conversations with her nutritionist, Carey. As someone who struggles with my own weight, I could so relate to Melanie’s feelings and experiences and they rang very true to me.
I loved the ending…I won’t give it away but definitely not typical. Highly recommended read!
ksfmcdaniel's review against another edition
3.0
Simple, harmless, easy read - kept waiting for the plot to begin, though. Is this a romance? "hey, I used to be fat" book? "I'm starting a business" book? friendship? finding myself? I really couldnt' tell.
piepieb's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't my favorite Stacey Ballis book. For some reason Melanie (the main character)'s healthy journey rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like I was "missing" part of the story -- scenes just seemed to end abruptly and I wanted more "substance." The way the novel itself ended was just disappointing.
I did love all of the food and restaurant scenes. I loved how Melanie and her ex-husband didn't have children, and Mel surrounded herself with a family of coworkers and friends. The last chunk of the book - about 40some pages - is literally all recipes. I am all for including recipes in novels but to go to that extreme made me feel a bit cheated. I would have loved to see certain characters' stories extended. I felt like I was just left hanging.
I really want to recommend this book and was searching for something that redeemed it, but there really was nothing stellar. I will say it's a short novel and I read it all in one day.
I did love all of the food and restaurant scenes. I loved how Melanie and her ex-husband didn't have children, and Mel surrounded herself with a family of coworkers and friends. The last chunk of the book - about 40some pages - is literally all recipes. I am all for including recipes in novels but to go to that extreme made me feel a bit cheated. I would have loved to see certain characters' stories extended. I felt like I was just left hanging.
I really want to recommend this book and was searching for something that redeemed it, but there really was nothing stellar. I will say it's a short novel and I read it all in one day.