I’m not going to lie. If you struggle with eating disorders, maybe skip this book. Perhaps it’s all the ash in the air (which makes me nauseous), but while reading this novel, I went through weird binging phases which was reminiscent of old toxic eating habits. But it’s also been incredibly ashy and there was just a massive heatwave, so I haven’t been able to work out, so that’s most likely the reason behind my terrible eating. If anything, this book had me hyper-focusing on my relationship with food, which is probably one of its many intentions.

One of the more popular thematic concerns in the 21st century is the body. Maintaining and sustaining a corporeal form isn’t all that it’s chalked up to be. However, Thin Girls follows our protagonist, Rose, who has a twin sister. I’m fresh off of the Brit Bennett train, so literary fiction with twins piques my interest.

The novel opens with Rose in a rehabilitation facility for anorexia. She describes herself as an anorectic and a part of the thin girls. This is her community. This is her tribe. But that wasn’t always true. Before she was a thin girl, Rose was a twin. This a pattern for Rose. She defines herself by others, and at her worst, by what she’s not. The narrative continues to flip between the present (the rehabilitation timeline) and the past (from childhood and onward). The two plots have us exploring Rose’s traumas and the development of her eating disorder.

One of the shining aspects of the novel is the twin-thing. Our characters, Rose and Lily can feel each other’s pain and taste the other’s emotions. So when Rose begins to starve herself, Lily eats. As Rose begins to lose weight, Lily starts to gain. Although this trope seems contrite, Clarke’s take is refreshing and works. The flavor emotions the siblings’ experience brings a breath of fresh air into a trope that’s overdone, especially when both of the characters have EDs.

This novel explores sexuality, eating disorders, trauma, suppression, and how childhood and family affect us in adulthood. This novel is intense. The descriptions of the body are often jarring, bleak, and gross. Clarke is talented at incorporating smell into this novel, specifically rancid smells. Often times I found myself saying "ew" out loud and needing to look away from the page.

Despite rave reviews from my bookseller friends, I was hesitant when starting this novel. Some of my favorite works that explore the body are Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Danarembga and My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. One examines what happens to the body-psyche after generations of colonialism and the other follows the top 10% wasting itself away out of existence. The bar is high.

I’m pleased that this novel surpassed all of my expectations with its clever narrative structure, unique usage of found text, and its commentary on behavior. The sheer amount of animal behavioral, psychological, zoological, and diet research that went into this novel blows my mind. This novel is written and organized with so much intention; every image had a purpose to drive the story and theme.

Read this, if you don’t have an eating disorder that’s at risk of being triggered.

This was a beautiful debut novel. I absolutely loved it. The story was incredibly original and heartbreaking. The relationship between the sisters was complex and I could not put the down. I cannot wait to read more by Diana Clarke.

This book wasn’t for me. But I thought the plot was fast paced! And I thought the characters were unique and interesting.

This is deep hard look at dysfunction and societal expectations for women and what these things do to human brains, in this case particularly the manifestation of eating disorders. Many topics are explored here from eating disorders, the diet industry, sexuality, fetishes, domestic violence, alcoholism, and abandonment...so lots of trigger warnings! This novel takes on so much, but amazingly, it works. It is a compelling, readable novel that rings true, with flawed humans trying hard to set themselves straight. Although parts were hard to read, I didn't want to leave this for long because I wanted so much for these characters to see their way through. Really enjoyed this.

wow, this book was intense. I typically shy away from eating disorder themed books, because they tend to be small minded (i.e. skinny white girl forced into inpatient by her parents, learns to love herself, etc.)

But oh goodness, this book tackles so many issues - sexual abuse, growing up queer, identity, sisterhood, and recovery. I would recommend this book with the caveat that it talks about rape and eating disorder idealization (first half of the book).

This was equally beautiful and heartbreaking. I struggled to push through reading more than a few of these sections. As someone who was struggled with body image and an eating disorder for most of my life this really broached a very uncomfortable topic and followed the lives of multiple people at all different levels. That being said highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

DNF. I initially was excited to read this book, but I quickly realized that I didn't want to read about the toxic diet culture. Based on other reviews, it seems like a great book! I personally am not interested in the theme. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

I received a physical copy of Thin Girls from a virtual BookCon giveaway in addition to NetGalley. It was heartbreaking to read about how an eating disorder affected twin sisters over the course of their lives. The author writes about the complex relationship between the sisters as well as subplots involving an abusive relationship and questioning one's sexuality. Food and dieting took total control over the girls' well being and it was clear they were heavily influenced by their peers, fad diets, and the media's perception of beauty and body image. I found it very informative how varied the scope of eating disorders are and how they affect everyone differently. This book does not sugarcoat the consequences and difficulty associated with recovery and the toll it takes on family members as well. While I have never suffered from an eating disorder myself, I can see how Thin Girls could be triggering for someone who is affected by this illness, but ultimately this is important story for young girls to hear.

If you have a history of eating disorders, there will be lot of triggers in this book. Narrated by a twin sister who felt she needed to lose weight to become part of the in-crowd. Now in a treatment program, Rose describes what her life is like. This is an excellent debut novel. The relationship between the identical twins in interesting. Some of the things seemed a bit contrived but did not detract from the story. Its an interesting look at how society judges women by their looks.

While many people will find this book to be well written, a great story, and a cautionary tale, perhaps, others will find themselves thinking about their own disordered eating or dieting habits. Many trigger warnings in this novel, but the title should give that away to anyone searching for a new read. I loved the characters of the twins and how different they became in life, but it was a bit too much for me to deal with.

Trigger warnings: Eating disorders, physical abuse/domestic violence, alcoholism, rape (subtly mentioned)

I'll be frank, this book won't be for everybody. I would definitely recommend not reading this if you have a history with disordered eating or any of the trigger warnings mentioned above. But if you do decide to, please please please just tread lightly.

Thin Girls is disturbing and dark. I'm sure a lot of people will be put off by the toxicity of the relationships between the characters and the heaviness of the subject matter but when you look at the bigger picture, you'll see just how much DEPTH and realness this book has. There were so many layers to uncover that I just allowed myself to really take the time reading it, savoring every part. At the same time, the impact was so strong that often, I had to stop myself from reading because it sparked a lot of things for me internally.

The heart of the story really is Rose and Lily's relationship (the good, the bad, and the really ugly) and their road to recovery. Although polar opposites in terms of their eating disorders and their characteristics, there's such a fierce loyalty and an incredibly moving connection between these sisters. We really get to see the lengths they would go to for one another, in both healthy and not-so-healthy ways.

Clarke definitely has packed a punch with this debut novel. She does a fantastic job at challenging your way of thinking. Making you take a closer look at how our surroundings can mirror or influence the way we are as humans. How we measure our own self-worth based on body image while exposing the dangers of diet culture and how much the media influences it. How exploring one's own sexual identity is scary and confusing but conforming to being someone we're not is even worse. There's so much more I could say, but honestly, my brain feels like mush still trying to process everything about the book.

Unforgettable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before we begin, I’d like to note that I devoured this one in about, uhmmm, fourteen hours? Maybe less time. I was enthralled.

Twins Rose and Lily Winters have always been inseparable and impossible to tell apart, until puberty when Rose starts losing weight and Lily seems to gain it. Over the years, the disparity between their weight grows and as Rose receives in patient treatment for her anexoria, Lily continues to eat for the both of them and makes increasingly bad choices in men. When things reach a critical mass, Rose is determined to get better so, for once, she can save her sister.

One of the charcters in this book says that she doesn’t think there’s a single girl in America/the world (?) who doesn’t have body related issues, and as someone who has a long and complicated history with my own body in more than one way (who doesn’t), this book really hit me in the gut. Clarke manages to vocalize some thoughts and feelings I have had over the years but had never been able to accurately describe.

I’ve never been on the Lily side of some of these issues, but as someone who could in some ways identify with Rose, I really enjoyed their relationship and how both of them were damaged and needed to help each other heal from opposite sides of the same overall issue.

One of my favorite motifs of the book was the descriptions of the different kinds of love and how Rose tried to type everyone she knew by the love she thought they craved. There are some twists and turns that I don’t usually forgive in such tales, but here, they don’t seem to be used merely as a plot device. These events play major roles in the lives of the girls, and it serves a real purpose in development and healing.

This book is not light and there are so many trigger warnings, including eating disorders, extreme fad dieting, internalized homophobia, and sexual assault. If you can get through those things, though, it’s a really gripping narrative of healing from trauma.

It’s out now, and if you haven’t already, add it to your summer TBR, then maybe add a romcom for a chaser.

I'm conflicted. This book is incredibly well-written. Truly superb writing. However, I'd hesitate to recommend this book. First off, a trigger warning about detailed and graphic descriptions of eating disorder behaviors (which is likely discernible to the reader by the title/book jacket alone). That aside, I found the depiction of eating disorder treatment to be mostly unrealistic. Parts of the experience are spot-on, but the cluelessness of the treatment center and its methods were extreme. Recovery is grossly simplified - I'm sorry, but it takes a lot more than just slightly eating more food to recover, much less regain menses in most cases.

I really appreciated that it was a non-straight protagonist struggling with sexuality issues connected with her eating disorder, but ultimately felt like it ultimately fell into the very cliche it calls out (emaciated white girl who suppresses sexual desires into anorexia), which is a minority of those who struggle with eating disorders.

Twin sisters and the bond that ties them together is explored in Diana Clarke's "Thin Girls," but it's more than just their birth. One has an eating disorder, while the other has always been the "perfect" daughter.

Food and eating disorders are the bad guys, first with one and then the other, following Lily and Rose from children to adults. It's a dark tale that includes hospitalizations, deep emotions and self-discovery. One ends up in a battered relationship, while the other finally acknowledges her homosexuality.

Each sister does what the other can't do. They know they aren't making healthy choices, yet the sisters don't have the strength alone to fight their inner demons.

Did I mention that this is a dark tale? It demonstrates that love can't be simply labeled and tucked into a pretty box with a bow. It is never pain-free or all rainbows. It can hurt emotional, and too often physically, as two sisters learn.

But it's also a tale of learning to live, and that having someone else in your life, whether by choice or birth, is worth the effort.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my opinion.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rose and Lily are twins. They struggle emotionally and physically with food. Rose develops an eating disorder and Lily starts binging, and everything gets worse.

Lily and their dad form an intervention, and Rose goes off to rehab. Meanwhile, Lily forms an unhealthy relationship with one of her students' fathers - who happens to be married.

As Rose tries to heal she feels like she and Lily are drifting apart.

This is a powerful and resonating story. Sad and times...eye opening. Would recommend.

Wow, this was a tough read, but a great one. We follow two girls through this body issues/eating disorders, and I think most women will find something to relate to her, although some parts may be triggering. I thought the ending was perfect- definitely pick this one up!

Before I get into my thoughts on Thin Girls, I need to issue a warning. This is NOT a book everyone should read. If you have a history of eating disorders and especially anorexia, you should know there will be MANY triggers in the book and even this review.

However, I enjoyed Thin Girls very much. It’s the story of twin sisters, Lily and Rose, very close as twins often are. In their teens, Rose felt like a bit of an outsider, until she started getting thinner and thinner and suddenly became part of the popular crowd. As Rose lost weight, Lily gained and became the outsider.

“Anorectics experience extreme weight loss. But you lose more than that. Hair, fingernails, teeth. You lose your friends, family, yourself. You lose your sense of the world. Of what is important beyond the non-eating. And, eventually, you lose it all. She’s greedy, anorexia is.”

Rose narrated Thin Girls, providing a very unique perspective. Debut author Diana Clarke did a thorough (and eye-opening) job of portraying Rose’s relationship with food and starvation. As the book opens Rose has been in a treatment facility for nearly a year, and has learned all the tricks to appear as if she’s maintaining her weight. Only when she realizes Lily may be in trouble and need her for a change, does Rose take the steps she needs to be released.

I enjoyed the twin relationship in this story and appreciated that Clarke not only explored the close bond, but also the toxicity, especially for Lily. I thought Rose and Lily’s parents were painted in too broad of strokes, making them sort of non-characters. They were just too flat and difficult to believe. There were also a few tangential aspects of the story that felt a bit contrived, but I cared enough about the twins to roll with it. I’m glad I did because those were minor flaws compared to the rest of the story and the commentary on society’s judging of women’s bodies. Plus, I really liked the ending.

Note: I received a copy of this book from Harper (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.

I received an electronic advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
I was really excited to get this book, as I have read many books on eating disorders and I enjoy reading them. However, I was unable to finish this book. The writing flowed okay, but the characters and their eating disorder 'quirks' didn't come across as relatable, real people. I tried several times, but had a hard time engaging with this book. Others may have a better time with it than I did! This book just came out, so pick it up and see what you think.
Thanks to the publisher for giving me a chance to read and review.

Twins, Rose and Lily, both develop unhealthy relationships with food. Rose becomes anorexic and Lily goes in the other direction--overeating. We meet Rose in her treatment center to overcome her anorexia. Told back and forth in time, we learn about the unhealthy habits they learned from their mother. Both girls make bad choices in their relationships in life—Lily starts to lose weight in undesired ways. I enjoyed aspects of this book, but overall I didn’t appreciate the sisters’ saga and found it dull. I am glad to see eating disorders addressed in fiction.
Goodreads review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3417159345

This is an emotional story about twin girls that suffer from different eating disorders, one overeats and one is anorexic. The reader feels for both as they grapple with the issues under the surface. Rose and Lily's stories alternate between the past and the present, but the timelines blend together seamlessly.