Omigosh this was such a cute read! I was kind of expecting it to be overly dramatic and unrealistic, but it ended up being a really great blend of fiction and reality. Lori is a teenaged girl who hates her body, and has to overcome a lot of terrible things in her life to get to a place of positivity. She has an autistic younger brother, divorced parents due to an affair, and she sees a therapist. There is a lot to unpack, believe me!

Lori meets fellow classmate Jake, aka the hottest guy at school, through her younger brother when he and Jake's little sister become friends. Before long, their connection is taking off and Lori isn't quite sure what to do about her growing feelings for him because she views herself in such a negative light. Now, I've seen some reviews that have really bashed the way Lori speaks about herself in the beginning and while I feel that everyone is 100% entitled to their own opinion, I do just want to point out that the way she feels about herself is the way SO many girls, regardless of size, feel about themselves. I've even had the majority of these thoughts cross my own mind and seeing them on paper honestly had the opposite effect for me - it made my feelings feel...valid! Like I'm not the only one out there with these issues. And as I continued to read, and saw how Lori evolved and how she began to see herself as beautiful, it really struck a chord with me. I think to start the book any other way would have felt... fake. The whole point of this story, in my humble opinion, is to show how cruel girls can be to their own selves, how absolutely terrible they can view their own bodies... and then show how much your mindset an be turned around, and how truly wonderful you can feel in your own skin.

I thought this book did a really fantastic job of keeping things real, and touching on a lot of different issues. I loved loved loved the budding romance between Lori and Jake - even though sometimes I was so frustrated with Lori's reactions lol! I totally get it, but it didn't stop me from yelling "Girl what are you doing?!?!" at the page haha!

Overall, this is a really cute book, easy to get through, that touches on issues without being too heavy. I think it's a great book for alot of different age groups, and look forward to reading whatever this author comes up with next.

Unfortunately, while I loved the concept. I didn’t love the execution. I do, however, believe that reading is subjective and as such I know there are others out there who might think otherwise!

This was just okay in my opinion. I can see what the author was trying to do and I did enjoy the representation but it just didn't work for me.

This was an overall enjoyable book. I don't usually read a lot of YA contemporary, but i like to revisit the genre every now and then and this book was a good one to do that with.

I love, love, LOVE seeing plus size rep out in the world! As a plus sized reader myself, I think that it’s so important to see that representation out there, so I am so glad that this beautiful book exists 💙

This main character spoke to me as a person who has struggled with her weight for her entire life, and especially in high school, experienced a lot of self doubt. The angst was cringy but in the most relatable sense, and the romance was sweet if a level beyond realism.

TW: fatphobia, divorce, neglect, body dysmorphia, bullying, cheating, ableism and self-esteem.

So at the beginning of this book, I could FEEL the internalized misogyny from Lori and many of the girls, which I did not love, but I could understand why it was happening for Lori. When constantly judged over your weight and always being attacked for it, you are forced continually to be ready and on the defence (unfortunately, because people are freaking cruel), so it was a self perve thing.

However, I know this was all the setting for the story, and I enjoyed reading this book and the journey, the many trips within this book; standing up to her body image issues, taking care of herself mentally, standing up to her mum and calling out her dad, realizing she is more than what she thinks others see of her.
The therapy in this book was so good, and honestly, I will be borrowing some thoughts for myself!

I highly recommended this book of an artist taking on the dark sides of her world and painting things brighter for herself and others.

i did not appreciate this book as a plus sized person.. and usually im all for plus sized main characters but.. this is not the one in my opinion

This was a beautiful book. I absolutely loved the res presentation and real life feelings/ problems that Lori experienced.

3.5 stars!

This is absolutely the book I needed when I was in high school. So often fat girls and women are left out of the conversation when it comes to being seen as "beautiful" and getting their main character moment without being the butt of the joke. I thought this was so well written and I will absolutely be buying a physical copy for my personal collection!

COMING TO TERMS WITH AND LOVING YOUR BODY. Jo Watson did an incredible job of telling this story from a perspective that isn't always taken.

I don’t know how I felt about this book, the message was good of course, everyone is so obsessed with how they look and it’s just a little too much. All in all I liked it, I did feel connected to the main character and her struggles and I’d definitely recommend you give it a read!

Seeing your younger self in the pages of a book at first shocked me, and then drew me in until the very end. Big Boned was a book I read cover-to-cover in one sitting. Be prepared with a box of tissues. Self-acceptance is critical before you can give your heart to someone else. Watson's story is masterful, and left me wanting more.

I really wanted to love this book. I am constantly looking for more representation of bigger characters but I'm struggling to read ones where the character is somewhat self loathing.

In this climate and with my own self confidence issues I'm looking for more body positive books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly I don’t have an interest in reading this book anymore and I want to be more selective with what I request.

Purely from a writing standpoint, I struggled to get through the first few pages. Style feels immature and poorly edited, even though the author is a professional. I did flip through the rest of the book but the blocky prose persisted.

I’m glad that this story is being told, but it’s not one that impressed me.

I put the book down at 11%.

The main character has an autistic brother, and as someone who also has an autistic brother, I felt super uncomfortable with how the family dynamic was being written—it felt ableist.

Then I got to biphobia and I knew it was time to put this book down. It’s very rare for me to not finish a book (last time was like six years ago), but this book absolutely called for it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

If adolescence wasn't already tough enough, Lori Palmer seems to be drowning in all the changes in her life. Her parents divorced, her mother is super focused on her career, her autistic brother has only Lori to calm him down, and she has to deal with moving to a brand new school where she doesn't feel that she fits in- because of her size. Set in South Africa, Jo Watson provides us with a realistic storyline and a character that I immediately fell in love with.

I loved the artistic influences that are weaved through the book and that it wasn't just some fluffy teen romance book. I am certainly intrigued to read other books by this author.


Goodreads review published 13/12/21
Publication Date 21/09/21

Want to cry and feel like there is a book written about you? Look no further! This work of art hit extremely close to home. As someone who struggles with my body on a daily basis and not being able to find a single thing about myself that I love, let alone like, this book opened my eyes to so much. Lori is dealing with so much at once that she feels incomparable to anyone. Watson did such a wonderful job with describing anxiety attacks and autism in such an exquisite way. I felt like I was reading my own life on the pages. I cannot wait to read more from this author

DNF

I really tried, but the MC is just so judgmental. I dreaded a single other person walking by or even being on the MC's mind because of just how toxic she was. Just a big nope from me.

I wanted to love it. Written by a fat autistic person? That is MY DREAM. But this just wasn't it for me.