This was quite a wild ride with some unexpected twists, which I love! Some of these women have seriously disordered eating/thinking about food and exercise which speaks to how our society views people that aren't skinny. This was my 1st book by Lori Brand but it will not be my last!

#BodiesToDieFor
#NetGalley

The idea around this book was interesting and entertaining. I’m not a prude but I’m put off by this books sexual content. It’s not the worse I’ve listened to but again, I’m just not into books with descriptive sexual content.

4.5 stars.

Popular fitness influencer Gemma has transformed herself from a Before into an After, complete with washboard abs, thriving business, and gorgeous husband. But social media can be deceiving. Software engineer Ashley is fat and frustrated with failed diets and a world that wants her to shrink. She falls in with a radical sect of Fat Activists who are fighting back by any means necessary. Gemma and Ashley are on a collision course headed for the Olympia, the bodybuilding competition where futures are made. When Gemma’s toughest rival turns up dead, it’s beginning to look like the body image war has gone too far.

I picked this up because I had seen rave reviews on bookstagram, and I’m glad I did because this was so good!

The plot was truly twisting in this one. Even though it had so many characters and PoVs, I was never confused about who was who, both because of the multiple narrators for the audiobook, and because the characters had different ways of speaking.

I loved how this story covered the opposing perspectives so well - the ‘players’ in the diet industry, and the extremists against body-shaming. It was so ironic that both parties actually approached the issue with the exact same way - through hate!

The storyline was solid, the characters had depths, the whodunnit was unpredictable and the suspense was amazing. I really enjoyed this book, and I think it should be hyped even more!

This was definitely a Bookstagram-made-me-do it and I’m so glad I did! Featuring a fun murder mystery that focused in on the fitness industry. With multiple POVs, each character voices the way the diet culture has influenced them.

🎧I listened to the audio format and loved the cast which pulled me into the story even more.

*many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This thriller centers around the fitness industry and bodybuilding which I've never seen before in a thriller. I was really excited because it was such a fresh concept. I really enjoyed the characters but did think they needed a bit more development because the relationships just didn't resonate movies made the way I was hoping they would. I did really like the exploration of the fitness industry and all of the problems that come with it. Overall I thought the author did a good job of keeping things interesting but some of the reveals didn't land very hard. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly this thriller, while unique in its premise, didn't work for me. There are so many characters to keep track of, and not one of them was likable - leaving me with no one to root for. One of the hallmarks of a great thriller is making the reader invested in the outcome - who lives and dies and who's doing the killing - even if the characters are morally grey or unreliable. But in this case, I just couldn't muster an ounce of concern or curiosity and was just along for the ride while occasionally scoffing at the over-the-top campiness and preachiness of it all. I think this could have been improved on with some more editing to tighten up the plotting and allow the reader the chance to get invested in the characters' fates.

As it stands, though, Bodies to Die For was a dud with a muddled message.


Trigger/Content Warnings: eating disorders (graphic on page depiction), body dysmorphia, fatphobia, domestic abuse, starvation, stalking, misogyny, slut shaming, objectification, misuse of mental illness terminology, loss of parents, drug use, infidelity, murder

I found this to be a quick and easy listen that had quite a bit more to offer than the regular mystery/thriller due to its biting social commentary on our societies views on bodies and weight.
The two main characters Gemma and Ashley underwent an incredible transformation in this book and I was rooting for them the whole way.

In terms of the murder mysteries, thsi one was so well plotted I kept guessing all along the way! I loved all the clues, suspects, potential motives and red herrings... and was there for the revelation.

Exploring themes of diet culture and fatphobia worked really well for this thriller, exploring it in the context of a fitness influencer and body building competition bubble was so convincing and interesting even though i have to admit it is a world i don't know much about but i was definitelay along for the ride.

The audiobook features a three narrator telling of this story which enforces the different POVs and made everything come alive in my head. It is so good.

Interesting plot that’s relevant to society’s current views and tends but I just couldn’t connect with the characters.

Bodies To Die For by Lori Brand and narrated by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, Joe Hempel is absolutely fantastic! Accurate to the trend of fitness influencers and the lengths some go to to achieve their goals and those who resent them. However, not many will go so far to demonstrate their ire!

What a cast! Whoever chose these incredible narrators deserves a pat on the back because the narrators did an incredible job and matched their characters well. The interplay was on point and the flow consistent.

Gemma is the epitome of a before/after glow up fitness influencer who has gone to the next level and created a whole range of fitness wear. Ashley is on the other side of the coin. Overweight, unhappy and consistently berated by her mother and online trolls. That is until she meets a mysterious, charismatic, chaotic woman in the cosmetic clinic she has visited to remove her excess weight. Ashley is dragged inot a group of activists hell-bent on destroying fitness culture and they have a huge event in their sights to make their point. The same event where Gemma will be launching her latest line

Lori Brand is going straight on my favourites list. The flow was on point, the character development perfect and the storyline was all flow and well paced. I absolutely loved this audiobook and cannot recommend it enough

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks, Lori Brand and the narrators for this awesome ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Thank you for the audiobook of Bodies to die for. It was such an interesting story following a fitness influencer that used to live a very different lifestyle. I enjoyed how relatable the characters were and the real-life situations they were put in. I would recommend this to friends and family

I was intrigued by the premise but unfortunately this book just was not for me. I found all the characters to be extremely insufferable which made it an unenjoyable read. The narrators did a fine job, my complaint is mostly with the characters themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I listened to Bodies To Die For on audio, and finished it in just a few days, and already recommended it to a few friends!

Bodies to Die For is told through multiple perspectives. Gemma is a fitness influencer and one of our main characters. Our other main character is Ashley, an overweight girl who gets caught up in a battle over sizes. Then we have Anita who is another fitness influencer and insanely jealous of Gemma. And Andrew who lies about who he is on social media and is pretty creepy.

The story starts with a death in the shower at a fitness completion, and then we rewind several months and start the story. This is my favorite way to read a story, because then I get to guess the whole time!

Bodies to Die For is a clever who-done-it, with lots of likely suspects.

I have a big thing about body positively and just not bashing on bodies in books, the worse offenders seem to be in the cozy mystery genre. I was hoping this book, especially with how it's about bodybuilders, wouldn't be bashing, and I'm glad to say it didn't. I really like the multiple timelines and POVs you get in the story. Starring at the crime and working backwards always has me on high alert trying to solve it before the author tells me. I'd read more from this author for sure

I had seen great reviews for this debut thriller and requested the audio because of them. This was an interesting thriller set against the backdrop of bodybuilding and covered topics such as body image, fitness, and having the perfect ‘body’. Oh, and fitness gals are dropping like flies so it seems there is a murderer on the loose that has a target audience, and no one knows who will be next. I really enjoyed this one, I thought all the topics were covered well and loved how the murderer was revealed and it wrapped up so well. The audio was great too, I thought the narrators did a wonderful job with this story, I’m so glad I read it.

I'll admit being a little hesitant about this book. As a (fairly happily) fat person, I'm often annoyed by fat representation in books. Either they're evil (think Dursleys) or stupid (think Miggery Sow) or the internal self-flagellation is exhausting to read.

I needn't have worried. Characters were drawn with care and dignity, and personal growth/acceptance was almost its own personality.

I fell in love with both Ashley and Gemma and wanted to give the latter's alter ego a hug.

The light shone on the toxicity of both beauty culture and extreme activism could not be more well-timed, and, while the Pheonix' turned out to be pretty sketchy, the thought of a secret society where Fat People come together for societal change makes my heart happy.

I can't believe this was a debut novel. I cannot wait to see what this author creates next.

This book definitely had a lot to say. And I enjoyed it. It was my first time reading from a bodybuilder/ competition MC.
It was a little wacky at times but I stuck with it and enjoyed all the kills. Honestly a lot of times when books have things to say, it goes over my head. As someone who is always really thin in high school, and has put on some weight since then, it's been my goal for the last 15 years to try to get back down to that size. I don't know how I'd feel if I were morbidly obese like our characters, but I personally didn't feel offended or took issue with it.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a really great read. As someone who used to have a eating disorder i found this book not only interesting and different but still super creepy!! would buy and recommend for sure!!

Lori Brand’s "Bodies to Die For" delivers a familiar cozy mystery experience with some charming elements, but it ultimately falls short of standout status. The novel centers on a small-town protagonist who becomes involved in solving a local murder, blending humor with suspense in a classic cozy mystery format.

The plot is engaging enough to keep readers interested, with a few twists and turns that add intrigue. However, the storyline feels somewhat predictable, and the resolution lacks the punch that could have made it truly memorable. The characters, while likable, follow conventional archetypes and don’t develop beyond their initial impressions.

The pacing is uneven, with some sections dragging while others rush through important details. The small-town setting is quaint but not particularly original, and the overall narrative doesn’t offer many fresh or surprising elements for seasoned cozy mystery fans.

In summary, "Bodies to Die For" is a pleasant, if unremarkable, read. It provides some enjoyment for fans of the genre but may not leave a lasting impression. It’s a decent choice for a light, entertaining read but doesn’t quite rise above the average cozy mystery fare.

I flew through this thriller which follows Gemma, a bikini competitor, as she gets ready for her biggest competition yet. Told from multiple POV with clear chapter labels this had me hooked from chapter 1 and guessing until the end. Some aspects of this novel were a little over my head not being part of the "fitness/bikini competition" world but I didn't feel that it took away from this novel. I've seen this novel all over bookstagram and it did not disappoint.

Thank you Blackstone Publishing audiobooks and netgalley for the ALC.

This was just ok for me. I liked the beginning and first half but the second half fell flat for me. I needed a bigger final twist! More of a “cozy mystery” than thriller i guess.

Thank you for this ARC!