𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ⭐️
BODIES TO DIE FOR
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
📖 350 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 💪🏼😱👙🥊🚔🕵🏻‍♂️💀🏋🏼‍♀️🍰💣
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 6/12/2024

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱? 👍🏼

❤️𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲❤️

Thank you @loribrandwritesandlifts @blackstonepublishing for the #gifted copy!! @thrillerbookloversthepulse is reading & raving about this one for a reason!

Oo this was a thrilling one! Told from multiple POV, the narrative keeps you guessing with numerous suspects & motives. The online trolls & bullying add complexity to the suspect list, & the gripping opening chapter immediately pulls you in.

The story, centered around the world of bodybuilding, stands out with its unique plot. Themes of starting over, twists, sabotage, stalkers, & revenge make it an exciting & unpredictable journey.

There are definitely some trigger warnings to check out below 👇🏼.

⚠️ eating disorder, body dysmorphia, binge eating

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ body building
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ revenge & sabotage
◽️ twist after twist
◽️ lots of suspects

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Fitness influencer Gemma has it all online but struggles with the harsh realities of bikini bodybuilding & a hidden enemy. Software engineer Ashley is tired of societal pressures & joins a radical Fat Activist group, finding new purpose. Both women's paths are set to cross at the Olympia bodybuilding competition. As competitors start dying, it becomes clear that the body image battle is deadly. Their collision at the Olympia will determine their futures.

Listening to this thriller was quite an experience. The mix of elements like exercising, bodybuilding, eating disorders, and murder made for a gripping narrative. With every paragraph, I found myself pulled deeper into the story, feeling the intensity of each character's journey firsthand.

The exploration of body image issues hit close to home, as I could relate to the struggles portrayed in the audio. It was raw and unfiltered, shedding light on a topic often overlooked in mainstream media. Each paragraph delved into the psyche of the characters, revealing their inner turmoil and vulnerabilities.

And when the murder plotline emerged, I was hooked. The suspense built with each paragraph, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried to piece together the clues alongside the protagonist. Every twist and turn in the plot had me eagerly awaiting the next revelation, and the resolution was both satisfying and unexpected.

This experience was a rollercoaster of emotions and suspense. The characters felt real, their struggles palpable, and the storyline kept me engaged from beginning to end. It's a testament to the author's skill that they could seamlessly blend such disparate elements into a cohesive and compelling narrative.

I absolutely loved this book. The twists were insane. I was worried that this book would focus too much on working out, having the perfect body etc. But, it didn’t! It showed that being strong is the most important part. If you love your body and feel good that is what matters.

I LOVED this murder mystery thriller! This book was better than I expected! Perfect ending and awesome TWIST!

Someone is killing fitness influencers… and everyone is scared that they could be next. It’s fat versus fit in this dramatic thriller!

Perfect for fans of Megan Miranda! You will NOT regret checking this book out!

This is a thriller unlike any I’ve read. Gemma is a fitness influencer and body builder, but she didn’t always have the body she has now. When her industry rival was found dead, a whole whirlwind of secrets unravel. At the same time we have Ashley, a plus-size girl who is out to destroy the diet culture, but when she joins an activist group she realizes she may be in deeper than she bargained for. This story was full of suspense and had SO MANY realistic suspects, but at the same time it was also a social commentary on weight and what healthy should look like. I loved how the author blended the two and skillfully weaved together the many points of view. The narration by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel and was hard to put the book down!

Read if you like:
-Psych thrillers
-Short chapters
-Underlying humor
-Body image themes

Thank you Blackstone for the gifted copy!!

This thriller debut is so unique and wild! I was hooked from page one and I couldn’t devour it fast enough. This gave insight on what fitness folks deal with on a daily based and let me tell you I don’t have that kind of will power, but it was so moving and inspirational. While there was bread crumbs sprinkled though, my mind was going in ten directions trying to figure out who the killer was and man would I have never figured it out.

I listened to the audiobook and there were times where I did not want to stop. I loved the narration but the POV for Ashley was difficult at times due to the speaking volume and the tone. But that didn’t take away from my enjoyment!

I can’t wait to see what Brand comes up with next and I have to thank her so much for getting me an eARC! I highly recommend this book but before you grab it make sure to check out the trigger warning.

****Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing, Lori Brand, and Kaye Publicity for my gifted copies!

Bodies To Die For is a fantastic thriller that dives deep into the complex nature of body shaming and body image. The opposite ends of the spectrum are handled well, from focusing on body positivity and body acceptance, to the extremes of the fit culture. And the mystery of who has committed murders, with the combined pressure of who may try to kill one of the main characters, creates a propulsive plot and compelling read.

I think the POVs were done extremely well, with the two main characters in first person, and additional multiple POVs in third. This is such a clever way to present the story.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which had multiple narrators and was done well. I listened at 2x speed for this audiobook (with my normal audiobook listening speed 1.75x - 2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced audiobook copy.

Bodies to Die For by Lori Brandi
Did I pick this audiobook to listen to based on the cover? Yes, yes I did. (I mean…how clever is allusion of the male and female bodies in their skimpy swimwear and how they connect to each other along with the stunning color combination?!) Did I also pick this audiobook to listen to based on the title? Also, a solid yes. Was I pleasantly surprised at the plot line and character interactions? Yep to that as well. The story is told from multiple points of view of people involved in the fitness world-from Gemma, a bikini fitness competitor, to Ashley, a plus sized women fighting against the fat shaming culture, to Andrew, am Instagram troller/stalker with unhealthy online relationships. Although I was able to see the twist coming, the premise of the thriller was intriguing and one I haven’t encountered before. There were three narrators for the audio with some voicing more than one character (that got a bit confusing and isn’t a preference for me.)
3.75 stars

I relished every delusional minute of this debut!

"Bodies to Die For" surprised me with its engaging narrative and rich character rivalries. The book's portrayal of the intense world of women's weightlifting, where every ounce counts and the stakes are high, hooked me quickly. The narrative artfully delves into the lives of driven women, bringing to life the cutthroat environment they navigate.

This book is not just a thrilling murder mystery but also a thought-provoking exploration of societal issues. As the search for the killer unfolds, the book delves into topics like diet culture, fat shaming, and infidelity, prompting the reader to reflect on these issues as well.

While the book started a bit slow, it quickly escalated into a whirlwind of chaos and drama that I couldn't get enough of.

Thanks to the author and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to experience this riveting read through ebook and audiobook ARCs provided via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

#BodiesToDieFor #LoriBrand #Debut #BlackstonePublishing

I absolutely loved this book! "Bodies to Die For" is a fast paced mystery that dives into the world of Women's Competitive Bodybuilding. This is such a unique concept and unlike any book I've ever read. Issues with weight can be seen all over social media these days! Weight is a hot topic, whether it's fat-shaming, promoting new fad diets, content for weightloss drugs, or fat activists who promote self-love and body positivity. As someone who has always struggled with my weight, I found parts of this book so relatable! I especially loved the balance between the storyline and social commentary about weight and self-image.
The main characters, Gemma and Ashley, couldn't be more different, but are equally relatable and loveable. Short chapters are mixed with multiple POVs to create this quick paced read that's hard to put down.

Audio
I loved the narration by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel! The quality of the audiobook edit was a tad choppy and there were a few issues with volume suddenly increasing or decreasing, but overall it was well executed. I alternated between ebook and audio for this one. If the audio isn't for you, then be sure to pick up a physical or ebook copy of this because the writing and storyline is fantastic! If you're looking for a beach read or quick summer read that's sure to entertain you, then add this book to your list ASAP. 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bodies to Die For is such a quick, binge-worthy read. I listened to this one on audio, and thought that the narration was perfect. I really liked the multiple points of view, our two complicated MCs, the end plot-twist and the fact that the bodies just kept dropping. Aside from the point that someone is killing people, Bodies to Die For also hit on the subject of body image and despite what side of the scale you land on, there’s always the pressure from society that makes it difficult to love the skin you’re in. I really enjoyed this and will definitely read more from Lori Brand. Bodies to Die For will be published 6/11, and it’s the perfect summer read!

Thanks to Blackstone Audio for the ALC!

Gemma is a fitness influencer who has a very transformative before & after. She's determined to help others make changes in their lives and FINALLY win that bikini bodybuilding competition. Then there's Ashley, a software engineer frustrated with failed diets who joins Fat Activists, determined to destroy diet and skinny fitness influencer culture. The body image war comes to a peak when Gemma's main competition and fellow fitness influencers start turning up dead.

This is such a unique thriller! I love that it was so different from thrillers I've read before - so refreshing. The diet and fitness culture contrasted with body positivity was so well-written, and I loved all the drama interspersed with the competition, relationships, other people online, and of course, the murders. There was a lot going on in this one that kept making me second guess my theories, which is such a great element in a thriller.

I loved the narration by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel!

I listened to this book rather than read it. I like listening to books when I'm running, going on errands, or doing chores.

As a registered dietitian (who specializes in working with athletes) and certified running coach, I was really excited to listen to this book because it touches on many important issues that come up in my fields such as: diet culture, fat shaming, the impact of social media, parasocial relationships, fitness culture, wellness culture, brand transparency (or lack thereof), the lengths people go to change their bodies and so much more.

The book is told primarily from the perspectives of Gemma, a bikini fitness competitor who used to be morbidly obese, and Ashley, an IT specialist living in a larger body who launches a body positive campaign on social media. They both unexpectedly become involved in a murder mystery where various fitness influencers are targeted, including many that Gemma knows. I will not be spoiling what happens, but just wanted to say I appreciated the story, the use of satire to highlight the points of the story, and how clear it was that author Lori Brand drew on her own experiences to in these industries to write it. I was not expecting a thriller to be so relevant to my life and career and overall interesting. This is definitely worth a read or listen.

All in all, I give the audiobook narration 4/5 and the book itself 4/5, so that's where my 4/5 star rating comes from.

A complimentary audiobook copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read if you like:
😏 Satire
🏋️ Fitness Competitions
🤳🏻 Social Media Influencers
👯‍♀️ Social Commentary about Women
#️⃣ Numerous POV

What I appreciated the most was the social commentary that looked at the way women are pinned against each other from breaking down and commenting on others appearances, what they wear, eat, don’t eat, weigh, or don’t weigh because that truly provided an important message in this day and age of social media comparison and commentary about women, their choices, and their bodies.

I feel like in general, this is a book you have to suspend your belief for and acknowledge that it has a slower burn pace, but if you are good with those things, then I think you will enjoy this, especially if you enjoy satire along with a very serious topic.

All in all, I really appreciated what this author did, especially as someone who grew up in the age of The Biggest Loser and was in middle school when MySpace rankings of your friends and then Facebook came online which caused a greater perpetuation of the way that women, their worth, and value are evaluated based on their weight and outward appearance.

Thank you so much to Blackstone for my ALC in exchange for my honest review!

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the multi-cast narration on this book! It really helped bring the characters and the situations to life and kept me engaged in the book from the very beginning! It was interesting to learn about the world of female bodybuilders, as I was completely unaware before. The characters were created well and I liked the mystery of a killer on the loose at a bodybuilding competition. I would recommend to anyone who likes mysteries and thrillers!

This psychological thriller follows the lives of Gemma, a fitness influencer, Andrew, a young boy obsessed with fantasies of Gemma based on her social media account, and Ashley, fat and frustrated with the fat shaming of the industry. Gemma becomes increasingly concerned as her fellow bikini bodybuilder competitors begin dying mysterious deaths. Meanwhile, Ashely finds herself working for Lydia, an advocate for promoting healthiness of all body types and diet culture. Their worlds collide through social media and then finally they are all placed together at the Olympia, a fitness competition and all secrets are revealed.

This is a story that dives into the realities of fitness shaming, fat shaming, social media obsession, bodybuilding lifestyles and more. I enjoyed the characters and being exposed to both sides of diet culture. I liked the relevant themes from this book, it was different and not topics you typically read about in mystery / thrillers.

I liked this book. It’s a pretty good thriller but it also touches on themes that are so very important to me, personally.

I am an overweight girly that lost 60 lbs and then gained it back having two babies back to back. So I know how it feels to have to “put your inner fat girl in a cage”, and the feeling that the world determines your worth by the size of your body. This book did a great job tackling body shaming, from both sides, and the toxicity around the entire conversation on social media, and I just really enjoyed those themes.

As for the thriller aspect of this book, I thought it was just okay. There were a lot of characters and a lot was going on, and it all got a little convoluted for me.

The narration for the audiobook was great overall. However, the narrator for Gemma had a jingly pair of earrings or bracelet or something on and you could hear it in her clips, and that got a little distracting.

Overall, this was a good thriller. The body positivity storyline really carried this one for me, and it is what will set it apart other thrillers.

This book was such a fun read with awesome narrators.. It had a very unique kind of murder mystery that will keep you guessing..

Thank you, NetGalley!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced audio book.

I wanted to like this book--a fresh setting, in the world of competitive bodybuilding!--but I just couldn't get into this one. Guess I'm not the reader for this.

"Bodies To Die For" and wow, it was a wild ride!
This book had like everything - murder, fitness influencers, drama between competitors, and a whole message about body image. It started off strong, kind of like a whodunnit with all these suspicious characters. I wasn't sure who to trust! The ending wasn't mind-blowing, but overall it was a fun and fast read. If you're looking for a thriller that'll make you think a bit about the world of fitness and social media, this is your book. Just beware, there's a lot of focus on body image so if you're sensitive about that stuff, it might be a bit much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.