I didn't realise Rae grew up in Stamford, so close to me! This felt very genuine as a diary and I disagree with a lot of the criticism this book has received - Rae is very likeable and believable. There's not much discussion at all of the "mad" part of the title, perhaps editing has removed this. As a book about an overweight girl this is excellent. Rae does worry and struggle but doesn't change and this is well presented. Her romantic aspirations are painful, she is humiliated horribly and has long crushes - much more like real life than 24 hour romances in books!