It's rare, in a sense. After finishing the book I know exactly what I want to say. Here goes.

This book has potential to change somebody's life, probably? But it's not without flaws. And it does absolutely nothing for me personally. I wouldn't call it a waste of time, but I didn't like it much.

The healthy living message wasn't too forceful, but maybe it's because I mostly ignored it. I can do that, unless it gets too forceful - then I quit altogether. I'm just not invested in listening to preachers.

I liked Cat's transformation and her emotional growth, but gods did I want to shake her more than once. And she should have made Matt work more. You don't just kiss a guy after not speaking to him for 4 years. It's a long time, a lot of changes. You may not even like who he's become. What the hell?

And Matt himself? I don't see him. At all. He is this very vague idea incapable of relating emotionally to other people. I thought him very presumptuous expecting Cat just to come back to him. And as far as I could tell he didn't even make an effort to find out why Cat ditched him. If he was her friend why didn't he just ask her what was wrong? It's like he doesn't even care. Ugh. Four years! FOUR YEARS, PEOPLE!

Actually, the longer I spend writing this review the less I like the book. It's entirely unrealistic. If only because dieting has a lot more of a psychological impact. Not to mention nursing a kiddy crush, and getting The Guy, and everything being Just Fabulous in the end.

FINAL VERDICT: I would not recommend this ( )

A fun read that was fairly light but with serious undertones. I enjoyed the first person narrative and the odd ball way the main character dealt with such a common problem in America today, obesity. It added a fun light note to what could have been a dry and predictable read. Great secondary character as well. ( )

I'm really liking this book: it's sweet and funny and other good things. Brande's writing is great, and Cat was super likable and fun to read. I had a small issue with some of the language about Cat's figure, because I'm all about body acceptance. And I totally understand why the choices about certain words were made, because Cat is 17 and of course she's conscious of her body, and it worked with the story. (Sidenote: I really loved that there was no specific weight/size mentioned at all, even as Cat's body changed. It made the whole story much easier to relate to, I think, for people of all sizes.) But take this passage for example (emphasis mine):

Because I was good. Really good. I was a strong girl, and I loved my sport. I loved competing. I loved getting in the water and showing what I could do, shaping my hands just right to create the minimum amount of drag, angling my arms and shoulders and legs perfectly so that my movement through the water looked almost effortless, so that I sped along, so much power and speed and – I guess this is the word for it – beauty. I think I really was beautiful in the water. Because no on e was looking at my face or my stomach or anything else – they were just watching me swim.
And so when Willie and Matt and the rest of them took that away – or really, when my bulging body took that away – I think maybe I lost something. Something more than just an activity that was fun to do every summer and that gave me an excuse to be with Matt all day, every day. I think I actually lost a part of my personality, like someone might wake up one morning and realize their thumbs had fallen off. (p. 203)

I love this passage because it speaks so beautifully to the ways we're deeply affected by how other people react to us. It resonates with me SO strongly, because stuff I heard about my body as a teenager is still with me today. And I love that Cat has this moment to think that she's beautiful and to feel like her body is powerful and good.

But, I really hate that the responsibility for her discomfort is taken off the boys who made her uncomfortable with her body and placed instead ON her body. Like, her body changed on her and that's why she got uncomfortable. Where, it's pretty clear from previous context, she wasn't uncomfortable with how she looked in her swimsuit until a boy said something hurtful. It wasn't the change in her body, it was the change in the way others reacted to it that made her decide to stop swimming.

Part of me feels like this is a very authentically teenage understanding of her situation, so the language makes sense. But the rest of me really hates that aside because it's such a cop out for rude, sexist, and hurtful comments. That guy wouldn't catcall you if your boobs were smaller; your grandma wouldn't remind you not to take seconds at the table if you were a little skinnier; that kid two seats over wouldn't have hurt your feelings if you didn't say such a dumb thing. It's all because there's something wrong with you, not that the person bullying you is out of line. I don't know. I'm probably over-analyzing.

Maybe it shouldn't bug me so much, but it does. ( )

Cat is obsessed with hating Matt Mckinney. All she wants is to beat him in the science fair. Then she gets the picture and her science fair project takes on a life of it's own. She's eating the way the hominids did and kicking technology out of her life. As she changes her diet and walks everywhere, the pounds start melting off and the male population takes notice.

I really enjoyed reading this. Cat was incredibly funny and I loved the relationship she had with Amanda, Jordan and her parents. The relationship she developed with her brother was just amazing to watch and reminded me of how my relationships with my sister developed.

I also really appreciated that the book was't preachy about the diet and technology give up. Yes Cat clearly felt this was working very well for her but it didn't feel like it was pushing it b/c it was more about Cat's internal change. I was also happy that the author stressed that even though Matt could be considered the catalyst for the change, really Cat did everything for herself.

I did have to giggle a little bit about what Cat would sometimes consider a "technology worthy emergency". They were very much teenage girl type emergencies. Also Amanda was an amazing friend and everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like that in their life. ( )

Cat is obsessed with hating Matt Mckinney. All she wants is to beat him in the science fair. Then she gets the picture and her science fair project takes on a life of it's own. She's eating the way the hominids did and kicking technology out of her life. As she changes her diet and walks everywhere, the pounds start melting off and the male population takes notice.

I really enjoyed reading this. Cat was incredibly funny and I loved the relationship she had with Amanda, Jordan and her parents. The relationship she developed with her brother was just amazing to watch and reminded me of how my relationships with my sister developed.

I also really appreciated that the book was't preachy about the diet and technology give up. Yes Cat clearly felt this was working very well for her but it didn't feel like it was pushing it b/c it was more about Cat's internal change. I was also happy that the author stressed that even though Matt could be considered the catalyst for the change, really Cat did everything for herself.

I did have to giggle a little bit about what Cat would sometimes consider a "technology worthy emergency". They were very much teenage girl type emergencies. Also Amanda was an amazing friend and everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like that in their life. ( )