Bea has made a very full life for herself, with her plus-size fashion blog and the travel and networking that is required – or at least that is what she tells herself. That is, until she meets up with her long-term crush who utterly breaks her heart. After a public wise crack about a dating reality TV show where all the women have been impossibly thin, she attracts the attention of the producer, who invites Bea to be the newest “Main Squeeze.” Bea sees this as an opportunity to represent larger-bodied women, even as a business opportunity. But it may also be a chance for Bea herself to be convinced that she deserves love just as any other woman does…
If you’re looking for an easy, entertaining, but not entirely vacuous summer read – here it is! Written with great insight, warmth and sarcasm, the story carries us through Bea’s struggle and her growth. We learn about her difficulty with her size, how it has impacted her social interactions since her youth, and how a pivotal moment on her college study abroad has changed her course. The author occasionally intersperses comical internet conversations/texts/blog posts that comment on the plot, which add the social media dimension to the plot line and magnify the experience for us, just as it has been magnified for Bea herself. We live through Bea’s romantic ups and downs and feel deeply for her because we also love her – for her vulnerability, for her kindness, and for her gumption.
I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did – I highly recommend it – it’s great fun (especially for all you reality TV fans out there!) and carries an impactful message.
kindread spirits 