CW: Disorder eating (binge eating), bullying, domestic abuse, attempted sexual assault

Sugar is a 16-year-old girl who, her whole life, has suffered from disordered eating - resulting in her being extremely overweight. Sugar's problems are exacerbated by the extreme bullying she receives in school but also in the home at the hands of her brother and her mother. She also acts as carer for her mother - who is so overweight, she can no longer move out of the bed, and who also has breathing and other health difficulties. When Sugar meets Even, he finally gives her the chance at a happier life and a respite from her terrible home environment. With his help, Sugar begins to believe she is worth more than she ever thought.

This was an emotional, heavy-hitting book that I found so hard to read at times due to a number of factors - the bullying Sugar goes through, both in school and at home, is just so horrible that it's hard to believe people can be so cruel. Particularly with her brother Skunk, his behaviour with Sugar is just so extreme, it's almost hard to believe though I'm aware many people do have to live in toxic and dangerous home situations all the time. For someone fairly young, Skunk's behaviour and tendency to violence was frightening. It's also very hard to read how Sugar treats her own body, and just how much she will consume in a moment/day and the reasons why she is doing that.

I did like how throughout the book, you really feel like Sugar starts to dissect her eating issues, and get to the bottom of her feeling of unworthiness and unhappiness. And identifying the triggers that cause binge eating behaviour. You really want to root for her, as she is a lovely, caring character to follow - a good egg.

I was surprised at the turn the book took, and I was also surprised at just how upset and emotional I was about it.

The romance in this book is very sweet, and borderline cheesy at times, I will admit. But Sugar did deserve to have an Even in her life, even if to force her to see the good person she is and the type of behaviour from others she should never have to put up with.

It's also important to point out the weight loss that Sugar achieves in this book is nothing to do with fad or dangerous diets or over exercise - just simple lifestyle changes like walking to school and cutting out soda and it making a big difference to her. I love the Sugar we get near the end of the book - someone who still has curves and is proud to be a bigger girl but also someone who loves herself and won't cry anymore because of others as they're not worth it. She becomes a bit of a badass with a Harley.