I didn’t really know what I was getting into with Big Fat Disaster but I liked the cover and had read some fairly good reviews, so I thought “why the heck not?” I have been trying to add more contemporary YA into my reading schedule to get some diversity.

Likes:

I liked the view from inside the political family from Belle, so I thought this was really interesting to see it from another perspective.

Colby’s body images and eating disorder were real things and I think they were portrayed in a good way. I have struggled with food forever. I occasionally find myself running to food when I am stressed, upset or even happy. It is a struggle and I have always weighed more than I wanted to. I really thought the book brought out the issues in a real way and could make people who do not struggle with food realize what a battle it is.

Colby’s mom is awful, but a lot of people see binge-eating and overeating as a personal problem, not as a mental issue. She would tell Colby she needs to “push away” from the table or count calories. Colby was using food as a way to connect to her father, as solace when she was upset, not because she was hungry.

I really liked Leah’s character. She was strong, had been pushed down, but still stood up for herself when everyone, including her family, treated her awfully.

Gripes:

More and more bad kept coming to Colby, it felt like it was overkill. I think the relationship with her mother and her father’s scandal would be hard enough, it just seemed a little crazy to keep piling it on.

The whole situation that happened to Ryan (trying not to spoil here) seemed so unnecessary to me. I almost put the down the book because it was just not needed. It seemed to take the path in the book off course. I think the message could have been the same without that situation.

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A Flurry of Ponderings