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stephsbooktalk 's review for:
Big Boned
by Jo Watson
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Jo Watson & Wattpad for the opportunity to read this!
This book will be published on September 21st!
"Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear" - I needed this book in middle and high school and yes even as an adult. I do not think I highlighted as many quotes in a book as I had with this one.
This is a story about a high schooler Lori who is moved from her home in Johannesburg to Capetown. Lori had to start over in her senior year, going from an art school to a sports filled world at Bay Water High where surfing and bodyboarding were activities. She immediately felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb and tried her best to hide. Lori's mother moved her and her brother Zac to Capetown because Zac is on the spectrum and the best school was located there. Lori's parents are divorced after her dad was found having an affair with a much younger co worker. The whole divorce has caused a strain on her relationship with her parents. Lori is the maternal figure in Zac's life. While picking up Zac at his school, Lori spots the hot, popular boy from her school Jake with the kids at the school. Turns out he not only volunteers there once a week but his sister goes there and has become friends with Zac. In Lori's head, there is no way she can have a crush on Jake because guys like Jake doesn't end up with girls like her. It's so obvious as a reader to see how Jake feels about Lori, but Lori herself doesn't see them herself and denies that there is no way he could be into her. This voice is in her head is present throughout most of the book and many times I wanted to shake her.
Lori grows up so much over the course of this book and really comes into her own by the end. I am so very proud of the woman she had become.
This is my first book set in South Africa and I loved the references to the country. It sounds absolutely beautiful and now I need to see the bioluminescent waves in my lifetime.
I also loved how open the talk about mental health and seeing a therapist was in this book. Lori wasn't embarrassed at the idea of going and knows that it helps her and it did in fact help her.
As I said in the beginning, I needed this book growing up and even as an adult it is a reminder to love your body. Love what has provided so much for you over the years. Stop bullying yourself and giving in to the voices in your head. Also I need to start buying succulents.
This book will be published on September 21st!
"Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear" - I needed this book in middle and high school and yes even as an adult. I do not think I highlighted as many quotes in a book as I had with this one.
This is a story about a high schooler Lori who is moved from her home in Johannesburg to Capetown. Lori had to start over in her senior year, going from an art school to a sports filled world at Bay Water High where surfing and bodyboarding were activities. She immediately felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb and tried her best to hide. Lori's mother moved her and her brother Zac to Capetown because Zac is on the spectrum and the best school was located there. Lori's parents are divorced after her dad was found having an affair with a much younger co worker. The whole divorce has caused a strain on her relationship with her parents. Lori is the maternal figure in Zac's life. While picking up Zac at his school, Lori spots the hot, popular boy from her school Jake with the kids at the school. Turns out he not only volunteers there once a week but his sister goes there and has become friends with Zac. In Lori's head, there is no way she can have a crush on Jake because guys like Jake doesn't end up with girls like her. It's so obvious as a reader to see how Jake feels about Lori, but Lori herself doesn't see them herself and denies that there is no way he could be into her. This voice is in her head is present throughout most of the book and many times I wanted to shake her.
Lori grows up so much over the course of this book and really comes into her own by the end. I am so very proud of the woman she had become.
This is my first book set in South Africa and I loved the references to the country. It sounds absolutely beautiful and now I need to see the bioluminescent waves in my lifetime.
I also loved how open the talk about mental health and seeing a therapist was in this book. Lori wasn't embarrassed at the idea of going and knows that it helps her and it did in fact help her.
As I said in the beginning, I needed this book growing up and even as an adult it is a reminder to love your body. Love what has provided so much for you over the years. Stop bullying yourself and giving in to the voices in your head. Also I need to start buying succulents.