In this comedically open memoir Carla Sosenko shares her experiences of living in a different body and what that has done to her self image. She also recalls how her image impacts her mental health and navigating relationships. It’s ultimately a memoir on bodily autonomy, as Sosenko recalls memories when she had none. Starting as early as 8 years old, getting liposuction for a rare vascular disorder she was born with. She discusses her lifelong feud with diet culture as a means to make herself smaller and more palatable. Sosenko’s privilege is also meditated on often in this memoir. She knows she’s different, but often feels she’s not apart of the disability community because she’s more able bodied than most. She knows she’s skinny fat, but has lived her life in a bigger body knowing the loneliness that comes with fatness. She knows she has pretty privilege and is a fair skinned Jewish woman. Her privilege is in the forefront of her mind as she tries to reclaim her autonomy. 

I liked pieces of this memoir, the diet culture aspects being so normalized as a young girl is something I could relate to. I did definitely think this was going to be a bit more disability justice based than it was, and there are a lot of snippets of it sprinkled throughout that I appreciate. I did enjoy the journey of watching Carla getting to the pieces of body joy she does achieve. I loved her candor and humor and frankness she approaches these topics with and think it will resonate with a lot of audiences. 

Thank you Random House and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. And thank you Carla for your honesty.