I’ve never read a Kristin Higgins book until now, as others have seemed too chick-lit for me but I was drawn to the storyline of this one. Three childhood friends from fat camp, Georgia, Marley, and Emerson are still struggling with body image, self-esteem and the societal challenges of being overweight as thirtysomething women. After Emerson’s death, Marley and Georgia come together to complete the childhood list they made “Things to Do When They’re Skinny”.
As the story builds, we find out more about each women’s past struggles while we follow their growth. They begin to take more risks and open themselves up to joy, romance, and the life they deserve (regardless of their waist size).
This is a character driven story and I could certainly identify with some feelings of inadequacy and self-consciousness for not being a certain size and weight. It’s an enjoyable story of friendship and I think that’s what I most appreciated from this book because it shows healthy and positive female friendships, while not shying away from family conflict, sibling rivalry and how scars from our past can be embodied in our future.