4/5 (audiobook)

CW: Rape, fatphobia, eating disorders, gaslighting

Roxane Gay hit me with all of the things I needed to hear in this memoir. She discusses weight, femininity, family, friends, and personal struggles and successes. Gay is a wonderful writer who tells the traumatic, raw, and real story of her life.

Gay shares how she and others have treated her body throughout her life, both positively and negatively. She is always honest about her struggles and her triumphs, making me feel like I was sitting next to her, listening to her tell me her story. Through this book, Gay is able to tell her story and does not hold back like society would expect her to. For this, I admire Gay.

The ending does not wrap up in a neat, tidy, all-things-are-good bow, but instead, it challenges its readers to continue thinking about what is "standard" and "normal" and how we can change those perceptions.

I plan to recommend this book to mature readers looking to challenge what society expects of us.