Nina Beck’s novel and I had a rocky start to our relationship. Riley, the main character, is described on the back of the book as “plus-sized.” And the main plot point is, she goes to fat camp. However, she is also a size 10-12. That is in no way fat. This upset me, but as the book went on, I came to see that it didn’t look like anyone actually thought of Riley as fat except maybe her stepmother. I don’t like where the word plus-sized was used, but Riley, her friends, her family, and the guys she hooked up with all seemed to think she was pretty attractive. So I’m pretty glad I continued past that point.
Note: this post is slightly spoiler-y, so if you’re really uptight about spoilers, don’t read any further. But I don’t think it’s spoiler-y in a bad way. It just shows that this book is made of awesome.
This Book Isn’t Fat, It’s Fabulous is about a rather shallow girl in Manhattan who is sent away to a fat camp called New Horizons in upstate New York. She leaves all sorts of unresolved issues with her friends (including her best friend, a guy who she thinks she’s in love with and kissed before she left) and family, goes away to fat camp, finds a great guy and some great friends, and some new perspective (ie she becomes less shallow). This is all pretty predictable. But you know what the curve ball is? She never loses weight, and she has remarkably few body issues for a teenage girl of any size! That is why this book is so absolutely fantastic. That is the best message ever! I love that message! But it’s not preachy, and this book isn’t really about fat. This book is about a pretty typical girl (though she spends way too much of daddy’s money) who has relatively normal issues and confused feelings about her guy best friend.
This is a happy book that totally made me smile. I loved the romance, I loved her friends at fat camp (I totally want to know more about Samantha), I was intrigued by her confused feelings about her best friend, and I liked the (admittedly predictable) way her thinking changed while she was at New Horizons. Okay, so the book itself isn’t exactly remarkably deep, but you know what, I’m on vacation and I don’t care. There’s bunches of shallower things in the world, countless terrible books out there that I’m glad I wasn’t reading instead. Nina Beck’s writing style is unremarkable, but in a good way–it doesn’t interfere with the totally fabulous story being told. I love Riley’s attitude. This book has serious attitude. It’s fabulous and empowering and fun and entertaining and an easy summer read. You probably know that I like good body image message books, and this is one of the best I’ve read. Riley’s attitude about her body is wonderful, and by the end she had really grown on me as a character. I only wish this book was longer! My biggest complaint here is that all of this remarkable character development and awesome romance happened in a very short period of time. It would have been a tad bit more realistic, I think, to stretch out the timeline a bit. In conclusion: this book is fabulous, Riley is fabulous, everything is just fabulous. Go, read it!
August 9, 2008 at 7:46 am
This sounds interesting. As someone who falls into the 10-12 category right now (though I am not supposed to, but that’s another story) I know it’s not plus-sized because all the plus-sized closes start at 14-16! I don’t fit into any of those, but I don’t fit into the normal clothes either at most stores. How frustrating! :P
I like that this book seems to have good humour. I like humour in my books.
September 9, 2008 at 2:20 pm
This book so awsome! i could’nt put it down! i loves it so much Nina beck when are you planning on wriiting another novel??
February 14, 2009 at 3:25 pm
[…] This Book Isn’t Fat, It’s Fabulous is lots of fun. It’s not particularly literary, and it’s far from perfect, but it sure is fun. Riley, the main character, is happy and confident and heavier than “ideal” (though she is by no means fat). She’s awesome. […]
July 25, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Gosh, Miss or Mrs.Nina
I love your book “This book isnt fat it’s FABULOUS” because it a book I can put myslef as Ms.Riley Swain because of the situation im in (which kind of the same as fabulous riley). I love how you write it as if you were Riley and I can’t wait to read your next book “This girl isnt shy she spectacular” this fall.
May 24, 2010 at 4:58 am
I totally love this book!
May 24, 2010 at 5:00 am
Itis so fabulous. Definitely my favourite book besides: “This girl isn’t shy, she’s spectacular”!!!!!:)
November 29, 2010 at 9:20 pm
i read the book and its awesome i finished it in 1 day
January 27, 2011 at 2:05 am
I just finished this book and the way you described “D” i am sure he looks real good :p i just love your book …. the humor is good (real good) and im gonna read the once again!!!!:D
July 17, 2011 at 10:25 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!! its so funny and interesting to read. I’m really glad that Riley ended up with Eric and that D forgave her. what a special relationship they have,. :0