Eat, and Love Yourself is a graphic novel following Mindy, who has an eating disorder. One day she buys a chocolate and every time she takes a bite she gets sent back in time to confront her memories from when she was younger.

This graphic novel with beautiful art carries a very heavy theme. I personally cannot relate to the eating disorder aspect of the story, but I hope people who is suffering from it can find solace and hope in the story. Also, people who are not familiar with eating disorders can learn more. It also tackles mental health and finding it in yourself to love yourself. I found the story very sad, but also full of hope. I wish we got more in the end, so hopefully it will be more volumes in the future. When Mindy finally got to a point to look at things in a different way, the story ends. Overall important, heartful and very real. 4/5 stars.

Loved the graphic novel. I will be forwarding the info to our teen librarian for purchase. I think this an I.portsnt topic for youth to read about, and i can see them loving the illustrations.

We follow Mindy, right away we enter her world and learn how people treat her and talk to her about her weight. She buys a chocolate bar called “Eat and Love Yourself”. But with each bite, she gets a flashback of a moment of her past. Throughout these pages, we see her past and present days. Throughout these flashbacks he beings to learn to love herself, to stand up for her self. The candy bar being magic was something I was surprised by, I wasn't sure if it would come across cheesy, but it didn't. She has a pet cat, Jabba, who is over the moon cute!
I love the style of art. I like the color choice and how powerful it is.
Overall, this book moved me because it shines like on Mindy and her body in a positive light and did have her change herself for her to love herself.
Warning if you are sensitive to disordered eating and/or purging.

i think the author tried to give some good and uplifting message but it kind of failed at the end. for any book that has potential triggers, you should (please !!!) be extra careful with your writing!

Mindy is in her mid-twenties with a poor self-image and an eating disorder. She discovers an artisan chocolate bar that allows her to revisit her childhood whenever she takes a bite. As she takes a new look at her past, she begins to see her issues and how they have affected her. I didn't feel like the story had enough of a resolution to it. The art is cartoony with some swagger to it and nice bright colors.

Nope. This one didn't work for me.

Eat, and Love Yourself is a graphic novel about a 27-year-old woman named Mindy, who has struggled with self-esteem and disordered eating for most of her life. One day she discovers a candy bar that professes to teach the person who eats it to love themself. Each bite transports Mindy back to a moment from her past-- usually traumatic moments featuring fat-shaming, restrictive eating, and/or binge eating. All the while in her present-day life, she continues to exhibit these same unhealthy behaviors, fight with her fat-shaming best friend, and remain oblivious to romantic overtures from a myriad of boys.

I think that Mindy's story might be a very realistic of eating disorder and body dysmorphia, though I can't speak to that from personal experience. What it isn't, is fat-positive. There's hardly any character growth over the course of the story, and no evidence that Mindy has learned to "love herself" by the end, other than a one-off comment that feels unsatisfying without any textual evidence to back it up. Mindy doesn't do anything to change her behaviors, thoughts/beliefs about size, or her loved ones' toxic comments about weight. Her "breakthrough" occurs when her parents tell her that they love her and that she's beautiful "inside and out," and when her old high school boyfriend tells her that he loved her no matter her size. Her parents' words are completely empty in the face of all the triggering and fat-phobic things they've said throughout the rest of the story, and the ex-boyfriend is sweet but seems to indicate that Mindy only sees herself as worthy of love when someone else sees her that way... which isn't self-love.

In my opinion, this book would have been better if it hadn't featured a fat MC. Firstly, the character design isn't very consistent-- Mindy looks bigger or smaller or has different body proportions from panel to panel. If done deliberately, this might have been a cool way to show body dysmorphia through the eyes of the character, but I don't think it was. I'm pretty tired of fatness being portrayed by thin people as tragic and the result of binge eating. Also, my ace fat self is way over the trope of the fat-but-still-beautiful character who ~doesn't even notice all the thin, conventionally attractive boys that are super into her and ~if only she'd open up her eyes and see that she really is worthy of love, because some other people find her attractive!! *gag*

Either Eat, and Love Yourself fails in its intended premise, or the premise is completely misrepresented by the synopsis provided. This may be an accurate portrayal of eating disorders, but it is NOT fat-positive nor does it feature a character who learns to love herself. This isn't an uplifting tale, and actually left me feeling quite morose and even angry. The artwork is really beautiful, though.

TW: internal and external fatphobia and fat-shaming, body dysmorphia, disordered eating (including restricting, bingeing, and purging)

I had a hard time with this comic. As someone who had an eating disorder and has had friends with eating disorders I thought that this book would be a good and uplifting read about coming to love yourself. I also happen to be in the mental health field currently and found a lot of problems with the messages of the book. The message of the book seems to be that food is bad. This is inherently problematic for a book about eating disorders. You see the main character restrict, binge, and purge and the end message seems to be that it's the food's fault when she binges. That it only makes her happy for a moment and she just shouldn't eat. This is a terrible message for someone who is already restricting some of the time. Overall, I think the intention of this book was to empower but the execution was very problematic (see why under spoiler).

*SPOILER*
So the main character eats a magical candy bar that makes her relive all her worst moments growing up about people calling her fat or commenting about her weight, food consumption, and type of food. You can see in her life that she is unhappy and uncomfortable. She has low self-esteem and is not taking care of herself. The book seems to indicate that getting advances from men is somehow very important (I don't like this message although I understand this is true for some). So even though she is getting numbers from interested men, she doesn't believe they actually like her because she's fat. So she visits her family and has an outburst about how she's a disappointment and how she knows she's horrible for being fat. Then her family assures her she's beautiful inside and out and they never meant any harm. Then she runs into an old crush and he tells her she's beautiful and always has been and he likes her just the way she is. Only after these two events does she think, hmmm yeah I should learn to like myself. I don't like that this happens after other people's validation and her relationship with food is not addressed at all.

Hello Again!


This has been a busy week and lately, every day has felt like five but something that has helped has been great books and video games. I love being able to escape to other places or just read about other situations for a bit. I also love picking up projects (which tends to help keep my mind off other things). My most recent project has been working on small decor touches around my townhouse and finding space for everything (like if something does not have a space do I need it even? It's the big question I have been asking lately). In between those things I stumbled upon a graphic novel on Netgalley that looked so interesting I couldn't not request it and after waiting (luckily it was short wait) I got approved for the E-ARC so naturally, I stopped my little cleaning project and dove into this graphic novel (and I 100% did not regret it).


SPOILERS AHEAD


Mindy does not have the perfect life or the perfect body. She lives with her cat in an apartment, does not attend college (despite what her parents may or may not want), and works at a local cafe. Mindy however, is on the quest for the perfect body she buys all the magazines that talk about diets and trends as well as buying low-fat diet products at the store. But one night when Mindy is hungry she heads to the local market for a snack, there she picks up a chocolate bar called "Eat, and Love Yourself," Mindy buys the candy more out of curiosity than anything. But she soon learns that with every tiny square of the chocolate bar she eats she will be transported back to a moment in her past and not just any moment a moment that has somehow been influential to how she sees herself.


I can not gush about this graphic novel enough! This was the perfect graphic novel, honestly just what I needed when I needed it. I even ordered my own copy to have because I loved it so much. I wanted to be able to read Mindy's story over and over and look at the amazing artwork. This story touched on so many things that were relatable and I think that is something that made me love this so much. I highly recommend picking this up and giving it a try. Crossing my fingers that someday I get to read more about Mindy.


Rating: 5 stars on Goodreads (but I really feel like it deserves many more).





***Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC copy on Netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley who approved my request to read this comic and to BOOM! Box who provided a digital copy. I adore the cover because it focuses on Mindy and it has some of my favorite colors!

I really have to get used to comics again and how short they are. The pace of this comic was good. We’re introduced to Mindy at a concert she went to with her friend, Shae. Immediately we get a sense of who Mindy is. She isn’t the sociable type compared to her friend. She tries to have fun, but her insecurities get the best of her. Shae wants her to enjoy the concert, and that’s when she bumps into Elliot, someone she went to high school with. Their interaction is brief. Mindy doesn’t realize how nervous Elliot is. I noticed throughout the book, the people Mindy is around—they love and care for her. They don’t care about her size or what she eats. They care about her personality and must love her shocking blue hair as much as I do! 

That really contrasted with her past. The people she had chosen to surround herself compared to when she was younger. We’re introduced to her past when she buys the chocolate bar. Not going to lie, I want that chocolate bar. To relive my memories or find something in there to love about myself. That’s exactly what Mindy experiences when she’s taken to her home where her parents talk about her weight. Present Mindy is a ‘ghost’ and watches silently. It’s heartbreaking at first to see your own parents and hear them talk about you that way. 

Yet as pieces of the chocolate bar go by, she sees herself the way people in her present life do. She encourages her past self, and that motivates her present self. She sees Elliot once again and gives him a chance. 

It’s a beautiful story with amazing illustrations. I love the colors and contrast from past and present. This was short and sweet. Yet I hope to have a physical copy of my own one day. This comic somehow really hit home. For all its radiating positivity, I had to give it four out of five stars!

This book provides a harrowing look into the distraught mind of a beautiful woman. It lays bare the people, moments, and inner demons that tear her body image down bit by bit. Seeing her make changes and struggle to learn about herself through a magic chocolate bar is sad and fulfilling in how she uses the knowledge. I wish every teen could read it, to see themselves in the girl, or the friend who doesn’t realize her casual tear downs, or anyone else to see hw much s going on I’m the heart and mind of another..

This story follows Mindy as she copes with having an eating disorder and comes to terms with some issues from her past. Whenever she eats a chocolate bar named "Eat and Love Yourself" she is transported back to a moment in her past. Reliving these moments gives her insight into her struggles.
I was able to relate to Mindy. I have struggled with body image and find it difficult not to overeat. However, the story seemed scattered, and the ending was abrupt. I would have liked to see more plot and character development.

Eat, and Love Yourself
by Sweeney Boo
Rating: 4/5 stars
I received an eARC via NetGalley from BOOM! Box in exchange for an honest review.

Content warnings: eating disorders; body dysmorphia; mental health concerns - depression and anxiety

Eat, and Love Yourself follows Mindy - a young woman struggling with an eating disorder and how it effects her overall personal identity. The story opens with Mindy spending time at a dance club with her best friend, Shae. Later that night, Mindy goes on a snack run to a local convenience store where a peculiar bar of chocolate catches her eye. It is this bar of chocolate, which promises to be "the chocolate that will change your life", that serves as the catalyst for the rest of Mindy's story. As she eats portions of the chocolate bar, Mindy is encouraged to reflect on her past life experiences which have played roles in how she lives with her eating disorder.

I found Mindy's story to be incredibly personal and thought provoking. The way Mindy's eating disorder, body dysmorphia, and depression are written and illustrated are equally beautiful and painfully raw. The dialogue and artwork complement each other wonderfully. This graphic novel presents one of the most honest takes on eating disorders and accompanying mental health issues I have had the pleasure of encountering in young adult literature. My only issue with this book is that I wanted more - more background story, more commentary on Mindy's relationships with her friends and family, and more about how Mindy intends to confront her demons moving forward.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Eat, and Love Yourself. Mindy's story sends important messages about body image and, of course, learning to love yourself - flaws and all. I recommend this book to anyone in the mood for a heartwarming, contemporary graphic novel.

This Graphic novel is absolutely amazing!
I loved from the beginning to the end. It is so beautiful, I really love the artwork!
In addition, the message of this Graphic novel is so important. Everyone should read it.
I adored this novel for its message, and also for its amazing artwork.
Thank you so much! ♡

German:
Diese Graphic novel ist absolut unglaublich! Ich liebe sie!
Die Zeichnungen sind wunderschön und atemberaubend. Außerdem hat sie eine so wichtige Message, die jeder lesen sollte. Ich finde es einfach nur wunderschön und kann die graphic novel nur empfehlen! Es lässt sich gut lesen und auch mit wenig Englischkenntnissen verstehen.
Ich liebe die Message und die wunderschöne Kunst. Es wurde mit so viel Liebe zum Detail gestaltet. Fantastisch! ♡

Ultimately, a story about self-love but incomplete. Mindy is a complex character with an eating-disorder that stems from her parents but continues into her close friendships.

While Sweeney took the time to help readers understand where Mindy's struggle began and how it was affecting her life, there were a lot of gaps in the plot where more time could be spent explain the dynamic between characters. I wasn't expecting a clean and polished ending, and what we get is a realistic representation of how it takes time to heal.

The message gets across clear but is a slow build. While Mindy is 25, the story could be enjoyed among a wide range of readers.

What is this about?
Mindy is a young barista, who is a binge eater. Her life is stuck/ stopped and when she pics up a chocolate called Eat, and Love Yourself, and takes a bite, she begins to relive parts of her past, and begins to understand exactly why she is the way she is.

What else is this about?
Eat and Love Yourself is a gorgeous coming that takes readers on Mindy’s journey of self-discovery and her start to understanding her past and her body dysmorphia. This is a story that tackles a big topic in a way that is incredibly understandable.

Eat, and Love Yourself is a little gem of a graphic novel.

It’s Mindy’s story; she is an overweight barista, who feels a stuck in a rut, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. Life is a cycle of work, sleep and binge, before she throws up her junk food.

Mindy would call herself fat, given the way she art depicts her pinching the fat on her belly. The first time I saw her, I thought she was gorgeous, and voluptuous, but isn’t that the word people use to avoid calling women fat? I liked Mindy; I can see myself in her. I’ve been doing it this past couple of weeks — snacking incessantly bc I am worried about something or the other, and regretting it later and wondering why on earth I needed that snack when I wasn’t exactly hungry.

Mindy though has deeper issues to deal with; issues that stem from her childhood, and that’s when the Eat and Love Yourself chocolate come in. Set in an innocuous display at her local grocery store, she buys it. But when she eats it, she is transported to memories of her childhood, when her father berated her for being late to everything, or letting her know she could afford to miss a meal here and there. Her mother, while good natured, never really defended her.

Things like that build such insecurities, flip comments that the speaker doesn’t really think about — but the person listening takes in. Comments like that matter like Mindy discovers, recalling too the psychiatrist she talked to and diagnosed her with body dysmorphia.

There’s a romance floating around in the background of this story, but this story is about Mindy acknowledging she has to work on herself before she can do anything else with anyone else.

There’s beauty in this story, in the way that Mindy begins to understand herself better, and begins to stand up for herself. I know there are plenty of moments I would have liked that sort of understanding myself.

Go get Eat, and Love Yourself — go share it with a young woman or man in your life you think might need it. And even if they don’t, give it to them anyway — these are the stories young readers need to see.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

It was the beautiful cover and art style that called me into this, but it was Mindy's story that had me hooked until then. Mindy is a beautiful, curvy woman who has always struggled with self image and worth. Her relationship with food is a tumultuous one, and it bleeds over into her relationships in her daily life.
One day she finds chocolates with the words Eat, and Love Yourself. These chocolates help her unlock these feelings she's had and help her overcome them.

I didn't fall completely in love with the characters, though. I didn't feel anything for the men who seemed to love her when she didn't love herself. I didn't feel their relationship at all. And while I do appreciate the ED representation, I didn't feel like the story had much to it in other ways. It felt.. soft. I do think it would be good for other plus size people who suffer through ED's like bulimia, but by way of entertainment it fell flat.

I do look forward to other works by this author.

Mindy is thick, fluffy, or chubby depending on your culture. But she is definitely not feeling the motto Eat, and Love Yourself. However, when she finds a chocolate bar labeled like that, she hopefully tries it with eye-opening results.

Eating disorders and bad self-esteem are serious and this book handles them responsively. Anyone who wasn’t popular knows that middle school and high school are a challenge just to power through. But once at college or working, everything seems so much better. Still school, and life in general, would be so much better with a chocolate bar that prevents hunger.

While this is an empowering story, I’m not sure how entertaining it is. It feels like a public service announcement. However, if you or someone you know has self-esteem issues over their weight, Eat, and Love Yourself might be the perfect read. For me, it came off as too preachy. 3 stars.

Thanks to BOOM! Studios and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Eat, and Love Yourself ***REVIEW***

Meet Mindy, she’s a young woman who has lived for a long time with an eating disorder and would like to have the ‘perfect body’. She struggles with relationships with food and with her parents to an extent, as a lot of her issues have come from comments from them as she has grown up.
She goes to a convenience store for a late night snack one night and finds a new chocolate range: “Eat, and Love Yourself”, thinking nothing of it she buys one. UEach time she has a bite of it she is thrown back to certain aspects of her life that have influenced her relationship with food. Can she use these to find herself and her self worth?
I am not a big Graphic Novel reader but I fell in love with this. It is beautifully written and the artwork was beautiful too. There will be so many people who relate to Mindy and her story and could open up others eyes to how their comments affect the people around them.
The story would have been better for me if it was longer. I wanted so much more, I really hope there will be a series!
As mentioned Mindy has an eating disorder. It also looks at body dysmorphia and touches on depression and the way eating food makes us think that we feel better.
I felt the story was especially strong in the way it was all portrayed through Mindy and her personal growth. The subject is a hard one to tackle but it was dealt with so well. I especially liked the way it showed the comments made by friends and family that are not meant to be mean,can come across otherwise if you are in a bad place with food and/or have an eating disorder. These comments can send you into a spiral and take actions like making yourself be sick; it definitely made me realise how the things we say even when they come from a place of love or jest can have the biggest affect on someones mental health. I was captivated by the artistic style. It is aesthetic and powerful and I genuinely think that Mindy is a gorgeous person.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and I think it will be a story I will come back to again and again. If you are a YA fan or a graphic novel fan or even someone who has lived with an eating disorder, I urge you to read this and know that you are worthy and your body does not define you.
“Body dysmorphia keeps us from seeing ourselves as we actually are...but you do have the power to fight it.”
Thank you NetGalley for a proof of this in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the synopsis of this graphic novel, I just knew I needed to get my hands on it. I was so happy when NetGalley sent it my way and absolutely could not wait to dive into this story.

Eat, and Love Yourself was a graphic novel I easily finished in one sitting as it captured my attention the entire time. The artwork was so beautifully done and I loved and appreciated the message the story delivered so incredibly much.

*Many thank yous to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for providing me with an eARC!*

[Full review is also available on my blog, whiterosestories.com]

Read in one sitting. Tastefully done, endearing story about eating disorder and outside influences. I loved Mindy and would love to read more of her story, though I'm guessing this won't be a series. A wonderful graphic novel.