This memoir really hit a chord with me. While I didn't have this same exact experience, much of what Marie-Noëlle Hébert describes in her own life is something I can relate to. This is a difficult topic to talk about, especially when it is your own experience and I believe that Hébert did a beautiful job in telling her story and making someone who had similar thoughts about her own body feel comfort in knowing that she wasn't alone. Having it written as a graphic novel was an interesting way to approach this topic, but I think it worked really well; the images made it more approachable and relatable.

I definitely plan to recommend this memoir!

TW: Eating Disorders, Suicide, Fatphobia, Fat/Body Shaming

This is a graphic memoir about the life of Marie-Noëlle. Marie-Noëlle wants to be thin and beautiful. She struggles with her weight, becomes obsessed with weight and begins to have suicidal thoughts.

My heart broke reading her story. She has to deal with bullies and her family’s teasing about her weight. She has an amazing friend who suggests she tries therapy. With the the help of her therapist, Marie-Noëlle gets the help she needs and her confidence grows.

The illustrations in this graphic memoir are amazing. I love that most of the illustrations are in black and white.

*Thank you NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

My Body in Pieces by Marie- Noëlle ARC Review

I was asked by the author to give her book an honest review in exchange for the ARC.

Synopsis:

All Marie-Noëlle wants is to be thin and beautiful. She wishes that her thighs were slimmer, that her stomach lay flatter. Maybe then her parents wouldn’t make fun of her eating habits at family dinners, the girls at school wouldn’t call her ugly, and the boy she likes would ask her out. This all-too-relatable memoir follows Marie-Noëlle from childhood to her twenties, as she navigates what it means to be born into a body that doesn’t fall within society’s beauty standards.
When, as a young teen, Marie-Noëlle begins a fitness regime in an effort to change her body, her obsession with her weight and size only grows and she begins having suicidal thoughts. Fortunately for Marie-Noëlle, a friend points her in the direction of therapy, and slowly, she begins to realize that she doesn’t need the approval of others to feel whole.
Marie-Noëlle Hébert’s debut graphic memoir is visually stunning and drawn entirely in graphite pencil, depicting a deeply personal and emotional journey that encourages us to all be ourselves without apology.

‘Each day I focus on finding fault with my body, one piece at a time.
I’m good at it.’

I know I’ve definitely been there. I still do this. I always focus on finding my faults and not enough time focusing on positive self attributes.

‘No more fading into the background. Free myself from the expectation of an ideal body image by becoming stronger, more complete. Be myself. And stop making the mistake of apologizing for it.’

I love the artwork in this book!

Release Date- April 6, 2021

4/5 Stars!

TW: Eating disorders, fatphobia, suicide

Based on the author’s own experience, this graphic novel uses an evocative art style to explore one girl’s experience of fatphobia, disordered eating and body image. Fat folks are tragically underrepresented, especially in relation to eating disorders, so this book is an important addition. Through flashbacks Body in Pieces shows the detrimental effects of weight stigma on children, looking at all the seemingly small moments that had a large impact on Hébert’s relationship to her body. Although we unfortunately do not get to know much about Hébert outside of her body image struggles, the book ultimately offers a hopeful conclusion that Hébert will be able to break this cycle and heal.