Not gonna lie, I struggled through the first little bit of this book. I think my difficulty getting into it come from the fact that I am a fat girl who fought for years to get comfortable with my body. It was a struggle but i’ve been happy in my skin and able to stop seeing my fat and fatness as something to cover up and considering the fact that Lori, very understandably, isn’t there yet, nearly every thought she has in public for the first 10% is fixated on the perception of her fatness. This is relatable, sure and definitely a struggle so many deal with but the problem i had with it is that it was SO pervasive and considering how hard I fought to be out of that headspace with my own body it was difficult to be reading a book from that perspective with those concerns. It felt something like I was a former alcoholic who was suddenly reading a book from the perspective of someone trying to give up alcohol while working at a bar. All those struggles and difficulties I’ve fought to put behind me and to not have part of my daily mindset are suddenly so present and loud in this book so it took me a while to work through that and be able to enjoy the book beyond that. It did help that part of Lori’s journey was coming to peace with herself and accept her body and she stopped fixating on it but the beginning was still a rocky start for me.
One part I really related to and appreciated seeing depicted was Lori’s relationship with Zac. One of my sisters is on the autistic spectrum. SHe’s a lot different than Zac because she’s able to mask a lot more and “pass” and wasn’t diagnosed till she was an adult and she’s older than me but there was a lot that Lori was feeling that I knew all too well. I know what it’s like to be simultaneously frustrated but so fiercely protective of an autistic sibling. I know what it’s like to be the one who knows them best and has to help them out because you love them even if you can’t get the same dedication back. It felt so validating to have that experience written out like that. To see a character so much like me express things I’ve felt alone in. I know that of course I’m not the only one in my position but I’ve never seen this side in a book. To see Lori, a fat girl with anxiety in therapy who loves art, and their autistic sibling just like me was incredible. I mean obviously, there are a lot of differences, I’m not in South Africa for one but I appreciate Watson for telling this story for validating those parts of me because I know I’m not the only one who will relate to Lori and it’s so exciting to think of teenagers seeing themselves in her as I do and feeling less alone as a teen instead of as an adult like me. I love that we’re getting books like this.
Big Boned was a rough start for me but I’m really glad I stuck with it. I loved Lori’s friendship with Thembi and her relationship with Jake but really, I loved her and loved her growth throughout the book. I loved reading a book really exploring fatness and mental health and autism in positive and healthy ways. Thank you to Wattpad books and Netgalley for granting me this arc and thanks to Jo Watson for writing this really beautiful book.

As someone who grew up a fat teen, I 100% understand the main character's plight. The cutting words of her mother, and even her mother's attitude towards her own self. It was short and sweet, and a delightful surprise of being set in South Africa! I wasn't expecting that, but as a South African it was cool to see. I also liked how therapy-positive this book was, and how therapy isn't always easy. Added bonus of the main character never wanting to "fix" her body, either. She just has to learn to accept it better.

However, the writing was definitely not for me. It took me a long time, nearly half the book, to even start to get used to it. It certainly felt very juvenile, even for the target audience, and a little like an adult who has forgotten what it's like to talk as a teenager. The writing really took away a lot from me, but I still enjoyed the book overall.

This had a lot to say about the realities and anxieties of being fat—finding a comfortable way to sit, walking up a flight of stairs without losing your breath. This book does a good job of showing Lori coming terms with her weight and not being ashamed of it. While I can't speak on how accurate the autism representation was, it was really refreshing to have a character with a sibling on the autism spectrum and have that celebrated.

Loved this book. So adorable and has real substance. It's important for girls of all shapes and sizes to see themselves as the main characters. Love seeing size struggles discussed more in books these days.

I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of Big Boned through NetGalley thanks to Wattpad books, despite this all my opinions are my own.

I didn't know what to expect going into this novel, the premise seemed basic enough, fat girl trying to fit in at a new school, while I was never the new girl I did understand trying to fit in when you were bigger than everyone else around you. This book follows high school senior Lori Palmer as she moves from her hometown Johannesburg to Cape Town. Her new school in Cape Town is a beach town high school, surfing for gym class, water polo being the biggest sport, and everyone is beautiful and thin. Lori doesn't know where she's going to fit into all of this. As her senior year progress it seems she hits bad spot after bad spot but through working with her therapist she slowly starts to compile a list of things she likes about herself and her outlook on her current life at Beach Water High gets better and better.

This book deals with a lot of topics, some I can speak on and others I cannot. The most prevalent one as evident from the summary is weight and our relationship with ourselves and our bodies, I am always wary about stories like this, many times they're not written well and end up just leaving a bad taste but this one didn't. Jo Watson put what felt like a very real experience on page, there were so many times I was nodding along thinking, yes, this is it, this is what I feel, and I think that's something that makes Big Boned so special. If you are sensitive to weight issues please please do avoid this though! Other topics that I won't really speak on but are being a child of divorce, being the sibling to an autistic brother, anxiety, therapy, gender based violence especially in South Africa (only mentioned does not occur in novel) and more.

The other part of this novel that warmed me to the core is closer to the end, little spoilers here (skip to next paragraph to avoid!) but there is a scene of Lori with a boy, showing her body for the first time before sex and it was the most heartwarming thing I'd ever read, it was yet another moment where it felt like Jo Watson had reached into my own teen years and pulled out inspiration, it made me feel seen and just loved in general.

The story also had an interesting twist, it was set in South Africa, while this really didn't change too much it was interesting to have the different currency and names of places, the bit of dialect tossed in, it was really fun and refreshing and made me interested in learning more about South Africa.

While this book had it's good parts there were also just somethings I didn't personally like. The texting between the friends and just in general in this book felt very.. me in 5th grade on FB messenger, it didn't really detract from the book but something about it just felt off. There was also a random thrown in comment about Lori's friend being a black male and how that was harder for him. It wasn't the fact this comment was in there, I liked that it was but it was only mentioned in about one paragraph near the end and never mentioned again. That was the first time I even knew the character was black, though we had only talked to him through text in the novel so maybe that was why, but it just felt very... tossed in.

Overall, Big Boned by Jo Watson really was a good and fast read, while it had it's hard hitting topics and moments they really came off as heartwarming, this was a novel that I think my teen self would have loved to read and maybe would have made me feel better in those years. I will definitely be recommending this book out to people, it really was a good read that had me laughing, crying and appreciating everything I've grown through.

This coming-of-age story is so much more than just that. It is told with heart and honesty and leaves the reader feeling happy and hopeful. Set in Cape Town, South Africa, we get to know Lori, the new girl at school who gets off to an awkward start. While facing challenges at home, Lori's main challenge is within herself. After experiencing terrifying bullying in her old town, Lori now sees herself as unworthy and unlikeable. The bullying in her own head proves to be much worse than what comes from others and threatens to take her down. When she becomes friends with Jake, the high school star athlete, she has to start seeing herself through other peoples' eyes. This YA romance is mature and smart with nuanced and multi-layered characters. The raw, emotional, imperfect characters are well-written and honest which allows for a basic plot line to get new life.

DNF at about 15%. I think it has to be said that this book starts with a lot of self-abuse and self-hate, much of which is focused on body image and can be incredibly triggering for some to read. This book was not for me, perhaps it is for others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a MASSIVE fan of Jo Watson's writing, so when the opportunity came along to read an advanced copy of her debut YA novel, I grabbed it with both hands.

Big Boned tells the story of Lori, the titular 'big boned' teenager who's just moved from her specialist art school in Johannesburg to the pristine seaside town of Clifton in Cape Town. Immediately she feels out of her depth, conspicuous in her own skin as apparent perfection surrounds her everywhere. I would caution that the first few chapters are a little heavy going. Lori really doesn't have a great opinion of herself at the start of the book, but as we learn more about her, many of these reasons become apparent.

What I particularly loved about this story was Lori's acceptance of herself over the course of the book. Rather than changing herself, Lori learns to love the unique things about herself, embracing those differences. The growing romance is Jo Watson's speciality, and doesn't feel at all forced. I also loved the interactions between Lori and her younger brother, who is on the spectrum. Those scenes felt particularly authentic, and I particularly liked the way Lori focused a lot of time encouraging her brother's positive autistic traits.

Watson has this ability to effortlessly intertwine romance, humour, and a social critique of modern South Africa. She tackles weighty issues ranging from racial discrimination to gender-based violence with sensitivity. Layered among these important themes is a focus on body positivity, and I was so excited to see @fullerfigurefullerbust name-checked, as she's one of my favourite Instagram accounts!

Ultimately, this is a positive story of self-acceptance, beautifully told. Highly Recommended.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review*

I would love to leave a review on Amazon UK but it shows as not yet released yet?

I was given this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I settled into this book not sure how I would like it. As someone who is bigger, books that cover this subject matter are few. Jo Watson did a fantastic job at describing Lori’s own struggle with accepting her body. I adored Lori. She had a lot of trauma and I am thankful for the trigger warnings at the start of the book. I also loved Lori’s relationship with her brother Zac. I loved following Lori’s artistic journey as well.

Let’s talk about Jake for a second. He’s the perfect guy honestly. He’s kind, attentive, athletic , attractive. He liked Lori for her personality and that huge I think.

Overall, this book sends out a positive message. It’s important to love ourselves and Big Boned does just that.

4.5 stars

I’d been looking forward to reading this one, and I wasn’t disappointed. I always appreciate books that feature characters with a multitude of body types, and there was a pretty good mix of representation for some other identities, including LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse characters. The story itself was good, and although it didn’t initially pull me in quite as much as I thought it would, I did still finish most of it over a 48-hour span and did enjoy it. I’ll look for more work from this author, and I do intend to purchase a physical copy at some point after its publication date (tomorrow!) for use in my classroom.

Big Boned is a staple that should be part of every school library.

Jo Watson was able to take many profound topics, dissect them, and empower the reader through them in this light and breezy read.

Our protagonist Lori Palmer's entire life has been uprooted when she is forced to leave her hometown of Johannesburg following her parents' divorce. She finds herself in a picture perfect beach town, with the small problem being, she does not fit this picture. Everyone here is so polished and thin and "perfect". She is big, has a special needs brother, and is not someone that people want to hang out with. Especially not people like Jake, the hot athlete from school.

Except maybe she is. Except maybe Jake volunteers to help kids with special needs, because his sister falls in that category and he is actually more than a shell of a human.

Lori learns so much on her journey of self-love. She learns her self worth. She learns about her needs that have been neglected through the divorce, and finds her voice to express those needs.

While the story is focused on Lori discovering her own voice, the author touches on many issues such as neglected needs of children that can happen through a divorce, autism, mental health, psychiatric diagnoses in general at a young age, alcoholism, the nasty shaming and bullying that accompany fat phobia, the dearth of resources for prototypical siblings of those with special needs, and the political issues that are part of South Africa. The author also touched on really important topics like safe sex in teenagers.

The only thing I wish was different was the need for a guy to really show Lori her worth. It seems like even the greatest of stories still require a guy to rescue the heroine. I also wonder if this is because the main character is a teenager, so perhaps I wouldn't have minded that as much if I was closer to that age group.

Overall, this was a great read and I highly recommend it!

I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. There were parts of this that I really enjoyed and other parts not so much. It was very hit or miss throughout the book in terms of the writing and the storytelling. There were times I felt that the author included some very poignant remarks and insights into society and it's expectations and then other parts felt so cheesy. Like I said I'm not quite sure what I think of this book. I did find the book to be a quick read and I did enjoy the story. So from that regard, if you want to read it I would say go for it. It had some highly entertaining moments. Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for allowing me to read an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

3/5. Thank you to Raincoast Books, Netgalley, and Wattpad Books for providing this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lori Palmer is a teenage girl who is overweight, loves her brother, and has a frustrating relationship with her parents. She moves to a new school where everyone is model-esque with beach bodies and perfect looks. Throughout the book, she undergoes a journey of growth, self acceptance/love, and romance as well.

I like the intent behind the book - self love, self acceptance, solid character development- it's a good message for a young-adult novel. It's also clear that the author was mindful about including POC and neurodivergent characters. However, I can imagine that some will find the way Lori describes her relationship with her own weight, coupled with the way she processes the looks of others, extremely triggering. The book also definitely reads like a Wattpad manuscript. It has some pretty cheesy lines/over exposition and really needs some good editing in regards to phrasing, flow, and vocabulary. The plot is also nothing too exciting, cliche, and the ending is fairly predictable.

The novel is a quick read, and fairly standard as a YA novel. YMMV, but I think that while the intent/message is good, the execution could have been much better.

Big Boned by Jo Watson

New nerd on the block, Lori, falls for her brother's hot jock friend, Jake. This is a standalone, YA contemporary romance novel. A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl overcoming body-issues with self-love and the support of her family and friends. This is the first book I've read by the author but I'll be sure to pick up more of her titles! Any fans of Dumplin’ or Leah on the Offbeat would enjoy this book.

Check out Big Boned by Jo Watson and be sure to get this standalone YA rom-com wherever you buy books!

✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3kmHXo3
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3AqSy6W
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/2XwVj8t
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/2Z5TTSV
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TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, new adult romance, young adult, YA romance, mental health, anxiety, depression, bullying, underage drinking, autism

MY RATING: 3.5/5 stars

MY RATING SYSTEM:
1 star = I don't recommend the book
2 stars = I would not read the book again
3 stars = I enjoyed the book
4 stars = I liked the book and would recommend to others
5 stars = Everyone should read the book; I would read the book again & again

*Thanks to NetGalley, WattPad Books and Jo Watson for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #NetGalley #BigBoned #JoWatson #WattPadBooks @JoWatsonWrites @WattPadBooks

OMG I used to have that inner voice that Lori has, that inner bully!  She would pick apart the way I looked. She only tells me that I'm not the best employee or mother every once in a while but then I tell her to go clean something and she shuts up.

Why do we have to judge friend worthiness and popularity on how skinny people are, their clothes, complexion, thigh gap etc?

Lori has just moved to a new school in Cape Town so that her brother can go to a school that will be better for him and his needs. Her mother is going through lots of changes as a new divorced, single mom and has not been around and giving a lot of her motherly duties to Lori.

Joining a new school when you already feel like you won't belong is rough especially going into senior year ugh. Lori is a very talented artist and she is trying to find her voice artistically and in her life. At her school the hottest guy Jake on the water polo team is just a dream and he happens to volunteer at the school her brother goes to. They start taking her brother and his sister on playdates which kind of turn into dates, maybe it's a gray area lol. 

Oh My! I loved Thembi, the super gorgeous popular girl who wanted to help Lori with designing a dress for her. That friendship, and Jake's attention and her therapist finally make her see that those a-holes at her last school that almost killed her and psychologically damaged her (TW) were wrong and she is worthy of everything everyone has!

I just loved the end with all the heart to hearts, last straw speeches and grand reveals. It is so hard when you can't escape the worst bully because it's in your head. If anyone ever needs to talk about anything, please dm me. Life is hard, some people are Amber's and feel good making others feel bad about themselves but don't take them seriously especially if people say stuff with a sneer. Sneers are red flags. Up

Thank you wattpad and netgalley for the e-ARC for honest and voluntary review.

The first thing I think you need to know about this book is I didn’t just like this book: I adored it. The second thing I think you need to know about this book is that it isn’t perfect, but it didn’t need to be for me to adore it just how it is.

The third you need to know? Don’t be fooled by this book being listed as a YA rom-com. Because I didn’t feel that’s an appropriate category label for this book and I think it does the book an injustice.

“Big Boned” isn’t a YA rom-com. It’s a YA coming-of-age tale, sure. It’s a fish-out-of water trope, yes. It’s a story about the type of love only siblings can share, yes. It’s a story about a broken family and broken lives, for sure. It’s about how some kids have to learn to deal with too much too early and how it changes them, for sure. And, of course, it’s a story about learning to love and accept yourself, who you are, the power you wield, and the lessons you learn along the way more than anything else.

Were there bits of levity to the book? Of course there were. If there weren’t then this book would’ve fallen into full-on drama or outright tragedy. But there is nothing light and fluffy about this book. It has weight to it. It has gravity to it. But that weight and gravity is there to serve a purpose, because this book deals with some rather complex issues, and it deals with them deftly and with a great deal of sensitivity. There is nothing in this book that feels like it was written without a great deal of thought given to it. Ms. Watson obviously took a great deal of time and care planning, researching, plotting, writing, and editing this novel, because in the end the whole thing just shines.

I’m always interested in seeing how an author will approach writing about a topic such as autism or ADHD. Ms. Watson has one major character with autism and one minor character with ADHD in this book. The reason I care so much about this is because my older son has ADHD and my younger son has autism. And I must confess: the way in which Ms. Watson’s autistic character was written absolutely blew me away (and also made me cry at times, I won’t lie), because my son’s autism presented very similarly when he was younger (right down to similarly colored foods) and she handled the subject so well throughout the book I was a little choked up just by the fact that she made that effort. She did that work. She put in the time to write a realistic, wholly realized autistic character and didn’t then make him the center of the drama like so many other authors might be tempted to do. It was just so lovely that, as a mom of two special needs children, I want to thank Ms. Watson from the bottom of my very black heart.

You guys, this book is fantastic. It has heart. It has a huge heart. It isn’t perfect. I think it could be trimmed up just a touch. I think the artistic references could be toned down just a little. But the writing is top-notch. The characters are endearing and realistic. The book has a voice and it has a lot to say. The cast is diverse and beautiful. Ms. Watson obviously has talent and I hope she keeps writing and writes more books like this, because I know I’d gladly read them!

I wanted to love this book, I really did! Plus size rep is so important to me but there were just so many things wrong with this book.

First of all, the casual bi-phobia irked me. A lot. The only gay character calling bi people greedy and disregarding it as a legitimate identity had nothing to do with the story. It just pulled me out and made me angry that the author has these views and felt the need to express it twice in the story.

Next, the big one. The plus size rep. I understand this book is meant to be about growth and learning to love yourself at any size. Unfortunately, when the plus size protag goes through 80% of the book tearing herself down, hating on everything with her body, and constantly saying how fat people don’t deserve love, the 20% where she finally starts to change does not really make up for all the harm the rest of the book perpetuates. I am so glad I didn’t read this book as a fat teen because I just know it would have killed my already low self esteem even more.

Also, there is so much hate against Lori’s mom. The whole book is about acceptance and loving yourself yet it didn’t extend to the mom. The author really put so much energy into tearing down Lori’s mom for her choice to get cosmetic enhancers. If getting Botox and lip fillers helps someone feel better about themselves, that their choice. Lori really went and looked down on her mom for doing what she, a grown adult, wanted to do to her own body.

The best parts of this book were with Lori’s therapist. These few scenes were so well done that I really feel had there been more of them, I would have given this book a higher review. So much of what she says are things I wish I heard growing up.

Overall, if you are looking for good plus size rep, this book ain’t it.

I felt seen, understood, and represented in Big Boned. As a fat female, I will pretty much auto-read a book featuring a plus size female protagonist. While this one started out a bit slow for me, I ended up finishing over half of it in one sitting and spent the last chapters crying my eyes out. I wish I could have read it when I was younger, but I still appreciated it now.

Our MC, Lori, has it all stacked against her: new city, new school, no friends, and leaving her dad behind as a result of a messy divorce. Lori feels like the only adult in her life, left to take care of the house, find her place in a new city, and the only one around to help her autistic brother, Zac.

Lori is an artist. What she’s too afraid to say out loud, she brings to life in her art. As she begins to find her place in town, with the help of her new therapist (and other unsuspecting friends), Lori “blooms” into herself and begins to love herself.

Recommended if you like:
-YA romance
-coming-of-age stories
-art/fashion
-social issues
-plants/gardening
-anxiety representation

CW: fat-shaming, fatphobia, divroce, anxiety/panic attacks, ableism, bullying, adoption, neurodivergence, alcoholism, infidelity

Thanks to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for my review copy. “Big Boned” is out 9/21!

YES! A MILLION TIMES YES! As a bigger girl, it is so hard to find books that I can relate to on a personal level and god this one nailed it right on the head. Watson's book reminds us that it's important to love who you are. We all have years to fall in love with someone else but we will always live with ourselves and it is so important to love ourselves. More than anything, I love the meaning behind this book and Watson's writing style is flawless! Can't wait to see what she brings us next!

I really enjoyed this book. I wish there had been more empowering, body positive books like this when I was a teen. So much of this story was relatable. I enjoyed the representation in this book.