I wasn’t too entirely sure how much I would like this book as someone who has been self-conscious about my weight, but I loved it! From the story to the narration, it kept me intrigued, kept me guessing, kept me entertained! I was pleasantly surprised with this one.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version.
I am not sure how I feel about this book this novel was just so so. I found the two main characters just down right annoying mostly just the one over the other. But I found the one to be absolutely hateful, mean and doing absolutely horrible stuff all because she is jealous of people who are body influencers. I listen to about 60% and just found that nothing was happening an the story was still not going anywhere so it was a pass for me. It is a shame because I was really looking forward to this one.

This was such an enjoyable thriller. I loved that it played with themes of body positivity and toxic diet/fitness culture. I am already passionate about these topics but I loved how the author played with these ideas, weaving them brilliantly into a smart, twisty novel.

I would highly recommend this novel to people who are interested in these themes or are simply looking for a fun new novel.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook. I liked where the book was headed. However, I was left partially unsatisfied. I did not care for the narrator.
The novel shines a small light on the pressures placed by our society for women of all sizes. Sadly, the message gets lost quickly with all of the random commotion coming from the characters.
There were a couple storylines left open, which left me confused. I am on the fence if I would recommend this book.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing for the complimentary audio of this book!
 
This book is about exploring the world of fat acceptance, body shaming, fitness, and bodybuilders. Is a psychological thriller/murder that has a lot of twists and turns that will have you guessing until the end when everything comes to light.

It deals with body issues, but it also has a great message about loving how you see yourself.
This was a first for me in reading a book set around the fitness industry, but I think everyone could relate to this book in some way.
 
I like that the setting is in my hometown Orlando.
 
I really like the ending I was very happy for Gemma and Ashley!
 
I enjoyed the audiobook it was told from multiple POVs which I enjoyed. Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel did a great job, and their voices played their parts well.

Bodies To Die For has a lot to say, and the message is important. Unfortunately, the execution of the story fell flat. Short, choppy sentences made me feel like I was hearing a news report instead of listening to a narrative. Also, it was hard to get past the tinniness of Ashley's POV. That's not the author's fault, and maybe it was just my device. Writing a book is a difficult thing to do, so I'm still willing to give the book 3 stars. This one just wasn't for me.

No matter what side you are on fit and fabulous or fat and fabulous, you will defintely be hooked with this new psychological thriller that follows fitness influencer Gemma. Gemma has transformed herself from a Before to an aAfter with an amazing body that most would kill for. This has allowed her to achieve a thriving fitness business and a trophy husband. Gemma has a bikini bodybuilding event coming up where she is expected to come in first. That’s if she’s not killed first by someone who has been targeting other contestants.

Ashley, a talented software engineer, is fat and frustrated. Not because she has tried many diets that have failed, but because the world wants her to shrink. Even her mother is constantly on her to loose weight and find a husband. Ashley falls in with a group of fat activists and feels more confindent and control of her life than ever before. She is finally doing something to fight back the diet culture that is everywhere. That is until they ask her new comrades ask her to break the law.

My thoughts:
I loved the social commentary this book makes with the pressure women feel to look a certain way and on the $70 billion dollar diet industry that profits from women’s insecurities. It also takes a hard look at social media, the dysfunctional relationships among women and ourselves.

None of the characters are entirely likeable but both Gemma and Ashely are fighting for what they believe to be true. Both are strong females and I love the interaction between the two! I recommend adding this to your thriller TBR!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel. This book was so enjoyable, and they did a great job bringing the characters to life. This book had great snark and I absolutely loved it. It was a fun yet gripping suspense mystery, and a social commentary on a very serious subject. Once I got involved, I didn't want to stop listening.
The story is told from two POV. The first main character, we meet is Gemma is a weight loss/health influencer and fitness trainer getting ready for the Bikini Olympia, an annual bodybuilding competition. She’s lost 100 pounds, and documented her journey on Instagram, from a morbidly obese woman to a toned and thin one, through strict diet and exercise. The other is Ashley, a plus-size girl who originally aspired to be like Gemma until she met Lydia, a “fat activist” out to destroy Diet Culture. She soon starts to despise fitness influencers and their unrealistic mentalities. She begins to embrace her body for what it is, eat what she wants, and become a constant thorn in the side of several influencers. She decides to go to the Olympia to protest unrealistic body standards, and that’s when things get crazy. Influencers and weight-loss gurus are being targeted for murder, and both characters are involved with it all.

The story is great, with excellent characters, an original plot and a compelling look at how social media distorts the reality of what a “healthy” body looks like. Is it the larger woman who exercises, is strong and mentally healthy, or the exhausted woman counting macronutrients and working out until she is about to vomit? I loved the plot and the twists it took with the characters and the way the whole story was woven together. It was so much fun to read. I definitely laughed a lot, and at the same time it was pretty thought-provoking on the commentary it laid down. I would definitely recommend this book at a great quick read.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC to review.

I listened to the audiobook of this first, and I was a little disappointed with it. However, I recently received a physical copy of the book and so I reread the last 50 pages or so, and actually had a newfound appreciation for it.
I originally didn't care for many of the characters (straight up hated some of them) and I'm worried it was because of one of the narrators. Some of the characters are probably supposed to be annoying, but the voices made them even more so. (Kylie, Anita, and Andrew were the absolute worst, though.) At least the main characters have a nice transformation arc, so you aren't left hating them. But I definitely felt confused at first because neither Gemma nor Ashley seems to have a healthy relationship with their bodies. Thankfully they eventually get there, but it left me annoyed with them through most of the book.
On to the actual plot and pacing of the book, as this is a thriller and not literary fiction. The whole "fit girl killer" was a fun premise to read about, and I really liked the pacing of the book, as I never lost interest while reading/listening to it. The author did have me going back and forth between a couple possible suspects, so that kept me guessing throughout, too.
Overall, an easy, fun thriller to read.

I loved this book. It’s a Thriller set in the world of Professional Bodybuilding and it was fascinating! People are dying around them and everyone is wondering who is next! Definitely recommend!

Certainly! Here’s a neutral but slightly unsatisfied review for "Bodies to Die For" by Lori Brand:

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"Bodies to Die For" by Lori Brand offers an intriguing premise with potential for a gripping narrative. The storyline, centered around the dark world of body image obsession and the lengths to which some will go to achieve the perfect physique, is both timely and relevant.

However, the execution falls somewhat short of the mark. The character development feels a bit superficial, making it challenging to fully invest in their journeys. Additionally, the pacing is uneven, with certain sections dragging while others rush through key plot points.

While the book does have its moments of suspense and insight, it ultimately leaves the reader wanting more depth and cohesion. For those interested in the subject matter, it might still be worth a read, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking a thoroughly engaging thriller.

#bodiestodiefir

4 stars

Okay, this is an interesting book. It's not what I'd really classify as a "thriller," but more of a popcorn thriller or a murder mystery. It's also quite humorous. I have no idea if the world of ladies bodybuilding is like this (I doubt it's an accurate depiction), but I can see it now in my head.

I was shaking my head in disbelief over the true-to-life sections, but also because I just kept thinking of the Real Housewives while reading this book. This book and the women in it make those women look like lap kitties.

The social commentary undertones of this book with regards to health v. weight and self-worth are spot on. I really enjoyed the witty way Lori made her point without making it obvious as to what exactly her point is.

There are multiple POVs in this so at first it was hard to keep each of the terrible women straight, but it got to be really easy as the story went on. We get to see both sides of the argument and most of the characters I loved to hate. As they got killed off the tension rose in the story and not knowing who or where or why was killing me. I'd formulate theories and they'd be ruined juts to be possible again. I really enjoyed the journey of this book.

Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel did a fantastic job bringing this characters to life. The writing made them fully formed, but the narrators really did their jobs either making them loveable or hate able.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.

Diet culture is often a taboo topic for millennials like myself. We grew up entrenched in finding the next best fad and inundated with photoshopped magazine ads that only serve to create an unhealthy dose of body dysmorphia. It goes without saying that this novel piqued my interest immediately. Added bonus of a few murders, radical fat activists, and some pretty deranged stalkers and I was hooked.

Gemma has literally remade her life along with her body. Her new life is bright and shiny and literally available for anyone to peruse through social media. Previously being overweight, she has an incredibly toxic relationship with her weight and with food. Despite struggling with Imposter Syndrome, she offers online and live coaching to women seeking a healthier lifestyle while training as a contestant in a prestigious body building competition.

Along the way, several other influencers with relationships to Gemma are murdered. Her house is broken into and she feels she is unable to trust her husband, boss, or coach. Throw in an arch nemesis that attempts to sabotage her chance of winning the competition and we have a pretty epic psychological thriller.

The scenes and character switches are set up extremely well. I listened to the audio production and enjoyed both the male and female narrators. The flow is easy to follow as well. My only gripe is Gemma is a bit flat overall as a main character and entirely too naive for the whodunit trope.

As a gym girlie, I was super excited about this book and I can't say I've ever picked up a book that really focused on this gym and body building world! This book did such a great job of capturing the dynamics of fitness influencers and body builders. I was engaged in the overarching mystery of the fitness influencers getting killed one by one, and while some of the bad actors were obvious, the connections and motivations came as a surprise. I loved the writing style and narrative structure (including the macros and weight updates for each chapter). I think people who are in the fitness world will really enjoy this story.

Thank you Netgalley, Lori Brand and Blackstone Publishing for the audio Arc of Bodies to Die For.
Narrated by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, Joe Hempel

I really enjoyed the premise of the psychological thriller. A combination of murder, the dieting industry, bodybuilding and fitness influencers make a great combination. We have Gemma, a popular fitness influencer who transformed herself from plump to washboard stomach. Secrets lurk under the perfect online presence. Especially after a death.

Software engineer, Ashley, who has years of failed diets behind her, a biased world viewing her, falls into a world of an activist group
Both are on a crash collision course at a Body building contest with devastating effects.

I loved the character building in this book, told in 3 POV. Both Gemma and Ashley have their own imperfect lives, with secrets galore. Both, I found likeable in so many ways and for different reasons. The 3 POV, is a young man who is following these online fitness influencers. One word.... creepy!!
The pacing of the book keeps the pages turning and before you know it, we are going through the twists, turns and the final pay off.

Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, Joe Hempel narrated this book. Both Jennifer and Chelsea suited the women's POVs and Joe Hempel ( Ive listed to some of this other books he has narrated ) did a wonderful job of portraying the young man who is stalking.

4.25 stars for Storygraph.
4 stars for Netgalley, Amazon and Goodreads

I enjoyed this multi perspective view of the characters and how they handle diet culture. I listened to this one and appreciatedt he multiple narrators to gcoe voice to the characters.

This is like watching a high drama reality TV show, it goes down fast.

This is not an easy read though for anyone with body dysmorphia or disordered eating, so please take care in your decision to read.

“Bodies to die for” is a unique psychological thriller that is set in the realm of women’s bodybuilding and bikini physique. It gives an accurate insight on influencers, diet culture and prepping for these intense competitions. The Lori Brand does a great job at twisting your head left and right as you’re trying to figure out who is behind the falling of the competitors. Several twists in the book keep the reader engaged from start to finish. The ending had me completely raddled, not what I expected!

Thank you for allowing me early access to read and give my original thoughts and opinions.

Bodies to Die For- Lori Brand
Rating: 3/5
Pub Date: June 11, 2024

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced reader audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Bodies to Die For is centered around fitness influencer Gemma, a once morbidly obese woman who one day decided to turn her life around, who is competing in a body building competition and Ashley, an overweight software engineer who struggles with her body image and how others look at her. Ashley stumbles upon a Fat Activist group one day and gets wrapped up into the lives of fitness influencers and diet culture. Add in some murder and different POV and you've got yourself a cozy mystery!

My thoughts: I loved the writing style of this author and the narrator was also phenomenal. I found myself speeding through this audiobook, wanting to know how it ends. I will say that the ending was predictable with all the clues that the writer placed throughout, so not shocking for me or a big reveal, but still a great listen nevertheless. I also loved the underlying message embedded in terms of diet culture and how being a certain weight doesn't equal healthy. While I understand that the details are very important in storytelling, I felt that some parts of this book were also very repetitive and made some of the characters very irritating. Maybe that was the intent?

Book Review👙
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Summary- Popular fitness influencer Gemma has transformed herself from a Before into an After, complete with washboard abs, thriving business, and gorgeous husband. But social media can be deceiving. Offline, the cutthroat world of bikini bodybuilding may just eat her alive. That’s if she’s not first devoured by the secret nemesis that lurks beneath her polished surface, waiting to destroy her.

Software engineer Ashley is fat and frustrated. Frustrated with failed diets. With a world that wants her to shrink. With biased doctors, online trolls, and even her own mother. Until Ashley falls in with a mysterious and radical sect of Fat Activists who are fighting back … by any means necessary. She’s never felt so alive, so full of purpose. She’ll do whatever it takes to ride this high, destroy Diet Culture, and win the approval of her charismatic leader.

Gemma and Ashley are on a collision course headed for the Olympia, the bodybuilding competition where futures are made. And lost. When Gemma’s toughest rival turns up dead, and more fitness girls fall like dominoes, it’s beginning to look like the body image war has gone too far.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- thank you @blackstonepublishing and @netgalley for the advanced copy and audio book of this debut! This one tackles the body building and fitness industry. This one kept me on my toes and was a wild ride! It was a super fun mystery and led me into a world I’d never really thought about before. It was wholly unique and well written, I enjoyed it!
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QOTD- what are you up to this weekend ?! We are headed to the beach later today and have a birthday party this weekend !
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#bodiestodiefor #loribrand #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookobsessed #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #booklover #booknerd #bookworm #bookwormsunite #readerlife #readersgonnaread #readmorebooks #readersofig #readersofinstagram

This felt more like a cozy thriller then a thriller to me and served as a great palate cleanser after a darker read. Truly enjoyable, and an easy listen.