American Thighs - I wasn’t sure if the title were a tribute to the song.
A child star grows up, though she was never allowed to be a child in the first place.
One of the most interesting aspects of the premise is available in the blurb, though I hope you forget about it by the time you start reading this book, just for the thrill.
I have extremely mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I trust Ellen’s creativity, I liked the premise, the themes, the vibes and the setting.
The abrupt cuts to different and surprise POVs is exciting, though the style, and the execution did not let these characters and the concept to live up to its full potential. The nuances and layers are a bit lacking. It is possible that some of the choices were deliberate and part of the humour/criticism, and might be appealing to the TikTok gen, though I wanted something else.

Thank you for the advance copy. I appreciate it.

American Thighs by Elizabeth Ellen is an absolute standout. The writing is raw, honest, and unapologetically real, making it a book that lingers long after you finish. Elizabeth Ellen has a unique voice that captures the complexities of life, love, and identity in a way that feels intimate and universal. The characters are vividly drawn, and their stories are full of emotion and depth. Every page is filled with sharp observations and powerful moments that resonate deeply. American Thighs is a must-read if you’re looking for a book that challenges, provokes, and ultimately moves you.

Super easy to get lost in! Celebs, gossip, relationships, and more! I enjoyed it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book could have been great. This book should have been loved by fans of Tom Perrotta, but I certainly didn’t find it appealing In fact, I found it confusing and FULL of names and characters and sub-plots and sub-sub-plots. OMG, and gratuitous sex that seems to point to sex as disgusting and unappetizing.

The author uses the old chestnut of reliving one’s high school experience through the eyes of a mature adult while masquerading as a teenager. This is an overused plot, but injecting inappropriate sex made me cringe.

So, for a novel that I was excited about reading, I am very disappointed. Characters with multiple names and little clarity are not a good idea.

I’m so sorry, but I really can’t recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley For providing me with this ARC.

Ellen is a very, very talented writer - which I want to make clear, because I think it was the format of the book that just didn’t work for me. There were too many voices to follow too quickly, so for me there was too much going on at once to enjoy the book properly - but Ellen’s writing is skilful, sharp and witty, so I’m sure many other readers will love this! Just not for me this time.