Eat, and Love Yourself

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Pub Date 21 Apr 2020 | Archive Date 20 Apr 2020

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Description

A story about Mindy, a woman living with an eating disorder who has to learn how to love herself again.

In pursuit of the perfect body, Mindy buys the low-fat diet products and the glossy magazines which promise the secret to losing weight. One night, while perusing the aisles of the neighborhood convenience store for a midnight snack, she finds a new product. A chocolate bar called “Eat and Love Yourself”. On a whim, Mindy buys the curious candy, not knowing that with every piece of chocolate she eats, she will be brought back to a specific moment of her past -- helping her to look at herself honestly, learn to love her body the way it is, and accepting love. Perhaps, she will even realize that her long lost high school best friend, Elliot, was more than just a friend…

Sweeney Boo (Love Is Love) presents an honest and uncompromising look at how we form our self-image, the eating disorders that haunt our most private moments and what it takes to learn to love ourselves again.
A story about Mindy, a woman living with an eating disorder who has to learn how to love herself again.

In pursuit of the perfect body, Mindy buys the low-fat diet products and the glossy magazines...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781684155064
PRICE $14.99 (USD)
PAGES 160

Average rating from 320 members


Featured Reviews

Eat, and Love Yourself by Sweeney Boo
5/5 STARS
*Received an e-ARC through NetGalley from BOOM! Box in exchange for an honest review

Summary:
In pursuit of the perfect body after years of battling an eating disorder, Mindy stumbles upon a chocolate bar that, with every bite she takes, brings her back to a moment in her past. As she reflects back on her life, Mindy learns to look at herself honestly and understand how to accept love from those around her and, most importantly, from herself.

Thoughts:
I absolutely ADORED this graphic novel, so much so that it might now be one of my all-time favourites. The representation of eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and depression in this novel are painfully beautiful, with so much of Mindy’s inner monologue reflecting the kind of self-talk that many struggle with, especially those with mental illness. It’s important to mention that this is very much a character study, focused on Mindy’s character development rather than actual plot-forwarding events. This being said, the focus on character growth was what made this novel incredible for me.

From start to finish it was clear that we, as readers, would be on a journey with Mindy, growing in self awareness in relation to how we view ourselves. I also found myself noticing how certain seemingly small comments made by loved ones, especially at a young age, can be incredibly impactful in the formation of these negative self-views. More than that, through Mindy’s trips to her past, we realize that sometimes these comments come from a malicious place, but most often they come innocently from the people we love. That doesn’t make them bad people, but it simply speaks to the way we, as society, must reframe how we talk about bodies and eating habits as a whole, normalizing check-ins with ourselves with respect to the comments we make in these situations.

Overall, I adored this novel for its message, and also for its STUNNING artwork and colour palette, but most of all because it taught me so much about the way I look at my own body. This is certainly one I will be purchasing when it does come out and returning to many times afterwards.

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I don't even know how to put into words just how much this graphic novel meant to me. A story about eating disorders and body dysmorphia, two things I can relate far too well to, written so thoughtfully by someone who has lived it and understands it — all of that, combined with an absolutely beautiful art style and color palette, and a sweet, hopeful storyline — I can't say enough how much I adored this. I was an absolute sobbing wreck by the end because I felt so damn seen and I didn't know how much I needed this soft little reminder to love myself.

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Books like this are always a tough balance. How do you give the right messages while keeping the story from being preachy? How do you balance realism with triggering content? How do you tell kids and teens that they’re not alone in these struggles? “Eat, and Love Yourself” manages all of these things. A girl dealing with tears of ingrained eating-related issues finds a chocolate bar that shows her moments in her life where the road ahead got a little steeper. Along with beautiful art and easy-flowing dialogue, this book is a must read!

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Thank you NetGalley and Boom! Studios for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an important story told in such a great way. Mindy's constant reflections with her past self was such an eye opening experience that anyone with a mental illness would find relatable. It also brings out the necessary discussion that needs to be had surrounding eating disorders and body dysmorphia. The emotion that was brought out through the writing really shows an author who has experienced these issues and knows what they are talking about. Heartbreaking tale with beautiful art style makes this one truly remarkable story!

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I was lucky enough to receive an e-arc through NetGalley from BOOM! for an honest review.

First of all WOW

This book is about Mindy who is dealing with an eating disorder, and you not only see how she's dealing with it in her adult life but you also see it in her teenage years. I feel that this graphic novel is one everyone should read, it deals with eating disorders in a real way. It doesn't just gloss over everything and say "it's fixed" Sweeney showed that you don't just fix eating disorders it's an up hill battle that you have to fight. In this novel it also showed the roles that family members and friends can play into eating disorders even if they don't mean to. The only negative thing I have to say about this novel is that I wish it was longer. I'm so glad I received this because it's a story I didn't know I needed to read. Truly remarkable.

ALSO THE ARTWORK IS STUNNING!

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