#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE

I knew this book was going to be heavy on photos, but it had even less text than I expected. But it was still good and fun, especially because it was very true to Nicole Byer's voice and I could hear her in my head saying these things / laughing at her own jokes as I read the book. And I think just having a book with this many picture of a fat black woman celebrating her appearance is important and helps normalize that there isn't just one ideal/beautiful body!

Review to be posted mid-May on blog/goodreads

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I just adore Nicole Byer (Nailed it is just amazing) and I love these books about body positivity. So I had to try out this book, and I can tell you I loved it and will be adding it to my collection when the book releases in May!

This book is about body positivity and then especially doing stuff in a bikini. Nicole can list around 199 things you can do in a bikini and encourages you to add some more. Some of the things include baking bacon (though she recommends not wearing a bikini for that :P), bench-pressing a baby, throwing bags of potatoes in the ocean, and more. I had such a big laugh at this one.
She even includes a guide on finding a special bikini for two occasions and there are plenty of tips on how to overcome and be brave! I loved reading those tips. I am not fat or overweight, but I got enough body issues that I drive my hubby crazy, so I was happy with those tips. I hope I don't offend someone, given that this book is about fat + bravery and I am in the OK weight range. But yeah, body issues are real. God, I wish I could just love my body. :(
She also shares her journey on how she became #brave and #fierce (as I would call her). And then there are questions and tricks. I loved all of it! Especially her specific responses to insults. I am glad I am not the only one responding in that kind of way to people. :P

And now we are at the photographs. There are A LOT of fun and great photographs of Nicole Byer trying out every and all bikini that she can. In many places. From public to private. Mix and matching, posing, and I loved how much fun she was having doing all this. Her bikinis are awesome! I had a laugh at the captions she put under the photographs (rip pig husband), though at some I was wondering if she was serious or not about what she said there.

All in all, this was a terrific book and I love that Nicole Byer's voice came out loud and clear while I was reading this. It was as if she was sitting next to me. I would recommend this book to all. Fans of Nicole Byer, people who need more #bravery #bodypositivity.

I only discovered Nicole Byer when "Nailed it!" came on Netflix a couple years ago and I instantly fell in love with her, so when this morning I saw on NG that she had a book coming out next May I inmediately grabbed it without even checking out what it was all about.

#VeryFat VeryBrave is a photobook with tips and tricks to find the perfect bikini, how to handle haters, and overall to help other people to feel brave by embracing their body as it is. There are some funny quotes, some insight on how she came to accept herself as she is throughout her childhood, teens and adult life and tons of pictures or "visual representations of bravery" where she wears a impressive collection of bikinis in public spaces. They were sooo good and funny, specially once you find out that all of them were taken in 6 days.

I loved the message she's trying to get across on how to be more confident in yourself while being her usual funny self. But the most important thing I take out of this book is the next message, that I think we should always keep in our minds: "I've more or less just decided life is already really fucking hard and I don't want to spend it hating what I see in the mirror".

Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

So I just joined Netgalley and was excited to see that 1) Nicole Byer has a book coming out and 2) said book was available to me for reading. I got to know Nicole Byer through Nailed It on Netflix The tone of this book (#VeryFat #VeryBrave) is written is Ms. Byer’s signature humor and sarcasm. Although this may not translate well for those who have never seen her on tv, I found the book funny and, at times, heartfelt and thought provoking. There were moments I, literally, laughed out loud. But just when I thought the sarcasm might detract from the perfect opportunity to open people’s minds, Ms. Byers would hit with some beautiful insights.

Although, from the description of the book, I anticipated some pictures; I wasn’t prepared for THAT many pictures and so few words. I would’ve appreciated more stories from her life and experiences. But speaking of the pictures, they are STUNNING! Nicole Byers is a beautiful woman, inside and out!

I had a lot of fun reading this. Being trapped inside during this viral quarantine is terrible, and this book took my mind off that for an hour.

But, yeah... it took me about an hour to read. It's mostly photos, which is a bit of a disappointment considering how much I love Nicole's stand-up.

I’ve never some across Nicole Byer before but the cover drew me in.. what hits you is the pictures. And there are loads of them. However, they leave you with a smile on your face. This is all about body positivity. Ditch the haters and embrace your body. Very quick book to read on the content front but fabulous pictures.

This book is hilarious!!! I love Nicole I’m Nailed-It and knew I had to read this one!! I was transformed into every scenario that she has been in and I could not stop laughing!!

Yes, that is Nicole Byer on the cover, though she’s looking more like Lil’ Kim! I am not late to the Byer game, though I don’t know her from the Netflix shows others reference. I know her from “Loosely Exactly Nicole” that was first on MTV then on Facebook and also from her podcast “Why Won’t You Date Me” with its catchy intro.

Both are hilarious. Her sense of humor is exactly like mine – except maybe all the foul language and adult references. Though when Byer does it, I’m rarely offended because it’s done with such offhandedness and hilarity.

So beware that her humor may not be for everyone (she does mention this by the way in her book).

When I saw this book available to read, I was very intrigued.

Inside is very much Byer’s voice and tone and I loved it. Though I do think this is strictly for the fans. I had no idea that Byer’s interest in bikinis was a widely known thing on her Instagram. In fact, I didn’t think that’s what this book was about. Though I guess the cover and subtitle should have tipped me off.

I will tell you, though, that I guess there are enough people interested in her bikini collection that it warranted a whole book. I do hope, though, that she releases a book solely on anecdotes and just funny stand-up bits she does because that’s truly gold.

This book has a lot of photos and a lot of body positive messages. Byer wants everyone to know that whatever mind set you have is also acceptable (so, for example, if you want to lose weight, no one’s stopping you, but just enjoy your image at the stages it’s at).

If you’re into the bikini game, this is like an Ellen DeGeneres type book that both explores and makes fun of the process. If you’re into Byer, of course you should have it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for early access to this title due May 19th.

In this book, Nicole is sassy, fun and very straight forwards in her language towards the world and how everyone should embrace themselves and wear the damn bikini!



In a time when the body positive movement has come to embrace more and accept people more whatever their size, I also loved the photo graphs in the book, especially the banana bikini love it! Looking fearless and fine just a woman loving her body in a bikini and some cute bikini's love the dinosaur print one myself!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Very fat, very brave, very funny. Nicole Byer’s book did everything it was supposed to because, one, I now love Nicole Byer even more than I did before, and two, this fellow #fat immediately started shopping for bikinis online. It’s said that the way to accept more body types as normal is to be exposed to them more often, and she is amazing, her bathing suits are adorable and sexy, and I’m pretty sure reading this book will cure anyone’s fatphobia. I think the several pictures of thins wearing bikinis were unnecessary, though. I can see pictures like that literally everywhere else, I actually can’t escape pictures of thin women in bikinis, and would rather have had more photos of fat babes.

Rating: four stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a copy of the book.

I adore Nicole Beyers she’s always hilarious so of course this book is and she obviously had fun with it. It is inspiring though personally I’m not quite so brave. The pictures are awesome. It’s a good book for a good laugh and inspiration.

Starting off I love Nicole Byer. If shes hosting something, I'm watching it. Shes so funny and it definitely shows in this book. The #bravery that she repeats over and over makes it feel possible. I honestly walked into my closet this morning and thought #bravery- what do I have that reflects that. I'm positive I need this book on my shelf. :)

<b>What I thought I was going to read</b>: a Nicole Byer memoir.

<b>What I actually read</b>: a guide to embracing and learning to love your body (#allbodiesarebeautiful) full of Nicole's trademark humor, a small smattering of anecdotal stories from her life, and tons of fun, amazing bikini photos.

Tl;dr: it's nothing like what I anticipated and I'm not even a little mad.

Do you ever read the book and can clearly hear the authors exact voice in your head? I could hear Nicole Byer’s voice coming through loud and clear like I was sitting next to her on the Nailed It stage. Queen Nicole is the friend we all want and need. She’s got the confidence we all aspire to have. She was honest and heartfelt all while making me Laugh and cheer. It is light on text but rich in images. There are some great tips and amazing words of advice found on the pages of this book.

Nicole Byer should also add #VeryFunny to the title of her book.
I laughed a lot at her witty gems of wisdom. Whether you are a fan of Byer's humor (me) or you need a pep talk about body positivity (also me) you will enjoy this book.
It's a quick self help book with a smattering of jokes and plenty of bikini shots (my favorite was the pink dinosaur.)

Thank you for the ARC

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a breath of fun and fresh air this literary nugget is! Nicole Byer who is widely known for hosting Nailed It! on Netflix has given us a fun and colorful book showcasing bikinis while oozing infectious confidence. She gives insights on becoming #brave and embracing yourself through her humor and fun wit. While this book doesn't have alot of text and the majority is her in different bikinis, she takes the time to embrace who she is and tells her story of how she became #brave herself.

I truly enjoyed this book because it's just pure fun. She tells her story without dragging out every detail like many stars who share their truths do. She keeps it fun while also being honest, uplifting, and funny. I will be adding this to my personal library and would recommend highly to all my friends and family, as well as anyone who is just looking for a fun read in a serious world.

This was so much fun! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this but I love body positivity and I love Nailed It! [and always think all of Nicole's outfits on there are so cute] so I figured I would give it a shot. The first part of the book is some humorous commentary on how to find a bikini that is 'right for your body' [hint: if you can put it on and you like it then it's right for you!] along with some stories about Nicole's feelings about her body throughout her life, then most of the rest is pictures of her in tons and tons of bikinis with funny captions. I think it was a really cute and funny book and I'm jealous of all her awesome bikinis! I usually just wear bikini bottoms with a sports bra / crop top combo because I have not been able to find a bikini top that works for me since I passed a C cup, but I am showing my stomach so I am still #verybrave ;)

I was excited to find this on Netgalley. I have been a friend of Nicole for YEARS. This book was just okay for me. It was full of Nicole’s humor and I liked that. Besides that I felt kinda meh. I think I wanted her to dig a little deeper into her self-acceptance journey. Overall I’m glad I read it and I think it’s an okay quick read for those who enjoy reading about and supporting body positivity!

Nicole Byer is hilarious, so it's safe to say this book is also hilarious. It focuses on being comfortable and #brave in your own skin, and is one of the most relatable books I've ever read.

I did not read that this book was about before requesting it. I just saw Nicole Byer was the author, and she’s hilarious on Nailed It! So I requested away. I “read” this book in less than 20 minutes. Then I read what the book was about. And it was exactly what was promised. So it’s really on me that it wasn’t what I was expecting, not the book. I was looking for more of a memoir sort, of which I got a little off. Mostly it was Nicole in bikinis, of which I am extremely jealous as I’ve never owned that many bathing suits ever! I certainly commend Nicole on her creativity and her attempting to create the confidence in others that she possesses. I do hope it’ll strike the right cord in the reader who goes into it with clear expectations.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this early edition.

I need to start this by saying that I LOVE Nicole Byer. Half the reason I enjoy Nailed It! so much is because of Nicole, the other half of me just basks in chaos, but that is neither here nor there.
I kind of freaked out when I heard of this book because it sounded like something I would enjoy and catered to a lot of my interests.

Those interests being:
- Being a fat poc
- Enjoying expressing myself through clothes (we're considering bikinis 'clothes' for the sake of this review)
- Enjoying freaking people out in yoga/pilates classes by being Fat & Flexible (& Strong - I tried finding a synonym for 'Strong' that started with F for the sake of alliteration but I could not, so here we are)
- Enjoying books

Enough about the me though, let's talk about this book. Yes, it's mostly pictures of Nicole in a bikini, but honestly, what did you expect? But whatever small part of this is actual text is very enjoyable and definitely shines with Nicole's personality and charisma. I strongly related with a lot of her experiences and laughed way too loudly and snorted unattractively during several bits.

This book is a breath of fresh air and can turn a bad day on it's head. It can also be a stepping stone to #Brave.
I have not yet reached Nicole's level of #Brave, but I definitely feel like this brought me closer.
Late last year I started wearing shorts and crop tops when taking my dogs out to the dog park, as well as tank tops, so you know, baby steps. Very fat baby steps. Spoiler alert: there's a picture of Nicole wearing a bikini and walking her dogs, so who knows? Maybe one day!

Nicole Byer -- could I love her any more after reading this book? Being a fan of her work on TV, I was excited to be able to review this book via NetGalley -- and I was not disappointed. First, I loved all of her photos and couldn't stop laughing at her poses and her quotes, however underneath the humor were absolutely beautiful shots (yep, she's gorgeous) with bikinis I'd never consider wearing -- but I will now. It was also interesting to read her (very honest) accounts of being #veryfat, #verybrave and acceptance. We've seen recent shifts through body positivity movements and while we still have a way to go, people like Nicole (via TV/books) help me realize that there are more important things in life -- like leading a happy and fun one, full of humor and reality. This book may not be for readers who aren't fans of colorful language (but she does warn you), but I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking to own their style, regardless of body shape/anyone who needs the extra push to be #verybrave.

I know who Nicole is by social media and her ridiculousness on Nailed it (Honestly, a couple of her moments on that show made me cry because I was laughing so hard). So I had an idea she'd make me laugh throughout this book and she absolutely did. I scared my dog who was curled up beside me multiple times because I laughed at something she wrote or a picture. It was all great. Yes there are a lot more pictures than actual words but I think the pictures more than speak for themselves and so fun while being positive and snarky as hell.

Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Nailed It! on Netflix and because Nicole Byer is such an amazingly funny host, I look forward to any content she puts out. Byer's new book is about finding your Brave, rocking a nice bikini and not giving any mind to the haters out there. Nicole rocks over 100 bikinis and looks great in all of them! She also gives very confident and funny tips on how to feel good in your body and step out of your comfort of a one piece and come into your own in a bikini. She also speaks on some of her childhood experience of being a big girl and one story involving a strip club left me wanting a whole book of her adventures.

I loved this book because I love Nicole Byer. If you don't know how she is, this might not be as enjoyable. All of her writing I read in her voice. As someone who is overweight, not as large as she is but still overweight, she was very empowering with how much she excepted her body. She does mention exercise but you should only do it to make yourself feel powerful

A fun, quirky, inspirational, and very brave book. I love Nicole Byer, and would read any book she released.

I LOVE NICOLE BYER. I'm a big fan of all her podcasts and love seeing her on any television spots. This book was phenomenally Nicole. I loved learning more about her, and her tips for being #brave are so much fun. If you love Nicole Byer or want to know about her, this book is for you!

#veryfat #verybrave is an in your face collection of tips, tricks and love to help you be the #bravest, most confident you in a bikini that you can be.

While there isn't a whole lot of text throughout the book, what is there is exactly what Byer claims to have written. There are a lot of lists in here from what you can do and eat in a bikini, to what to say for getting fat-shamed in a bikini. There are a lot of beautiful high quality colored pictures of Byer rocking numerous bikinis and rocking body positivity.

Due to there not being all that much text in this book, you could easily get through it in an hour or so. I personally think this would be a great coffee table book to pick up whenever you have a few minutes and need to absorb some body positivity.

I wanted to read this book because I'm a big fan of Nicole Byer. I absolutely love her fun and engaging personality. I am so happy to say that I was not disappointed, Nicole's humor and fun side are shown on every page.

I love Nicole in Nailed It, so I was really happy when I saw this book in netgalley.

It’s not an autobiographical book (I slightly hoped it would be), but it’s a really funny book (maybe kinda repetitive, but still). But i think the audience target is exclusively Byer's fans.

The highlight of the book: all the photos of Nicole in a bikini, in different places and with funny notes. It’s about being #verybrave #veryfat. Body positive as its best.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book- but it was so funny! I'm a fan of Nicole Byer's comedy and her book was so fun and full of body positivity.

Nicole Byers is the BOMB!! This book is amazing. I am so glad that Ms. Byers has allowed us into her life. Every picture was a work of art and what a lovely model. Photogenic to the omg degree. When I look upon Nicole Byers, I do see brave. What i do not see is fat. She is beautiful, gregarious, vivacious, and fearless, or should I say she has less fear. And those stealy comebacks are priceless. What a breath of fresh air from a lovely and humorous lady. Thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Nicole Byers for this ARC in return for an honest review

Nicole Byer is the main reason I watch Netflix’s Nailed It! and I love her sense of humor, so of course I jumped on the opportunity to review this book. #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE is funny, honest, and #brave all rolled together with over one hundred photos of Ms. Byer rockin’ different bikinis.

Any fat person knows that showing even a little bit of skin on the internet makes you either #brave or subject to relentless trolling (or both). Ms. Byer gives the middle finger to haters in this book and shares her journey to being #brave and embracing her love of bikinis. I loved Ms. Byer’s snark, sass, and refreshing honesty when it comes to finding the courage to love yourself, live your life how you want to, and deal with the haters who feel the need to comment on your body. I may not be ready to be #brave like Ms. Byer, but I definitely finished this book with a better mindset.

Most of the book consists of photos and they are gorgeously done. Ms. Byer doesn’t just look great in the photos; Kim Newmoney captures her spirit as well. All in all, #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE is a funny and emotionally honest book that encourages people to be #brave and screw the haters.

I have to preface this review with the fact that Nicole Byer is easily one of my favorite comedians. She is just the right amount of self-deprecating without being offensive and layers everything with a really positive vibe. So I was not disappointed with the tone of this guide to self-love and #bravery.

As someone who has struggled with accepting all the better parts of me (particularly the extra lbs. I tend to carry in my thighs and waist), it was refreshing to get this book of body positivity without any shame or guides on how to find flattering clothing that hide your rolls and cellulite. Reading this reminded me that I can wear whatever I want without being ashamed of my body and showing it off. I also really enjoyed Byers' honesty in learning to be this #brave beauty that she is today. The process is not always a smooth ride, especially when it seems all the world wishes you didn't love the way you look, but Nicole Byer is here to remind us that every body is amazing and should be celebrated.

Another refreshing aspect is that she doesn't need to put down those who aren't fat in order to uplift those who are. She encourages everyone to celebrate body diversity and to shame those who choose to judge others for the way they choose to celebrate this diversity.

This has inspired me to be more #brave in my everyday life. Hopefully this quarantine ends soon so I can flaunt my #bravery poolside in my favorite bikini!

This book pretty much does exactly what it claims it will do: presents a brave and frankly not-so-fat Nicole Byer in a bikini - and then another, and another. And another! And she looks great in most of them, a bit weird (and usually intentionally so!) in the rest, although my personal favorite was the picture at the very end of the book where she was laying down in a simple dress, and looked awesome. The fact that the author has the cutest face does not hurt these images one bit. I don't know how old she is, and it doesn't matter; all I can say is that whatever age she is, she looks half that age because of her face.

This book had no intention of offering advice on diet or healthy eating, and maybe it ought to have. That clearly wasn't the author's intention, but part of having a positive body image - of loving your body - is knowing that you're not only comfortable in your own skin, but that you're taking care of that skin and whatever's in it whether you're #VERYFAT or #VERYTHIN or anywhere in between.

So no, this book is unashamedly about bikinis, how to buy them, how to wear them, how to mix and match tops and bottoms, with a few hints and tips about getting the best fit, and handling idiots who think it's their duty to comment uninvited on others, but mostly it was a string of photos of the author sporting various items of clothing, nearly all of which were varieties of bikini (but not string bikinis!).

I could have done without so many four letter words, so be warned there are multiple ones in here, and I'm never comfortable with the use of the word 'bitch' which can strangely e both and endearment and an insult, so for me, that was over the top, but apart from that I think this is an amusing book. The author has a great sense of humor. It was fun, entertaining, and educational, and uplifting, and I commend it was a worthy read.

If you like Nicole Byer's comedy or her hosting on Nailed It, then you'll probably enjoy this book. She's unapologetic about her body and her love of pole dancing, and the sarcastic captions on her bikini photos are great. A perfect read during stressful times.

This book was a little different than what I was expecting, but Nicole Byer is hilarious, so it was well-worth the read anyway. So, people looking for a book in the humor genre will be pleased, but this is definitely not a memoir like I was anticipating. Instead, the book is a collection of photos of Byer in a huge variety of bikinis in many different settings around Los Angeles. The message is simple: women are called brave if they're anything but super skinny and decide to appear in public in swimwear. Byer takes that notion and decided to put out a book filled with self-confidence and honesty. The photos are humorous and the captions are even better (mostly poking fun at all of the assumptions and stereotypes about fat people). I would have loved more context about her life and how she reached a point of being happy with her size, but this was still a fun read anyway.

If you are a fan of Nicole Byer, like myself, then you will definitely enjoy her new book. Nicole offers her unique and fun perspective on feeling good in your own body while wearing a bikini, along with a fantastic bikini fashion photo spread. I might actually buy my first bikini after reading this! Because it truly doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or says, as long as you feel good doing it.

Thank you Net Galley and Andrews McMell Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. Greatly appreciated!!

The cover of this book immediately caught my eye. I love Nicole Byer (host of Nailed It! and numerous entertaining podcasts), and I had no idea she wrote a book! What can’t she do!? Looking at the cover there was a straight up goddess staring back at me. I’ve been between a size 12 and 22 over the last few years and I have never shied away from wearing a two-piece bathing suit, but I understood why people do. The title cracked me up because I have been on the receiving end of quite a few good-for-yous, the almost equivalent of calling a fat girl “brave” with that unnecessary extra bounce of “I support you! See?” It made me feel like we’re sharing a private joke about how ridiculous people sound when they’re…trying to praise your fat body? I don’t know, but it felt special to me.

In this book Byer shares her struggles with self-love, body positivity, and “chub rub.” She encourages you to find an exercise that you love, that brings you joy and helps to make you understand and appreciate your body more. Wearing a bikini and exercising are for your enjoyment, no one else’s.

Byer provides a comprehensive and hilarious list of Activities You Can Do In a Bikini ranging from the mundane (golf, text your aunt) to the absurd (Get a commercial driver’s license) and includes a reference to one of the most underrated comedies of the past twenty five years, Eddie, starring Whoopi Goldberg as a limo driver who wins a contest to become head coach of the New York Knicks. Byer’s point is that you can do anything while wearing a bikini, her goal is to normalize it.

One of the biggest takeaways for me is Byer wants you to describe her as fat. Not chubby, plus size, or heavy. FAT. She wants people to acknowledge her right to exist in this world as she is while encouraging others to realize that about themselves. Fat people have just as much right to take up space as anyone else. So, why wait until you lose five or fifty pounds to wear that bathing suit that caught your eye?

If Byer’s prose doesn’t sway you, then the photos should. Byer shows off a significant number of her colorful, patterned 100+ bikinis each accompanied by a tongue in cheek caption to draw attention to the absurdity of criticizing a fat woman in a bikini. For example, she’s dressed as Lil’ Kim in the cover photo and refers to herself as BIG KIM in the caption. She uses some form of #brave in every caption and calls out tropes and slapstick scenarios that have been used to describe fat people in the past.

I loved this book. Byer spends more time coaching the reader into self-love than she does sharing her story. Her photos do not come off as self-indulgent, rather they provide the reader with a show and tell about appreciating their bodies, and themselves, where they are at in the moment.

Thank you Netgally and the author for the gifted copy, all thoughts are completely my own.

This book is chalked full of bikini pics and swear words lol. The writing is very unapologetic. Some responses come off extremely defensive but then again the statements said are extremely rude.

If you want to look at a bunch of cute bikinis on someone who unapologetically loves their body (you go girl!) then this book is for you.

She is a real character! She is very vivid and funny in her descriptions of her life and situations she gets into.

A very funny and body positivity inspiring book that made me laugh and think.
It's a fast read as the book is full of pictures but an inspiring and entertaining one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A very funny coffee table book that can be opened to any page to achieve the laughters. You should know that it is 80-90% photos.

An interesting read about an up and coming comedian.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

This book had me cackling! Nicole is every bit as funny in print as she is one the TV (and presumably on her podcasts, I will admit to my shame that I have never listened to one).

This book is every bit as empowering as you would expect it to be and it has the perfect balance of realism and tongue-in-cheek humour. Whilst largely targeted at femme-presenting people, this book does use inclusive language and is appropriate for all genders.

A great book and everyone should own a copy even just for the stunning pages and pages and pages of photos of the bombshell that is Nicole Byer... it's could job that it's a Wednesday because I think that I have found my new #womancrushwednesday

A solid 3.5
I remember binge watching Girl Code years ago and Nailed It on Netflix is my not so guilty pleasure. Nicole is loud, funny, #veryfat and #verybrave .
I've never been supper comfortable in a bikini, but dammit, Nicole, now I want to buy a new bikini. Or 2.
#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: The Fat Girl's Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-in-the-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini is not a memoir. This is a book about learning to love your body and be ok about the jiggle, the extra skin, the imperfections. Nicole is not glorifying being unhealthy and she is all for staying healthy and active. She gives advice on how to choose the perfect bikini, how to deal with hate and list all the cool things you can do while wearing a bikini.
My only critique is that there's very little text and a lot of pictures.

Publisher Synopsis:

The actress, comedian, and podcaster extraordinaire’s guide to being a #brave, bikini-wearing badass.

If you’ve ever seen a fat person post a bikini shot on social media, you already know that they are #verybrave, because apparently existing in a fat body in public is #brave. I, Nicole Byer, wrote this book to 1. share my impressive bikini collection and my hot body with the world and 2. help other people feel #brave by embracing their body as it is. In this book, I share my journey to becoming #brave, give you my hot tips and tricks—on how to find the perfect bikini, how to find your own #bravery, and how to handle haters—and serve you over 100 bikini looks.

Review:

Disclaimer: I use the word fat in this review as Nicole does in her book. It is not a bad word and is not intended to be replaced with words such as curvy or plus-size because Nicole admits she is fat. I am also fat, but I am also plus size and curvy, and use those terms interchangably and whenever each is suitable. But I am still fat.

It’s a shame a book has to be published about fat women being positive in their own bodies, AND with the disclaimer that the author isn’t encouraging readers to live an unhealthy life. It’s 2020, How haven’t we reached a point where everybody is thinking like Nicole Byer already?

What I love about this book (apart from EVERYTHING) is that on top of hilarious and outragous tangents of life stories is a message that every fat person who wants to wear bikinis (I originally wrote “woman” but then decided if a fat man wants to wear a bikini who the hell am I to judge him?) needs to know. And that message is that we are beautiful. YOU are beautiful! YES, YOU READING THIS! You are beautiful! Every body is a bikini body. I’ve said this before and i’ll say it until the day I die.

Nicole had me laughing my big fat belly off with every story she told and every tangent that she took me on. It’s written in a way that comes across exactly as she sounds, so it’s great to put a voice to the words. I have to reiterate that Nicole’s idiosyncrasies are present throughout each story and anecdote and I can not get enough of them. I had no idea that upon the completion of reading this book would I be much the wiser about what the appropriate tip amount is at strip clubs or drag shows.

I’m completed okay to admit that my review is biased on the reasons that I’m fat and a huge Nicole Byer fan (is being fat a bias for this review? probably not, but the skinny folk probably think so) but at the end of the day this book is using personal stories and real life experiences (even from behind the scenes) to send a message that should already be instilled in the brain of all of us.

So for that, 5 stars.

My sincerest thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I love Nicole Byer. I follow her on social media, I watch her stand up, and her shows. I would have loved to have gotten to learn more about Nicole as a person so when I saw this books I got really excited. Y'know when authors put a specific statement in their title of things they talk about but it's usually like 1/8 of what they'll actually be talking about? That didn't happen here. When she said I'm going to talk to you about wearing a bikini she meant it and with enthusiasm. Would I purchase this book for my library? Yes. Would I read it again? Probably not.

Special thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

If you're a fan of Nicole Byer, you will enjoy this book. Now, what I mean to say is if you know Nicole from things OTHER than Nailed It! Nicole is open, honest, authentic & truly - Nicole. There are lots of photos of her modeling bikinis and plenty of advice to tell haters to gently go F themselves.

This title is also a better look into Nicole's life, her philosophies & what motivates her. I love her podcast, her shows & I'm a true fan.

Also, I think they should turn this book and her quotes into a calendar.

I love Nicole Byer on "Nailed It!" So I couldn't wait to read this book. I was thinking this book was going to be a little more like an autobiography and would go into more of her life. However, this book is literally her in many different bikinis and explaining to everyone on how they should be #brave and own it. I have to say, she looks great in her bikinis because she is totally confident and comfortable in her own skin. She does mention at the beginning of the book that she doesn't condone this unhealthy lifestyle, but you have to work with what you got.

This book will definitely help anyone with body image issues and since summer is coming soon, I'm hoping this will help me get ready for swimsuit weather.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review!

If you're expecting an essay collection or memoir that will teach you more about Nicole Byer, adjust your expectations! This isn't that. It's primarily a photo collection of Byer wearing tons of different bikinis and posing in strange places around L.A., plus some jokes about how annoying it is to constantly be told you're brave for existing in your body. Once I realized this wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, I did enjoy the ride. I love Nicole Byer, and this was definitely an entertaining read, even though a lot of the text felt like she was just trying to find something to fill the text space around the photos. I hope we can get a real memoir later down the road!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ⁣
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#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE was absolutely extraordinary. I already loved Nicole Byer but then she went out and wrote a book about wearing bikinis. There’s only a few chapters of text and the rest is filled with gorgeous pictures and funny quips about all the bad things that can happen in the world because a fat woman chose to expose some skin. My favorite- “A cute picture of me pretending to let a shark eat me, let’s get f***ing real: if I met a shark in the ocean, I would beat it to death first with my t** and then eat it raw while I floated on my back. #veryfat #verybrave” ⁣
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After I recommend this to everyone I know, this lady might just get #brave and buy a bikini.

I first heard of Nicole Byer from Nailed It! and I loooved her straight away. She has so much confidence and sass and her voice really carried throughout her entire book. It's as if she's reading it to me herself! The photos that she included throughout the book were beautiful and really inspiring and the captions were (obviously) hilarious. My only issue was how little text there was inside. I really wish she would've written more details about her, her life, things about her career because I would've really enjoyed reading more about her. If you're a fan of Nicole Byer, then read this! If you're not a fan of Nicole Byer, then still read it! If you're struggling with your self confidence or just want to read about a badass woman, then read this! Basically, give it a read.

Byer gives a humorous twist on what it is like to be fat. Her writing will have you roaring with laughter, and she will fill you with the confidence you didn't know you needed. We have all heard, seen or read when our "fat friend" post a selfie on social media that they are "so brave". What is brave about being fat? Nicole will tell you, nothing! Live your life, love your body and tell the haters to EFF off. Loved every page of this book, explanations, the photos and captions.

This book is a one time read for me, as much as I enjoyed the humorous words behind it, I wouldn't read it again. Similar to going to a repeat comedy night, it's never as funny the 2nd time around.

It was a Sunday night, I'd been in lockdown for over two months, I'd just read a string of intense thrillers and I was looking for a book that would just make me happy. #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE by Nicole Byer was perfect. Between the beautiful color photos of Byer's impressive bikini collection and her captions and anecdotes that made me laugh out loud, this book put me in a better mood. It's positive without being precious and addresses the cruelty that makes the #veryfat have to be #verybrave simply to go about their daily activities without being preachy. No matter where you are on the #fat and #brave continuums, this book has something you'll enjoy. If you're looking for a pick-me-up, pick it up.

I loved this. I wish it was a little longer and the tongue in cheek captions to the photos at the end got a little much. But, the photos were gorgeous, the writing was hilarious, definitely worth reading.

Nicole Byer is hilarious and this book doesn't disappoint. The amazing pictures with her brilliant commentary is enough to make anyone want to rock a bikini. This is a quick read and a lot of fun and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh or a little body confidence.

This was a quick read, obviously because many pages are images with a small caption, and I found the inclusion of how people reacted to her in public at the end to be very interesting, though not that shocking. I don’t know if this will have pushed me to be #brave, but I did enjoy seeing someone else do it!

This book is fun! Grab a glass of rosé and get ready to start feeling good. It isn't just for people who identify as fat, it is for anyone that sees any description of them as a flaw, that is not actually a flaw. It it all about stepping out of your comfort zone and being okay with making other people uncomfortable - because they don't matter! Additionally, Nicole's bikini choices are on point and make me wish I owned more bathing suits.

Nicole Byer is incredible. More people need to be listening her and knowing her. I will always be recommending her and this book.

Nicole Byer is one of my favourite comedians and I can't get enough of her comedy! I was introduced to her through Nailed It! and ever since I've enjoyed following her career. When I saw this book pop up on NetGalley and Goodreads, it was a giant, enthusiastic YES YES YES YES YES YES and I requested it without hesitation.

This book is sassy and honest, exactly how I like these kind of books! I was chuckling in the intro, and that was only two pages in, let alone when we got to the tips and the rest of the book! For example, make sure you change in a change room is a funny comment, BUT I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DO THAT IN PUBLIC SO OMG RELATABLE AND HIGHLY AMUSING. All caps, because I was snorting and chuckling along with this comment, remembering that odd time in a Burlington Coat Factory.

Now, I do have to admit I'm biased. My entire life I was made fun of for my weight (even when I was at my healthiest as a highly competitive athlete or as just a kindergartener because you know... kids are mean), and I still am. I can relate to this book very well, and thus found it enjoyable to read about it in a comedic sense.

Extra positives:
1. Dinosaur Bikini = Awesome
2. Imagining someone just eating a raw potato while wearing a bikini
3. "Your worth isn't dictated by whether someone's attracted to you." SAY IT LOUDER FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN THE BACK, NICOLE!
4. Lobster Bikini Top = Wild
5. Burger and Fries One Piece = I want to find this. It's incredible.
6. The body positivity in this is AWESOME. As another Millennial who worked on her body confidence for the last year, I can truly appreciate this honest and funny take. Nicole is my spirit animal!

In summary, BUY THIS BOOK. I highly recommend it and I absolutely love it! It's fantabulous!

Five out of five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew McMeels Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Fun and light-hearted book by a very funny woman! Nicole's confidence and self-esteem is truly something we should all strive for!

I'd like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review.
I liked this!