I picked this book because of the characters. Both have eating disorder. Awesome subject. But it all turned out to be one long pep talk. Two damaged guys against the world full of assholes, except for 2 (3, maybe?) odd nice people *rolls eyes*

1 star for the book, plus an extra star for the narrator. Nick Russo did a decent job, considering.

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All the characters talk about, is each other's mother/Eric's father/self-deprecation/Eric's father/bullies/Eric's father/food. Over and over and over... Oh, did I mention Eric's father? Aaaaarrrrggghhh!



I can't stand it anymore. Pick another subject: Politics. News. OBAMA (the man is HAWT!). A new book. Cockroaches in Manhattan. ohidnotknow... "Supernatural". Art. Exhibitions. Dream vacations. Gym... Did they EVAH consider joining a gym? Park themselves in a cafe and people watch? Erik's new job. Climate change. A different brand laundry detergent could have been a nice diversion, too :/ Why both of them work 12 hours a day? Anything???

I am DUN. DNFing at 76%. Corey's mother is the only reason I lasted this long, and even that was as predictable as .... the letter F.

( )

Good story

A great love story. Two lost souls finding each other when least expected. I loved the weight issue topic from both sides. ( )

So, I am seeing a pattern in my recent reading choices. ;) This is the second book I've read (and finished) in the past week that had an overweight character trying to lose weight and also happening to find the love of his life along the way (the first being Jeff Erno's "Slim Chance"). You might think that I'd be bored by reading two similar stories in a week, but you'd be wrong! :)

Once again, I really relate to the overweight character (Eric). He has a lot of self-esteem issues, which is totally understandable, because much of the time you're pretty much dismissed as being a valid human being if you're overweight. At least that has been my experience. And although the "fat shaming" incidents might have felt a little over the top at times, I had to sit back and remember - yeah, back when I was obese, I had similar things happen to me on a pretty regular basis, so maybe it's not so over the top after all. I remember, for instance, sitting on a subway train in NYC (in which, coincidentally, the book is set) just holding hands with my then-girlfriend and us being completely heckled by two guys because she was much more attractive and thin than I was. As in, it went on for multiple stops, and we had to leave the train earlier than we'd anticipated because we were afraid that it was about to get violent. So, yeah, maybe not so over the top after all.

I liked that Corey, who was thin, also had his issues with food. He'd suffered a lot growing up, not having the love and affection that he needed and craved, so instead of filling himself with food (which is, apparently, what I chose to do), he just stopped eating much of anything. I also identified with him as a character, and isn't it nice when you like both of the main characters in a romance a lot and just want them to be happy together? I don't feel like this happens enough for me, haha.

Definitely a slow burn romance, which are my favorites. And I really like when both leads are "flawed" and imperfect.

Sorry I don't have too much to add here; I'm super stoned. :D ( )