This was an interesting read looking at one girl as she moved from being a 'big girl' to dangerously obese - it touches on the problems of the diet industry, how families affect us and also how until you decide it is time to do something nothing can help.
People have talked about the positive mentions of food in this book but I didn't find that but I did like the book as a whole but would be careful who I would recommend it to.

An enjoyable, but often slightly difficult and triggering read. Not entirely sure what its message or POV was.

Ironically, Malaya's life is made small by the people around her who think about her solely in relation to her growing weight. They are so focussed on her physical mass, they fail to see that she her spirit is shrinking with every thoughtless word or comment that is supposed to be 'care' and 'for her own good.' Nobody knows what is for Malaya's own good because nobody knows Malaya.

We watch Malaya attempting to save herself from not just everyone around her, but also her parent's disintegrating marriage and the slow erosion of the black community she is growing up in. Every attempt to empower herself by behaving like the world expects chips away at a bit more of her until a series of events lead her to make changes for herself.

This is achingly sad. It's scalpel sharp on fat phobia and the damaging effects it has on the individual but also generationally. It also has an extremely strong sense of place and purpose and is a master class in intersectionality.

Engaging book that contributes to the vast catalog of writing on living in Harlem. Definitely fits in the literary tradition while offering plenty knew. you really grow to care for the character.

I really loved getting to know Malaya throughout this coming-of-age novel, and found her younger self’s thoughts on womanhood and femininity touching and very emotive. The second half picks up when she’s a teenager and further explores her challenges of living as a young Black woman in a body that is open to everyone’s comments and opinions, as well as the breakdown of her parents’ marriage and her own mental health. Overall I thought the writing was powerful but at some points felt a little bit repetitive.

tw: fatphobia, food shaming, eating disorders

Not many good things happen in this book. About 80% of it is, honestly, fairly depressing. We don’t hear Malaya’s actual voice much at all - she seems to be silenced in favour of all that is going on around her. And yet.. I quite liked it?! The writing was vivid and it really did make me feel transported to 1990s Harlem at points.

I have had to DNF this at about 50%. It is seemingly marketed as adult fiction but this very much reads as YA which is not something I enjoy.

I have a lot of issues with this book. Firstly, it is very slow, at 50% very little has happened. In terms of the writing, when it comes to what is going on there is a lot of telling, rather than showing, which adds to the feel of it being aimed at a younger audience. What the main character does/says/thinks also doesn't match the age she is supposed to be, at least not for the first 30% of the book where she is under 10.

I think a younger audience would probably enjoy this, and for those struggling with weight and sexuality it might be quite a useful book but it is not for those that don't read/enjoy YA.

This is a YA book that could definitely be read by older readers as well. I loved this authors writing style. The characters and settings were incredibly vivid. Well worth a read.