This is my second read by this author. The writing style is easy to get into and I liked the exploration of diet culture in the current climate. Anyone who has struggled with their weight or not liked how they look will see themselves somewhere in this story.

I understand the Saffron was going on a personal journey but I did find there was an overwhelming amount of negativity in the tone of the book and a lot of what was being said felt repetitive. For thay reason I wouldn't be quick to recommend this as a book that celebrates body positivity or a book that is motivating/inspiring. Its definitely a book to approach with caution.

It was really good to get the perspective of how diet culture had affected her close friends aswell. Emphasising that peoples experiences are very different.

I would read from this author again because I really enjoyed her first one.

This was such a unique read, and its message is so powerful. Important.

I'll get the not amazing bit out of the way first, the way this book was put together, wasn't for me. Long chapters, minimal page breaks and somewhat confusing time jumps made it a little hard to stay immersed. And I found our protagonist a little naive and overly judgy.
Yes our protagonist goes through a lot of growth and self discovery, but I feel that doesn't take away from the earlier judginess it's still sitting with me.

This one is written in such a modern tone, with nods to current pop culture, medicine and science. Dating apps and social media. It feels real, authentic and now. It shows the importance of feeling your body, feeling your body is just right, trusting what it tells you it needs. Body positivity is so important and I think this is going to be an important read for so many readers, YA and adult.

Thankyou to NetGalley for the review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a good book! I got sucked in in this self-discovery tale, and will definitely recommend it.

I really liked all the characters, they felt real and three-dimensional. The intrigue was so good, I didn't see it coming at all! And most of the characters broke my heart (Saff's mom :( and Freya :( :( ). I'm really glad I got to be a part of their story for a little while, and I'm rooting for all of them.

If I could give this book to 15 year-old me, I would. It resonated even with my 28-yo self so much, and the writing of Amara Sage really did something for me. And the cherry on top, it's funny as hell!

Also, more green flags boys in teenage romance pleaaaase.

The literal only bad side I have to this book is that there are no chapters. It's painful to read because you don't know when to stop.

4.25 stars

This was so readable. My favourite things about it were how real the characters and the language felt. It was modern without being cringe. I enjoyed the discussions about body image and diet culture. Most of all, I absolutely loved the friendships that Saffron cultivated. I would have loved to read more about the little, found family she made.

I did not enjoy the catfishing aspect of the book at all, and it made me very uncomfy to read, but I understand how it was needed for the plot.

TW: ED discussion and depiction, fatphobia, diet culture, body dysmorphia

I always gravitate towards a body positive read, this book was exactly what I needed and I absolutely loved reading it.

I really wish this book had been around for me in the early 2000s. I lived through the height of 'size 0' mania, ANTM and the rise of super skinny supermodels. To have a role model like Saffron would have been so refreshing and reassuring.

Saffron is a pretty typical young woman just trying to find her independence in the world. She's got insecurities about her body, not helped by the fact that her mother is a diet coach for a company that promotes unhealthy habits to keep slim. So she sets up a social media profile with slimmed down pictures of herself as a sort of alter ego as she believes that will give her the confidence to start dating. Enter some catfishing, some self discovery and a potential love interest in her new flat mate.

I liked the overall message this was giving about overcosumption and body image. I'm genuinely scared for kids these days who are bombarded on a daily basis with fake, heavily doctured pictures of unrealistic beauty standards. Saffron not only has to deal with her internal thoughts but those images everyday. It was interesting to see her discovery her self confidence and see she's more than just her appearances - a message that I wish more young women knew. I do think the other characters besides Saffron were nowhere near as well developed. Thus was very much Saffron's story, and she shone while others didn't really seem to make any impact.

Inspiring read.

This was a book I was attracted to by its cover, a book offering plus size representation, and then the synopsis drew me in, this book follows 18yo Saffron as she navigates university, and her changing friendships and lifestyle. There are moments in this book that are personally triggering for me, as Saffron has a very difficult relationship with food, as well as body dysmorphia, and toxic relationships with other people who deem her worth on her body image and weight.

The book screams authenticity and relatability, as the amount of people on “fad diets” and literally causing harm to their bodies for that “socially acceptable look” is unreal, there is so much pressure – especially on young girls – from the media and society to look the right way, and I love that this book was singing body positivity to all shapes and sizes towards the end. This is definitely a book I feel all young girls should read, your worth should not be based on your body, and self-love is something everyone should have, Saffron is a hugely relatable character to me, and I found myself struggling, crying and rooting for her all throughout, and she is definitely someone I would have loved to have in my social circle!
I like that the author kept this book modern and with the times, I loved the various text chapters throughout, and felt that really lightened some of the heavier moments, and I like that the author included social media platforms such as Instagram, dating applications and AI. Without too many spoilers the subplot that runs throughout in which the creation of Sydney appears is heartbreaking, and just adds to the further proof that all these technological advances can have devastating effects on people’s self-esteem and relationships, but I do love the fact that Saffron’s character arc developed really well and she held herself accountable.

This book just feels like such a love letter to all the girls out there who base their worth on the weight. What I loved about this book is that whilst this follows a plot of Saffron learning to be happy in her own skin and a journey of self-love and self-discovery, the author is able to incorporate various different versions of body dysmorphia., all the female characters in this book all had their own version of body dysmorphia, and how impactful each type was, you had young girls who were self-medicating to be thin, Saff’s mum who throughout most of the book was coming across as toxic had her own issues with her food and diet as it was the only thing she could control – however she didn’t realise the impact this was having on the younger generations around her – remember some things are learned behaviours. Then there was Poppy who felt so uncomfortable in her own skin she had surgery, that then garnered her more attention that was completely unwanted and unnecessary. I love that the author did include body positive characters such as Veronica and Bliss, they were so refreshing, and proof that all it takes is to have yourself surrounded by positive people for you to learn to love yourself.

My only issue with this book and why it is not a five star, is that there should definitely be a trigger warning caption at the start, as there were a few times the book shocked me (I still cannot believe a size 16 is considered fat?!) and the fact that there are no chapters, it was difficult to keep a pace at times.

4.5

Unfortunately had to stop reading this book at the 26% mark. Being inside the head of someone who hates what they look like and projects that on to every one around them just was not for me. I get the book was probably trying to make a point but it missed the mark for me.

I don't want to read a book that makes me think Tony Ferguson Shakes are the answer.

4.5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book. I initially requested the arc not really knowing what to expect but having been attracted to both the cover and the blurb on NetGalley. Little did I know just how insanely relatable and lovable Saffron was going to be.

Girl, Ultra-Processed is a YA contemporary novel all about insecurity, lack of self-confidence and it absolutely blows up diet culture and societal expectations. As a female who has always felt ‘fat’, Saffron’s character really resonated with me. The hours she spends with her social media feeds telling her she should be thin to be beautiful, that ‘fat’ girls shouldn’t wear certain clothes or that because she’s larger than others she simply *must* want to diet. I loved that this book explored all of these things but managed to ooze body positivity as we see Saffron grow and develop into a more confident version of her true self.

The storylines were all written so well and interwove seamlessly into the book: really cute romance (although I would have liked to see more of what happens next!), family ups and downs, the trials and tribulations of friendships and especially how they change when you leave school. There’s social media pressure, catfishing, disordered eating, jealousy, love, friendship and self-acceptance.

The characters are so well written that I truly adored Saffron, Veronica, Toby, Otis and little Rue whilst effortlessly disliking Jack. The way in which Saffron’s friendship with Veronica in particular developed and strengthened so naturally had me beaming. It was easy to relate to my own super natural friendships, those which develop simply because two people are meant to know one another and that’s what it felt like for those two.

I am so pleased that I picked up this book and will absolutely be encouraging as many people as possible to read it. Saffron is a character I’ll be thinking about for a long time and I’ll be taking some of the messages away into my own conscience too.

Thank you to Faber and Faber, Amara Sage and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

This book really made me think about how my language choices around food could influence the children that I teach. Saffron's mother and grandmother do not have a healthy relationship with food and this has a huge impact on Saffron growing up. She does not conform to the body type that her mother and grandmother aspire to, no matter how much she tries to follow their strict diets and exercise regimes. This, along with a relationship with a boy who doesn't want to be seen in public with her, has a huge impact on her self-esteem, causing her to make some questionable decisions on the dating apps. When she finds the courage to move out from her mother's and meets a group of people who accept her for who she is, she starts to realise that she is worthy of love, no matter what size body she's in. However, the dating app decisions come back to haunt her. Will they ruin her new life?

Firstly this book looks at the words and phrases that are used around diet culture and the societal demand for women to be thin. I was speaking to one of my friends while I was reading this book and they said that they were allowed to have a sweet treat because they had netball later and it hit me how much I and so many other people have this mentality. While I understand that health is important and what we eat can have a massive impact on our bodies, this book made me consider the impact negativity around food can have on our mental well-being.

The other thing this book covers really well, is the way other people can present a life that seems perfect on the outside but they can be falling apart on the inside. This could be in person or online.

I have said that I would share this book with the children I teach. However, on reflection I think it is more suitable to late teens due to some of the things in the book (alcohol for example). I wish there was a version that I could share with my primary aged children as the two themes are really important for them to think about.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the arc!

I wanted to love this more than I did, but I am an adult who used to be a teenager with an ED who was chronically online, and a lot of this hit too hard or didn't hit at all. A lot of the book uses restricting and thinking about food and dieting and exercising to make a REALLY GOOD POINT, but it never would have been helpful to me back then because it was so detailed - kind of like Girl in Pieces was REALLY not helpful to me either at that time even though it was making a lot of great points.

And the fact that catfishing plays such a huge role in the plot, in multiple ways, was not its strongest part either. Once again, I appreciate what it was saying, the means of saying it just really didn't sit well with me.

I'm giving it a higher rating because with a trigger warning, I'm sure it can do more for others, and I do think that these discussions and themes are extremely important to have, especially in YA literature. We don't see it often enough, and I want to boost it - even though it didn't fully work for me, I know it will work for many others.

A fun read that does goes into important topics such as body positivity and diet culture. It is a YA novel so it keeps things light but that doesn’t stop the author from asking important questions and talking about matters that need to be talked about more. I gave this book 4 stars

Great introspection into teen girls and the dangers/pressures that social media puts upon them. One of the best well written ya mcs that I've read about in a while.

I read this between Christmas & New Year and what a time to be reading a book about body image/diet culture etc. At first I thought it may be the wrong time of year when it is literally shoved down our throats everywhere we look. But as I went through the book, I actually think it’s the best time I could have read this.

This book not only promotes owning yourself and learning to f**k diet culture by accepting and loving yourself for you, it shows relationships of people in many ways. It shows relationships between you and yourself, between friends you’ve known for years, between friends you’ve only just met, between romantic relationship. it shows them ALL in their gory, vulnerable and often complex ways. It allows you to resonate with what you relate to and takeaway nuanced feelings and compassion for people and yourself.

There’s drama between friends, between families and between romantic relationships. There’s catfishing and university stress. There’s humour and love and compassion. I loved it and I think it’s just what I needed right now, to be honest.

Girl: Ultra-Processed follows Saffron Saldana, a teenager whose New Year’s resolution is always the same: lose weight. Conditioned by society, the media, and her diet-obsessed mother to believe that thinness equals happiness, Saffron struggles with self-acceptance.

Seeking an escape, she creates Sydney—a digitally perfect, slim version of herself—using AI. Boys online adore Sydney, and at first, it feels like harmless fun. But as Saffron’s online and offline worlds start to collide, she’s forced to confront the consequences of pretending to be someone she’s not, particularly when a boy makes her question her self-worth and the value of authenticity.

This powerful and timely story delves into the challenges of teenage life in a body-obsessed culture. Through themes of family, friendship, love, and identity, Girl: Ultra-Processed offers a poignant exploration of self-acceptance and learning to love the person you truly are.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is my first Amara Sage's book and I loved every single bit of this book. How the author so delicately writes of how the world sees our bodies and how that affects the relationships we have with ourselves and nutrition plus the people around us.

I enjoyed Amara's presentation of an alternative, positive outlook on the way of life that seems to be priorities dieting, sizing and self-esteem around appearances.
Knowing that this is how Amara writes i am going to need a back list.
I'm looking forward to what she writes.

As a result of the image and body obsessed culture that surrounds her, including her diet coach mother, Saffron has grown up hating the body she lives in and by extension her entire self. To allow herself to exist in a way where people don’t judge her for her body, she has used AI to makeover her own pictures and generate a dating profile that she uses to chat to guys she feels would reject her if they knew what she actually looked like. As Saffron moves out of her family home and into a flat, she makes new friends and ultimately sets in motion the main plot of this book as she finds herself starting to fall in love with one of her new roommates and she’s forced to confront her body image issues and her other friendships and relationships that have been falling apart.

I’m of two minds about this book. On one hand, I think it does a good job of portraying the way society’s expectations about the ideal body type can worm their way into your brain and take hold, how despite being aware of how terrible diet culture is, it can be hard to actually remove yourself from it, and also how much effort and work it can take to unlearn these years of conditioning and love yourself. I’m glad there’s some body-positive YA out there. It’s certainly different than most of the YA I remember reading when I was younger. I also generally liked Saffron. I found her quite interesting and engaging as a narrator, although there were things that were brought up that felt like they could have used some more development (such as her dad having left and not speaking to her except to send her guilt money). But other than Saffron, none of the characters were fleshed out. I don’t think I could recall a single thing about any of them that isn’t just a very surface-level basic fact like that one of them plays basketball and another one takes dancersize classes. It made it a lot harder to understand why Saffron cared about any of these people, in particular Toby the love interest, because they had very minimal on-page personality. And ultimately the entire final third or so felt so cartoonish plot-wise that it was hard to take remotely seriously. I think by that point nearly ever character was being catfished, catfishing someone else, or both and then it’s just all wrapped up in a nice bow within a few pages without actually addressing any of the underlying problems in any depth.

saffron is definitely ana wesome char, but the other ones are... less so. i found some of it really interesting and some meh. 3.5 stars. tysm fo r the arc.

This YA novel is a fun read that is all about body positivity and the diet culture. Saffron hates herself and her body. She has a mother who is the face of SlimIt and who pushed Saffron to always monitor her food intake. Add to this the culture of ultra thin ‘role-models’ on social media and on TV and Saff does not feel that she fits in, especially with the way that she was treated by her ex. So she creates a new persona for herself on a dating app - Sydney - where she can be the person that she has always wanted to be. But then Sydney’s presence threatens to undo everything that Saffron is starting to build because after starting uni and moving into a houseshare, she is finally moving away from the ‘must diet’ influence of her mother and beginning to find herself. There are dark parts of this but the message about everyone being perfect just as they are is an important one, as is the dangers of taking the dieting message too far as being thin isn’t always the answe either. There is a lot in here, not only about body image, but also a fantastic catfishing story and the value of having true friends. There is also a bit of romance. Saffron is relatable snd I can recognise my teenage anxieties about my own weight. Other characters - some are more rounded than others, but overall a fun read with an important message for teens.

3.5 🌟
This has a slow start so bare with it while it takes its time to establish itself. The pacing is in line with where our MC is and changes as she comes into her own and unlearns some necessary things. Saffron( our MC) makes messy choices which tracks for someone in their late teens but is also held accountable which makes the story feel more real.

The tone is sad which reflects the heaviness of the subject matter being discussed but will be hard for some readers so tread carefully. This covers issues concerning diet culture and body image so be kind to yourself and go in knowing that it will be some intense reading.

I had a good time with this and recommend for teens (16+) and people who are looking to have these conversations with young girls in their lives and don't know how to navigate that conversation yet. It's not just informative it was a good read as well.