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The Perfect Fit: A Witty and Heartfelt Novel About Friendship Fallout and Finding Happiness Beyond the Perfect Body
Sunny Weston always wanted to be perfect . . . and that meant being thin. Now, after what seemed like a million years on the treadmill—and a million miles from the nearest brownie—she finally fits into those slinky black dresses she's been eyeing for years.
But being a perfect size doesn't necessarily equal a perfect life. Suddenly Sunny's best friends are all bitter and jealous. She's become a stranger in her own body. And though her longtime work crush, Adrian, is finally her boyfriend, she's totally confused now that charming, daringly dapper Cagney has appeared on the scene. Worst of all, she's worried that the recipe for a happy life might not be low-calorie after all.
Maybe it's time for Sunny to discover that the true secret to happiness isn't constantly feeling hollow.
But being a perfect size doesn't necessarily equal a perfect life. Suddenly Sunny's best friends are all bitter and jealous. She's become a stranger in her own body. And though her longtime work crush, Adrian, is finally her boyfriend, she's totally confused now that charming, daringly dapper Cagney has appeared on the scene. Worst of all, she's worried that the recipe for a happy life might not be low-calorie after all.
Maybe it's time for Sunny to discover that the true secret to happiness isn't constantly feeling hollow.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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165 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 1, 2010
Where to start with this review? This is one of the rare books I've ever read that I'm actually angry with myself that I bothered to finish it. I kept reading in the pathetic hope that it would get better, which I realize is my own fault. I really wish I had put it down when I got that first niggling feeling that it was one of the worst books I'd ever read.
First, let me say this: for a book about a woman who did the hard work to lose a lot of weight and is now moving forward with her life in many positive ways, this is a curiously joyless book.
Now I'm going to give a bit of a spoiler, but I'm not putting a spoiler alert on this review because you shouldn't read this book anyway.
The book begins when the "heroine," Sunny, goes for her regular cup of coffee and low-fat muffin at her local coffee shop and sees someone snatch a child right in front of her (I know, right? I should have put the book down at this point. It had already gone too far in the first 10 pages). Of course, Sunny chases down the kidnapper and saves the boy with the help of Cagney, a hunky stranger who works nearby. However, at the police station, after giving their statements, when Sunny politely introduces herself to Cagney, he berates her for chasing after the kidnapper and they get into a screaming match.
Now, here's the thing that really gets me. When Sunny and Cagney each tell this story to other people they know in their lives, everyone begins to declare that they're in love with each other - including Sunny's therapist. WHAT?! Why would anybody ever say that? If a friend of mine told me that she politely tried to introduce herself to someone and he started screaming at her, I'd be like, "Wow, what an a-hole."
Of course, Sunny and Cagney begin to see each other everywhere and he proceeds to be a complete jerk to her every single time. The best part is that he always mocks her about the fact that she was formerly fat (while also deriding her for being obsessed with her looks) despite the fact that he never actually knew her when she was fat.
Explain to me please: WHY WOULD SHE FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS MAN? And why would I root for her character to do so? I don't care about his not-sad-at-all "I'm an idiot who previously married three completely awful women" history. That's not an excuse to be mean to every other woman he ever meets for the rest of his life. If he keeps marrying the wrong women, I think he's the problem, not the women. Although, all of Sunny's friends are total jerks too, so perhaps she also just has bad taste.
Perhaps needless to say: I hated this book. I would give it a quarter star if I could. Do not read this book.
First, let me say this: for a book about a woman who did the hard work to lose a lot of weight and is now moving forward with her life in many positive ways, this is a curiously joyless book.
Now I'm going to give a bit of a spoiler, but I'm not putting a spoiler alert on this review because you shouldn't read this book anyway.
The book begins when the "heroine," Sunny, goes for her regular cup of coffee and low-fat muffin at her local coffee shop and sees someone snatch a child right in front of her (I know, right? I should have put the book down at this point. It had already gone too far in the first 10 pages). Of course, Sunny chases down the kidnapper and saves the boy with the help of Cagney, a hunky stranger who works nearby. However, at the police station, after giving their statements, when Sunny politely introduces herself to Cagney, he berates her for chasing after the kidnapper and they get into a screaming match.
Now, here's the thing that really gets me. When Sunny and Cagney each tell this story to other people they know in their lives, everyone begins to declare that they're in love with each other - including Sunny's therapist. WHAT?! Why would anybody ever say that? If a friend of mine told me that she politely tried to introduce herself to someone and he started screaming at her, I'd be like, "Wow, what an a-hole."
Of course, Sunny and Cagney begin to see each other everywhere and he proceeds to be a complete jerk to her every single time. The best part is that he always mocks her about the fact that she was formerly fat (while also deriding her for being obsessed with her looks) despite the fact that he never actually knew her when she was fat.
Explain to me please: WHY WOULD SHE FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS MAN? And why would I root for her character to do so? I don't care about his not-sad-at-all "I'm an idiot who previously married three completely awful women" history. That's not an excuse to be mean to every other woman he ever meets for the rest of his life. If he keeps marrying the wrong women, I think he's the problem, not the women. Although, all of Sunny's friends are total jerks too, so perhaps she also just has bad taste.
Perhaps needless to say: I hated this book. I would give it a quarter star if I could. Do not read this book.
February 11, 2012
The beginning of this novel starts with a bang. It was so unexpected and random, I was thinking, "Okay, did that really happen?" The novel takes a Bridget Jone's Diary turn with the main character, Sunny, mentally debating herself about two guys that are polar opposite. One is a playboy that she feels is perfect for her, the other is the guy she can't stand, but everyone thinks they are really in love, but fighting it. Some parts in the middle of the book are incredibly dull, but it picks up here and there if you hang on and keep reading. In the beginning, I hated all of the characters, but my mind changed since the author does a great job with character development. My favorite part of the book was the epilogue where the author spot on describes how love creeps up on you. Overall, if you've seen any type of romantic comedy, you'll know how this book ends, but like watching predicatable romantic comedies, you just keep reading.
There are several poignant thoughts from the author in reference to the inner change that happens when a person loses a great deal of weight, as well as how he or she is viewed by the outside world. Anyone who has ever gone through that will definitely be able to relate.
I bought this book from a bin at the Dollar Tree, and expected it to be really generic. I read the back cover and thought the theme of inner transformation after losing a large amount of weight sounded interesting enough, and I planned on forwarding the book to my sister after reading it since she can relate to losing a lot of weight. I was actually more impressed with the book than I thought I would be. It wasn't the greatest, most amazing read ever, but it kept me entertained for the most part.
There are several poignant thoughts from the author in reference to the inner change that happens when a person loses a great deal of weight, as well as how he or she is viewed by the outside world. Anyone who has ever gone through that will definitely be able to relate.
I bought this book from a bin at the Dollar Tree, and expected it to be really generic. I read the back cover and thought the theme of inner transformation after losing a large amount of weight sounded interesting enough, and I planned on forwarding the book to my sister after reading it since she can relate to losing a lot of weight. I was actually more impressed with the book than I thought I would be. It wasn't the greatest, most amazing read ever, but it kept me entertained for the most part.
September 24, 2024
Another pick from the Belgrade Book Sale. Seemed like a good idea at the time but now it seems that some bargins may cost more than they at first seem to -- especially in the time I would have otherwise had to read other things!
The quote on the front says, "warm, witty, and wise..." and the back says that it is a story of a woman who lost a tremendous amount of weight and found that her new body did not solve all of her problems as she always dreamed it would. It has a "romance" feel. The hero is man who has been married three times -- all to blond, beautiful women who he married without every getting to know but while in "lust" with them. He's now a bitter woman-hater and runs a weird buisness where men hire him to temp their wives or girlfriends into an indiscretion as a test. He has two male employees. None of them are gorgeous or particularly charming yet their ploys to get married women to kiss them always work. What??? Strangley, that is a minor flaw. The real flaw is that the book is anything but "warm". Both of the mains are embittered and cut off from others (and not in a cute romancy way!) In addition, most of the other romanic relationships protrayed in the book are horrible -- with people "settling" in very British way for someone to make their tea and iron their shirts -- and then criticizing others for not doing the same. There is a bit of wisdom in what the mains discover about love -- how it can support you and make you more of yourself -- but that felt a long time coming.
The quote on the front says, "warm, witty, and wise..." and the back says that it is a story of a woman who lost a tremendous amount of weight and found that her new body did not solve all of her problems as she always dreamed it would. It has a "romance" feel. The hero is man who has been married three times -- all to blond, beautiful women who he married without every getting to know but while in "lust" with them. He's now a bitter woman-hater and runs a weird buisness where men hire him to temp their wives or girlfriends into an indiscretion as a test. He has two male employees. None of them are gorgeous or particularly charming yet their ploys to get married women to kiss them always work. What??? Strangley, that is a minor flaw. The real flaw is that the book is anything but "warm". Both of the mains are embittered and cut off from others (and not in a cute romancy way!) In addition, most of the other romanic relationships protrayed in the book are horrible -- with people "settling" in very British way for someone to make their tea and iron their shirts -- and then criticizing others for not doing the same. There is a bit of wisdom in what the mains discover about love -- how it can support you and make you more of yourself -- but that felt a long time coming.
April 5, 2019
Picking up this book, I honestly didn't know what I was getting into. I am not one to read the back of books and like to be surprised at the content. I have to say that this book really helped me verbalize things I have been trying to verbalize for years. Louise Kean's first page nailed how one does truly think when there is a battle within. The plot was definitely not what I expected from the title, but I did enjoy how it all fit together. Great book. Amazing how Kean put those tough feelings into words.
June 14, 2021
Had to force myself to finish this one. Just didn't do it for me!
July 1, 2012
The plot in a nutshell:
Protagonist Sunny used to be obese. She kicked herself into shape, and along the way learned to love herself for more than her appearance. Now she's searching for the perfect man. The book opens on a scene that starts Sunny down an unexpected path to love and self-discovery: She runs down a child-snatcher, becoming something of a local hero, and gaining the respect of the hard-hearted, snobbish Cagney James.
Thoughts:
It's a good thing "a novel" is emblazoned on the cover of this book, because the title makes it sound like it belongs in the self-help section. In some ways, it is a self-help book. There are many long narratives focusing on the emotional toughness one develops when losing a significant amount of weight, and a lot of little dieting tips randomly tossed in. But for the most part, this is chick lit. It's light, quick reading, centered on a love triangle.
The dialogue is the main reason The Perfect Fit only gets two stars from me. Nothing the characters say is believable. They constantly deliver monologs spanning three to four paragraphs, and I'm pretty sure they'd all have to carry a thesaurus in their back pockets to be able to toss around some of the vocabulary used.
There were also a lot of outlandish sub-plots that didn't really contribute to the story... For example, the main character, Sunny, operates a website selling sex toys. A good few pages of the book are wasted explaining that she inherited the business from an elderly lady Sunny befriended in the last few months of her life. Nothing about her relationship with this woman is ever mentioned again, and the business itself is only tossed around a few times for shock factor.
My final complaint is that the relationships between characters weren't well developed. Or developed at all, actually. There is hardly any explanation for why bonds exist between characters, and some of them seem to go from being total strangers to trusted friends over the course of a single, uneventful conversation. Trying to figure out the basis for/extent of relationships in this story was a constant annoyance.
In the end, it was a cute story that could have been told better. Actually, it would probably have worked better as a movie...with Ginnifer Goodwin playing Sunny, and Tim Daly as Cagney...
Protagonist Sunny used to be obese. She kicked herself into shape, and along the way learned to love herself for more than her appearance. Now she's searching for the perfect man. The book opens on a scene that starts Sunny down an unexpected path to love and self-discovery: She runs down a child-snatcher, becoming something of a local hero, and gaining the respect of the hard-hearted, snobbish Cagney James.
Thoughts:
It's a good thing "a novel" is emblazoned on the cover of this book, because the title makes it sound like it belongs in the self-help section. In some ways, it is a self-help book. There are many long narratives focusing on the emotional toughness one develops when losing a significant amount of weight, and a lot of little dieting tips randomly tossed in. But for the most part, this is chick lit. It's light, quick reading, centered on a love triangle.
The dialogue is the main reason The Perfect Fit only gets two stars from me. Nothing the characters say is believable. They constantly deliver monologs spanning three to four paragraphs, and I'm pretty sure they'd all have to carry a thesaurus in their back pockets to be able to toss around some of the vocabulary used.
There were also a lot of outlandish sub-plots that didn't really contribute to the story... For example, the main character, Sunny, operates a website selling sex toys. A good few pages of the book are wasted explaining that she inherited the business from an elderly lady Sunny befriended in the last few months of her life. Nothing about her relationship with this woman is ever mentioned again, and the business itself is only tossed around a few times for shock factor.
My final complaint is that the relationships between characters weren't well developed. Or developed at all, actually. There is hardly any explanation for why bonds exist between characters, and some of them seem to go from being total strangers to trusted friends over the course of a single, uneventful conversation. Trying to figure out the basis for/extent of relationships in this story was a constant annoyance.
In the end, it was a cute story that could have been told better. Actually, it would probably have worked better as a movie...with Ginnifer Goodwin playing Sunny, and Tim Daly as Cagney...
September 30, 2008
I thought that this book was going to be better than it was. It had such promise. I really liked the fact that was going to talk about how being skinny isn't everything, and that once you finally get there, it's not quite how you imagined. People's attitudes and reactions towards you change, you change, you realize that nothing is ever enough. Once you get to one goal, you only want the next best thing. We're always in a rat race to be the BEST, the skinniest, the prettiest, the most toned, and later who has the best clothes, the best hair, the best makeup... it never ends. You can never be the best- And it seems that the closer you are, the more people resent you.
Anyway, sadly the book did not touch upon this as much as I would have liked it to. It tried to, but then got mixed up in a very CONTRIVED and PREDICTABLE romance. Actually the romance was so bad it made me want to put the book down at times. Christian, the gay friend, was absolutely great though and gave me some good laughs along with Cagney's henchmen - Howard and Yuan.
Had potential, but disappointed me. Not a horrible book, but with all the great stuff out there, who really has time to waste on reading something that just barely makes the grade?
Anyway, sadly the book did not touch upon this as much as I would have liked it to. It tried to, but then got mixed up in a very CONTRIVED and PREDICTABLE romance. Actually the romance was so bad it made me want to put the book down at times. Christian, the gay friend, was absolutely great though and gave me some good laughs along with Cagney's henchmen - Howard and Yuan.
Had potential, but disappointed me. Not a horrible book, but with all the great stuff out there, who really has time to waste on reading something that just barely makes the grade?
August 22, 2016
2.75 stars....Overall the story was okay and I really liked the main character. The story starts after she has lost nearly one hundred pounds and she tries to adjust to that. She soon realizes that just because she lost a lot of weight doesn't mean that she loses the person that she was. All of her life her weight had shaped her, and now she is not sure which way to turn. With much more attention directed her way, how is she to react? The story switches between her point of view and the male character in the story. This part I didn't like as much. He is very angry and jaded...too much to be the lead in a book like this. Their first encounters are too filled with vitriol to really be taken seriously as a promising romance. On the other hand I did like his friends and co-workers. Normally in these types of books the humor is flat at best and usually irritating. I enjoyed the two young men who worked for him...two lovable knuckle-heads. His gay friend is good as well. Not as funny but a good sounding board for the two main characters. You would need to overlook quite a bit to enjoy this one, but you might give it a try. I will try another by this author.
February 8, 2010
I found this to be really disappointing. I went into reading it knowing that it was a chick-lit book, but I still wasn't very pleased. I found the main character Sunny to be really annoying and full of contradictions. She would always make reference to her name (Sunny) representing her bubbly personality, but you never saw any of that, she just seemed to be whiny and needy.
The book actually grapples with some more serious issues (weight loss and sense of self), but it's kind of vague and mixed in with the Harlequinn romance novel cheesyness of the male protagonist that it loses whatever deeper meaning it's supposed to impart on you.
Essentially, I wish this book stuck to one theme: either a cheesy chick-lit book, or a book about a woman's struggle with discovering who she is in the aftermath of her weight-loss.
The book actually grapples with some more serious issues (weight loss and sense of self), but it's kind of vague and mixed in with the Harlequinn romance novel cheesyness of the male protagonist that it loses whatever deeper meaning it's supposed to impart on you.
Essentially, I wish this book stuck to one theme: either a cheesy chick-lit book, or a book about a woman's struggle with discovering who she is in the aftermath of her weight-loss.
February 5, 2012
This is the story of Sunny who finds herself trying to identify her place when she loses almost 100 pounds. She finds that she has traded one addiction for another and is still dealing with issues of confidence and status as she explores her feelings of love an acceptance. In the end, what she thought was valid turns out to be a lie and she discovers that love is more than one's ideals projected on to someone. Love is about making a choice to understand another person and then love them because and despite all of their flaws.
This book is so bad in some areas and then so good in others. Where the author gets it right, it's right and then there are places in the plot that made me want to put the book down and not finish it. I'm glad I finished it and it turns out there was some really good stuff in this book but it came at a price.
This book is so bad in some areas and then so good in others. Where the author gets it right, it's right and then there are places in the plot that made me want to put the book down and not finish it. I'm glad I finished it and it turns out there was some really good stuff in this book but it came at a price.
booksillprobablyneverfinish
June 18, 2008I am having such a hard time getting into this book, though I identify with so much in the main character. The author uses these really poignant analogies that kind of make a person think and appreciate, but then she goes on and makes another analogy, and another, and another, over the same topic, until there's a paragraph or two about 1 thing said many different ways. For me, it lost its poignancy. I think she just gets carried away, or maybe she's addicted to analogies, but it has made it annoying for me to read.
for the moment I've stopped reading, though I will come back to this one. Maybe its just a frame of mind for me right now, I don't know. In its stead I'm re-reading Eleven on Top, one of my Stephanie Plum books. Its fun to go back and read her books=)
for the moment I've stopped reading, though I will come back to this one. Maybe its just a frame of mind for me right now, I don't know. In its stead I'm re-reading Eleven on Top, one of my Stephanie Plum books. Its fun to go back and read her books=)
Read
June 10, 2010The media is what affect what is going on in our everyday life. Now the new trend in "what's in" is being thin. I can connect this book with the common truths we explored throughout senior year for instance, what is beauty? Is it just the appearance because everyone has their own definition of what is beautiful to them. Within today's society people are "dying to be thin" and they think it would be abnormal to weigh over 90 pounds- it's just ridiculous. Just like the protagonist in this novel- Sunny Weston wants to be perfect. But being a perfectionist does not have to be thin- the right size to encourage future generation.
January 11, 2012
Slow to start. Almost done with it. it seems a little predictable and I hope it ends a lot better than it started.
Just got done reading it. I felt this book had so much to potential. But I felt it was quite misleading. I thought a lot of it was going to be more about her losing the weight and her friends but it didn't really focus much on that. And I felt her and Cagney moved a little unrealistically fast as well as her friendship with Christian. I just got done reading it before bed and all I really feel is disappointment. I was really hoping for a relatable story but unfortunately I wasn't graced with that.
Just got done reading it. I felt this book had so much to potential. But I felt it was quite misleading. I thought a lot of it was going to be more about her losing the weight and her friends but it didn't really focus much on that. And I felt her and Cagney moved a little unrealistically fast as well as her friendship with Christian. I just got done reading it before bed and all I really feel is disappointment. I was really hoping for a relatable story but unfortunately I wasn't graced with that.
August 27, 2008
I was unable to finish this book, it was that bad. I was completely unable to relate to the main character--not because I've never struggled with my weight/lost weight, but because I could find nothing likeable about her. She was neurotic, whiny, and the story wasn't progressing quickly enough for me. I finally gave up after about 60 or so pages--something I rarely, if ever do, as I really hate to waste that time already invested in reading but I just couldn't do it. Had to put it down and put it in the 'to donate' pile.
January 12, 2010
I love this book. As someone who lost a lot of weight and didn't have her life change, this book spoke directly to me. I will admit, I originally gave it five stars, but backed up because there were definitely some dialogue sequences that were unreal. But other than that, it was a down to earth book about what you wanted not always being what made you happy. And even though there were characters that you would think would fit some stereotypes, somehow they transcended them. Very interesting light-read.
February 3, 2011
This is my go to book when I get bored whatever I'm currently reading. I've probably read it 5-6 times through. The first read though it was difficult. It took me 4 months to read because when it got slow I would put it down and dread going back to it. If you can get past the her job as an owner and operator of an online adult toy company and slow points in the book is actually amazing message. I love the way she views life after losing the weight. To me that is what makes this book amazing. Her honest and raw way of telling it like it is.
June 18, 2013
Well, for starters, the person who made the cover really didn't read the book LOL. So don't go off of that.
Basically, the main character Sunny has GOT to get better people in her life. Her two girl friends are superficial jerks, her taste in men is pretty much shudder worthy, and the one decent friend she has possibly has a sadistic streak since he wants her to get with the most wholly unlikable male character ever written up.
Alas you can't reach into the book and punch people, so I don't think I'll be reading this again.
Basically, the main character Sunny has GOT to get better people in her life. Her two girl friends are superficial jerks, her taste in men is pretty much shudder worthy, and the one decent friend she has possibly has a sadistic streak since he wants her to get with the most wholly unlikable male character ever written up.
Alas you can't reach into the book and punch people, so I don't think I'll be reading this again.
June 3, 2008
Sunny Weston is a girl who wants to be perfect and skinny. Being skinny doesnt mean your're perfect, i dont get why people think like that. In health, we talked about how teenagers are very influenced by the media and they want to look like the models that appear on TV. Sometimes it can lead to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. A lot of teenagers can relate to the events that happen in the book.
January 23, 2009
Well I for one always thought if I was thin, worked out like crazy, had a great husband, my life could be nothing but PERFECT! It can make you have an empty feeling. Well, it really shows you that what you strive for may not necessary make you happy. I think that all women can relate to what the character Sunny felt going from fat to thin. In fact in all parts of life the lesson taught here makes you look at yourself with humor and you know YOU'RE OKAY!
October 20, 2013
It's nice to read some chick lit every once in a while but this one does not deliver. Sketchy plot. No follow through on the "fat girls gets the guy" happy ending. Just a really vague wrap up with a lot of rambling chapters. If you've every struggled with weight, the early chapters are good reminders of why you should value yourself and not let your "friends" make you feel bad about putting yourself first for a change. Other than that, a waste of a week of my life.
June 21, 2008
Good message...very random writing. I felt while reading this that sometimes I could just skip large parts of a chapter and not miss any of the action. Now, this could be simply because I read a ton so I find myself doing this often, or it could be because the writing was random and didn't hold my attention at times. Overall though it was a good basic story line.
March 19, 2016
This book had a rough start and if I was the type of person who walked away from books before I finished it, I probably who have. But I'm glad I didn't. The ending was pretty good even if it was far from what I thought it would be. Heads up: This book really has nothing to do with size or eating or food or anything that you may assume from the title.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2007
Typical chick-lit type of book. Don't pick up this one expecting deep insight into human life. I still really enjoyed it- probably because I found it so easy to relate to the main character and her struggles.
July 1, 2008
This book was...hmm...how should I put it? Just ok. It took me forever to get into it...and usually once I start a book, it is tough for me to put it down. So, if you are really bored, maybe? But, I wouldn't go out and seek this book.
June 16, 2009
I did not like this book at all. The only reason it gets 2 stars is because the gay guy BFF's character was great and the last 50 pages were pretty good! I would not recommend this book to anyone! It is very crude as well.
June 10, 2013
It was ok. Odd. Sunny has just lost a bunch of weight, and people are treating her differently but she is not sure it is all that she expected... also she runs a website that sells sex toys, which was just odd.
September 22, 2014
I loved the idea of this book, and wanted so badly to like it. I could not. I found that this book was more filler than story and I had to force myself to finish it. The characters had such potential but wound up being empty and completely un relatable.
July 16, 2015
This was an overall okay read. it started out very interesting, and finished very interesting but the middle was mostly filler (in my opinion) and didn't seem to be going anywhere. The book still made me want to finish it though just to see what happened to Sunny.
April 4, 2008
Sort of strange and in the end a predictable let down. She learns the secret to life is not being thin, it is being thin and having a man!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2008
This was a good book, but the main characterseemed to be a bit self indulged. I had a good time reading this and it gave me a different view about weight and diets.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews