What do you think?
Rate this book
Princesses Don't Get Fat
A fairy tale romance with a plus sized heroine and plenty of dessert.
Princess Valeria of Amaranta is fat, but she doesn’t care. All she wants is to eat a lot and lead an idle life. When it is apparent that she cannot get a husband, her mother decides to send her to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts. For a chubby princess who has never picked up a sword, life at the Academy is akin to torture. Worst of all, the food is terrible.
When Valeria decides to improve Riviera cuisine by sneaking into the palace kitchens and giving orders, little does she know that the crown prince would take interest in her kitchen excursions. As they spend more time together, Valeria must decide whether she should become thin and attractive, or stay in the kitchens and remain fat.
Princess Valeria of Amaranta is fat, but she doesn’t care. All she wants is to eat a lot and lead an idle life. When it is apparent that she cannot get a husband, her mother decides to send her to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts. For a chubby princess who has never picked up a sword, life at the Academy is akin to torture. Worst of all, the food is terrible.
When Valeria decides to improve Riviera cuisine by sneaking into the palace kitchens and giving orders, little does she know that the crown prince would take interest in her kitchen excursions. As they spend more time together, Valeria must decide whether she should become thin and attractive, or stay in the kitchens and remain fat.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2013
74 people are currently reading
1288 people want to read
About the author
Aya Ling
14 books439 followersAya is from Taiwan, where she struggles daily to contain her obsession with mouthwatering and unhealthy foods. Often she will devour a good book instead. Her favorite books include martial arts romances, fairy tale retellings, high fantasy, cozy mysteries, and manga.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
May 1, 2016
Meh it was okay.
The whole "handsome prince" thing is starting to get old. It's not that I don't like me a handsome prince: I so do! But they're always described in the same way. They are cut out of the same mold of words!
Prince Ralph isn't bad. He's a bit bland, and I do like that he liked Valeria for who she was and not her appearance.
Good for Valeria to not be discouraged by people's criticisms of her figure. She was pretty confident for the most part! However I am glad she agreed to do the run every morning that Ralph suggested! It's not about her figure or slimming down or whatever. It's the inner health that matters, not what she looks like. And sugar, especially refined sugar is one of the worst things for our bodies so it is important that she remains healthy :)
I will say I loved the descriptions of all the foods/desserts! They were so detailed and appetizing!
Everyone's praise of Valeria's culinary experience was adorable! Everyone admired her skills and wonders in the kitchen!
I didn't hate this or anything, but it was slightly bland. The characterization was a bit lacking. But quick and fun all the same :)
The whole "handsome prince" thing is starting to get old. It's not that I don't like me a handsome prince: I so do! But they're always described in the same way. They are cut out of the same mold of words!
Prince Ralph isn't bad. He's a bit bland, and I do like that he liked Valeria for who she was and not her appearance.
Good for Valeria to not be discouraged by people's criticisms of her figure. She was pretty confident for the most part! However I am glad she agreed to do the run every morning that Ralph suggested! It's not about her figure or slimming down or whatever. It's the inner health that matters, not what she looks like. And sugar, especially refined sugar is one of the worst things for our bodies so it is important that she remains healthy :)
I will say I loved the descriptions of all the foods/desserts! They were so detailed and appetizing!
Everyone's praise of Valeria's culinary experience was adorable! Everyone admired her skills and wonders in the kitchen!
I didn't hate this or anything, but it was slightly bland. The characterization was a bit lacking. But quick and fun all the same :)
April 14, 2014
Princess Valeria is sixteen and has, basically, one interest in life: sitting on her balcony in the sun eating tasty treats. Consequently, she is fat. She's not entirely happy about this, but if the choice is being fat or not eating tasty treats, she'll go with fat.
Her mother is rather less sanguine about the situation, and after a disastrous competition in which the prize is Valeria's hand in marriage, she takes drastic action and packs her unfortunate daughter off to boot camp. There, Valeria is supposed to get fit and learn to fight, the better to go off and have adventures (something very fashionable amongst princesses). Naturally, she hates all the exercise, and is very bad at it. And the food is terrible!
But then she finds her way to the palace kitchens and starts teaching the cooks their job...
I have to give the author points for her aim, which was clearly to write a story in which the heroine is fat, and is allowed to stay fat and still get a happy ending. And, well, she achieved that. I just don't think it's very well written.
The characters are pretty one-dimensional, to start with. Princess Valeria is pretty much defined by her size and her cookery skills. She has no other interests than food, and there's no explanation of why not. Likewise, Ralph is a stereotypical handsome prince with no noticeable personality at all. And it's the same with all the other characters.
The world-building is so slipshod as to be barely there at all. There is an archipelago full of island kingdoms. There is a continent full of non-island kingdoms. They all have names borrowed from the real world, which gets somewhat jarring, especially since the author seems not to know or care what any of the words mean.
And the writing is pedestrian at best, and in places really quite awkward.
Overall, I was disappointed. This could have been so much better. Well, at least it's short.
Her mother is rather less sanguine about the situation, and after a disastrous competition in which the prize is Valeria's hand in marriage, she takes drastic action and packs her unfortunate daughter off to boot camp. There, Valeria is supposed to get fit and learn to fight, the better to go off and have adventures (something very fashionable amongst princesses). Naturally, she hates all the exercise, and is very bad at it. And the food is terrible!
But then she finds her way to the palace kitchens and starts teaching the cooks their job...
I have to give the author points for her aim, which was clearly to write a story in which the heroine is fat, and is allowed to stay fat and still get a happy ending. And, well, she achieved that. I just don't think it's very well written.
The characters are pretty one-dimensional, to start with. Princess Valeria is pretty much defined by her size and her cookery skills. She has no other interests than food, and there's no explanation of why not. Likewise, Ralph is a stereotypical handsome prince with no noticeable personality at all. And it's the same with all the other characters.
The world-building is so slipshod as to be barely there at all. There is an archipelago full of island kingdoms. There is a continent full of non-island kingdoms. They all have names borrowed from the real world, which gets somewhat jarring, especially since the author seems not to know or care what any of the words mean.
And the writing is pedestrian at best, and in places really quite awkward.
Overall, I was disappointed. This could have been so much better. Well, at least it's short.
April 15, 2014
The three stars is really for the high-point of the book, where Valeria starts to find a role in life she actually wants for herself, while the understated romance between her and the prince is getting rolling. It was really quite cute, and at that stage I could ignore the obvious weaknesses of worldbuilding/plot and the fat slams that went on throughout a book that obviously intends to be a fat-acceptance one. Weaknesses there were, however (like the apparent paucity and incompetence of kitchen staff in the palace in Riviera, until Valeria and her accompanying maid and nanny arrive), and fat-unfriendliness too, such as repeated use of the word "waddle" to describe Valeria's walking, which continued throughout.
On the surface, it's a very fat-friendly book, which has several things going for it: 1) Valeria mostly doesn't care that she's fat, despite a horrible number of bad things said about her and her size; 2) she doesn't lose weight - either intentionally or as a side-effect of another change in her life - at the end of the book; 3) she gets herself a prince (and it's pretty clear another would also have been delighted to get her) AND a career (of sorts, and she is a princess, so the 'of sorts' makes sense in the context) through being herself, rather than changing to suit others. That aspect almost made up for the beginning's association of her being fat with her being extremely self-indulgent and -- frankly, to the outsider, bloody boring, as she has no interest in anything except eating. If she'd occasionally had a book to read before/after if not during her morning or afternoon tea-and-cake breaks, it would have made her a bit more appealing! Instead she's said to be "satisfied with her luxurious, idle life in the palace".
It's a short book, and this may well seem like more analysis than the book merits, but there are so few really fat-friendly books out there that the close-miss found here is more disappointing than it might be otherwise.
On the surface, it's a very fat-friendly book, which has several things going for it: 1) Valeria mostly doesn't care that she's fat, despite a horrible number of bad things said about her and her size; 2) she doesn't lose weight - either intentionally or as a side-effect of another change in her life - at the end of the book; 3) she gets herself a prince (and it's pretty clear another would also have been delighted to get her) AND a career (of sorts, and she is a princess, so the 'of sorts' makes sense in the context) through being herself, rather than changing to suit others. That aspect almost made up for the beginning's association of her being fat with her being extremely self-indulgent and -- frankly, to the outsider, bloody boring, as she has no interest in anything except eating. If she'd occasionally had a book to read before/after if not during her morning or afternoon tea-and-cake breaks, it would have made her a bit more appealing! Instead she's said to be "satisfied with her luxurious, idle life in the palace".
It's a short book, and this may well seem like more analysis than the book merits, but there are so few really fat-friendly books out there that the close-miss found here is more disappointing than it might be otherwise.
April 9, 2013
This novel is suitable for middle grade to YA readers. It read like it was a little on the young side even though Princess Valeria is 16 and Prince Ralph is 20. The novel is written from an omni POV which is never my favorite. It is also written in a distant style. I never felt a strong connection to any of the characters. I wished I could have been transported to the academy, to living in Valeria's shoes.
Princess Valeria's favorite thing to do is eat sweets. She has no other desire in life--especially marriage. Her mother is worried she will not be able to find a husband without losing some weight. Princesses are supposed to be thin. She sends Valeria to a training academy for nobles where she is to learn to be a warrior. Her mother's intentions being that this will force her to lose weight. Valeria finds a way to use her love of food in helping the cooks at the palace improve on their desserts and inventing new dishes. It is through her trips to the palace kitchen and sharing her love of food with the prince that they fall in love.
While I know that you do not have to be skinny to be happy, Valeria eats to excess and I do not think that this book teaches a healthy body image for today's youth.
Princess Valeria's favorite thing to do is eat sweets. She has no other desire in life--especially marriage. Her mother is worried she will not be able to find a husband without losing some weight. Princesses are supposed to be thin. She sends Valeria to a training academy for nobles where she is to learn to be a warrior. Her mother's intentions being that this will force her to lose weight. Valeria finds a way to use her love of food in helping the cooks at the palace improve on their desserts and inventing new dishes. It is through her trips to the palace kitchen and sharing her love of food with the prince that they fall in love.
While I know that you do not have to be skinny to be happy, Valeria eats to excess and I do not think that this book teaches a healthy body image for today's youth.
March 8, 2015
Princesses Don't Get Fat by Aya Ling was a wonderful read for me! This was a very easy and fun read that made me smile. I was surprised by how quick I finished it.
Princess Valeria of Amaranta is a delightful heroine who has no problems being herself. She loves food and knows how to make food taste fantastic. Kind of like Remy from Ratatouille. She is sent to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts by her mother when she is unable to get a husband. There she is made to learn sword fighting, run miles around a lake, and other lessons in the art of being a soldier.
Prince Ralph of Riviera is the hero in the novel. All the girls at the Academy try to get his attentions, but none do except for Valeria who surprises him and makes him smile whenever they meet. I also loved how great he is with his little sister, Elaine.
What I really liked about Valeria is that she didn't let what anyone else thought about her bring her down or change her in anyway. She stays true to herself and even finds a way to continue doing what she loves by taking over the running of Rivieran's Royal kitchens.
This was a sweet story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Princess Valeria of Amaranta is a delightful heroine who has no problems being herself. She loves food and knows how to make food taste fantastic. Kind of like Remy from Ratatouille. She is sent to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts by her mother when she is unable to get a husband. There she is made to learn sword fighting, run miles around a lake, and other lessons in the art of being a soldier.
Prince Ralph of Riviera is the hero in the novel. All the girls at the Academy try to get his attentions, but none do except for Valeria who surprises him and makes him smile whenever they meet. I also loved how great he is with his little sister, Elaine.
What I really liked about Valeria is that she didn't let what anyone else thought about her bring her down or change her in anyway. She stays true to herself and even finds a way to continue doing what she loves by taking over the running of Rivieran's Royal kitchens.
This was a sweet story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 4, 2015
This is a fairy tale style story where princesses are choosing to become warriors and explorers rather than wives. Princess Valeria just wants to bake and eat. She's sent away to a warrior training school bit things don't go according to plan when she finds her way into the kitchen.
Parts of this were really cute and I thought that Valeria and Ralph were rather adorable together, but some of the jokes and stuff were a bit much. The talk of her being fat and not able to find a husband, like that was more important than her being healthy. The conclusion was fairly nice and Valeria was somewhat balancing her love of food with the need for physical health. Fast and fun read.
Parts of this were really cute and I thought that Valeria and Ralph were rather adorable together, but some of the jokes and stuff were a bit much. The talk of her being fat and not able to find a husband, like that was more important than her being healthy. The conclusion was fairly nice and Valeria was somewhat balancing her love of food with the need for physical health. Fast and fun read.
March 11, 2015
Princess Something-or-other from Amaranta is a big girl who doesn’t want to exercise or pretty much do anything except eat. Her mother sends her to train at a faraway land where she kind of exercises but mostly sticks to what she knows and strikes up a friendship with Prince Ralph. There’s some romance but mostly alot of eating.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
-It’s a freebie on Amazon, which is always a good thing. Also, it's fairly quick read, under 140 pgs, so no big time investment.
-It’s a BBW fairy tale...no really an actual fairy tale with princes and princesses.
-All foodies welcome: The dessert descriptions are strong with this one, and I’ll remember the food long after I’ve forgotten the romance. Speaking of...
-Romance was very mild: It’s kisses (ok, maybe one kiss?) and it’s more of a payoff kind of romance instead of the focal point through the story. It’s more about Princess something-or-other accepting herself and everyone else learning to like it or lump it. I liked that particular message (even if it was in a backhanded compliment sort of way), but...
-Struggling to remember and I just read it: Unfortunately, it didn’t make much of an impression. I wasn’t a fan of the heroine, the hero seemed kind of cute but not very well defined. However I do know how to fix cheesecakes and salvage cake mishaps if that were to ever occur.
The Bottom Line
Meh. Pleasant enough fairy tale like read but didn’t really hold my interest, because while I may like to eat food I’m not big on reading about it. Between that and the fact that the romance was mild at best, I can’t say that this book worked for me. But if you want a very clean, fairy tale like story about princesses and princes and lots o’ food, this may work for you.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
-It’s a freebie on Amazon, which is always a good thing. Also, it's fairly quick read, under 140 pgs, so no big time investment.
-It’s a BBW fairy tale...no really an actual fairy tale with princes and princesses.
-All foodies welcome: The dessert descriptions are strong with this one, and I’ll remember the food long after I’ve forgotten the romance. Speaking of...
-Romance was very mild: It’s kisses (ok, maybe one kiss?) and it’s more of a payoff kind of romance instead of the focal point through the story. It’s more about Princess something-or-other accepting herself and everyone else learning to like it or lump it. I liked that particular message (even if it was in a backhanded compliment sort of way), but...
-Struggling to remember and I just read it: Unfortunately, it didn’t make much of an impression. I wasn’t a fan of the heroine, the hero seemed kind of cute but not very well defined. However I do know how to fix cheesecakes and salvage cake mishaps if that were to ever occur.
The Bottom Line
Meh. Pleasant enough fairy tale like read but didn’t really hold my interest, because while I may like to eat food I’m not big on reading about it. Between that and the fact that the romance was mild at best, I can’t say that this book worked for me. But if you want a very clean, fairy tale like story about princesses and princes and lots o’ food, this may work for you.
October 5, 2014
I enjoyed this! It reminded me of something I would've read as a kid. Sort of an easy, breezy, lighthearted style.
Fat shaming and this book - This isn't something I'm very comfortable or confident talking about, but I don't want to use that as excuse NOT to talk about it. If I say something wrong, please correct me.
Putting this behind a spoiler cut as a trigger warning.
Also, it kind of fit well with ideas I have about "strong female characters." It's the trend for princesses to become that cliche fantasy princess who's good at fighting and all and Valeria isn't into that, isn't good at it, and doesn't care. I like that part.
And the romance is sweet, if perhaps a bit undeveloped.
I think I'll read the next one.
This book is currently free on Amazon.
Fat shaming and this book - This isn't something I'm very comfortable or confident talking about, but I don't want to use that as excuse NOT to talk about it. If I say something wrong, please correct me.
Putting this behind a spoiler cut as a trigger warning.
Also, it kind of fit well with ideas I have about "strong female characters." It's the trend for princesses to become that cliche fantasy princess who's good at fighting and all and Valeria isn't into that, isn't good at it, and doesn't care. I like that part.
And the romance is sweet, if perhaps a bit undeveloped.
I think I'll read the next one.
This book is currently free on Amazon.
November 16, 2018
You did it again Aya!
From one fat princess to another this book made my heart soar... it was nice and refreshing having a princess who is pudgy and not one who wants to be fierce and fight. And I love that they made fun of those types of princesses. It was such a cute and loving story!
From one fat princess to another this book made my heart soar... it was nice and refreshing having a princess who is pudgy and not one who wants to be fierce and fight. And I love that they made fun of those types of princesses. It was such a cute and loving story!
January 24, 2013
Princess Valeria of Amaranta loves to eat. Because of her size, the Queen of Amaranta is afraid that no prince would want to marry her. Hoping to help her daughter lose some weight, the Queen sends Valeria to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts, a school where princesses learn how to fight and become warriors. Can Valeria endure the harsh training at Riviera?
I love this story! It’s a book that makes me feel happy. I like that Valeria follows her heart and does what she loves instead of conforming to the expectation of her mother. It’s fun to see her doing her morning training but nothing beats the image of Valeria bossing around in the gigantic palace kitchen! You’d have to read the story to find out how she manages to obtain consent from the head cook to visit the kitchen on a regular basis but watching her sampling one delectable dessert after another? Yum!!! My mouth waters as I read the story and I can almost smell the cinnamon and nutmeg from the apple pie that Valeria samples – oh gosh, my stomach is growling!
Pleasantly delightful, Princesses Don’t Get Fat is an enjoyable read that brings a big smile to my face. This is the first book that I read by Aya Ling and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of Princesses Don’t Fight in Skirts.
--
This review was originally published on Leisure Reads.
A copy of the book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
I love this story! It’s a book that makes me feel happy. I like that Valeria follows her heart and does what she loves instead of conforming to the expectation of her mother. It’s fun to see her doing her morning training but nothing beats the image of Valeria bossing around in the gigantic palace kitchen! You’d have to read the story to find out how she manages to obtain consent from the head cook to visit the kitchen on a regular basis but watching her sampling one delectable dessert after another? Yum!!! My mouth waters as I read the story and I can almost smell the cinnamon and nutmeg from the apple pie that Valeria samples – oh gosh, my stomach is growling!
Pleasantly delightful, Princesses Don’t Get Fat is an enjoyable read that brings a big smile to my face. This is the first book that I read by Aya Ling and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of Princesses Don’t Fight in Skirts.
--
This review was originally published on Leisure Reads.
A copy of the book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2013
I seen this book in a tag from the author on a forum site I read and I feel in love with the title and the cover so I asked Aya to let me know when it would be released. I had not read the blurb of the book or anything before I bought it, that is really not usual for me and I also had no idea how long or short it was. Really, really not like me! Like I said tho the cover and title just really drew me in!
This book is about a time where princess's no longer sit around and wait to get married etc.. they go off and do their own thing like hunting things like that. Valeria however only wants to eat and as you can imagine is overweight and loves deserts! She also can't find a husband being so fat.
I loved the idea of this book but a little ways in I thought I would be disappointed because I figured Valeria's mother was sending her off to well a different word for a fat camp and the ending would end up something like, she lost all her weight and got married etc.. you get the idea. What is the point of finally having a non perfect looking woman that doesn't have a flat stomach when in the end she turns out like that!? Thankfully tho I was wrong and the ending was nowhere at all like that.
This book is short but sweet and fun! My only complainant would be A fun, fast read! Pick this up. :)
This book is about a time where princess's no longer sit around and wait to get married etc.. they go off and do their own thing like hunting things like that. Valeria however only wants to eat and as you can imagine is overweight and loves deserts! She also can't find a husband being so fat.
I loved the idea of this book but a little ways in I thought I would be disappointed because I figured Valeria's mother was sending her off to well a different word for a fat camp and the ending would end up something like, she lost all her weight and got married etc.. you get the idea. What is the point of finally having a non perfect looking woman that doesn't have a flat stomach when in the end she turns out like that!? Thankfully tho I was wrong and the ending was nowhere at all like that.
This book is short but sweet and fun! My only complainant would be A fun, fast read! Pick this up. :)
December 12, 2013
Not even one kiss was shared between the main characters, and I still think this is one of the sweetest romances I've ever read.
This is a fairytale type romance where the heroine, Princess Valeria, is over-weight and loves to eat. Everyone in the kingdom, except her father, thinks that Valeria will never find a husband because of her figure. Her mother decides to send her to a far-away kingdom to be trained in combat so she'll lose weight. The fashionable princesses are all training in combat and going on adventures instead of getting married so, the queen thinks that, once Valeria improves her body, she'll have her pick of princes. Unfortunately, no one values the princess just for herself but her father, and she's learned to accept that. Obeying her mom's command, she travels to the other kingdom and soon discovers that she's just not cut out for physical combat. She does discover something else she's good at, however, and eventually, others in the kingdom come to value her for her skills, and other qualities, despite her size.
A wonderfully sweet tale that features a heroine that's learned to like herself no matter what others think and say. Such a refreshing change from the petite, helpless heroines of fairytales past. There's also a hunky prince, his spunky little sister, and the rest of his terrific family, and several awesome supporting characters that'll have you smiling all the way to the end. A sweet, tasty treat!
This is a fairytale type romance where the heroine, Princess Valeria, is over-weight and loves to eat. Everyone in the kingdom, except her father, thinks that Valeria will never find a husband because of her figure. Her mother decides to send her to a far-away kingdom to be trained in combat so she'll lose weight. The fashionable princesses are all training in combat and going on adventures instead of getting married so, the queen thinks that, once Valeria improves her body, she'll have her pick of princes. Unfortunately, no one values the princess just for herself but her father, and she's learned to accept that. Obeying her mom's command, she travels to the other kingdom and soon discovers that she's just not cut out for physical combat. She does discover something else she's good at, however, and eventually, others in the kingdom come to value her for her skills, and other qualities, despite her size.
A wonderfully sweet tale that features a heroine that's learned to like herself no matter what others think and say. Such a refreshing change from the petite, helpless heroines of fairytales past. There's also a hunky prince, his spunky little sister, and the rest of his terrific family, and several awesome supporting characters that'll have you smiling all the way to the end. A sweet, tasty treat!
June 7, 2021
Bring me a Prince Ralph!
This is Valeria and Prince Ralph's story. To say Valeria is a food lover would be an understatement. But hey if that's what makes her happy, I am completely in support of her. Although she needs to do some physical exercise too, a balance kind of, but Ralph makes sure she goes for run every morning.
Ralph is one of the best hero I've come across. Not only he choose the "not so perfect" Valeria out of all the "picture perfect" girls, but he genuinely loves her, you can tell by the jealousy he shows towards the other prince. He's sweet and perfect.
It is indicated that Val is at least three times the size of a normal princess but Ralph loved her despite of it all.
It's hard nowadays to find someone who will see your scars as stars. So start by seeing them yourself. Because no one knows you better than yourself.
Love
A
This is Valeria and Prince Ralph's story. To say Valeria is a food lover would be an understatement. But hey if that's what makes her happy, I am completely in support of her. Although she needs to do some physical exercise too, a balance kind of, but Ralph makes sure she goes for run every morning.
Ralph is one of the best hero I've come across. Not only he choose the "not so perfect" Valeria out of all the "picture perfect" girls, but he genuinely loves her, you can tell by the jealousy he shows towards the other prince. He's sweet and perfect.
It is indicated that Val is at least three times the size of a normal princess but Ralph loved her despite of it all.
It's hard nowadays to find someone who will see your scars as stars. So start by seeing them yourself. Because no one knows you better than yourself.
Love
A
August 13, 2021
DNF at 50%. I tried but I just couldn’t connect to the heroine.
June 19, 2018
Rating: 2 1/2 ⭐
TW: fatmisia, fat-shaming
Let's start with what I like about this book. I like Valeria, I like Ralph, I like Ralph's parents and his little sister. I like that Valeria doesn't care about her weight, that she loves food without shame. I like that she's fat and that she's not ashamed of it. I like that even though people keep trying to shame her into losing weight, Valeria doesn't care, she loves her food and she doesn't mind her fuller figure. She's Valeria, take her as she is or leave her be!
I like that the cover has a fat girl, that they didn't try to hide it by having some other thing on the cover. Valeria is fat and that is okay. I like that a lot.
Now what I dont like.
For a long while I felt iffy while reading this book. I couldn't figure out why I was so iffy because fat rep and all that. Like mentioned before, Valeria is fat and she's okay with that. So what was bothering me?
It's the way things were described, the way Valeria was described. Idk. It's like, okay, Valeria is fat and she loves eating and she hates working out and she doesn't care that she's fat and it's all cool and great and I'm glad that that's shown. However I felt like there was like a fetish-y feel to it, like how some dudes like to feed their ladies and watch them gaining weight. It felt like that, like I was watching a fat girl stuff her face, but like in a fetish-y way.
I'm fat. It's taken me years to get over the fact that I'm fat. With so many people around me shaming me about my weight, I wanted to be skinny for a long time, I still sometimes want to be skinny, but with so many fat people showing me that being fat is okay, that I'm beautiful just the way I am is helping.
Valeria also has a lot of people who are mean to her about her weight, people who think they're well meaning, who think they're just looking out for her. Her mother hounds her about losing weight, about how she has to be thin so she can find a husband. That isn't what Valeria wants, but her mother, being well-meaning, keeps shoving it at her.
Her nanny and handmaid are much the same. They keep telljng her how she must lose weight, how she would be so much better if she lost a bit of weight and so on. It's exhausting.
Valeria's been hearing it for so long that she doesn't even care anymore, she just let's it slide. She doesn't mind her weight, doesn't care about it. That's cool, I'm glad she doesn't care anymore, glad she doesn't mind her weight. But ugh, that fetishising thing I mentioned, it just feel so prominent, especially when Valeria ditches her training (her mother's attempt to try and get her daughter to lose weight) and becomes a food-taster. It's like every time she was mentioned eating there was some level of fetishness to it and it was uncomfortable to read.
Like I want a girl to enjoy her food, of course, but there was something kind of ughy about the way Valeria was written when eating, (I've read a book with a fat girl who enjoys her food and it didn't feel fetish-y, so yeah). And to top it off, Valeria's whole character revolved around her eating, like they mention her awful training (even I hate running, lmao) but then most of the book is just about her eating, nothing else. And she can never just walk, it has to be corrected to waddling. Like why? There's also: “The skirt was so huge that it could probably cover an entire round table.” Like why?
I mean, she gets the guy in the guy in the end and I was kinda routing for them coz he was nice and he liked her for her. But then there's a part where he's described watching her eat that made him come off as fetishy. Like a guy can enjoy his girl having a healthy appetite, don't get me wrong, but with everything else that was going on, it felt fetishised.
I wish more had been mentioned about Nadine. She seemed like such a nice character, like her introduction was good, but she's was only mentioned a few times and that felt like wasted potential on a good character.
TW: fatmisia, fat-shaming
Let's start with what I like about this book. I like Valeria, I like Ralph, I like Ralph's parents and his little sister. I like that Valeria doesn't care about her weight, that she loves food without shame. I like that she's fat and that she's not ashamed of it. I like that even though people keep trying to shame her into losing weight, Valeria doesn't care, she loves her food and she doesn't mind her fuller figure. She's Valeria, take her as she is or leave her be!
I like that the cover has a fat girl, that they didn't try to hide it by having some other thing on the cover. Valeria is fat and that is okay. I like that a lot.
Now what I dont like.
For a long while I felt iffy while reading this book. I couldn't figure out why I was so iffy because fat rep and all that. Like mentioned before, Valeria is fat and she's okay with that. So what was bothering me?
It's the way things were described, the way Valeria was described. Idk. It's like, okay, Valeria is fat and she loves eating and she hates working out and she doesn't care that she's fat and it's all cool and great and I'm glad that that's shown. However I felt like there was like a fetish-y feel to it, like how some dudes like to feed their ladies and watch them gaining weight. It felt like that, like I was watching a fat girl stuff her face, but like in a fetish-y way.
I'm fat. It's taken me years to get over the fact that I'm fat. With so many people around me shaming me about my weight, I wanted to be skinny for a long time, I still sometimes want to be skinny, but with so many fat people showing me that being fat is okay, that I'm beautiful just the way I am is helping.
Valeria also has a lot of people who are mean to her about her weight, people who think they're well meaning, who think they're just looking out for her. Her mother hounds her about losing weight, about how she has to be thin so she can find a husband. That isn't what Valeria wants, but her mother, being well-meaning, keeps shoving it at her.
Her nanny and handmaid are much the same. They keep telljng her how she must lose weight, how she would be so much better if she lost a bit of weight and so on. It's exhausting.
Valeria's been hearing it for so long that she doesn't even care anymore, she just let's it slide. She doesn't mind her weight, doesn't care about it. That's cool, I'm glad she doesn't care anymore, glad she doesn't mind her weight. But ugh, that fetishising thing I mentioned, it just feel so prominent, especially when Valeria ditches her training (her mother's attempt to try and get her daughter to lose weight) and becomes a food-taster. It's like every time she was mentioned eating there was some level of fetishness to it and it was uncomfortable to read.
Like I want a girl to enjoy her food, of course, but there was something kind of ughy about the way Valeria was written when eating, (I've read a book with a fat girl who enjoys her food and it didn't feel fetish-y, so yeah). And to top it off, Valeria's whole character revolved around her eating, like they mention her awful training (even I hate running, lmao) but then most of the book is just about her eating, nothing else. And she can never just walk, it has to be corrected to waddling. Like why? There's also: “The skirt was so huge that it could probably cover an entire round table.” Like why?
I mean, she gets the guy in the guy in the end and I was kinda routing for them coz he was nice and he liked her for her. But then there's a part where he's described watching her eat that made him come off as fetishy. Like a guy can enjoy his girl having a healthy appetite, don't get me wrong, but with everything else that was going on, it felt fetishised.
I wish more had been mentioned about Nadine. She seemed like such a nice character, like her introduction was good, but she's was only mentioned a few times and that felt like wasted potential on a good character.
February 27, 2017
There were some good things about this.
I liked the tone of it--for the most part. It had the feeling of a fairy tale, which I enjoyed. I liked that Valeria didn't lose weight, and in fact, gained weight. I think that might be the first time I've ever seen that in a romance! The romance was... cute. It didn't grab me in any meaningful way. I appreciated that Ralph liked Valeria for who she was and didn't want to change her, but their relationship was seriously lacking substance.
Ultimately what had me knocking this down to two stars was the overall voice of the narrative. Valeria had no problem being fat. In fact, she seemed to outright enjoy it about herself. The narration did not. It was exceedingly judgmental. I could have maybe overlooked the constant remarks from literally everyone, but while Valeria accepted herself for who she was, I felt the book itself did not.
I liked the tone of it--for the most part. It had the feeling of a fairy tale, which I enjoyed. I liked that Valeria didn't lose weight, and in fact, gained weight. I think that might be the first time I've ever seen that in a romance! The romance was... cute. It didn't grab me in any meaningful way. I appreciated that Ralph liked Valeria for who she was and didn't want to change her, but their relationship was seriously lacking substance.
Ultimately what had me knocking this down to two stars was the overall voice of the narrative. Valeria had no problem being fat. In fact, she seemed to outright enjoy it about herself. The narration did not. It was exceedingly judgmental. I could have maybe overlooked the constant remarks from literally everyone, but while Valeria accepted herself for who she was, I felt the book itself did not.
March 17, 2013
You know when sometimes, you just want to read a fun, short story? Well, if you are, then Princesses Don't Get Fat might be just what you're looking for. When I first started reading this book, I was SO happy that it talked SO much about food! I'm a person who really loves food, and the detailed descriptions of the taste and smell just made me hungry most of the time. The main protagonist, Princess Valeria, loves to eat. She's constantly ordering her maids to get her that plate of cake, or that piece of cookie. When Princess Valeria can't find herself a prince to get married to, due to her being overweight, her mother is fed up, and sends her to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts. Princess Valeria travels to Riviera with her two housemaids, and when they get there, Princess Valeria is shocked to know that her two housemaids cannot accompany her and will be working at another place for the time being.
It was fun reading how Valeria had to get accustomed to doing things by herself, like zipping her own dress (ooooh!). Though when the class started, I got annoyed at how unwilling she was at even trying to lose weight. I mean people should never try to lose weight to appease those around them, but I think it's important just for the reason of health. Anyhow, the funny thing is that after classes, Valeria would sneak into the Riviera cuisine, and just randomly start giving orders, and that's when her talent of smell and taste unfolds. Then, there is the crown prince. I really adored their relationship. It was so cute, and down to earth.
Overall, I think this was quite a cute, fun book despite it being remotely short. Aya Ling's writing is great. The flow of the book was good, and I liked how it always made you laugh or even crack a smile. The characters were really fun, and great to read about. I personally liked the message it delivered to girls, because you don't have to be skinny just to get a "man". That "man" should like you for who you are. As long as you do what you love, then that's what you should be doing. I might recommend this to younger teens, but even though I'm seventeen, I found myself laughing and enjoying it!
3.5 stars
It was fun reading how Valeria had to get accustomed to doing things by herself, like zipping her own dress (ooooh!). Though when the class started, I got annoyed at how unwilling she was at even trying to lose weight. I mean people should never try to lose weight to appease those around them, but I think it's important just for the reason of health. Anyhow, the funny thing is that after classes, Valeria would sneak into the Riviera cuisine, and just randomly start giving orders, and that's when her talent of smell and taste unfolds. Then, there is the crown prince. I really adored their relationship. It was so cute, and down to earth.
Overall, I think this was quite a cute, fun book despite it being remotely short. Aya Ling's writing is great. The flow of the book was good, and I liked how it always made you laugh or even crack a smile. The characters were really fun, and great to read about. I personally liked the message it delivered to girls, because you don't have to be skinny just to get a "man". That "man" should like you for who you are. As long as you do what you love, then that's what you should be doing. I might recommend this to younger teens, but even though I'm seventeen, I found myself laughing and enjoying it!
3.5 stars
December 3, 2015
I recently read The Ugly Stepsister by Aya Ling and loved it---so I thought, hell, I'm going to give one of her earlier stories a shot.
Spoiler alert: I was disappointed (though not entirely).
I was very confused about my feelings regarding this book for the entirety of it's short read (136 pages). I would literally go from being like, this isn't so bad to god damn it, this is pissing me off.
The worldbuilding was fun---I could picture the palace and the land, as well as the warrior princesses and Academy.
I liked the MC well enough---she was confident in herself and didn't give a sh*t about what the others thought about her weight. She couldn't care less about her marriageability---especially if it meant sacrificing a cupcake.
But there was my biggest problem with the story: fat shaming and stereotyping. Oh, and absurdly descriptive passages about food. I think 70 pages of this mini-book were about food.
Back to the fat shaming and stereotyping.
When Valeria loses some weight:
"She was still plump, but no longer the small elephant that frightened away her suitors in the archery contest."
Whenever she walks:
"Valeria waddled back to the trail,"
Every other page:
"Years of dessert-eating had made her sense of smell particularly acute, and she knew well when a dessert was ready."
I stopped clipping on my Kindle after a while because I knew I would have too many. For one, we got the point after the first few pages that she was bigger than other girls. The entire book is constantly commenting on how fat and "fleshy" she is. Nevermind that she is a badass in the kitchen---it's simply attributed to the fact that she's always eating and of course she should be good in the kitchen.
Why can't we have an overweight MC that doesn't "waddle" and focus on how lazy she is? Maybe the story could, I don't know, focus on her badass qualities and not make the fat thing the focal point? Just a thought.
Torn because I really hated the story but still love Aya Ling's work. So, 2/5 for me---but I will definitely be reading more of Ling's work.
Spoiler alert: I was disappointed (though not entirely).
I was very confused about my feelings regarding this book for the entirety of it's short read (136 pages). I would literally go from being like, this isn't so bad to god damn it, this is pissing me off.
The worldbuilding was fun---I could picture the palace and the land, as well as the warrior princesses and Academy.
I liked the MC well enough---she was confident in herself and didn't give a sh*t about what the others thought about her weight. She couldn't care less about her marriageability---especially if it meant sacrificing a cupcake.
But there was my biggest problem with the story: fat shaming and stereotyping. Oh, and absurdly descriptive passages about food. I think 70 pages of this mini-book were about food.
Back to the fat shaming and stereotyping.
When Valeria loses some weight:
"She was still plump, but no longer the small elephant that frightened away her suitors in the archery contest."
Whenever she walks:
"Valeria waddled back to the trail,"
Every other page:
"Years of dessert-eating had made her sense of smell particularly acute, and she knew well when a dessert was ready."
I stopped clipping on my Kindle after a while because I knew I would have too many. For one, we got the point after the first few pages that she was bigger than other girls. The entire book is constantly commenting on how fat and "fleshy" she is. Nevermind that she is a badass in the kitchen---it's simply attributed to the fact that she's always eating and of course she should be good in the kitchen.
Why can't we have an overweight MC that doesn't "waddle" and focus on how lazy she is? Maybe the story could, I don't know, focus on her badass qualities and not make the fat thing the focal point? Just a thought.
Torn because I really hated the story but still love Aya Ling's work. So, 2/5 for me---but I will definitely be reading more of Ling's work.
February 23, 2013
Princesses Don’t Get Fat is a short and sweet novella that I found quite entertaining. There were a lot of things I liked and a few things I didn’t, but for the most part I enjoyed it.
Firstly, I liked the way this was written it was fun and humorous with likeable characters. The setting was awesome and easy to envision and it was also a little tongue n cheek which I enjoyed.
Valeria is a great character, she is easy going, fun and not afraid to be herself. I applauded Ling for having a plus sized main character and for not skinning her down so that the romance would work.
The issue here was that I had to agree with the characters in the book who was concerned for Valeria. In my opinion her relationship with food was an unhealthy one. All of the concern was what Valeria looked like and not the state of her health and I would have liked to have seen all this addressed in some way.
I am not saying that she had to be stick thin but eating five slices of fruit tart for breakfast alone and then the same amount at lunch, dinner and multiple tea times was excessive. The way that Valeria is described and the way she eats she will be lucky to reach her mid-thirties.
Positive messages concerning food works both ways and eating too much is as dangerous for your health as eating too little. Nothing about Valeria’s health was mentioned which was a shame.
My only other complaint was that the romance was not really that romantic. They liked each other but I was not exactly sure then fancied each other and was even less sure of they were in love. But they were perfectly happy with one another so I am not going to complain too much about it.
All in all Princesses Don’t Get Fat was a cute, quick and entertaining read. I look forward to seeing what Aya Ling writes next.
Firstly, I liked the way this was written it was fun and humorous with likeable characters. The setting was awesome and easy to envision and it was also a little tongue n cheek which I enjoyed.
Valeria is a great character, she is easy going, fun and not afraid to be herself. I applauded Ling for having a plus sized main character and for not skinning her down so that the romance would work.
The issue here was that I had to agree with the characters in the book who was concerned for Valeria. In my opinion her relationship with food was an unhealthy one. All of the concern was what Valeria looked like and not the state of her health and I would have liked to have seen all this addressed in some way.
I am not saying that she had to be stick thin but eating five slices of fruit tart for breakfast alone and then the same amount at lunch, dinner and multiple tea times was excessive. The way that Valeria is described and the way she eats she will be lucky to reach her mid-thirties.
Positive messages concerning food works both ways and eating too much is as dangerous for your health as eating too little. Nothing about Valeria’s health was mentioned which was a shame.
My only other complaint was that the romance was not really that romantic. They liked each other but I was not exactly sure then fancied each other and was even less sure of they were in love. But they were perfectly happy with one another so I am not going to complain too much about it.
All in all Princesses Don’t Get Fat was a cute, quick and entertaining read. I look forward to seeing what Aya Ling writes next.
January 30, 2013
Delicious, delightful, and delectable! This contemporary fairy tale is a breath of fresh air. Oh my goodness, I really can't say in words how much I love this story.
If you are a fan of slim, kick-butt heroines that have steamy make-out sessions all while saving the world, then prepare for something quite different. Valeria is plump, unambitious, and cheerful. She has no desire to do anything other than take it easy and enjoy a good cream puff, or twenty. She is aware of her dress size, since everyone is so intent on reminding her about it, yet she has no desire to change it. She loves food.
It is so refreshing to read about a heroine that is an every-girl. She has the beautiful imperfections that so many of us do, and she embraces herself for who she is. She doesn't let other people's comments get to her. Valeria is a heroine worth reading about.
I laughed out loud so many times during this book! When Valeria smiles at Prince Ralph and she has chocolate stuck in her teeth and all he notices are how nice her dimples are. When the shrinking spell wears off and she pops all the buttons on her dress. When she falls out of the tree and Ralph tries to catch her and she ends up squishing him instead. All the other girls are declaring themselves independent and going on adventures while she is content to lounge about with a croissant.
This book is such a delight. It is full of humor, wit, and honest to goodness real people with real shortcomings and character. It is very short, and very much worth the $0.99!
The Cover: Don't you just love the cover? The pink and green are a lovely combination, and it depicts the essence of the story very well. Love it. I also love the title design.
More reviews on my blog: Books for Kids
If you are a fan of slim, kick-butt heroines that have steamy make-out sessions all while saving the world, then prepare for something quite different. Valeria is plump, unambitious, and cheerful. She has no desire to do anything other than take it easy and enjoy a good cream puff, or twenty. She is aware of her dress size, since everyone is so intent on reminding her about it, yet she has no desire to change it. She loves food.
It is so refreshing to read about a heroine that is an every-girl. She has the beautiful imperfections that so many of us do, and she embraces herself for who she is. She doesn't let other people's comments get to her. Valeria is a heroine worth reading about.
I laughed out loud so many times during this book! When Valeria smiles at Prince Ralph and she has chocolate stuck in her teeth and all he notices are how nice her dimples are. When the shrinking spell wears off and she pops all the buttons on her dress. When she falls out of the tree and Ralph tries to catch her and she ends up squishing him instead. All the other girls are declaring themselves independent and going on adventures while she is content to lounge about with a croissant.
This book is such a delight. It is full of humor, wit, and honest to goodness real people with real shortcomings and character. It is very short, and very much worth the $0.99!
The Cover: Don't you just love the cover? The pink and green are a lovely combination, and it depicts the essence of the story very well. Love it. I also love the title design.
More reviews on my blog: Books for Kids
February 27, 2013
I can't remember the last time I read a story where the book cover housed a less-than-perfect heroine. The cover is a telling supplement that sets the tone for the rest of the book.
The story cements its unique approach by changing the stereotypical, helpless princess-in-waiting. Every princess is allowed to find her own way in the world, including fighting off dragons and seeking indelible adventure. The food obsessed, plump Princess Valeria has become a great consternation to her mother, the Queen of Amaranta; who is distressed at Valeria's lack of self-restraint and burgeoning waist-line. In order to circumvent further weight gain and find the Princess a husband, the Queen decides to send her off to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts.
Though Valeria has the option of changing herself to fit worldly aesthetics, she chooses not to. She chooses desserts over finding a handsome prince, and decides to forego the life of an estimable royal marriage. Regardless of where she find herself, Princess Valeria is always true to her own wants and needs. She doesn't mask them into a ball of shame, or find the need to hide her deepest desires. Perhaps that is the reason that love does not elude her completely; as she encounters Prince Ralph, who becomes drawn to Valeria's nightly jaunts to the palace kitchens.
Aya Ling has created a fun, uplifting story that encourages young women to find their own paths in life.
Read the full review here:
Bookend Chronicles
The story cements its unique approach by changing the stereotypical, helpless princess-in-waiting. Every princess is allowed to find her own way in the world, including fighting off dragons and seeking indelible adventure. The food obsessed, plump Princess Valeria has become a great consternation to her mother, the Queen of Amaranta; who is distressed at Valeria's lack of self-restraint and burgeoning waist-line. In order to circumvent further weight gain and find the Princess a husband, the Queen decides to send her off to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts.
Though Valeria has the option of changing herself to fit worldly aesthetics, she chooses not to. She chooses desserts over finding a handsome prince, and decides to forego the life of an estimable royal marriage. Regardless of where she find herself, Princess Valeria is always true to her own wants and needs. She doesn't mask them into a ball of shame, or find the need to hide her deepest desires. Perhaps that is the reason that love does not elude her completely; as she encounters Prince Ralph, who becomes drawn to Valeria's nightly jaunts to the palace kitchens.
Aya Ling has created a fun, uplifting story that encourages young women to find their own paths in life.
Read the full review here:
Bookend Chronicles
June 11, 2015
I liked the book! Enjoyed it. I liked how Valeria didn't give attention to anybody criticizing about her size. I liked all the characters and prince Ralf especially his sister. It was light and enjoyable read.
March 23, 2024
Loved it! So funny and witty.
October 20, 2016
It was cute. Nothing exceptional or anything, it was just ok. The romance was way underdeveloped. There was no climax, really. Meh.
March 10, 2020
Prince Ralph is a high-testosterone, absolute alpha male, who has trouble smiling and laughing, is apparently subject to moments of irrational paranoia, takes everything very seriously, and won't even think about a girl unless her weight starts with "two hundred," at the bare minimum. He's literally me, but as a tall and handsome prince, not a goblin with the net worth of seventeen dollars and some hand sanatizer. And for that, I'm giving this story five stars. Finally, the representation I've been looking for in fantasy!
Unfortunately, the "he's just like me!" factor for Prince Ralph aside, the characters are ultimately lacking. Valeria and Ralph's relationship is built entirely on "he's hot" and "I guess I'm into big girls," respectively. Why does Valeria fall in love with Ralph? Does she even? My experience with love has been a little deeper than "eh I guess this person has nice aesthetics, why not" which seems to sum up Valeria's feelings for Ralph. Maybe that's just me. I did like that Valeria was so confident and had such a healthy self-image. I wish we'd learned more about her as a person, but, it's a fairy tail romance, we're not here for a biography or character study. The story focuses so much on Valeria's kitchen quest that Ralph's an after-thought for most of the text. Why does Ralph fall in love with Valeria? See the first paragraph. Simple as.
I respect what Aya Ling has done. I'm totally down with the actually non-traditional princess thing and I salute her call-out to just how mainstream the "rebellious princess warrior who don't need no man" meme character has gotten. The gender war is for losers. I do wish Prince Ralph had been a little more non-traditional himself (besides his taste in women), like Prince Felipe or James were hinted to be, but again, this is a fairy tail romance. And I get the feeling this book was written with a younger audience in mind, given the simple language and short length. Double the word count and really get into the character's minds and you'd have gold here, I think. Maybe I'll do it myself.
Unfortunately, the "he's just like me!" factor for Prince Ralph aside, the characters are ultimately lacking. Valeria and Ralph's relationship is built entirely on "he's hot" and "I guess I'm into big girls," respectively. Why does Valeria fall in love with Ralph? Does she even? My experience with love has been a little deeper than "eh I guess this person has nice aesthetics, why not" which seems to sum up Valeria's feelings for Ralph. Maybe that's just me. I did like that Valeria was so confident and had such a healthy self-image. I wish we'd learned more about her as a person, but, it's a fairy tail romance, we're not here for a biography or character study. The story focuses so much on Valeria's kitchen quest that Ralph's an after-thought for most of the text. Why does Ralph fall in love with Valeria? See the first paragraph. Simple as.
I respect what Aya Ling has done. I'm totally down with the actually non-traditional princess thing and I salute her call-out to just how mainstream the "rebellious princess warrior who don't need no man" meme character has gotten. The gender war is for losers. I do wish Prince Ralph had been a little more non-traditional himself (besides his taste in women), like Prince Felipe or James were hinted to be, but again, this is a fairy tail romance. And I get the feeling this book was written with a younger audience in mind, given the simple language and short length. Double the word count and really get into the character's minds and you'd have gold here, I think. Maybe I'll do it myself.
May 26, 2017
A cute short fairytale style story with a plus-sized heroine. It was great to read a fairytale style story where the protagonist is plus-sized. Size was major factor of the book and a lot of character made many comments on the importance of being a thin princess. To the point where men competed to lose her hand in marriage. I was beginning to feel this was going to be a negative plus-sized story.
When Valeria is sent off to a boarding school in order to lose weight there is a silver lining. She is accepting of herself and her love of baking. She states that she is happy with herself and will not deny herself food for a husband.
Other feminine stereotypes are challenged within this novel. The damsel in distress stereotype is thrown out the window as Princesses are allowed to go on their own quests, save themselves and don’t have to marry if they don’t want to. There is some romance in the book but this does not overwhelm the underlying storyline.
A fun fairytale novel with a headstrong princess with a love of pastries. She is happy being herself and displays a strong message of self-acceptance and independence. The romance did not overwhelm the story and was a nice subtle undertone.
When Valeria is sent off to a boarding school in order to lose weight there is a silver lining. She is accepting of herself and her love of baking. She states that she is happy with herself and will not deny herself food for a husband.
Other feminine stereotypes are challenged within this novel. The damsel in distress stereotype is thrown out the window as Princesses are allowed to go on their own quests, save themselves and don’t have to marry if they don’t want to. There is some romance in the book but this does not overwhelm the underlying storyline.
A fun fairytale novel with a headstrong princess with a love of pastries. She is happy being herself and displays a strong message of self-acceptance and independence. The romance did not overwhelm the story and was a nice subtle undertone.
December 5, 2021
I have loved all of Aya Ling’s books so far. However, I was a bit disappointed with this one. While it was entertaining it was so focused on weight. I appreciated that Valeria wasn’t the typical skinny princess. She had confidence in who she was and her weight didn’t bother her. However, she was so focused on food. It’s one thing to appreciate good food. I love dessert. I would love dessert with each meal. Valeria takes this to the extreme and not only has dessert at each meal but she will consume insane volumes of such food. Sure she gets in some exercise to get more toned. But despite this she continues to get fatter and fatter.
Ralph finds a true friendship with Mia. I loved that he saw her for her personality not her weight. He could look past her weight. He could be open and honest with her. I liked Ralph better than Valeria because he seemed to have more depth. Valeria, while attracted to the prince, had a sole purpose of eating good food. I did like that she found a purpose besides being sedentary. She had a real talent.
Ralph finds a true friendship with Mia. I loved that he saw her for her personality not her weight. He could look past her weight. He could be open and honest with her. I liked Ralph better than Valeria because he seemed to have more depth. Valeria, while attracted to the prince, had a sole purpose of eating good food. I did like that she found a purpose besides being sedentary. She had a real talent.
December 21, 2023
Valerie is a princess who enjoys good food and lots of it. She's not looking for a husband. Her mother, the Queen, wants her to lose weight to find her a husband. Valeria is enrolled in a training academy when she's learning skills and getting in shape. She moves to the capital and meets the king and queen. Their son helps in the training center. Ralph helps oversee the morning run and some other classes. Valeria realizes the training school is not right for her but she loves working in the kitchen as a food taster. She's training the cook and baker to make sweets to her liking . Ralph notices Valerie and sparks fly. There's a ball for Ralph's birthday. Valerie dances with another prince and Ralph gets jealous. He proposes to her that night. Valerie continues tasting the food to perfection and Ralph begins this transition to the throne.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2019
*sigh*
This is told as a straight-up fairy tale, which means, nothing gets too deep. Princess is fat, but doesn't mind, because she loves to eat. Okay. Mom minds, sends her off to a fighting school to lose weight. She sort of does, but then finds the kitchens and gets fat while teaching the staff how to make tasty treats.
Along the way, she charms the local prince, and when it seems she might leave, he proposes to get her to stay. *shrug*
I wanted to like this a lot more, but it just didn't have enough substance.
This is told as a straight-up fairy tale, which means, nothing gets too deep. Princess is fat, but doesn't mind, because she loves to eat. Okay. Mom minds, sends her off to a fighting school to lose weight. She sort of does, but then finds the kitchens and gets fat while teaching the staff how to make tasty treats.
Along the way, she charms the local prince, and when it seems she might leave, he proposes to get her to stay. *shrug*
I wanted to like this a lot more, but it just didn't have enough substance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2019
This book was basically fat shaming in the disguise of fat acceptance. I'm sure the author views herself as very accepting of overweight people, but her descriptions of the Princess were rude and derogatory. Does one have to always waddle when fat? Why can't she glide into a room once in awhile? The princess is described as messy, she always has crumbs or food stains on her. Her hair has to be braided so as not to get food in it. The whole thing was just very distasteful to me (no pun intended). The premise was interesting, but it could have been so much more thoughtfully and respectfully.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews