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Ruby's Big Summer
NIEDRIGER EINFÜHRUNGSPREIS NUR FÜR KURZE ZEIT!
»Das war kein Witz«, sage ich mit todernster Miene. »Ich mach's.«
Die Prüfungen sind vorbei und es ist endlich Zeit für die Ferien. Ruby freut sich schon darauf, den ganzen Sommer über im Park mit ihren Freundinnen April, Jessica und Salma Rollschuh zu fahren. Doch als ihr Bruder Jake ständig abfällige Kommentare über ihren dicken Körper von sich gibt, hat Ruby irgendwann genug. Sie beschließt, sich für den traditionellen 5-Kilometer-Lauf ihrer Schule anzumelden – und zu gewinnen! Sie möchte Jake beweisen, dass sie genauso gut Sport treiben kann wie er. Und ihrer kleinen Schwester ein gutes Vorbild sein. Das Problem ist Ruby war noch nie Laufen und ihr erster Versuch endet damit, dass sie ihrem süßen Nachbarn Ollie vor die Füße kotzt. Ihn scheint das nicht weiter zu stören, im Er bietet ihr an, sie bei ihrem Training zu unterstützen. Von Mal zu Mal wächst ihre Anziehung zu ihm, und nie hätte sie damit gerechnet, dass er vielleicht dasselbe für sie empfindet. Wie soll sie es inmitten all dieses Gefühlschaos′ nur schaffen, sich in sechs Wochen für den Lauf vorzubereiten?
Ein Buch über Freundschaft, Mut und die erste Liebe – ein sommerlicher Feelgood-Roman für Leser*innen ab 12 Jahren.
»Das war kein Witz«, sage ich mit todernster Miene. »Ich mach's.«
Die Prüfungen sind vorbei und es ist endlich Zeit für die Ferien. Ruby freut sich schon darauf, den ganzen Sommer über im Park mit ihren Freundinnen April, Jessica und Salma Rollschuh zu fahren. Doch als ihr Bruder Jake ständig abfällige Kommentare über ihren dicken Körper von sich gibt, hat Ruby irgendwann genug. Sie beschließt, sich für den traditionellen 5-Kilometer-Lauf ihrer Schule anzumelden – und zu gewinnen! Sie möchte Jake beweisen, dass sie genauso gut Sport treiben kann wie er. Und ihrer kleinen Schwester ein gutes Vorbild sein. Das Problem ist Ruby war noch nie Laufen und ihr erster Versuch endet damit, dass sie ihrem süßen Nachbarn Ollie vor die Füße kotzt. Ihn scheint das nicht weiter zu stören, im Er bietet ihr an, sie bei ihrem Training zu unterstützen. Von Mal zu Mal wächst ihre Anziehung zu ihm, und nie hätte sie damit gerechnet, dass er vielleicht dasselbe für sie empfindet. Wie soll sie es inmitten all dieses Gefühlschaos′ nur schaffen, sich in sechs Wochen für den Lauf vorzubereiten?
Ein Buch über Freundschaft, Mut und die erste Liebe – ein sommerlicher Feelgood-Roman für Leser*innen ab 12 Jahren.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
About the author
Bethany Rutter
9 books207 followersHi! I’m Bethany Rutter. In my day job I am social editor at navabi, a women’s plus size fashion brand. On the side, I am a writer, editor and podcaster, and I still occasionally update my plus size fashion blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 18, 2024
ೃ⁀➷ 4⭐️
Lisez si vous aimez :
🫂 Une relation saine et adorable
🫂 une femme forte
🫂 un page turner (très court)
Honnêtement ? Je ne m’attendais pas à autant aimer. C’était court (240p) mais le plus complet que ça puisse l’être en si peu de pages. (Je l’ai lu en un jour). C’est le genre de livre qui te fait positiver et ça j’adore. 🫰🏼❤️🩹
C’est un livre qui a totalement sa place dans les bibliothèques des jeunes à partir de 12 ans et jusqu’à peu importe quel âge. Il nous fait réfléchir à l’importance de notre propre regard sur nous-mêmes plutôt que celui des autres grâce au personnage de Ruby qui est grosse (comme elle aime le dire) et qui s’aime comme ça. Elle ne veut pas changer pour faire plaisir aux autres et elle veut continuer à inculquer ses belles valeurs à sa petite sœur qui complexe à son jeune âge.
Je pense sincèrement que tout le monde devrait lire ça : si vous êtes ronds : pour vous aider à vous sentir bien si ce n’est pas déjà le cas.
Si vous ne l’êtes pas : pour comprendre comment le cerveau peut fonctionner et les choses à dire et ne pas dire envers une personne ronde, comment mieux comprendre les variétés de chaque personne qui nous entoure et pouvoir agir avec maturité et respect.
J’ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Liv et on devrait tous avoir une amie qui nous hype et qui nous donne suffisamment confiance en nous pour pouvoir tout accomplir 🫶🏼
Le négatif :
- son affreux c*nnard de frère qui change du tout au tout à la fin en une discussion
- L’aveuglement de Ruby sur l’intérêt que lui porte Ollie.
C’était très touchant et ça peut faire réfléchir. Et la maintenant j’ai envie de me remettre à la course. Ce qui est une bonne chose.
Merci à Fleurus et Netgalley pour le service presse - non rémunéré -
Bisous mes étoiles étoilées 🩷🫵🏼
Lisez si vous aimez :
🫂 Une relation saine et adorable
🫂 une femme forte
🫂 un page turner (très court)
Honnêtement ? Je ne m’attendais pas à autant aimer. C’était court (240p) mais le plus complet que ça puisse l’être en si peu de pages. (Je l’ai lu en un jour). C’est le genre de livre qui te fait positiver et ça j’adore. 🫰🏼❤️🩹
C’est un livre qui a totalement sa place dans les bibliothèques des jeunes à partir de 12 ans et jusqu’à peu importe quel âge. Il nous fait réfléchir à l’importance de notre propre regard sur nous-mêmes plutôt que celui des autres grâce au personnage de Ruby qui est grosse (comme elle aime le dire) et qui s’aime comme ça. Elle ne veut pas changer pour faire plaisir aux autres et elle veut continuer à inculquer ses belles valeurs à sa petite sœur qui complexe à son jeune âge.
Je pense sincèrement que tout le monde devrait lire ça : si vous êtes ronds : pour vous aider à vous sentir bien si ce n’est pas déjà le cas.
Si vous ne l’êtes pas : pour comprendre comment le cerveau peut fonctionner et les choses à dire et ne pas dire envers une personne ronde, comment mieux comprendre les variétés de chaque personne qui nous entoure et pouvoir agir avec maturité et respect.
J’ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Liv et on devrait tous avoir une amie qui nous hype et qui nous donne suffisamment confiance en nous pour pouvoir tout accomplir 🫶🏼
Le négatif :
- son affreux c*nnard de frère qui change du tout au tout à la fin en une discussion
- L’aveuglement de Ruby sur l’intérêt que lui porte Ollie.
C’était très touchant et ça peut faire réfléchir. Et la maintenant j’ai envie de me remettre à la course. Ce qui est une bonne chose.
Merci à Fleurus et Netgalley pour le service presse - non rémunéré -
Bisous mes étoiles étoilées 🩷🫵🏼
June 20, 2024
trop mignon! ça donne la pêche 🫶🏻
July 11, 2026
My quest for a book with a water bottle on the cover has led me to a book that I ended up really enjoying! Ruby was a LOVELY main character! I loved that she was confident in herself but also still had moments of insecurity because that made her feel so much more realistic! Her journey isn't about changing who she is...it's about proving to herself and everyone else what she's capable of and I really liked the body positive message throughout this book! The romance was so sweet and while I 100% for sure wanted more Ollie and Ruby time and wanted to see the romance develop even more, I feel like what we got fit with the characters' ages and was a really cute slow burn!
Yes, it's predictable, but I almost never think predictability matters in romance? I always feel like the journey is more of the point and I loved the journey here! The sibling relationships were another big highlight for me...especially Ruby's protectiveness of her sister. I do wish it had been a little longer because I wasn't ready to leave these characters but this really was a genuinely heartwarming and feel-good read and I'm so glad this was the only book I could find to fit a prompt I needed to fulfill so that I was forced to read it! 😂
Yes, it's predictable, but I almost never think predictability matters in romance? I always feel like the journey is more of the point and I loved the journey here! The sibling relationships were another big highlight for me...especially Ruby's protectiveness of her sister. I do wish it had been a little longer because I wasn't ready to leave these characters but this really was a genuinely heartwarming and feel-good read and I'm so glad this was the only book I could find to fit a prompt I needed to fulfill so that I was forced to read it! 😂
July 30, 2024
Je me souviendrais de cette lecture pour la motivation donné ! C’est bourré de bonne énergie. C’est une superbe lecture jeunesse qui redonne confiance en soit et permet de comprendre, découvrir et sûrement apprendre à s’aimer comme nous sommes.
La force de caractère de Ruby, sa détermination et sa motivation m’ont profondément touché et ça m’a aussi énormément boosté ! Elle prouve haut la main que les formes n’empêche rien et montre à sa petite sœur l’exemple. C’est tellement parlant et vraiment actuelle compte tenu de notre société actuelle qui est beaucoup dans le jugement physique.
L’aspect le plus présent dans l’ouvrage est la grossophobie dans son ensemble, elle dénonce dans le cadre familial mais aussi dans le cadre scolaire. On aborde ce sujet avec beaucoup de sérieux et beaucoup de pertinence sans jamais minimiser les difficultés, inégalités et les problèmes ! Sa relation avec son frère m’a tellement fait du mal. Dès le départ les remarques faite m’ont brisé et pourtant elle reste la tête haute et continue de se battre pour son ultime but !
Ruby illumine par son acharnement, pour démontrer sa valeur et défendre ses convictions. Son souhait de gagner la course de 5 km devient l’emblème de sa lutte contre les préjugés et les discriminations qu'elle vit.
La relation entre elle et son ancien ami d'enfance Ollie, qui est maintenant son coach, apporte une note romantique et fraîche à l'histoire. L'évolution de leur relation est spontanée et vrai.
Cet ouvrage existe aussi pour rappeler l’importance des mots et l’impact qu’ils ont sur l’autre. Ruby nous montre comment nous apprécier pour qui nous sommes et ignorer le jugement des autres pour vivre une vie épanouie.
Le Running Club de la Flemme est le body positive même ! Il encourage l’acceptation de soi et la positivité. Je le recommande vivement à tous ceux qui recherchent une lecture rafraîchissante, inspirante et motivante. Merci à l'auteur pour ce superbe message défenseur, primordial et important !
Mots clés : 1 pov - course à pied - motivation - pâtisserie - slow burn - féminisme - sport - grossophobie - ami d’enfance 🔖
La force de caractère de Ruby, sa détermination et sa motivation m’ont profondément touché et ça m’a aussi énormément boosté ! Elle prouve haut la main que les formes n’empêche rien et montre à sa petite sœur l’exemple. C’est tellement parlant et vraiment actuelle compte tenu de notre société actuelle qui est beaucoup dans le jugement physique.
L’aspect le plus présent dans l’ouvrage est la grossophobie dans son ensemble, elle dénonce dans le cadre familial mais aussi dans le cadre scolaire. On aborde ce sujet avec beaucoup de sérieux et beaucoup de pertinence sans jamais minimiser les difficultés, inégalités et les problèmes ! Sa relation avec son frère m’a tellement fait du mal. Dès le départ les remarques faite m’ont brisé et pourtant elle reste la tête haute et continue de se battre pour son ultime but !
Ruby illumine par son acharnement, pour démontrer sa valeur et défendre ses convictions. Son souhait de gagner la course de 5 km devient l’emblème de sa lutte contre les préjugés et les discriminations qu'elle vit.
La relation entre elle et son ancien ami d'enfance Ollie, qui est maintenant son coach, apporte une note romantique et fraîche à l'histoire. L'évolution de leur relation est spontanée et vrai.
Cet ouvrage existe aussi pour rappeler l’importance des mots et l’impact qu’ils ont sur l’autre. Ruby nous montre comment nous apprécier pour qui nous sommes et ignorer le jugement des autres pour vivre une vie épanouie.
Le Running Club de la Flemme est le body positive même ! Il encourage l’acceptation de soi et la positivité. Je le recommande vivement à tous ceux qui recherchent une lecture rafraîchissante, inspirante et motivante. Merci à l'auteur pour ce superbe message défenseur, primordial et important !
Mots clés : 1 pov - course à pied - motivation - pâtisserie - slow burn - féminisme - sport - grossophobie - ami d’enfance 🔖
April 7, 2025
3,75/5 🌟
C’était trop chouette! Enfin une romance YA avec le monde de la course, même si j’aurais aimé qu’on en parle davantage (mais au final c’est juste moi la relou qui en demande toujours plus).
C’était trop chouette! Enfin une romance YA avec le monde de la course, même si j’aurais aimé qu’on en parle davantage (mais au final c’est juste moi la relou qui en demande toujours plus).
August 18, 2025
Einfach eine so schöne Geschichte über Selbstliebe , darüber das alle Menschen anders sind und man alles schaffen kann was man schaffen möchte. Habe einfach alles an dieser Geschichte geliebt !
March 11, 2026
Slow Burn is a young adult story about a teen named Ruby…who is fat. And that’s okay. Ruby uses that word to describe herself and knows that fat people can live happy and fulfilling lives doing whatever they want to do. If only the rest of the world believe what Ruby and her friends know to be true. In an effort to spite her fatphobic brother and her self-conscious chubby sister, Ruby signs up to run her school’s 5k. Along the way, she enlists her new neighbor Ollie to help coach her…who happens to be super cute. And he just might like her too.
Let me begin by saying that this is the best book with fat representation that I’ve EVER read. Seriously…ever. And I read a lot of books featuring fat characters. There are body positive characters, there are body neutral characters, but Ruby is the first truly fat positive character that I’ve encountered in a story. And wow…that representation means more than I can possibly express. Bethany Rutter portrays teenage life in a fat body (and life in a fat body in general) in an incredibly realistic way. Ruby’s experiences in gym class and with her gym teacher made me sob because it was so similar to my own experience as a fat teen. Yes, there are gym teachers that DO treat fat students like crap. And yes, no one hates fat people more than a formally fat person, as Rutter shows us all too well through Ruby’s brother Jake. Even Ruby’s little sister being made to feel about her body at 10 years old…is all unfortunately so real in today’s society.
There’s a big moment at the end of the book where I cried massive ugly tears because I felt for Ruby so much. I have been Ruby in that moment so many times. And now I’m crying as I write this because I’ve never, ever read a story that so heartbreakingly summarized the internal and external pressures to conform our bodies into something that people respect. How difficult it is to love your body in a world that tells you every single day how wrong it is. How difficult it is to be told that we just need to exercise and then be shamed when we can’t do it well enough or look too fat doing it. Rutter truly gets it, and she expresses it in a way that I’ve never seen before– even among fat authors who write fat characters.
Aside from all of my emotional attachment to this book, it was also just a great story. The cast of characters is fun, and the multiple subplots made this story feel quick but also well-rounded and fleshed out. This 1st person story is told from Ruby’s pov, so we really only ever get to see her thoughts and character development. She is by far the most dynamic character, but it didn’t bother me. Ruby’s story is just as much about her own internal issues as is it is about the romance or even the big race.
This is a great book for all readers of any size. The representation is important to fat and plus size bodies, but the fatphobia and off handed hurtful comments Ruby experiences will be eye-opening to straight sized people who don’t spend much time with larger bodies. And of course, this is extra, extra, extra important for young adults. They need books with badass fat characters who are fat positive and live their best lives without having to change themselves for society. And Slow Burn does a great job of illustrating the fact that fat doesn’t mean unhealthy or lazy.
Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this alc copy of Slow Burn. This book was quite literally life-changing for me and will be a favorite book forever.
Let me begin by saying that this is the best book with fat representation that I’ve EVER read. Seriously…ever. And I read a lot of books featuring fat characters. There are body positive characters, there are body neutral characters, but Ruby is the first truly fat positive character that I’ve encountered in a story. And wow…that representation means more than I can possibly express. Bethany Rutter portrays teenage life in a fat body (and life in a fat body in general) in an incredibly realistic way. Ruby’s experiences in gym class and with her gym teacher made me sob because it was so similar to my own experience as a fat teen. Yes, there are gym teachers that DO treat fat students like crap. And yes, no one hates fat people more than a formally fat person, as Rutter shows us all too well through Ruby’s brother Jake. Even Ruby’s little sister being made to feel about her body at 10 years old…is all unfortunately so real in today’s society.
There’s a big moment at the end of the book where I cried massive ugly tears because I felt for Ruby so much. I have been Ruby in that moment so many times. And now I’m crying as I write this because I’ve never, ever read a story that so heartbreakingly summarized the internal and external pressures to conform our bodies into something that people respect. How difficult it is to love your body in a world that tells you every single day how wrong it is. How difficult it is to be told that we just need to exercise and then be shamed when we can’t do it well enough or look too fat doing it. Rutter truly gets it, and she expresses it in a way that I’ve never seen before– even among fat authors who write fat characters.
Aside from all of my emotional attachment to this book, it was also just a great story. The cast of characters is fun, and the multiple subplots made this story feel quick but also well-rounded and fleshed out. This 1st person story is told from Ruby’s pov, so we really only ever get to see her thoughts and character development. She is by far the most dynamic character, but it didn’t bother me. Ruby’s story is just as much about her own internal issues as is it is about the romance or even the big race.
This is a great book for all readers of any size. The representation is important to fat and plus size bodies, but the fatphobia and off handed hurtful comments Ruby experiences will be eye-opening to straight sized people who don’t spend much time with larger bodies. And of course, this is extra, extra, extra important for young adults. They need books with badass fat characters who are fat positive and live their best lives without having to change themselves for society. And Slow Burn does a great job of illustrating the fact that fat doesn’t mean unhealthy or lazy.
Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this alc copy of Slow Burn. This book was quite literally life-changing for me and will be a favorite book forever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2026
I was very hesitant when beginning this book because, in my experience, books where fat people start exercising universally feature the protagonist losing weight - and it is this weight loss that leads to their lives improving. That is an incredibly demoralizing message to hear. While yes, weight loss is a thing that a huge number of people do, not everyone WANTS to lose weight when they exercise. Some people exercise because it feels good, or because they like it. That's what Slow Burn so successfully depicts: exercise uncoupled from weight loss. There's something empowering in that. (I say this as a life-long fat who, coincidentally, has a long-term running and occasional racing habit.)
The book reads a little young (think lower teens rather than older), but that's not a bad thing by any means. I really like a lot of what the book does. Besides showing that running (or exercise in general, really) can be for everyone, it illustrates how it is possible to be comfortable in your own body even when surrounded by naysayers, and how dangerous this body criticism can be to young children. That's incredibly important.
Anyways, I find book to be quite successful without being overly preachy. Recommended.
The book reads a little young (think lower teens rather than older), but that's not a bad thing by any means. I really like a lot of what the book does. Besides showing that running (or exercise in general, really) can be for everyone, it illustrates how it is possible to be comfortable in your own body even when surrounded by naysayers, and how dangerous this body criticism can be to young children. That's incredibly important.
Anyways, I find book to be quite successful without being overly preachy. Recommended.
July 2, 2026
2.5
It’s a great story about body positivity for anyone, not just the targeted YA (specifically girls) readers but it just wasn’t that good. The writing was my main problem. It’s all very one-dimensional, the characters act/say things like they are at least in middle school not high school, and the romance didn’t not work. There was no chemistry. And just because they don’t kiss until the last page doesn’t mean it’s a slow burn. There actually needs to be tension & chemistry in between the pages.
It’s a great story about body positivity for anyone, not just the targeted YA (specifically girls) readers but it just wasn’t that good. The writing was my main problem. It’s all very one-dimensional, the characters act/say things like they are at least in middle school not high school, and the romance didn’t not work. There was no chemistry. And just because they don’t kiss until the last page doesn’t mean it’s a slow burn. There actually needs to be tension & chemistry in between the pages.
June 23, 2026
ouin ??? 🩷🩷🩷
August 14, 2025
E ganz normali Jugend-Romanze. Ich find s Thema dick sii fast chli zu fest vertrette, aus s "BIG" im Titel findi sehr unnötig. Motiviert vllt zum selber Sport ahfo. Kame ab 12 empfähle
March 13, 2026
I love that Ruby loves her body, all her flaws and everything. I love how as a big sister. She tries her hardest to prove to her little sister. It’s better to love yourself than what you look like. I would definitely recommend this book to a teenage girl. I think my favorite thing about this is that even though Ruby loves herself the way she looks she still has doubts, and I feel like it is OK to have doubts about yourself in this proves it. She pushes herself so she can prove to herself that she is better than what other try to make her feel. Oliver being a ginger just made this book. Great cause I love ginger hair. One of Ruby‘s biggest doubts about herself is that someone would ever like her. Not only does Oliver like her. He helps her keep her goals. Thank you to NetGalley. For my free ARC-Audio and this is my honest review
April 19, 2026
This was a cute and short read. It was very body positivity focused, which was good. This is a YA book and I liked that it focused less on the romance and more on the character's personal development. She makes a bet with her older brother that she won't be able to run in a race, and she is determined to prove him wrong. I love how the FMC grew and realized that she was doing it less out of spite and more because she enjoyed it and wanted to show others that it's possible. Overall, if you are looking for a YA book with a little bit a romance (no spice), a friend group, and body positivity, then definitely check this one out.
I received this book for free from the publisher, which does not affect my review.
I received this book for free from the publisher, which does not affect my review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this super sweet, body positive, YA novel! It was joyful and inspiring and a book I wish was around when I was a teenager.
Ruby is a plus-size sixteen year old who just wants to enjoy the summer with her friends and set a good example for her little sister, who already appears to be worrying about her body. After being bullied by her PE teacher and her brother, she sets out to prove she can run in her school's annual 5K Dawson Dash. Her new (cute) neighbour, Ollie, offers to help her train for it. 👟🏃♀️
I just loved the upbeat humour and the sweet romance between Ruby and Ollie. The romance was definitely a subtle part of the overall story. There was more focus on Ruby's relationships with her family members, her friends, and herself, which I appreciated. She's only 16, so a relationship with a boy didn't need to be the main theme - but they were totally adorable!
As someone who has struggled with eating disorders since entering high school (growing up in the 90s with its toxic diet culture definitely affected me) - I just loved the messaging in this book. It's ok to not always love the size & shape of your body but it's also ok that we all have our own variations in body types. There's no "wrong" body size.
This book really hit with me and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick, light YA read!🩷
Ruby is a plus-size sixteen year old who just wants to enjoy the summer with her friends and set a good example for her little sister, who already appears to be worrying about her body. After being bullied by her PE teacher and her brother, she sets out to prove she can run in her school's annual 5K Dawson Dash. Her new (cute) neighbour, Ollie, offers to help her train for it. 👟🏃♀️
I just loved the upbeat humour and the sweet romance between Ruby and Ollie. The romance was definitely a subtle part of the overall story. There was more focus on Ruby's relationships with her family members, her friends, and herself, which I appreciated. She's only 16, so a relationship with a boy didn't need to be the main theme - but they were totally adorable!
As someone who has struggled with eating disorders since entering high school (growing up in the 90s with its toxic diet culture definitely affected me) - I just loved the messaging in this book. It's ok to not always love the size & shape of your body but it's also ok that we all have our own variations in body types. There's no "wrong" body size.
This book really hit with me and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick, light YA read!🩷
March 4, 2026
This was definitely a body-positive, feel-good read. I think this young adult book should be in school settings, because so many teens constantly second-guess themselves and how they look. It sends an important message: if you put your mind to something, you really can do it.
The story follows sixteen-year-old Ruby, who has worked hard to be comfortable in her body—even when people around her, including her brother and her PE teacher, make her feel like something is wrong with her. All she wants is to enjoy her summer at the skate park with her friends. But after her brother’s hurtful comments get to her, Ruby signs up for the annual 5K Dawson Dash to prove that fat girls can do anything.
The only problem? She can’t run.
With help from the cute boy next door, Ollie, Ruby starts training—facing her fears, insecurities, and vulnerable moments along the way. Her journey is relatable, encouraging, and uplifting, especially for young people who feel marginalized in sports or judged because of their bodies.
Overall, this was a sweet, sporty rom-com with a strong message about self-love and confidence. It wasn’t a favorite, but I really appreciated its positivity and heart. A solid 3½-star read for me.
The story follows sixteen-year-old Ruby, who has worked hard to be comfortable in her body—even when people around her, including her brother and her PE teacher, make her feel like something is wrong with her. All she wants is to enjoy her summer at the skate park with her friends. But after her brother’s hurtful comments get to her, Ruby signs up for the annual 5K Dawson Dash to prove that fat girls can do anything.
The only problem? She can’t run.
With help from the cute boy next door, Ollie, Ruby starts training—facing her fears, insecurities, and vulnerable moments along the way. Her journey is relatable, encouraging, and uplifting, especially for young people who feel marginalized in sports or judged because of their bodies.
Overall, this was a sweet, sporty rom-com with a strong message about self-love and confidence. It wasn’t a favorite, but I really appreciated its positivity and heart. A solid 3½-star read for me.
April 6, 2026
Ruby is mostly happy with herself, she loves her friends, her life and her body, but constant criticism from her older brother and subtle pressure from others about her weight begin to wear her down. Determined to prove both to him and to her younger sister that body size doesn't limit ability, Ruby impulsively signs up for a 5K race, despite not being able to run at all.
Her journey towards the race becomes both physical and emotional. Along the way, she reconnects with her charming neighbor Ollie,who offers to help train her. What starts as an awkward partnership slowly develops into romance.
As Ruby trains, she navigates insecurities, family tension, friendship dynamics and self worth ultimately learning that confidence is not about proving others wrong, but about believing in yourself
Her journey towards the race becomes both physical and emotional. Along the way, she reconnects with her charming neighbor Ollie,who offers to help train her. What starts as an awkward partnership slowly develops into romance.
As Ruby trains, she navigates insecurities, family tension, friendship dynamics and self worth ultimately learning that confidence is not about proving others wrong, but about believing in yourself
May 7, 2026
As someone who has struggled with being a bigger girl this book made me feel great. i wish i had this when i was younger. i loved how much ruby loves her own body and started to exercise for her and not for others. it was a cute and easy short read. i loved ruby and ollie together and how their dynamic worked out.
March 5, 2026
This was the cutest. I loved how Ruby challenged herself to run the race to prove to everyone who doubted her that she could do it. She refused to let her little sister grow up hating her body. I really loved the moment when her brother finally understood her. I had such a good time reading this.
May 5, 2026
This was really short and honestly probably a 2.5 but I'm rounding up because I love British voices and I liked that Ruby was confident in herself the entire time instead of learning to love that she was fat. But it was just TOO short and everything was very one dimensional.
June 27, 2026
Approved Jugendliteratur
July 4, 2026
Sweet summer romance and full of love for big girls
October 9, 2024
Je suis mitigée sur cette lecture..
Pour commencer, il ne s’agit pas du tout d’un livre féministe. Ce n’est pas contre le féminisme non plus, mais ce n’est pas du tout le sujet du livre. Donc, le marketing autour du féminisme de ce livre induit de fausses choses. J’étais donc prête à lire un livre YA féministe et pas du tout. Donc déjà, première déception..
Ruby est une ado grosse, mais à l’aise avec son corps. Cependant, elle se prends des réflexions de beaucoup de personnes à cause de son corps, notamment de son prof d’EPS et de son frère. Des hommes pour qui le corps et l’apparence sont importants. Elle se met donc en tête de courir le cross de son école pour leur prouver qu’ils ont tord.
Ce n’est donc pas féministe, mais en revanche, c’est un très bon livre pour prouver qu’une apparence ne défini pas ce qu’on est et ce qu’on peut faire. C’est un livre contre la grossophobie, qui donne espoir et motivation à toutes les filles qui sont jugées sur leur corps. Et pour ça, merci. Parce que oui, ça a fait du bien à mon adolescente intérieure.
J’ai adoré la relation entre Ruby et Sasha, sa petite sœur. Je m’y suis revue, moi avec ma sœur. S’il vous plaît, ne mettez pas dans la tête des enfants des choses négatives sur leur apparence et leur corps..
Et la relation de Ruby et sa mère est très belle. Ça fait du bien de voir une maman saine, qui est fière de sa fille, qui l’a soutient dans tout ce qu’elle entreprend. Merci Maman Ruby !
Bref, en conclusion, c’est une bonne lecture même si j’ai mis un peu de temps et qu’il y avait des longueurs (je trouve). Il y a de très beaux messages véhiculés sur l’acceptation de son corps, le regard des gens, la grossophobie. Mais ne vous attendez pas à lire un livre féministe, ça ne l’est pas (d’autant plus que Ruby cherche l’approbation des hommes qui l’entourent sans cesse même si elle se dit à l’aise dans son corps…).
Un bon sujet a traiter en tout cas, merci Bethany Rutter pour ça ✨
Pour commencer, il ne s’agit pas du tout d’un livre féministe. Ce n’est pas contre le féminisme non plus, mais ce n’est pas du tout le sujet du livre. Donc, le marketing autour du féminisme de ce livre induit de fausses choses. J’étais donc prête à lire un livre YA féministe et pas du tout. Donc déjà, première déception..
Ruby est une ado grosse, mais à l’aise avec son corps. Cependant, elle se prends des réflexions de beaucoup de personnes à cause de son corps, notamment de son prof d’EPS et de son frère. Des hommes pour qui le corps et l’apparence sont importants. Elle se met donc en tête de courir le cross de son école pour leur prouver qu’ils ont tord.
Ce n’est donc pas féministe, mais en revanche, c’est un très bon livre pour prouver qu’une apparence ne défini pas ce qu’on est et ce qu’on peut faire. C’est un livre contre la grossophobie, qui donne espoir et motivation à toutes les filles qui sont jugées sur leur corps. Et pour ça, merci. Parce que oui, ça a fait du bien à mon adolescente intérieure.
J’ai adoré la relation entre Ruby et Sasha, sa petite sœur. Je m’y suis revue, moi avec ma sœur. S’il vous plaît, ne mettez pas dans la tête des enfants des choses négatives sur leur apparence et leur corps..
Et la relation de Ruby et sa mère est très belle. Ça fait du bien de voir une maman saine, qui est fière de sa fille, qui l’a soutient dans tout ce qu’elle entreprend. Merci Maman Ruby !
Bref, en conclusion, c’est une bonne lecture même si j’ai mis un peu de temps et qu’il y avait des longueurs (je trouve). Il y a de très beaux messages véhiculés sur l’acceptation de son corps, le regard des gens, la grossophobie. Mais ne vous attendez pas à lire un livre féministe, ça ne l’est pas (d’autant plus que Ruby cherche l’approbation des hommes qui l’entourent sans cesse même si elle se dit à l’aise dans son corps…).
Un bon sujet a traiter en tout cas, merci Bethany Rutter pour ça ✨
August 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐ | Dieses Buch war für mich ein besonderes Leseerlebnis – wahrscheinlich das erste, das ich bewusst mit einer dicken Hauptfigur gelesen habe. Und genau das macht es so wertvoll.
Ruby ist eine starke, vielschichtige Protagonistin, die sich nicht unterkriegen lässt – weder von den verletzenden Kommentaren ihres Bruders noch von gesellschaftlichen Erwartungen. Sie meldet sich für den 5-Kilometer-Schullauf an, nicht um abzunehmen, sondern um sich selbst und anderen zu zeigen, dass sie genauso sportlich und entschlossen sein kann wie alle anderen.
Was ich besonders gelungen finde: Sport wird hier in verschiedenen Facetten dargestellt. Inlineskaten ist für Ruby ein Hobby, das ihr Spass macht. Beim Laufen hingegen geht es weniger um Freude, sondern um persönliche Entwicklung – sie merkt, wie sie fitter wird, wie sie mentale Hürden überwindet und sich selbst herausfordert. Und doch bleibt sie durch ihr Gewicht ständig exponiert, was das Buch sehr ehrlich und sensibel thematisiert.
Neben der körperlichen Selbstakzeptanz geht es auch um Repräsentation, Fatshaming und familiäre Herausforderungen: Rubys Eltern sind getrennt, der Vater lebt mit seiner neuen Partnerin weit entfernt, und Ruby muss sich in einer komplexen Familiensituation zurechtfinden – gleichzeitig will sie ihrer kleinen Schwester ein gutes Vorbild sein.
Besonders berührend fand ich die entstehende Freundschaft zu einem anderen dicken Mädchen an der Schule – eine Figur, die cool, selbstbewusst und inspirierend ist. Diese Verbindung steht für mich viel mehr im Zentrum als die zarte Liebesgeschichte mit Nachbarjunge Ollie, die zwar schön erzählt ist, aber eher im Hintergrund bleibt.
Ein sommerlicher Jugendroman ab 12 Jahren über Freundschaft, Mut, Selbstliebe und die Kraft, sich selbst treu zu bleiben – mit einer Hauptfigur, die man so viel öfter in Jugendbüchern sehen sollte.
Ruby ist eine starke, vielschichtige Protagonistin, die sich nicht unterkriegen lässt – weder von den verletzenden Kommentaren ihres Bruders noch von gesellschaftlichen Erwartungen. Sie meldet sich für den 5-Kilometer-Schullauf an, nicht um abzunehmen, sondern um sich selbst und anderen zu zeigen, dass sie genauso sportlich und entschlossen sein kann wie alle anderen.
Was ich besonders gelungen finde: Sport wird hier in verschiedenen Facetten dargestellt. Inlineskaten ist für Ruby ein Hobby, das ihr Spass macht. Beim Laufen hingegen geht es weniger um Freude, sondern um persönliche Entwicklung – sie merkt, wie sie fitter wird, wie sie mentale Hürden überwindet und sich selbst herausfordert. Und doch bleibt sie durch ihr Gewicht ständig exponiert, was das Buch sehr ehrlich und sensibel thematisiert.
Neben der körperlichen Selbstakzeptanz geht es auch um Repräsentation, Fatshaming und familiäre Herausforderungen: Rubys Eltern sind getrennt, der Vater lebt mit seiner neuen Partnerin weit entfernt, und Ruby muss sich in einer komplexen Familiensituation zurechtfinden – gleichzeitig will sie ihrer kleinen Schwester ein gutes Vorbild sein.
Besonders berührend fand ich die entstehende Freundschaft zu einem anderen dicken Mädchen an der Schule – eine Figur, die cool, selbstbewusst und inspirierend ist. Diese Verbindung steht für mich viel mehr im Zentrum als die zarte Liebesgeschichte mit Nachbarjunge Ollie, die zwar schön erzählt ist, aber eher im Hintergrund bleibt.
Ein sommerlicher Jugendroman ab 12 Jahren über Freundschaft, Mut, Selbstliebe und die Kraft, sich selbst treu zu bleiben – mit einer Hauptfigur, die man so viel öfter in Jugendbüchern sehen sollte.
September 25, 2024
L'histoire suit Ruby, une adolescente qui, après avoir été traitée de "flemmarde" par son professeur d'EPS, décide de relever le défi de courir une course de 5 km pour prouver sa valeur.
L'un des points forts du roman est le personnage principal, Ruby. Elle est relatable et attachante, avec ses doutes, ses peurs et ses moments de détermination. Son parcours de transformation, de la flemme à la détermination, est bien construit et inspirant.
Le roman montre que la véritable force ne réside pas dans la performance physique, mais dans la capacité à surmonter ses propres limites et à croire en soi.
Ce livre m’a rappelé le collège, et les cours de sport que je détestais surtout quand il fallait courir ( ma phobie) et surtout les remarques des autres élèves qui n’était pas toujours gentils , mais qu’il ne faut pas écouter les autres mais croire en soit.
L'intrigue est bien rythmée, avec des éléments de romance et d'amitié qui ajoutent de la profondeur à l'histoire.
Le roman aborde également des thèmes importants tels que le body shaming et l'acceptation de soi.
Ruby apprend à ne pas laisser les jugements des autres définir sa valeur et à s'approprier son corps et ses ambitions.
Elle surtout à avoir confiance en soit car c’est le meilleur moyen de réussir et de prouver qu’on est capable de tout !!!
L'un des points forts du roman est le personnage principal, Ruby. Elle est relatable et attachante, avec ses doutes, ses peurs et ses moments de détermination. Son parcours de transformation, de la flemme à la détermination, est bien construit et inspirant.
Le roman montre que la véritable force ne réside pas dans la performance physique, mais dans la capacité à surmonter ses propres limites et à croire en soi.
Ce livre m’a rappelé le collège, et les cours de sport que je détestais surtout quand il fallait courir ( ma phobie) et surtout les remarques des autres élèves qui n’était pas toujours gentils , mais qu’il ne faut pas écouter les autres mais croire en soit.
L'intrigue est bien rythmée, avec des éléments de romance et d'amitié qui ajoutent de la profondeur à l'histoire.
Le roman aborde également des thèmes importants tels que le body shaming et l'acceptation de soi.
Ruby apprend à ne pas laisser les jugements des autres définir sa valeur et à s'approprier son corps et ses ambitions.
Elle surtout à avoir confiance en soit car c’est le meilleur moyen de réussir et de prouver qu’on est capable de tout !!!
August 19, 2025
J’ai adoré ce roman ! C’est une lecture légère en apparence, mais qui aborde en profondeur des sujets essentiels.
C’est tellement rare de voir le thème du body positive dans un roman, et pourtant c’est un sujet tellement important. Ici, il est traité avec beaucoup de bienveillance et d’ouverture d’esprit.
Ruby est une héroïne extrêmement attachante : elle exprime sa volonté de se sentir bien dans son corps malgré les jugements liés à sa rondeur. À l’opposé, son frère est insupportable… mais son discours est tristement réaliste. C’est affolant de voir à quel point tant de personnes partagent ce genre de pensées.
Et puis Ollie… Oliver est absolument adorable. Je crois que je n’avais pas rencontré un personnage aussi pipou depuis longtemps : un vrai sucre ! J’ai même eu de la peine pour lui, parce que Ruby ne s’occupe pas énormément de lui malgré toutes les difficultés qu’il traverse aussi.
En bref : une lecture agréable, positive, légère, mais qui fait aussi réfléchir sur des thématiques importantes. J’ai beaucoup aimé la vibe générale… et, contre toute attente, ça m’a carrément donné envie de me mettre à la course à pied (alors que je déteste ça 😅).
C’est tellement rare de voir le thème du body positive dans un roman, et pourtant c’est un sujet tellement important. Ici, il est traité avec beaucoup de bienveillance et d’ouverture d’esprit.
Ruby est une héroïne extrêmement attachante : elle exprime sa volonté de se sentir bien dans son corps malgré les jugements liés à sa rondeur. À l’opposé, son frère est insupportable… mais son discours est tristement réaliste. C’est affolant de voir à quel point tant de personnes partagent ce genre de pensées.
Et puis Ollie… Oliver est absolument adorable. Je crois que je n’avais pas rencontré un personnage aussi pipou depuis longtemps : un vrai sucre ! J’ai même eu de la peine pour lui, parce que Ruby ne s’occupe pas énormément de lui malgré toutes les difficultés qu’il traverse aussi.
En bref : une lecture agréable, positive, légère, mais qui fait aussi réfléchir sur des thématiques importantes. J’ai beaucoup aimé la vibe générale… et, contre toute attente, ça m’a carrément donné envie de me mettre à la course à pied (alors que je déteste ça 😅).
May 27, 2024
Man alive. Bethany Rutter just gets it. I put this down and had to have a little cry. This is just brilliant. The perfect mix of body positivity, the joy (and absolute horror) of running and the importance of brilliant friends. I’ve been Ruby. I’ve been the fat girl learning to love and accept her body when the whole world just thinks “fat” is the worst thing ever. I’ve lived in her brain and her running shoes. I just loved this so much. Sasha and Liv are just delights.
I wanna start running again now.
I wanna start running again now.
June 7, 2024
Bethany writes books that heal my teenage fat lass self. So good, so relatable, I has a cry!
April 19, 2026
Slow Burn ended up being more of a coming of age story than a romance for me, but overall it was still a solid read with a really good message.
I enjoyed the running aspect a lot. You do not see that used very often, and it was done in a way that actually felt realistic. The mental side of it especially landed. The fear, the frustration, wanting to quit, and then slowly building stamina. That part felt earned and rewarding.
Ruby herself was easy to root for. The body positive message was one of the strongest parts of the book. It showed that you can move your body and challenge yourself no matter what you look like, which is something more people need to see, especially in YA.
Overall, I think it stayed on the surface a bit more, which is not unlike the thought process of a young adult, but I do feel like it could have gone deeper and pushed this closer to a four star read. It is a cute, good, light read that fits well with that mindset.
The romance just did not really land for me. Ollie came across more as a supportive friend than a true romantic interest, but I think that tracks with the coming-of-age direction of the story. The chemistry was mild, and even though there were some sweet moments, it never really built into anything strong. It honestly reads more like a coming-of-age story with a small romantic thread rather than a full romance.
Spice Level: 🌶️ Minimal
Very much YA. No real spice here.
Cover Art: 🎨🎨🎨 Solid
The cover was cute and actually fit the description of the characters, which I liked, but it still does not really stand out.
Audiobook Performance: 🎧🎧🎧🎧 Very Good
Easy listen. The narration fit Ruby well and made the story feel natural and approachable.
Overall, this is a good, message driven read that leans more into personal growth than romance. I liked it, I just wish the romance had been stronger and that some of the heavier topics had gone a little deeper.
I enjoyed the running aspect a lot. You do not see that used very often, and it was done in a way that actually felt realistic. The mental side of it especially landed. The fear, the frustration, wanting to quit, and then slowly building stamina. That part felt earned and rewarding.
Ruby herself was easy to root for. The body positive message was one of the strongest parts of the book. It showed that you can move your body and challenge yourself no matter what you look like, which is something more people need to see, especially in YA.
Overall, I think it stayed on the surface a bit more, which is not unlike the thought process of a young adult, but I do feel like it could have gone deeper and pushed this closer to a four star read. It is a cute, good, light read that fits well with that mindset.
The romance just did not really land for me. Ollie came across more as a supportive friend than a true romantic interest, but I think that tracks with the coming-of-age direction of the story. The chemistry was mild, and even though there were some sweet moments, it never really built into anything strong. It honestly reads more like a coming-of-age story with a small romantic thread rather than a full romance.
Spice Level: 🌶️ Minimal
Very much YA. No real spice here.
Cover Art: 🎨🎨🎨 Solid
The cover was cute and actually fit the description of the characters, which I liked, but it still does not really stand out.
Audiobook Performance: 🎧🎧🎧🎧 Very Good
Easy listen. The narration fit Ruby well and made the story feel natural and approachable.
Overall, this is a good, message driven read that leans more into personal growth than romance. I liked it, I just wish the romance had been stronger and that some of the heavier topics had gone a little deeper.
April 6, 2026
When a self proclaimed fat girl is challenged by her brother to run a race, she decides to prove to him--and herself--that her body can do anything she puts her mind to. When a new boy moves in next door they decide to help each other: he needs her mom's help becoming a better baker and she needs help learning to run. Together they team up and discover they have feelings for each other.
Things I enjoyed about this book:
*Body image/fat rep
*Mental health rep
*slow burn romance (and the pun of the slow burn from the running with the slow burn of the romance)
*her and her family navigating her parents' divorce
Things that didn't work for me:
*I did not fully buy that her brother was that cruel to her about her weight. I think this could have been accomplished with someone at her school or just with the cruel gym teacher. It felt really forced that he was so vicious.
*I think it was weird she decided she and Ollie, her love interest, just couldn't work when he leaves for his grandfather's funeral; she doesn't even say she's sorry for his loss or thinking of him when he texts her, and he's not upset about this at all (???).
*He doesn't run the race with her despite them training together
*At times, it felt like a "how to have more self-confidence" rather than a developed plot. For example, there's one point where she and her friend talk about following people who look like them on social media; while this is a great tip, it did feel a bit forced.
Overall, I think this is a sweet story that many people (those whose family is going through divorce, readers struggling with their self-image, or those that enjoy romance) will read and enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
Things I enjoyed about this book:
*Body image/fat rep
*Mental health rep
*slow burn romance (and the pun of the slow burn from the running with the slow burn of the romance)
*her and her family navigating her parents' divorce
Things that didn't work for me:
*I did not fully buy that her brother was that cruel to her about her weight. I think this could have been accomplished with someone at her school or just with the cruel gym teacher. It felt really forced that he was so vicious.
*I think it was weird she decided she and Ollie, her love interest, just couldn't work when he leaves for his grandfather's funeral; she doesn't even say she's sorry for his loss or thinking of him when he texts her, and he's not upset about this at all (???).
*He doesn't run the race with her despite them training together
*At times, it felt like a "how to have more self-confidence" rather than a developed plot. For example, there's one point where she and her friend talk about following people who look like them on social media; while this is a great tip, it did feel a bit forced.
Overall, I think this is a sweet story that many people (those whose family is going through divorce, readers struggling with their self-image, or those that enjoy romance) will read and enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
March 10, 2026
I listened to the audiobook of this :) and it was so enjoyable that I am lowkey devastated to have finished it!!! I want more from this author - and this narrator! What a winning combo. It was so engaging and interesting and told so well that I never wanted to stop listening.
Ruby is fat, happy with herself, and finds that spite and revenge are wonderful motivators when she signs herself up for the school’s 5km run to prove to her older brother that she can do it, or more specifically that her fat body can do it! I love that she just gets into running to prove that she can and it’s NOT a weight loss journey or a health kick. She doesn’t change her diet, she doesn’t even worry about that, and I love her for it. And she gets to show her younger sister that fat is just a normal human variant, like being tall or blonde or having brown eyes etc. I loved all the characters in this book to bits and the story was wonderfully told!
I was a fat teen but I was (and still am) a good swimmer. And I still remember in year ten surprising the hell out of all my skinny, fit classmates when a friend and I teamed up to do a biathlon (she ran, I swam) and I won the swimming leg. The skinny girls had been pressuring us to both do half lengths of both because we’d get more house points if we both did that, rather than if we split it. Well we definitely got more house points when I won the swim! Hah!
Ruby is fat, happy with herself, and finds that spite and revenge are wonderful motivators when she signs herself up for the school’s 5km run to prove to her older brother that she can do it, or more specifically that her fat body can do it! I love that she just gets into running to prove that she can and it’s NOT a weight loss journey or a health kick. She doesn’t change her diet, she doesn’t even worry about that, and I love her for it. And she gets to show her younger sister that fat is just a normal human variant, like being tall or blonde or having brown eyes etc. I loved all the characters in this book to bits and the story was wonderfully told!
I was a fat teen but I was (and still am) a good swimmer. And I still remember in year ten surprising the hell out of all my skinny, fit classmates when a friend and I teamed up to do a biathlon (she ran, I swam) and I won the swimming leg. The skinny girls had been pressuring us to both do half lengths of both because we’d get more house points if we both did that, rather than if we split it. Well we definitely got more house points when I won the swim! Hah!
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