Fat Girl Begone!

by D.E. Haggerty

I was expecting a ring not a 'see ya later'.

Well, you know what? Screw him! I don't need him.

What else don't I need? To drown my sorrows in tequila only to wake up to find I've planned (and paid for!) the diet-fitness-revenge-plan of the century. My best friend is ad-A-mant I not back out. Thank my lucky stars, I run into a group of crazy women at Zumba class who take me under their wing. Yippie! Things are looking up.

Of freaking course, that's when my work situation goes belly up. And then my life gets truly complicated. My ex decides he wants me back, my personal trainer asks me out, and my millionaire male buddy decides to throw his hat in the ring. Oh boy.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2017

About the author

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she's all ears.

Join her newsletter and get a FREE small town romantic comedy ➡️ https://dehaggerty.com/subscribe/

Reviews

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everly is a beautiful woman, but she is severely lacking in self-confidence. When her boyfriend Josh dumps her because of her obsession with dieting, Everly drunkenly signs up for six months with a personal trainer. While she deals with the competing interests of her personal trainer Gabe (who she dubs Mr. Yummy or her "personal torturer"), cute gym geek Carter (aka Mr. Millionaire), and her ex-boyfriend Josh, she must also handle a group of raucous new friends, her betrayal by a colleague, and the loss of her dream job. Will Everly ever find happiness and true love? And maybe even learn to love herself?

Each chapter starts with Everly's amusing positive thought for the day, e.g., "This journey may be hell but my new girl crew is AWESOME." The author's quirky sense of humor shines through everywhere in this delightful romantic comedy which is, in fact, a cleverly-disguised weight-loss manual. The book realistically portrays the trials and tribulations of dieting, without belaboring the point. At its heart, Fat Girl Begone! is an exploration of female friendship and the perils of dating. A true gem!

Warnings: coarse language, sexual references, tequila (lots of).

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everly is having a bad day. First, her boyfriend dumps her because, and I quote, “I diet too much and don’t love myself.” Yeah, talk about a douchebag. So she calls up her best friend, Blaze, and there’s lots of tequila drinking. The next morning, Blaze picks her up and drags her to the gym to meet up with Evie’s brand new hotter than hot personal trainer. Yup, while drunk on tequila, Evie signed up for a gym membership and six months personal training sessions. Why? Because she, like most of us women out there when we get dumped, wants to have a great bod when she runs into her ex again and have him beg to take her back.



But the universe has a funny sense of humor. While Evie wants to lose weight to show up her ex, Josh, she meets two hot guys who are interested in dating her. There’s her drop-dead gorgeous personal trainer, Gabriel, who flirts with her and then asks her out for a date. Then there’s the cute but geeky Carter, a member at the gym who’s clearly interested in her. Which one will Evie choose?



I’m a huge Haggerty fan and pretty much anything she writes is romantic comedy gold. I’m serious. Move over Kinsella and Fielding, you’ve got competition with D. E. Haggerty. Not only does she create such life-like characters and situations (has she been stealing my diary?), but she’s one of the few writers out there who’s got the gift for comedic timing. It takes talent to blend humorous situation with laugh out loud (yes, I’m peeing my pants) dialogue and Haggerty’s got it in spades.



Okay, let’s talk about Fat Girl Begone! and what I loved about it. I instantly connected with Everly and her over-fascination with her “jiggly” bits. She’s just been dumped and suddenly finds herself trying to keep up with the beautiful gym people. Hey, I’ve been there and done that. Then, she’s got three men trying to win her attention. I love Carter best but that could be my inner geek coming out. Everly’s best friend (Blaze) is the best friend in the world and has got Evie’s back! She’s my favorite character next to Everly and Carter. She loves her best friend and wants the best for her. Every gal has to have a bestie like Blaze, who tells it like it is.



If you love romantic comedy and all the hijinx that comes along with life’s ups and downs, Fat Girl Begone! is a must-read! I loved it so much and it’s Haggerty’s best book to date!



Favorite Character/Quote:

“You’re not getting this. You’re it for me. I feel it in my bones. You’re not out of my league. Your league is so far above mine, I’m surprised you even noticed me let alone looked down and smiled upon me.”



And a bonus second quote because they’re both my favorite quote(s) –



And then we celebrate. Without clothes. The best kind of celebrating there is.



My Rating: 5+ stars



This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everly, the heroine of Fat Girl Begone! is the most relatable heroine I’ve read in ages. She yo-yo diets and she totally does not have her s*** together. She’s smart and hard-working, though, and she deserves so much better than the a-hole who dumps her at the beginning of the book for dieting too much - not for being fat, but basically for inconveniencing him with her lifestyle.

Let’s face it, we’ve all had one of those days when drowning in a bottle of tequila sounds like a fantastic idea. Everly has quite a few of those days in this book, and the hilarious part about it is what she gets up to when she’s drunk… because Evie is a blackout drunk and has to rely on friends to tell her what’s happened the day after.

Fat Girl Begone! is chicklit in the fine tradition of Bridget Jones; most of Evie’s issues are of her own making and inside her own head. While she only loses a few pounds over the course of the book (five and a half) she does make some massive changes in her life and her self-confidence skyrockets as a result.

It’s a funny thing that self-confidence can make a woman incredibly attractive even if nothing else about her has changed, and Evie soon discovers this as from being dumped at the beginning of the book, she soon has men practically throwing themselves at her. I won’t spoil the book for you by telling you who she ends up with, but I will say that the hero was so fantastically adorable I wrote a note in my reviewing document saying “If Evie doesn’t end up with _____ I am going to KILL EVERYONE”.

This is a gorgeous book with a funny, relatable heroine. Even though Evie isn’t obese, in her own head she is, and therefore any woman with a self-esteem OR a weight issue can absolutely relate to her. There is no fat-shaming in this book, only celebration of women being who they are and becoming the best they can be, and I absolutely loved it. Five stars, and I’ll be looking out for more of this author in the future.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through ReadingAlley.

[Teresa Kander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I think I've settled on my favorite book by this author, she puts out a new one and proves me wrong! I didn't think she could sway me from the Cupcake Baker series....until I read Everly's story.

First of all, I love that every chapter starts with a "positive thought" for the day....some of which are really a stretch to find something positive in her current situation. I also love the note at the end of the book about body shaming, where the author makes some very good points.

This story has a lot of points which hit close to home for me. Everly has self-esteem issues, and sees herself as a "fat girl," no matter how many people tell her what a gorgeous, sexy woman she is. Even having her personal trainer, her ex, and a hot millionaire all wanting to date her doesn't seem to change her mind.

I love the group of friends she makes in her Zumba class, and her friends Lily and Blaze are also great supporting characters. Two of the three men turn out to be total jerks, while the third is an absolute dream come true.

Lots of humor in this story, as well as very realistic characters who are easily relatable. The author is going to have to do something incredibly amazing to top this one....but I'll be satisfied with more stories of this quality. :)

[Jo-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read in a looong time. I loved it!

Everly has never been happy with her weight so she's been on a diet of some sort forever. After being dumped she spends the evening with her friend, tequila. Her "friend" influenced her to sign up for 6 months with a personal trainer. She was sure if she was thin and fit, her ex would be sorry he let her go.

No matter how many inches she lost, she didn't think she was looking any better because the scale wasn't going down as much as she wanted it to. She had such a negative image of herself that she didn't notice that she was now several sizes smaller.

I absolutely loved Fat Girl Begone! I could relate to Everly and her constant diets. I swear I have been on a diet since I was 12 when I realized boys were for more than just throwing mud at. She sure had a lot on her plate, though. Getting dumped was bad enough but she also lost her job. I loved how she turned those things into positives. First by going to the gym where she had a couple of guys interested in her. That was good for her self-esteem. Then, when her ex wanted her back, she had men coming out of the woodwork. On top of that, she starts her own business. It was a lot to handle but she was determined to be successful.

This book was hilarious! Everly's first gym training session was priceless and had me laughing so hard, I couldn't see the page for tears. I really liked Everly and could easily identify with her. I loved her friends from the Zumba class. They were a hoot. And what a great bestie she had in Blaze. She was great at keeping Everly on track. The romance parts couldn't have been better. Having three men interested in her, all very different sure did wonders for the way she felt about herself.

Whenever D.E. Haggerty has a new book released it's an automatic one-click for me. I love all her books and never suspected she would write one I liked more than the others. But she did. If you enjoy romantic comedy, I highly recommend this book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fat Girl Begone is a really fun and relatable story. If you've ever had issues with your weight you will know exactly where Everly is coming from! After being dumped by her long time boyfriend she decides to jump into a new health and fitness regime as a way to get back at him. Along the way she makes new friends, realizes what a jerk her ex really is, and learns to accept herself in a way she hadn't before. And oh yeah, gets romanced like she never had been!

I found Everly to be such a realistic character, so much so that at times I wanted to give her a little smack upside the head! But luckily she had Blaze and her crazy group of new friends there to do what I couldn't. But as much as I wanted to smack her for some of her thoughts and issues, I knew exactly how she felt. As someone who has struggled with weight my whole life I could see myself in her- her struggles, her at times unrealistic expectations, her negative view of herself. I could completely empathisize with her. Her journey of self-discovery was one I took not too long ago- I'm just missing the hot, geeky millionaire love interest!

From start to finish this is a book I think a lot of women will see themselves in- there are pieces of Everly that every woman will be able to relate to. Ms. Haggerty did a great job of handling what can be a delicate and tricky subject. Fat Girl Begone is in equal measures uplifting and entertaining.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everly Rawlins is amazed when her boyfriend breaks up with her because she diets too much - not because she is fat but because of her dieting. She resolves to find a diet and stick to it. Along with that, she plan to become fit All this will as a form of revenge. She finds herself at a gym with a yummy personal trainer and makes friends with an incredible array of individuals, including one millionaire. Things are looking up when her boyfriend wants her back, Mr. Yummy asks her out and her millionaire friend shows signs of wanting more than friendship. How much drama a can one woman take? Apparently a lot, because she loses her job and decides to open her own business.

I enjoyed Fat Girl Be Gone. D.E. Haggerty pens the story with just the right amount of humor and sarcasm. Each chapter starts out with a positive thought (sort of). Her response to exercising and dieting is exactly what many of us have experienced. As her life begins to spiral in a different direction, she finds she has her best friend, Blaze, and her new group of friends to help her and cheer her. With laughter and lots of snark, we will hop on with Everly as her life goes from the mundane to exciting fulfillment. Everly discovers that having the right person next to you is better than anything else. I found this book to be inspiring in many ways, particularly the notes at the end of the book. Starting a new exercise program is never easy but taking some advice from Everly can help. Being overweight is also not always in our control, something D.E. Haggerty stresses in her notes at the end.

Kudos to D.E. Haggerty for penning a fun story to read that contains serious undertones and lessons for us all.

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fat GIrl Begone is a fun story that anyone can relate to. Everly is having a really bad day. Her boyfriend dumps her because she diets too much and doesn’t love herself. Her best friend Blaze takes her to the gym to work out.

while working out she figures out by making friends that her ex is a jerk and now two guys are interested in her. Will it be her trainer or the member of the gym?

I loved this book as I could relate to Everly and her dieting. The book is funny and the author once again does an excellent job with the characters and plot.


I received an ARC and I voluntarily reviewed.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book altered my thinking.

I rarely read a book that changes my perception of myself or my choices, but this one definitely did. I got more out of reading this than years of therapy added to every self help book I ever read. I loved the plot and characters, so it was way more entertaining as well.

[Heather Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Book

Love love this book. Were are carter in real life!!! This is one of my favorite books if all time. READ!!! Is a must. Love the support, friend, dialogue, and made me feel like I was apart of the group.

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I finish a novel from DE Haggerty, I'm excited to see what she is going to give us next. After I finished the last one, I wasn't sure what direction she'd go in and I was pleasantly surprised with what she delivered. Different from the last few I've read, this story didn't have the mystery/suspense aspect but it still gave me everything I have come to love from her; plenty of laughs, endearing characters, and an engaging storyline.
Everly has struggled with her weight and while she's beautiful the way she is (even though she may not see it), she wants to be more fit. After a bad break up, her best friend signs her up for personal training sessions at the gym. There, she meets Carter, Gabe, Charise, Tara, Naomi, Jessie, and her confidence. Not one, but two men, are suddenly interested in her, just the way she is. It was interesting watching her navigate her career, friends, her physical fitness, and two different guys vying for her attention.
Haggerty always creates a great group of characters. Like all of Haggerty's female leads, I absolutely adored Everly. She worked hard to push past her insecurities. Even when she was unsure she opened herself up to new opportunities. Throughout the story, I enjoyed watching her grow and evolve.
The romantic aspect added yet another dimension to the story. Funny, sweet, sexy, and at times, even frustrating, I was captivated. I won't go into detail about the men in Everly's life because I don't want to spoil anything, but I will just say, I was totally swooning.



☆☆☆☆.5
~Lindsey

I loved this. I don’t think I ever smiled so much reading a book. This is just one of those stories that you will not want to put down. Everly is one of the most likeable characters ever. She is so full of life and when she gains self-confidence it just comes out of everywhere. I must say the author did a great job with these characters. They were not only likeable but enjoyable. This was a fun almost relatable story. We have all been that girl who has dumped and trying to fix ourselves wondering where we went wrong, yet it only Mr. Right to show us that we might not be perfect but perfect for them. I loved Carter so much I was rooting for him the whole time. This story made me laugh, think, and reflect. The most important thing is that I enjoyed every word especially the interactions between the characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the author because this was a great book that needs to be read .

[Barb Taub · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many times do you plan a vacation where you have no idea of your destination? Not that often, I’d bet. We may SAY it’s the journey that matters…but a mountain climber doesn’t want their journey to end up in an art museum any more than an opera buff wants to end up on a surfer beach. It’s the same with the romance genre. Sure, we expect that the two main characters will end up together. But the paths taken to reach that point are literally infinite in number. Just ask Elizabeth Bennett (Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen), Claire Randall (Outlander by Diana Gabaldon), Kate Daniels (Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews) or any of the literally millions of romance heroines how they arrived at their HEAs. Some of those paths are so well-travelled that the scenery is boring and the tour has become a cliche. Others, though familiar, still offer plenty of exciting, gorgeous, and just plain romantic views along the way. Take Fat Girl Begone as an excellent example where the destination might be a given, but the fun is all in how author D.E. Haggerty gets us there.

It might seem like Everly Rawlins has it all—handsome and successful boyfriend, partnership-track at her accounting firm, secret savings account to fund her dream wedding. But her self-image tells her she’s fat, her boyfriend tells her he’s leaving because he can’t take any more of her obsession with diet instead of him, her best friend tells her that tequila-fuelled decision to pre-pay for a private trainer is non-negotiable, and her employer tells her security will be escorting her from their premises. And that’s just the beginning, as author D. E. Haggerty keeps the romance tropes flying so fast we barely register the meet-cute with Mr. Yummy, the obligatory ensuing love triangle, and all four types of what the Greeks called the four loves:

* STORGE (Affection/family love): Everly builds a new family-of-choice in her supportive, profane, but well-dressed new friends from the gym.
* PHILIA (Friendship love): Her best friends steadfastly refuse to accept Everly’s body image issues, seeing her as both intelligent and beautiful.
* EROS (Romantic love): Rejected by her long-time boyfriend, Everly tries to keep new suitors firmly in the friend-zone, telling herself that she is not up to their league.
* AGAPE (Unconditional love): With her former boyfriend as the poster boy for how to undermine self-image, Everly is suspicious of unconditional love when it’s offered.
There are so many things I liked about Everly. The snarky banter with her friends, the humor that shines through even when she’s at her lowest points, the secret core of strength she has no idea is there, and way we start to see her intelligence and beauty as reflected in her friends’ love and admiration—these all combine in beautifully orchestrated character development.

There were a few things I found a little harder to swallow. There’s the billionaire who seems to work about an hour a week, the new business that springs into life and instant success, the will-they/won’t-they (they will) suspense, the expanding triangle as every guy she meets falls in lust with Everly, and especially the mind-boggling perfection of a suitor whose like hasn’t been seen outside the pages of Porn for Women. (Sexy Shirtless Guy: “As soon as I finish the laundry, I’ll do the grocery shopping. And I’ll take the kids with me.”)

Does any of that matter? Not if what you’re looking for is a funny, entertaining, and ultimately charming journey to a destination you knew about right from the start. If that’s what you’re hoping for, then Fat Girl Begone is exactly the right ticket.



*I received this book from the publisher or author to facilitate an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Everly whose boyfriend Josh broke up with her because she diets too much and apparently doesn't appreciate herself enough so with the help of her best friend Blaze Everly decides to join a gym loose weight and show the looser ex-boyfriend what he's missing.  What Everly didn't count on is a group of women who are part of Everly's Zumba class to become her new girlfriends that help life her up through her journey.  From buying clothes to going on clubbing binging.  They are definitely a great and wonderful group of women. 

First guy to show interest in Everly is her personal trainer Gabe who asks her out and Everly takes him seriously not realizing until it's too late that Gabe is a big ole player.  Everly's job also takes a new turn when she looses her job because she won't buy in at the ridiculous rate and can't keep her current job so with the help of a friend Carter she decides to take the plunge and start her own business.  Of course with Carter there is more than meets the eye.  How will Everly deal with everything that is Carter?  Will she run away or take the plunge? 

I loved this series and the other series by this author I read the skinny baker series.  It really pulls you in and has you hooked.  You learn so much about the characters created and see they have flaws in one way or another.  This one didn't disappoint at all.  Everly struggles with self image and getting control of her choices and it's amazing to see how much she changes in the book and how I don't think she couldn't do it without her fabulous network of friends.  They lift her up and keep her going even when going seems impossible!  Can't wait to see what is next for this author!

[EskieMama & Dragon Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everly Rawlins is amazed when her boyfriend breaks up with her because she diets too much - not because she is fat but because of her dieting. She resolves to find a diet and stick to it. Along with that, she plan to become fit All this will as a form of revenge. She finds herself at a gym with a yummy personal trainer and makes friends with an incredible array of individuals, including one millionaire. Things are looking up when her boyfriend wants her back, Mr. Yummy asks her out and her millionaire friend shows signs of wanting more than friendship. How much drama a can one woman take? Apparently a lot, because she loses her job and decides to open her own business.

I enjoyed Fat Girl Begone. D.E. Haggerty pens the story with just the right amount of humor and sarcasm. Each chapter starts out with a positive thought (sort of). Her response to exercising and dieting is exactly what many of us have experienced. As her life begins to spiral in a different direction, she finds she has her best friend, Blaze, and her new group of friends to help her and cheer her. With laughter and lots of snark, we will hop on with Everly as her life goes from the mundane to exciting fulfillment. Everly discovers that having the right person next to you is better than anything else. I found this book to be inspiring in many ways, particularly the notes at the end of the book. Starting a new exercise program is never easy but taking some advice from Everly can help. Being overweight is also not always in our control, something D.E. Haggerty stresses in her notes at the end.

Kudos to D.E. Haggerty for penning a fun story to read that contains serious undertones and lessons for us all.

I received a free copy for my honest review!

Review by Debby

[Gabby (What's Beyond Forks?) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?

Fat Girl Begone by D.E. Haggerty was a cute and funny story about a woman who has so many things going for her, but doesn't have the self esteem to back it up. Everly has allowed her long time boyfriend to let her feel worthless for far too long, but she doesn't even realize it yet. So, when he dumps her, she feels like the world has ended. Fortunately, she has kept her sense of humor through it all. I thought Everly was from England at first, because there were a few British slang words thrown, but the story seemed to take place in America, so I'm not sure where it actually took place. No biggie though. I think the words are fun, so I didn't mind. I enjoyed Everly's adventures and misadventures as she found herself with the help of friends and working out. My biggest gripe was, the dialog didn't always feel natural. The characters all had these words that they'd continuously use, and it got distracting. For example, one of Everly's friends addressed people as "Bitches" all the time. I mean ALL the time. Another, addressed people as "Chica" every time she spoke as well. There were more. It was like each character had their own word they used to address others, and they used it pretty much every time they spoke. This felt awkward, because people don't naturally talk like that in every single conversation.

But, back to the story. It was definitely entertaining, and I enjoyed watching Everly's confidence in herself grow. She's quirky and fun, and I love that. It was also empowering, as she is a character that most woman can relate to in many ways.

Fat Girl Begone! by D.E. Haggerty was kindly provided to me by Reading Addiction Book Tours for review. The opinions are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

n an Oyster Shell – A sassy heroine who’s on a mission to better herself after a break-up. It’s a great story!
The Pearls – This book is a really fun read. There is a sassy heroine that gets dumped by her boyfriend of five years. She goes on a diet and gets a gym membership to prove that she can stick with something. Her ex-accuses her of not following through on things. She want’s to show her ex exactly what he is missing out on. Her plan goes perfectly but in the end, she gets a better idea of what she wants. The concept was cute and well executed.
The characters were distinctive and carried the story through. There was the main character who was strong and determined. It was easy to follow her through her struggles and want to root for her. Her friends that she makes liven up the story quite a bit. They are some really strong characters. The development the main character goes through makes the story worth reading.
The romance was wild in that she had a few love interests. It was a nice asset to the story but it wasn’t what it was all about. The main character’s growth came before she got too attached to any one love interest. The romance added a pizzazz and completed the story really well. I like how the romance ended. She really deserved what she got.
The Sand – I found one of the characters to be a little bit juvenile. She was absurd in calling everyone bitches all the time. Something you would find a high schooler doing not a grown woman. There were other redeeming qualities of the book that balance this flaw out.

[Mayu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had been​ a long time since a book made me laugh so much. Right from the beginning I was smiling and laughing. Everly’s​ thoughts, action brought out a lot of humour.

 This is story is narrated by Everly, the main character. Everly is a complete package. She is smart, clumsy, witty, awkward​. She suffers from every other problem that a ordinary girl does. She has job issues, boyfriend issues, lack of self confidence issues and loads of other issues. But she also copes with them and comes out victorious. Through the course of this novel, Everly somehow taught me that it is possible achieve what we always thought impossible with self confidence and a little help. Her character and her story both are very much relatable. 

There is a romance that is really beautiful. The man our girl falls for is a perfect gentleman, a man who loves her no matter what and is always there to help her whenever she needs him. This romance is filled with both funny and heartwarming moments.

Another thing I have to mention is Everly’s group of friends. They were as fun as her. Fat Girl Begone! would not have been this much enjoyable if they hadn’t been there.

From the first to last page, not once did I lose interest so I am definitely going to recommend Fat Girl Begone! to all romantic comedy lovers.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like your romantic comedies a bit on the snarky side, you will laugh out loud at Everly and her entourage.
Whether you are the workout fanatic or the self conscious chubby girl, you will enjoy this novel and connect with the characters. The book begins with Everly being dumped by the man she figured was her future. He doesn't even give her a good reason, just packs up and leaves.
Thank goodness for best girlfriends who will drop everything and pick you up off the floor.
Everly depends upon her best friend, and new friends, and needs being picked up, more than once. She is thrown into a world she would not have agreed to had she been sober.
Add to that, betrayal at her job... and Everly has to discover for herself how strong she truly is.
There is a lesson for each of us in this book, to believe in ourselves and to never feel unworthy or incapable. Author D.E. Haggerty delivers in a FUN and flirty way.
This would be a super beach read.

[Rita Kunselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was funny, it was a group of young working women that were into the gym and a sweet love story. Who wouldn't love Everly or Evie
and her attitude about her life and all of the diets she's been on. How was it possible that she didn't realize how perfect she was and her boyfriends not realizing it either - though, one did catch on! I loved Carter he was really special and very thoughtful and even a Gazillionaire! Babe was a hunk and knew he was! What can we say about Josh? He didn't seem to make any friends on Everly girl crew! Speaking of Everly's Crew it consisted of her best friend Blaze, Lily her assistant and the group of woman who were doing Zumba with her. They all were characters and made you wish you could join their tequila party's and be there when Everly at too much. The people in her life were great no matter what was going on! I would definitely recommend this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed honestly an Advanced Reader Copy.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title, cover and blurb on this book totally put me off, and I was tempted to give it a skip. However, I decided to play nice and started to read it. I am so glad that I did. The transformation of Everly is a story that almost every woman can relate to - weight, self-confidence and need for approval issues affect most women in one way or another. As Everly hit rock bottom after being dumped by her boyfriend of five years, she has one asset that proved to be her saving grace, namely best friend Blaze, who would not take “no” for an answer. Blaze was there when Everly was at her worst, but it was also Blaze that put a plan into action to help Everly turn her life around. At first, every step Everly took was painful and mortifying. However, as she made progress and surrounded herself with other women who were self-confident and full of life, Everly began to see herself in a new light. She suddenly finds that she is high demand, by her personal trainer, her ex-boyfriend and the computer geek at the gym. Through her ups and downs, one has to laugh and cry with Everly, but as she starts to get her head on straight, one has to cheer her for new choices. Ultimately, I am so glad I read this book, because it left me with a smile on my face and a realisation that regardless of our age or size, we are powerful in our own right. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[Kimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Simply wow. I loved this story this was one
amazing story. So artfully crafted and written so
it had just flowed. This is the first book by
DE Haggerty I have read but it won’t be the last.

This is Everly’s story. And she has a problem but
it is not that she is fat, as she belives. no I think
you can figure that one out. She needs to believe
in herself. Hard to do but this is how she did that.
How she became the new her. And how she has
not one but three guys after her and one is truly
a great one. So not to ruin the story I won’t say
which one but I was rooting for this one from the
beginning. He is wonderful guy and she is truly
lucky, but had to go through crap to get there.


Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you
do like this book, please consider leaving a
review. The Authors really like it when you do;

they value your opinions too

[Laurie Beemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to start off by saying that this was an important and needed addition to books everywhere. I could relate so much to the battle that the lovely and amazing Everly went through every day; not just trying to become more fit but to learn to love oneself no matter what. Every man in her life was totally different so why was she struggling so hard to conform to what she considered beautiful? Being unique and being yourself is more important than anything and this book was an amazing way to show that. The connection that Every has with Carter in nothing short of breathtakingly beautiful, but will she realize someone else if better for her or will she realize she needs to look deeper to find the answer; such as deep in herself.

Thank you Reading Alley and D.E. Haggerty for allowing me to read and give an honest review of this book.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

DE Haggerty knows how to write a novel with heart, guts, and plenty of humor and lighthearted funny moments! I love the way she balances her novels.

This concept for the novel was great. How many of us women can't relate to Everly?

This novel is inspirational in a way that doesn't seem forced. Relate to the character, connect to her ups and downs along the way, get inspired by her new found confidence by the end.

Kudos to DE Haggery for making me laugh while inspiring me!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

***THIS BOOK WAS PROVIDED TO NERD GIRL IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***

Fat Girl Begone is a stand-alone novel by DE Haggerty.

This book is so much fun. You fall immediately in love with the characters. There is love and indifference, snarky humor, and tears aplenty.

Everly is dating Josh for 5 years and assumes one day they will marry; until Josh dumps her. After a drunken binge, Everly gets help from her bestie to make changes in her life, and immediately meet Gabe, a personal trainer, and Carter the geek.

But Gabe isn't exactly a one woman man, and Carter has secrets.

This book is a 4.5 rounded to 5 star read you will definitely enjoy!

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fan Site: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.NG***

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess that I was a bit hesitant to read this book as I know the author and was worried what I'd say if I didn't like it. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about as this was a very entertaining and funny read.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evie is hilarious. The girls are shocking. Carter is the man, he is so compassionate, open and upfront, patient. He is so heartwarming & gives you the warm tingles inside..."gotta love it when you get the tingles"... Blaze was kind of pushy but she's a very good friend to Evie. The weight issue is a bit sensitive for the romance genre but its not overdone here & the author does a great job blending that with the life drama and a love story.

Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Olivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, charming, romance

I loved this story. Everly was a character that I could totally relate to. I was only frustrated that it took so long for her to see how amazing Carter is. He is just the sweetest guy ever.

[Catherine Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

The title hooked my attention, the blurb reeled me in, and the first chapter had me diving in to Evie’s life headfirst. Sometimes awkward, sometimes confident, I traveled alongside Evie as she realized getting dumped was ultimately the best thing that ever happened to her. Cheering, laughing, savoring, and oftentimes cringing, Fat Girl Begone! Was truly a pleasure to read. Looking forward to reading more from D.E. Haggerty.

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love DE Haggerty for her Mystery Novels that always pack a very witty and fun punch, so I was interested to see what a Contemporary read would be like from her. She has really nailed this genre as well. I absolutely her quick witt and comedic relief. She writes the perfect novels to get lost for a while and they are always light hearted which some times you really need!

I loved the theme of this novel. The setting and the heart of it are something most of us women can relate to. DE Haggerty spins them and gives us hope and humor to combat the heaviness of the subject that some of us deal with on a personal level.

[ESTHER TEAGUE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Carter a lot...

This was a good read, made me laugh out loud a few times as well. I enjoyed it and I also liked Carter a lot.