Waking Beauty

by Elyse Friedman

What would you do if you went to bed ugly, fat, and depressed and woke up the next morning in the body of a goddess?
This is exactly the miracle that befalls Allison Penny, who has spent most of her twenty-two years on this earth in a serious slump (to say the least).

Having long since given up on her life, Allison is stuck in an apartment with an evil sexpot roommate, trapped in a dysfunctional relationship with her alcoholic mother, and miserably working as a cleaning lady to pay the bills. Now, of course, Allison wastes no time in test-driving her new looks, and she experiences all of the power and fun that come with being gorgeous. Men and modeling agencies are falling all over her, and she finally has the con?dence to live her life without trying to disappear into the background. But even for the beautiful people, things can get complicated, and soon Allison finds herself with a whole new set of problems.

Darkly hilarious, engaging, and full of surprises, Waking Beauty is a modern-day fairy tale with an all-too-real No matter how much we hate to admit it, it’s what’s on the outside that counts.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2004

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this book is entirely misleading. I picked it up looking for a quick summer time read and instead found a darkly funny, pessimistic, entirely addictive novel about our appearance obsessed society. I simply love the way Elyse Friedman writes. There are obvious problems with the plot line, (certain things never being explained or resolved) but I love the book despite this. It's one of those books I find myself coming back to over and over again.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this had shallow answers to a deeper problem.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending saved it, I suppose. Honestly, I didn't like this book much at the beginning or in the middle. The main character's outlook on life is bitter and sardonic, which maybe some people appreciate, but I didn't. There are a few more sex details than I'd care for too. The author does, however, use excellent vocabulary and superb diction, which coupled by the pessimistic outlook, made for an ironic read.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could get why some people don't like this book, but I honestly really liked it.

Maybe some people don't like Allison's POV simply because we all know we would have done the same thing, or something similar. If we woke up the next day in the body of goddess and a face that could give you everything, it only makes sense that our curious nature would get the best of us and we would test the limits of where we could go with it. Allison did exactly that, and I think her sardonic and pessimistic nature can be excused after being treated so terribly her entire life and abused by her unloving parents.

It's essentially a modern fairly tale, and Allison gets to keep her new, good looks and also get the guy she loved prior to her transformation. I liked it. I don't think I would have liked it as much if she reverted back to her old self, because she was so happy with her new self. I think she deserved the outcome she wanted, and I'm glad the author recognized that instead of putting the main character through the wringer like so many authors like to do.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best kind of fairy tale; imagining a 22 year old with a rather unhappy life and a less than beautiful outward package going to bed one night and waking up in the body of Grace Kelly's even more gorgeous modern counterpart.

How Allison plays with this new set of circumstances, and how true she stays to her original self on the inside while she does, is one of my favorite subplots in any book I've read in the last 20 years. The thing that is so striking is how beautiful Allison's heart is throughout her story; not in an exhausting, eyeroll inducing kind of way but in an empathetic, man this character just deserves so much better and I'm so glad she's getting it, kind of way.

I have reread this book every year since it came out and I am never bored. Those who love a good fantasy, with just a hint of revenge, will love this book.

[Mrs C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect from this steamy fun book set in Canada. Allyson woke up one day from being an overweight nondescript 22-year old into a stunning statuesque blonde. Lots of readers might go all out PC on this title, but I suspended judgment and just enjoyed it for what it is. Funny (guffaw-inducing) writing, did I mention steamy? I loved the rumination of Allyson and how she is absorbing everything while doing a commentary on her life. Lots of Canadian references. I would read more from this author.

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. I’ve read this book more than a few times and it straddles an imaginary line between dark humor and chick lit. This book is entirely unrealistic but it makes fun of itself which is why I, personally, enjoy it.

[Secret · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 because at least it wasn't boring, but 2 in the terms that I really didn't like the story or the main character.

[thelittlestpickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My guilty pleasure. I love this book, even though there really isn't any message to it at all. Oops

[Kristy Fox-berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t usually like fantasies, however, I really like this author’s writing style and sense of humor. If I could I’d give it 3.5 stars.

[Janelle Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t impressed by this book. I wanted to like it. The concept of a woman who had been told her whole life she was ugly, worthless, and unwanted wakes up beautiful and desirable one day. Obviously the moral of the story was supposed to be that it’s what was on the inside that counted. The author didn’t go that way. The arc did have Allison realize that the beauty turned her into an ugly person but I kept waiting for her to turn back into a pumpkin. Friedman kept Allison beautiful and also she got pretty much everything she wanted. I may sound like a Grinch but that’s just not realistic. Plus how does that back up the protagonist’s belief that internal beauty is what’s most important? Felt a bit gratuitous to me. I may be bitter but the end left me angry and unsatisfied like old Allison.

[Eugène L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea is great. The plot is good. The novel has lots of interesting moments.

Unfortunately, the descriptions are way too long. Otherwise, it would be 4 stars at least.

[Harisa- EsquiredToRead · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was...weird. Lots of layers here that were not unpacked.

[Clay N · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the most shallow books I have ever read, with the overall message that you will only be happy if you're thin and beautiful.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute book but it was difficult for me to get into the book. It did get better as the book progressed.

[Kimberly Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

My book, "Waking Beauty", was set in Canada. This book was about a girl named Allison Penny who isn't the prettiest, skinniest or the richest girl in the world. She takes out the trash and cleans office buildings for a living. She has a crush on Nathan, a geeky video store clerk who waters the plants at the building where she cleans. She feels like she isn't good enough for him. One morning, she wakes up and she has a model perfect body. She is stunningly beautiful and completely unrecognizable. She pretends to be a friend of "Old Allison's" but she keeps the same name and tells people it's a coincidence. She tells everyone that "Old Allison" had to leave to tend to her sick father. "New Allison" is accepted by everyone with open arms. Everyone treats her completely different, better now than they had before. She is offered dates, modeling opportunities, exclusive club invitations, and opportunities she otherwise would never have had. She dates rich, successful guys that give her the life of luxury but then realizes that, even with his imperfections and low-class style of living, she would still rather be with Nathan. She ends up changing a lot of things in her life. She gets rid of her annoying roommate, finds her real birth parents, reconnects with her mom, and becomes a millionaire by modeling. She ends up buying a huge, nice house for her, her mother, and Nathan to live in. She decides that the true lesson is that it is truly what's on the outside that counts.
The biggest theme of this book is beauty. Allison learns that "prettier" people are treated a lot more differently and can have completely different lives. "Prettier" people can get anything they want just because they are attractive. Family and the acceptance of parents, are also important in this book because Allison despises her adopted parents for their strong dislike for her and their nonacceptance of her. She goes on a long journey to find her true birth parents and hope that they are not disappointed by her. Her birth mother and her end up becoming very close at the end of the book when Allison has no one else to go to.
The author wrote this book for entertainment. She wasn't really teaching a good, moral lesson: "it's what's on the outside that counts". But i think the author was pointing out (though exaggerating) some hard truths that many of us would like to deny but have to admit as being true at times. The author makes it a fun, adventurous book that I don't think is meant to be taken as too serious.
I enjoyed this book because it was fun, eventful, and full of experiencing different lifestyles and luxuries. But I don't think I would recommend this because it doesn't teach good morals or behavior.

[melhara · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It's not what's inside that counts. It's what's outside."

What would you do if you went to bed looking incredibly ugly and woke up jaw-droppingly stunning?

Allison Penny is one ugly duckling. She is short and overweight, her hair is mousy and flat, her skin is covered in boils, and she has a hairy mole on her face. All her life, people around her has treated her like crap because of the way she looked. Not that she cares. She's gotten used to it. She has tried being nice, but that didn't help her win any friends or decent jobs. So she hopelessly sticks with being an ugly, bitter, and pessimistic cleaning lady.

That is, until one day, when she wakes up completely transformed into a new and improved Allison Penny. She suddenly finds herself in the body of 5'9'' model with perfect teeth, gorgeous blonde hair, and an incredible body. Not knowing how long this transformation would last, Allison sets off to take full advantage of her new look, including getting revenge on those who made her life miserable and getting the guy of her dreams.

I really liked Elyse Friedman's style of writing and I loved the first part of the book. The part about "old" Allison before the transformation. Reading about Allison's loneliness and pessimistic outlook on life was addicting. The story was still kind of interesting after her transformation when she was getting used to her new body and taking advantage of it by going out and getting some well-deserved attention. It was also interesting seeing how people she knew treated her differently because of the way she looked.

It's kind of like a darker and more exaggerated version of Princess Diaries.


Unfortunately, it went downhill partway through the second half of the novel. The closer I came to finishing the book, the less I liked the "new" Allison. She went from being dark and witty to dumb and shallow. I felt like Elyse Friedman ended the book a bit too hastily without tying up all the loose ends. A disappointing end to a book with such a great beginning. Bummer.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a revenge book, completely unrealistic, and for me, a real page-turner! Allison Penny goes to bed one night as a really ugly person on the outside--with bad teeth, hideous mole, a really fat body, bad skin, everything 'bad' that you can imagine (to herself anyway)--and wakes up a 'beauty'...a real looker/super-model type, (who calls herself Allison Penny as well--explaining that she is the old Allison's long-lost friend from childhood & will be staying for a while, while the other Allison is out of town--yeah, I know, what the heck-haha)! She doesn't know the 'why' or 'how' of it, but she revels in it, and takes full advantage of her new situation. She gets the guy of her dreams (well, the one the old Allison wanted), gets revenge on her bitch of a roommate & roommate's boyfriend (who treated her like complete crap before her transformation), and well, gets revenge with almost everyone that had ever done her wrong. With the revenge aspect obvious, it is also obvious to Allison that the only reason that people are different with her is because of her 'beauty' on the outside. A fact that she finds offensive, and amazing all at once, it seems. There are a few touching moments in the book as well, having to do with her birth mother. Like I said, this book is completely unrealistic, but you find yourself hoping that she will not revert back to the 'old' Allison--and hoping she will at the same time! If you want a fun read, this is the book for you.

[Jai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allison is very ugly but wakes up one day looking like a model. No reason is ever given for this, just that one day she wakes up looking nothing like she used to. The only thing she has lost is her great voice and can no longer sing with the range she had before. Immediately she sets out to see what she can do now that she has outside beauty. This includes getting revenge on those who treated her badly, like her cute but mean roommate and a jerk at the offices she cleans. She also tries out dating - a rich, handsome movie producer and a balding video store clerk. And overall she sees how differently she is treated for her looks. There were some realistic parts, like how ugly people no longer trusted her because of her beauty, but some parts of this book were rather surprising because they were written in a stark, gross/crude way. Actually, I still remember the first line of this book because it is in that vein and used the words "vaginally plumbed". A little bit off putting, but also somehow refreshing because under Allison's beauty there seems to be an undercurrent of bitterness comparing her treatment before and after the change. Allison doesn't buy into the superficiality of being beautiful and manages to make her own choices and her own peace. Very interesting take on the ugly duckling turning into a swan cliche.

[Zhao Yi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because I needed something to read for a flight.

On the one hand, it's fluff.

On the other hand, I went back to it a couple of times because there was an aspect of wish fulfillment. I'm no triple-bagger, but there are times in every person's life (especially for women) where they wished they were either something they were not or something better than what they were. I read this book when I was wishing I was just five pounds lighter, just a little taller, etc.

However, I was and still am profoundly feminist and my response to the book and my own visceral wishful thinking was ambivalent. I found myself thinking about how Allison settled with the nice but homely guy - and how that is such a fucking cliche. Settle down with the Beast, ladies, because he'll treat you better. Honest.

What-ever.

[B Salazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book 16 years ago, when I was less invested in feminism and deeply unhappy with my post-baby body. I remember loving the book, loving that a "fat, ugly and depressed" young woman could wake up with the body of a supermodel and finally get the life she deserved. However - now, as someone older and wiser (and wider) I have different feelings. The message, whether the author meant it or not, is that physical, not internal beauty, trumps all. It leaves the physically imperfect reader feeling misplaced, and unworthy. The message would be stronger if she (Allison, main character) discovered that the sexual attention she received lacked true personal acknowledgment or connection with others. Unfortunately the author failed to demonstrate that message and the book ultimately falls short.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. it was definitely an interesting premise. There were some Bushnellesque witticisms and some bona fide moments where the reader is routing for Allison; I found myself thinking, 'yes, absolutely, I'd do that if I woke up stunningly beautiful one day.' But, there were more moments where I didn't like Allison very much ("old" and "new.") It seems from the book jacket that the author's message is supposed to be something along the lines of inner beauty is most important yet the conclusion was that beauty, above all things, does count and that is the way Allison is able to find true happiness. Hmmm. Did I miss something?

[Corinne GRONDIN · Rating 1 out of 5]

Etant donné que je voulais un livre à lire rapidement et sans me prendre la tête, je peux vous dire que ce livre fait l’affaire. Mais, oui, parce qu’il y a un mais, le concept reste assez cru et déconcertant. Même si l’héroïne n’est « pas très belle », on n’a pas envie de lire des plaintes successives. D’autant plus qu’elle ne va pas bien se servir de sa soudaine beauté. Oui, à peine deux heures après cette découverte belle, voilà qu’elle couche avec le premier venu. Le tout est écrit un peu brutalement … des fois, on a l’impression que c’est un homme un peu cru qui parle.
Cependant, curieuse de savoir si cette transformation était temporaire ou pas, je l’ai lu assez vite.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

So "Waking Beauty" has a great concept.

"Ugly Duckling" hates her life and her looks, goes to bed and wakes up as a "Swan."

I just didn't buy it. I wanted to really like this book but I just really feel that the whole thing just fell flat. I'm not sure where it went wrong, it could be that the author introduces a character with no relationship ties to the story and I found myself skimming back through to see if I missed something.

Then (without revealing too much), she drops a major character and no one in the book questions it any longer.

It just didn't work for me.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

A ugly, fat girl who works as a janitor goes to bed one night and wakes up the next day beautiful. Cute, right? Wrong.

I kept skimming through the pages waiting for something good to happen, but nothing really did. The author tried too hard to make us feel sorry for the poor fat ugly girl as she scarfs Snickers bars and multiple falafels. (What is a falafel anyway??) I think the author really wanted to make this a sexy story, but really, to me, the whole story line just translated into stupid, kind of gross, and really superficial.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ugly girl wakes up gorgeous. Throughout the book, she lives her fantasies as a pretty girl, and uses her looks to get what she wants. She never wakes up ugly, or thinks that her life was better ugly.

[Katy Dunn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. The main character is horribly mean and shallow - I quit in the third or fourth chapter. I don't know why I would choose to spend time with this personality and continue reading the book.

[Aquit · Rating 1 out of 5]

So basically Allison spents the first few hours/days as "Beauty" trying to lose her virginity. I should had given up reading this crap when she gets a lick job from some construction worker she happen to past by.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Occasionally funny, but it couldn't maintain my interest. It was hard to empathize with the heroine when after her transformation, we discover that she's happy to get really ugly. But hey, as long as she "finds herself", it's all okay!

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

As it turns out, Allison's problem isn't that she's fat and unattractive. Allison's real problem is that she has an ugly soul.

Every couple of years, I read this book again, just to see if maybe I can find something that I missed. After four reads, I'm convinced that I haven't missed anything.