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To Be Honest
The author of The Big F is back with another snappy, utterly relatable contemporary novel about loving yourself and forging your own path.
Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her big sister—and best friend—goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she'll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn't count on is that her mother's obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy's mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.
Between her mom's diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.
To Be Honest is another sharp, witty novel from Maggie Ann Martin, about a spunky heroine who is dealing with very real issues—body image, parental pressure, loneliness, first love, and finding your way—with heart and humor.
Praise for To Be Honest:
"This summer read tackles difficult subjects—anxiety and mental health, eating disorders, and more—while still keeping it a light and fun story about all kinds of parental, sibling, friendship, romantic, and most importantly, loving yourself." —Bustle
"I love that the book, itself, is not obsessed with its plus-size main character. ... It's a shame that books like this are so few and far between." —NPR
"A refreshing YA contemporary novel that wrestles with self-love, anxiety, and family. ... I would imagine people who loved Leah on the Offbeat, The Upside of Unrequited, or Turtles All the Way Down will also love this novel." —Better Books and Other Things
Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her big sister—and best friend—goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she'll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn't count on is that her mother's obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy's mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.
Between her mom's diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.
To Be Honest is another sharp, witty novel from Maggie Ann Martin, about a spunky heroine who is dealing with very real issues—body image, parental pressure, loneliness, first love, and finding your way—with heart and humor.
Praise for To Be Honest:
"This summer read tackles difficult subjects—anxiety and mental health, eating disorders, and more—while still keeping it a light and fun story about all kinds of parental, sibling, friendship, romantic, and most importantly, loving yourself." —Bustle
"I love that the book, itself, is not obsessed with its plus-size main character. ... It's a shame that books like this are so few and far between." —NPR
"A refreshing YA contemporary novel that wrestles with self-love, anxiety, and family. ... I would imagine people who loved Leah on the Offbeat, The Upside of Unrequited, or Turtles All the Way Down will also love this novel." —Better Books and Other Things
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2018
68 people are currently reading
6538 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Ann Martin
2 books235 followersMaggie Ann Martin hails from Des Moines, Iowa but moonlights as a New Yorker. She earned a BA in English and Journalism from the University of Iowa, the most welcoming literary community in the world. When she is not writing, you can find her binge watching TV shows or passionately fangirling over fictional characters on the Internet. Her two young adult novels, The Big F and To Be Honest are available now from Swoon Reads (Macmillan).
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October 23, 2019
I don’t read “fluffy” contemporary titles very often; if I do, it’s probably either because it’s a random, rare exception, a nostalgic favorite, or diverse in some way that I can’t pass up the opportunity to promote the story and author. To Be Honest falls into that last category, and as soon as I heard about this book, I knew I absolutely had to get my hands on it.
To Be Honest is an own-voice story about a fat girl named Savannah, who’s learned to love her body regardless of its size. Fat rep is not something we see often in stories, but it’s slowly becoming a little more common, and I think that’s so important, because we’re finally getting to see in YA books that, just because a character is plus-size, doesn’t mean they’re a villain, or a slob, or a bad person.
Not only does Savvy deal with her weight and the way the world interacts with her, she also has a very toxic home life with a mother who, ever since going on a fad weight loss reality television show, has brought home an obsession with fitness that has reached an unhealthy level. She starts off by promoting a balanced diet and exercise, but it gradually ramps up until she’s trying to coerce Savannah into disordered eating habits. The entire issue stems from something that fat people are very familiar with, something we call “concern trolling”, which is where a person uses the guise of health concerns to harass, belittle, and/or mock overweight people.
It’s not only crucial that Savannah breaks down why her mother’s actions are harmful, but also that it comes from her mother in the first place. A lot of people will say that “concern trolling” comes from their own family members most often. Not only can it cause some pretty hurtful effects, but it rarely works, instead making people feel discouraged, self-conscious, and attacked.
Savannah has some incredible quotes here and there as she talks about how she has grown to love her body, even if she still has her moments of self-consciousness. We get to see firsthand that being plus-size doesn’t make her unhealthy, but that she also doesn’t have to obsess over weight loss and eat nothing but salads to deserve the basic air she breathes. She’s so empowering, and every time she ranted or went on a tangent, all I could think about was how much a younger Destiny needed stories like this, instead of cruelty from extended family members and crash diets that let to eating disorders. I want to put this book in the hands of every young girl, regardless of size, as we can all use a friendly reminder that we deserve to love our bodies and the amazing things they do for us.
Savannah’s story isn’t all about her weight or her strained relationship with her mother; it’s also about her sister Ashley (her best friend, who happens to be queer and proud), her friend Grace and Grace’s cousin George (who both are Colombian), and how the three of them help Savvy not only with life in general, but with her anxiety disorder, too. As someone who also has severe anxiety, I thought the representation of Savannah’s symptoms and panic attacks was done so well, and I loved that her loved ones never treated her like a burden or as though she could just turn off her anxiety. There’s also a really fun underlying story arc as Savvy and Grace, as school journalists, investigate some unfairness between the boys’ and girls’ sports teams.
Finally, there’s the romance, which was absolutely adorable. I don’t want to get too personal (I think I’ve done that enough in this review already!), but the interactions between Savvy and George reminded me so much of myself and my partner when we first met! The friendship graduating into awkward, sweet flirting, and the fact that neither of them seem to be able to grasp how they landed the other—it’s so sweet and fluffy and cutesy, and I really enjoyed watching them come together.
To Be Honest was one of the cutest things I’ve read in ages. My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer, but I think that’s a pretty good “complaint” to have, since it just means I loved the story so much, I wanted even more of it. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a cute contemporary read, but especially to anyone who’s looking for a little body positivity in their life. Thank you so much, Maggie, for writing this story—it meant so much to me.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Swoon Reads for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“News flash: fat isn’t a bad word, Mom. It’s the twenty-first century. I have blue eyes. I have blond hair. I’m fat. Literally nothing about my life is changed because that word is associated with my physical appearance. I’m sorry that someone taught you to hate yourself because of your body somewhere along the way, but I’m not going to let you pull me down with you.”
To Be Honest is an own-voice story about a fat girl named Savannah, who’s learned to love her body regardless of its size. Fat rep is not something we see often in stories, but it’s slowly becoming a little more common, and I think that’s so important, because we’re finally getting to see in YA books that, just because a character is plus-size, doesn’t mean they’re a villain, or a slob, or a bad person.
How was I supposed to follow up to that? Say that the thinspirations around the house were good for everyone? That her tiny backhanded comments about my weight inspired me to become fit? All both of those things did was make me feel worse and completely discourage me.
Not only does Savvy deal with her weight and the way the world interacts with her, she also has a very toxic home life with a mother who, ever since going on a fad weight loss reality television show, has brought home an obsession with fitness that has reached an unhealthy level. She starts off by promoting a balanced diet and exercise, but it gradually ramps up until she’s trying to coerce Savannah into disordered eating habits. The entire issue stems from something that fat people are very familiar with, something we call “concern trolling”, which is where a person uses the guise of health concerns to harass, belittle, and/or mock overweight people.
“I know that parents shouldn’t be allowed to make their kids feel like shit unless they buy into their culty dogma.”
It’s not only crucial that Savannah breaks down why her mother’s actions are harmful, but also that it comes from her mother in the first place. A lot of people will say that “concern trolling” comes from their own family members most often. Not only can it cause some pretty hurtful effects, but it rarely works, instead making people feel discouraged, self-conscious, and attacked.
It took everything within me not to add some extra hashtags, like #LoveYourBody or #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies.
Savannah has some incredible quotes here and there as she talks about how she has grown to love her body, even if she still has her moments of self-consciousness. We get to see firsthand that being plus-size doesn’t make her unhealthy, but that she also doesn’t have to obsess over weight loss and eat nothing but salads to deserve the basic air she breathes. She’s so empowering, and every time she ranted or went on a tangent, all I could think about was how much a younger Destiny needed stories like this, instead of cruelty from extended family members and crash diets that let to eating disorders. I want to put this book in the hands of every young girl, regardless of size, as we can all use a friendly reminder that we deserve to love our bodies and the amazing things they do for us.
This was why I very rarely hung out with new people—their unknown reactions made me more nervous than it was worth most of the time.
Savannah’s story isn’t all about her weight or her strained relationship with her mother; it’s also about her sister Ashley (her best friend, who happens to be queer and proud), her friend Grace and Grace’s cousin George (who both are Colombian), and how the three of them help Savvy not only with life in general, but with her anxiety disorder, too. As someone who also has severe anxiety, I thought the representation of Savannah’s symptoms and panic attacks was done so well, and I loved that her loved ones never treated her like a burden or as though she could just turn off her anxiety. There’s also a really fun underlying story arc as Savvy and Grace, as school journalists, investigate some unfairness between the boys’ and girls’ sports teams.
Of course he wasn’t interested in me. He was adorable, charming, and actually nice. I was a sometimes-mean and generally unagreeable chubby girl.
Finally, there’s the romance, which was absolutely adorable. I don’t want to get too personal (I think I’ve done that enough in this review already!), but the interactions between Savvy and George reminded me so much of myself and my partner when we first met! The friendship graduating into awkward, sweet flirting, and the fact that neither of them seem to be able to grasp how they landed the other—it’s so sweet and fluffy and cutesy, and I really enjoyed watching them come together.
I blushed a deep red all over. “Can I appoint you as my official hype man?”
To Be Honest was one of the cutest things I’ve read in ages. My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer, but I think that’s a pretty good “complaint” to have, since it just means I loved the story so much, I wanted even more of it. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a cute contemporary read, but especially to anyone who’s looking for a little body positivity in their life. Thank you so much, Maggie, for writing this story—it meant so much to me.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Swoon Reads for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 16, 2018
So much about this book hit me SO close to home, but not in the ways that I was expecting! The main plot of this one and the romance are honestly pretty average, but I ended up LOVING it because of the realness of the relationship between Sav and her mom. Their relationship in this mirrored my relationship with my own mother to a T and it was honestly a little jarring. Such an odd reading experience for me, but I definitely recommend checking this one out when it releases later this year!
I received an early ARC copy of this at YallWest; it releases publicly in August!
I received an early ARC copy of this at YallWest; it releases publicly in August!
September 8, 2018
4 stars!!
I’ve been in a huge YA mood lately, and To Be Honest really hit the spot. I listened to the audio book and the narrator was great. She voiced Savannah perfectly. Savannah is a normal teen. She’s a little overweight, but it’s never bothered her. That is, until her mother went on a reality show for weight loss and everything changed in her house. Now, she’s being pressured constantly to eat a certain way. What I loved most about Savvy is that she could see beyond that and was able to stand up to her mom.
I’ve been in a huge YA mood lately, and To Be Honest really hit the spot. I listened to the audio book and the narrator was great. She voiced Savannah perfectly. Savannah is a normal teen. She’s a little overweight, but it’s never bothered her. That is, until her mother went on a reality show for weight loss and everything changed in her house. Now, she’s being pressured constantly to eat a certain way. What I loved most about Savvy is that she could see beyond that and was able to stand up to her mom.
“News flash: fat isn’t a bad word, Mom. It’s the twenty-first century. I have blue eyes. I have blond hair. I’m fat. Literally nothing about my life is changed because that word is associated with my physical appearance. I’m sorry that someone taught you to hate yourself because of your body somewhere along the way, but I’m not going to let you pull me down with you.”I also loved the friendship aspect of this book. Grace was the best best friend and she and Savvy’s relationship was great. Also, Savvy’s relationship with her sister, Ashley was great. The romantic aspect of the story wasn’t the biggest part of the book, but GEORGE. Sigh. I adored George. I really liked how this one turned out. Overall, a fantastic YA book I would highly recommend.
February 13, 2023
“I’ve never seen so much chevron in my life.” What an awesome way to start! I LOVED Savannah, her determination, her positive body image, her bond with her sister and arguments with her mom over *her* negative body image. This book confronted so many issues, from sexism in the school system, to bribery and recruiting, eating disorders, family dysfunction, and had cute scenes as well, as a newspaper nerd falls for a band geek (the clarinet scene was super cute.) Loved every minute of this one.
October 13, 2018
The story was a bit simple for my taste BUT I read this for the fat rep, which I thought was great. The rep is necessary, but it could be triggering because the main character faces a lot of abusive fat-shaming from her mom, who has an eating disorder. Her weight had no role in the rest of the story or in any of the other relationships. Though there is a romance, there wasn't the 'getting a boyfriend made me finally like my body' trope.
In addition to the fat rep, the main character has anxiety. Parts of how she handles crushes and her anxiety were reminiscent of The Upside of Unrequited, so if you were a fan of that book I would definitely recommend checking this one out as well!
In addition to the fat rep, the main character has anxiety. Parts of how she handles crushes and her anxiety were reminiscent of The Upside of Unrequited, so if you were a fan of that book I would definitely recommend checking this one out as well!
January 16, 2019
To Be Honest, this is one of the top three best YA contemporaries I've ever read.
See what I did there?
I have never read a book about a plus-size protagonist who didn't want to lose weight, nor has the story line ever involved anything other than the protagonist being fat. It was so freaking refreshing to read about Savannah, who is totally happy with her body the way it is. And what's even better is that this book isn't about Savannah being fat. Instead, it's about a toxic mother-daughter relationship, a high school romance, and an awesome take down of misogynistic gym teacher! Wow! It's like a plus size character was actually allowed to have a regular story without their weight defining them. What a concept!
Also, anxiety rep! In high school and my early twenties, (along with major body image issues) I suffered from debilitating panic attacks that made me feel crazy and incredibly alone. It would have been so amazing to read something like this when I was younger. Unfortunately, anxiety just wasn't talked about then, (and thin was in!) but I am so thankful that it is being talked about now, and that young people now hopefully won't feel so desolate or ostracized.
Savannah is such a wonderful character. She is happy, friendly, funny, and smart. I am OVER the sarcastic, sassy, closed-off girls that are rampant in YA. I want to read about someone that I would actually be friends with! And I want girls to know that they are free to be fun and silly and people will like them! You don't need to be sullen or fluent in biting sarcasm to be interesting!
Mild spoilers ahead!
The only thing I'm disappointed about is George. I am so torn about George. On one hand he was such a great guy for the majority of the book; they had such an adorable friendship and I'm thrilled that they were able to have a sweet high school romance without necessarily defining their relationship and having it overshadow Savannah's excitement for attending university in the fall.
On the other hand I think Savannah deserved way better than a guy who ended up being afraid of his feelings for her. The scene that took place after he bailed on homecoming where he tells her how he's "never felt this way about anyone before" did not impress me. Savannah is freaking awesome and she put her feelings on the line and he really let her down. I think it's a bad cop out that a lot of guys use, and while in the end George was sincere, he still made her feel like he was playing around with her feelings and that is never okay.
The bottom line is, this is a fantastic, diverse, and adorable book and if you like YA contemporaries, you should definitely read this one.
See what I did there?
I have never read a book about a plus-size protagonist who didn't want to lose weight, nor has the story line ever involved anything other than the protagonist being fat. It was so freaking refreshing to read about Savannah, who is totally happy with her body the way it is. And what's even better is that this book isn't about Savannah being fat. Instead, it's about a toxic mother-daughter relationship, a high school romance, and an awesome take down of misogynistic gym teacher! Wow! It's like a plus size character was actually allowed to have a regular story without their weight defining them. What a concept!
Also, anxiety rep! In high school and my early twenties, (along with major body image issues) I suffered from debilitating panic attacks that made me feel crazy and incredibly alone. It would have been so amazing to read something like this when I was younger. Unfortunately, anxiety just wasn't talked about then, (and thin was in!) but I am so thankful that it is being talked about now, and that young people now hopefully won't feel so desolate or ostracized.
Savannah is such a wonderful character. She is happy, friendly, funny, and smart. I am OVER the sarcastic, sassy, closed-off girls that are rampant in YA. I want to read about someone that I would actually be friends with! And I want girls to know that they are free to be fun and silly and people will like them! You don't need to be sullen or fluent in biting sarcasm to be interesting!
Mild spoilers ahead!
The only thing I'm disappointed about is George. I am so torn about George. On one hand he was such a great guy for the majority of the book; they had such an adorable friendship and I'm thrilled that they were able to have a sweet high school romance without necessarily defining their relationship and having it overshadow Savannah's excitement for attending university in the fall.
On the other hand I think Savannah deserved way better than a guy who ended up being afraid of his feelings for her. The scene that took place after he bailed on homecoming where he tells her how he's "never felt this way about anyone before" did not impress me. Savannah is freaking awesome and she put her feelings on the line and he really let her down. I think it's a bad cop out that a lot of guys use, and while in the end George was sincere, he still made her feel like he was playing around with her feelings and that is never okay.
The bottom line is, this is a fantastic, diverse, and adorable book and if you like YA contemporaries, you should definitely read this one.
March 5, 2019
“It was one of those disappointments that confirmed your every fear that you'd somehow kept at bay with the tiniest sliver of hope.”
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Fat Shaming (challenged), Neglect, Verbally Abusive Parents, Mental Illness, Panic Attacks and Eating Disorders.
OMG do we have actual good fat rep?!?! Even a model on the cover who is a beautiful fat model! I'm in heaven! Thank you to the book gods for making this happen! I wish I had this type of novel when I was younger.
I'm always saying I don't really enjoy fluffy contemporary but I really should retract that and say that I don't enjoy fluffy contemporary that is straight, pretty white kids with zero rep of any kind. I just don't relate at all and never would have. I do love diverse or geeky contemporary a lot though and this was such a pleasure to read. It also was a little more hard hitting in parts, so not completely fluff.
I have to start off by talking about the HEALTHY fat rep of of main character Savannah. I know having a fat girl on the cover on a book that isn't called something like "Fat Girl on a Plane" or "Blubber" meant so much to so many people. Me included. Btw, not shading those books - it's just hard being a fat girl and all the books that include you having an embarrassing title. At least that is how I feel. I hope we see a lot more healthy representation like this on covers.
Our main girl, Savannah is dealing with a mother, who recently divorced, became obsessed with losing weight and was a weight loss show and now is a poster child for it. Savannah and her mother have a very strained relationship at best and her sister, Ashley (whom she is very close to) is moving away to college - which means she will have to deal with her mother's obsessive ways by herself. This what the story focuses around the most - her family and coping with all the new changes and challenges. She does have a few other things going on though, such as a new boy taking interest in her and doing an expose piece on the boys sports team with her best friend Grace.
I really loved all the female relationships in this book. She has such a lovely and healthy relationship with her sister and her best friend. Both are supportive and loving and even when they have an argument it's not the end of the world and they figure it out. In YA novels, we see too many poor examples being shown of strong, healthy female friendships. Women are usually pitted against each other and competitive, this is not the case at all in the book. It gives me the warm and fuzzies just thinking about it - please give us more of this! This is what we should be showing young people as the standard, not the exception.
I found the story line with her mom a very difficult relationship to read about. I think many young girls will likely relate to this one. Savannah's mother is becoming quickly more and more obsessed with weight and healthy foods. She doesn't flat out call Savannah names but she makes a lot of remarks to her about her weight and getting healthier. Thankfully Savannah is very confident in herself and doesn't feel bad about her body but it still hurts her to have her mother say things, particularly in front of her friends. As the obsession gets worse, we can see that Savannah's mother is becoming increasing erratic and unhealthy. It's hard to watch from all angles and really spotlights the pressures women are put under about their appearance.
Savannah does catch the attention of a new boy, Charlie, and he seems pretty interested in her right from the start but she is worried that she is reading his signals wrong and he likely sees her as just a friend because of rejection she has experienced in the past. This one hit home, I struggled with my weight off and on for years as a younger person and whenever anyone showed interest in me I would always question it because it seemed like it couldn't be possible that someone might be attracted to me when I wasn't a size 2 like my friends. I think this a pretty common inner dialogue for women regardless of size, so that felt very genuine. I liked their relationship at the beginning, it was really sweet and they were both kind of cute oddballs. I was def digging it. However, Charlie kind of dicked her around a lot because of his own insecurities and kept hurting her because of it and I had a hard time rooting for this couple in the end. I guess I just didn't think his reasons were good enough but I feel fairly protective of Savannah, so maybe I'm just being too hard on him.
We also get some very accurate anxiety and panic attack rep in this book. I see panic attacks constantly shown as something you can push through or choose when to control them. For anyone that has ever had a real panic attack (which is completely different from an anxiety attack) knows that this is a huge joke and the book gives us perfect examples of how scary and also humiliating it can be to suffer from these attacks. When Savannah gets hit with them there is nothing she can do but go through it - as messy as it is. Yes, it makes a scene and people stare but that is what happens and I really loved how it was handled in this book.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and if you are looking for some great fat and mental health rep, you've got it in spades here. I'll definitely be checking out the next book by this author.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Fat Shaming (challenged), Neglect, Verbally Abusive Parents, Mental Illness, Panic Attacks and Eating Disorders.
OMG do we have actual good fat rep?!?! Even a model on the cover who is a beautiful fat model! I'm in heaven! Thank you to the book gods for making this happen! I wish I had this type of novel when I was younger.
I'm always saying I don't really enjoy fluffy contemporary but I really should retract that and say that I don't enjoy fluffy contemporary that is straight, pretty white kids with zero rep of any kind. I just don't relate at all and never would have. I do love diverse or geeky contemporary a lot though and this was such a pleasure to read. It also was a little more hard hitting in parts, so not completely fluff.
I have to start off by talking about the HEALTHY fat rep of of main character Savannah. I know having a fat girl on the cover on a book that isn't called something like "Fat Girl on a Plane" or "Blubber" meant so much to so many people. Me included. Btw, not shading those books - it's just hard being a fat girl and all the books that include you having an embarrassing title. At least that is how I feel. I hope we see a lot more healthy representation like this on covers.
Our main girl, Savannah is dealing with a mother, who recently divorced, became obsessed with losing weight and was a weight loss show and now is a poster child for it. Savannah and her mother have a very strained relationship at best and her sister, Ashley (whom she is very close to) is moving away to college - which means she will have to deal with her mother's obsessive ways by herself. This what the story focuses around the most - her family and coping with all the new changes and challenges. She does have a few other things going on though, such as a new boy taking interest in her and doing an expose piece on the boys sports team with her best friend Grace.
I really loved all the female relationships in this book. She has such a lovely and healthy relationship with her sister and her best friend. Both are supportive and loving and even when they have an argument it's not the end of the world and they figure it out. In YA novels, we see too many poor examples being shown of strong, healthy female friendships. Women are usually pitted against each other and competitive, this is not the case at all in the book. It gives me the warm and fuzzies just thinking about it - please give us more of this! This is what we should be showing young people as the standard, not the exception.
I found the story line with her mom a very difficult relationship to read about. I think many young girls will likely relate to this one. Savannah's mother is becoming quickly more and more obsessed with weight and healthy foods. She doesn't flat out call Savannah names but she makes a lot of remarks to her about her weight and getting healthier. Thankfully Savannah is very confident in herself and doesn't feel bad about her body but it still hurts her to have her mother say things, particularly in front of her friends. As the obsession gets worse, we can see that Savannah's mother is becoming increasing erratic and unhealthy. It's hard to watch from all angles and really spotlights the pressures women are put under about their appearance.
Savannah does catch the attention of a new boy, Charlie, and he seems pretty interested in her right from the start but she is worried that she is reading his signals wrong and he likely sees her as just a friend because of rejection she has experienced in the past. This one hit home, I struggled with my weight off and on for years as a younger person and whenever anyone showed interest in me I would always question it because it seemed like it couldn't be possible that someone might be attracted to me when I wasn't a size 2 like my friends. I think this a pretty common inner dialogue for women regardless of size, so that felt very genuine. I liked their relationship at the beginning, it was really sweet and they were both kind of cute oddballs. I was def digging it. However, Charlie kind of dicked her around a lot because of his own insecurities and kept hurting her because of it and I had a hard time rooting for this couple in the end. I guess I just didn't think his reasons were good enough but I feel fairly protective of Savannah, so maybe I'm just being too hard on him.
We also get some very accurate anxiety and panic attack rep in this book. I see panic attacks constantly shown as something you can push through or choose when to control them. For anyone that has ever had a real panic attack (which is completely different from an anxiety attack) knows that this is a huge joke and the book gives us perfect examples of how scary and also humiliating it can be to suffer from these attacks. When Savannah gets hit with them there is nothing she can do but go through it - as messy as it is. Yes, it makes a scene and people stare but that is what happens and I really loved how it was handled in this book.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and if you are looking for some great fat and mental health rep, you've got it in spades here. I'll definitely be checking out the next book by this author.
August 23, 2018
Actual Rating 4.5
I would like to thank Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley and Maggie Ann Martin for the digital arc in exchange for an honest Review!
I didn’t expect that I thought this book will revolve around body shaming, It was but equally with other elements.
What wasn’t there? Close bonding of sisters? Body-shaming? Best friends? Anxiety? Romance? Complex relationship with parents? Everything was there.
I like the cover, It was vibrant.
The friendship between Savannah and Grace is so precious.
Savannah, Who owns her body with pride, she is so comfortable in her skin and frim in her believes, She has issues but facing challenges with high chin is not on of these.
Romance is part of the story, but the story doesn’t rely on it, It mainly moved around relations and hardships of a family.
I like the chemistry between George and Savannah, It was cute and the thing I like most is after their meetup, Savannah didn’t just ignore school stuff, which mostly happens in YA when MCs met each other school or college just become part of the background.
Her mother’s character is complex but written so well, Sometimes I pity her, Sometimes I feel her but mostly I hated her.
Her father was the worst character for me, He was simply mean and selfish, I know he has his own reasons but that didn’t convince me.
The thing I didn’t like was the last scenes of Savannah and George, I wasn’t convinced.
Overall I really enjoyed the book.
I would like to thank Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley and Maggie Ann Martin for the digital arc in exchange for an honest Review!
I didn’t expect that I thought this book will revolve around body shaming, It was but equally with other elements.
What wasn’t there? Close bonding of sisters? Body-shaming? Best friends? Anxiety? Romance? Complex relationship with parents? Everything was there.
I like the cover, It was vibrant.
The friendship between Savannah and Grace is so precious.
Savannah, Who owns her body with pride, she is so comfortable in her skin and frim in her believes, She has issues but facing challenges with high chin is not on of these.
Romance is part of the story, but the story doesn’t rely on it, It mainly moved around relations and hardships of a family.
I like the chemistry between George and Savannah, It was cute and the thing I like most is after their meetup, Savannah didn’t just ignore school stuff, which mostly happens in YA when MCs met each other school or college just become part of the background.
Her mother’s character is complex but written so well, Sometimes I pity her, Sometimes I feel her but mostly I hated her.
Her father was the worst character for me, He was simply mean and selfish, I know he has his own reasons but that didn’t convince me.
The thing I didn’t like was the last scenes of Savannah and George, I wasn’t convinced.
Overall I really enjoyed the book.
August 19, 2018
Firstly, let me thank Goodreads and Fierce Reads for sending me this ARC! This cover is gorgeous.
"News flash: fat isn’t a bad word, Mom."
Savannah is fed up. You know those diet shows where people spend several weeks locked away from their families getting yelled at by trainers and mocked because they like doughnuts? Yeah, her mom was on that show and is exacting everything she’s learned on Savannah.
This, coupled with Savvy’s big sister Ashley headed off to college, she has had enough.
This book, to me, was very much about being fat, body image, self-love, anxiety, and how all of it plays into a person’s self-worth. And it all felt very authentic.
I really loved Savannah. She is fat and she’s okay with it, but she understands what being fat means about how she’s perceived. Savannah’s mother is another key figure in this book; a woman once fat, this book establishes through her story that a number lowering on a scale doesn’t correlate with learning to love yourself.
"I’m sorry that someone taught you to hate yourself because of your body somewhere along the way, but I’m not going to let you pull me down with you."
Secondary to the conversation about weight is anxiety and how it can play in to our fears about who we are and how the world looks at us.
It was nice to see a character having panic attacks on the page. It was nice to see a character push others away out of fear. It was nice to see a character compare herself to others around her. It was nice to see a character build their own lives around another because being with someone you trust means you’re safe. These are all things that I’ve personally experienced and they made this book feel very real to me.
A couple of notes: the romance was very cute, but not the most powerful element of the book. Savvy’s sister is gay and her best friend is Columbian. These were nice additions, but these characters weren’t really explored in a way that makes me feel comfortable in suggesting that it’s “rep”.
Ultimately, a very good contemporary that felt personal and real to me.
---
"You are one of our Giveaways lucky winners! You will soon receive a free copy of To Be Honest in the mail.
Oh my god, I won my first Goodreads giveaway!!!"
"News flash: fat isn’t a bad word, Mom."
Savannah is fed up. You know those diet shows where people spend several weeks locked away from their families getting yelled at by trainers and mocked because they like doughnuts? Yeah, her mom was on that show and is exacting everything she’s learned on Savannah.
This, coupled with Savvy’s big sister Ashley headed off to college, she has had enough.
This book, to me, was very much about being fat, body image, self-love, anxiety, and how all of it plays into a person’s self-worth. And it all felt very authentic.
I really loved Savannah. She is fat and she’s okay with it, but she understands what being fat means about how she’s perceived. Savannah’s mother is another key figure in this book; a woman once fat, this book establishes through her story that a number lowering on a scale doesn’t correlate with learning to love yourself.
"I’m sorry that someone taught you to hate yourself because of your body somewhere along the way, but I’m not going to let you pull me down with you."
Secondary to the conversation about weight is anxiety and how it can play in to our fears about who we are and how the world looks at us.
It was nice to see a character having panic attacks on the page. It was nice to see a character push others away out of fear. It was nice to see a character compare herself to others around her. It was nice to see a character build their own lives around another because being with someone you trust means you’re safe. These are all things that I’ve personally experienced and they made this book feel very real to me.
A couple of notes: the romance was very cute, but not the most powerful element of the book. Savvy’s sister is gay and her best friend is Columbian. These were nice additions, but these characters weren’t really explored in a way that makes me feel comfortable in suggesting that it’s “rep”.
Ultimately, a very good contemporary that felt personal and real to me.
---
"You are one of our Giveaways lucky winners! You will soon receive a free copy of To Be Honest in the mail.
Oh my god, I won my first Goodreads giveaway!!!"
January 5, 2020
"I'm sorry that someone taught you to hate yourself because of your body somewhere along the way, but I'm not going to let you pull me down with you."
To Be Honest is the kind of book I needed to read at this moment, but missing a lot to reach the potential it had.
This book was fun, fast-paced. The main character had different sides and aspects to her, which was a relief as I thought she could end up being quite one-dimensional.
But while I did enjoy this, it was a good time and I don't regret reading, this book tried to do a lot while not achieving as much as it should.
It had a lot of side plots going on, most if not all of them highly underdeveloped because there was just not enough time spent in each one of them. This made the book lose depth, and it needed it as it was touching a lot of different sensitive subjects.
I think one of my main issues was that I wish it just spent more time tackling family issues and fatphobia and eating disorders. At a certain point, it was on the right track, but again, because it had too much going on nearing the end it just lost all the punch it was packing because was so fast.
How things were handled and ended also made the book really unrealistic for most of it.
I wanted more of Savannah and her mother, this was the most interesting part of the book and yet at one point, there was more romance drama than touching what mattered the most.
Speaking of romance, while at first, I was loving it, all the unnecessary drama made the romance lose a lot of its appeal which was quite sad.
I know all of this made the book sound bad but isn't. I just needed more. I still recommend, it's fast and was an interesting read.
To Be Honest is the kind of book I needed to read at this moment, but missing a lot to reach the potential it had.
This book was fun, fast-paced. The main character had different sides and aspects to her, which was a relief as I thought she could end up being quite one-dimensional.
But while I did enjoy this, it was a good time and I don't regret reading, this book tried to do a lot while not achieving as much as it should.
It had a lot of side plots going on, most if not all of them highly underdeveloped because there was just not enough time spent in each one of them. This made the book lose depth, and it needed it as it was touching a lot of different sensitive subjects.
I think one of my main issues was that I wish it just spent more time tackling family issues and fatphobia and eating disorders. At a certain point, it was on the right track, but again, because it had too much going on nearing the end it just lost all the punch it was packing because was so fast.
How things were handled and ended also made the book really unrealistic for most of it.
I wanted more of Savannah and her mother, this was the most interesting part of the book and yet at one point, there was more romance drama than touching what mattered the most.
Speaking of romance, while at first, I was loving it, all the unnecessary drama made the romance lose a lot of its appeal which was quite sad.
I know all of this made the book sound bad but isn't. I just needed more. I still recommend, it's fast and was an interesting read.
August 22, 2018
this was powerful.
i may write a full review but i honestly don’t think i could do this justice tbh
i may write a full review but i honestly don’t think i could do this justice tbh
August 20, 2018
ARC provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
FULL REVIEW MAY ALSO BE VIEWED ON LAIR OF BOOKS
🖤 Thank you Swoon Reads for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review 🖤
PLOT
We meet Savvy as she and her mom are taking her sister Ashley to her dorm in college & there are a lot of feelings from the start. Savvy does struggle with anxiety & having such a tight bond with her older sister made separating all the harder. Besides not having her very best friend around anymore, she also has to deal with a difficult, strained, and just plain toxic relationship with her mother. Savvy’s mom went through a life changing event after her husband/Savvy’s dad cheated on her with her best friend. Her mom won a spot on a weight loss TV show & was flown across the country for intense weight loss training. Upon her return, her whole outlook on weight was toxic and Savvy was unfortunately the person she affected most. We see Savvy miss the relationship she used to have with her mother prior to the drastic weight loss. Savvy is vocal with her thoughts on the unhealthy weight loss these TV shows promote which causes her to butt heads more often with her mom.
“It took everything within me not to add some extra hashtags, like #LoveYourBody or #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies. I walked such a fine line with her because, yes, she was my mom, but I also did not agree with her views on her body and my body, for that matter”
That being said, Savvy really does love her mom & since it’s just the two of them home now, she tries her hardest to not cause friction or let her mom’s comments get to her. We follow their relationship & the very real fights that take place leading to days of silence. Maggie Ann Martin also did a A+ job of showing us Savvy’s mom & her battle with body image. I felt terrible for her mom because you know she’s a good mom but life’s curve ball really threw her off & her self esteem really took a hit. I wanted so badly to see her mom get the help she so desperately needed & be a positive role model for Savvy.
Savvy is in High School & we also get to follow her life outside her home which balances out against her home life. Savvy has an amazing best friend who she enjoys spending time with. She’s also a math tutor on the side but her real passion is journalism. There’s a a really caring teacher who encourages her not to drop out of working on the school’s paper & it leads to the sub-plot of this book. We see Savvy uncovering some under the table dealings with one of the athletic departments. We also see her tutoring turn into something more than & I cannot tell you the number of times I found myself smiling for Savvy
CHARACTERS
Savvy- Our MC stole my heart! she’s her own level of cool & doesn’t even realize it. Savvy is fat, tall, blue eyed and blonde with no interest in losing weight in the same unhealthy manner her mother has. She definitely has her inner monologue of self doubt running in the background but she knows that to love her is to love ALL of her & nothing less will do! This made her all the more relatable cause we all have those moments of self doubt but to see her love the skin she’s in meant everything to me. Savvy is also very funny, knows all the lyrics to every Eminem song, and is a math wiz even though she’d much rather be writing to make a difference in the world of journalism.
Ashley- aka Big Sis, I LOOOOVE the sibling relationship between Savvy & Ashley who is now in college & trying to be there for Savvy even while college life is taking place. Ashley is described as being tall, slender, and a beauty by Savvy herself but never does Ashley make Savvy feel anything less than a beauty herself. Ashley is Lesbian & seeing Savvy encourage her to show interest in her college crush was the sweetest!
Grace- Savvy’s best friend & partner in crime when it comes to journalism. Grace is Colombian & part of a BIG family who has welcomed Savvy into their circle whole heartedly. What I loved MOST about Grace is how supportive & in tune she is with Savvy when it came to her anxiety/panic attacks and general discomfort. She also isn’t afraid to give it to Savvy straight when she sees her bestie self sabotaging her own chances. Grace legit got Bestie Award Of The Year from me at the very end when they went shopping for Homecoming dresses…
George- The love interest here who also happens to be Grace’s cousin. I knew this guy was going to be a favorite of mine the minute he corrected Savvy for thinking he wasn’t part of the family based on his more Caucasian appearance. George is also blonde, tall, and slender and very much Colombian. George is tutored by Savvy in math & all throughout we see him take a real interest in Savvy. Legit I wish I had a George in my life at 17
WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS
To Be Honest (see what I did there? HAHA!) this book hit very close to home, I wasn’t expecting it to stir the feelings that it did in me but by the end I was left asking where was this book when I needed it MOST?!?! growing up as a plus sized gal myself. This book introduced me to Savvy, a fat MC who isn’t fiercely confident in the skin she’s in but she isn’t NOT confident either if that makes any sense. Well it did to me since this was the attitude I adopted in High School, I was Savvy & the things she experiences in this book with her mother and even in her love life, are things that feel all too familiar to me as a grown woman looking back. I wish this book had existed back when I found myself in a toxic home & turned to books as a way of comfort. Within these pages I see strength & courage for those who just want to love themselves but keep getting dissuaded at every turn. I see a MC who although she battles internally with what others may think…knows that she won’t allow anyone to love her any less. This book handled a variety of topics well, body image & mental health being at the forefront. I couldn’t have chosen a better time to read this book as I am currently on my own personal weight loss journey. This book lifted my spirits & reinforced my confidence in my own path to healthy.
FULL REVIEW MAY ALSO BE VIEWED ON LAIR OF BOOKS
🖤 Thank you Swoon Reads for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review 🖤
PLOT
We meet Savvy as she and her mom are taking her sister Ashley to her dorm in college & there are a lot of feelings from the start. Savvy does struggle with anxiety & having such a tight bond with her older sister made separating all the harder. Besides not having her very best friend around anymore, she also has to deal with a difficult, strained, and just plain toxic relationship with her mother. Savvy’s mom went through a life changing event after her husband/Savvy’s dad cheated on her with her best friend. Her mom won a spot on a weight loss TV show & was flown across the country for intense weight loss training. Upon her return, her whole outlook on weight was toxic and Savvy was unfortunately the person she affected most. We see Savvy miss the relationship she used to have with her mother prior to the drastic weight loss. Savvy is vocal with her thoughts on the unhealthy weight loss these TV shows promote which causes her to butt heads more often with her mom.
“It took everything within me not to add some extra hashtags, like #LoveYourBody or #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies. I walked such a fine line with her because, yes, she was my mom, but I also did not agree with her views on her body and my body, for that matter”
That being said, Savvy really does love her mom & since it’s just the two of them home now, she tries her hardest to not cause friction or let her mom’s comments get to her. We follow their relationship & the very real fights that take place leading to days of silence. Maggie Ann Martin also did a A+ job of showing us Savvy’s mom & her battle with body image. I felt terrible for her mom because you know she’s a good mom but life’s curve ball really threw her off & her self esteem really took a hit. I wanted so badly to see her mom get the help she so desperately needed & be a positive role model for Savvy.
Savvy is in High School & we also get to follow her life outside her home which balances out against her home life. Savvy has an amazing best friend who she enjoys spending time with. She’s also a math tutor on the side but her real passion is journalism. There’s a a really caring teacher who encourages her not to drop out of working on the school’s paper & it leads to the sub-plot of this book. We see Savvy uncovering some under the table dealings with one of the athletic departments. We also see her tutoring turn into something more than & I cannot tell you the number of times I found myself smiling for Savvy
CHARACTERS
Savvy- Our MC stole my heart! she’s her own level of cool & doesn’t even realize it. Savvy is fat, tall, blue eyed and blonde with no interest in losing weight in the same unhealthy manner her mother has. She definitely has her inner monologue of self doubt running in the background but she knows that to love her is to love ALL of her & nothing less will do! This made her all the more relatable cause we all have those moments of self doubt but to see her love the skin she’s in meant everything to me. Savvy is also very funny, knows all the lyrics to every Eminem song, and is a math wiz even though she’d much rather be writing to make a difference in the world of journalism.
Ashley- aka Big Sis, I LOOOOVE the sibling relationship between Savvy & Ashley who is now in college & trying to be there for Savvy even while college life is taking place. Ashley is described as being tall, slender, and a beauty by Savvy herself but never does Ashley make Savvy feel anything less than a beauty herself. Ashley is Lesbian & seeing Savvy encourage her to show interest in her college crush was the sweetest!
Grace- Savvy’s best friend & partner in crime when it comes to journalism. Grace is Colombian & part of a BIG family who has welcomed Savvy into their circle whole heartedly. What I loved MOST about Grace is how supportive & in tune she is with Savvy when it came to her anxiety/panic attacks and general discomfort. She also isn’t afraid to give it to Savvy straight when she sees her bestie self sabotaging her own chances. Grace legit got Bestie Award Of The Year from me at the very end when they went shopping for Homecoming dresses…
George- The love interest here who also happens to be Grace’s cousin. I knew this guy was going to be a favorite of mine the minute he corrected Savvy for thinking he wasn’t part of the family based on his more Caucasian appearance. George is also blonde, tall, and slender and very much Colombian. George is tutored by Savvy in math & all throughout we see him take a real interest in Savvy. Legit I wish I had a George in my life at 17
WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS
To Be Honest (see what I did there? HAHA!) this book hit very close to home, I wasn’t expecting it to stir the feelings that it did in me but by the end I was left asking where was this book when I needed it MOST?!?! growing up as a plus sized gal myself. This book introduced me to Savvy, a fat MC who isn’t fiercely confident in the skin she’s in but she isn’t NOT confident either if that makes any sense. Well it did to me since this was the attitude I adopted in High School, I was Savvy & the things she experiences in this book with her mother and even in her love life, are things that feel all too familiar to me as a grown woman looking back. I wish this book had existed back when I found myself in a toxic home & turned to books as a way of comfort. Within these pages I see strength & courage for those who just want to love themselves but keep getting dissuaded at every turn. I see a MC who although she battles internally with what others may think…knows that she won’t allow anyone to love her any less. This book handled a variety of topics well, body image & mental health being at the forefront. I couldn’t have chosen a better time to read this book as I am currently on my own personal weight loss journey. This book lifted my spirits & reinforced my confidence in my own path to healthy.
April 16, 2019
“News flash: fat isn't a bad word, Mom.”When Savannah’s sister went off to college, she experienced a life-changing moment of her own. Having only Fiyero the monster poodle and her mom around, Savannah had to deal with her emotions and anxiety that was filled by her mom’s one-track mind to count calories and food restriction.
From her parents’ divorce to her mom joining a weight-loss reality TV show, Savannah felt her insecurities skyrocketed but I love how well she handled everything that has happened in her life. She’s funny, understanding and most of all accepts who she is—what body she has. Even if her mom says her otherwise, Savannah is confident enough and believes that beauty is not defined by weight or size but rather comes from loving herself first.
Having said that, Kim, Savannah’s mom, for me was the complete opposite. She chose to go through an unhealthy transformation, and who am I to judge? The very person, who should have been there for her, broke not only her heart but also her trust. But her lack of confidence was not mainly rooted with her ex-husband cheating on her but with how she was raised to hate herself. So, Kim tried to earn her validity by being something she was not and living a fake reality brought by the media.
On a positive note, I adore the relationship between Savannah and Ashley. They accept each other’s quirks and queer, and always have each other’s back no matter what. That same goes with Savannah’s friendship with Grace. I love the humor they brought in to the story because they totally complement each other.
And let’s not forget how Savannah meeting George, her best friend’s cousin and an absolutely talented saxophonist, gave a light and fuzzy spin into the story. The chemistry between them was 100% delightful. I love how they started off as friends like how real romance sparks and thankfully that family’s summer cookout with the Morenos happened. It was dreamy, sweet and feels like it’s truly meant to be for both of them.
Moreover, I love George’s character not because he’s nice, charming and kind but because he likes Savannah by simply being her true self without pretenses. This gives us the realization on how we could easily like a person base on their outward appearances but what’s far greater than that was how we truly know them and falling in love with someone for all the right reasons.
Unmistakably, this story brought a powerful and positive fat representation in YA that every one of us deserves to have. In an interview I did with Maggie Ann Martin, where she talks about body positivity and how this book hit very close to home for her, she clearly pointed out the issues we have today about perceived beauty and body image.
To Be Honest is a fun, breezy and affirming story about how you #LoveYourBody because #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies. From being fat to openly and happily living as gay, the story immensely surrounds itself with an attitude of acceptance and gave readers a strong message on self-love and importance.
“There’s no expiration date on acceptance.”Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillian Children’s Publishing Group – Swoon Reads, Xpresso Book Tours and Maggie Ann Martin for providing me an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Full Review at Tale Out Loud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
September 24, 2018
Thinking it over, overall I did enjoy the book but I wish some things had been elaborated on more . There were some great moments in this and the banter between the characters was lots of fun and I loved Savvy/Grace but sometimes it felt too... light.
When the book ended I had to blink a few times because I wasn't expecting it. I turned the page before the acknowledgements to be sure I hadn't missed anything. My brain's first thought "Oh, its over?"
Not saying this isn't worth the read, just saying it could have been better.
When the book ended I had to blink a few times because I wasn't expecting it. I turned the page before the acknowledgements to be sure I hadn't missed anything. My brain's first thought "Oh, its over?"
Not saying this isn't worth the read, just saying it could have been better.
August 19, 2018
This review originally appeared on Novel Ink.
*4.5 stars*
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content warnings: fatphobia (addressed); eating disorders
Wow, I enjoyed To Be Honest so much more than expected. This book had #ownvoices fat representation, excellent family dynamics, and a swoonworthy romance. It gave me everything I enjoy in a YA contemporary. Plus, it was thoughtfully done and deceptively deep, based on the brightly-colored cover.
I really enjoyed Savannah herself as a protagonist. I saw a lot of myself in her, both as a fat woman and just as a person. Her anxiety, her fears about the future, her love of school and her family… I just related to so much of her experience. Though she is plus-sized, she doesn’t hate her body or want to change it, and that isn’t her entire character.
Savannah’s relationship with her mother was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story. Her mom recently appeared on a weight loss reality TV show called Shake the Weight, and ever since has been obsessed with keeping off the weight she lost on the show (and also forcing her new beauty standards onto Savannah). Though, thankfully, my parents have never shamed me about my weight or tried to change me, I definitely felt for Savannah. It’s hard to exist as a larger person when you don’t hate your body, but it feels like everyone else does. Fatphobia is so ingrained in our culture, and this book touched on that in a big way. I love that, over the course of the story, Savannah was able to speak out against her mom and the offensive comments she made about both Savannah’s weight and her own. She stays true to who she is, even in the face of all of these hurtful criticisms from one of the people she loves most.
The book also focuses on Savannah’s relationship with her older sister, Ashley, who has just gone off to college. In her sister’s absence, Savannah is forced to learn to stick up for herself around her mom and to become more of her own person. This doesn’t make her relationship with her sister any less close or meaningful, but it shows a natural growth in her as a person. (Ashley is also queer, which, thought it doesn’t play any major part in the story, I loved.)
Also, THE ROMANCE. I loved it. Savannah and George’s banter was adorable, and I love that so much of their relationship was formed when Savannah tutored him in math (YAY for girls in STEM! and for boys who aren’t assholes about girls being better at them in STEM fields!). Plus, George was a band nerd. Be still, high-school-Madalyn’s heart. All of Savannah’s fear about entering into a relationship/developing a crush/etc. felt SO true to my own experiences.
Omg, and I can’t forget about the journalism side plot! Savannah and her best friend team up to investigate a scandal involving the old, misogynist baseball coach at their school for the school’s newspaper. Even though this plot was entirely unrelated to the rest of the story, I loved reading about it (and obviously, I loved seeing the douchebag of a baseball coach get his ass handed to him by two teenage girls).
Overall, To Be Honest ticked all the boxes for me. It’s a YA contemporary with great representation, adorable romances, and a lot of heart. I can’t recommend it highly enough to fellow contemp lovers.
*4.5 stars*
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content warnings: fatphobia (addressed); eating disorders
Wow, I enjoyed To Be Honest so much more than expected. This book had #ownvoices fat representation, excellent family dynamics, and a swoonworthy romance. It gave me everything I enjoy in a YA contemporary. Plus, it was thoughtfully done and deceptively deep, based on the brightly-colored cover.
I really enjoyed Savannah herself as a protagonist. I saw a lot of myself in her, both as a fat woman and just as a person. Her anxiety, her fears about the future, her love of school and her family… I just related to so much of her experience. Though she is plus-sized, she doesn’t hate her body or want to change it, and that isn’t her entire character.
Savannah’s relationship with her mother was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story. Her mom recently appeared on a weight loss reality TV show called Shake the Weight, and ever since has been obsessed with keeping off the weight she lost on the show (and also forcing her new beauty standards onto Savannah). Though, thankfully, my parents have never shamed me about my weight or tried to change me, I definitely felt for Savannah. It’s hard to exist as a larger person when you don’t hate your body, but it feels like everyone else does. Fatphobia is so ingrained in our culture, and this book touched on that in a big way. I love that, over the course of the story, Savannah was able to speak out against her mom and the offensive comments she made about both Savannah’s weight and her own. She stays true to who she is, even in the face of all of these hurtful criticisms from one of the people she loves most.
The book also focuses on Savannah’s relationship with her older sister, Ashley, who has just gone off to college. In her sister’s absence, Savannah is forced to learn to stick up for herself around her mom and to become more of her own person. This doesn’t make her relationship with her sister any less close or meaningful, but it shows a natural growth in her as a person. (Ashley is also queer, which, thought it doesn’t play any major part in the story, I loved.)
Also, THE ROMANCE. I loved it. Savannah and George’s banter was adorable, and I love that so much of their relationship was formed when Savannah tutored him in math (YAY for girls in STEM! and for boys who aren’t assholes about girls being better at them in STEM fields!). Plus, George was a band nerd. Be still, high-school-Madalyn’s heart. All of Savannah’s fear about entering into a relationship/developing a crush/etc. felt SO true to my own experiences.
Omg, and I can’t forget about the journalism side plot! Savannah and her best friend team up to investigate a scandal involving the old, misogynist baseball coach at their school for the school’s newspaper. Even though this plot was entirely unrelated to the rest of the story, I loved reading about it (and obviously, I loved seeing the douchebag of a baseball coach get his ass handed to him by two teenage girls).
Overall, To Be Honest ticked all the boxes for me. It’s a YA contemporary with great representation, adorable romances, and a lot of heart. I can’t recommend it highly enough to fellow contemp lovers.
December 30, 2018
It’s usually a good sign when you fly through a book in one sitting and that was definitely the case with To Be Honest. I devoured this book and enjoyed every moment.
The writing itself was a little on the simpler side for my personal reading tastes but that didn’t take away from how much I appreciated the fat representation in this book. It made me so incredibly happy to be able to follow a fat character who was not only body positive and not constantly putting herself down but had a story of her own and one that didn’t solely revolve around her weight.
Another element I throughly enjoyed were the multiple relationship dynamics. Whether it be a friendship, romance, sibling or parent child relationship, was intricate, raw, honest and wonderful to follow. I warmed to each character and emphasised with their stories and struggles, whilst equally squealing at their adorableness.
I adored the journalism side plot. It was so much fun to watch two badass, smart women following their passion and using it to take down and expose misogyny and injustice within the school system. I wish I’d had Savannah and Grace’s guts as a teen!
Although To Be Honest, was definitely light and fluffy at times, it had a depth to it and a heaviness I wasn’t expecting. Savannah faces a lot of fatphobia and body shaming from her mother, who is revealed to have an eating disorder. Although she’s not officially diagnosed until the end of the book, this is something that’s prevalent throughout. I’m mentioning it now as this is not stated in the summary and I personally think it’s important to know when going into this, as although I thought it was portrayed well, her disordered eating and fatphobic comments have the potential to be triggering.
With wonderful fat representation, relationships, feminism, characters and mental health representation, To Be Honest ticked all the boxes for what I needed from an adorable contemporary right now.
TW:
• Eating Disorder
• Fatphobia
• Panic Attacks
• Anxiety
The writing itself was a little on the simpler side for my personal reading tastes but that didn’t take away from how much I appreciated the fat representation in this book. It made me so incredibly happy to be able to follow a fat character who was not only body positive and not constantly putting herself down but had a story of her own and one that didn’t solely revolve around her weight.
Another element I throughly enjoyed were the multiple relationship dynamics. Whether it be a friendship, romance, sibling or parent child relationship, was intricate, raw, honest and wonderful to follow. I warmed to each character and emphasised with their stories and struggles, whilst equally squealing at their adorableness.
I adored the journalism side plot. It was so much fun to watch two badass, smart women following their passion and using it to take down and expose misogyny and injustice within the school system. I wish I’d had Savannah and Grace’s guts as a teen!
Although To Be Honest, was definitely light and fluffy at times, it had a depth to it and a heaviness I wasn’t expecting. Savannah faces a lot of fatphobia and body shaming from her mother, who is revealed to have an eating disorder. Although she’s not officially diagnosed until the end of the book, this is something that’s prevalent throughout. I’m mentioning it now as this is not stated in the summary and I personally think it’s important to know when going into this, as although I thought it was portrayed well, her disordered eating and fatphobic comments have the potential to be triggering.
With wonderful fat representation, relationships, feminism, characters and mental health representation, To Be Honest ticked all the boxes for what I needed from an adorable contemporary right now.
TW:
• Eating Disorder
• Fatphobia
• Panic Attacks
• Anxiety
December 31, 2018
This was a book I needed to read.
It's so scary how much I could relate to the characters, even the mother. The trauma of changing habits and how that affects those around you is real. I could really relate to the factors of growing up plus sized and going through an extreme weight-loss journey and I'm so appreciative this book dealt with both. I definitely understand how this book is polarised, but I absolutely needed this book.
It's so scary how much I could relate to the characters, even the mother. The trauma of changing habits and how that affects those around you is real. I could really relate to the factors of growing up plus sized and going through an extreme weight-loss journey and I'm so appreciative this book dealt with both. I definitely understand how this book is polarised, but I absolutely needed this book.
March 22, 2020
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After Savannah's older sister leaves for college, she is left alone with her overbearing mother. Ever since her mother was featured on a reality weightloss TV show, she has been obsessed with her weight and is now pressuring Savanah to follow in her footsteps. She wants nothing more to escape her mother and the feeling of missing her sister, and that's when she meets a boy named George.
I enjoyed how the book wasn't solely based on Savannah's weight, this was more of a focus on relationships, both familial, friend and romantic. I loved the female/female relationship between Savannah and Grace as well as Savannah and her sister. Both are supportive and show so much love to one another. I was not the biggest fan of the romance though, George kind of made me angry with the way he treated Savannah and her feelings. I also enjoyed the anxiety and panic attack rep in this, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to it. I think one of my favourite parts of the book is definitely the complex relationship between Savannah and her mother. It was interesting to watch it unfold and develop as the story progressed.
After Savannah's older sister leaves for college, she is left alone with her overbearing mother. Ever since her mother was featured on a reality weightloss TV show, she has been obsessed with her weight and is now pressuring Savanah to follow in her footsteps. She wants nothing more to escape her mother and the feeling of missing her sister, and that's when she meets a boy named George.
I enjoyed how the book wasn't solely based on Savannah's weight, this was more of a focus on relationships, both familial, friend and romantic. I loved the female/female relationship between Savannah and Grace as well as Savannah and her sister. Both are supportive and show so much love to one another. I was not the biggest fan of the romance though, George kind of made me angry with the way he treated Savannah and her feelings. I also enjoyed the anxiety and panic attack rep in this, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to it. I think one of my favourite parts of the book is definitely the complex relationship between Savannah and her mother. It was interesting to watch it unfold and develop as the story progressed.
Read
July 11, 2018This was a lot of fun! Great fat rep, great discussions about diet culture and fatphobia and the expectations of family. I wish it was a little longer because there were a lot of subplots I wanted to see more from, but otherwise it was wonderful. Great friendships, sweet romance, STEM + liberal arts mixing, discussion about jock stereotypes. Lots of things I adore.
TW for fatphobia, eating disorders (anorexia/starvation), a few mentions of homophobia, emotional abuse
TW for fatphobia, eating disorders (anorexia/starvation), a few mentions of homophobia, emotional abuse
August 18, 2018
4.5 stars. This book ended up hitting so close to home for me, and I really loved this. Will probably do a dedicated video review very soon.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
Want to read
November 10, 2017I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK
Read
May 9, 2020I honestly have a lot of mixed feelings about this book.
I loved Martin's debut--it was such a light, fun, and comical contemporary! It was sweet, funny, and a total blast to read.
And in a lot of ways, To Be Honest shares a lot of similarities with The Big F. But in a way, I feel like the similarities took away some of the good things about To Be Honest.
To Be Honest tackles a lot of more serious topics than just failing class--eating disorders and weight loss and divorce and a whole bunch of other topics that carry a lot of emotional weight for people. But I feel like it kept the same sort of jolly tone that was present in The Big F, which made the story not really click for me.
There are seriously a bunch of things jammed into this novel--Savannah's insecurities as one of them. And for something that's less than 300 pages, I felt like we just didn't get enough examination of any of the themes--her mom's fixation on weight loss, Savannah's news story about the funding gap between the girls' and guys' team, Savannah's own insecurities and her relationship with George, or Savannah's relationship with her dad after the divorce.
I liked Savannah and thought she was definitely a fun protagonist--she has a strong voice and she's just a great person that you'd want to be friends with. I think Savannah herself is probably the best part about this book, because she really feels super genuine.
That being said, I still think Martin did not do nearly enough examination on any of the major themes. It made it feel like Martin wasn't taking the topics seriously, and I wish this book was longer and more drawn out.
Some of the scenes felt rushed--even the Very Big™ scenes that would be life changing events. It wasn't just that these scenes didn't get enough page time--it was also that the emotional weight to these circumstances didn't match the severity of the event.
What Martin did address of these themes though, I think she did very well. We learn a lot about Savannah's insecurities and the romance is frankly, adorable, and it all wraps together pretty nicely, if not somewhat shortly.
I love how Martin talked about body positivity and weight loss especially, not just because of an #OwnVoices standpoint, but also because she points out the issue with those extreme weight loss shows and really asserts her view of loving your body.
The contrast between the view on weight & being fat of Savannah and her mom was drastically different, and this is probably one of this novel's themes that I think Martin did the best with. I did want a little more on this, but I think this was one of the themes that was most explored with Savannah's concern for her mother's health and trying to find the happy medium between boundaries and concern.
Overall, I think the premise was good, but the execution made this book not as good as it could have been because the tone matched a romantic comedy rather than the more serious novel To Be Honest. If you think the premise sounds interesting, then I definitely recommend you check this out! It's still a quick and easy read, regardless of depth.
I loved Martin's debut--it was such a light, fun, and comical contemporary! It was sweet, funny, and a total blast to read.
And in a lot of ways, To Be Honest shares a lot of similarities with The Big F. But in a way, I feel like the similarities took away some of the good things about To Be Honest.
To Be Honest tackles a lot of more serious topics than just failing class--eating disorders and weight loss and divorce and a whole bunch of other topics that carry a lot of emotional weight for people. But I feel like it kept the same sort of jolly tone that was present in The Big F, which made the story not really click for me.
There are seriously a bunch of things jammed into this novel--Savannah's insecurities as one of them. And for something that's less than 300 pages, I felt like we just didn't get enough examination of any of the themes--her mom's fixation on weight loss, Savannah's news story about the funding gap between the girls' and guys' team, Savannah's own insecurities and her relationship with George, or Savannah's relationship with her dad after the divorce.
I liked Savannah and thought she was definitely a fun protagonist--she has a strong voice and she's just a great person that you'd want to be friends with. I think Savannah herself is probably the best part about this book, because she really feels super genuine.
That being said, I still think Martin did not do nearly enough examination on any of the major themes. It made it feel like Martin wasn't taking the topics seriously, and I wish this book was longer and more drawn out.
Some of the scenes felt rushed--even the Very Big™ scenes that would be life changing events. It wasn't just that these scenes didn't get enough page time--it was also that the emotional weight to these circumstances didn't match the severity of the event.
What Martin did address of these themes though, I think she did very well. We learn a lot about Savannah's insecurities and the romance is frankly, adorable, and it all wraps together pretty nicely, if not somewhat shortly.
I love how Martin talked about body positivity and weight loss especially, not just because of an #OwnVoices standpoint, but also because she points out the issue with those extreme weight loss shows and really asserts her view of loving your body.
The contrast between the view on weight & being fat of Savannah and her mom was drastically different, and this is probably one of this novel's themes that I think Martin did the best with. I did want a little more on this, but I think this was one of the themes that was most explored with Savannah's concern for her mother's health and trying to find the happy medium between boundaries and concern.
Overall, I think the premise was good, but the execution made this book not as good as it could have been because the tone matched a romantic comedy rather than the more serious novel To Be Honest. If you think the premise sounds interesting, then I definitely recommend you check this out! It's still a quick and easy read, regardless of depth.
August 2, 2018
I managed to read this book in just one day, which says a lot. I loved it.
Want to read
September 20, 2018YES, YES, YES!
Finally a YA book which promises a curvy girl AND has a gorgeous curvy girl on the cover!
Can’t wait to read this one! *so excited*
Finally a YA book which promises a curvy girl AND has a gorgeous curvy girl on the cover!
Can’t wait to read this one! *so excited*
January 4, 2019
disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a review. This is no way impacted my opinions.
note: I am aware this review is late - I had some issues with getting reviews of a few August ARCs I received last August that I am currently catching up on.
trigger warnings: eating disorders, fat-shaming (challenged), toxic mother-daughter relationship (resolved)
To Be Honest is a young-adult contemporary novel about high school senior Savannah Alverson, who struggles with her relationship with her mother after her older sister and best friend Ashley leaves for college.
To Be Honest really is an enticing coming-of-age novel that explores all aspects of the protagonist's life, with a heavy emphasis on the conversation of body positivity and familial dynamics.
In terms of the story, I felt that this novel was exquisitely done. Had I not had enough self-control to understand that I am, in fact, a human who requires sleep, I easily would have read this novel in one-sitting considering how enraptured I was. Savannah's story really captures many realistic aspects of a teenager's life and feels like an authentic journey.
The focus on family and familial dynamics was brilliant. Savannah's relationship with her sister is a relationship that I just adored - though I did wish there had been a bit more exploration of their relationship as the novel came to a conclusion. But arguably more importantly, the toxicity that existed between Savannah's mother and herself was such a pivotal aspect of this novel.
Though Savannah's mother is, without a doubt, toxic in her fat-shaming and honestly unreliable as a mother, she herself is also battling deep-seated issues and the author does something great in highlighting the control aspect that exists within eating disorders. However, I again wish that there had been a bit more of a follow-through on that journey because a great redemption arc/learning journey could have occurred with her mother's character.
Savannah also has two other great relationships over the course of this novel - her relationship with her best friend Grace and her love interest George. I loved the sisterhood that existed between Grace and Savannah and the healthy portrayal of a female friendship with absolutely no jealousy or hatred, just pure love and support. I also loved the romance, as it was a subplot that did not take up too much space, but it got enough space that something adorable developed.
What fell flat for me in this novel was some of the follow-through and the writing style. For some reason, the writing style just didn't sit well with me. I felt that it was very cut and dry and would have liked it with a bit more oomph. As for the lack of follow-through, there were some great subplots and dynamics that had a brilliant foundation, but no follow-through as the novel went on, so I would have loved to see a bit more of that.
In spite of those minor complaints, this was a great debut that celebrated the main character's fatness in such an honest and genuine way that definitely brought a smile to my face. A great first read to begin the year.
note: I am aware this review is late - I had some issues with getting reviews of a few August ARCs I received last August that I am currently catching up on.
trigger warnings: eating disorders, fat-shaming (challenged), toxic mother-daughter relationship (resolved)
To Be Honest is a young-adult contemporary novel about high school senior Savannah Alverson, who struggles with her relationship with her mother after her older sister and best friend Ashley leaves for college.
To Be Honest really is an enticing coming-of-age novel that explores all aspects of the protagonist's life, with a heavy emphasis on the conversation of body positivity and familial dynamics.
In terms of the story, I felt that this novel was exquisitely done. Had I not had enough self-control to understand that I am, in fact, a human who requires sleep, I easily would have read this novel in one-sitting considering how enraptured I was. Savannah's story really captures many realistic aspects of a teenager's life and feels like an authentic journey.
The focus on family and familial dynamics was brilliant. Savannah's relationship with her sister is a relationship that I just adored - though I did wish there had been a bit more exploration of their relationship as the novel came to a conclusion. But arguably more importantly, the toxicity that existed between Savannah's mother and herself was such a pivotal aspect of this novel.
Though Savannah's mother is, without a doubt, toxic in her fat-shaming and honestly unreliable as a mother, she herself is also battling deep-seated issues and the author does something great in highlighting the control aspect that exists within eating disorders. However, I again wish that there had been a bit more of a follow-through on that journey because a great redemption arc/learning journey could have occurred with her mother's character.
Savannah also has two other great relationships over the course of this novel - her relationship with her best friend Grace and her love interest George. I loved the sisterhood that existed between Grace and Savannah and the healthy portrayal of a female friendship with absolutely no jealousy or hatred, just pure love and support. I also loved the romance, as it was a subplot that did not take up too much space, but it got enough space that something adorable developed.
What fell flat for me in this novel was some of the follow-through and the writing style. For some reason, the writing style just didn't sit well with me. I felt that it was very cut and dry and would have liked it with a bit more oomph. As for the lack of follow-through, there were some great subplots and dynamics that had a brilliant foundation, but no follow-through as the novel went on, so I would have loved to see a bit more of that.
In spite of those minor complaints, this was a great debut that celebrated the main character's fatness in such an honest and genuine way that definitely brought a smile to my face. A great first read to begin the year.
August 13, 2018
I will alway support a book that promotes body positivity, and this one also happened to feature a main character I totally fell in love with.
• Pro: Savannah was too fabulous, and charmed the pants off me. She was smart and full of life. She was driven, confident, and lots of fun. I absolutely loved her, and I loved her, because she loved herself. No approval needed.
• Pro: The sisterhood Savannah shared with Ashley was really wonderful. These two were pretty adorable together, and supported each other through their parents' divorce and their mother's weight loss journey. They were so much more than sisters to one another, they were best friends, and even though Ashley was away at college, she was there when Savannah really needed her.
• Pro: I really found George sort of adorable, and the scenes he shared with Savannah were precious. I loved his nerdy t-shirts, his pineapple pizza, and his musical prowess.
• Con: This may just be me, but there were some loose ends, and some of the resolutions seemed a little rushed, but I still really enjoyed all these subplots and just wanted more.
• Pro: I really liked the way Martin challenged the reality weight loss industry. Those shows have created unreasonable standards and expectations for people, and it was an interesting way to explore healthy/unhealthy weight loss as well as the impossible beauty standards that exist.
• Pro: The fat rep was pretty great. Martin really touched on those things, which I think a lot of people, who have never been overweight are not aware of. Your jiggly bits being exposed and touching someone else, not being able to shop in the same store as your thin friend, being made to feel self-conscience when you eat in front of people, being thought of as invisible or "less than", because you don't fit the size-0 beauty standard.
• Pro: Grace and Savannah were a great team, and I always love a healthy and positive female friendship.
Overall: A rather charming and heartwarming story of family, friendship, and loving yourself.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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• Pro: Savannah was too fabulous, and charmed the pants off me. She was smart and full of life. She was driven, confident, and lots of fun. I absolutely loved her, and I loved her, because she loved herself. No approval needed.
• Pro: The sisterhood Savannah shared with Ashley was really wonderful. These two were pretty adorable together, and supported each other through their parents' divorce and their mother's weight loss journey. They were so much more than sisters to one another, they were best friends, and even though Ashley was away at college, she was there when Savannah really needed her.
• Pro: I really found George sort of adorable, and the scenes he shared with Savannah were precious. I loved his nerdy t-shirts, his pineapple pizza, and his musical prowess.
• Con: This may just be me, but there were some loose ends, and some of the resolutions seemed a little rushed, but I still really enjoyed all these subplots and just wanted more.
• Pro: I really liked the way Martin challenged the reality weight loss industry. Those shows have created unreasonable standards and expectations for people, and it was an interesting way to explore healthy/unhealthy weight loss as well as the impossible beauty standards that exist.
• Pro: The fat rep was pretty great. Martin really touched on those things, which I think a lot of people, who have never been overweight are not aware of. Your jiggly bits being exposed and touching someone else, not being able to shop in the same store as your thin friend, being made to feel self-conscience when you eat in front of people, being thought of as invisible or "less than", because you don't fit the size-0 beauty standard.
• Pro: Grace and Savannah were a great team, and I always love a healthy and positive female friendship.
Overall: A rather charming and heartwarming story of family, friendship, and loving yourself.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
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August 17, 2018Positives: the sister relationship, the open discussion about weight, body image, and disordered eating.
I wish that the subplots (one about Savvy's journalism investigation and the other about Savvy's mother) had been better developed, but I think YA readers will enjoy this!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
I wish that the subplots (one about Savvy's journalism investigation and the other about Savvy's mother) had been better developed, but I think YA readers will enjoy this!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
April 4, 2019
Aquele alívio no coração de encontrar um livro com 1) protagonista gorda e 2) bem representada <3 Depois faço resenha completa.
May 31, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a perfectly cute story with a good message behind it. I loved how much Savvy loved herself and the strong support she had from her sister and best friend. The biggest downfall of the story was that it was quite rushed toward the end, and I don't feel like the conclusion was very satisfying. We got a resolution, but it was very simple and a little easy. But overall, this was the perfect book to get me back into a reading mood!
This was a perfectly cute story with a good message behind it. I loved how much Savvy loved herself and the strong support she had from her sister and best friend. The biggest downfall of the story was that it was quite rushed toward the end, and I don't feel like the conclusion was very satisfying. We got a resolution, but it was very simple and a little easy. But overall, this was the perfect book to get me back into a reading mood!
November 2, 2018
I might have listened to audiobook until deep into the night which was a bad idea for my sleep but I really enjoyed it.
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