Big Man

by Matthew J. Metzger

Max Farrier wanted to follow in the family footsteps and join the Navy once, but he’s better off focusing on just surviving his last year of school and going to work in Aunt Donna’s shop once it’s over.

After an incident at school puts Max in the hospital, Aunt Donna’s had enough. She signs him up for private lessons at a Muay Thai gym. Boxing—she says—will change everything.

But it’s not boxing that starts to poke holes in Max’s stupor—it’s his sparring partner. Cian is fifty percent mouth, fifty percent attitude, and isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with a bully in the street. Cian takes what he wants, and doesn’t let anyone stand in his way—not even himself.

Genres: M M Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Transgender, Romance, Sports

210 pages, ebook

First published April 9, 2018

About the author

Matthew is an asexual, transgender author from the wet and windy British Isles.

Matt writes LGBT novels, both adult and young adult, and particularly enjoys digging into the weird and wonderful diversity of people all across the sexuality and gender spectrums. When not writing, Matt is usually asleep, or crunching numbers at his day job. Free time is not really a concept here.

He is also owned by an enormous black cat. Approach with caution.

Reviews

[Xan]

Edited 12/11/18 to add: Here is a review that discusses the fat representation in the book at length, and describes much of what I took issue with in the excerpt I read, in terms of the language of the book and the way the text itself was written in a way that was full of hate for fat people. It also gives detailed content warnings for the book.

My original review is here:
It is clear from the blurb and the excerpt posted on the publishers website that this book is full of really intense hatred of fat people. Not just from the other characters, but the intense amount of self hatred the fat MC has, and especially the way the story is told. This book is very obviously steeped in fat oppression, and definitely not something I would read.

Excerpt is here if you want to subject yourself to it. I don't recommend it: https://ninestarpress.com/product/big...

Added 3/23:
It seems that the blurb has been edited. The original first sentence has been cut. ("Max Farrier is too fat to function.") I cannot see other substantive changes. The blurb is still full of fat hatred. Cutting that sentence didn't fix the issue. This edit makes me wonder if folks have the tools they would need to unpack fat oppression in a text. Did they think this sentence was the whole problem? Yes it was awful and ableist and full of fat hatred. But it definitely wasn't the whole problem.

Update 3/25:
-a more intensive rewrite of the blurb has been done, removing all references to the MC's fatness
-TWs were added on Netgalley and on the publisher's website (that don't reference the MC's fatness, and vaguely name internalized self hatred and bullying)
-as far as I know, the excerpt on the publisher's site hasn't been edited

Copy and paste of warnings on Netgalley: "This book contains off-page teenage sexual behaviour, scenes of humiliation related to teenage bullying, depictions of homophobia/transphobia, and internalized hatred. Tags: LGBT, contemporary, YA, coming-of-age, bisexual, trans, high school, sports/martial arts, depression/grieving, #ownvoices"

I haven't heard of any changes to the text of the book. With an imminent release it seems unlikely.

So what we have now is a book blurb that gives no heads up about a central aspect of the book, & warnings on NetGalley and the publishers site that leave out all info about fat hatred in the book.

I am worried now about readers (esp fat teens) being taken by surprise, unless they read the excerpt. & how many people do that?

This response to folks talking about fat hatred in a blurb and excerpt--wiping all mention of fatness from the blurb--what is the goal of that?

[Samantha]

Hey so...

Here's the thing. If you judge the book based on a blurb and a small excerpt, that's cool. But you aren't getting even half the story.

This is about learning to love yourself, no matter your size or shape. It's an own voices journey. It's been read by a fat sensitivity reader. It's hard and it's messy and it's a 15yo struggling with the hell that is trying to love himself and his body.

This book is me. This book is several of my friends. This book is valid.

But again, if you want to tell me, an actual fat person, that I am wrong for feeling this book represents me, go right ahead.

My journey to loving myself was just as hard and difficult. If I had this book when I was younger, I may have realized earlier on that I didn't have to hate myself for my curves. That my shape didn't make me who I was. I get to do that. So yeah, this book is important to me.

Just remember all the people you invalidate in invalidating this book (a few sentences of it) for not fitting your perspective.

If you don't want to read it, that's fine. But don't invalidate people in the process.

Edit:
I want to clarify that I had nothing to do with editing or the publishing of this book. I've barely had contact with the author, either. A few words, but nothing more.

I am deeply sorry to anyone who felt I was trying to invalidate their hurt, as that was never my intent. I have no problem with the idea of increasing warnings or even editing the blurb. I reacted to words like "trash" that made me feel like my voice was trash for having gone through self-hatred. Please know that I believe your hurt is valid, too, and I was only trying to say that all sides are valid. Mine included. I still believe that, but I am sorry to anyone hurt if it came across otherwise.

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Metzger always creates characters I care about, who feel plausible and real. This story, about a significantly overweight teen boy whose life is changed when his mom's fiancee sends him to learn Muay Thai boxing, is no exception. Max has been seriously bullied, verbally and physically, by the boys at his school. His "Aunt Donna" hopes that learning some self defense may change both his attitude and his risk, but it's meeting Cian - a mouthy, confident, trans guy - that really changes things for Max.

I loved Cian, who is unapologetic, unwilling to ever back down, and whose ability to see the person inside Max's hesitant and drastically out of shape persona isn't hampered by preconceptions. At times Cian pushes everyone, including himself, too hard, but he has courage and integrity and a sense of humor.

Max's issues with his weight, his long-deceased father and recently lost grandfather, are poignant. There's a clear dichotomy among reviewers in how they feel about Max's self-loathing and depression and how his weight plays into that, (including among reviewers who are themselves overweight.) Some find it real and poignant and plausible. Others feel like the obsession Max has with his size and how it impacts all the other parts of his life amounts to fat-shaming.

This issue is not personal to me, but I believed in Max, and his reactions and concerns felt valid. It didn't feel generalized beyond what is a realistic situation for a very overweight kid facing the cauldron of social pressures and judgment that is high school. The book does not require him to become slim, in order to become happy, although working at the gym does help his physical health improve. For me, that was a believable progression. For some, Max's starting point may feel uncomfortable or stereotypical or presented too strongly, so be aware. I applaud having a book where weight issues play a role, acknowledging that I don't think there is ever going to be a way to write that and make everybody happy with the portrayal.

I appreciated how Max's self-perceived orientation has to change from "straight" when he starts to be attracted to Cian, and how he deals with that. I also loved how Cian's ambivalence about his own body, its sources of pleasure, and its appeal to Max, played out. I really appreciate the way Metzger gives us trans characters at different points on their coming of age journey and lets the reader understand where they are coming from, even here through Max's POV. And I liked having a bisexual mom as just part of the secondary cast.

I did have a couple of issues with the plot of the book - most notably the idea that physically fighting back is the best way to deal with bullying, especially serious, physical bullying. There is no doubt that many, many teens have faced abuse that was ignored, condoned, or unable to be prevented by the adults who should have stepped in. But the message of fighting back and the idea that bullies are likely to be cowards is a risky one to endorse. Max's understanding of his own strengths was important but how that was deployed was a problem for me.

I also had a few quibbles with the supposedly-positive adults in the story, although perhaps it's good to have fallible adults in adding realism. My biggest issue was in the casual response at the gym to Cian's possible concussion, no matter how much Cian hates having a fuss made about him. That's not a situation for an ice pack and offhand remark. Any gym that ignored a traumatic head injury to that level IMO is not a safe place for teens.

Over all, not my favorite Metzger, but one I was pulled into as usual, and enjoyed, and that had some moments of real poignancy, and real triumph.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written story. Only the second book I've read by Matthew J. Metzger the other one, Sex in C Major, was incredible as well and I highly recommend it.

The story of a horribly bullied 16 year old, Max is suffering from depression and body image issues. While he reluctantly accepts the support of his family and a new friend, in the end he's able to change his life and establish some goals and a future he can look forward to. Watching Max develop some self esteem over the course of this story was a journey in itself, and one well worth taking. Metzger paces the story well to make this young man's evolution truly believable.

I recommend Big Man as an extremely well written, poignant, and very unique YA story. While very different from Sex in C Major I get Metzger's style and I'm definitely a fan.

this title was provided by NetGalley for the purpose of my review

[Sara]

5 Hearts

I am warning you now, this is going to be a ramble of epic redhead proportions. This book was so much more than I thought I was getting and I am head over heels in love with Max, Cian and Matthew Metzger for giving me their story.

From the blurb, one could assume this book would be nothing but the self-hate of an overweight boy who is bullied and made happy by losing weight and that would be dead wrong. This book is so much more than that because while all of that; the self-hate, bullying and happiness is found in the book, it only scratches the surface of a truly profound read of finding yourself and loving yourself enough to love another person.

There will always be people who want to stomp on you. They don’t care if you have the right to go about your life how you like; they don’t care if you’ve ever done anything to them—they just find it funny. There will always be those people. And the best way of warding them off is letting them know you’re not a victim, that picking on you is going to end very badly for them.”

The book opens with a violent encounter between Max Farrier and the boys who bully him. It’s violent and made me sick to my stomach with what they do to Max that ends him in the hospital. We know, as the story is told from Max’s POV, that this happens regardless of the school he goes to, that he can’t out run what people see and do to him but Max is lucky he has a carrying Aunt Donna who knows he deserves better. Now I admit I didn’t like Aunt Donna when she first came on the page. I am not a fan of violence in anyway and her theory of Max learning martial arts to protect himself was all fine and dandy but my original introduction to her didn’t sit well. That is until she told Max about being attacked for being a lesbian and then it made sense. She doesn’t want Max to be violent, she wants Max to learn a skill to yes be able to protect himself but also to build his confidence enough to stand up for himself. So after that and through the rest of the book, I adored Aunt Donna and what she has done for Max and his mom. Oh yeah, Aunt Donna isn’t really his aunt, she is the fiancé of his mother, the Aunt title just fit when they became a family and it’s stuck.

I was excited that Max would be learning Muay Thai. I love the sport – via my crush on Gina Carano – and have always wanted to take it up at the local gym in my town but I have always been afraid to walk in looking like an idiot who has zero coordination. You see, there is a lot of Max in this book that spoke to me. I’ll just get this out there now, I was that fat girl in school. The one everyone made fun of, pushed around, never picked for a team until I was the only choice left, the one picked on ruthlessly by the girls in the locker room when I pulled my too small shirts over my knees to stretch them out so they didn’t cling to my stomach rolls. The girl that was called Thunder Thighs and told my ass was so big it could be sat on like a shelf by the boy I once had a crush on. The girl whose mother would give her a piece of Big Red gum before she left for school in the morning, telling her that if she chewed that all day maybe she wouldn’t eat and could lose weight. The girl whose nickname in her family was “Fatty” and was put on a coffee diet in Kindergarten by one of her sisters because I was too fat and embarrassed her when she had to watch me. There are so many instances I can think of as a young girl and into adulthood and while I may have lost weight, I am still that fat girl. The weight loss didn’t take away the identity of that girl who was told for so long she was unattractive, unwanted and unlovable because her knees were fat. That doesn’t go away and yeah, it causes issues in my life even at almost 41 years of age but the self-hate talk, I try to tame it. Try being the operative word but it doesn’t always work. So Max, I get him being the fat kid in school but Max has an advantage, people who love him and want nothing more for him to be happy…no matter his size.

It seemed too easy. Too Simple. Was a new boyfriend and a hobby all it took to be someone other than Fatso Farrier?

So back to Aunt Donna. Donna signs Max up for private lessons at the gym to learn Muay Thai and Max must stick it out for 16 weeks or Aunt Donna won’t let him be her apprentice. On that first day, Max meets his partner Cian, who he believes at first sight to be a girl. Cian opens feelings within Max that he believes are beyond his grasp. But he still likes the sight of Cian and being partnered even though that first workout kicks his ass. I know what those workouts feel like. I have recently joined a gym which focuses on endurance events so I know that feeling of DOMs when it sets in and how you feel like dying so I was so damn proud of Max getting up and going again and again. Sure, he has the lure of Cian to pull him in and I adored so, so, so much that when Max is set straight about Cian, when Cian tells him he is a boy, Max decides he totally okay with still fancying Cian because well he’s Cian.

Cian. Wow. What an amazing boy to meet and read. Cian is this strong character that challenges Max every step of the way. He makes Max see what is in front of him even if that means looking down to see his ankles, because Cian is supportive and in his own way, on a journey of self-acceptance just like Max. With Max, it’s about his weight and being able to stand up to the boys that bully him and Cian, he’s a bit more complicated and I fell hard for him with his “layout” struggle and how it all makes him feel.

“If I can’t be brave with you, I might never be.”

This book takes you on a journey of these two young adults and doesn’t hold back when dealing with their issues. Max doesn’t set out to lose weight by going to the gym but it’s a byproduct of his hard work and dedication. His story is not saying goodbye to being “Fatso Farrier”, but owning the name and turning into something he uses for himself and lets it breathe a new life. Words can hurt, they can leave terrible damage when used as weapons but when we take those words and take ownership of them, they become ours and names like Fatso Farrier become an empowerment and not contempt. Really, this isn’t about Max losing weight so much as about Max becoming an athlete and building the confidence to trust his instinct. That instinct is important with Cian and with the boys that bully him but when it comes to Cian…

Gah! These two were adorable and I loved the way they came together. All the teasing while going through their private workouts together and the friendship they begin before the romance comes into play. For two young adults these two had excellent communication and that made a huge difference. It was amazing that Max could ask Cian questions about being transgender and Cian was open to it, even if he had his limits on Max staring. The exploration of sexuality between Max and Cian was stunningly gorgeous and so respectful and yet, so on point for a couple beginning a relationship. Yup, even at this age it was perfect and they really brought out the best in their partner.

He could feel Cian. Not the girl, not the boy, not the passage between the two. Just Cian. He wanted to feel that everywhere, all of the time.

I have written so much already and haven’t even said anything about Max and his desire to join the Navy and be an officer like his late father and the Farrier men before him. Max lost his father when he was three and the male figure in his life was his grandpa who has passed now as well. I felt for Max because once again we have something in common. Where Max used to build models with his grandpa and hasn’t since he died, I used to read and discuss Stephen King books with my late father and haven’t touch a single one in the 20+ years since he’s been gone. Max has so much more to deal with than just his weight but just like anyone, we are so much more than what is seen on the outside.

This book! Wow. I cried at least a dozen times with moments that were so profound, there was no other way to react. I cheered for Max with every step that takes him closer to being the Big Man he can be and yeah, that title, it has a meaning that is at least threefold to the story and not just about what Max weighs. I loved the stories of his father and how Cian calls him Big Man… sigh.

That epilogue made me grin like a fool and made me have a minute or ten with my Nook to hug it out.

Again, this book was so much more than I thought I would be getting and just know, Max and Cian stunning, brave, strong and so fucking adorable.

This was so good.

So good.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I read the original blurb for this book and it intrigued me. Then I found out there was some controversy surrounding the MC's voice and the amount of self-hatred he felt because of his weight, and this book intrigued me even more. I'm so glad I gave it a chance. Matthew Metzger is a "new to me" author and I quite enjoyed his writing, but I don't really get the controversy. I found nothing offensive at all.

Yes, Max Farrier is fat. He's teased. He's called "Fatso Ferrier". He faces relentless bullying at school. He's been kicked in the head and pissed on. He has switched schools several times, but the bullying always seems to follow him.

Is he angry? Yes.
Does he hate being fat? Yes.
Does he hate that he doesn't stand up to the bullies? Yes.
Does he feel like a failure? Yes.
Is he full of self-loathing because of all this? Of course.
Is this an accurate portrayal of a 15-year-old boy facing these issues? Absolutely!

The author doesn't sugar coat it. Max's life is not sunshine and roses. It's hard. It's painful. But it does get better. Max's soon-to-be stepmom signs him up for Muay Thai boxing, hoping he'll gain some self-confidence and learn how to stand up for himself.

Max's journey to self-acceptance is long, but he finds strength with his sparring partner Cian. Their story is beautiful and brave. And so inspiring. I loved them!!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!*

"But Fatso Farrier hadn't put in his opinions form. Fatso Farrier hadn't graded yesterday. Fatso Farrier didn't have a reference from his boxing instructor for the Navy. Max had."

Disclaimer: this quote sounds offensive out of context, but actually is one of the most moving and heartwrenching moments in the book. So you should read it so you can understand it. :)

Let me start this review with six words I mean with all the feeling in my dark heart:

Max and Cian have my heart.

Honest to God: I went into this hesitant to the point of resentment due to the mixed reviews. I thought it was going to be insensitive and kind of obnoxious.

The only obnoxious thing about this book was how precious the romance was and how profound the character development was. It was just that good.

Spoilerless things to love about this book: the sweet yet badass Max Farrier that will always be my "big man." The sassy and strong love of my life Cian. The beautiful British setting. (Can you tell I'm American?)

So go read this. Do yourself a favor and enjoy this glorious creation and all its originality. You won't regret it.

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just moved recently and don’t have internet yet, so I’m currently occupying a Peet’s Coffee so as to post this review…which I’m having to write on my Kindle. Which is my way of asking you to be forgiving of the spelling in this. I’ll try to catch the mistakes, but autocorrect can be a real birch sometimes.

My feelings coming out of this book are a bit mixed to be honest. The writing aspect, the storytelling and characterizations, were spot on as always. Metzger has always been, at least in my experience, a very talented storyteller. I’ve yet to pick up a book by him and not be instantly drawn into the tale. The same is true here in Big Man.

However there was also a part of me instinctively pulling back for almost the entire story. For me my weight has always been more of an issue for me, self-image-wise, than being trans has. Probably because I’ve always been fat, and only realized I was trans less than a decade ago. And I was perhaps lucky enough to come into the realization of being trans at a point in my life where I never felt ashamed of it. The same can’t be said of my weight.

I wish I could say that what Max is thinking in regards to how he sees himself — and how he sees other people seeing him — is completely unreal. Except it is all too familiar. And that level of self-loathing is hard to read for me. I empathize a bit too much with it.

And yeah, I must admit that had an author I didn’t know/like written Max like this I would be ranty as fuck about how yet again the only fat characters allowed to exist in stories are the lazy slobs who shovel food into their mouths while complaining about having to walk more than ten feet in any direction. Which I’m not exactly happy about, here, but I at least trusted Metzger enough to not dnf after the first chapter. Which I’m glad about now. Because I ended up mostly liking where he went with it. It wasn’t pleasant to read a majority of the time, but for all my issues with this part of the story, I was glad to have some payoff for it in the end.

I just can’t see myself revisiting this book again, for all that I think it is a decent story — unlike a vast majority of Metzger’s backcatalog which are read at least once or twice a year (with a few exceptions).

On the non-Max front, I do want to add that Cian — the other MC — was kinda awesome. One of my favorite parts of Mtzger’s trans-MCs are how strong the are usually portrayed. They are not without flaws or weaknesses, but they don’t come off feeling like they are begging the world to cover them in cotton, or treat them like little children. It is something I always appreciate.

I sadly cannot completely recommend this story, for all that I ended up liking it. But I don’t want to say to avoid it either. The best I can say is that if you read the first couple chapters you should get a good feel for the tone of the story. And if you can stick it out, I will say that it is worth it.

3.5 stars


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book tries to be a story about a bullied fat kid learning to defend himself and love himself, with the help of his family and some new friends. But what it actually succeeds in portraying is visceral fat hatred, unnecessarily graphic violence towards a fat person, and a trans acceptance narrative through the point of view of a cis person.

Read the full review on my blog.

[Laina SpareTime]

I don't have time for fat hate books from thin authors tbh

[abi · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book could’ve been a 3.5, maybe even 4 star book if it wasn’t such a fatphobic, transphobic mess.

the word fat or some variation of it (i.e. fatso) is used 142 times. in a 210 page book. so essentially one mention on almost every page. the readers are left with the impression that max, the 15 year old protagonist of the book, is bullied because of his weight. sure, that’s some of it, but his own self-loathing surrounding his weight has unknowingly for him made him a target, and he’s just ended up accepting it.

after another incident where he ends up in the hospital, his parents (but mostly his stepmum-to-be donna) sign him up for private muay thai sessions to gain confidence and face his bullies. if he loses some weight too then great but it’s more about facing the bullies. not that max initially seems to understand this, and his apathy towards how he perceives himself definitely makes this book hard to read.

once he joins the gym however, the story really starts. there he meets cian, who far away looks like a boy, but no they’re a girl because they look like one, but no they’re a boy. max just can’t wrap his head around cian being trans to begin with which is just....not what i want to read. then there’s some really strange language/dialogue where cian is all ‘i have the plumbing of a girl/if you got me naked i’d look like a girl’ which again is....insensitive to say the least. i just would have expected his identity to have been handled a little differently, especially by a trans author.

it starts being a little less offensive about half way through in regards to max being a lil less fatphobic/transphobic, but don’t worry because there are other characters who’ll be able to deliver on everything that max isn’t anymore.

i think a book can still include elements of bullying and its effects without using language that is frankly quite gross. yes, the book ends in a good place, but i don’t particularly want to read about how a trans guy is going to be raped so they’ll be a girl again y’know?

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really nice book. It addresses a topic that a lot of people probably don't think about. What if the girl you're attracted to ends up being a trans-boy? He still looks like a girl (more or less), he still has all the female "layout", but he identifies as female.

The entire book is about body issues, both for Cian, in his desire to look more like a male and Max, in being obese and heavily bullied for it.

They're both uncomfortable in their bodies, and need to do very different things to become more comfortable. Cian is more aggressive in asserting that he's a male no matter how it might look and Max (at least initially) was all about trying to keep his head down, getting out of school and living a nice boring live eating packets of biscuits and drinking Pepsi.

Even though this is ostensibly a young-adult novel, it should give any reader a greater understanding on the issues faced by teens going through these bodily changes, whether it's something as common as being bullied and overweight or being born transgender.

[meep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this was a do not finish (dnf) for me. As a plus size girl i can relate with the bullying although it never got physical thankfully but i just could not connect with the main characters. I really tried but got maybe 3 chaoters in. overall it was a very good book. Maybe it being a british book the slang threw me off? i really wanted to like it. The idea was really great and it was very well written. Still going to give it 3 stars.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I did read it in December but I finished in less than two days (pretty normal for me with a Matthew Metzger book). I'm really confused by all the "fat hatred" comments here. I'm a fat person, have been since I was a teenager and at no time do I remember being offended by the writing. And since Matthew is my fav. writer I know I'd be very aware if that happened. I do hope everyone will keep on open mind. Matthew characters are always so beautifully real and therefore not perfect, as in the case of a teenager who hates themselves for being fat (pretty normal unfortunately).

[FantasyLiving · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max is incredibly uncomfortable living in his skin, and has reached a place in his high school life where depression and anxiety have kicked in. He is a victim of school bullying, his perpetrators becoming more physically violent, and relentless. There doesn’t appear to be any action from the school, and he has decided that rather than continue being attacked, he’ll finish off the year and do an apprenticeship instead of two more years of torture.

After a particularly vicious attack, his step-mum takes the approach of him needing self-defence, now a requirement of him getting an apprenticeship with her, and books him in for private lessons with a Muay Thai coach. This is where he meets Cian.

A lot of this story is difficult. Self-loathing is at the heart of Max’s internal dialogue. It is loud and disturbing. It is painful to read. Cian appears to be the only bright spot in Max’s life in the beginning, and even he can’t silence the awful things Max thinks about himself for much of the story.

This is told entirely from Max’s point of view, but there is plenty of Cian, and I felt I knew him well through Max. I liked the way Max’s confidence started building through learning Muay Thai and being challenged by Cian. While getting to know each other, Max seemed to really develop and see the world a little differently. It was gradual, but it was very clear. There were some mishaps, some setbacks, but overall Max started to come out of his shell more and show Cian who he is as a person.

I really appreciated this book. It was raw and unfiltered. It hurt at times to read. I don’t think this will be for everyone. There is violence, bullying, verbal abuse, misgendering and fat shaming. There is also a lot of beauty and joy between Max and Cian. I really appreciate the author’s raw portrayal of some really difficult topics, in a well written story that took me on a journey I wasn’t expecting. I’m happy these two found each other, and that Max was able to shine in a way that made me believe he would be okay.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion.

[D. Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of things to be said, as the book deals with very sensitive topics.
I am going to focus on the things I liked about it.

I am not going to say it's a story about self- discovery, because to me, this is every single character, it's just presented in different ways.
It's a very YA book, and the good thing is characters act age-wise. Their reactions, the way they express themselves. The questions they ask.
I liked the way the parents' figures were presented and the sub-message how important their support in a growing teenager's life is.

Not an actual spoiler, and it's not necessarily referring to this story, but it made me think of something.
There is bullying as a plot line here, and I'd love to see a story where the so-called " bullies' " point of view, or reasoning is presented.

Anyway, it's a good coming of age story and I am sure anyone can find something worth thinking of while reading Big Man.

**Copy kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Farrier has no love for himself. He is bullied because of his weight and because of this he has changed school two times before. This hasn't helped and he is severely bullied in his present school. Max sees himself as a failure. He is 'Fatso Farrier' and he will never amount to anything or become anyone. Worst of all he will never get to join the navy like the men in his family. Max grieves for the father who died when he was a child and he grieves for his grandfather who was always there for him. All Max can do is suffer through the final year of school and then get an apprenticeship with Aunty Donna, his mother's girlfriend.

Thankfully Aunty Donna has other ideas.

Max's mother is planning her wedding to Donna. Max gets on ok with Donna but he is a bit resentful when she orders him to go to boxing lessons. No boxing, no apprenticeship. Max doesn't want to box but he has no choice because he desperately needs the apprenticeship.

The pain and the agony from the boxing class is dreadful as Max forces himself to move his body and pushes himself. In any case he persists and as he does so he gets to know his boxing partner Cian. Cian is trans and cool and wiry and an excellent boxer. Max realises that he is attracted to Cian but he knows Cian will never feel the same way about him.

As he learns how to box Max gets to learn more about Cian but he also gets to learn more about himself. Life begins to change and he begins to realise that perhaps he isn't a failure, perhaps there is more to him than meets the eye and prehaps he does have a chance, but these are dangerous thoughts which require courage. Can Max find that courage within himself and listen to the person he is becoming or will he retreat inside himself, hiding from the bullies and from the opportunities that whisper to him?

I dont generally read YA books but I thought this was an excellent story. Max finds the courage to go for what he wants and as he steps out his life begin to change. It is a heartwarming story because not only does Max find courage, he also finds friendship and love.

I loved Max and Cian and their friendship and the way it gradually becomes love. I found the school teachers and Max's mother to be very irritating. The school teachers seemed to have no clue that bullying was happening until things escalated and Max's mother seemed unable to grapple with the fact that her son was obese, unhappy and with a very low self esteem. Thank goodness for Aunty Donna who saw what Max could be and pushed him to a place where he could reach for opportunity.

The story is really well written and it is very interesting. I cheered for Max all the way through. I wanted to jump into the story and hug him. It is a very inspiring story, showing the importance of love and support and the way in which we can either encourage each other to dream and work towards our dreams, or we can seek to oppress others. Max had such low self esteem and no self worth. It was so painful to read and then as he struggles with his self image and begins to believe in himself the story becomes empowering.

Of course I loved Cian who had been bullied at school but who had fought back and who was fighting in a different way, fighting to be who he truly is. Cian encourages Max and helps Max to see possibilities and potential.

This is a lovely story about a young man who finds himself, recovers his lost dreams and finds happiness within himself. This is a beautiful story and definitely one that will stay with me for some time.

Copy provided by Ninestar Press via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Stacey Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Man is the story of two teens who learn to accept and love themselves by loving each other, making it possible to overcome the things that stand in their way. It's a very heartwarming coming of age story. It's empowering.

Max is overweight and he's bullied because of it. So much so that he has to change schools. The abuse is not only mental but it gets physical. His aunt finally has enough and enrolls him in Muay Thai so he can learn self-defense and build confidence. It's here that he meets Cian, a transgender boy. Max doesn't know Cian is trans at first. He's drawn to him and in awe of him. They become friends and soon Max can't stop staring. Even though Max has always identified as being straight, he starts having feelings for Cian. Their relationship is a slow progression. Cian has his own issues in dealing with is body and how he relates sexually to Max. Cian also plays an important role in helping Max to see himself in a better light, while Max understands Cian's feelings, and knows how to make him feel comfortable around Max. Because of that, they are both able to grow as people and as a young couple.

I was shocked after I finished reading to learn that there was controversy surrounding this book. I'm glad I didn't know about it before I read it. Since I took the time to read the book, I can assure you the author did not fat shame any character in the story. The bullies in the story did fat shame Max and beat him up on multiple occasions. This actually happens in real life. Max does have a very poor self-image and very low self-esteem. He's been beat up, called "fatso", and had to change schools multiple times. Teenagers are already overly critical of themselves even at the best of times. If anyone thinks Max isn't going to think bad things about himself, they've never been around a teenager and they have been living under a sheltered rock. And as for Max fat shaming himself, I never took it that way or was never offended by it. It was more that he seemed depressed or beaten down and just full of self-doubt. He was always wondering look at me, why would Cian want me, and observing his body and being unhappy with his image. This is very realistic. But the bullies are the only ones in this story who call Max names, because that's what bullies do. Every other character in this story is positive and works to lift Max up. And that's ultimately what happens. With the help of Cian and all of the other secondary characters, Max starts to see himself as someone with value, worthy of being Cian's boyfriend, and able to finally stand up to his tormenters and turn the tables on them. He becomes the Big Man.

So do yourself a favor and ignore the controversy. If you are looking for something uplifting, this one will do it.

A copy of this book was provided to me by IndiGo Marketing & Design in return for my honest review

[Samantha Cato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know there has been some controversy regarding the possibility of "fat shaming" the main character is this book but that is NOT the case! I thought the author handled how most overweight people feel every day of their lives...and I am speaking from experience. Matthew handled this wonderfully...I WAS Max in this story as I read it! I thought this was a beautiful coming of age story and the romance was woven throughout the book deftly and surprisingly sweetly! I thought that Cian's personal issues (I don't want to give away spoilers) were handled perfectly and right on point for someone who happens to be of his particular nature. The sex scenes were perfection for YA...vague as they should be but still beautifully done...Loved this one so much!

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read, informative, funny, heart wrenching and well written.

A really interesting story, and one that young adults and older adults should be encouraged to read, appreciate and understand.

I was given a copy of this story by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Dannica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one :) Might up the rating later, I'm sitting on it a little bit. Read it all in one day so I'm having a bit of a book hangover lols.

Disclaimer: I'm a skinny cisgender woman reviewing a book with fat and transgender rep (as fairly focal plot points), so. Take anything I say with a grain of salt.

The Premise
Max is a fifteen year old boy who gets bullied by a group of kids at school for being fat. He's dealing with a lot of self hate because of his weight issues. So, his Aunt Donna (his Mom's partner, btw, not his biological aunt) enrolls him in private Muay Thai lessons so he can learn how to defend himself and possibly get more in shape. At the Muay Thai gym he meets a transgender boy named Cian, and the two fall for each other.

My Thoughts
Okay, I'm just smiling thinking about this book, you know? I just really liked the characters and thought it was so sweet. Ummm. Right, let's start with Cian.

Cian's a badass.

Basically, he takes no shit. At the start of the book he sees that Max has assumed he's a girl (he's still transitioning) and corrects him, warning him against calling him that way. When Max is still confused Cian explains that he's a trans dude, and again gives him warning. He's aggressive when he sees transphobia, but on the other hand he isn't overly sensitive either. He's also really good at Muay Thai but like, realistically good. Like, good for a teenager but not superman either.

Sidetracking a little to say I LOVED THE MUAY THAI ELEMENTS. Gosh. I haven't been in a martial arts gym in what, four years? And even then I did kenpo, not Muay Thai, and I definitely didn't take private lessons. But it really brought me back. The warm-ups, learning the basic moves, the pure practicality of it all. The way it makes you feel at first uncomfortable but then more comfortable with your body. Yeah. It's like that.

Anyways. Back to Cian. He's a cool dude. And his relationship with Max is very sweet.

Hm, time to talk about Max. I've seen some controversy around about fat rep in this book, and some people don't like it because of Max's self hatred in regards to his weight. It's true that Max has some serious self esteem issues. He sees himself as disgusting, a useless lump. In places this makes for hard reading because he's just so hard on himself that it's painful--and some people see the narrative of Max losing weight to find his self worth to be problematic. I personally liked Max's arc from self hatred to confidence (especially with the martial arts angle because martial arts will definitely do that for you), but you might want to get varied perspectives.

I liked Max's familial relationships a lot. His Mum and Aunt Donna are fairly close with him, though Aunt Donna is apparently a new addition to the family, being his Mum's romantic partner. It made me happy to see so much bisexuality? Like, his mom loved his dad (who is now dead) and now she's with a woman, and that's chill. Max thinks he only likes girls but then Cian makes him realize he can also like a guy, and that's also chill. It gave me happy feels.

Gosh. I keep on only talking about representation. But yeah, Max's family is supportive and it's great to see his web of relationships. There's his Mum and Aunt Donna, but also he really looks up to the men in his family, and a huge part of his arc is wanting to be like them. You also sense that some of his depression and self hatred comes from grief--his grandfather passed away recently and apparently they were close.

Finally. THE ROMANCE.

Max and Cian really support each other. They both have body issues but they're also just unabashedly attracted to each other, and it's just??? Really sweet, and I liked seeing how they navigate the sexual elements of their relationship and also just how they get close to each other. Oh, and there is a lot of sexuality for a YA book, though no explicit sex, so be warned! But yeah the romance was quite sweet.

So why after all that am I still rating it three stars? Well, the rating might change--like I said, I'm sitting on it. But mostly that's personal preference. I loved a lot of things about this book, but I'm essentially not that interested in the bullying angle (books about bullying are never my thing) and while Max and Cian are cute, a lot of their relationship seems to be more driven by physical than romantic attraction. Which makes it interesting from a viewpoint of sexual exploration but a bit less my thing, you know.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Janelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fuck this fatphobic piece of trash.

I’d heard good things about Matthew J Metzger but I’m honestly fucking appalled by this book.

You can write a story about a self-loathing fat protagonist without writing it this way. Metzger uses *every* opportunity to portray Max as disgusting, constantly reminding the reader that he’s sweaty, smelly, hideous, nobody would love him, and that he lumbers awkwardly everywhere. That’s not just a self-loathing character, that’s an author who thinks fat people are inherently disgusting.

The language use is honestly revolting and the author reinforces a message that Max is only valid as a human once he’s started losing weight. Everything wrong in Max’s life apparently comes down to the fact that he’s got a belly and that being fat is apparently the worst thing you could possibly be.

Fuck this book. The hollow AF romance with a transmasc love interest couldn’t even make up for the fatphobia.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max comes from a family of Naval officers and he wants nothing more than to continue that legacy and join the Navy. In reality, he’s bullied so often and so badly at school that now all he wants is to make it out of there alive. When his mother’s fiancé, Aunt Donna, decides enough is enough after Max is kicked so hard in the head by a bully that he ends up in the hospital she calls in a favor and gets Max set up with Muay Thai boxing classes. Aunt Donna knows what she is talking about, being a victim of bashing herself. While Max is against this with all the power a 15-year-old can muster, Aunt Donna has made it very clear that without the classes Max will lose out on the job in her shop and will need to continue two more years of school. He’s stuck. So he sucks it up and goes. He’s mortified, because being overweight makes physical things difficult and even worse, Max is confronted with his first real crush, his sparring partner and the nephew of his boxing coach, Cian.
Cian is fearless, fearsome, blunt and bold. I loved him, even as I knew what it must have taken for him to get to that attitude. He is fit and in amazing shape but he never makes Max feel like he is anything less than worthy of being there. Lewis, the coach, is the same. Aunt Donna had shared the reason behind Max needing the lessons but there is no pity here, just acceptance that this is who you are and Muay Thai is what you are there to do. Beautiful sparring partner? Bonus both in embarrassment factor and joy factor.
Where even to begin with this. We start off right away with a serious attack on Max. The bullying was so difficult to read, more so because you know that there are so many kids out there going through the same thing, whether for being overweight, gay, too smart, not smart enough – just anything that makes them different. In Matthew’s case, the bullying has resulted in some serious self-loathing, which again, I found to be realistic. He’s come to be ashamed of who he is because of those angry, bigoted classmates. It was heartbreaking. Now, since he was actually put in the hospital by the bullies, Aunt Donna has had enough. She can come across as too blunt sometimes, but she is all about having that boy’s back and making sure he knows how to defend himself so that he won’t have to. I also appreciated that while Mom had married and loved Max’s dad, the fact that she was now in love and marrying a woman wasn’t a huge deal – it was just mom in love.
When he realizes Cian is who he’s working with, you can feel the conflicting emotions from him. Here’s this amazing person, badass, fit, tough, who is about to see him be physical and sweaty. You have to remember also – this is a YA book. Max is fifteen. It’s been quite a while since I was fifteen but the shadows of those years never leaves you and that clawing need to be part of something, to not stand out in case you are the focus of something negative, stays. It was one of the reasons I was so happy to see Max progress from the thoughts of “useless lump” to a badass in his own right who knows when to elbow jab to defend himself. He has the most negative thoughts about himself and has no confidence that he can do what he sets out to do.
While some of his better view can be attributed to his new friend in Cian (and that takes a while) more of it is due to the martial arts and how knowing you can keep yourself safe will improve your confidence. And Lewis. “You could really be something, Max,” Lewis said quietly, “and the only person standing in the way is you.” Max has spent so much time being put down and belittled that it’s hard to believe anything else.
Cian – let’s just give him a shout out now. He’s been through things just like Max has and has come out confident and showing exactly what he needs to. “If you ever call me anything but a boy, or he, or him, or call those facts into question, I’ll hit you.” His conversation with Cian about grappling really just hurt my heart. And Cian’s response to it, “When you strip away the self-loathing….There’s somebody beautiful. Right. Here.” Ahh, it was a catch your breath moment. The romance here is between teenagers and it was true to that – I didn’t feel these were older adults talking and just giving lip service to being in high school.
Things, of course, aren’t just easy after that because there are still nasty people in the world who get even nastier when they face consequences for what they have done. The retaliation from the evil three bullies, especially Tom, was awful and I kept thinking, will it ever stop for this boy? Max has the support of adults, including his teacher Mrs Pellow, but that isn’t enough to avoid it. So when he finally has had enough, I wanted to stand up and cheer. The epilogue was sweet and I enjoyed it, but the end of the chapter before was, in my head, perfection. Way to go, Big Guy.
The cover art by Natasha Snow doesn’t give you a visual of Max or Cian and I liked that. It is instead a beautiful view of the water with footsteps leading to the edge. I read a lot into that cover.

Reviewed for Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

[UnusualChild{beppy} · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars


Max is 16, and hopefully in his last year of school. He’s planning on starting an apprenticeship working for his soon to be stepmother, because he is severely bullied at school. He is bullied badly enough that he ends up in the hospital, and the woman he calls Aunt Donna pays for boxing lessons for a couple of months because she wants him to learn to have pride in himself.
Max doesn’t believe in himself, or have pride, because he is fat, and he believes that is why he is bullied and he has no friends. Max doesnt want the lessons, but the first time he goes, he meets Cian. Cian is different from anyone he’s ever met, and Max is fascinated. Max thinks that Cian is a girl at first, but eventually finds out that Cian is trans, although nothing physical has been done yet. Max is attracted to Cian, even though he has never been interested in boys before, and their relationship takes off from there.
Of course, just because Max is learning to box and has caught the eye of a cute boy, doesn’t mean his image issues or lack of self confidence has been restored overnight. It’s a journey, and at the end of it, Max could make all his dreams come true.

After I read this, I remembered seeing something pop up in my feed about this, with the reviewer getting sort of riled up in the review, so I checked the reviews of the book out, and I understand their issues with it; I just didn’t see it that way.
First of all, I am fat. I’m not obese, but I definitely have folds where there shouldn’t be folds, and extra jiggles. I don’t hate myself, and I’m happy, if not completely healthy (yes, you can be healthy and still be fat), but I look back to my teenage years when I wasn’t fat or out of shape and think about how I felt about my body then, (way too fat) and wonder how much harder I would have been on myself if I had actually been fat. In that way, I completely understand Max and his hatred of himself. He used fat words because that was all he could see. He didn’t understand that he wasn’t abused by his bullies because he was overweight, but because he didn’t believe in himself.
Once Max starts to believe in what the people around him are saying, that he is worth it, he starts to come into his own, and not because he is losing a little weight, but because he sees the Max that everyone else sees. And everyone else sees a pretty awesome Max, from his teachers to his family to Cian.
I did have a little issue with how obsessed Max was with Cian’s breasts, but maybe that was because he was a 16 year old who had previously thought he was 100 percent heterosexual, and couldn’t turn of the woman-loving side of his bisexuality? (Also, I repeat, 16 years old.)
There were also a couple of continuity issues. My couple of niggles aside, I thought that the writing was absorbing, and the characters unique.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but what I got was a moving story of self-acceptance.

Max “Fatso” Farrier is fat and bullied for it, and he doesn’t expect that to change. All he wants is to keep his head down and finish his compulsory schooling so he can get away from his tormenters. However, when Max is injured by one of his bullies to the point of being taken to the hospital, his mother’s partner signs him up to learn Muay Thai. Max is horrified by the prospect of learning to box, but she forces him into attending the training sessions. The pain of the unaccustomed physical activity is a little easier to bear because of his sparring partner, Cian, who is brash and tough, a good antidote for Max’s despair. Cian helps Max realize that the vision Max has of himself isn’t necessarily what others, including Cian, see.

The heart of this novel is Max’s transformation from viewing himself as worthless to understanding his own value as a person. He may be large physically, but Max diminishes himself in his own mind. Part of his transformation involves his realization that being fat doesn’t define him, that he can be healthy and strong even if he will always be bigger than the average person. This change prompts Max’s refusal to continue to accept being bullied and to fight back if necessary. He also recognizes that his self-loathing has kept from doing well in school and is holding him back from pursuing his dream of a career in the Navy. As he learns to accept himself and see his own strengths clearly, Max comes into his own as the “big man” of the title.

The relationship between Max and Cian is very well written. Cian is trans, and the author does a terrific job exploring their feelings for each other. Early in the book, Max sometimes sees Cian as a girl and other times as a boy, and he finds his attraction to him confusing in terms of his own sexuality. That questioning passes fairly quickly as Max embraces Cian in his totality as a person. The two of them do have a physical relationship, and the complications that involves are handled sensitively by the author.

Overall, this is a terrific novel about a teenager learning to see himself clearly and to value what he finds.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

[Suzanne Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 year old Max Farrier is the poster boy for the type of person who is a perfect target for school bullies. He is a big guy, but he carries an unhealthy amount of extra weight that has earned him the moniker "Fatso Farrier". He has a trio of tormentors, Jazz, Aiden and worst of all, Tom. When another altercation with them ends with a kick to the head by Tom, Max has to go to the hospital for an overnight visit.

This is the last straw for his "Aunt" Donna, who is really his mother's fiance. She decides to sign him up for a 16 week course of Muay Thai at the gym. Max is definitely not down for that, but she threatens to keep him from the apprenticeship she had offered him in her business if he does not go through with the class. He grudgingly decides to attend and the shock of the physicality of it almost makes Max quit.

Once there, his lack of confidence and feeling of personal disgust with himself takes a leap upward when he meets Cian....who also works out with Max's trainer, Lewis. Max mistakenly assumes that Cian is a girl and is completely attracted to her slim build, blond hair and freckles. Only...Cian informs him that she is NOT a girl, but a boy. So Max mulls that over and realizes that, as he is still attracted to him, then Max must be bisexual.

Throughout the book, there are many instances of Max being physically assualted by the triple bullies and they are a bit difficult to read. But as Max comes into his own with his training and coming to terms with his self realization that he is slowly transitioning from "Fatso Farrier", he and Cian are building a real relationship as they both become more comfortable with their own bodies and each other.

This is a beautiful coming to terms novel with real characters of enormous depth and heart. It was a joy to read about how secure Cian was in himself and who he really was, regardless of his assigned physical gender and how his travels were being taken right along side Max and his own road to self acceptance and the love they both had for each other.

I was given an ARC by IndiGo Marketing & Design for an honest and unbiased review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars

I feel I should begin this review with a disclaimer—I love this author. Matthew J. Metzger writes characters that most assuredly resonate in my heart and leap off the page for me. I am thrilled that he also consistently includes trans and bisexual characters who often don’t fit the nice, careful boxes we cisgender folk sometimes think we can put them into without remembering how unique each individual is in real life. With his latest release, Big Man, Metzger takes on what has become a controversial topic concerning how one young man views his body and the bullying he gets from being overweight.

Max Farrier has always been big. He has changed schools three times due to the physical and verbal bullying he has received due to his weight. Now with the nickname “fatso Farrier” following him into his teen years, fifteen-year-old Max is just done with it all. He, himself, can see nothing but a fat, unattractive body and refuses to even look in the mirror anymore. He walks carefully through the school corridors, hoping the bully Jazz and his scary mates don’t choose that day to do such things as push his head into a toilet and then urinate on him, or beat him senseless. Unfortunately, it’s a rare day when Max is able to escape the threesome and his life has become a special kind of hell. Thinking he is useless and stupid, Max is biding his time till he is out of school so that he can work in his Aunt Donna’s electrical shop and disappear. However, his Aunt Donna has other ideas

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

[Daijah · Rating 2 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING FOR BULLYING, FAT SHAMING, TRANSPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, AND SLIGHT GORE

It is so much more than the blurb or the summary even tells you. The meaning of the book was really impactful and I think everybody should read it. It is about a young man who comes to accept himself as he is and stand up to bullies while also figuring out his sexuality and his future. It wasn't just about a kid who loses weight and accepts himself. He learned to accept himself that he is a big man, not a fat one. This novel had a ton of LGBT rep. His mother is bisexual and is dating a woman, there is a trans character and a gay romance. There is also amazing parent figures in this novel and I really really enjoy that because that is hard to find in YA. I never felt like the way the author wrote the fatness of the main character was offensive. People do truly see themselves that way and I find it accurate. The pacing of this story was very good and I was never bored. The writing was pretty good. It was simple but not too simple. I enjoyed the other details that were put into it like the Navy is mentioned a lot. The only thing that may deter some people from this novel is that is was a lot more sexual than most YA books I've ever read but it wasn't too graphic but still very surprising and is mentioned a lot. Overall this book is a 4/5 stars for me and I would highly recommend everybody to read it just to get a different perspective.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I've read this book because of the two reviews here: https://transbookreviews.wordpress.co..., and because I had already read and liked other books by Matthew J. Metzger. I was looking forward to the trans rep: that was IMO well done and believable.

But it was hard to read because of Max's internalised fatphobia. For some reviewers it amounted to fat-shaming. I don't know, to me his thoughts appeared quite believable, it is sadly almost normal that a person subjected for years to fat-shaming would see something wrong with herself/himself. I appreciated that Cian liked Max from the beginning, and not after he lost some weight and put on muscles after the training.
Still, I wouldn't recommend the book to persons having troubles with their physical shape.

See also this review by Kaje Harper. By the way I share Kaje's concern: at some stages it seems that violence is a successful answer to violent bullying.

Warnings: violence, bullying, homophobia, transphobia, misgendering, rape threats

[Suze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Metzger book that just drew me in.
I wasn’t sure as Max only turns 16 quite a way through the book and I’m not so keen on YA. But I did get involved in Max - he has his issues with his size which have been compounded over the years by the vicious comments and actions of the school bullies. God, it’s over 30 years since I was at school and those sort of people still rile me up. Too tall, too short, big boobs, no boobs, curly hair, straight hair, fat, thin, glasses everything was up for being ridiculed. And let’s not even mention if you had a physical issue to deal with. So Max’s issues with the bullies I can understand. Whilst I’ve had some issues I haven’t internalised to the extent has so can’t comment but it felt real to me.
Whilst the fight back response isn’t PC these days it is often the only way people feel empowered as evil little shits will continue to be evil.
However, i was engrossed in the story, the author’s writing does work for me, perhaps being British too helps.
I enjoyed the characters and Max’s growth, mentally, in what is a treacherous age for kids.