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Waisted
In this “big-hearted triumph of a novel” (Carolyn Pankhurst, New York Times bestselling author) for fans of Jennifer Weiner, seven women enrolled in an extreme weight loss documentary discover self-love and sisterhood as they enact a daring revenge against the exploitative filmmakers.
Alice and Daphne, both successful and accomplished working mothers, harbor the same obsession with their weight overshadows concerns about their children, husbands, work—and everything else of importance in their lives.
Daphne, plump in a family of model-thin women, discovered early that only slimness earns admiration. Alice, break-up skinny when she met her husband, risks losing her marriage if she keeps gaining weight.
The two women meet at Waisted. Located in a remote Vermont mansion, the program promises fast, dramatic weight loss, and Alice, Daphne, and five other women are desperate enough to leave behind their families for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The catch? They must agree to always be on camera; afterward, the world will see The Documentary .
But the women soon discover that the filmmakers have trapped them in a cruel experiment. With each pound lost, they edge deeper into obsession and instability...until they decide to take matters into their own hands.
Randy Susan Meyers “spins a compelling tale” ( Kirkus Reviews ) and “delivers a timely examination of body image, family, friendship, and what it means to be a woman in modern society...Culturally inclusive and societally on point, this is a must-read” ( Library Journal ).
Alice and Daphne, both successful and accomplished working mothers, harbor the same obsession with their weight overshadows concerns about their children, husbands, work—and everything else of importance in their lives.
Daphne, plump in a family of model-thin women, discovered early that only slimness earns admiration. Alice, break-up skinny when she met her husband, risks losing her marriage if she keeps gaining weight.
The two women meet at Waisted. Located in a remote Vermont mansion, the program promises fast, dramatic weight loss, and Alice, Daphne, and five other women are desperate enough to leave behind their families for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The catch? They must agree to always be on camera; afterward, the world will see The Documentary .
But the women soon discover that the filmmakers have trapped them in a cruel experiment. With each pound lost, they edge deeper into obsession and instability...until they decide to take matters into their own hands.
Randy Susan Meyers “spins a compelling tale” ( Kirkus Reviews ) and “delivers a timely examination of body image, family, friendship, and what it means to be a woman in modern society...Culturally inclusive and societally on point, this is a must-read” ( Library Journal ).
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2019
341 people are currently reading
8017 people want to read
About the author
Randy Susan Meyers
19 books1,037 followersRandy Susan Meyers, an international bestselling author of five novels, has been recognized by the Massachusetts Council of the Book. They have chosen three of her books as Must-Read Books, praising her clear and distinctive voice that captivates readers and leaves them yearning for more.
Her sixth novel, THE MANY MOTHERS OF IVY PUDDINGSTONE, will be released on October 29, 2024.
Though her novels explore domestic drama, societal issues, and cultural nuances, informed by her years working with community and governmental agencies, she gained the most insight into family and other politics during her four years as a bartender in a small Boston neighborhood bar.
Meyers is a Brooklyn-Boston hybrid who believes happiness requires family, friends, books, and an occasional NY bagel. She lives in Boston with her husband and teaches at the Grub Street Writer's Center.
Her sixth novel, THE MANY MOTHERS OF IVY PUDDINGSTONE, will be released on October 29, 2024.
Though her novels explore domestic drama, societal issues, and cultural nuances, informed by her years working with community and governmental agencies, she gained the most insight into family and other politics during her four years as a bartender in a small Boston neighborhood bar.
Meyers is a Brooklyn-Boston hybrid who believes happiness requires family, friends, books, and an occasional NY bagel. She lives in Boston with her husband and teaches at the Grub Street Writer's Center.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
January 18, 2019
....Awful.... really awful!
....Boring ...with cheesy dialogue!!!
.....Too many characters ... with secondary characters not developed well.
.....Shallow writing.
.....Suffers from bad editing syndrome.
.....The descriptions bring the ‘heart-of-the-storytelling’ to a standstill!
.....Defensive writing was a turn off.
.....not funny, not inspiring...
lacks authenticity.
Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and the author.
I appreciate the advance copy -
I wish I could have truthfully been more positive.
....Boring ...with cheesy dialogue!!!
.....Too many characters ... with secondary characters not developed well.
.....Shallow writing.
.....Suffers from bad editing syndrome.
.....The descriptions bring the ‘heart-of-the-storytelling’ to a standstill!
.....Defensive writing was a turn off.
.....not funny, not inspiring...
lacks authenticity.
Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and the author.
I appreciate the advance copy -
I wish I could have truthfully been more positive.
January 28, 2019
Keeping this one short and sweet, because I think I was not the right reader for this book. It wasn't a bad read, as I gave it 3 stars, but I found myself putting this one down and picking it back up over a span of weeks due to my not being able to engage with the plot or the characters. Will definitely give this author another chance in the future!
*Thank you Atria Books for my review copy.
November 10, 2018
Daphne and Alice meet at a retreat that was advertised as a way to lose a lot of weight quickly, but allegedly healthily. They agree to be followed by a camera crew because they think it’s being filmed for a serious documentary.
Daphne has a mother who has harped on her since she was young about how her weight is appalling. Even though Daphne has a husband of nineteen years who always assures her that he is attracted to her just as she is, she can’t shake her mother’s disappointment and condescension.
Alice has a white mother and a black father, both of whom have always supported her unfailingly. However, when she met her husband, a film director, she was super skinny because she was devastated by a breakup. Since then, she’s put on a lot of weight, and her husband doesn’t bother to conceal his displeasure about this.
Along with the other women at the retreat, Alice and Daphne discover the nefarious true story about what’s being done to them in the name of entertainment by humiliation and they take action.
I’m in OK shape, and there is no way I could possibly eat as little and work out that much as the women in the out-of-the-way mansion do, day after day. Women who are significantly overweight—I can’t imagine how they could manage not keeling over with serious injuries.
Something this novel gets right is the way overweight people stuff food down their faces privately, but without enjoyment. Toward the end, it gets a little too after-school-special about how much we should love our bodies just as they are, but all in all, this is a fast, engaging read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 21, 2019.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Daphne has a mother who has harped on her since she was young about how her weight is appalling. Even though Daphne has a husband of nineteen years who always assures her that he is attracted to her just as she is, she can’t shake her mother’s disappointment and condescension.
Alice has a white mother and a black father, both of whom have always supported her unfailingly. However, when she met her husband, a film director, she was super skinny because she was devastated by a breakup. Since then, she’s put on a lot of weight, and her husband doesn’t bother to conceal his displeasure about this.
Along with the other women at the retreat, Alice and Daphne discover the nefarious true story about what’s being done to them in the name of entertainment by humiliation and they take action.
I’m in OK shape, and there is no way I could possibly eat as little and work out that much as the women in the out-of-the-way mansion do, day after day. Women who are significantly overweight—I can’t imagine how they could manage not keeling over with serious injuries.
Something this novel gets right is the way overweight people stuff food down their faces privately, but without enjoyment. Toward the end, it gets a little too after-school-special about how much we should love our bodies just as they are, but all in all, this is a fast, engaging read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 21, 2019.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
dnf
March 21, 2019So this novel is about a few women who go to a weight-loss spa. After a couple of pages describing the journey to the spa, the book delves into the backstory of one of the women, Alice. Alice, the book would have you know, is hugely fat. A new dress for Alice requires voluminous amounts of fabric. When people see Alice's handsome husband, their disbelief that he's with someone like Alice is evident. When Alice's mother calls her "curvy," Alice is quick to correct her, saying she's not curvy, she's crossed over into just plain fat. Alice also binges, stuffing down handful after handful of M&Ms in secret, then sending someone out to get her a burger and fries. Sometimes she pukes after she eats too much, but not always, which is why she's so fat. (This couching of bulimia as nothing more than a weight-loss technique is only one of the things that's wrong with this book.)
So by page 22 I'd gotten the message (i.e., Alice is monstrously fat), and I wanted more information. Just exactly how big is Alice, this disgracefully huge individual? What size does she wear? On page 23 I found out: She's 5'10" and a size 18. A size 18! I guarantee you that if you saw a 5'10" size 18 woman out there in the wild, your first thoughts wouldn't be about how insanely fat she is and how she needs to go to a fat farm ASAP. Well, unless you're an asshole, I guess.
Also, this idea that overweight people are constantly stuffing massive amounts of food down their gullets is a stereotype, an oversimplification. The reasons people gain weight and have trouble losing it are complex, and it is possible for a person to be overweight despite good habits and actually be healthier than a naturally thin person whose habits aren't as good. But naturally thin people don't like to acknowledge this, because otherwise how could they feel superior? How could they hide behind the idea that it's all about "health" and not just about their disdain for people who are heavier than they are? So of course, make your size-18 character some kind of gluttonous caricature. Why try to do something more interesting when plenty of people (of all weights) will be happy to swallow this down and ask for more?
So that's pretty much where this book seems to be at, and it's why thin people shouldn't be allowed to write books about fat people: They don't actually know what they're talking about.
Also, the writing is terrible. Where are the editors these days? Don't they have any clue what they're doing? Or do they think that mediocre is good enough as long as it moves copies? Never mind, I just answered my own question.
I guess it's possible this book gets better as it goes along, but with such a shaky foundation, I doubt it. This ARC is going in the recycling bin. In fact, it's already in there.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
So by page 22 I'd gotten the message (i.e., Alice is monstrously fat), and I wanted more information. Just exactly how big is Alice, this disgracefully huge individual? What size does she wear? On page 23 I found out: She's 5'10" and a size 18. A size 18! I guarantee you that if you saw a 5'10" size 18 woman out there in the wild, your first thoughts wouldn't be about how insanely fat she is and how she needs to go to a fat farm ASAP. Well, unless you're an asshole, I guess.
Also, this idea that overweight people are constantly stuffing massive amounts of food down their gullets is a stereotype, an oversimplification. The reasons people gain weight and have trouble losing it are complex, and it is possible for a person to be overweight despite good habits and actually be healthier than a naturally thin person whose habits aren't as good. But naturally thin people don't like to acknowledge this, because otherwise how could they feel superior? How could they hide behind the idea that it's all about "health" and not just about their disdain for people who are heavier than they are? So of course, make your size-18 character some kind of gluttonous caricature. Why try to do something more interesting when plenty of people (of all weights) will be happy to swallow this down and ask for more?
So that's pretty much where this book seems to be at, and it's why thin people shouldn't be allowed to write books about fat people: They don't actually know what they're talking about.
Also, the writing is terrible. Where are the editors these days? Don't they have any clue what they're doing? Or do they think that mediocre is good enough as long as it moves copies? Never mind, I just answered my own question.
I guess it's possible this book gets better as it goes along, but with such a shaky foundation, I doubt it. This ARC is going in the recycling bin. In fact, it's already in there.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
April 23, 2019
You can probably count the women that don’t worry about their weight on one hand. As someone who has been overweight and managed to lose it, but constantly thinks about it, the premise of this book drew me in. Seven women, seriously overweight, sign up for a weight loss farm where their efforts will be documented on film. But is it a serious documentary or reality tv? Or something else?
The book is told from the perspective of two of the seven women . Alice, who married her director husband during the one period in her life when she was thin, only to find out how important looks are to him when she gained weight. Daphne is a gifted makeup artist with a loving husband but the mother from Hell.
As soon as the women arrive at the weight loss farm, we know this is not going to go well. A cross between army basic training and prison. There are threats, taunts and punishments. It only takes the reader seconds to realize that the methods are actually dangerous. It’s like someone took The Biggest Loser and mixed it with Cool Hand Luke.
There are a few interesting points, as the women put up with the humiliation and pain because they hate being fat so much. “What led them to obey these people? Each day, Alice became more frightened by the crap she took in her pursuit of this overwhelming desire to be thin.”
My problem with this book is I loved the premise and was disappointed with the way it plays out. It started much stronger than it finished. One major plot line seemed to be started and then dropped. I liked that each woman came to her self realizations in her own way but some of the thoughts came across as cheesy, simplistic and more worthy of a magazine article than an in depth discovery.
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
The book is told from the perspective of two of the seven women . Alice, who married her director husband during the one period in her life when she was thin, only to find out how important looks are to him when she gained weight. Daphne is a gifted makeup artist with a loving husband but the mother from Hell.
As soon as the women arrive at the weight loss farm, we know this is not going to go well. A cross between army basic training and prison. There are threats, taunts and punishments. It only takes the reader seconds to realize that the methods are actually dangerous. It’s like someone took The Biggest Loser and mixed it with Cool Hand Luke.
There are a few interesting points, as the women put up with the humiliation and pain because they hate being fat so much. “What led them to obey these people? Each day, Alice became more frightened by the crap she took in her pursuit of this overwhelming desire to be thin.”
My problem with this book is I loved the premise and was disappointed with the way it plays out. It started much stronger than it finished. One major plot line seemed to be started and then dropped. I liked that each woman came to her self realizations in her own way but some of the thoughts came across as cheesy, simplistic and more worthy of a magazine article than an in depth discovery.
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
April 12, 2019
3.5 stars
Waisted was an intriguing book that I devoured once I stared reading.
Alice and Daphane are very much different people but have one big thing in common. They are both overweight. Alice has a husband who isn't supportive and makes her feel less than because of her body, and Daphane's husband is the exact opposite. He loves her for who she is no matter what. Alice's mom is wonderful and supportive, Daphane's is always making her feel bad for her extra weight and pressuring her to lose the weight. Both of them are sick of it and decide they need a change. They sign up for Waisted, a documentary/weight loss program but it's not what they bargained for at all.
The beginning and end of the story were the parts I found the most interesting. I didn't like reading about the time they were filming Waisted. Aside from the bond Alice and Daphane shared while there, I didn't care for it at all. I felt it was over the top and brought out some not great emotions for me. I did, however, appreciate that they came out of it different people. The change took time, but it was there. This is very much a story of growth. Both for Daphane and Alice. And it was very well written.
There were things I loved about this story, things I didn't love so much, but in the end, I really did enjoy the story and these two strong and brave women's journey. I think anyone who has ever struggled with their weight can relate to this in some way, shape, or form. For anyone looking for a women's fiction story that follows two women on the path of acceptance, this is one I would recommend.
Waisted was an intriguing book that I devoured once I stared reading.
Alice and Daphane are very much different people but have one big thing in common. They are both overweight. Alice has a husband who isn't supportive and makes her feel less than because of her body, and Daphane's husband is the exact opposite. He loves her for who she is no matter what. Alice's mom is wonderful and supportive, Daphane's is always making her feel bad for her extra weight and pressuring her to lose the weight. Both of them are sick of it and decide they need a change. They sign up for Waisted, a documentary/weight loss program but it's not what they bargained for at all.
The beginning and end of the story were the parts I found the most interesting. I didn't like reading about the time they were filming Waisted. Aside from the bond Alice and Daphane shared while there, I didn't care for it at all. I felt it was over the top and brought out some not great emotions for me. I did, however, appreciate that they came out of it different people. The change took time, but it was there. This is very much a story of growth. Both for Daphane and Alice. And it was very well written.
There were things I loved about this story, things I didn't love so much, but in the end, I really did enjoy the story and these two strong and brave women's journey. I think anyone who has ever struggled with their weight can relate to this in some way, shape, or form. For anyone looking for a women's fiction story that follows two women on the path of acceptance, this is one I would recommend.
August 6, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
2.5 Stars
I have to confess I wanted to read this simply out of morbid curiosity. Despite my addiction to terrible reality television, the one thing I’ve never been able to stomach are weight loss shows. I’ve never understood why someone would subject themselves to “motivation” like this . . .
What the reasoning (aside from public humiliation) behind being weighed wearing things like this could be . . . .
And how in the hell 90% of the participants would ever be able to keep the weight off when not living in a controlled environment with a personal chef, no McDs/Taco Bell available, no job to go to or kids/spouse to deal with and working out umpteen hours a day . . . .
Those shows just depress me. Buuuuuuuuut, as a fat woman, I’m still fascinated by new and notable releases that feature fat women. Especially when the premise is to address the pink elephant in the room head on . . . . .
This is the beginning of our experiment. What would these women do to lose weight? Would they degrade themselves? We knew the answer immediately. The next question was this: How far would they go?
And let me tell you, this author really delivered some real wallops in the form of letting you into the mind of a heavyset person . . . .
How are you supposed to understand. That I think about my body every minute? That I worry about my thighs more than about the state of the world?
Everyone hated a fat woman, but none more than she hated herself.
Clothes made the woman. Naked made the shame.
This book was pretty good . . . until it wasn’t anymore. The second half kind of fell apart. Not to mention . . . .
Like the smuggest of men, the scale mocked her. Scales seemed so damn masculine, particularly the machines in doctors’ offices, standing above her with their air of superiority, their broad shoulders meant to keep her in place, the metal scornful as she stepped on, smirking when the numbers settled.
Not everything has to include man hating. FFS, dudes aren’t the ones who have been buying Cosmo all these freaking years. We women do a pretty good job all on our own fat shaming each other.
2.5 Stars
I have to confess I wanted to read this simply out of morbid curiosity. Despite my addiction to terrible reality television, the one thing I’ve never been able to stomach are weight loss shows. I’ve never understood why someone would subject themselves to “motivation” like this . . .
What the reasoning (aside from public humiliation) behind being weighed wearing things like this could be . . . .
And how in the hell 90% of the participants would ever be able to keep the weight off when not living in a controlled environment with a personal chef, no McDs/Taco Bell available, no job to go to or kids/spouse to deal with and working out umpteen hours a day . . . .
Those shows just depress me. Buuuuuuuuut, as a fat woman, I’m still fascinated by new and notable releases that feature fat women. Especially when the premise is to address the pink elephant in the room head on . . . . .
This is the beginning of our experiment. What would these women do to lose weight? Would they degrade themselves? We knew the answer immediately. The next question was this: How far would they go?
And let me tell you, this author really delivered some real wallops in the form of letting you into the mind of a heavyset person . . . .
How are you supposed to understand. That I think about my body every minute? That I worry about my thighs more than about the state of the world?
Everyone hated a fat woman, but none more than she hated herself.
Clothes made the woman. Naked made the shame.
This book was pretty good . . . until it wasn’t anymore. The second half kind of fell apart. Not to mention . . . .
Like the smuggest of men, the scale mocked her. Scales seemed so damn masculine, particularly the machines in doctors’ offices, standing above her with their air of superiority, their broad shoulders meant to keep her in place, the metal scornful as she stepped on, smirking when the numbers settled.
Not everything has to include man hating. FFS, dudes aren’t the ones who have been buying Cosmo all these freaking years. We women do a pretty good job all on our own fat shaming each other.
May 31, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
She, along with six other substantial women, stood in the parking lot avoiding each other, as though their abundance of flesh might transfer from body to body.
“I’m in shock at the number.” Daphne refused to state the actual number. “Shock without any baseline of knowledge. I don’t know what I should weigh. Last night, watching those men and women being weighed like heifers at market, I wanted to cry.”
Mirrors engulfed them, mirrors sharper and brighter than Daphne imagined existed… Mirrors courtesy of Satan.
“Alive is a story— decades old, but true— of plane crash survivors in the Andes Mountains,” Daphne explained. “The passengers who lived survived by eating the flesh of the dead.” A week ago, Hania would have groaned in disgust. Now she looked as though she understood cannibalism.
Fat women looked more naked than normal-weighted women. Clothes made the woman. Naked made the shame.
When they learned that Susannah worked as a nursery school teacher, Daphne imagined toddlers climbing up onto her giant lap as though scaling the Matterhorn.
Daphne snuck up on the scale as if approaching it slowly would trick the machine… Like the smuggest of men, the scale mocked her.
My Review:
Oh what wickedly clever insights Randy Susan Meyers skewered me with, it was as if she has been spying from my pantry. I could have easily been a character in this book. I was blessed (overly so) with a curvaceous body shape and am a life-long expert dieter (yoyo) and as one who counts vacuuming as strenuous exercise (begrudgingly done), I saw my crazy on several pages of this revealing tale and had a fleeting worrisome thought of whether I should possibly check my home for hidden cameras. I will confess to having fervently thrown myself into countless fad diets and “lifestyle programs” as well as begged a few (numerous) doctors for the latest magic pill being advertised, all while keeping fingers crossed it will be as promised - the last one I’ll ever need. I know I’m not unique, and imagine 90% of women have suffered from similar concerns at least once in their lives.
Ms. Meyers’ narrative raised several interesting points and provided thoughtful if not a bit painfully reflective entertainment as to the extreme measures (including soul-shattering humiliation, deprivation, and degradation) that women would willingly allow being perpetrated upon them for the goal of quick weight loss. She had me there. While the plot and storylines were relevant and topical, I also deeply appreciated how this perceptive author craftily navigated the nuances and complications of racial and cultural quirks toward these issues with the use of clever wry humor and insightful observations. While many of the characters’ revelations and inner musings were markedly profound, my favorite combination of all the words used in this book was a notation of “the secret obese of France,” snort, you know there has to be at least a few hidden away.
She, along with six other substantial women, stood in the parking lot avoiding each other, as though their abundance of flesh might transfer from body to body.
“I’m in shock at the number.” Daphne refused to state the actual number. “Shock without any baseline of knowledge. I don’t know what I should weigh. Last night, watching those men and women being weighed like heifers at market, I wanted to cry.”
Mirrors engulfed them, mirrors sharper and brighter than Daphne imagined existed… Mirrors courtesy of Satan.
“Alive is a story— decades old, but true— of plane crash survivors in the Andes Mountains,” Daphne explained. “The passengers who lived survived by eating the flesh of the dead.” A week ago, Hania would have groaned in disgust. Now she looked as though she understood cannibalism.
Fat women looked more naked than normal-weighted women. Clothes made the woman. Naked made the shame.
When they learned that Susannah worked as a nursery school teacher, Daphne imagined toddlers climbing up onto her giant lap as though scaling the Matterhorn.
Daphne snuck up on the scale as if approaching it slowly would trick the machine… Like the smuggest of men, the scale mocked her.
My Review:
Oh what wickedly clever insights Randy Susan Meyers skewered me with, it was as if she has been spying from my pantry. I could have easily been a character in this book. I was blessed (overly so) with a curvaceous body shape and am a life-long expert dieter (yoyo) and as one who counts vacuuming as strenuous exercise (begrudgingly done), I saw my crazy on several pages of this revealing tale and had a fleeting worrisome thought of whether I should possibly check my home for hidden cameras. I will confess to having fervently thrown myself into countless fad diets and “lifestyle programs” as well as begged a few (numerous) doctors for the latest magic pill being advertised, all while keeping fingers crossed it will be as promised - the last one I’ll ever need. I know I’m not unique, and imagine 90% of women have suffered from similar concerns at least once in their lives.
Ms. Meyers’ narrative raised several interesting points and provided thoughtful if not a bit painfully reflective entertainment as to the extreme measures (including soul-shattering humiliation, deprivation, and degradation) that women would willingly allow being perpetrated upon them for the goal of quick weight loss. She had me there. While the plot and storylines were relevant and topical, I also deeply appreciated how this perceptive author craftily navigated the nuances and complications of racial and cultural quirks toward these issues with the use of clever wry humor and insightful observations. While many of the characters’ revelations and inner musings were markedly profound, my favorite combination of all the words used in this book was a notation of “the secret obese of France,” snort, you know there has to be at least a few hidden away.
May 24, 2019
Thoughtful, honest, and dramatic! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Alice and Daphne have so many things of which to be proud. They are moms, wives, successful at work, but all they can focus on is their weight.
Alice was thin when she first met her husband, and she feels her marriage is in jeopardy if she continues to gain weight.
Daphne is overweight in a family of thin women, and her mother’s approval is earned only if one is thin.
Alice and Daphne meet at Waisted, a weight loss program set in a Vermont mansion. It’s not just any weight loss program, though. There are cameras there filming a documentary. Five other women are in the program along with Alice and Daphne.
The women find out the program is even more complicated; they are actually in an experiment, so they decide to join forces and turn the tables on the producers.
I found the women’s stories relatable. We live in a weight-centric society, and the background experiences of both Daphne and Alice were honest and could be accurate portrayals of real life women I know. I enjoyed hearing from Alice and Daphne individually. The weight loss program was tough to read about at times, but it also reminded me of The Biggest Loser and the harsh regimens the contestants were forced to adopt to lose weight in a short period of time. I also appreciated the epiphanies the women worked towards about body acceptance and a shift to a more positive body image.
Overall, I think this was an honest and authentic portrayal of women with families, careers,p and full plates trying their best to prioritize their physical and mental well-beings.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Alice and Daphne have so many things of which to be proud. They are moms, wives, successful at work, but all they can focus on is their weight.
Alice was thin when she first met her husband, and she feels her marriage is in jeopardy if she continues to gain weight.
Daphne is overweight in a family of thin women, and her mother’s approval is earned only if one is thin.
Alice and Daphne meet at Waisted, a weight loss program set in a Vermont mansion. It’s not just any weight loss program, though. There are cameras there filming a documentary. Five other women are in the program along with Alice and Daphne.
The women find out the program is even more complicated; they are actually in an experiment, so they decide to join forces and turn the tables on the producers.
I found the women’s stories relatable. We live in a weight-centric society, and the background experiences of both Daphne and Alice were honest and could be accurate portrayals of real life women I know. I enjoyed hearing from Alice and Daphne individually. The weight loss program was tough to read about at times, but it also reminded me of The Biggest Loser and the harsh regimens the contestants were forced to adopt to lose weight in a short period of time. I also appreciated the epiphanies the women worked towards about body acceptance and a shift to a more positive body image.
Overall, I think this was an honest and authentic portrayal of women with families, careers,p and full plates trying their best to prioritize their physical and mental well-beings.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
May 29, 2019
𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮. 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓵.
Randy Susan Meyers has written a thought-provoking story about women and their relationship with their weight. Alice and Daphne befriend each other while at a weight-loss retreat that turns into a weight-loss nightmare. Alice is a strong woman with a rewarding career, a loving family, and a beautiful daughter. She met her husband when she was break up skinny and has always felt that he was not happy with her subsequent weight gain. Daphne is a make up artist with two wonderful children and a loving husband. Her mother however has always made her feel as though she was not good enough, because she was never thin enough. The women are determined to lose weight and hopeful when they enter the weight-loss retreat in Vermont, however their hopes are soon dashed. The weight-loss program is demanding, dangerous, and degrading. The women are treated more like prisoners then guests and soon they begin to wonder if they are even allowed to leave?
Parts of this book were so tough to read, these women were pushed to such limits. I have spent most of my life working in the fitness industry. My weight has yo-yoed up-and-down throughout my life and I have had a healthy and an unhealthy relationship with my body image, so I get it. I have done things that were not necessarily in my best interest all for that number on the scale. It was sad and hard to watch these women push themselves so far just for that number. Depriving them cells of calories, pushing their bodies to physical extremes, not to mention the emotional toll that this places on a person. And for what? A documentary that ends up being pure entertainment an experiment to see how far women will go for that body ideal. The unfortunate thing is even though this is a fictional book it is based on truth.
Alice and Daphne were both very likable and relatable characters. I really love the bond that formed between them. Alice’s relationship with her mother was complicated, I really felt for her mother she really wanted the best for her daughter she just wasn’t always quite sure how to go about it (I know that feeling). Daphne had an amazing husband, supportive children, but her mom? Well her mom had some things to work on. Sometimes I don’t think we realize how much we hurt people we love with our words, even if our intentions are good. The ending of the story was sweet, but maybe a little too sweet? I am all for people accepting themselves how they are and I think as long as we are healthy it doesn’t and shouldn’t matter what number is on the scale. However it is such a hard balancing act that might have been made to appear a little easier than it really is? But then again this is fiction. I think the overall message of this book was extremely positive, and I think it’s great for women to know that they are not alone in the struggle. The struggle is real!
*** Big thanks to Atria for my copy of this book ***
Randy Susan Meyers has written a thought-provoking story about women and their relationship with their weight. Alice and Daphne befriend each other while at a weight-loss retreat that turns into a weight-loss nightmare. Alice is a strong woman with a rewarding career, a loving family, and a beautiful daughter. She met her husband when she was break up skinny and has always felt that he was not happy with her subsequent weight gain. Daphne is a make up artist with two wonderful children and a loving husband. Her mother however has always made her feel as though she was not good enough, because she was never thin enough. The women are determined to lose weight and hopeful when they enter the weight-loss retreat in Vermont, however their hopes are soon dashed. The weight-loss program is demanding, dangerous, and degrading. The women are treated more like prisoners then guests and soon they begin to wonder if they are even allowed to leave?
Parts of this book were so tough to read, these women were pushed to such limits. I have spent most of my life working in the fitness industry. My weight has yo-yoed up-and-down throughout my life and I have had a healthy and an unhealthy relationship with my body image, so I get it. I have done things that were not necessarily in my best interest all for that number on the scale. It was sad and hard to watch these women push themselves so far just for that number. Depriving them cells of calories, pushing their bodies to physical extremes, not to mention the emotional toll that this places on a person. And for what? A documentary that ends up being pure entertainment an experiment to see how far women will go for that body ideal. The unfortunate thing is even though this is a fictional book it is based on truth.
Alice and Daphne were both very likable and relatable characters. I really love the bond that formed between them. Alice’s relationship with her mother was complicated, I really felt for her mother she really wanted the best for her daughter she just wasn’t always quite sure how to go about it (I know that feeling). Daphne had an amazing husband, supportive children, but her mom? Well her mom had some things to work on. Sometimes I don’t think we realize how much we hurt people we love with our words, even if our intentions are good. The ending of the story was sweet, but maybe a little too sweet? I am all for people accepting themselves how they are and I think as long as we are healthy it doesn’t and shouldn’t matter what number is on the scale. However it is such a hard balancing act that might have been made to appear a little easier than it really is? But then again this is fiction. I think the overall message of this book was extremely positive, and I think it’s great for women to know that they are not alone in the struggle. The struggle is real!
*** Big thanks to Atria for my copy of this book ***
April 14, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you have ever been a slave to the scale or the Monday morning do-over to lose the weight that will miraculously solve all of your problems, this book is for you. The self-loathing and the feeling of being invisible regardless of your size is aptly depicted in this book.
The story centers around Alice and Daphne who believe their stay at a weight-loss facility for a month will be the answer to the countless attempts to shed the weight. What they discover is a boot camp that humiliates them, which only heightens their low self-esteem. Alice and Daphne are fed-up after they learn that they are being filmed and decide to take matters into their own hands. They turn the tables on their "captors" and leave. But now they are a thinner version of themselves and the adjustment has become a myriad of emotions including the way they see themselves and how their friends and family see them.
This story had so many relatable moments from choosing a dress for the special occasion to the intimacy with a spouse and how these moments get ruined by the shame that has been reinforced each time we look in a mirror. I found some of the content difficult to endure but sometimes truth is hard.
If you have ever been a slave to the scale or the Monday morning do-over to lose the weight that will miraculously solve all of your problems, this book is for you. The self-loathing and the feeling of being invisible regardless of your size is aptly depicted in this book.
The story centers around Alice and Daphne who believe their stay at a weight-loss facility for a month will be the answer to the countless attempts to shed the weight. What they discover is a boot camp that humiliates them, which only heightens their low self-esteem. Alice and Daphne are fed-up after they learn that they are being filmed and decide to take matters into their own hands. They turn the tables on their "captors" and leave. But now they are a thinner version of themselves and the adjustment has become a myriad of emotions including the way they see themselves and how their friends and family see them.
This story had so many relatable moments from choosing a dress for the special occasion to the intimacy with a spouse and how these moments get ruined by the shame that has been reinforced each time we look in a mirror. I found some of the content difficult to endure but sometimes truth is hard.
October 10, 2018
I was lucky enough to read this book in manuscript form and I can't say enough about it. It's heartfelt. Suspenseful. Witty. Warm. Wonderful. Disturbing. Thoughtful. Compelling. Riveting. Seriously important. Inspiring. It made me hungry. Then made me never want to eat again. I recognized myself. Then hated myself. Then loved myself. This is a must read for every woman who ever stepped on the scale with her eyes closed. And every woman who hasn't.
February 15, 2019
Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers was refreshing, moving, and just the book I needed in my life right now :)
Daphne and Alice are very unhappy with their bodies. They both meet one another at Privation for a month long stay at a camp that promises weight loss. Instead, it's an awful reality show documentary called Waisted that shames women for their weight. This is an experiment designed to see how far women will actually go to lose weight.
Like all women, I have struggled with my body image time and time again. I really connected with this book due to struggling with my own body. It was difficult at times to read this book but also powerful because you see the main characters break out of their shells and take control of stopping that hate cycle of body image.
I enjoyed this one and believe that a lot of women also will!!
4 stars for Waisted.
Huge thank you to Atria for an advanced arc via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 5/21/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/15/19
Daphne and Alice are very unhappy with their bodies. They both meet one another at Privation for a month long stay at a camp that promises weight loss. Instead, it's an awful reality show documentary called Waisted that shames women for their weight. This is an experiment designed to see how far women will actually go to lose weight.
Like all women, I have struggled with my body image time and time again. I really connected with this book due to struggling with my own body. It was difficult at times to read this book but also powerful because you see the main characters break out of their shells and take control of stopping that hate cycle of body image.
I enjoyed this one and believe that a lot of women also will!!
4 stars for Waisted.
Huge thank you to Atria for an advanced arc via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 5/21/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/15/19
April 8, 2021
Alice and Daphne has issues with their weight and agrees to join a weightloss program that are going to be aried on TV. But its not at all what it seems. I didn't enjoy it. Didn't think it was tastefully done and left more to be wished for the story. There was a lot of hateful language in this book especially about weight and some blaming. But maybe I should have realize it would contain that. But I wanted more from it
May 20, 2019
1 star *
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Usually I reserve 1 star rating for DNFs. However this one gets the honor that I finished the book and still gave 1 star. I guess unpopular opinion here seeing as there are so many positive reviews for this read but I just didn't get it. I hate giving an advanced read copy a poor review, I try to be positive and grateful I was given the chance to read something that could be great, but this just wasted my time. The premise sounds great, a camp where overweight women go to lose weight and how far are they willing to go to lose weight. Perfect, almost every girl I know, including myself, worries about their weight and wants to be or stay skinny. I was really excited about this but then I don't even know how to review this. The writing style of bad, I didn't like a single character, I felt nothing for any of them. There were racist and fat shaming remarks throughout. The ending .. I don't even know what happened, I just wanted to get this done with, but the writing was so confusing to follow.
I'll try to end on a positive here.. there were quotes from well known people on losing weight scattered throughout the story that I did enjoy. Again, great idea, great potential just poor execution. Sorry!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sorry this wasn't positive.
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Usually I reserve 1 star rating for DNFs. However this one gets the honor that I finished the book and still gave 1 star. I guess unpopular opinion here seeing as there are so many positive reviews for this read but I just didn't get it. I hate giving an advanced read copy a poor review, I try to be positive and grateful I was given the chance to read something that could be great, but this just wasted my time. The premise sounds great, a camp where overweight women go to lose weight and how far are they willing to go to lose weight. Perfect, almost every girl I know, including myself, worries about their weight and wants to be or stay skinny. I was really excited about this but then I don't even know how to review this. The writing style of bad, I didn't like a single character, I felt nothing for any of them. There were racist and fat shaming remarks throughout. The ending .. I don't even know what happened, I just wanted to get this done with, but the writing was so confusing to follow.
I'll try to end on a positive here.. there were quotes from well known people on losing weight scattered throughout the story that I did enjoy. Again, great idea, great potential just poor execution. Sorry!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sorry this wasn't positive.
May 16, 2019
After reading a synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it. I mean, what woman does not struggle with her body image at least once in her lifetime and does not want to read some, hopefully inspiring if not funny, fiction book about it? When starting this book I was expecting some eye opening revelations, some confirmations, and at least a little bit of humor, unfortunately I did not get much of any of these things. This was simply not my “cup of tea”, but I am sure there are some readers out there that will appreciate this book and find it satisfying and even entertaining. I am giving it a 3 star review, because I don’t think this book was bad or poorly written, I just don’t think I was the right audience for it.
Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for giving me an opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for giving me an opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
February 2, 2020
A refreshing look at a difficult topics. Randy Susan Meyers is a fantastic author who doesn't shy away from confronting controversial topics head on.
May 4, 2019
This review is incredibly difficult for me to write. I am a book reviewer. But, I don't review books to be critical. I do it to promote books, support authors and publishers, and share my love of reading. I review over 200 books per year and I virtually never give an overtly negative review. I often find that even if a book is not my personal taste, I can appreciate it for what it is and what it brings to the table.
Unfortunately, Waisted completely missed the mark for me. And while I appreciate the concept, I struggle to give it even a halfway decent review.
Let's start with the things I liked:
1. The overall message. I personally struggle with weight and body image issues so I loved the idea behind this book. I love the ultimate message of loving one's self for more than just a number on a scale. I get it.
2. The weight loss tips and quotes interspersed throughout the prose. Although sometimes awkwardly placed and located, I liked what they added.
Ok, so what didn't I like?
1. In a general sense, I felt like the writing was completely ineffective in delivering the overall message. At a high level, the point was made. But, the story never felt authentic or realistic enough for me to feel invested in the story or the characters. I would have appreciated a more conversational tone to the sentence structure. It just felt like the author was trying too hard.
Frankly, I didn't care what happened next because I was so disengaged.
2. The first half of the story felt really schizophrenic and unorganized. I explained it to a friend as "just words on a page" because there were a lot of words and very little substance. The second half turned around a bit and the story started to move in a cohesive direction, but it still felt choppy and inconsistent.
3. The dialogue was totally unrealistic. I could never see myself saying some of the things the characters in this story did. I so much more appreciate when authors write dialogue that is relatable.
4. The characters were not well developed or distinct. I'm not joking here... for about 70% of the book I kept getting confused with which character was Daphne and which was Alice (the two main characters). Their literary voices were so similar and poorly differentiated that they felt like the same character in two different story lines.
5. While I appreciate how race plays into body image, I felt like the author was too ambitious trying to tackle both issues of weight and issues of race. If she would have focused her message solely on weight, I think she may have been more successful. There were too many conflicting ideas competing for priority.
Frankly, when I finished the book I thought to myself, "I'm glad that's over." Which is never the way you want to feel when you close the last page.
Like I said, I so rarely find that I rate a book less than 3 stars. I hate so much to give a bad review but I think it's important to be authentic and honest. This one just did not resonate with me.
-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Randy Susan Meyers, and Atria Books for the opportunity to review.-
Unfortunately, Waisted completely missed the mark for me. And while I appreciate the concept, I struggle to give it even a halfway decent review.
Let's start with the things I liked:
1. The overall message. I personally struggle with weight and body image issues so I loved the idea behind this book. I love the ultimate message of loving one's self for more than just a number on a scale. I get it.
2. The weight loss tips and quotes interspersed throughout the prose. Although sometimes awkwardly placed and located, I liked what they added.
Ok, so what didn't I like?
1. In a general sense, I felt like the writing was completely ineffective in delivering the overall message. At a high level, the point was made. But, the story never felt authentic or realistic enough for me to feel invested in the story or the characters. I would have appreciated a more conversational tone to the sentence structure. It just felt like the author was trying too hard.
Frankly, I didn't care what happened next because I was so disengaged.
2. The first half of the story felt really schizophrenic and unorganized. I explained it to a friend as "just words on a page" because there were a lot of words and very little substance. The second half turned around a bit and the story started to move in a cohesive direction, but it still felt choppy and inconsistent.
3. The dialogue was totally unrealistic. I could never see myself saying some of the things the characters in this story did. I so much more appreciate when authors write dialogue that is relatable.
4. The characters were not well developed or distinct. I'm not joking here... for about 70% of the book I kept getting confused with which character was Daphne and which was Alice (the two main characters). Their literary voices were so similar and poorly differentiated that they felt like the same character in two different story lines.
5. While I appreciate how race plays into body image, I felt like the author was too ambitious trying to tackle both issues of weight and issues of race. If she would have focused her message solely on weight, I think she may have been more successful. There were too many conflicting ideas competing for priority.
Frankly, when I finished the book I thought to myself, "I'm glad that's over." Which is never the way you want to feel when you close the last page.
Like I said, I so rarely find that I rate a book less than 3 stars. I hate so much to give a bad review but I think it's important to be authentic and honest. This one just did not resonate with me.
-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Randy Susan Meyers, and Atria Books for the opportunity to review.-
May 17, 2019
Alice is the head of a children's community center and she is overweight. She is obsessed with being overweight. But she can't help but be overweight. Since her childhood her mother has kept tabs on how much she eats. How unhealthy being overweight is and what not to eat. Now Alice only hears her mother's voice in her head when trying to make healthy food choices and it only does the opposite. So Alice continues to eat and continues to gain weight.
Daphne, a make-up artist was very thin when she met her husband years ago. When she found herself pregnant they decided to marry. Since the birth of her daughter years ago she not only never lost the baby weight, but has continually added to it much to the chagrin of her husband and her mother. They are a tag team when it comes to what she puts in her mouth. Now she is beginning to worry about her young daughter and what her perception of the situation might do to her. She feels she needs to get her weight under control not only for herself but to save her marriage and make both her daughter and mother happy.
Alice and Daphne meet at Waisted, a month long live-in mansion in Vermont where it is promised to members a safe, healthy weight loss with psychological assistance to help with their understanding as to why they eat. They soon discover that not only is this program not what it said it would be, but is actually being filmed to become a documentary which will be viewed by many. Not something an overweight person would really be comfortable with.
The women all begin to realize they are being used not in a good way, but in a way in which the documentary will make them be perceived as desperate women who would do just about anything to lose weight quickly. The counselors are cruel and demeaning, depriving them of food and making them feel worthless, even more so than when they arrived. The must figure out a way to get out.
This incredible novel delves into so many social issues seen in both young girls and women who begin to feel powerless and self-conscious at an early age. With problems such as body image, addiction, trying to hold a marriage and family together to being brave and honest and finally accepting who you are and loving that person, this book has it all.
This is an inspiring story of women who decide to take back their power and use it for good.
Waisted will be available on May 21. Thank you #NetGalley #Atria Books #Waisted #Randy Susan Meyers for the advanced copy.
Daphne, a make-up artist was very thin when she met her husband years ago. When she found herself pregnant they decided to marry. Since the birth of her daughter years ago she not only never lost the baby weight, but has continually added to it much to the chagrin of her husband and her mother. They are a tag team when it comes to what she puts in her mouth. Now she is beginning to worry about her young daughter and what her perception of the situation might do to her. She feels she needs to get her weight under control not only for herself but to save her marriage and make both her daughter and mother happy.
Alice and Daphne meet at Waisted, a month long live-in mansion in Vermont where it is promised to members a safe, healthy weight loss with psychological assistance to help with their understanding as to why they eat. They soon discover that not only is this program not what it said it would be, but is actually being filmed to become a documentary which will be viewed by many. Not something an overweight person would really be comfortable with.
The women all begin to realize they are being used not in a good way, but in a way in which the documentary will make them be perceived as desperate women who would do just about anything to lose weight quickly. The counselors are cruel and demeaning, depriving them of food and making them feel worthless, even more so than when they arrived. The must figure out a way to get out.
This incredible novel delves into so many social issues seen in both young girls and women who begin to feel powerless and self-conscious at an early age. With problems such as body image, addiction, trying to hold a marriage and family together to being brave and honest and finally accepting who you are and loving that person, this book has it all.
This is an inspiring story of women who decide to take back their power and use it for good.
Waisted will be available on May 21. Thank you #NetGalley #Atria Books #Waisted #Randy Susan Meyers for the advanced copy.
December 19, 2018
I thought a book about women who are exploited while trying to lose weight would be at least reasonably sensitive. But Meyers takes every opportunity to remind us that fat people are disgusting, they're filthy pigs who eat everything in sight. One man describes the women as "lying in lakes of fat," which is an appalling way to describe another human being. It's as if Meyers has no idea that people who struggle with their weight are human beings with feelings and redeeming qualities. As if being fat is their only defining feature. The whole book is gross.
I gave up when Meyers took her fat shaming to a whole new level, singling out specific heights and weights as unacceptable in her point of view. Meyers owes all women of all sizes an apology.
I gave up when Meyers took her fat shaming to a whole new level, singling out specific heights and weights as unacceptable in her point of view. Meyers owes all women of all sizes an apology.
January 13, 2019
3.5 rounded up...
What woman (and I’m sure men too) can say they have never struggled with body image and the desire to lose weight? I’m betting the answer is not many! Alice and Daphne are two very different women from different backgrounds and meet at a facility for weight loss while filming a documentary called Waisted - where they find out just how badly they want to lose this weight, but what are they willing to put at stake to have the slim figures they dream of? In Alice and Daphne, Meyers is able to create characters that express what runs through the minds of people when size 00 is what’s only shown as beautiful.
There were parts of the story that were hard to follow at times (time jumps & such) and understanding the connection and flow in places which unfortunately took away from the story a bit for me. Overall, the meaning and message behind the story makes this a worthwhile read.
**Trigger warning around food issues & eating disorders**
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
What woman (and I’m sure men too) can say they have never struggled with body image and the desire to lose weight? I’m betting the answer is not many! Alice and Daphne are two very different women from different backgrounds and meet at a facility for weight loss while filming a documentary called Waisted - where they find out just how badly they want to lose this weight, but what are they willing to put at stake to have the slim figures they dream of? In Alice and Daphne, Meyers is able to create characters that express what runs through the minds of people when size 00 is what’s only shown as beautiful.
There were parts of the story that were hard to follow at times (time jumps & such) and understanding the connection and flow in places which unfortunately took away from the story a bit for me. Overall, the meaning and message behind the story makes this a worthwhile read.
**Trigger warning around food issues & eating disorders**
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
July 11, 2024
How far would you go to lose weight?
Two women, Alice and Daphne are successful working mothers who both have an obsession with their weight which overshadows everything in their lives. They meet five other women at a weight loss retreat, which is nothing like it was advertised. Instead, it is physically and mentally abusive, and although they know in advance that they would be filmed for a documentary, the reality of this situation becomes apparent. The starvation diet, the excessive exercise along with mystery pills threatened to break them until they rebel.
Alice and Daphne are strong women who have been intimidated by their self images all through their lives. It doesn’t help that they have people in their lives who demean them for their weight in the guise of being “helpful”. FYI: you don’t have to tell a fat person that they are overweight. They know it already.
A lot of issues are addressed in the book: self, loving acceptance, addiction, eating disorders, bullying, self image, interracial marriage, setting an example for children among others.
I enjoyed the story, especially at the facility as the tension mounted, and the true narrow nature of the “therapy“ became a parent. I was disturbed by the women’s acquiescence to the abuse though. The last third of the story showed Alice’s and Daphne struggles once they get home. Although proud of their new appearance, they really struggle to maintain it since it was achieved under , ridiculously harsh circumstances. The book got a bit preachy towards the end, especially about self image and self-love.
As someone who watches TV shows about weight loss(my 600 lb life) I feel for compassion for people who struggle with weight. I also struggle with my weight, although not to the degree that others do. I’m 71. I miss my metabolism. I try to accept that I’ll never have my 21-year-old body again. I weigh myself daily. I exercise. I try to watch what I eat, but I’ll probably never lose those 15 pounds of pandemic/grief weight. Plus I’ll never give up chocolate. Never.
This is not the light read that I expected, but putting aside the preachiness of the last few chapters, it is a good read.
Two women, Alice and Daphne are successful working mothers who both have an obsession with their weight which overshadows everything in their lives. They meet five other women at a weight loss retreat, which is nothing like it was advertised. Instead, it is physically and mentally abusive, and although they know in advance that they would be filmed for a documentary, the reality of this situation becomes apparent. The starvation diet, the excessive exercise along with mystery pills threatened to break them until they rebel.
Alice and Daphne are strong women who have been intimidated by their self images all through their lives. It doesn’t help that they have people in their lives who demean them for their weight in the guise of being “helpful”. FYI: you don’t have to tell a fat person that they are overweight. They know it already.
A lot of issues are addressed in the book: self, loving acceptance, addiction, eating disorders, bullying, self image, interracial marriage, setting an example for children among others.
I enjoyed the story, especially at the facility as the tension mounted, and the true narrow nature of the “therapy“ became a parent. I was disturbed by the women’s acquiescence to the abuse though. The last third of the story showed Alice’s and Daphne struggles once they get home. Although proud of their new appearance, they really struggle to maintain it since it was achieved under , ridiculously harsh circumstances. The book got a bit preachy towards the end, especially about self image and self-love.
As someone who watches TV shows about weight loss(my 600 lb life) I feel for compassion for people who struggle with weight. I also struggle with my weight, although not to the degree that others do. I’m 71. I miss my metabolism. I try to accept that I’ll never have my 21-year-old body again. I weigh myself daily. I exercise. I try to watch what I eat, but I’ll probably never lose those 15 pounds of pandemic/grief weight. Plus I’ll never give up chocolate. Never.
This is not the light read that I expected, but putting aside the preachiness of the last few chapters, it is a good read.
March 15, 2021
A fun and heartfelt story about seven women who sign up for a weight loss reality television show, then bond together to take revenge on the show's exploitative producers.
February 19, 2019
I really really wanted to like this book, but I unfortunately didn't. It's clear the author has good intentions and wanted to address a lot of issues surrounding women in larger bodies in our society. However, I think the scope of the narrative is just too large and overly ambitious. Trying to address race, gender, weight, relationships (familial and intimate), dieting, and how all those things intersect is really hard in one book. It's also not easy to come to the end of a story with all these issues and leave it with a happy, or at least satisfying, ending.
In addition to the subject matter being overly broad, the plot and dialogue is so unrealistic that it's hard to get through. In my experience, no one speaks the way the characters in this book talk to each other. The dialogue has a level of self awareness that I just don't think people have when they're struggling with identity, one's place in society, and being gaslight to believe your weight is the real problem.
The characters were both generic and too specific at the same time. I had a hard time keeping the two main characters straight as they were basically the same person, just with different "issues" assigned to them.
I especially took issue with the way eating disorders were addressed in this book. One character purges but the behavior seems to be attributed to the fact that she eats too much and is stressed out and so therefore, she vomits. In my experience eating disorders are so much more complex than that simple formula and making it only about food and weight was too reductive for me.
I don't want to be overly harsh in my review of this novel as I don't know what experiences the author has had with her own weight and relationship with food, but this didn't feel like a book written by a woman who's struggled with these issues. It feels like a book written by someone who's read about this stuff and thinks they get it based on the general stereotypes and assumptions they've heard.
It's possible I just prefer memoir when it comes to these issues and I know that I'm very close to these issues, so I'm naturally going to judge it pretty harshly. I don't, however, feel like I came away from the novel with any new insight into my own issues and I don't think that someone who reads this that hasn't dealt with these issues is going to understand them any better either. I don't feel like the characters ended up in a better place than where they started at and I don't think there was an overarching conclusion other than "it sucks to be a fat woman".
It's possible the author hasn't gotten further than that conclusion in her own life, but for me, I've read some incredible books that address this topic and manage to move past this conclusion to a much more satisfying place. Perhaps if I read this book several years ago I would have connected with it more, but from where I am in my own personal journey with identity and weight, this feels very dated. If the plot was more exciting or fun, I might have been able to overlook these things, but as it stands now, this was a miss for me.
In addition to the subject matter being overly broad, the plot and dialogue is so unrealistic that it's hard to get through. In my experience, no one speaks the way the characters in this book talk to each other. The dialogue has a level of self awareness that I just don't think people have when they're struggling with identity, one's place in society, and being gaslight to believe your weight is the real problem.
The characters were both generic and too specific at the same time. I had a hard time keeping the two main characters straight as they were basically the same person, just with different "issues" assigned to them.
I especially took issue with the way eating disorders were addressed in this book. One character purges but the behavior seems to be attributed to the fact that she eats too much and is stressed out and so therefore, she vomits. In my experience eating disorders are so much more complex than that simple formula and making it only about food and weight was too reductive for me.
I don't want to be overly harsh in my review of this novel as I don't know what experiences the author has had with her own weight and relationship with food, but this didn't feel like a book written by a woman who's struggled with these issues. It feels like a book written by someone who's read about this stuff and thinks they get it based on the general stereotypes and assumptions they've heard.
It's possible I just prefer memoir when it comes to these issues and I know that I'm very close to these issues, so I'm naturally going to judge it pretty harshly. I don't, however, feel like I came away from the novel with any new insight into my own issues and I don't think that someone who reads this that hasn't dealt with these issues is going to understand them any better either. I don't feel like the characters ended up in a better place than where they started at and I don't think there was an overarching conclusion other than "it sucks to be a fat woman".
It's possible the author hasn't gotten further than that conclusion in her own life, but for me, I've read some incredible books that address this topic and manage to move past this conclusion to a much more satisfying place. Perhaps if I read this book several years ago I would have connected with it more, but from where I am in my own personal journey with identity and weight, this feels very dated. If the plot was more exciting or fun, I might have been able to overlook these things, but as it stands now, this was a miss for me.
August 14, 2019
My thoughts are still jumbled about this story! The plot description caught my attention immediately: women signing up for an extreme weight loss documentary and end up rebelling against the trainers and filmmakers. I was looking forward to an empowering read and imagined myself mentally cheering and pumping my fist in the air: take that, destructive diet culture! And yet . . . it wasn't really like that. Somehow the momentum of the story deflated just as it should have peaked. To the point where I almost felt as though the "revolution" was a resignation of sorts.
Here's what I do appreciate about the story: the characters of Alice and Daphne. They are flawed, certainly, but they are imminently relatable. There was a lot going on in each of their lives and the families--they were more than just their struggles with weight. And I appreciated that. (Even if my personal pet peeve of spending scads of time describing an overweight woman's appearance only to create a mental image that is ultimately laughably unrealistic by revealing her true size to be about two sizes larger than the average American woman's size was in play.)
Maybe not what I expected, but a thought-provoking story nonetheless.
Here's what I do appreciate about the story: the characters of Alice and Daphne. They are flawed, certainly, but they are imminently relatable. There was a lot going on in each of their lives and the families--they were more than just their struggles with weight. And I appreciated that. (Even if my personal pet peeve of spending scads of time describing an overweight woman's appearance only to create a mental image that is ultimately laughably unrealistic by revealing her true size to be about two sizes larger than the average American woman's size was in play.)
Maybe not what I expected, but a thought-provoking story nonetheless.
January 4, 2022
Well, I managed to finish this book without throwing my Kindle against the wall. I truly hate having to give an ARC a bad review, but they do ask for honesty, so here goes:
I hated the characters... period! I hate how they viewed themselves, I hated their unrealistic thoughts, I hated their angst, I hated how Alice (half black/half white) and her mother (white/Jewish) were so bigoted/prejudiced, I hated that once I finished this book I couldn't even remember how it ended *scratches head* did they ever get satisfaction from posting their own video? And isn't it sad that this book left such a little imprint on me that I can't remember such an interesting part of the book...the ONLY interesting part, I might add? I hated that this was such a tedious read.
I don't know what kind of 'fat' this author is or was or what types of research she did, but out of all the fat women I know (and I'm included -as a matter of fact, I've been on both sides of the scale, obese and then nearly anorexic via an undiscovered thyroid issue and later years at an average weight) not one of them is as self-absorbed and obsessed as these two are.
I know that many of the early reviewers loved this book -so you may want to try this book and give it a chance and not be colored with my little rant.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
I hated the characters... period! I hate how they viewed themselves, I hated their unrealistic thoughts, I hated their angst, I hated how Alice (half black/half white) and her mother (white/Jewish) were so bigoted/prejudiced, I hated that once I finished this book I couldn't even remember how it ended *scratches head* did they ever get satisfaction from posting their own video? And isn't it sad that this book left such a little imprint on me that I can't remember such an interesting part of the book...the ONLY interesting part, I might add? I hated that this was such a tedious read.
I don't know what kind of 'fat' this author is or was or what types of research she did, but out of all the fat women I know (and I'm included -as a matter of fact, I've been on both sides of the scale, obese and then nearly anorexic via an undiscovered thyroid issue and later years at an average weight) not one of them is as self-absorbed and obsessed as these two are.
I know that many of the early reviewers loved this book -so you may want to try this book and give it a chance and not be colored with my little rant.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
July 17, 2019
Sarah contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers Book Review
I’ve struggled with my weight as long as I can remember. I know all too well the effects of dieting, beauty magazines & intrusive advice can have on your soul. In that regard, I found it easy to relate to the character’s struggles.
Dueling Timelines
The story switches between Daphne & Alice & I love alternating narrators. For me, it often helps build depth in a story. Although, I struggled with the timelines in Waisted. The story shifts from past to present & I struggled to keep them straight. It distracts from the otherwise heartfelt tale about body image, self-love & acceptance.
THE VERDICT
I am Kind of Into This book. Meyers writes a graphic & realistic portrayal of someone with an eating disorder. While there are important issues & many opportunities for discussion, the overall narrative didn't resonate with me. 2.5 stars rounded to 3
Special thanks to Randy Susan Meyers & Atria Books & Netgalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers Book Review
I’ve struggled with my weight as long as I can remember. I know all too well the effects of dieting, beauty magazines & intrusive advice can have on your soul. In that regard, I found it easy to relate to the character’s struggles.
Dueling Timelines
The story switches between Daphne & Alice & I love alternating narrators. For me, it often helps build depth in a story. Although, I struggled with the timelines in Waisted. The story shifts from past to present & I struggled to keep them straight. It distracts from the otherwise heartfelt tale about body image, self-love & acceptance.
THE VERDICT
I am Kind of Into This book. Meyers writes a graphic & realistic portrayal of someone with an eating disorder. While there are important issues & many opportunities for discussion, the overall narrative didn't resonate with me. 2.5 stars rounded to 3
Special thanks to Randy Susan Meyers & Atria Books & Netgalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
May 17, 2019
That darned number on the scale. The endless "dieting" and calorie counting. It is a treadmill many of us have and are experiencing and I applaud Meyers for addressing it head on. The women who participate in the "Waisted" documentary are diverse in race and background, yet all struggle with viewing food in a healthy way. Reading this book made me think about issues like beauty, strength, value and honoring our parents. The plot was not as compelling as the synopsis implies due to the additional time spent processing and readjusting life trajectories for Alice and Daphne. I found myself just waiting for it to end rather than relishing the ending.
A big thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A big thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2019
I’m sort of mad at myself for reading this whole book because I knew early on that it would suck. Very disappointing because I’m always up for the topic of women and their body image issues, but this has nothing insightful to say. It’s frustrating when it feels like a book doesn’t know what its message is; the message here is, “fat women are so gross and they’ll do anything to lose weight because they are gross and fat and aren’t they pathetic and also gross.” I’m sure the author would claim otherwise but how many times can you disparagingly describe a size 18 woman as “massive” before your point is made? Anyway this is also disjointed and disorganized and badly written and I hated it.
May 22, 2019
Raise your hand if you've made a New Year's Resolution to lose weight. To eat better. To exercise more? If you've cried in a dressing room trying on a bathing suit, or while attempting to squeeze into those favorite jeans from high school. If you've ordered the salad, but really wanted the burger, or have looked at another woman and wished you looked like them or had their confidence...
Are there any women who are NOT raising their hand right now? I'm fairly confident there are few.
Waisted is truly a heartbreaking, eye opening and extremely relatable story, Whether you want to lose 5 or 50 pounds, or just want to feel better about yourself and how you look - we've all been there. And for Alice and Daphne - both accomplished and amazing women - they are both held back by their weight and those dreaded numbers on the scale. They decide to enroll in a reality show slash documentary - similar to a Biggest Loser type show - but soon find themselves in a cruel and humiliating experiment - where they need to decide: How far is too far?
I cried with these women. I laughed with them. I rooted them all throughout the whole journey. It's a tough world out there for women and I wish everyone would read this book. Those extra pounds are the most visible burden of some women - but what is invisible in what goes on inside - the hurt and anger, the obsession over the numbers and the counting, the fear, desperation and instability... I wanted to reach in the story and wrap up Alice and Daphne and the other contestants in a huge hug and let them know they are more than just a number. A brilliant story.
Are there any women who are NOT raising their hand right now? I'm fairly confident there are few.
Waisted is truly a heartbreaking, eye opening and extremely relatable story, Whether you want to lose 5 or 50 pounds, or just want to feel better about yourself and how you look - we've all been there. And for Alice and Daphne - both accomplished and amazing women - they are both held back by their weight and those dreaded numbers on the scale. They decide to enroll in a reality show slash documentary - similar to a Biggest Loser type show - but soon find themselves in a cruel and humiliating experiment - where they need to decide: How far is too far?
I cried with these women. I laughed with them. I rooted them all throughout the whole journey. It's a tough world out there for women and I wish everyone would read this book. Those extra pounds are the most visible burden of some women - but what is invisible in what goes on inside - the hurt and anger, the obsession over the numbers and the counting, the fear, desperation and instability... I wanted to reach in the story and wrap up Alice and Daphne and the other contestants in a huge hug and let them know they are more than just a number. A brilliant story.
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