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Cloud Cover
An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here and here.
~2020 Best Indie Book Award (BIBA) LGBTQ Category, Independent Publisher Bronze Medal Book Award (IPPY) Fiction, Canada East, and Literary Titan Book Award~
"★★★★★ Fascinating - an excellent read ... I definitely couldn't put it down ... the book delves so much into the human experience in one fiction novel, so much that I could not believe this was Sotto's first book." -Literary Titan
"An honest look at the struggles of mental health ...You'll be flying through this book and finishing it while feeling inspired to keep on trying." - The Independent Book Review
"Compelling, emotional and well worth the read." -Jeff and Will's Big Gay Fiction Podcast
~~~
“Memory is my enemy. It never fails me, although I often wish it did.” Working at a less-than-inspiring office job, Tony, a gay man struggling with grief and mental health issues centered around his body image, is about to turn 35. As this “cubicle daydreamer” takes steps to improve his situation, his life is turned upside down when he is drawn to a younger, flamboyant and free-spirited artist named Antonio.
Will Tony successfully make a meaningful connection with Antonio despite their many differences? And how long can he hide the secret devastating to himself and to their relationship?
Part romance, part drama, part comedy and a raw portrait of disorder, Cloud Cover captures the experience of love and loss—of others and of oneself—amidst past trauma, modern expectations and resulting inner turmoil.
If you enjoyed the romance of Call Me by Your Name, the honesty of Chelsea Handler’s Life will be the Death of Me and the campy humour of RuPaul’s Drag Race, then pick up Cloud Cover today!
~2020 Best Indie Book Award (BIBA) LGBTQ Category, Independent Publisher Bronze Medal Book Award (IPPY) Fiction, Canada East, and Literary Titan Book Award~
"★★★★★ Fascinating - an excellent read ... I definitely couldn't put it down ... the book delves so much into the human experience in one fiction novel, so much that I could not believe this was Sotto's first book." -Literary Titan
"An honest look at the struggles of mental health ...You'll be flying through this book and finishing it while feeling inspired to keep on trying." - The Independent Book Review
"Compelling, emotional and well worth the read." -Jeff and Will's Big Gay Fiction Podcast
~~~
“Memory is my enemy. It never fails me, although I often wish it did.” Working at a less-than-inspiring office job, Tony, a gay man struggling with grief and mental health issues centered around his body image, is about to turn 35. As this “cubicle daydreamer” takes steps to improve his situation, his life is turned upside down when he is drawn to a younger, flamboyant and free-spirited artist named Antonio.
Will Tony successfully make a meaningful connection with Antonio despite their many differences? And how long can he hide the secret devastating to himself and to their relationship?
Part romance, part drama, part comedy and a raw portrait of disorder, Cloud Cover captures the experience of love and loss—of others and of oneself—amidst past trauma, modern expectations and resulting inner turmoil.
If you enjoyed the romance of Call Me by Your Name, the honesty of Chelsea Handler’s Life will be the Death of Me and the campy humour of RuPaul’s Drag Race, then pick up Cloud Cover today!
- GenresLGBT
293 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2019
8 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey Sotto
2 books16 followersJeffrey Sotto's first novel, Cloud Cover, won a Best Indie Book Award (BIBA) for LGBTQ Fiction, an Independent Publisher Bronze Medal Book Award (IPPY), and a Literary Titan Book Award. It also briefly topped the Amazon bestseller list in LGBTQ fiction upon release.
He published his second novel, The Moonballers: A Novel about The Invasion of a LGBTQ2+ Tennis League … by Straight People (GAY GASP!) in Spring 2022.
Jeffrey is also an advocate for mental health and eating disorder awareness and recovery, having shared his story on CBC Radio, Global News, and Sheena’s Place. He is currently a peer mentor at Eating Disorders Nova Scotia (EDNS). He contributed to the anthology Queering Nutrition and Dietetics: LGBTQ+ Reflections on Food Through Art, to be released in October, 2022. Finally, in 2023, he will be appearing in the docuseries Wicked Bodies by Truefaux Films, which focuses on fostering positive culturally competent engagement in treatment and support centres, universities, and non-profit programs working with LGBTQ+ groups with disordered eating and body dysmorphia.
He is a self-proclaimed “cubicle dreamer,” tennis addict, and compulsive social media duckfacer. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram at jeffreyasotto, and his website at jeffreyasotto.com.
He published his second novel, The Moonballers: A Novel about The Invasion of a LGBTQ2+ Tennis League … by Straight People (GAY GASP!) in Spring 2022.
Jeffrey is also an advocate for mental health and eating disorder awareness and recovery, having shared his story on CBC Radio, Global News, and Sheena’s Place. He is currently a peer mentor at Eating Disorders Nova Scotia (EDNS). He contributed to the anthology Queering Nutrition and Dietetics: LGBTQ+ Reflections on Food Through Art, to be released in October, 2022. Finally, in 2023, he will be appearing in the docuseries Wicked Bodies by Truefaux Films, which focuses on fostering positive culturally competent engagement in treatment and support centres, universities, and non-profit programs working with LGBTQ+ groups with disordered eating and body dysmorphia.
He is a self-proclaimed “cubicle dreamer,” tennis addict, and compulsive social media duckfacer. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram at jeffreyasotto, and his website at jeffreyasotto.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 12, 2023
The novel CLOUD COVER, by Jeffrey Sotto, opens in April of 2010, wherein twenty-nine-year-old Tony, our main character, works as a creative writing teacher to teens at the Gold’s Community Art Centre in Toronto, Canada, and, unbeknownst to him—his life is about to change.
Five years later, Tony has a new job at Melo and Co, a marketing and consulting firm, and teaches part-time at the community centre, where he first sees the handsome and much younger Antonio, a fellow teacher.
To his friends and coworkers, life appears to be going well for Tony, that is, until changes in his work habits prompt questions from his boss.
What they don’t know, and what the reader learns early on in the narrative, is that Tony is struggling with mental health, grief, and body image.
Sotto does a great job of weaving Tony’s heartbreaking past between present-day events that paint a clear picture of his mindset.
Here Is A Snippet:
‘“Everybody approaches life from their own narrow point of view. But to live what other people go through and feel their joy and pain and to share in it ... it may not solve the problem, but it makes people feel less lonely. And I think that is magical.”’
No truer words were ever spoken, in my opinion.
Highly Recommend!
Five years later, Tony has a new job at Melo and Co, a marketing and consulting firm, and teaches part-time at the community centre, where he first sees the handsome and much younger Antonio, a fellow teacher.
To his friends and coworkers, life appears to be going well for Tony, that is, until changes in his work habits prompt questions from his boss.
What they don’t know, and what the reader learns early on in the narrative, is that Tony is struggling with mental health, grief, and body image.
Sotto does a great job of weaving Tony’s heartbreaking past between present-day events that paint a clear picture of his mindset.
Here Is A Snippet:
‘“Everybody approaches life from their own narrow point of view. But to live what other people go through and feel their joy and pain and to share in it ... it may not solve the problem, but it makes people feel less lonely. And I think that is magical.”’
No truer words were ever spoken, in my opinion.
Highly Recommend!
December 22, 2022
Cloud Cover by Jeffrey Sotto is a very realistic and deeply thought and felt novel about a gay man's struggles with bulimia as he pursues love for others and his own self-worth.
Tony is a 29 year old office worker/creative writing teacher who just broke up with his boyfriend. While giving writing advice to his students at a community college, listening to his favorite classical music pieces, trying to interpret his boss' "business"-ese, and clubbing with his friends, Tony is becoming dangerously concerned about his appearance and weight.
He constantly counts calories on every bite. He runs straight to the bathroom after eating. He is obsessed with how he looks to other men and is afraid of being judged.
However, despite his insecurity, he actually does find a potential partner. Antonio is a painting instructor and drag performer. He astounds Tony with his charisma, charm, and outgoing fearless personality. But the more Tony starts to get to know Antonio, the more he continues to question his self-image and heads down destructive patterns.
There is a lot of humor throughout but it is rooted in sarcasm and bitterness from Tony about his situation. While looking at potential dates, he sees an overwhelming amount of "guppies" gay yuppies who wear "suits like spandex." "They look like Ken dolls," Tony says warily, amazed that many of them are younger than him.
He also has a seriocomic conversation with his therapist in which he weighs the different types of men who turn off other men. Tony mentions that many of his acquaintances don't like other men who are too effeminate, overweight, or "too Asian" which Tony feels particularly singled out thinking that he checks all of those boxes.
One of the funniest running gags involves Tony and his boss, Jell-O. Jell-O is a veritable cornucopia of office cliches like "synergy," "outside the box thinking," and his favorite "quantify and cut." Tony's job appears to be translating Jell-O's requests and turning them into something useful. While these moments are hilarious, they also show that Tony is concerned about his employment situation and tries to be a good worker to make his life meaningful and useful.
He has stronger exchanges with his students showing that he has a skill for education but does not have the financial opportunity to do something that he is good at. He has to settle for an office job which does not make use of his best talents.
Like many do, Tony tries to overcome his loneliness with self-deprecating humor but the humor reveals more about his insecurities and inner thoughts than if he said them out loud. In taking a funny approach to sizing up himself to other gay men and revealing his disenchantment with his job, he reveals how harsh that he can be with his own self-criticism.
These insecurities of comparing himself to other men and discontent with work are part of what compels him to become bulimic. He can't always control what his boss tells him or how others feel about him, but he can control his weight.
Tony's bulimia is he believes hidden from others but it is a central point in his life. Many nights out are filled with anguish as he debates how much he can eat before he rushes to a toilet. It's wrenching to read about his conflicting emotions between sitting and eating something without worrying how many calories it is and counting the seconds until he can go home to purge. The conflict between obsession and self-love is very real.
Tony and Antonio embark on a loving relationship which could be a healing factor and it is for a time. Tony is drawn to and maybe somewhat envious of Antonio's self confidence and daring. Antonio can wear drag and turn life into a performance. He can even participate in a pageant and put himself forward. Tony loves that about him, but is also wary of it too.
Antonio is a supportive boyfriend. When he discovers Tony's illness, he tries to get him help. But the kinder Antonio is, the more self-conscious Tony feels. He feels that someone like him doesn't deserve love.
Even the end is painted with reality. It's not a complete downer but it suggests that more work needs to be done. As much as Tony grows to love Antonio, this relationship is not the cure. Antonio is not the cure for ending Tony's bulimia. Tony is the cure for ending Tony's bulimia. To do that, he needs to look at, accept, and love himself first.
Tony is a 29 year old office worker/creative writing teacher who just broke up with his boyfriend. While giving writing advice to his students at a community college, listening to his favorite classical music pieces, trying to interpret his boss' "business"-ese, and clubbing with his friends, Tony is becoming dangerously concerned about his appearance and weight.
He constantly counts calories on every bite. He runs straight to the bathroom after eating. He is obsessed with how he looks to other men and is afraid of being judged.
However, despite his insecurity, he actually does find a potential partner. Antonio is a painting instructor and drag performer. He astounds Tony with his charisma, charm, and outgoing fearless personality. But the more Tony starts to get to know Antonio, the more he continues to question his self-image and heads down destructive patterns.
There is a lot of humor throughout but it is rooted in sarcasm and bitterness from Tony about his situation. While looking at potential dates, he sees an overwhelming amount of "guppies" gay yuppies who wear "suits like spandex." "They look like Ken dolls," Tony says warily, amazed that many of them are younger than him.
He also has a seriocomic conversation with his therapist in which he weighs the different types of men who turn off other men. Tony mentions that many of his acquaintances don't like other men who are too effeminate, overweight, or "too Asian" which Tony feels particularly singled out thinking that he checks all of those boxes.
One of the funniest running gags involves Tony and his boss, Jell-O. Jell-O is a veritable cornucopia of office cliches like "synergy," "outside the box thinking," and his favorite "quantify and cut." Tony's job appears to be translating Jell-O's requests and turning them into something useful. While these moments are hilarious, they also show that Tony is concerned about his employment situation and tries to be a good worker to make his life meaningful and useful.
He has stronger exchanges with his students showing that he has a skill for education but does not have the financial opportunity to do something that he is good at. He has to settle for an office job which does not make use of his best talents.
Like many do, Tony tries to overcome his loneliness with self-deprecating humor but the humor reveals more about his insecurities and inner thoughts than if he said them out loud. In taking a funny approach to sizing up himself to other gay men and revealing his disenchantment with his job, he reveals how harsh that he can be with his own self-criticism.
These insecurities of comparing himself to other men and discontent with work are part of what compels him to become bulimic. He can't always control what his boss tells him or how others feel about him, but he can control his weight.
Tony's bulimia is he believes hidden from others but it is a central point in his life. Many nights out are filled with anguish as he debates how much he can eat before he rushes to a toilet. It's wrenching to read about his conflicting emotions between sitting and eating something without worrying how many calories it is and counting the seconds until he can go home to purge. The conflict between obsession and self-love is very real.
Tony and Antonio embark on a loving relationship which could be a healing factor and it is for a time. Tony is drawn to and maybe somewhat envious of Antonio's self confidence and daring. Antonio can wear drag and turn life into a performance. He can even participate in a pageant and put himself forward. Tony loves that about him, but is also wary of it too.
Antonio is a supportive boyfriend. When he discovers Tony's illness, he tries to get him help. But the kinder Antonio is, the more self-conscious Tony feels. He feels that someone like him doesn't deserve love.
Even the end is painted with reality. It's not a complete downer but it suggests that more work needs to be done. As much as Tony grows to love Antonio, this relationship is not the cure. Antonio is not the cure for ending Tony's bulimia. Tony is the cure for ending Tony's bulimia. To do that, he needs to look at, accept, and love himself first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
Cloud Cover balances the specific with the universal with ease and elegance, a tribute to the author Jeffrey Sotto’s skill. The protagonist of the book is a 30-something, gay, Filipino man living in Toronto, which could have made some readers feel the story is beyond their experience. The character of Tony is drawn with precision: he is not an everyman. He is himself, flawed and damaged, from external and internal causes, and relatable to anyone who has dealt with personal loss or rejection.
This isn’t to say Cloud Cover is an easy read. Tony’s bulimia is described in some detail, and he is likely to exasperate the reader as much as he does his friends. On the other hand, parts of Cloud Cover are laugh-out-loud funny, a nice balancing act from the author.
I found myself really caring what happened to Tony, both in his new, hopeful relationship and in his work towards healing. Sotto moves Tony past his ‘identity’ to find commonalities of the human experience: the devastation of grief; the joy of true acceptance; the pressure to conform. Nor is Tony’s life always bleak: he finds contentment, sometimes happiness, in parts of his life; a compromise, but one that will be well understood by many readers.
Sotto develops the story with compassion tempered by a clear look at the realities of a mental health disorder. Ultimately Cloud Cover is a hopeful book, but in a realistic way. There is no easy fix, no person but Tony who can turn his life onto a track less damaging, and not without significant, difficult work. But he can, by the end, see at least a hint of the sun behind the clouds, and the reader is left believing in a better future for Tony. Strongly recommended for readers of contemporary novels with believable, realistic protagonists.
This isn’t to say Cloud Cover is an easy read. Tony’s bulimia is described in some detail, and he is likely to exasperate the reader as much as he does his friends. On the other hand, parts of Cloud Cover are laugh-out-loud funny, a nice balancing act from the author.
I found myself really caring what happened to Tony, both in his new, hopeful relationship and in his work towards healing. Sotto moves Tony past his ‘identity’ to find commonalities of the human experience: the devastation of grief; the joy of true acceptance; the pressure to conform. Nor is Tony’s life always bleak: he finds contentment, sometimes happiness, in parts of his life; a compromise, but one that will be well understood by many readers.
Sotto develops the story with compassion tempered by a clear look at the realities of a mental health disorder. Ultimately Cloud Cover is a hopeful book, but in a realistic way. There is no easy fix, no person but Tony who can turn his life onto a track less damaging, and not without significant, difficult work. But he can, by the end, see at least a hint of the sun behind the clouds, and the reader is left believing in a better future for Tony. Strongly recommended for readers of contemporary novels with believable, realistic protagonists.
July 21, 2022
i was so grateful to receive a copy of Jeffrey Sotto’s debut novel! this story follows Tony, a man in his 30’s harboring past trauma while trying to stay financially afloat. he works for a lackluster company and teaches creative writing classes at the community center, but barely makes enough to make ends meet. while juggling life’s monotony, Tony finds himself struggling with his weight and overall body image. he keeps this from his friends and purges behind closed doors, but when Antonio, a young art teacher, comes into Tony’s life, he will soon find the means to fight back against his mind and life in general.
—
i began reading this book off and on a couple weeks ago because grad class was too much. but once it ended, i read the remaining 200 pages in ONE sitting. i couldn’t put it down. tony’s story was so tough, so visceral, but also so compelling. i felt like i was there in the story cheering him on and crying with him as he navigated through his struggles. i really enjoyed the side characters, especially Antonio and Lauren. what i thought was most important about having the side characters is that though they supported Tony, they were not the sole reason he went for help: Tony took ownership of himself and sought the help he needed AND wanted. he is an emblem of strength and i was here for it the whole time.
—
altogether, Cloud Cover is a devastatingly brutal depiction of real-life struggles, but also a story of finding strengtg and clarity during the most dire of times. i highly recommend this book!
—
i began reading this book off and on a couple weeks ago because grad class was too much. but once it ended, i read the remaining 200 pages in ONE sitting. i couldn’t put it down. tony’s story was so tough, so visceral, but also so compelling. i felt like i was there in the story cheering him on and crying with him as he navigated through his struggles. i really enjoyed the side characters, especially Antonio and Lauren. what i thought was most important about having the side characters is that though they supported Tony, they were not the sole reason he went for help: Tony took ownership of himself and sought the help he needed AND wanted. he is an emblem of strength and i was here for it the whole time.
—
altogether, Cloud Cover is a devastatingly brutal depiction of real-life struggles, but also a story of finding strengtg and clarity during the most dire of times. i highly recommend this book!
January 20, 2020
I LOVED this book. It's full of difficult subjects: first we have of course eating disorders, depression and anxiety, then the LGBT community (and the lack of acceptance that Tony had to face within the community despite being a part of it), break-up and sickness and death of a parent. But at the same time, somehow, it didn't feel overwhelming. It was all so smoothly written that I just couldn't stop reading.
Tony is an absolute gem and I wanted to hug him throughout the whole book.
Even though the book doesn't have a typical happy ending, which is usually something that bothers me in books, in this case I feel like it would ruing everything. We get a real story, with a real ending. Or even not an ending, because we're shown a new start. A start of Tony's new life.
Tony is an absolute gem and I wanted to hug him throughout the whole book.
Even though the book doesn't have a typical happy ending, which is usually something that bothers me in books, in this case I feel like it would ruing everything. We get a real story, with a real ending. Or even not an ending, because we're shown a new start. A start of Tony's new life.
August 23, 2022
I expected to struggle with this one because some of the content hits really close to home. I anticipated some overly-heavy material that I’d probably have to take frequent breaks from, and that is not what I got here at all. Cloud Cover is raw and honest, and yes some moments in it are especially heart-breaking, but it doesn’t feel exaggerated. It feels very real. Tony has friends, a job, and it isn’t until he’s already been struggling for a while that his eating disorder begins to have an impact on those things. He’s leading a bit of a double life, and that is extremely relatable.
I read this in less than 24 hours. This book tackles a lot: Eating disorders, mental illness, even racism and homophobia in queer spaces. All of these deeper topics are balanced beautifully with moments of comic relief and genuine love. Additionally, this book is a formatting dream. Short chapters, succinct dialogue. I didn’t struggle to keep up with it once, which left space for me to really ruminate on the thoughts that Tony’s story provokes. I think I’ll be revisiting this one often. I’m still a little floored by it even now.
I won’t spoil too much here but my favorite part of this novel was its ending. The openness of it, the hope. Big big thanks to Jeffrey for sending this over to me. I cannot wait to see what you do next!
I read this in less than 24 hours. This book tackles a lot: Eating disorders, mental illness, even racism and homophobia in queer spaces. All of these deeper topics are balanced beautifully with moments of comic relief and genuine love. Additionally, this book is a formatting dream. Short chapters, succinct dialogue. I didn’t struggle to keep up with it once, which left space for me to really ruminate on the thoughts that Tony’s story provokes. I think I’ll be revisiting this one often. I’m still a little floored by it even now.
I won’t spoil too much here but my favorite part of this novel was its ending. The openness of it, the hope. Big big thanks to Jeffrey for sending this over to me. I cannot wait to see what you do next!
January 8, 2023
This book is so beautifully written. It’s so real, I almost thought it was an autobiography. It is raw, heart-wrenching, thought provoking. This book will make you FEEL. Capital f e e l. When Tony is feeling anxious, I feel it; when he’s feeling self-conscious, I feel it; when he’s feeling out of control, I can feel it. This is not a typical romance. It’s gritty and real and focused on Tony’s mental health, or lack there of. Also in that way, we don’t get the typical happy ending, but we get a hopeful ending. I’m so happy his friends were for real, actual found family and we’re there for them. I’m also happy his getting better isn’t dependent on another person, they may have been the catalyst but they weren’t the solution.
December 13, 2022
Excellent read. As I work in the health care sector, I find most of my LGBTQ clients suffer from body disdysmorphia and eating disorders and found this book to be quite insightful with suggestions for symptom management
July 31, 2020
The first few chapters of this were so graphic and confronting (read: real), I nearly put the book down. I’m glad I persisted!
Main character Tony’s struggle with an eating disorder, grief over the loss of his mother, and self-identity was raw, but completely engaging.
I was drawn to Tony’s honesty and even though his journey was incredibly painful, I was cheering for every small, slow realisation that he didn’t have to go it alone.
This book wasn’t just about mental illness and grief - relationships were also key, from
Tony’s romance with part time art teacher, part time drag queen Antonio; his two friends who stuck by him thick and thin; his at times awkward working relationship with his surprisingly caring boss; and even the connection he formed with embittered teen April, going through her own battles with an eating disorder.
Cloud Cover doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to depictions of mental illness, and that’s what makes the discussion of recovery all the more relevant.
An inspiring read.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Cloud Cover for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Main character Tony’s struggle with an eating disorder, grief over the loss of his mother, and self-identity was raw, but completely engaging.
I was drawn to Tony’s honesty and even though his journey was incredibly painful, I was cheering for every small, slow realisation that he didn’t have to go it alone.
This book wasn’t just about mental illness and grief - relationships were also key, from
Tony’s romance with part time art teacher, part time drag queen Antonio; his two friends who stuck by him thick and thin; his at times awkward working relationship with his surprisingly caring boss; and even the connection he formed with embittered teen April, going through her own battles with an eating disorder.
Cloud Cover doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to depictions of mental illness, and that’s what makes the discussion of recovery all the more relevant.
An inspiring read.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Cloud Cover for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 29, 2023
Tony is gay, Asian-Canadian, thirty four, and lost.
On the face of it, his life is reasonable enough: he has loyal friends, a job that pays the bills and another that gives him pleasure, he’s smart and he’s good looking. But rejection by a boyfriend has triggered a spiralling loss of confidence. He needs to be desired again, appreciated, valued. And through a modern day Faustian deal, he finds a solution. Unfortunately, it’s one which jams his self-destruct button into permanently on.
This deftly written novel is devastating in its honest portrayal of love and loss and bad decisions. The depiction of Tony is utterly compelling; the author never takes a wrong step. He is a kind and decent man: sensitive, imperfect, and likable. But in his enslavement to an inner demon that he cannot control, he turns himself into something else, at once monstrous and deeply pitiful.
There is hope in this story – not blind redemption, but hope. And there’s a lot of love. Read this book. It’s really worth it.
On the face of it, his life is reasonable enough: he has loyal friends, a job that pays the bills and another that gives him pleasure, he’s smart and he’s good looking. But rejection by a boyfriend has triggered a spiralling loss of confidence. He needs to be desired again, appreciated, valued. And through a modern day Faustian deal, he finds a solution. Unfortunately, it’s one which jams his self-destruct button into permanently on.
This deftly written novel is devastating in its honest portrayal of love and loss and bad decisions. The depiction of Tony is utterly compelling; the author never takes a wrong step. He is a kind and decent man: sensitive, imperfect, and likable. But in his enslavement to an inner demon that he cannot control, he turns himself into something else, at once monstrous and deeply pitiful.
There is hope in this story – not blind redemption, but hope. And there’s a lot of love. Read this book. It’s really worth it.
October 4, 2022
I was generously provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I must say that Cloud Cover was an exploration of mental health and grief. It also provided amazing insight into the the thoughts and motivations for eating disorders. The examples of the exercises used to treat eating disorders were very interesting. Amid these heavy topics were themes of hope and change that can be wrought by just a single person entering your life. That’s not to say there is a magical “fix” for any disorder, and the triumphs and setbacks reflected the reality of the constant battle that must be fought.
September 7, 2022
This is an incredible piece in queer literature. Sotto's open and clear depiction of the gay experience of first generation immigrant to Canada is matched only with unflinching depiction of eating disorders.
The book is easy to read in its construction, but difficult in its grappling with trauma.
A must read for anyone looking to broaden their understanding of the gay experience.
The book is also well cast, with Toronto playing a supporting role with familiarity for those in the city.
By far, an excellent book.
The book is easy to read in its construction, but difficult in its grappling with trauma.
A must read for anyone looking to broaden their understanding of the gay experience.
The book is also well cast, with Toronto playing a supporting role with familiarity for those in the city.
By far, an excellent book.
July 8, 2020
(I want to thank BookSirens and the author for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.)
This book tells the story of Tony, a gay Asian-Canadian man in his early thirties, who has mental health issues and struggles with eating disorders. He is still grieving his mother's death and has given up his dream of becoming a writer in order to work two jobs and pay for his mortgage. His life is pretty gray, but this changes when he meets Antonio, a young, beautiful, and cheerful man who is genuinely interested in Tony and makes him feel valued again. This new relationship certainly motivates Tony to try to get better, but we all know it is a journey...
What I liked: Tony is absolutely adorable, he has many layers and it is easy for the reader to understand the complexity of his problems, especially those related to his self-image and self-worth. It was interesting to see the many ways he could feel isolated, even when people around him cared about his wellbeing. The author made a really good job of constructing this character and I believe this is the strongest element of the book. I also enjoyed very much the character of Antonio and the relationship they had, as it allowed the author to reveal deeper aspects of Tony's issues (accepting that we are loved can be really challenging!). I think this is a smart and relatable book that shares a valuable story. Also, it taught me a lot about eating disorders. I loved that the book portrayed in a clear and emotional style some difficult issues that can be overlooked (like, being a man with eating disorders or the fact that being in the closet may not be an issue at a certain point because someone is too busy taking care of a dying loved one), but the book is also funny and easy to read, so I believe it has a strong message about empathy and being gentle to ourselves as well.
What I did not like: The secondary characters, like Nick and Lisa, are very one-dimensional and it is clear that they just have the role of "Tony's friends" without any particular development or exploration of who they are. I didn't like either that during a very interesting part of the story, the author skips many days and suddenly we find Tony a couple of months later. I would have wanted to know more about his experience in this part of his process.
This book tells the story of Tony, a gay Asian-Canadian man in his early thirties, who has mental health issues and struggles with eating disorders. He is still grieving his mother's death and has given up his dream of becoming a writer in order to work two jobs and pay for his mortgage. His life is pretty gray, but this changes when he meets Antonio, a young, beautiful, and cheerful man who is genuinely interested in Tony and makes him feel valued again. This new relationship certainly motivates Tony to try to get better, but we all know it is a journey...
What I liked: Tony is absolutely adorable, he has many layers and it is easy for the reader to understand the complexity of his problems, especially those related to his self-image and self-worth. It was interesting to see the many ways he could feel isolated, even when people around him cared about his wellbeing. The author made a really good job of constructing this character and I believe this is the strongest element of the book. I also enjoyed very much the character of Antonio and the relationship they had, as it allowed the author to reveal deeper aspects of Tony's issues (accepting that we are loved can be really challenging!). I think this is a smart and relatable book that shares a valuable story. Also, it taught me a lot about eating disorders. I loved that the book portrayed in a clear and emotional style some difficult issues that can be overlooked (like, being a man with eating disorders or the fact that being in the closet may not be an issue at a certain point because someone is too busy taking care of a dying loved one), but the book is also funny and easy to read, so I believe it has a strong message about empathy and being gentle to ourselves as well.
What I did not like: The secondary characters, like Nick and Lisa, are very one-dimensional and it is clear that they just have the role of "Tony's friends" without any particular development or exploration of who they are. I didn't like either that during a very interesting part of the story, the author skips many days and suddenly we find Tony a couple of months later. I would have wanted to know more about his experience in this part of his process.
May 2, 2020
I thought this novel really did shed light on the severity and the consequences of an eating disorder. The novel really did feel so real. I actually just finished taking a psychology course at college that talked about eating disorders, and it felt very scary to actually see and read of a life that had been living with bulimia nervosa, even though it was only fictional.
I thought it was very nice for the author to start off the book with a disclaimer that they wanted this to be as accurate as possible and that may look very discomforting to the ones who read it. The plot was just amazing and the characters were very humanly. At the end, I really wanted more closure about Antonio and what this eating disorder was like in his perspective.
Eating disorders are so hard to overcome, and a lot of cases that recover end up relapsing. I really would have liked to know where Tony went afterwards. Did he pick up more reading and writing? Did he relapse? What was the future like for him? I understand that with an eating disorder, the future is so fuzzy and unknown, but from my perspective of not having an eating disorder, that would have been great to read and then I could have felt that the novel actually ended.
**I received this review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thought it was very nice for the author to start off the book with a disclaimer that they wanted this to be as accurate as possible and that may look very discomforting to the ones who read it. The plot was just amazing and the characters were very humanly. At the end, I really wanted more closure about Antonio and what this eating disorder was like in his perspective.
Eating disorders are so hard to overcome, and a lot of cases that recover end up relapsing. I really would have liked to know where Tony went afterwards. Did he pick up more reading and writing? Did he relapse? What was the future like for him? I understand that with an eating disorder, the future is so fuzzy and unknown, but from my perspective of not having an eating disorder, that would have been great to read and then I could have felt that the novel actually ended.
**I received this review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 1, 2020
Wow! an incredibly emotional read. The book's about how we see ourselves, and how self negativity can lead to major health problems. However, it doesn't just talk about the medical issues around Tony's illness but gives you an insight to the every day build up that could have contributed to this type of illness.
Tony is vividly drawn. You feel for him every step of the way. The author successfully describes step by step how Tony's illness takes over his life. The book reads so well, I could truly feel the feelings of Tony throughout the book.
It's not an easy read by any means. Tony's story truly broke my heart. Although a fictional read, I do believe that it is a snapshot of not only what people suffer due to mental illness, but why. It becomes clear that parents, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, Friends, lovers and Family's in general can all contribute. Nothing here is tied up in a bow, the author makes it very clear that recovery is a long journey, with many ups and downs.
This won't be for everyone. Tony's life is just car crash waiting to happen. However, it's a very well written story, which gives an insight into an illness that is common in our society. Certainly well worth a read.
Tony is vividly drawn. You feel for him every step of the way. The author successfully describes step by step how Tony's illness takes over his life. The book reads so well, I could truly feel the feelings of Tony throughout the book.
It's not an easy read by any means. Tony's story truly broke my heart. Although a fictional read, I do believe that it is a snapshot of not only what people suffer due to mental illness, but why. It becomes clear that parents, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, Friends, lovers and Family's in general can all contribute. Nothing here is tied up in a bow, the author makes it very clear that recovery is a long journey, with many ups and downs.
This won't be for everyone. Tony's life is just car crash waiting to happen. However, it's a very well written story, which gives an insight into an illness that is common in our society. Certainly well worth a read.
January 18, 2023
Title: Cloud Cover
Author: Jeffrey Sotto
Genre: LGBT
Format: ebook from Coffee and Thorn
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4 stars
tw: fatphobia, disordered eating, vomiting, internalized racism, parental death, cancer (tumor), self-harm ideation, misogyny, use of word faggot, suicide
I tried and tried to write this review. I have started it over and over again. I have thought about it for days since I finished it. I have thought about what I have wanted to say but I just can’t find the words. I normally don’t have problem writing reviews but for some reason, this one is giving me so much trouble, even days later. I simply have no idea how to even write a review for a book like this. It feels so personal that trying to critique it would just be wrong. I have no idea whether or not this is based on what actually happened to the author but regardless, how can you review a book like this?
I can, however, tell you what the book is about. It’s about a gay male named Tony. He is in the depths of a very severe eating disorder along with anxiety and depression. He’s just trying to make it in the world with a job he isn’t in love with and a love life that hasn’t quite panned out the way he wanted it to. It’s all in first person, so you get to experience everything through Tony’s eyes.
I think the reason I am struggling with reviewing this book so much is how much I related to Tony. Obviously, I am not a gay male but I have had some experience with disordered eating. Not to the extent that Tony was experiencing but it still wasn’t healthy what I was doing. It mainly happened in high school. My anxiety was absolutely rampant. I had no control over my mental illness and high school doesn’t always help. I didn’t have good friends, except for one. I was pretty much in shambles. Luckily, I grew out of this disordered eating but while reading this book, it brought back those feelings I felt in high school.
Overall, I truly think this was a great book but you really have to be careful while reading it. It has so many trigger warnings that I listed above so you all know what you are getting into. You will experience the anxiety that Tony deals with. You get to experience the highs and lows of recovery. It’s a great book but please be careful while reading it.
Author: Jeffrey Sotto
Genre: LGBT
Format: ebook from Coffee and Thorn
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4 stars
tw: fatphobia, disordered eating, vomiting, internalized racism, parental death, cancer (tumor), self-harm ideation, misogyny, use of word faggot, suicide
I tried and tried to write this review. I have started it over and over again. I have thought about it for days since I finished it. I have thought about what I have wanted to say but I just can’t find the words. I normally don’t have problem writing reviews but for some reason, this one is giving me so much trouble, even days later. I simply have no idea how to even write a review for a book like this. It feels so personal that trying to critique it would just be wrong. I have no idea whether or not this is based on what actually happened to the author but regardless, how can you review a book like this?
I can, however, tell you what the book is about. It’s about a gay male named Tony. He is in the depths of a very severe eating disorder along with anxiety and depression. He’s just trying to make it in the world with a job he isn’t in love with and a love life that hasn’t quite panned out the way he wanted it to. It’s all in first person, so you get to experience everything through Tony’s eyes.
I think the reason I am struggling with reviewing this book so much is how much I related to Tony. Obviously, I am not a gay male but I have had some experience with disordered eating. Not to the extent that Tony was experiencing but it still wasn’t healthy what I was doing. It mainly happened in high school. My anxiety was absolutely rampant. I had no control over my mental illness and high school doesn’t always help. I didn’t have good friends, except for one. I was pretty much in shambles. Luckily, I grew out of this disordered eating but while reading this book, it brought back those feelings I felt in high school.
Overall, I truly think this was a great book but you really have to be careful while reading it. It has so many trigger warnings that I listed above so you all know what you are getting into. You will experience the anxiety that Tony deals with. You get to experience the highs and lows of recovery. It’s a great book but please be careful while reading it.
January 5, 2023
An impeccable and emotional story!
What an emotional story in Cloud Cover by Jeffery Sotto. This is the first book of Sotto's that I've read, and I was so impressed by the storytelling, but also the story itself. It was an emotional ride, that brought in humor and reality, by dealing with mental health issues. Body image pays a big part in how people see themselves, and they think that others may look at them and feel the same way, usually in a negative light. In this story, the reader meets Tony, a man dealing with issues about himself, who happens to also being gay. I don't know if being gay plays a part in how Tony sees himself, but he is stronger than he thinks, and decides to improve his life. A lot of self-discovery and the sensing of self-loathing is so important before entering into a new life and a new relationship. I found the story raw and emotional, and also capturing the essence of how it is to be alive, and dealing with whatever life throws you. This author brings the words to life. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). It’s definitely un-put-downable! A wonderous trail of words. Cloud Cover is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
What an emotional story in Cloud Cover by Jeffery Sotto. This is the first book of Sotto's that I've read, and I was so impressed by the storytelling, but also the story itself. It was an emotional ride, that brought in humor and reality, by dealing with mental health issues. Body image pays a big part in how people see themselves, and they think that others may look at them and feel the same way, usually in a negative light. In this story, the reader meets Tony, a man dealing with issues about himself, who happens to also being gay. I don't know if being gay plays a part in how Tony sees himself, but he is stronger than he thinks, and decides to improve his life. A lot of self-discovery and the sensing of self-loathing is so important before entering into a new life and a new relationship. I found the story raw and emotional, and also capturing the essence of how it is to be alive, and dealing with whatever life throws you. This author brings the words to life. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). It’s definitely un-put-downable! A wonderous trail of words. Cloud Cover is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
February 2, 2021
Cloud Cover is the debut novel of the author Jeffrey Sotto. Story features a gay guy Tony who is in his early thirties. Tony lost his mother when he was eighteen years old and he has been seeing his mother in his dreams since then. His ex-boyfriend Ken friend zoned him by giving him yellow roses when they went out to the piano concert.
Tony has eating disorder and mental health issues. He get rid of the extra calories he ate by vomiting it out. When Tony and Antonio went out he was surprised to see Antonio eating too much calories without any worry. Their relationship motivated Tony to get better.
Reading about Tony's character and eating disorder made this book really interesting. His character felt real and so believable. Cover photo of the book is nice and author's writing style is amazing. Written in first person, this is kinda novel that you won't feel like putting aside once you start reading it. I like to recommend it to my friends. It's a worth reading book.
Tony has eating disorder and mental health issues. He get rid of the extra calories he ate by vomiting it out. When Tony and Antonio went out he was surprised to see Antonio eating too much calories without any worry. Their relationship motivated Tony to get better.
Reading about Tony's character and eating disorder made this book really interesting. His character felt real and so believable. Cover photo of the book is nice and author's writing style is amazing. Written in first person, this is kinda novel that you won't feel like putting aside once you start reading it. I like to recommend it to my friends. It's a worth reading book.
September 5, 2022
This will be one of the most important books I’ll read this year.
I loved the emotional, unfiltered, raw feeling of the writing and story. An accurate portray of mental health struggle and trauma, it felt humanized when topics of eating disorders, anxiety, grief, and depression have become exploitable for sensation. The angle of believing in unworthiness and continuing to make messes to not have to work on ourselves and take responsibility felt powerful and vulnerable.
This book also stirred up questions and discussion on how we perpetuate unhealthy stereotypes and judge others so harshly for some of the same things we all struggle with. We’re not helping ourselves feel better, just inflicting deeper pain.
I liked the straightforward style of storytelling; I felt like I was in a therapy session with Tony or reading his journal. I also liked the illustration of the day to day micro aggressions gay men, minorities, and those dealing with the invisible struggle of emotional and mental distress face and the effect these seemingly innocuous interactions have on world views and self esteem. And how harmful and frustrating defaulting to our cliches can be to a discouraged personal spirit.
The idealist in me wanted a neatly wrapped up, happy ending, but that would have been disempowering to Tony’s experience and false. Instead, it’s a realistic acceptance of uncertainty. The last paragraph was one of my favorite endings I’ve ever read; I was stunned by its beauty, poignancy, and gentle missive of hopefulness.
I highly recommend this one and look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you Jeffrey for sharing this story.
I highly recommend this book as a simple but powerful read for anyone who has struggled with self image and feeling less. There really can ever be too much empathy in the world for others or even ourselves. And please ask for help if you need it.
I loved the emotional, unfiltered, raw feeling of the writing and story. An accurate portray of mental health struggle and trauma, it felt humanized when topics of eating disorders, anxiety, grief, and depression have become exploitable for sensation. The angle of believing in unworthiness and continuing to make messes to not have to work on ourselves and take responsibility felt powerful and vulnerable.
This book also stirred up questions and discussion on how we perpetuate unhealthy stereotypes and judge others so harshly for some of the same things we all struggle with. We’re not helping ourselves feel better, just inflicting deeper pain.
I liked the straightforward style of storytelling; I felt like I was in a therapy session with Tony or reading his journal. I also liked the illustration of the day to day micro aggressions gay men, minorities, and those dealing with the invisible struggle of emotional and mental distress face and the effect these seemingly innocuous interactions have on world views and self esteem. And how harmful and frustrating defaulting to our cliches can be to a discouraged personal spirit.
The idealist in me wanted a neatly wrapped up, happy ending, but that would have been disempowering to Tony’s experience and false. Instead, it’s a realistic acceptance of uncertainty. The last paragraph was one of my favorite endings I’ve ever read; I was stunned by its beauty, poignancy, and gentle missive of hopefulness.
I highly recommend this one and look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you Jeffrey for sharing this story.
I highly recommend this book as a simple but powerful read for anyone who has struggled with self image and feeling less. There really can ever be too much empathy in the world for others or even ourselves. And please ask for help if you need it.
February 11, 2020
Absolutely heart wrenching. This story was beautiful and painful, and I tore through the whole thing in a single night, forgoing my usual bedtime so that I could keep reading. As someone who is struggling with weight and body issues, I rooted for Tony from the start.
The writing is beautiful and it flows. I'm not generally a fan of first person narrative but it works so well here that it was easy to get lost in the words and not think too hard about it.
The story was very real and very beautiful, but I warn anyone who was naive like me and wanted a more "real" happy ending that this isn't one of those stories. This is just life. So if you're ready to shed some tears, go ahead and pick this up and let your heart be broken.
(I received this advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.)
The writing is beautiful and it flows. I'm not generally a fan of first person narrative but it works so well here that it was easy to get lost in the words and not think too hard about it.
The story was very real and very beautiful, but I warn anyone who was naive like me and wanted a more "real" happy ending that this isn't one of those stories. This is just life. So if you're ready to shed some tears, go ahead and pick this up and let your heart be broken.
(I received this advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2020
(Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review)
What a heartbreakingly honest depiction of life with an eating disorder and the chaos in relationships that comes with mental illness. I really appreciated the openness of these characters and rooted for them from the beginning. The scenes were graphic and raw, and definitely hard to read at times. I wanted a bit more from the relationships Tony has with his friends, but I loved the scenes involving drag and the gay bar culture Tony is involved in. The ending felt a bit too neatly wrapped for me and there were loose ends I think could have had more time spent on them, but overall a solid first novel and an eye-opening look into this zone of mental illness.
What a heartbreakingly honest depiction of life with an eating disorder and the chaos in relationships that comes with mental illness. I really appreciated the openness of these characters and rooted for them from the beginning. The scenes were graphic and raw, and definitely hard to read at times. I wanted a bit more from the relationships Tony has with his friends, but I loved the scenes involving drag and the gay bar culture Tony is involved in. The ending felt a bit too neatly wrapped for me and there were loose ends I think could have had more time spent on them, but overall a solid first novel and an eye-opening look into this zone of mental illness.
January 7, 2023
This is a clear-sighted and moving novel that throws the reader into the life of a young – but not so young - gay Filipino, in the Toronto gay scene. He is holding down two jobs, and after a painful rejection, and an even more painful bereavement, he’s looking for love. But between himself and finding love there is a desperate shameful secret – something that at best complicates his relationships and at worst sours them. He needs help. Fortunately, he’s brave enough to seek it, but life is never that easy… As we follow this journey, Sotto takes our hand through a huge range of emotions with both delicacy and intensity.
There’s no cheap and easy “feel good” in this novel but it remains a life affirming, love affirming read. It is thoroughly engrossing, enjoyable, and occasionally overwhelming book, and a worthy winner of its impressive prizes.
There’s no cheap and easy “feel good” in this novel but it remains a life affirming, love affirming read. It is thoroughly engrossing, enjoyable, and occasionally overwhelming book, and a worthy winner of its impressive prizes.
February 1, 2021
Life isn't fair, and when it shuffles the deck we all get dealt a different hand. Sotto's debut novel is a striking portrayal of real life, and not just one which truthfully depicts love and loss through the eyes of a gay man (Tony), but paints a realistic picture for anyone who finds themselves backed into a corner in their mid-30s not knowing who they are anymore. Tony naturally struggles to get out of that corner when the universe decides to see what he's made of by tossing a break-up he didn't see coming into the mix, as well as his (at times) graphic battle with an eating disorder. How can Tony start over from scratch? Can he start over at all? I urge you to find out. The power of Sotto's voice is both funny, raw, and real.
March 26, 2021
Detailed Review Of "Cloud Cover: A Novel" By Jeffrey Sotto
Thanks to author for the review copy.
Genre - Fiction
Ratings 4.4/5
Cloud Cover is a type of novel with require free mind and understand the subject which are consider taboo in our country. Author has written this story including various elements like homophobia, mental illness etc still created amazing story out of it which will make you laugh out loud.
Character and plot are developed at proper pace and author has shown very nicely the arc of characters.
The language of the book is very easy so even if you're a beginner reader you can read it easily. The vocabulary of the book is also very good.
Title of the book is very nice and it's a highlight for me. Author has narrated this story very nicely.
The cover of the book is also very amazing and look very cool. I really loved the way it looks.
Moreover it's an amazing read and I would highly recommend this book to all the readers.
Thanks to author for the review copy.
Genre - Fiction
Ratings 4.4/5
Cloud Cover is a type of novel with require free mind and understand the subject which are consider taboo in our country. Author has written this story including various elements like homophobia, mental illness etc still created amazing story out of it which will make you laugh out loud.
Character and plot are developed at proper pace and author has shown very nicely the arc of characters.
The language of the book is very easy so even if you're a beginner reader you can read it easily. The vocabulary of the book is also very good.
Title of the book is very nice and it's a highlight for me. Author has narrated this story very nicely.
The cover of the book is also very amazing and look very cool. I really loved the way it looks.
Moreover it's an amazing read and I would highly recommend this book to all the readers.
April 20, 2020
It was great to read a novel featuring a male with an eating disorder - so often male experiences are overlooked in this realm.
Additionally, I liked the representation of queer experience and how that was impacted by the presence of the ED.
Additionally, I liked the representation of queer experience and how that was impacted by the presence of the ED.
November 18, 2022
Autobiographical musings
First person narrative, set in Toronto. MC is (to be insensitive) a short Asian gay man with self-image issues. Despite friends, Tony's depression lays heavily through the work.
First person narrative, set in Toronto. MC is (to be insensitive) a short Asian gay man with self-image issues. Despite friends, Tony's depression lays heavily through the work.
June 27, 2022
This book is amazing! It covers so many difficult subjects that most people don’t want to face/discuss in life. The author’s writing is beautifully fluid and truly explores deep into human emotions.
September 6, 2022
Difficult and dark, yes, but quite good.
July 28, 2020
*Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC*
I think this story is very important and powerful. Unfortunately, the formatting and prose got in the way for me. It’s very “stream of consciousness” and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t— I found it to be very unfocused in this presentation.
That being said, the author has a ton of promise and this story was clearly very personal, I will be watching out for more from them!
I think this story is very important and powerful. Unfortunately, the formatting and prose got in the way for me. It’s very “stream of consciousness” and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t— I found it to be very unfocused in this presentation.
That being said, the author has a ton of promise and this story was clearly very personal, I will be watching out for more from them!
December 6, 2019
I got this for free for a review so here it goes.
This was a hard book to read. Its main focus is about an eating disorder. We have Tony, who is a gay man with an eating desorder and we'll get to see his daily struggles and how he deals with it. Along the way he meets Antonio, a gay guy who does art and drag and he's someone who changes Tony's life.
I, thankfully, don't have an eating disorder but I really liked this book. I liked how it touched on the subject and how you get through all the therapy sessions and group therapy and how the author also provides you with information on what you can do if you have an eating disorder. So basically, it's also a self-help book in its own way. I liked that this book is full of diversity. We have illness, we have a Filipino main guy and a hispanic love interest, we have drag and we have the sexualities so it's a bit of everything. I really liked the characters, especially Antonio. The eating desorder is definitely the main subject and it's raw and honest and you get to follow his daily struggles and how he deals with his. You get his thought process, his inner turmoil when he eats and everything is laid out and I really liked that. It was definitely hard and sad to read but at the same time it was great because it's how it is. It's a struggle a lot of people have and people have to be aware of it and they need to get help and this book shows exactly that.
The sad part about this whole thing is...I have the same thought process. I could relate to Tony's thought process even tho I have no eating disorder. It's more of the "I feel ashamed of eating all that" part I have because I love food. I often regret it later and try to go for a walk or lift some weight. I always feel bad when I do nothing and eat all day. It's a bit sick but ah well ^^'
This was a hard book to read. Its main focus is about an eating disorder. We have Tony, who is a gay man with an eating desorder and we'll get to see his daily struggles and how he deals with it. Along the way he meets Antonio, a gay guy who does art and drag and he's someone who changes Tony's life.
I, thankfully, don't have an eating disorder but I really liked this book. I liked how it touched on the subject and how you get through all the therapy sessions and group therapy and how the author also provides you with information on what you can do if you have an eating disorder. So basically, it's also a self-help book in its own way. I liked that this book is full of diversity. We have illness, we have a Filipino main guy and a hispanic love interest, we have drag and we have the sexualities so it's a bit of everything. I really liked the characters, especially Antonio. The eating desorder is definitely the main subject and it's raw and honest and you get to follow his daily struggles and how he deals with his. You get his thought process, his inner turmoil when he eats and everything is laid out and I really liked that. It was definitely hard and sad to read but at the same time it was great because it's how it is. It's a struggle a lot of people have and people have to be aware of it and they need to get help and this book shows exactly that.
The sad part about this whole thing is...I have the same thought process. I could relate to Tony's thought process even tho I have no eating disorder. It's more of the "I feel ashamed of eating all that" part I have because I love food. I often regret it later and try to go for a walk or lift some weight. I always feel bad when I do nothing and eat all day. It's a bit sick but ah well ^^'
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