"I Should Have Worn a Curtain" is a tense and emotional psychological novella that explores control, vulnerability, and the need to be seen.
Shaena’s life is unraveling. Battling bulimia and feeling invisible, she decides to attend an Overeaters Anonymous meeting in a last-ditch effort to take back control. But before she even walks inside, she meets Mike—a charming, confident personal trainer new to the city, looking to build a client base.
He invites her out—a date, or maybe just a consultation. She’s not sure. He talks about fitness goals, offers free workouts, and praises her progress. Shaena wants to believe he sees more in her than her appearance… but when the weight loss slows, so does his warmth.
As Mike becomes more invested in her results than her well-being, Shaena begins to question everything: his motives, her judgment, and whether she was ever more than a project to him.
Is he interested in her—or just the potential transformation she represents? And if she can’t trust his intentions, how can she trust her own?
Don’t stop here — Book 2 of this completed duology is available now for readers who want the full journey.
Some of you will already be aware that I lost my beautiful little sister to an eating disorder in the summer of 2016. For that reason, I struggled to read this book, presumably in the same way that some have struggled to read my own novel, which also covers the subject of eating disorders. But this is an important, brave, heart-wrenching account of mental illness, and I thank the author for covering the topic with such grace, tact and empathy.
I'm incredibly glad that I stumbled upon this short work, and even more grateful that I found the courage to read it. A fantastic piece, and an easy five stars.
This was a fantastic look into the life of a woman struggling with an eating disorder. I’m glad the author chose to explore this topic because it’s still sort of taboo especially in the black community.
I think the story is well written and very realistic.
Shaena is a young woman who struggles with low self-esteem and bulimia. This short story is less of a story and more of a compact, brutal peek into what binging, abandonment and emotional abuse can look like. This could easily be used by people in similar situations to express what they’ve been through without actually telling their own story. I have little doubt that the author has either dealt with the topic in her own lives, or studied it from primary sources simply based off of the behaviors and logic expressed by the main character. You quickly care and worry for the main character as she delves deeper past red flags in her relationship and within her own behavior
I debated between three and four stars because while the story is well written, and I could easily get lost in the pages despite how short it is, it still felt incomplete. I want to know more about Shaena, about her friends, hobbies and aspirations as a fully fleshed out person, about all the minutiae of her struggle that the book alludes to. How does she deal with her emotions at work? Do the people around her enable her? And to the people who freely criticize her in the book, how does she respond, and what does that response cost her? I would have loved more of Shaena’s thoughts and named emotions about what was happening to her in the moment. I would love for the book to read less like a case study and more like a novel
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This story struck close to home as someone who has suffered from body image issues and overeating most of my adult life. Alexander does an amazing job of describing some of the trials and tribulations of the physical and mental health issues associated with being obese. Her frank portrayal of self-loathing and mental anguish are brutally honest and heart wrenching.
There are many facets to her story, including the separation of her parents while she was a teenager. She speaks of controlling, abusive relationships and the negative effects that had on her. It’s inspiring to read of someone tackling this subject in such a raw and powerful way. The story left off rather abruptly, and I really hope she writes a sequel to tell the world how she’s doing and whether she tackled her addiction to food. I was rooting for her and if you read this, I’m sure you will be too.
Raw and emotionally gripping, a must read for anyone who wants to know what’s going on in the mind of an overweight person fighting to be seen and accepted in today’s skinny world.
I’m not much of a reader of contemporary stories, but I’m really glad I stumbled across this book. Shaena is a sweet and engaging narrator who is secretly wrestling an eating disorder and the shame and guilt that it comes with, when Mike walks into her life. But does he care for her, or just view her as a ‘fixing project’?
Although the style is light and the pages easy to turn, this story is heavy with difficult emotions, and offers a truly satisfying read for those who like complex and thoughtful protagonists! Ideal for those who enjoy a short story with significant depth.
The author does an excellent job in drawing a bleak picture of a life of someone, who suffers from eating disorder. It’s probably difficult – if not completely impossible – for those, who never had similar experience – to fully understand that every aspect of a person’s life is affected by this condition.
Shaena is a young girl, whose life could be so much brighter and happier if she wasn’t confined in the walls that bulimia had built around her. Her friends are not real friends, but only colleagues she chats with during a lunch break. Her boyfriend is not a real boyfriend, but an ambitious man, who wants to build a career as a fitness specialist and uses Shaena as a project to achieve that goal. Her family is real, but due to what they had gone through, she’s not very close with them.
The novella “I Should Have Worn a Curtain” by Samyra Alexander opens up a door to a nightmarish room that has “bulimia” sign on it.
Shaena’s story continues in the book 2, which I also read. I would recommend both books to everyone, who wants to feel what it’s really like to suffer from eating disorder.
This is by no way meant to attack the author. I think any book that that covers something as sensitive as disordered eating and obesity is always going to have that extra scrutiny to see if it was done well.
I’m afraid I did not vibe with this at all. It’s a novella so I appreciate we didn’t have enough time to flesh the characters and story out. But we did not get any development.
We were just constantly exposed to Shaena’s toxic lying and behaviour. As a character, she was portrayed horribly and I had to force myself to empathise. It’s not the disordered eating that was the problem…it was that she wasn’t nice. And she wasn’t complex enough to not be nice. She would notice other people that were big and her internal thoughts about others were awful. She was meant to be 31 but her dialogue and thought processes were that of a young teenager - to an extent that I started to question if she maybe had a developmental issue. But I don’t think so; it was all just so awkward and toxic.
The personal trainer Mike had no real story. He kept telling her she was too overweight and he wanted her to lose weight. To the point he would come cook her meals every day to monitor what she’d eat? And she’d get angry and then change her mind saying things like “maybe he could help me???” This was all so deeply uncomfortable for a novella.
The plot as a whole needed work too. I’m left a bit confused about what the story was meant to be outside of her struggles..
I couldn’t in good conscience recommend this story to any of my girl readers. There’s no healing in this book and it left me a bit sad and frustrated. Also took me back to some horrible times (my fault because I knew what this was about).
I want to end saying - I think Shaena was supposed to be this complex character that we could love to hate. Or even grow to love. I think I understand that maybe she’s not meant to be perfect and loveable just because she’s a big girl with a disorder. But it wasn’t done well enough for that and there was not enough time to explore in a short story.
If my girl readers want to read this please just get yourself in the headspace❤️❤️
I believe the story needs to be fleshed out to better connect with the character. There so much that happens in her life and its compacted, so I feel as if I didn't have time to actually connect with her. I can relate to her problems but I can't connect. There were also a few word choices, I believe should have been switched with a different word.
This book is about a young woman with self-esteem issues. She grows up resenting herself because she loves food. She learns to love herself and nature her flaws. Emotional but beautiful story!
Samyra Alexander takes us on a quick journey through some of the most impactful moments through the life of her narrating character, Shaena. Shaena talks to the reader in a stream of consciousness that lets us take a peek inside of what brought her to this point in life.
Shaena has a complicated relationship with her parents. After her mother abandoned the family, she became deeply devoted to her father. She learned to use food as the glue that held her life together.
We get to see some of the people that helped frame her life in her more formative years:
A cluelessly absent mother,a well meaning but perhaps oblivious father, and a ridiculously insensitive aunt who doesn’t seem to value her due to her age, and even less once she gains weight.
We learn about Shaena in the present day, a woman who has not gathered control over her eating habits; but she has gained another bad habit and his name is Mike.Mike is her love interest that claims to have her best interest at heart. He’s honestly a mile run away from a breakdown himself. If you ask me his unresolved grief has turned him into a complete tool and what he claims is love is smothering…and not the good kind that tastes like potatoes and onions.
All of these people, talong with an OA sponsor have a great deal of influence in Shaena’s life and it all comes to a head. Shaena’s past and present relationships have undoubtedly taken a toll on her; but maybe she can rise above it.
Alexander does a wonderful job of telling Shaena’s story. I was rooting for her to pull herself together, while also identifying with her. This story uses humor wonderfully, and yet displays the inner darkness that comes with eating disorders and emotional health struggles.
I Should Have Worn A Curtain made me laugh, but it also made me reflect, and for that I thank Samyra Alexander.
I give I should have worn a curtain 4 out of 5 stars. This book had so much going on. One minute positive and the next minute toxic psychotic behavior. Her illness was so strong I wasn’t expecting all of the lies and behavior she was displaying. This really bothers me as to how some people will treat someone with eating issues. It also surprises me how deep the lies can go. I don’t know what else could possibly happen with this book as I’m scared for her safety.
We all have our demons, Sheana battles hers with food. Good short story that gives the reader a glimpse of the horrors of eating addictions & how they can happen to anyone.
I had been meaning to read this book for a while but I finally got to read it today. It touched on a very serious issue that people don't know Black women can suffer from. Can't wait to read part 2!!
This was such an easy read! Amazing one, too! You feel bad for the main character on how she's treated but then I can't help but be happy of her realization! Amazing, loved it!
My favorite part of this book was the dialogue between the main character and her jeans lol I think Every woman regardless of thier size has had one of those moments. Everyone’s journey is different and you can’t force someone to start theirs, as The character mike learned. It’s Short and to the point.
This well-written story is way too short, not only on word count but leaving the reader in need of knowing what happens next or having a satisfactory conclusion. I was just starting to settle into the story, completely engaged with the protagonist who decides she needs to do something about her eating disorder, when it comes to an abrupt end. I had only been reading for 20 minutes. I hope the author writes more as her style is engaging and flows well - I just wanted more than a tantalising glimpse and felt a little cheated.
I Should Have Worn A Curtain is a remarkable and captivating look into the devastating effects of eating disorders. This heart wrenching story details Shaena’s struggles with binge eating, childhood trauma, and being true to herself. Samyra Alexander weaves an extremely raw, vivid tale that gives a first hand account of the protagonist’s physical and emotional struggles. Friends, I highly recommend this read!
This novella focuses on a very serious topic that so many people around the world have to work through in their life - being overweight and eating disorders.
I know this is a novella but I wanted more from this story. I would have loved to hear more about Shaena’s life growing up and her parents; how she dealt with her eating disorder while having a mother who does not see it as a disorder and a father who just wants to love her. I would also have loved more on her friends.
I loved that the author highlighted her struggles with honesty to Ava at Overeaters Anonymous (OA) when she started. The journey with OA was insightful. While there should be a villain - Mike I would have loved some more character development on him as I got in chapter 1 on Shaena however his role still showed the impact of his behavior on her life.
I look forward to reading Part 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is one that I will hold near and dear to my heart as well as recommend to others because it manages to tackle a modern struggle that many deal with while exploring the psychology behind the root of the issue.
Following Shaenas' story, you are immediately drawn in wanting to get to know more about her. Starting with her life at home, you are introduced to how her problem with food began as well as her struggle dealing with those around her; even from the one who she thought loved her. I found myself laughing (all I will say is "jeans"), and at other moments, I felt the pain in my heart of the struggle that she was dealing with.
Where this book truly excels is I feel that it is a perfect lesson for anyone dealing with an addiction of any kind and how to beat it. Many people are quick to judge and may offer solutions to help the problem but as this book teaches, if you want to beat an addiction, it goes deeper than the problem and you must explore the root of the issue.
This was a great reading experience. I felt like a fly on the wall in the life of Shaena. It was so easy to have compassion for her and as we got to witnessing her habits and ways of coping. I’m hiding my face to say I was a fan of Mike. I felt he was the discipline she needed due to her continuing to lie to herself and him. I just wanted to be her friend honestly and show her support. I really love a good Novella yet I really wish there was a bit more. I finished feeling like I had so many questions and I wanted more. I wanted a bigger insight into her world and an update on how things resulted. I personally have never delt with Bulimia so this was really enlightening. This was a strong 4.5 star for me. I am excited to continue reading more from Samyra. I would love to hear there is a book 2 in the works.
I’ve dealt with binge eating ever since my infertility diagnosis as a way to cope with depression. The sweets really got me. I got to my heaviest and related so much to this main character that it hurt to read because I’ve been there. Bulimia is real, and even though Mike was going about it in the hardest ways, I wish I had that kind of support in the thick of my own depression. I can’t wait to read book two. I hope she gets the ending she deserves with people who love her and encourage her to be better. I feel like many of my plus-size friends and family could relate. Knowing your loved ones struggle with health takes such a toll. Who knew a 77-page book could have me tearing up from the real-life feelings you go through when dealing with this?
This book was very engaging and relatable in my own personal life. Being a psychotherapist myself it was delightful that the author spoke of the struggles that we can suffer in the hands of our own families. As difficult as the conversations/topics were the author dig deeper into those uncomfortable places that we don't allow ourselves to get to. I hope people with similar issues will find a safe and healing space after reading this book.
Well this novella was not what I expected at all I finished it in one night. And I could. It put it down once I started. I have mixed feelings about Shaena and even more mixed feelings about mike. Shockingly tho I can understand both of their views. Though, I never had a Eaton disorder it still can be applied to a lot of situations. I recommend this book if your looking for a quick read. It’s very entertaining and holds your attention. #butleronbooks
This book brings up deep feelings in all the right ways. Alexander represents a big person’s perspective about the battle with bulimia with unflinching honesty—though her main character, Shaena, flinches a lot. After I read the first page, I couldn’t put this book down. Through Shaena’s internal monologue we experience her conflict with clothing, Overeaters Anonymous, manipulation from “handsome" men, body dysmorphia—and addiction. Alexander is a fantastic writer who uses psychology to empathetically draw you into Shaena’s world, and has you rooting for her the whole story. Even though Shaena says she doesn’t “think like other people,” the author’s skill with imagery and colourful narrations presents the protagonist's struggles in an immensely relatable way. I really loved this book. Bravo to the author for sharing this story.
Hits home!!! I really enjoyed this short story packed with so much truth! The scenarios in the story are very relatable to me on a personal level. The take-a-way I gathered from this book is to be comfortable in your own skin, even if you do consider wearing a curtain. Most importantly, love yourself!!!
I was laughtng by the second or third page and nearing tears by the end. As one who suffered this exact sort of thing, it strengthens me to know I am not alone. Best part, the jeans talk back! Loved the presentation of the main characters thoughts and feelings. Amazing!
This book was a quick read but it hits close to home for me. I have a toxic relationship with food and I won't admit to having a disorder. I relate so much to the character. The way she binge eats is me. Reading this book series just might be what I need to get the help I need. Thank you Samyra.