La plus forte

by Jo Watson

Trouvera-t-elle sa place dans un monde à taille unique ?
Lori Palmer est la nouvelle élève au lycée Bay Water, un endroit où cheveux soyeux, « beach body » et « thigh gap » sont de rigueur. Son ancienne école lui manque – un endroit où son talent artistique avait plus d’importance aux yeux de ses camarades qu'une recette de smoothie aux graines de chia.
Mal dans sa peau, Lori espère survivre à son année de terminale et à la chaleur infernale de l’été en se fondant dans le décor autant que possible. Mais ses plans tombent à l’eau lorsqu'elle apprend que Jake, le sportif populaire du lycée, est bénévole à l'école de Zac, son petit frère. Lori se retrouve alors plongée dans le monde de Jake, où se mêlent water-polo, fêtes et observation des étoiles.
Alors qu'elle se rapproche de Jake et que sa relation avec sa mère se détériore, les anciennes angoisses de Lori refont surface et elle se jette à corps perdu dans son art. En empruntant une nouvelle direction, Lori découvre que trouver sa voix peut lui attirer des ennuis, mais surtout qu'il est aussi important de défendre ses idées que de se défendre elle-même.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Mental Health, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

Best selling author of romantic comedies and young adult fiction

Reviews

[Jo Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Reader,
I want to introduce you to Lori Palmer. She's a girl just like me; she's big boned, feels like a fish out of water at her new school, is struggling with mental illness and complicated family dynamics while looking for a way to express herself through her art. BIG BONED is a book I wrote from my heart. It's the most personal and authentic story I have ever written and I'm hoping that shines through. While there is so much of me in this story, I did not make Lori neurodiverse (like me) but tried to reflect a lot of diversity in the world around her. Maybe you will see yourself in Lori or one of the other characters in this book, but either way, I sincerely hope that you enjoy this book and get something out of it that you will keep with you always.
Happy Reading,
Jo X

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bullying hasn’t really stopped, has it? Except you’re the one bullying yourself this time.

Lori is fat, and she hates her body, the fat on her arms, the cellulite on her thighs, her double chin. She loves the art school she attends and her two best friends. But then her mom decides to move to Clifton, Cape Town, where everyone is perfect. And Lori is definitely not perfect, far from even.

This YA tackles many themes: being fat, having anxiety attacks, divorce, having a brother on the autistic spectrum, and more. It’s Jo Watson’s first YA, and the writing is the same as in her rom-coms: witty and flawless and so easily readable. Her characters are great too.

Lori hates her body and can’t mention a single thing she likes about herself, but slowly with help of her therapist, and her new friends Thembi and Jake, she learns to love herself.

I loved her therapist Vicky, who uses plant analogies:
These things are amazing, they’re designed to survive and regrow, no matter how they’ve been broken.

And of course, Zac, Lori’s little brother who’s on the autistic spectrum, I loved his enthusiasm so much:
We’re going to the beach now to build a giant sand castle with five turrets and a moat and underground tunnels for my mouse spies and a fridge in it too in case we get thirsty while we build it because we wouldn’t want to get dehydrated and then have to go to the doctor and be put on a drip.

This is a YA about a 17 yo girl, and I recognized so much of Lori’s fears and feelings, although I’m very, very grown-up by now. Maybe I needed books like this when I was young (now I really feel old 😂).

There’s one thing that I’d like to mention. Less than 10% of South Africa’s population is white, and this is a story set in South Africa about white people with some Black people in it. I think this needs an explanation for young adults from the US/Europe etc., who might not understand why there are fewer Black people in this book than one would expect. Maybe it’s still possible to edit the story on this theme (tell something more about Clifton and its residents)?

Oh, and Jo, as a Dutch, I loved your references to Hiëronymus Bosch and NikkieTutorials 😍! And so lovely you used my last name, which is pretty rare in the Netherlands, in this story! Okay, I might be exaggerating, but it’s almost the same, isn’t it 😂?

I received an ARC from Wattpad Books and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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[Renae Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I received an eArc from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

Wow!!! I loved this story and the many elements that make for a compelling narrative where I fully empathize with the main character. There are many topics covered well throughout this novel, which include: mental health and body image struggles, neuroatypical representation, and family trauma. I was not expected this YA story to have such depth and meaningful moments feature the main character and I was not disappointed.

Big Boned features a plus-size young artist and high school senior, Lori Palmer who moves from a bustling city to a small coastal town that is better equipped to take care of her autistic brother. Lori sacrifices her entire life for the betterment of her younger brother Zac, which I found very moving. I loved their relationship and how you can clearly feel how much she cares and loves her little brother.

While getting used to her new school environment Lori feels utterly alone, invisible, and undeniably different because of her appearance. She has struggled with her bigger appearance for a long time and has experienced bullying in the past. I thought Lori's depiction of body image and anxiety struggles was honestly and realistically depicted.

Lori's entire perspective changes when she realizes her classmate, Jake who is a handsome water polo athlete also has a younger sibling on the spectrum and is neuroatypical. Lori is able to intimately connect and share her private thoughts and experiences with another person who does not judge and is able to see all the beauty and grace she has to offer.

My favorite aspect of this story was seeing Lori's relationship with Jake progress and seeing how sweet and earnest their interactions were. Another fun aspect was seeing Lori's art grow and change as she became more comfortable with herself.

Overall, this story pleasantly surprised me and I think it is a relevant to story because of the many issues it tackles in a realistic and relatable manner. I loved reading Lori's growth and was so proud of her.

[John Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was certainly a big hug of a book. Sometimes over the top, but always full of heart, I loved it. The first book taking place in South Africa I have read in a while which made it extra special.

Lori has a lot of issues in her life. Recently moving from Johannesburg to Capetown as her parents are divorcing, she has a younger brother with autism, she has been severely bullied in her past and her worst bully is herself. JustLori is her tag and she often calls herself LoriFattyPalmer. Her life is about to change once she suffers through the worst first day as a senior at her new high school. Her new life includes domestic violence, special needs children, missing children, racism, divorce and body image.

The writing and story along with all the wonderful supporting cast, were just superb. Five stars just because I loved Lori and the story.

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je vais pas vous mentir : j'ai pleuré. Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai adoré. Je l'ai lu d'une traite, en une matinée de repos et je ne regrette rien. C'était si cute, et si beau, et si inspirant et si touchant. Un roman important qui fait beaucoup de bien !

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Have you ever experienced a time when you felt like you just didn't belong? That's the situation facing Lori Palmer, whose life is uprooted when her mother announces that the family is moving from Johannesburg, South Africa to Cape Town. The teen dreads the thought of leaving her friends to face a world of tanned, buffed, and perfect-looking students at her new high school. Lori's life is anything but perfect, with a mom who concentrates more on her real estate empire than her family, a dad who has just announced his marriage plans with his girlfriend, a brother on the Autism spectrum and the fact that she is overweight, scared to death of the ocean and secretly in love with the handsome fellow student (and star water polo player), Jake.
Give this great book a try! -Louisa A.

[cadie ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was refreshing to read a book about a girl my age that doesn’t romanticise being skinny and instead of ‘fixing’ the main character’s body issues, it shows her emotional journey of coming to terms with it, which I loved. The romance was really cute too, but I loved the fact that Lori’s sibling was autistic; I feel as though you rarely get to see the perspective of someone on the spectrum’s sibling, and it was interesting to see. I loved this book and how it dealt with certain issues, and I highly recommend it to anyone!

Thank you so much to netgalley and penguin random house for the ARC of this book.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I have to say that honestly, I loved it. Lori is an instantly relatable character for me since I am a bigger girl as well and have struggled with body positivity. Lori is a teen living in South Africa who moves with her mom and younger autistic brother, to a coastal town from the city after her parent's divorce. She is juggling her new school, missing home, taking care of her brother, and seeing her therapist. At her new school, she quickly learns that she is different since she is the biggest person there. Throughout the book, we watch her deal with her insecurities dealing with her weight and appearance, as well as making new friendships and possibly meeting a love interest. Overall, Jo Watson did an excellent job of telling a story that many of us have experienced, that of a bigger human living and accepting themselves in a world where the media portrays skinny as beautiful. Jo Watson shows readers how beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and that we need to look closely at ourselves to see just how beautiful we are.

[Kathreadsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this coming of age story!

Big Boned, by Jo Watson, is an encouraging look at a girl facing bullying, divorced parents, a sibling with autism, and college stress. I loved that the author had her go to therapy, and her therapist was phenomenal!!

I loved when Lori realizes she needs to work on her own self talk, this is such an important issue to highlight!

Lori's relationship with her brother was so well done, and really shows what it feels like to have a neurodivergent sibling. Her other relationships, with family and her friend turned romantic partner, were well done and authentic.

The book did feel a bit too long, and dragged in the middle, but overall I really enjoyed the self love journey that Lori makes!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
If adolescence wasn't already tough enough, Lori Palmer seems to be drowning in all the changes in her life. Her parents divorced, her mother is super focused on her career, her autistic brother has only Lori to calm him down, and she has to deal with moving to a brand new school where she doesn't feel that she fits in- because of her size. Set in South Africa, Jo Watson provides us with a realistic storyline and a character that I immediately fell in love with.

I loved the artistic influences that are weaved through the book and that it wasn't just some fluffy teen romance book. I am certainly intrigued to read other books by this author.


Goodreads review published 13/12/21
Publication Date 21/09/21

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG I used to have that inner voice that Lori has, that inner bully!  She would pick apart the way I looked. She only tells me that I'm not the best employee or mother every once in a while but then I tell her to go clean something and she shuts up.

Why do we have to judge friend worthiness and popularity on how skinny people are, their clothes, complexion, thigh gap etc?

Lori has just moved to a new school in Cape Town so that her brother can go to a school that will be better for him and his needs. Her mother is going through lots of changes as a new divorced, single mom and has not been around and giving a lot of her motherly duties to Lori.

Joining a new school when you already feel like you won't belong is rough especially going into senior year ugh. Lori is a very talented artist and she is trying to find her voice artistically and in her life. At her school the hottest guy Jake on the water polo team is just a dream and he happens to volunteer at the school her brother goes to. They start taking her brother and his sister on playdates which kind of turn into dates, maybe it's a gray area lol. 

Oh My! I loved Thembi, the super gorgeous popular girl who wanted to help Lori with designing a dress for her. That friendship, and Jake's attention and her therapist finally make her see that those a-holes at her last school that almost killed her and psychologically damaged her (TW) were wrong and she is worthy of everything everyone has!

I just loved the end with all the heart to hearts, last straw speeches and grand reveals. It is so hard when you can't escape the worst bully because it's in your head. If anyone ever needs to talk about anything, please dm me. Life is hard, some people are Amber's and feel good making others feel bad about themselves but don't take them seriously especially if people say stuff with a sneer. Sneers are red flags. Up

Thank you wattpad and netgalley for the e-ARC for honest and voluntary review.

[Alice 🦋🥀🦄 · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!LONG REVIEW BECAUSE I HAVE STUFF TO SAY. ALSO, SPOILERS AHEAD!!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book was so good. I know a lot of people (skinny folks) aren’t going to like this one, because this novel deals with a LOT of heavy subject matters and unresolved trauma about fat people that they’re not ready to confront. Lori, the wonderful main character, is messy, flawed and realistic in her reactions. I related on so many levels to Lori, and saw so much of my past self in her. Even my current self to be honest. I wish 16 year old me could read this, because she would’ve benefitted from seeing a fat girl who isn’t perfect but learns to grow and love herself. Parts of this book hit me hard, made me cry twice and had me laughing. A perfect balance.

Now, I also know that many reviewers will nit-pick a few things about this book. I want to clear them up, as a fat girl, so that whoever reads this can get an authentic own-voices review about certain aspects they may not understand. Obviously, fat people aren’t a monolith, but my opinion and lived experience is just as valid to talking about this book as any other fat person’s.

Ok, so: the comment about Lori’s underactive thyroid. As someone with a diagnosed underactive thyroid, who is on medication that CONTROLS NOT CURES it, I’m already anticipating the snarky comments by readers who have zero clue about how this condition works. First of all, it was nice to read about a character with the same condition as myself in text, especially as a fat character. In text, Lori talks about how she has an underactive thyroid and how that makes it harder to lose weight, which is objectively true. It’s in the name, UNDER active. Mine and Lori’s thyroids don’t produce enough of the thyroid hormone that is needed to make functions in the body, such as metabolism, energy, fatigue levels etc, work properly. Therefore, weight loss is harder, because our bodies can’t regulate the hormones and biological responses needed for us to lose weight in the same way as a person who’s thyroid works at normal, healthy capacity. In the scene where this was mentioned, Lori was upset and eating chocolate as a self-soothing mechanism after an upsetting event, which she was allowed to be upset about. These snooty people will undoubtedly think Lori brought it up as an ‘excuse’ not to lose weight. Which a) categorically isn’t true because she never used it as an excuse and b) is automatically rooted in negative fat bias. You only need to do simple research and you will find a plethora of information that associates thyroid disorders with weight gain and “how to combat it,” even though we can’t actually help it. Her eating chocolate, in her car, talking about how it’s harder to lose weight with an underactive thyroid is in no way promoting unhealthy eating habits, obesity OR her making ‘justifications for why she’s fat.’ It screams of shaming people for their coping mechanism. Are skinny people the only ones allowed to comfort eat? Are fat people not allowed to have the same coping mechanisms, such as comfort eating, for fear that a woke skinny person will tell them it’s wrong and that they need to ‘stop shoving so much food down their throat’? I beg of you to use your brain and engage those critical thinking skills here. Lori comfort eats multiple times throughout the book, and that’s not a bad thing. These people only dislike it because she’s fat. If she was skinny, they wouldn’t bat an eye. Think about that for a second.

The second thing I’d like to discuss: the inevitable comments about how she fits into the stereotype of ‘fat girl who hates being fat.’ Again, I’m going to tell you to read context clues and get those brain juices flowing. When you’ve been through as much trauma as Lori has, it’s no surprise that she wants to separate herself from her fatness at first. She says (when she’s still processing it) that she’d rather be thinner, because ‘maybe if I was thinner, all the big things wouldn’t have happened to me.’ This broke my heart, because I was exactly the same. I thought that if I was just a bit more normal, if I looked like everyone else, maybe I wouldn’t have been bullied. Is it any surprise, then, that her unresolved trauma makes her think like this? Lori was bullied, sent death threats and even nearly drowned by her bullies because she dared exist as a fat girl. She has water-based trauma because of it, to the point where she can’t take a bath. She struggles being around the sea. She has panic attacks and anxiety. This is in detail in the book, so check the trigger warnings at the end of this review, and it made me uncomfortable in the reality of it, nearly taking me back to what happened to me. This is the reality of fatphobia though. You may think Jo Watson is exaggerating, that this can’t possibly happen to every fat person. To an extent, yes, but I know this is real. It happened to me, therefore it’s not that much of an exaggeration or a stretch of reality. Fat people just don’t talk about the true extent of it, because we’re constantly gaslighted and told that our struggles aren’t valid or real because we brought it on ourselves in being fat. So no, Lori doesn’t fit into whatever strange version of a stereotype of a fat person you have. She is a deeply traumatised young woman who has been through so much, yet is working on finding her worth in herself her body. Because by the end, she does. She has a fantastic on-page therapist and learns so much about herself. This is a hard journey for her, but she does it, and by God does that make me so proud of her, and every other fat person who can do the same in real life.

Phew. That’s off my chest, so I can talk about what else I loved about this. Jake. The love interest. Yes, he’s a conventionally attractive love interest, but he’s not an asshole. And you may be thinking: that’s the bare minimum. But, when you’ve read as many books as I have with where the love interests have been so rude about fat people, it’s a refreshing change. Not only that, but he helps Lori see the value in her art and constantly supports her. He thinks she’s beautiful, and never comments on her body at all. There are some bumps in their road, but guess what? They talk about it. They work through it. And the best part of all of this is how extremely gentle, compassionate and understanding Jake is about Lori’s trauma, particularly her fear of water. He helps her start to overcome this fear she has, and I loved the little detail about how all of their kisses involved water in some way. So freaking cute. The fact that they were a solid, mutually supportive, loving, long distance couple by the end also made me so happy. We need more of these types of couples in YA books.

The short chapters were awesome, and the relationship Lori has with her autistic brother Zac was so bloody brilliant. I’m not autistic, so don’t take my opinion as the be all end all and please look up OV autistic reviews, but considering Jo Watson is neurodivergent, she knows what she’s talking about. The way she handles discussions about autism are digestible, when they don’t have to be, and make me understand the reality of what it’s like living with a sibling on the autism spectrum. Jake’s sister has ADHD too, and the bond that Lisa and Zac have is too cute for this world. I know that this is only scratching the surface of conversations about the reality of autism, and that there are so many other experiences, but what Jo Watson did here is amazing and I applaud her for that.

Can I take a second to gush about the cover and how beautiful Lori is on it? Queen behaviour. Also the succulents *chef’s kiss for the extended metaphor that extends onto the cover.*

In conclusion, as you can probably tell, I loved this. Quick note about the rep - check out below where I’ve listed it but the rep was really good, considering it was set in a place in South Africa where POC make up 10% of the population. This is a story that isn’t meant to be a nice, glossy, sugar-coated depiction of a fat young adult. It’s realistic. It’s messy. It’s flawed, and to me, that’s what makes it so very important. Please give this book a chance and take on board what I’ve written. Deconstruct your own ideas of fat people and fatness, and listen to the message of this book. It’s about her fatness yes, but it’s also about so much more. Both aspect go hand in hand and that’s why it’s a rounded, full story. Celebrate in Lori’s joy and sympathise with her struggles. She’s worthy and she’s like me. And that’s wonderful.

As Lori said, #IAmBeautiful.

Canon representation: Neurodivergent author, fat MC with anxiety and panic attacks, brother with autism, LI’s brother with ADHD, black gay best friend, gay best friend, adopted black friend and fat therapist.

Trigger/Content Warnings: Fatphobia (Internalised and Outward), Mentions of Death Threats, Bullying, Anxiety, Nail Biting/Picking, Talk of Dieting/Body Image/Weight, Panic Attacks, Autism Stigma, Discussions of Austism/ADHD Misdiagnoses, Side Effects of Autism/ADHD Medicine, Autism Meltdown, Mention of Depression/Anti-Depressants, Mentions of Recovered Alcohol Addiction, Attempted Drowning by Bullies, Water-Based Trauma, Divorced/Cheating Parents, Mentions of Parental Abandonment, On-Page Therapy, Anxiety Medicine, Missing Children, Death of Missing Child/Funeral, Mentions of Child Death by Car Crash, Swearing, Police, and Mentions of Violence Towards Women/Children.

[Maria Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved this book in exchange for an honest review..

The story is about 17 year old lori who lives with her mom and autistic brother. She is suddenly uprooted from her art school, city lifestyle to beach life cape Town so her brother can attend a better school for his needs. On her first day of school she manages to make an enemy out of the most popular girl amber. While picking up her brother from school she finds out that the most popular guy at her school jake volunteers there once a week and also has a sister that attends the same school. As the story progresses so does her friendship with Jake and her search to see herself through New eyes..


This book was such an amazing story of a younger girl trying to find herself and her own beauty despite her size. As a plus size woman this took me right back to high school and all the feelings lori felt I had felt at one point and even still do.
I would recommend this book to women young and older who have ever felt out of place, bullied, or singled out. It teaches you a lot about finding yourself and knowing your worth no matter your size. And the romance is the icing on top.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Raking: 8 out of 10 lists Self love lists
Find my full review here: https://www.storybookem.com/post/revi...

Phenomenal! I can not put into words how well I feel like Ms. Watson represented and explained anxiety, loving someone with autism and being "Big Boned". It was spot on!

Big Boned is a universal story about living life with insecurities and, an opportunity to gain a friend named Lori.

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an absolutely incredible coming of age YA, that deals with a lot of important issues (mental health, dysfunctional family relationships, bullying and body image.) Honestly if you’ve ever struggled with your weight or had self-esteem issues about your size then your gonna absolutely love Lori, who is an incredibly realistic, relatable and lovable character.

“Can you truly be yourself in a one-size-fits-all world?”

Lori Palmer is the new girl at Baywater High, which prides itself on the beauty and athleticism of it’s student body (and in which school spirit is mandatory!) she misses her old school, where her talent for art pulled more weight than she does—and longs for her old life, before her parents divorced and forced her to move from Johannesburg to Cape Town (leaving everything she knows and loves behind.)

To survive Lori plans to fade into the background, but those plans are ruined when her brother befriends the sister of the most popular (and most attractive) boy at her school. Now Lori is thrust into the unfamiliar though exciting world of Waterpolo, Parties and Stargazing.

As her old anxieties begin to resurface, Lori discovers a new artistic outlet for her emotions that ignites (and inspires) a powerful movement. But when the authorities start asking questions—Lori realises finding her voice may land her in a world of trouble. But sometimes standing up for what you believe in is just a important as standing up for yourself...

I loved everything about this, it’s truly a phenomenally written, inspiring and relevant story that I feel will resonate with a lot of people. Personally, I feel that awkward teenage me would’ve loved this and benefitted from seeing herself reflected in a character like Lori- a big girl who suffers with self esteem issues but learns to accept herself for who she is.

Several issues were highlighted throughout and they really added depth and realism and were both enlightening and at times, extremely thought provoking. Aside from one stereotypical ‘Mean Girl’ all the characters were incredibly well written;with a subtlety of emotion (and motivations) that made them feel like real people—particularly Thembi,Jake and Lori’s mother.

As it is told from the perspective of a bigger person, navigating a world that stigmatises people for being ‘fat’ I expect there will be people who won’t resonate or enjoy this. But, I personally really loved this and would definitely recommend to fans of Coming of Age YA or for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider—honestly, it’s wonderful and has such a powerful message!

Also thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

[Abigail Portillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I thought that it showed how everyone has struggles and how they deal with them. I feel that a lot of girls especially should be able to read this book to show how you think about yourself can really affect you. I loved the characters and how they weren’t two dimensional. Lori, Jake, and Thembi all have problems at home and can admit to themselves that it’s ok to seek help, whether it's from a peer or professional. This is definitely a book I’m excited to own once it is released.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for selecting me to read this book.

I LOVED this book...finished it in one sitting. I'm not going to lie; YA books about girls with body positivity issues are a guilty pleasure of mine. I was rooting for Lori the whole way, cheering for her every step of the way. It was reassuring to watch her struggle with her own 'inner bully', knowing that we all have that voice inside us that is filled with doubt and insecurities about ourselves.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This was a great story.

It made me think back to the bad old days of school and bullying even if it was supposed to be friendly / funny.

A wonderful story with great characters showing there is always light at the end of the dark tunnel.

[Zahira⚡️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Wattpad books for sending me an arc of Big Boned <3

I didn't know what to expect with Big Boned but when I saw this gorgeous adorable cover, I was instantly drawn to it. YA contemporaries are definitely a genre I love to get into when I want to feel good about myself and get all those butterflies. I can tell you that Big Boned put a smile on my face throughout the whole time I was reading it.

This YA contemporary is about Lori, a plus-size artist teenager who goes into this new school in a small town near the beach. She definitely feels like an outcast because of her lack of confidence and self-esteem. She doesn't like her body. In fact, her bullying in middle school made it even worse and her struggle with anxiety doesn't help in some situations.

Lori has devoted her time and work to her younger autistic brother, Zac, which touched me a lot. Her interactions with him were so wholesome and adorable. You can clearly see how much she cares about him.

Ever since moving into this new town, Lori feels very lonely and misunderstood. She feels like she doesn't belong and think that people will not welcome her because of her big appearance. Her perception of her body really plays a huge role in this book and you can see how much it prevents her from reaching her full potential. She couldn't even name a single thing that she liked about herself.

Humans break too. Bad experiences, past events, trauma... But with time, with therapy, with love, we grow again. Brand new and perfect, like these will.

However, she goes every week to see her new therapist who very much helps her embark on this new healing journey of self-love. I just absolutely adored seeing the protagonist confront her past, the bullying, and learn that she's more than her body.

The bullying hasn't really stopped, has it? Except you're the one bullying yourself this time.

She's an artist who's driven by her passion for painting and would love to fulfill her dream by going to this amazing art school. Her difficult relationship with her mom and dad after the divorce was very realistic. The depiction of a panic attack and autism was really well done. I loved that she got to meet this guy, Jake, who truly understands the struggle of living with a sibling that is neuroatypical. I loved seeing them bond over their shared experiences and love for their siblings. It was adorable and very touching. Finding someone who knows what she's going through and doesn't judge her is everything.

My favorite aspect of this story was definitely her relationship with her brother and her therapy sessions. You can see the change in her art and her confidence as she slowly becomes comfortable in her body. I just adore watching this process with a protagonist who truly resonates with me. It had a compelling narrative that I couldn't help but sympathize with Lori.

This book really surprised me by its depth in serious topics such as mental health, autism rep, ADHD rep, anxiety, and body image struggles.

I truly recommend this story to everyone!



trigger warning: fat-shaming, mention of bullying, drowning scene.

[rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost quit this book 45 pages in. I am glad I didn’t.

I found the MC whiny and I worried it was going to be a “not like other girls” story. Instead what happened was reading about a young adult coming into her own, learning to find her own voice.

I really really resonated with the MC, I struggled with really bad social anxiety until I was in college, a result of family issues and bullying in middle school. I really enjoyed reading this! I especially loved the positive nonchalance to therapy and other typically rough topics

[Fay Pretty · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In that moment, dirty and paint-stained, on my hands and knees on the side of the road in the middle of the night, I felt more connected to something greater than myself than I had ever felt before. I felt imbued with a kind of purpose that I didn’t even know I had. Even if I didn’t quite understand what that purpose was exactly, I could feel that what I was doing was important and that it meant something.”

Lori’s world has exploded in the last few years. Her dad left to be with a younger woman, her mum seems to have quit the position of ‘mum’ to be a Botox filled real estate agent instead and they’ve moved across the country, leaving behind Lori’s art school and friends, so her brother can finally get the support he deserves. Now Lori’s at a new school where art feels like a foreign language, sports are mandatory, and her weight seems like a plus-size sign over her head that says ‘different'. But then there’s Jake and he doesn’t seem to subscribe to the same smoothie magazines as everyone else, but a guy like that can’t like a girl like her- right?

The hot guy-new girl cliché may be a bit overdone, but Lori was a relatable plus-size character, her insecurities and worries that hit deep and really showed a depth of character. Especially entwined with the various responsibilities she carried, such as looking after her brother and buying the groceries whilst trying to get into art school, Lori is more than her weight and so are her struggles and worries. Yet, it is still a commanding presence in her life, one that isn’t solvable and passionately approached.

More than just the inclusion of a plus-sized main character, Watson normalises using different pronouns, sexualities and learning difficulties, as well as the importance of looking after your mental health. Lori’s brother is on the autism spectrum and Watson really explores their relationship and how their love is expressed which is so sweet and real that I loved reading it.

One of the very few things that niggled at me though was the ‘gay best friends’ they felt more like stereotypes and really undeveloped compared to the majority of other characters. Being out of the picture most of the book, Lori only seemed to interact with them for some encouragement or a plot tool to reveal or discuss Lori’s relationship. It also seemed a little unlikely that for all Lori’s comments on the previous school she attended and the acceptance and respect she had, she only made two friends. Although, I’m not trying to judge this, it just seemed to really emphasise the underdeveloped ‘gay best friends’. Additionally, there were one of two other stereotypes like the head mean girl, ‘Amber’ but there was an acknowledged effort to break them down using other characters with layered personalities within that ‘mean girl group’.

This was only a small part of an easy to read and wonderfully touching book. I also loved the South African setting (I definitely want to read more from this area of the world) and also read more from Jo Watson, she is obviously an incredibly talented writer and I wish I had this book when I was younger. The fat girl getting the guy cannot be understated in its importance and I hope to see more books like this on the shelves.

[Amanda Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things that surprised me about this book was how much I saw myself in Lori. And in a way it was comforting to see Lori's insecurities talked about because it made me feel less alone. I know a lot of people who read this book will probably feel the same, but it was nice to read a book for once and not compare myself to the main character in a negative way.
I really enjoyed the romance in this too. It felt so natural and real and never once did I feel like the author was forcing it. The same can be said about the friendships and family relationships. Having neurodiverse characters in the book and seeing how the characters dealt with and navigated day to day life with them made the main MC's feel more rounded and personally it set the book apart from similar books in the YA genre.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy so much was the overuse of the '!' and there were a ton of errors, spelling mistakes etc that brought me out of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an early copy for review

[Kate]

Life is too short to read books I don’t vibe with. The writing very quickly moved from cheesy-cute to cringey. She mentioned TikTok for heaven’s sake 😅

[Melissa Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: People are all a bit like succulents— we may be broken but we can grow new roots or add pieces to ourselves to continue to grow.

💭 Overall Thoughts:
This book incredibly exceeded my expectations in the best ways. It is not JUST a romance novel and it is not just fluffy but it is REAL and ends in such a hopeful and uplifting way. It is also still light and witty enough to be completely enjoyable.

The romance here is so sweet and adorable. Jake is the guy we all wanted to date in high school for sure— hot but with a super sweet side. Lori has some things to work through but she makes such growth through the novel and turns into such a badass chick when she is able to silence her inner bully.

This novel touches on some tough topics with such grace in a way that is not overwhelming. It becomes uplifting without being unrealistic. It shows the sibling side of what it’s like to have a family member who is Autistic. It shows how different is beautiful and the wonderful thing of being your own biggest cheerleader. It touches on body image, divorce, alcoholism, neurodiversity, anxiety, and adoption. And yeah, there’s a lot here between all the characters— but it’s done in such a realistic way.

You will be rooting for Lori all along and although parts may be tough you will leave with a feeling of uplifting empowerment.

Big Boned comes out September 21, 2021! Get your preorder now!


What I Liked:
👍 REPRESENTATION! From neurodivergence, to body diversity, to mental health, to race, to sexual orientation— this has so many groups represented in a way to bring light to important issues in a meaningful way.
👍 The adorable romance that transpires
👍 This piggy backs on representation in that as a child life specialist I was SO HAPPY to have an adequate sibling story that people could relate to.

What I Didn’t Like:
👎 It wasn’t that I didn’t like this, but there are a lot of topics covered here so check my content warnings if needed.


⚠️ Content Warnings: divorce, fat shaming, ableism, bullying, anxiety and panic attacks, mental health, adoption, neurodivergence, alcoholism, infidelity

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the ability to read this novel with request for an honest review.

[Alex Nonymous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Big Boned in exchange for an honest review.

Big Boned was really cute, but also chockfull of picture perfect coincidences and happy endings that are pretty much a hallmark of Wattpad publishing now. I really enjoyed watching Lori grow as a character and learn to love herself.

Brief note that might not even be important, Lori and her love interest both have neurodiverse siblings which immediately set off warning bells since a lot of YA uses neurodiversity kids as sympathy props, but Watson actually dedicates a lot of page time to both kids and discussing them both outside of and within how their neurodiversity affects them. That being said, I'm not neurodiverse so while I think it was well handled and haven't seen anyone saying otherwise, if you're really sensitive to that kind of thing you should probably wait until a more qualified reviewer reviews this.

[chasingholden · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when we adopt the one-size-fits-all mentality that has been expected of society for far too long? Jo Watson has taken this question and answered it in a very cute way with Big Boned.

Lori has always felt different. She never looked like the popular girls and growing up , she learned early that kids can be cruel, driving her to an Art school where she thrived until her mom decides to uproot her and her brother and move outside the city forcing Lori to enter a new school, one where everyone and everything seems perfect, Well, everything except Lori herself that is.

With sharp wit and beautifully crafted prose, Big Boned addresses many difficult themes, shattering stereotypes with her multidimensional characters and expertly crafted, highly relatable metaphors woven throughout the story this is an adorable rom-com perfect for teens.

It did take me a bit to get in to the story but once I did I was hooked. This is the type of YA novel I wish I had had available to me when I was a pre-teen, and one that I will be sure to put on my daughters shelf as soon as possible. I highly recommend this for anyone above the age of 12 or so.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience the magic this gem has to offer us and our children!

Thank you to netgalley, Wattpad Publishing, and Jo Watson for providing an advanced e-copy for me to read and share my honest opinion.

[Gaïa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ - Bonne lecture
Un petit roman YA très sympathique, avec beaucoup de représentations (PP grosse et anxieuse et PSs autiste, TDAH), qui raconte l'arrivée de Lori Palmer dans un nouveau lycée où tout le monde est physiquement parfait.
Si le plot est assez classique, l'histoire d'une outsider qui tombe amoureuse du plus beau mec du lycée, j'ai apprécié le traitement des personnages et les thématiques abordées, qui sont assez profondes.
Je me suis tout à fait reconnue dans l'anxiété de Lori, et j'ai adoré sa relation avec son petit frère Zac. Son histoire et la façon dont elle combat ses difficultés est super intéressante à suivre, et on a vraiment envie de lui faire un câlin à certains moments. Elle a une grande force de vie et beaucoup de courage.
Jake, le love interest, est en réalité assez peu à l'aise avec sa popularité, et voit directement la véritable valeur de Lori. Leur relation est peut être un peu facile, mais elle est clairement très mignonne !

J'ai aussi apprécié que ce roman aborde des sujets comme la normalisation de la thérapie, la médication contre l'anxiété et la difficulté que peut ressentir une personne grosse à aborder le mouvement bodypositive. Il y a aussi plein de belles réflexions sur l'art et la création !

Merci à Hachette pour l'envoi de ce SP !

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Edelwiess+ for the Digital Review Copy of Big Boned by Jo Watson.

I was excited to get this book and start reading it. I read the information at the start and should have taken it more seriously. This book took me longer to read because of the emotions and memories it brought up for me. I had to set the book down and take breaks from it. This could be seen as a compliment to the writer for creating such a relatable and realistic story.

I liked the relationships Lori developed. To start with, her therapist Vickie was a hoot and wonderful for Lori. She’s what therapists should be viewed as and not stiff, office types as most are portrayed. Then there’s Jake...I wasn’t sure about this one at first, but then it grew on me. I can appreciate the idea that even Lori acknowledges that he may not be the one for her forever (we even get a hint of this at the very end). Thembi is the best girl friend Lori could have had. Accepted by the majority, but can see outside the norm.

I hope to read the final copy--in which I hope many of the errors in conventions will be corrected. I also felt like the ending could have been edited better. At some points it felt too rushed but then slow--not much consistency. I hope to put a copy in my classroom library and encourage all students to check it out.

[Stasha Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Big Boned” by Jo Watson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Young Adult contemporary
Release Date: 9/21/21

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I enjoyed every minute of it! It was very relatable! Personally dealing with self acceptance and loving yourself is very real. I also have a five year old with Autism, so I could relate to some of Lori’s struggles.

Lori Palmer is spending her senior year as the new girl at Bay Water High, where the most beautiful and athletic attend. To her this means the opposite of who she is. She’s sad to leave her Art school in Joburg, South Africa, but she knows this move is for her brother to attend the best school. Lori is still coping with her parents divorce and now she has to start over the year before college. What she wasn’t expecting was finding her true self over the next year.
I loved that Lori’s character developed and blossomed through the story. She was very vulnerable and shared her insecurities. She also found her self worth and built some amazing new relationships. I was rooting for Lori, her art, and finding love!

[Alondra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read an arc version of this book!

Big Boned focuses on Lori Patty Palmer, an artistic 17-year-old who has recently moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town. She misses city life and recognizes that her family is moving to provide a more supportive environment for her 9-year-old brother, Zac (who is on the autism spectrum), and to help her Mom expand her business. As the title suggests, Lori is on the heavier side. Some of the language at the start of the book could be triggering to folks navigating body image (ex. "my pale, flabby thighs that touch, my stomach that oozed..those flappy bits of fat on your arms that jiggle when you wave at people"). However, Lori does grow throughout the book!

There are a lot of humorous moments throughout this book (ex. "...he was stupidly good looking. The kind of good looking that should not be allowed to exist in nature. It was almost unnatural. As if he was the product of some secret CRISPR experiment), and it is ultimately a feel-good, body-positive, therapy-positive book. Some of the writing feels disjointed, and as though one more round of editing could make it feel smoother, but the actual plot and characters -- love it. I would gratefully add a copy to my classroom library.