"This story will resonate with readers who struggle with social pressure to be thin." —THE U.S. REVIEW OF BOOKS Sabrina Hunter believes the way to happiness is being thin.
Which makes it tough for a girl like her, who can eat her body weight in Oreos.
The publisher of her first novel just turned Sabrina’s lifelong dream into a nightmare by deciding to market her as their “glamorous author of glamorous books,” relying on a website photo from two years ago.
A photo taken before she ballooned into her current blimp-like state.
Terrified her publisher will cancel her contract when they discover she’s rejoined the ranks of the chubby, Sabrina throws herself into a rigid diet plan. With the book’s launch only a few months away, plus her boss’s A-list celeb party that same week, she’ll have to shed those extra pounds fast.
When Sabrina joins a support group for compulsive overeaters, she expects to lose forty pounds. However, she doesn’t foresee what she will friendship, love, new interests, and the surprising knowledge that you don’t have to be thin to find serenity.
Award-winning novelist Anne Pfeffer grew up in Phoenix, Arizona reading prodigiously, riding horses, and avoiding rattlesnakes and scorpions. After living in Chicago and New York, she escaped back to the land of sunshine in Los Angeles. She has worked in banking and as a pro bono attorney, representing abandoned children in adoption and guardianship proceedings. Anne has a daughter living in New York and is the author of four books in the YA/New Adult genres.
I really enjoyed this book! Anne Pfeffer has a great wit and her characters are so interesting. I also love the fact that she as well as her characters say and think the things that we may not always want to admit in ourselves. I didn't think the main idea of this book was a self-help type, but I certainly think anyone reading it can relate to some of the thoughts and feelings we have at times when we may be a little hard on ourselves and this book reminded me that we all should give ourselves more credit as we definitely deserve it. This was a great read for me!
I won a copy of the Kindle ebook from Goodreads so first, thanks for that. Next, as a person who has struggled with weight for the majority of my life, I often identified with Sabrina. Anne Pfeffer depicts an honest look at some of the difficulties people of size encounter in this thin obsessed society. She addresses several sensitive topics (TW: relationships with food, family trauma, toxic work environment, mental illness, miscarriage to name a few) with a humorous but respectful tone that made for an enjoyable read. Sabrina’s journey to empowerment was encouraging.
Binge by Anne Pfeffer is a charming book following the life of Sabrina as she faces personal battles with her weight and societal expectations. Working for a hyper talent agent named Josh, she sees plenty of thinnish people, even the palm trees outside the office windows are skinny. As she embarks on a new journey of being a published author, she must come to terms with a change in her weight and how that might be perceived. This is a realistically written novel, one that tackles all kinds of dilemmas associated with carrying a few extra pounds and how we are perceived. Sabrina is a great character to get to know, and you soon discover along with her, that there is much more to life than being thin. Highly recommend for a surprisingly insightful read.
ENG Sabrina works as an executive assistant, and her boss is one of the hateful ones. He treats her terribly and takes her back when, although she has prepared everything perfectly, he does not do the right thing. Her family situation is not the easiest: her mother left when she was 9 years old, her father became a ghost of himself, and she also had to take care of her sister. She has a dream in her drawer: to become a writer, which is why she sent her first book of a trilogy to some publishers. Also, Binge is because she has a compulsive eating disorder. The story is about personal growth. The book Sabrina would like to publish is accepted by a publishing house, and she is faced with the problem of how to lose weight for the book's publication event. Her sister points out that she has an addiction to food and suggests that she follow a 12-step program. Sabrina is a funny character, and the situations the author thinks of are, too. I must also confess that I found so many of her ways of thinking and acting to be absolutely true. If you find the book, I recommend reading it.
ITA Sabrina lavora come assistente esecutiva: il suo capo è uno di quelli odiosi. La tratta malissimo e la riprende quando, nonostante lei abbia preparato tutte le cose a perfezione, lui non fa le cose giuste. La sua situazione familiare è non facilissima: la madre se ne è andata quando aveva 9 anni, il padre è diventato fantasma di sé stesso e lei si è dovuta occupare anche della sorella. Ha un sogno nel cassetto: diventare scrittrice e per questo ha inviato ad alcuni editori il suo primo libro di una trilogia. Inoltre, Binge, è perché ha un disturbo alimentare compulsivo. La storia è di crescita personale. Il libro che Sabrina vorrebbe pubblicare viene accettato da una casa editrice e lei si trova di fronte al problema: come dimagrire per l’evento di pubblicazione del libro. La sorella le fa presente che ha una dipendenza dal cibo e le suggerisce di seguire un programma a 12 step. Sabrina è un personaggio divertente e anche le situazioni che l’autrice pensa lo sono. Devo anche confessare che tanti suoi modi di pensare e agire li ho trovati assolutamente veritieri. Se trovate il libro ne consiglio la lettura.
Sabrina's had a troubled life. Her mum walked out on the family when she was nine, and her younger sister Lena was 5. Their father was always very distant, and Sabrina took over the role of parent for her younger sibling. Since that moment, Sabrina comforted eats when she is under pressure or troubled. Now she is 27 and working for a boss she dislikes. Her eating is spiralling out of control, and she is now a binge eater. Sabrina is also an aspiring romance novelist, and although she has had many rejections, she continues sending her manuscript to editors as she cannot give up hope.
Out of the blue, Sabrina hears from Kaitlynn Mann, editorial director of Fast Track Books. Kaitlynn wants to publish Sabrina's romance novel in 4 months. Sabrina is over the moon until she realizes that Kaitlynn is arranging a gala dinner and wants Sabrina to wear a figure-hugging red dress like her heroine. Sabrina is appalled when she realizes that Kaitlynn had checked out the profile photo on her website when she was a svelte size ten wearing a sexy red dress. How is Sabrina going to lose forty pounds in 4 months? Did she succeed in getting her novel published? What is the twelve-step program? Read Binge by Anne Pfeffer to find out the answers.
I enjoyed reading about Sabrina's emotional struggles while battling her Binge eating problem and low self-esteem. Many people facing similar challenges will be able to relate to Sabrina's character. Despite Sabrina's determination to better herself and lose weight, she learns that her problems are deeply rooted in the neglect she suffered in her childhood. Only when Sabrina has a group of supportive friends with similar addictions does she get the comfort and guidance she needs. Pfeffer's penmanship is enjoyable and humorous. Sabrina is described so well that I felt I was saying goodbye to a friend by the end of the book. The supporting characters are also well-developed, and they add to the story with their scenes giving different viewpoints on Sabrina's struggles.
Anne Pfeffer has written a moving and inspiring story that tackles important issues related to self-esteem, addiction, and personal growth. For its relatable characters, engaging writing style, and inspirational message, it deserves a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. There were several grammar errors, and I think this book could do with another proofread. However, the errors did not spoil my enjoyment of this wonderful book which I recommend to anyone looking for an uplifting, relatable read filled with humour.
Anne Pfeffer’s 'Binge' explores the life of Sabrina, a young woman dealing with self-image issues, an eating disorder, and the chaos of adult life. While the story has strong points, there are a few things that make it less enjoyable at times.
One of the issues is that the author reveals too much of Sabrina’s backstory early on, instead of letting it unfold naturally. It would have been better to learn about her past gradually through her interactions as the story moved forward.
On a positive note, Sabrina’s attraction to Daniel, whom she calls “the love of my life” and “future husband,” is funny and relatable, adding some lightness to the book. Her denial about her eating disorder and the negative thoughts about her body are written in a way that helps readers understand what people with similar struggles might feel.
However, there are some confusing moments in the book, like in Chapter 8 where the seating arrangement at a meeting is described in a way that doesn’t make sense. This distracts from the flow of the story.
Sabrina’s ongoing struggle with her eating habits and relapses is very relatable. Her attempts to eat more mindfully but falling back into old habits mirrors real-life struggles many people have with cravings or unhealthy habits.
As Sabrina starts to confront her issues and take control of her life, her character grows, which is satisfying to see. While the number of problems she faces makes the plot feel a bit crowded, it also adds to the realistic portrayal of how overwhelming adult life can be.
One downside is the constant drama and mood swings Sabrina goes through. It makes the story feel a little too hectic at times, leaving the reader without much breathing room. A slower pace in parts of the book might have helped balance the ups and downs.
Overall, though, the ending is uplifting. Sabrina’s journey toward accepting herself is rewarding, and the happy conclusion brings the story to a satisfying close. 'Binge' is a realistic and emotional story, offering insight into self-image and the struggles of adult life, despite its minor flaws.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"Binge" deserves a 4 out of 5 star. Anne Pfeffer totally succeeded in keeping me hooked to the story. I had a lot of work this week, but just couldn't put the book down. She has been able to beautifully portray the character through her writing style. It had an easy writing, and a great character development from the beginning of the book.
"Binge" offered a raw and honest portrayal of a young woman's struggle with binge eating disorder. The main character, Sabrina, was a relatable character. The things that she faced are what we face today in this generation. Her past traumas and her insecurity made her the person that she was today. She believed that her longing wish to become a published author would only be possible if she would be able to slim down. Joining the support program was a new path to her and provided the emotional support that she needed for ages long. The beautiful journey was what she deserved from the start of her life.
"...when the things we really want are love, friendship, laughter, a sense of purpose."
Pfeffer's unflinching honesty made it easy to connect with Sabrina's experiences, and her exploration of the psychological and social factors contributing to addiction was insightful. At the end of the book, I was so happy for her, and I could feel it in my heart. It taught me a lot of things about life. And now I know I have to take life slowly and as it is.
To everyone out there, if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction/disorders, know that you are enough. While the subject matter of "Binge" is a little on the heavier side if you can't relate, this book would offer you a glimmer of hope and a reminder that recovery from any anxiety is possible and life is not that hard!
This was a Goodreads giveaway book, and as always I always do with giveaway books, I went in blind. And I am so glad I did.
Anne Pfeffer did an amazing job about writing what it can be like to live with a binge eating disorder. For this being a blind book, it resonated so well with me. I actually have been apart of a binge support group and Sabrina’s-our main character- experience is pretty true to form.
The depictions of internal turmoil, and dependency, on food to cope with change and to feel just a bit in control is clearly articulated. Understanding why Sabrina feels this -and by extension how people with an ED can feel- was so well written that even when we knew that Sabrina’s fears may be unwarranted we still felt them with her. That understanding that this is irrational but also empathizing that MAYBE it is rational is so hard to articulate, but Pfeffer did a phenomenal job.
At this point I am ranting, but I really could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this book. I don’t give 5 stars often, but this was definitely a 5star read for me.
- Slight Spoiler Below -
The ONLY thing that I wasn’t crazy about was the instant fixation on Daniel-romantic interest- and I maybe would have liked to see Sabrina come into her own independent of a romance. However, Im not mad about it because Daniel was NOT a crutch for Sabrina but rather helped show that she was becoming more comfortable with herself regardless of her physical appearance.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this novel. There are some trigger warnings to mention: disordered eating, binge eating, negative self-worth based hoping weight. As someone who’s overweight and often struggles with her self worth and image, I really connected with Bree. Her struggle to control her binge eating and accept herself was raw and emotional. The author struck the right tone between honesty and humor. My only complaint is how many times the word fat appeared both in dialogue and in describing Bree’s appearance. (But that may just be my own trigger issue). Her mental strife with feelings of inadequacy in both her job and her romance with Daniel felt so relatable. The supporting characters in this story were beautifully written. They had their own stories and growth alongside Bree. The ending came up soooo quickly and I selfish wish there had been a bit more to it. All in all, I loved this book and highly recommend to anyone who’s struggled with their weight or anyone who needs help understanding what it’s like to be plus sized.
I needed more. I enjoyed the premise and could relate to Sabrina and her desire to overeat under stress. It's definitely an addiction I would like to see more about. However, here in Binge I felt that Bree overcame her addiction too quickly/easily for the place she was in. I wanted a more gritty, realistic battle I suppose. We are told a few times about her stressful upbringing but I wish they had more time front and center so we the reader could really understand how she came to be in this place.
The side characters were actually a lot of fun and deserve books to themselves. Her boss is hiding a psychotic wife which sounds like a totally interesting story. And Sabrina's sister Lena and boyfriend Stuart have such a great relationship and have battled addictions themselves. I haven't looked to see if the author has written their stories but they would be great!
Lastly, the romance was so blase. Sabrina has the hots fairly instantly, but I couldn't tell if the guy actually liked her or not until the very end. And the end!! Talk about a quick ending!
I'm probably ragging too much, but really it wasn't a bad read. Good as a food addict primer novel or for excellent side characters.
Note: I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
Binge is a wonderful exemplification of what it's like having to live with your demons and the struggle behind conquering societal demands. We all have our daily struggles, and Binge is a great book that brings an honest and relatable viewpoint of what it may be like to struggle with maintaining the weight that society says you should be. There is also a little romance that blooms throughout the story, which really brought me to love the main character even more as she realized that her weight was not as much of a flaw as she had believed it to be.
I would recommend this book for anyone needing a reminder that it is okay to struggle and not have all the answers to your problems. I would also recommend this book for individuals that want a realistic and relatable read.
Binge is a wonderful story, and I look forward to reading more by Anne Pfeffer in the future!
Binge by Anne Pfeffer is a book full of wit, humour, and enthusiasm. This is the story of an overweight girl, Sabrina Hunter, who works for a talent company and aspires to become a best-selling author. One day, she received a call from a publishing house that offered to launch her book. There begins the roller-coaster ride of her life, where she wants to lose a few extra pounds, look fabulous, and have her dream man right by her side at the book launch. Will she be able to achieve her goals and dreams?
This is a fantastic book which focuses on "mindful eating" habits and does not encourage any crash diets to overcome compulsive eating and weight issues. The wit and humour of the author will make you laugh and this book even more interesting.
The book also conveys a very important message through this light-hearted tale of Sabrina and I think most readers will relate. I would definitely recommend this book. This is by far the best book I have read.
Binge by Anne Pfeffer is a heartfelt and insightful novel that explores the emotional weight of body image, ambition, and self worth with honesty and compassion. Through Sabrina Hunter’s journey, the story captures the intense pressure both internal and external to conform to unrealistic standards, especially in an industry that values appearance over authenticity. The narrative is relatable, engaging, and grounded in real emotional struggles that many readers will immediately recognize.
What makes Binge especially powerful is its balance of vulnerability and hope. Sabrina’s experience with compulsive overeating, paired with her fear of professional rejection, is portrayed without judgment and with genuine empathy. The support group becomes more than a means to an end it’s a space for connection, growth, and unexpected joy. Pfeffer delivers a meaningful reminder that fulfillment, love, and serenity are not dependent on size, making Binge an uplifting and thought provoking read.
First off, I'd like to thank Goodreads for the giveaway that granted me a copy of this beautiful book. It was a breezy read for me. It was also a genre that I normally don't read, which was a great change of pace. The reason for my (3) star review is based on the fact that I had honestly hoped for more. The main character Sabrina is very loveable, and I was glad that the book had a light-hearted happy ending. I just wish that the author had dove deeper into Sabrina's past issues with her dad, or gave more details on the struggles that Sabrina faced while attempting to overcome her food addiction. If you're looking for a quick read that has a fairytale ending, this might just be the book for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was just ok. I read it in order to do a review of it and I thought that while it did have a happy ending for the MC, it may not have reached it in the best way. She is a compulsive eater and feels that she needs to lose approx. 40 lbs in 4 months in time for the release of her first book. She has been trying to become a writer for many years so that she could pay off her college loans and leave her job and tyrannical boss behind. But life and stress get in the way of her weight loss goals and even though she joins a group to help her, she is still falling short. She even contemplates some very unhealthy ways to lose such as purging and then liposuction. (A bad idea to give younger readers)
‘Binge’ by Anne Pfeffer focuses on Sabrina Hunter that works as an executive assistant for a talent agency.Her dream of becoming a best seller romance novelist is coming true as one of her books will be published.Sabrina posted on her website a photo of her wearing a red dress;the book editor wants her to wear the same outfit for the launch party.That dress fitted Sabrina a long time ago,now she is overweight. Sabrina has a binge eating disorder. For me,this book is about a tormented ,lonely woman who is struggling with a food addiction,she has a sweat tooth.It is an emotional rollercoaster,a raw book,funny and honest. I loved the design of dinkus being cherry cupcakes,representative for the theme of the book.
A lot of women can definitely relate to this book! Binge by Anne Pfeffer is a contemporary book which was written to target young women of this century and which carries such a good and important message that pertains so social issues, such as body weight and even body shaming. I love how this book was presented. It was written in a light, fun way but it doesn't take away the message that it conveys. I particularly love the main character Sabrina Hunter. She is totally relatable and I loved her bubbly personality. The plot of the story was also done neatly and it flawed well from first to the last page. I can definitely recommend this!
As a life-long fat person who has struggled with body image, Binge definitely spoke to me. MC, Sabrina, suffers from an eating disorder that goes largely ignored when most people talk about them...compulsive eating. Sometimes funny, sometimes heart wrenching, this book follows Sabrina's journey to self-love... From being discovered shoving floor-cookies into her mouth at her day job to realizing that she is worthy of love and acceptance regardless of her size. I'd recommend this book for any person who has struggled with weight shame. It's not the most profound book I've ever read but its got heart:)
Binge by Anne Pfeffer takes a humorous look at something that plagues our society. Sabrina Hunter has an eating problem. She doesn't see it until she is pressured into losing about forty pounds to get into a red dress her publisher saw her wearing in a photo. Sabrina teeters back and forth until her sister talks her into going to an addiction program. This opens a whole new world to her as she learns to accept herself and find friends who support her. This novel gives hope and inspiration as Sabrina learns to face her biggest critic, herself.
Sabrina Hunter is a author whose dreams of going big are finally going to come true! Her book is loved by her publisher and the plans are underway for a big publicity tour. But Sabrina discovers that the image they have of her is outdated by 2years and many many pounds. This book is the journey she takes from obsessing over her weight and diet to a new found self love and acceptance. Friend nd ship and confidence are also big here. The journey Sabrina goes through is very relatable and I enjoyed the story a lot.
4.5 🌟This book was such a great read and rather emotional for me since I relate to Sabrina’s thoughts and battles. Anne Pfeffer truly hit the nail on the head with this novel. Her characters are so well written, and Sabrina’s character can be related to by so many, especially those struggling with compulsive overeating or even perceptions of beauty based on weight. This is definitely a read I would recommend to anyone who has struggled with weight, but also anyone wanting to understand the mindset of those who struggle. A great book!
Once I began this book, I couldn't put it down until I was finished. Every female that wrestles with weight or self image should read it. Sabrina was very real and her problems were never glamourized. Anne Pfeffer's treatment of the story was so honest and even though there was a happy ending, I found it believable with the father's continued failings. I look forward to reading more by Anne Pfeffer.
Pfeffer took me on the crazy up-and-down journey of early recovery (from compulsive overeating) in a way that was true to the experience of so many women I’ve met in the rooms. Watching Bree find herself as a physical, emotional, and spiritual person was moving. The mental twists and the self-doubt could easily have scuttled her abstinence, but she weathered every one with the support of others in recovery. Brava Bree! And kudos, Anne Pfeffer!
I was always the thin one, just until I got married and had three kids. Never did get my skinny weight back until getting sick with n autoimmune disease. I know the feelings well in this book. Am so happy for all the characters in the book. Just the ending I loved. A fun read. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I tagged it to read even if I hadn't won it in the giveaway.
I enjoyed this book! It was a really quick read which I always like though I feel some parts of the story were just very quickly glossed over and could’ve had more detail. I love books that bring attention to mental illness, and I feel this author did a great job portraying real thoughts/feelings/behaviors people go through. I loved the message of accepting yourself and being around community who cares about you. This was a good read!
I tried very hard to get into this book, since I did like the concept, but it felt really toxic in a way that didn't feel resolved by the end. The main character is a little frustrating to read, and there were few other likeable characters to rely on to carry the story along.
The idea of the book - great. Execution - so-so. Writing is decent, but pacing could be addressed.
An enjoyable book for sure. I like the main character, Sabrina and although there are some pretty major differences between me and her, I found myself relating to her about a lot of things. I'm just really glad that there was a happy ending for her instead of it being just a really depressing, gorey book. 3.75 ⭐️
When it comes to societies pressures to look, act, or be a certain way, I’m no stranger. I’ve struggled with eating problems for YEARS, and Binge has been the closest reality to some of my issues that I’ve read in a very long time.
I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to know how Sabrina dealt with and handled everything that was thrown at her with her binging and overeating. When she went looking for those snacks that her sister threw away, I FELT THAT NEED immediately.
Not only was this a page turner, but I also cried throughout the entire book. Some of the scenes were just heartbreaking. This book, for me, was so emotional.
Dealing and struggling with eating disorders of any kind is hard. Especially when you have society, the media, and maybe a few family members can’t change their views on what humans should look like.
If you like books on hard social topics with funny moments, a little bit of romance, and a whole lot of real world issues, then Binge is a must read for you!
What a great read! I went into this blind and came out seeing everything. This book I could not put down. It had me feeling all the feels and it also gave me a good lesson in life. Don’t worry about what people think and believe in yourself. After reading Binge, I definitely want to devour (excuse the pun) the rest of her books.