Author: Charlene Carr
Publisher: Charlene Carr
Publication Date: September 2014
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN
Description: Whirling from a life that's crumbling around her, Jennifer Carpenter devotes herself to the one thing she can control: becoming the ideal version of herself—a thinner version—no matter the cost.
She isn't always nice. She isn't always likable, but she's honest.
Skinny Me is an in-depth look at the complicated layers of insecurity and depression that can stem from seeking self-worth and beauty in the numbers on a scale.
This novel is beautiful, harsh, and truthful in its characterization of a woman who is flawed, yet inspirational.
My Thoughts: I ended up liking this story overall, but I have to be honest here and say, it was a real struggle to like it, much less finish it. I never warmed to the main character, Jennifer Carpenter, because in a story that features a woman who is down on her luck in all areas of her life should harvest feelings of empathy and compassion from the reader, I felt contempt. Why, you may be asking? The reason is because this character is not a nice person. She’s hostile and rude to everyone around her, even the people that truly care about her. She’s a downer to be around. She is insecure about her weight and though that is a big problem for most of us, it doesn’t give her the right to be hateful. A lot of us struggle with weight and seeking our self-worth from the scale or mirror but being nasty and rude to people isn’t acceptable. So, no, I didn’t like her.
The main reason I stuck with this story is because I was curious to see if her journey to lose weight would also lead her on a journey of self-discovery to work on what’s wrong on the inside and not just the outside. I did begin to empathize with her feelings of self-loathing and disappointment when she wasn’t seeing the results she wanted to and I admired her determination to stick with it.
My Final Verdict: Unfortunately, I wish I could say I was cheering Jennifer on until the finish line and she completely redeemed herself by the end of the book. Instead, I will say, she is headed in the right direction but has a long way to go. The best thing I took away from this book is that becoming the best version of yourself is always a work in progress. The journey is mostly up-hill and you will stumble and fall a lot, but the key is to never give up.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Skinny Me from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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