Name: How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love
ISBN: 9780762450145

Ken Baker

When Emery Jackson's mother signs her up for a weight loss competition reality show, she must learn how to balance the trials of her new figure, her newfound fame, and her relationships with family and friends.

How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love

Ella Zegarra

Publicado originalmente: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Hay libros que al tan solo verlos me hago a la idea que los voy a odiar, sobre todo últimamente que mi feminismo se ha hecho notar, la primera impresión que da el nuevo libro de Ken Baker, es sobre un libro sumamente superficial, uno que alaba la nueva cultura de matarse de hambre. Pero como me gusta renegar, obviamente tenía que leer How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love.

Por la puntuación que le puse, te habrás dado cuenta que mi primera impresión era totalmente errónea.

Emery es un personaje que me fue imposible odiar, tiene una sinceridad ligeramente ácida la cual hace seguir la historia bastante divertida. Siempre se me ha hecho un poco difícil sentirme conectada a un personaje bastante bitchy como es Emery ¿Por qué? Porque soy bastante tímida, solo que Baker nos trae un personaje tan real, muy adolescente, eso sí, pero que no es difícil sonreír con ella, renegar con ella. Lo que sí no vas a sentir, es pena por ella, Emery no se deja apalear fácilmente, es de respuestas rápidas y sabe que llorando en su cama no soluciona nada.

Su punto débil: el final, pero esto es por falta de explicación, me quedé un poco en el aire a pesar de que llega a explicarse en el epílogo, no es el qué sino el cómo se de desarrolla lo que me dejó un poquito confundida.

How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love está lleno de cultura pop actual, sobre el poder de las redes sociales hoy en día. Una historia bastante divertida con buen mensaje. Si alguna vez te has preguntado que hay detrás de un reality show, este libro te dará la respuesta.

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I'm not sure what's going on with my reading list lately, but I seem to be reading two or more books with the same subject manner in a row, totally unplanned. How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love was the third book dealing with a character with a weight issue that I read last week. Each of these books and their approach to the subject was very different. Ken Baker tackled it with more humor than the other authors did. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his take. 

The thing that stands out most to be about this book was how authentic the voice of Emery was. As a lady who has always struggled with her weight, I felt myself relating to Emery. A lot. Had I not known before hand, I would have never guessed this book was written by a man. I don't know why it's so shocking to me that a man could accurately voice a teenage girl – and I should probably be ashamed of myself for thinking that way – but it's true. I was blown away. Emery wasn't always likable. She was witty, snarky and sarcastic, but she was also a little overly judgmental at times. (Who isn't?) One thing's for sure, she was a strong character. Hooray for strong female characters! Her blog entries were among some of my favorite parts of this book and it's there I think Baker really shined. I related with her and felt bad because I definitely understood the challenges she faced throughout this book. Her family was flawed and manipulated her, but it was still apparent that they cared about her, regardless of how deplorable their behavior was at times. 

If it wasn't enough that Emery was dealing with weight issues, a family that was less-than-understanding at times AND the pressure of a reality show, the latter was about to cause more problems for her and her relationship with Ben. Despite the reference to falling in love in the title, romance isn't a big part of this book, but it was still well-written and real. Emery and Ben were a really good pair. They both had weight issues, and while I think they enabled each other at times, they also understood each other and ultimately pushed each other down a better path. 

I used to watch pretty much every single reality show known to man, so that was another reason I was so excited to read this book. While it was fictional, it was still an interesting behind-the-scenes look at "reality" TV. Emery's show was about as realistic as WWE wrestling and I enjoyed guessing what the producers would come up with next. Oh, the manipulation – both of Emery and her loved ones and the public. 

How I Got Skinny, Famous and Fell Madly in Love was absolutely unputdownable for me. I read it in a mere matter of hours, and it only took me that long because I kept getting interrupted. It tackled the tough issue of obesity in a very realistic manner and with a character I think a lot of females will relate to. It had humor and heart – and enough twists and turns that it kept me guessing. I wasn't ever sure how things would end for Emery and, I have to say, I was genuinely surprised in the end. Emery's journey was one I appreciated very much. She definitely emerged a stronger person at the end. I wouldn't say no to a follow-up novel, but this book can stand on its own, too. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love

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