Rabid Reader's Reviews

U.K. Release Date: January 15, 2015

Pixie, Ellie, Katie and Jane met in one of those weight loss groups that weigh you publically. Tired of the lack of weight loss, the judgment and with a need to expand socially, they start going out on their own and those nights blossom into The Curvy Girls Club. Their concept is a runaway hit and as the concept becomes more popular the friends begin to change. Can their friendship survive success?

The author’s publisher, Notting Hill Press, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.

The [easyazon_link asin=”1499179332″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]The Curvy Girls Club[/easyazon_link] is truth. Katie and her friends know the struggle. As a heavier person, I’ve never heard any of the taunts that younger fluffy folks suffer, but I identified with a lot of the attitudes and perspectives of the characters in the novel. At the start of their journey, the women are hopelessly insecure and looking desperately for something. Whether it’s truly weight loss of some measure of peace within themselves — if still a knowledge that health is power — is for the reader to decide.

Pixie, Katie, Ellie and Jane are distinctly unique characters. Gorman takes the time to build the world of each character and give them realistic, different perspectives and familiar life experiences that bring them to where their friendship began. Despite the differences within them, the women are a union formed by fat, but sustained by a shared need for more. When Katie starts to lose weight, the women start to lose faith in her. If she’s thin, is she really their message? This lack of trust in Katie’s life diverges strikes this reader as the sort of honesty rarely seen in chick-lit. An employee once told me “Everyone hates the new guy.” In turn, “No one trusts the skinny chick.” So much in our fat culture hinges on “if only.” If only I was skinny, my life would be completely different. Would it? Jane is especially convinced that if only she could lose the weight, she would be a new person and goes to drastic extremes in order to accomplish her goal. She eats nothing but Special K, takes diet pills that give her greasy poos and more. Her life and health are not as important to her as being supermodel thin. The fact is losing weight doesn’t change who you are deep down inside. You could be a size 0 and still be the fluffy little girl who was teased in school and is waiting for that punchline on the inside.

The voice of the narrative was very natural and flowed well and the plotline was in turns witty and insightful. Gorman reaches the heart of a woman with elegance, wit and honesty. There are moments that truly touch the heart.

In a lot of ways [easyazon_link asin=”1499179332″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]The Curvy Girls Club[/easyazon_link] could be called a brave book but in a lot of ways it’s on trend. Katie, Ellie, Jane and Pixie are every woman. Do you embrace fads? Jane is your touchstone. Are you unhappy in your marriage? Look to Pixie. Do you harbor a hopeless crush on the office lothario? Katie is your thread to follow. Gorman doesn’t give us miracle cures as we embrace our character of choice, but she does give hope.

While Gorman’s writing style is polished, I’d hesitate to call [easyazon_link asin=”1499179332″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]The Curvy Girls Club[/easyazon_link] a read for everyone. There are people who simply do not know the struggle and will not mesh with these characters. I would go get sushi and ice cream with any one of these women. Those who do identify may find themselves at worst entertained and at best changed. Pick up [easyazon_link asin=”1499179332″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]The Curvy Girls Club[/easyazon_link] today and let me know what you think.

You can read an excerpt and buy The Curvy Girls Club by Michele Gorman on:

Amazon U.S. • Amazon U.K. • Amazon Canada

For more information about Michele Gorman, visit her at her website. You can connect with her on Goodreads, her publisher’s page, Facebook and Twitter @MicheleGormanUK.