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Sculpt Yourself
LIPAMORPH
is the drug that lets you sculpt yourself. It's how so many female celebrities in the mid-2010s remained so thin while having such large butts. It loosens up the fat in your body, allowing you to choose your own proportions. And it's just been legalized for sale in Chicago.
AMBER
is a 24-year-old tech support worker by day, gay feminist blogger (and bad-sitcom aficionado) by night. She's been vocal about her disapproval of Lipamorph from the beginning, seeing it as another tool to reinforce patriarchal beauty standards; but as Lipamorph becomes more common, Amber's dissenting voice starts to matter less and less.
JUDIE
is Amber's younger sister, and seemingly her complete opposite; she loves pop music, pretty latte art, and dating men. After struggling with hating her body for most of her life, Judie has become borderline reliant on Lipamorph for self-confidence, much to Amber's dismay.
KELLY
is an artist currently working for the marketing firm on the floor above Amber's office. She's whip-smart, proudly bisexual, and strikingly beautiful...and she's the woman Amber's fallen in love with.
Told from these three women's points of view, Sculpt Yourself tackles body image, LGBT+ topics, and what it means to be a feminist in the 21st century.
is the drug that lets you sculpt yourself. It's how so many female celebrities in the mid-2010s remained so thin while having such large butts. It loosens up the fat in your body, allowing you to choose your own proportions. And it's just been legalized for sale in Chicago.
AMBER
is a 24-year-old tech support worker by day, gay feminist blogger (and bad-sitcom aficionado) by night. She's been vocal about her disapproval of Lipamorph from the beginning, seeing it as another tool to reinforce patriarchal beauty standards; but as Lipamorph becomes more common, Amber's dissenting voice starts to matter less and less.
JUDIE
is Amber's younger sister, and seemingly her complete opposite; she loves pop music, pretty latte art, and dating men. After struggling with hating her body for most of her life, Judie has become borderline reliant on Lipamorph for self-confidence, much to Amber's dismay.
KELLY
is an artist currently working for the marketing firm on the floor above Amber's office. She's whip-smart, proudly bisexual, and strikingly beautiful...and she's the woman Amber's fallen in love with.
Told from these three women's points of view, Sculpt Yourself tackles body image, LGBT+ topics, and what it means to be a feminist in the 21st century.
Unknown Binding
First published November 2, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 10, 2020
Sculpt yourself gives off sorry to bother you vibes. It’s full of plenty of pop culture references to keep you pinned in current reality but with a twist.
It’s very heavy handed with its commentary on contemporary beauty standards, daily stress of balancing a work and social life, handling of insecurities, obesity, eating disorders (binge eating), drug use etc.
I’m a big fan of seeing the story told from three points of view, it gives a complete picture on the reality in the book; I also think it’s smart to have multiple POVs when it comes to a topic like body image because so many people deal with it in so many ways. It also helped create tension because (without giving away spoilers) you know about characters they choose to hide from others.
It’s a low sci-fi (I think that’s the term), commentary piece. I enjoyed reading it. I like the authors YouTube videos on it. I recommend it.
It’s very heavy handed with its commentary on contemporary beauty standards, daily stress of balancing a work and social life, handling of insecurities, obesity, eating disorders (binge eating), drug use etc.
I’m a big fan of seeing the story told from three points of view, it gives a complete picture on the reality in the book; I also think it’s smart to have multiple POVs when it comes to a topic like body image because so many people deal with it in so many ways. It also helped create tension because (without giving away spoilers) you know about characters they choose to hide from others.
It’s a low sci-fi (I think that’s the term), commentary piece. I enjoyed reading it. I like the authors YouTube videos on it. I recommend it.
July 25, 2019
This is probably one of the best books I’ve read recently, if not the best.
It centres on three main characters: Amber, Judie, Amber’s sister, and Kelly, Amber’s girlfriend. The story begins around the time a new drug becomes available, Lipamorph, which allows you to move fat cells in your body in order to design the body you want. Each of the main characters has a slightly different take on this drug, and this fundamentally the story of how they clash over their opinions.
The novel is told in first person so it feels very much like your best friend telling you what happened on their date last night. This means that it’s also a nice easy read. Although I took my time with it, people who read more frequently than I do, or who read faster, could probably finish it off in a day or two. This also makes it an ideal read for teens. The plot is strong and positive. It doesn’t throw too many twists but that really doesn’t matter too much in the context of this story, which is more character driven.
The novel does deal with some very heavy themes such as drug use and abuse, body image, relationships (both straight and gay), feminism and gender equality, and touches on themes around teen pregnancy and family issues a little as well. This might seem like it would be pretty hard going, especially for teens, but it’s handled with a mostly light touch, explored as part of the story rather than getting too preachy or overworked. The author has worked hard to present diversity with many opinions represented and it’s really left up to the reader to decide how they feel about those themes. They are well integrated into the characters and momentum of the plot.
If I have any criticism at all of this novel, it’s that the author voice is so strong that at times all the characters sound the same. This is problematic because the novel is multiple POV, swapping character from chapter to chapter. There were occasions when I had to double check which character was in POV because the author voice overwhelmed the character voice at times. However, this was a minor concern for me and overall it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the novel.
I absolutely recommend this novel. I am left very impressed and looking forward the author’s next novel, One Final Vinyl.
It centres on three main characters: Amber, Judie, Amber’s sister, and Kelly, Amber’s girlfriend. The story begins around the time a new drug becomes available, Lipamorph, which allows you to move fat cells in your body in order to design the body you want. Each of the main characters has a slightly different take on this drug, and this fundamentally the story of how they clash over their opinions.
The novel is told in first person so it feels very much like your best friend telling you what happened on their date last night. This means that it’s also a nice easy read. Although I took my time with it, people who read more frequently than I do, or who read faster, could probably finish it off in a day or two. This also makes it an ideal read for teens. The plot is strong and positive. It doesn’t throw too many twists but that really doesn’t matter too much in the context of this story, which is more character driven.
The novel does deal with some very heavy themes such as drug use and abuse, body image, relationships (both straight and gay), feminism and gender equality, and touches on themes around teen pregnancy and family issues a little as well. This might seem like it would be pretty hard going, especially for teens, but it’s handled with a mostly light touch, explored as part of the story rather than getting too preachy or overworked. The author has worked hard to present diversity with many opinions represented and it’s really left up to the reader to decide how they feel about those themes. They are well integrated into the characters and momentum of the plot.
If I have any criticism at all of this novel, it’s that the author voice is so strong that at times all the characters sound the same. This is problematic because the novel is multiple POV, swapping character from chapter to chapter. There were occasions when I had to double check which character was in POV because the author voice overwhelmed the character voice at times. However, this was a minor concern for me and overall it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the novel.
I absolutely recommend this novel. I am left very impressed and looking forward the author’s next novel, One Final Vinyl.
July 3, 2021
Sculpt Yourself is a thought-provoking story told from the perspectives of three women and their experiences with a new drug, Lipamorph, which allows users to quickly and easily reshape their bodies. Each of the women has a unique perspective on Lipamorph and the personal, medical, and cultural issues surrounding its use. Although this is categorized as a sci-fi novel because of the fictional and futuristic-seeming Lipamorph, this really does feel more like a contemporary novel and the sci-fi elements are minimal. The focus is primarily on the characters and their relationships. It's a quick read but packs a heavy punch with its subject matter.
The author does a really great job of exploring the numerous issues the story raises in a nuanced and thoughtful way. What may seem black and white at first often isn't, and as the story goes along, we get to see some of the more difficult issues tackled about how society often tells women what they should be and then tries to shame them for not meeting expectations or for taking back their own power in those situations. I really appreciated all the discussion points raised. If you enjoy seeing feminist and LGBTQ issues explored in stories, Sculpt Yourself is a great book to pick up.
The author does a really great job of exploring the numerous issues the story raises in a nuanced and thoughtful way. What may seem black and white at first often isn't, and as the story goes along, we get to see some of the more difficult issues tackled about how society often tells women what they should be and then tries to shame them for not meeting expectations or for taking back their own power in those situations. I really appreciated all the discussion points raised. If you enjoy seeing feminist and LGBTQ issues explored in stories, Sculpt Yourself is a great book to pick up.
December 11, 2019
3.5 stars.
This book had several things to recommend it to me, not the least of which is that it's by a fellow authortuber! When I realized I could have it on Audible and listen at work I couldn't click fast enough.
Overall this book was slightly above average on the scale of "Julian likes this". Not my perfect book by any stretch, but certainly enjoyable to read. It was a quick (listen) and I enjoyed my time. I was sad to put it aside after work before finishing it the next day.
The character of Amber is the strongest and as a character driven reader I did wish the others were equally as strong. If there was anything quirky or interesting going on it was usually Amber's idea. I wasn't really sure what the other girls were like other than the broadest strokes.
This book is mostly about themes and as many have said, those themes weren't subtle. I wouldn't say you are beaten over the head, but I don't think anyone would be left wondering what this book was about. If you're not into womens' issues even a little bit you should probably give this a pass, unless you're interested to learn.
Overall a quick, enjoyable read that I feel would be right at home beside traditionally published works!
I plan to give this one a longer review on my youtube channel eventually.
This book had several things to recommend it to me, not the least of which is that it's by a fellow authortuber! When I realized I could have it on Audible and listen at work I couldn't click fast enough.
Overall this book was slightly above average on the scale of "Julian likes this". Not my perfect book by any stretch, but certainly enjoyable to read. It was a quick (listen) and I enjoyed my time. I was sad to put it aside after work before finishing it the next day.
The character of Amber is the strongest and as a character driven reader I did wish the others were equally as strong. If there was anything quirky or interesting going on it was usually Amber's idea. I wasn't really sure what the other girls were like other than the broadest strokes.
This book is mostly about themes and as many have said, those themes weren't subtle. I wouldn't say you are beaten over the head, but I don't think anyone would be left wondering what this book was about. If you're not into womens' issues even a little bit you should probably give this a pass, unless you're interested to learn.
Overall a quick, enjoyable read that I feel would be right at home beside traditionally published works!
I plan to give this one a longer review on my youtube channel eventually.
January 20, 2019
This book is literally EVERYTHING that I want New Adult to be... it hits that sweet spot right between young adult and women's fiction, and presents an interesting speculative issue in a multifaceted way that is extremely relevant to some very real issues in today's world.
The book is told through the eyes of three characters: Amber, her sister Judie, and her eventual girlfriend Kelly. Each voice is unique and well-realized. I'm not usually a fan of multiple first-person points of view because it gets hard to tell them apart. But here, the author brings a unique voice to each of them, and even though they're all "I" on paper, I never got confused as to who was who.
There are really two main storylines weaving in and out of each other throughout the book: the romance between Amber and Kelly, and the issue of Lipamorph, a fictional drug that lets women (or, well, people, but it's made clear in the book that the users are mostly women) shift their body fat around to other parts of their body. OK, so it seems pretty medically impossible, but that speculative concept opens the door for an interesting examination of the fine line between personal satisfaction with your body image, and the need (or perceived need) to make yourself look the way the world (aka men) expect.
There was a HUGE potential for this to take an offensive turn, but I really feel that the author navigated all possibilities with a fair and accepting tone. We see a fat woman who's confident and who owns her size. We see a trans girl who uses the drug to show her true self to the world. We see overdoses and moderate users, and users who stop, and there are interesting parallels drawn with drugs like caffeine, alcohol, and marijuana... how much is too much? Can anyone really make that decision completely for someone else?
What we're left with is not an answer, except maybe the answer that the answer isn't always black and white. I feel like this book OPENS a discussion more than it concludes it, and in that sense it reads a lot like YA fiction... but this is more a topic for ADULTS, rather than teens, and in that sense this is EXACTLY the kind of book that NA needs to become a full, multifaceted category.
I found myself identifying with every single one of the characters (well, except some of Judie's bad dates!). This book is woman-positive, trans-positive, age-positive (in both directions), fat-positive, skinny-positive, teen-author-positive, and so much else. I found myself highlighting so many lines and just nodding "Oh, yes! This is so right!"
In short, I loved this book and would pretty much recommend it to everyone. This is everything NA needs to be.
The book is told through the eyes of three characters: Amber, her sister Judie, and her eventual girlfriend Kelly. Each voice is unique and well-realized. I'm not usually a fan of multiple first-person points of view because it gets hard to tell them apart. But here, the author brings a unique voice to each of them, and even though they're all "I" on paper, I never got confused as to who was who.
There are really two main storylines weaving in and out of each other throughout the book: the romance between Amber and Kelly, and the issue of Lipamorph, a fictional drug that lets women (or, well, people, but it's made clear in the book that the users are mostly women) shift their body fat around to other parts of their body. OK, so it seems pretty medically impossible, but that speculative concept opens the door for an interesting examination of the fine line between personal satisfaction with your body image, and the need (or perceived need) to make yourself look the way the world (aka men) expect.
There was a HUGE potential for this to take an offensive turn, but I really feel that the author navigated all possibilities with a fair and accepting tone. We see a fat woman who's confident and who owns her size. We see a trans girl who uses the drug to show her true self to the world. We see overdoses and moderate users, and users who stop, and there are interesting parallels drawn with drugs like caffeine, alcohol, and marijuana... how much is too much? Can anyone really make that decision completely for someone else?
What we're left with is not an answer, except maybe the answer that the answer isn't always black and white. I feel like this book OPENS a discussion more than it concludes it, and in that sense it reads a lot like YA fiction... but this is more a topic for ADULTS, rather than teens, and in that sense this is EXACTLY the kind of book that NA needs to become a full, multifaceted category.
I found myself identifying with every single one of the characters (well, except some of Judie's bad dates!). This book is woman-positive, trans-positive, age-positive (in both directions), fat-positive, skinny-positive, teen-author-positive, and so much else. I found myself highlighting so many lines and just nodding "Oh, yes! This is so right!"
In short, I loved this book and would pretty much recommend it to everyone. This is everything NA needs to be.
September 14, 2019
*3.5
I liked this book quite a bit. Savy has this way of writing dialogue that just flows so well. She can carry a story on dialogue alone because all of her characters interacted in fun and exciting ways. They all had different ways of dealing with their personal issues and that is why it was nice that she split the story into different perspectives so you got to understand where everyone was coming from when they had their opinions.
The Lipamorph drug was cool. Who would have thought up a drug that lets you mold your body ft around your body to wherever you want it. I can definitely see this being a dangerous thing if it were real. All the characters had very different opinions on it and it was very enlightening to see some fight against it while others embraced it.
I love that there is so much LBGTQ+ rep in this book. It is seen in a positive light too because it shows some unhealthy relationships and talks about certain expectations that people in the community sometimes have to deal with that can get overlooked very easily.
I love the whole “Fight the system” vibe Amber brings to the table. She really fights for what she believes in and cares about people.
Plus, there are so many fun foods that the characters eat that I have never tried before but am curious to now (like BBQ nachos).
Overall, it was an entertaining book with what I believe was a positive message and you should give it a try!
I liked this book quite a bit. Savy has this way of writing dialogue that just flows so well. She can carry a story on dialogue alone because all of her characters interacted in fun and exciting ways. They all had different ways of dealing with their personal issues and that is why it was nice that she split the story into different perspectives so you got to understand where everyone was coming from when they had their opinions.
The Lipamorph drug was cool. Who would have thought up a drug that lets you mold your body ft around your body to wherever you want it. I can definitely see this being a dangerous thing if it were real. All the characters had very different opinions on it and it was very enlightening to see some fight against it while others embraced it.
I love that there is so much LBGTQ+ rep in this book. It is seen in a positive light too because it shows some unhealthy relationships and talks about certain expectations that people in the community sometimes have to deal with that can get overlooked very easily.
I love the whole “Fight the system” vibe Amber brings to the table. She really fights for what she believes in and cares about people.
Plus, there are so many fun foods that the characters eat that I have never tried before but am curious to now (like BBQ nachos).
Overall, it was an entertaining book with what I believe was a positive message and you should give it a try!
January 24, 2019
Savy Leiser's Sculpt Yourself is a New Adult piece of speculative fiction focusing on work romance(s) and a controversial new drug called Lipamorph.
I went into this read pretty blind, only having read the book description, but was intrigued by the concept. I enjoyed it!
Sculpt Yourself follows three separate first person narratives. Amber (our 'main' protagonist), her sister Judie, and Kelly, who works in the same building as Amber.
The book features gay romance, and touches heavily on a variety of feminist topics. The book discusses all these topics openly, and presents multiple feminist viewpoints on the speculative concept of Lipamorph (a drug that can move fat in your body).
One thing I really liked about the book is the use of repetition. Different viewpoint chapters start similarly (like the first chapters), and it was used to a nice effect. The alternating viewpoints connected really well, and didn't make themselves a burden to read. I also really like that each of the main characters change from the beginning to the end of the book. It can be boring, and annoying, to have main characters that don't change over the course of a story, but Amber, Kelly, and Julie each went on their own journeys.
I didn't really find anything negative about the book. It was a fun read, didn't take too long.
I would recommend this book for: the gays; millennials who make fun of soccer mom culture; marketing majors.
I would not recommend this book for: "I'm not political" people; incels
I went into this read pretty blind, only having read the book description, but was intrigued by the concept. I enjoyed it!
Sculpt Yourself follows three separate first person narratives. Amber (our 'main' protagonist), her sister Judie, and Kelly, who works in the same building as Amber.
The book features gay romance, and touches heavily on a variety of feminist topics. The book discusses all these topics openly, and presents multiple feminist viewpoints on the speculative concept of Lipamorph (a drug that can move fat in your body).
One thing I really liked about the book is the use of repetition. Different viewpoint chapters start similarly (like the first chapters), and it was used to a nice effect. The alternating viewpoints connected really well, and didn't make themselves a burden to read. I also really like that each of the main characters change from the beginning to the end of the book. It can be boring, and annoying, to have main characters that don't change over the course of a story, but Amber, Kelly, and Julie each went on their own journeys.
I didn't really find anything negative about the book. It was a fun read, didn't take too long.
I would recommend this book for: the gays; millennials who make fun of soccer mom culture; marketing majors.
I would not recommend this book for: "I'm not political" people; incels
March 27, 2019
5 out of 5 stars
This is such an amazing and awesome as my friend Clint would say story. It centres around three ladies; Amber, Judie and Kelly and the drug Lipsmorph. The whole concept of a drug that allows you to move the fat around your body, to emphasise bits where you want the your boobs and away from areas you don’t want it like your tummy is so interesting as challenging. The way Savy writes from three different perspectives and three different ladies is so incredible as it really opens your eyes. I love the sci fi parts and the modern concepts is so well put together but also there is so much fun that accompanies the deeper issues that it’s such a balanced and fun book. It is one of my top recommendations
This is such an amazing and awesome as my friend Clint would say story. It centres around three ladies; Amber, Judie and Kelly and the drug Lipsmorph. The whole concept of a drug that allows you to move the fat around your body, to emphasise bits where you want the your boobs and away from areas you don’t want it like your tummy is so interesting as challenging. The way Savy writes from three different perspectives and three different ladies is so incredible as it really opens your eyes. I love the sci fi parts and the modern concepts is so well put together but also there is so much fun that accompanies the deeper issues that it’s such a balanced and fun book. It is one of my top recommendations
June 19, 2019
Actual rating = 4.5.
I really loved this very feminist read! The author has a compelling voice and I loved that she approached really complex and challenging topics with a lot of thought. Various perspectives are explored in the book and the variety of characters facilitates this exploration, which allows the reader to contemplate the ideas without feeling like they are being told what to think/what is right. My only critique is that I thought there could be stronger differentiation between the voices of the different characters. Although they were very distinct people, their voice in the narration tended to run together.
If you like Holly Bourne, you might like this EVEN MORE!
I really loved this very feminist read! The author has a compelling voice and I loved that she approached really complex and challenging topics with a lot of thought. Various perspectives are explored in the book and the variety of characters facilitates this exploration, which allows the reader to contemplate the ideas without feeling like they are being told what to think/what is right. My only critique is that I thought there could be stronger differentiation between the voices of the different characters. Although they were very distinct people, their voice in the narration tended to run together.
If you like Holly Bourne, you might like this EVEN MORE!
November 22, 2018
The distinct voices of the three narrators in Sculpt Yourself are immediately engaging, carry diverse points of view, and all manage to coexist in a loving way. Such a refreshing look at how people can get along and support a greater cause despite differences in points of view. Sculpt yourself pulls the reader in from the first page with voice, then layers in important perspectives and issues society's been facing for a long, long time, but today seems to tackle with more vigor and persistence. This is a great pick for YA and up. Book clubs, you will have plenty to talk about! Sculpt Yourself is highly recommended!
October 10, 2024
The sci-fi concept here is interesting and the characters are all engaging and compelling. I found the examination of expectations internally and externally of the characters to be well done and not something I commonly see. The scene of Amber panicking when seeing Kelly without makeup for the first time sticks out as a scene that is pretty unique and genuine for the romance genre.
July 3, 2020
Savy is such a fucking good writer. There was no point where my immersion in the story was spoiled. The characters' dialogue and thoughts are all really believable and the three different perspectives work so well. AND the romance is really cute. What you end up with is a book that is intensely readable and the fact that it has something to say about body image is honestly just a bonus.
There's no but. I finished it in two days. I really love this book and I think you should go read it right now.
There's no but. I finished it in two days. I really love this book and I think you should go read it right now.
December 3, 2018
I was hard pressed to find something i didn't like about this book. All of the angest was never dragged out for too long nor was it the focused on too much. The main there characters were well written and relatable. All side characters were also well written and none of them felt out of place. Each one had their own view on the drug.
The main thing I did enjoy was how Amber still wanted to keep the drug legal despite hating it because her loved ones do use it because of their body image issues.
Showing sifferent ways the drug can be used both in both harmful and helpful were great. I did like the inclustion of the trans girl using it to make herself look more female.
Both the queer and straight romances were well written and I enjoyed how wel their stories planned out.
The main thing I did enjoy was how Amber still wanted to keep the drug legal despite hating it because her loved ones do use it because of their body image issues.
Showing sifferent ways the drug can be used both in both harmful and helpful were great. I did like the inclustion of the trans girl using it to make herself look more female.
Both the queer and straight romances were well written and I enjoyed how wel their stories planned out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2019
I need to gather my thoughts, but this blew me away.
December 7, 2019
Sculpt Yourself, by Savy Leiser, opens with a strong point of view and seems prepared to beat you over the head with it if necessary. I don’t say this as a criticism; Sculpt Yourself puts forward its perspective with a lot of humour, it had me laughing out loud within the first few pages, and a lot of this (both the wit and the lack of subtlety) comes from the first of the three perspectives we experience the story through.
Amber, the first and arguably central point of view for the story, is opinionated, but she has enough uncertainty and self-doubt come through in her chapters that she’s very easy to root for. The other two perspectives come from her sister Judie, who at first glance seems almost the polar opposite of Amber, and Kelly, who works in marketing in the same place where Amber works in tech support.
Amber and Kelly, it has to be said, are adorable. Their relationship develops quickly once they meet—but so does everything in this book—and it’s easy to see their growing affection for each other. They have very distinct characters, which doesn’t always feel like the case with multiple point of view stories, and I enjoyed getting to know both of them throughout the story.
Leiser’s writing is smooth and accomplished, making Sculpt Yourself a very easy read. The premise of Lipamorph is interesting, simple enough to be easily grasped, and makes for a tidy middle ground between make up and plastic surgery on which to consider the complicated interaction between feminism and body image.
Sculpt Yourself is a witty and fast-moving story about romance, self-love and feminism, not necessarily in that order. It’s not a long read, and at times it feels like it struggles to do justice to the massive issues it’s looking at in the time it’s got, but I feel Leiser has done a great job of balancing different perspectives throughout the narrative, and I would definitely recommend it.
Amber, the first and arguably central point of view for the story, is opinionated, but she has enough uncertainty and self-doubt come through in her chapters that she’s very easy to root for. The other two perspectives come from her sister Judie, who at first glance seems almost the polar opposite of Amber, and Kelly, who works in marketing in the same place where Amber works in tech support.
Amber and Kelly, it has to be said, are adorable. Their relationship develops quickly once they meet—but so does everything in this book—and it’s easy to see their growing affection for each other. They have very distinct characters, which doesn’t always feel like the case with multiple point of view stories, and I enjoyed getting to know both of them throughout the story.
Leiser’s writing is smooth and accomplished, making Sculpt Yourself a very easy read. The premise of Lipamorph is interesting, simple enough to be easily grasped, and makes for a tidy middle ground between make up and plastic surgery on which to consider the complicated interaction between feminism and body image.
Sculpt Yourself is a witty and fast-moving story about romance, self-love and feminism, not necessarily in that order. It’s not a long read, and at times it feels like it struggles to do justice to the massive issues it’s looking at in the time it’s got, but I feel Leiser has done a great job of balancing different perspectives throughout the narrative, and I would definitely recommend it.
March 31, 2019
I knew I was going to like this book as soon as I heard about the concept. It's such a cool idea and it explores so many different issues, but it still exceeded my expectations!
I obviously liked the social commentary and feminist issues it talked about, but this book never felt like simple ranting. I find some authors end up turning their books into rants about society first and a story second, but Savy kept the plot and characters at the forefront. And she did a great job at showing multiple sides to the arguments. These issues aren't black and white, and she did an excellent job and really showing how many grey areas there can be. It was presented in a way that really made you think, and even though the plot is fiction, it really makes you think about our world and different issues and how they're approached.
Aside from the fascinating plot and thought-provoking commentary about different issues, this book was also frigin hilarious. There was so much witty, clever humour, and so many times I burst out laughing while reading it. Humour in books usually falls flat for me, but this was exceptional! I loved the writing style, it really make this book stand out to me.
This is was a cleverly funny and interesting story with a cool plot, interesting characters, and important social issues. I highly recommend this book!
I obviously liked the social commentary and feminist issues it talked about, but this book never felt like simple ranting. I find some authors end up turning their books into rants about society first and a story second, but Savy kept the plot and characters at the forefront. And she did a great job at showing multiple sides to the arguments. These issues aren't black and white, and she did an excellent job and really showing how many grey areas there can be. It was presented in a way that really made you think, and even though the plot is fiction, it really makes you think about our world and different issues and how they're approached.
Aside from the fascinating plot and thought-provoking commentary about different issues, this book was also frigin hilarious. There was so much witty, clever humour, and so many times I burst out laughing while reading it. Humour in books usually falls flat for me, but this was exceptional! I loved the writing style, it really make this book stand out to me.
This is was a cleverly funny and interesting story with a cool plot, interesting characters, and important social issues. I highly recommend this book!
January 10, 2020
I picked this up having heard good things, and I was not disappointed. Told from three different points of view, the author has a way of making you feel like you're watching it play out in front of you while also keeping you invested in the story. I read it all n one sitting and adored the writing style. Amber was just how I imagined a lot of people her age are facing the situations she is, and having the additional POV of Judie and Kelly just added to the enjoyment. I adored the book,. the growth of the characters and everything else that went into it. Overall an amazing read and one that I highly recommend!
October 28, 2024
Good, quick read with a nice message
Overall, I liked this book! The characters were all fun, and their individual viewpoints were clear and distinct enough that they didn't blend together. There were some places where the writing could have used a little more punch or polish, but it was competently told and enjoyable to read throughout, and I really liked how everything came together in the last few chapters. The book has a lot of really nice things to say, and I think all of its messages are ones a lot of people need to hear.
I will never agree with barbecue nachos, though, Amber unapologetically commits so many food crimes and I do love that for her :P
Overall, I liked this book! The characters were all fun, and their individual viewpoints were clear and distinct enough that they didn't blend together. There were some places where the writing could have used a little more punch or polish, but it was competently told and enjoyable to read throughout, and I really liked how everything came together in the last few chapters. The book has a lot of really nice things to say, and I think all of its messages are ones a lot of people need to hear.
I will never agree with barbecue nachos, though, Amber unapologetically commits so many food crimes and I do love that for her :P
July 23, 2023
3.5 stars - rounded up
This was a quick read which covered important feminist issues in an accessible way without watering it down to “slay girlboss” bs you get in a lot of contemporary fic. I’ve been reading a lot of self punished books recently - Savy is one of my favourite YouTubers so I was happy to purchase one of her books and it did not disappoint. My only criticism is that I felt the three way POV didn’t work well. I don’t think we needed Judie’s POV and and by the end of the book she just read like Amber. I’ll defo read more from Savy in the future.
This was a quick read which covered important feminist issues in an accessible way without watering it down to “slay girlboss” bs you get in a lot of contemporary fic. I’ve been reading a lot of self punished books recently - Savy is one of my favourite YouTubers so I was happy to purchase one of her books and it did not disappoint. My only criticism is that I felt the three way POV didn’t work well. I don’t think we needed Judie’s POV and and by the end of the book she just read like Amber. I’ll defo read more from Savy in the future.
May 14, 2021
This was such a fun, easy read. With three POVs it would have been easy to get them all confused, but Savy did such a great job and making each character unique that I had no problem with it. The chapters are also short which helped me devour this quickly.
The wit and humor Savy adds to the book made me actually laugh out loud several and I wish I had marked those places for later reference.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
The wit and humor Savy adds to the book made me actually laugh out loud several and I wish I had marked those places for later reference.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
June 3, 2022
I enjoyed the love story (actually both love stories) as well as the central conflict of autonomy versus coercion. I like that Amber is forced to confront her un-nuanced views and come out better for it.
It was a quick and easy read, but I just kept wishing it would dig deeper on all of the issues it brought up.
It was a quick and easy read, but I just kept wishing it would dig deeper on all of the issues it brought up.
March 31, 2019
Great new adult story about three women navigating body image, careers, relationships, and feminism. The book's LGBTQ representation is excellent, and the audiobook just came out!
https://www.audible.com/pd/B07PX38XBN...
https://www.audible.com/pd/B07PX38XBN...
April 19, 2021
This was such a thoroughly enjoyable read. Really unique and meaningful. It makes you think about social issues from all perspectives and also makes you grin like an idiot at every interaction between Amber and Kelly. Loved it.
September 15, 2019
A great read
I was sucked in by the summary and it totally delivered. The characters are adorable, smart, and engaging and the premise and pacing keep you turning the page.
I was sucked in by the summary and it totally delivered. The characters are adorable, smart, and engaging and the premise and pacing keep you turning the page.
September 16, 2025
Great, creative concept with super relatable characters! While some parts were predictable, I absolutely flew through this book and loved every second of it.
September 29, 2019
This book was surprisingly witty, funny, quotable as HECK and a sweet budding LGBT romance that I was really invested in. I thought the Sci-Fi subplot was going to be more integral to the plot than it was, but it was fully realized and I didn't find that I needed it to be anymore than it was. I will say there are a LOT of social issues tackled in this narrative which did leave me feeling a bit overwhelmed at times, especially when reading from Amber's narrative but I liked that all 3 POV's helped to give a rounder view of the main topics/issues debated throughout the book and left the reader empowered to make up their own mind on the issue. I did REALLY appreciate this as I don't tend to like being spoon-fed the author's opinions on issues especially in the context of relevant contemporary problems plaguing our society today. The romance was sweet and there was genuine emotional intimacy between the characters. All in all, I would say this book was very well formed and I would definitely read a sequel or another book set in this world. Well done.
September 15, 2023
Okay, so I'm going to say some plot points felt like they came from nowhere, and I didn't always appreciate the way this book discussed the roles of men in society. That said, Savy did a fantastic job of immersing me in a story and presenting several ideas in a challenging and complex way. I do wish both characters' arcs had been stronger but, all and all, I REALLY enjoyed this story.
April 17, 2020
This title had a wonderful narrator and an interesting sci fi idea. I had some problems with the pacing of the novel but overall I liked it.
(I read this book on audio through audible)
(I read this book on audio through audible)
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