Book Reviews of Conversations With The Fat Girl

Used Book ~ Conversations With The Fat Girl by author Liza Palmer
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Conversations With The Fat Girl
Author: Liza Palmer

Book Information
Publisher: 5 Spot
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780446693950 - ISBN-10: 0446693952
Publication Date: 9/13/2005
Pages: 328

67 Book Reviews submitted by our Members

   sorted by voted most helpful
Nicole M. (BarteringBibliophile) reviewed on 8/27/2007...

15 member(s) found this review helpful.

I do not normally read "Chick Lit." but I figured that I would give this a try. Although many people enjoyed the book, I have to admit that I cannot argee with those who do. Maybe this is just not my genre. Of course it is always good to try new things. Being a "fat girl" myself, I was able to sympathize with the main character's situation. Halfway through the book, though, I was becoming annoyed with her doormat personality and just her in general. Aside from my dislike of the characterization, the story wasn't as well written as it could possibly have been. I understand that this is Palmer's debut, which is further than most of us will ever get. Hopefully she will hone her skills for her next novel.

Carol W. (carolceltic) reviewed on 11/8/2006...

10 member(s) found this review helpful.

this is awesome book enjoy it so much

Kathleen A. reviewed on 6/20/2007...

9 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a good book about a woman trying to hold onto her no longer fat childhood friend. It follows her prepartions for the wedding as a maid of honor in her newly ungrateful and shallow friends wedding but also major life changes for the main character as she stops living in the past frame of mind as a fat girl and discovers the woman that she has always been and all that she is capable of regardless of the scale. A good summer chick lit read!

Meranda P. (Meranda) reviewed on 6/30/2007...

8 member(s) found this review helpful.

Possibly the funniest book I've ever read! You don't have to be a fat girl to relate to and totally enjoy this book. Highly recommended!!!

Jessie M. (checkingmypulse) reviewed on 1/14/2007...

7 member(s) found this review helpful.

Hilarious. Honest. Great, quick, absorbing read. Didn't want to put it down! Very Jennifer Weiner-esque.

Amy W. (amyreads) reviewed on 6/15/2007...

6 member(s) found this review helpful.

Fun, "chicklit" read, but not your typical style. For one thing, it's hilarious. Second, it's not as predictable as others in this genre--there were big surprises. That's all I can say without giving anything away.

Heather S. (boydheather17) - Redmond, OR reviewed on 11/12/2008...

5 member(s) found this review helpful.

I LOVED this book! I have recommended it to my Mom and my friends. I found my self laugh out loud several times while reading this. I read it in 2 days, I just didn't want to put it down. I found that there were many things in the book that I could relate to. Light, touching, funny, an all around WONDERFUL book! This will be one of those that I read several times. Do not miss this book, even if you are not into chick lit, I think that you will have some good laughs and not feel cheated in the end.

Amber S. reviewed on 9/7/2007...

5 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a great book! Maggie is a push over who gets taken advantage of! She trys to blend in rather then stand out in a crowd. Her best friend use to be overweight until she had surgery so now Maggie is the only one who knows of her best friend's secret past. This book is very fast paced filled with secret loves and revenge.

Carrie B. (carriedtf) reviewed on 6/16/2007...

5 member(s) found this review helpful.

Interesting read about a woman who finally starts to find herself and stop hiding behind her weight. Nice storyline about family support and friendships.

Heather L. reviewed on 8/22/2007...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a very quick read for me- under 24 hours! Really funny and relatable! Loved Domenico- this would translate well into a movie!

Debbie H. (dhall111) reviewed on 2/27/2007...

3 member(s) found this review helpful.

This book is a great read. Not fast paced, but a great storyline.

Amber H. (jjabmom) reviewed on 10/15/2009...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

I absolutely adored this book!!! I needed a break from my typical self-help book that I enjoy reading. I'm in the process of losing weight & chose this book. Had the main character never changed her thought patterns, I would've been disappointed. But the way she grew stronger, more confident, & took action, to more I fell in love with the book. For anyone who has suffered weight problems your whole life, this is a good book you'll likely relate to.

Laurie L. (toteach32) reviewed on 2/19/2009...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

When I first started this book, I didn't think I would be able to finish it. The writing style was hard to follow and some of the scenarios were hard to follow with the abrupt characterization. However, I stuck with it and ended up really liking this book. Unlike other "fat girl" novels, she does not undergo a magical transformation to "get her man". I liked it much better than Jemima J and others in the genre.

Karen S. reviewed on 9/28/2008...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

What an interesting book. It wasn't what I expected. The first third was the "set-up," to help you understand the main character (Maggie). At times, I found myself fussing at Maggie, thinking, "Why did you DO that? Why don't you fix that?" Then, she has an epiphany. The book gets more exciting as she begins to stand up for herself as a human being. Some of her insights are amazingly on target for anyone who has ever had 1) a weight problem, or 2) low self-esteem. The book isn't a scathing review of our fat-phobic society, rather, it is more of a look into what it is like learning to live with who God made you to be. Some of the language is a bit salty, but, you know, it fit and was actually necessary in some spots. I know I enjoyed this book immensely, and I feel sure you will, too!

Colleen R. rainbowbrite98 reviewed on 8/30/2008...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Not bad, but not great either. I had really high hopes for this book. The story was a little boring and the writing was choppy. It felt more like someone reciting a dream they had than a novel.

Denise L. (bunly) reviewed on 2/27/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Excellent book! Couldn't put it down.

Salimah M. reviewed on 4/6/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

There is just something about this book that runs true.
A really enjoyable read. Highly recommended!

Katie B. (JeffersonsAmbrosia) reviewed on 4/4/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Liz Palmer has written a book that a lot of people can identify with. And not just the chubbier set either; I feel that we all have body issues. We all have things that make us self conscious and we see in a harder light than others and we have that internal monologue about. I know I do! Maggie is an inspirational character; she admits her flaws and admits that her plans to fix he flaws are also often flawed.

While I enjoyed the story of Maggie, and how she goes through her own self discovery. The painful finding out of just what her friendship with her now very skinny friend Olivia has come down to. The book does have some problems. I will state again that over all I did truly enjoy the story, it as heartfelt and funny at times and sad in other points.

That said some things can not be overlooked. The fact that Maggie really should have realized much earlier that her friend Olivia was not what she seemed is one of them. The other huge issue I have with this book is that the ending really is a non ending. You feel like your left hanging and going, “Now what?” when you finish it. I don’t think all books wrap up in a nice little package with a bow but they should wrap up. Even if you’re not getting a happy ending you need a proper ending.

There is some romance in the book but it is mostly light. And I personally feel even in that you are left hanging. There is a good solid set of characters, and the development of them is very good. So over all if you like chic lit and like something witty check this book out. Just be warned that it doesn’t have a true ending.

Billie B. reviewed on 3/23/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This may be one of the funniest books I've ever read. Any overweight woman that can laugh at herself will laugh until she cries with this one!

Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed on 2/7/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Okay, so here's another chicklit novel about the fat girl who loses weight and finds The Man Of Her Dreams. While Palmer does her best to make her protagonist quirky and lovable, she really just comes off whiny and self-conscious and an emotional punching bag. The most telling line in the book is when the main character compares herself to an egotist with a self-esteem problem -- the only thing she can think about is herself, and the only thing she can think is how inadequate she is.

Deanna T. (romance-writer81) reviewed on 2/1/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This book is by far one of the GREATEST books I have ever read. The main character , Maggie, is likeable and very real. Although through most of the book she lets herself be much of a doormat emotionally, I love how she finds herself and gets over her own inner challenges. I recommend this book to ANYONE who has ever felt fat or inferior because of their looks.

Julie R. (justaskjulie) reviewed on 1/23/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

It's typical chick lit and somewhat predictable once the train gets rolling, but it's still entertaining and funny and there is so much truth there about friendships and how they (and we) change.

Freya M. (teacharrgh) reviewed on 9/22/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

The protagonist was whiny and kind of annoying. It seemed like a cute premise, but it was not well executed.

Amie T. (amieTSC) reviewed on 6/22/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I didn't enjoy this chick lit book...I actually decided to stop reading at page 91...the first page where I actually (finally) laughed a little bit. The characters weren't very interesting to me, so I've decided to post it and let someone else have a go at it.

Linda (Angeleyes) reviewed on 6/6/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A bit too self-deprecating to me. Some of us are big but that doesn't define who we are. In this book, it seemed that the main character was defined by what she looked like. It did not hold my interest as I was looking for something more than "whoa, is me" "look what my friends are doing and I'm not" sort of thing.

Amanda B. (ArmyWife4Life) reviewed on 5/4/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I loved this book right up until the end. The ending was very lacking. It seemed unfinished. Maybe there will be a sequel?

Regina L. (bikeshoes) reviewed on 2/13/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

What a great book. I couldn't put it down from the moment I started it. I could relate a lot to some of the difficulties Maggie was having. Just a great book!

Regina T. reviewed on 12/31/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Just finished this and it was great! A little slow to start, but once I got into it, it was an awesome book.

Melinda H. (loveagoodbook) reviewed on 5/2/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I loved this book, a great read.

Kathy G. (katgif) reviewed on 4/29/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Loved this book.

Nancy T. (SouthernMT) - Minden, LA reviewed on 4/16/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a funny, funny book. It is about a girl who is fat and has a friend who was once fat, but obtained the body they both yearned for, but at a price. Loved this book. It really spoke to me!

Lorrie M. (ilovedale3) reviewed on 2/26/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A cute story! Better than most "chick lit"!

Patience B. reviewed on 2/18/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a great read... if you love books by Jennifer Weiner, you will lov this book. I couldn't put it down once I got into it!

Sara S. reviewed on 2/12/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a really good book. Funny at time and serious at others. I enjoyed it.

Kelly B. (kellyforpresident) reviewed on 2/11/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Interesting read!

Kristine F. (ROXELL) reviewed on 1/22/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Very funny, if a little predictable in a "chick lit" fashion. The author made me care about what happens, though, and to me that's a sign of a good book. I LOVED the ending!

Andrea T. (ajane) reviewed on 1/22/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Fast read! I really enjoyed it and could relate to the main character. (Not sure if that is a good or bad thing though. *grin* )

Rene M. (teacherlady) reviewed on 12/28/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Interesting read. I finished it in two days.

Beth M. reviewed on 11/25/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Very heartfelt easy read. Worth every minute.

Annie R. reviewed on 10/23/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Loved this book - great book for any women who has though she is overweight!

Karen W. (Karen88) reviewed on 10/21/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I loved this book! Anyone who has ever experienced weight issues, or feelings of being left out in high school will especially enjoy this! I love the way the author writes - quick wit and funny!

Leslie T. (les3098) reviewed on 9/23/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

great read!

Leslie K. (satine5353) reviewed on 8/31/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

You don't have to have struggled with your weight to like this book but as someone who has and does, it was heartbreaking and gave me goosebumps of recognition!

Kelly M. (boxerx2) reviewed on 7/17/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

It was heartbreaking in parts and funny in others. I felt like the main person in this book at times.

Aimee D. (SheWhoReads) reviewed on 6/30/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a wonderful first novel. I loved the characters -- Maggie (the narrator) in particular was just very vivid and real to me. I identified with her quite strongly, to the point where I was recognizing some of my own character flaws in Maggie's personality. I hope I have the strength to do what Maggie did at the end of the novel and take charge of my own life and change those things about myself that I don't like.

This is, as the title suggests, a book about what it's like to life as a fat woman in modern-day America. It deals with issues of appearance, weight, and self-esteem. But it also is a novel about friendship -- about why people become friends, what friendship means, and what happens when a friendship ends. The death of Maggie and Olivia's friendship is just as sad and bitter and slow as the breakup of a marriage -- and just as poignant and important and life-altering to the people involved.

Conversations with the Fat Girl was funny, sad, uplifting, and depressing, but most of all, it was honest. This was a conversation I both and enjoyed and needed to have, and I will no doubt be rereading this book many times in the future.

Lisa E. reviewed on 6/16/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Very, very funny. A bit of cussing is used. Very thoughtful and hilarious.

Shannon W. (mermaidfairydust) reviewed on 6/10/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I found that there was several parts to this book I could relate to. This book is definately worth a read.

Julie S. reviewed on 6/1/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I read this for a book discussion group. It really was better than I thought it would be. And it lends itself to a good discussion.

Julie D. (jules72653) reviewed on 5/5/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Great book! Details the demise of a friendship between two overweight girls when one chooses gastric bypass and leaves her personality on the operating table.

Eve B. (Eve-thebooknut) reviewed on 3/29/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Funny, cute...girl trying to find self, growing up, love, best friends, friendships that end...

Jennifer J. reviewed on 3/29/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Excellent! I loved this book!

Joan W. reviewed on 3/22/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Cute story-quick, fun read.

Michelle J. (Mikey) - Riverside, CA reviewed on 1/20/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I truely enjoyed this book. It is an insightful look into the minds of us women of size and the constant struggle we have with our self esteem. Liza "go's there" in regards to relationships and frienships and the unique obstacles that face the overweight in a funny and endearing way. You aren't asked to pity nor cheer but listen in on the thoughts that we secretly all have about our image and how we relate to others because of it. I'll be reading her other books too.

Montana H. (tana-ann) reviewed on 12/2/2005...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

thought it was a great book.. cant totally relate..

Gina D. (gina227) reviewed on 11/17/2005...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Loved it!! Made me laugh out loud a few times.

Michelle D. (ShellyD77) - NH reviewed on 11/9/2005...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I was really into this book at the beginning. I could really identify with Maggie. I just wish she had done more with it. The ending I felt disappointed. I like more closure than I got. Still a good book though

Sarah B. (Pixie328) reviewed on 10/12/2005...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

AWESOME I read it in 2 nights

Karen D. (jynx) reviewed on 11/21/2009...


A great chick lit book with many laugh-out-loud moments. The author made the main character of the book someone you can relate to, especially if you yourself are a plus sized person.

Angela T. (angelatres) reviewed on 7/28/2009...


This was a fun, light and easy read. I liked the main character despite her flaws and I was very satisfied with how the story ended. The only thing I did not like about this book was some of the language. The phrases "hey there" and "hey there girl" were used far too many times IMO. Other than that it was a great story and I would recommend it.

Jennifer Y. (mrsyikester) reviewed on 12/29/2008...


This is written very well and fast paced. Its fun and really an enjoyable read with a good lesson. Definitly good chick lit but a bit more sophisticated.

Susan M. reviewed on 11/3/2008...


Quick read, great beach read.

Karen S. (KarynMaria) reviewed on 10/13/2008...


Loved it! Very enjoyable read. I often heard my own reflections and thoughts in those of the main character.

Michelle G. (joeysmom) reviewed on 4/28/2008...


Very enjoyable fast read. I don't have much time to read but was able to get through this one pretty quickly.

Stacy K. reviewed on 4/5/2007...


An overweight waitress ponders her relationship her best friend, who had once been overweight herself, as her friend prepares for a wedding

Amanda K. (Salamanda) reviewed on 2/28/2007...


Hilarious!

Theresa W. gimmebooks - NC reviewed on 11/8/2005...


I enjoyed it very much!

Mary S. (NJMary63) reviewed on 9/23/2005...


Story of two best friends who were both heavy growing up. One has gastric bypass surgery and becomes thin and the other doesn't. Tells the changes their friendship goes through because of their weight.

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