Conversations with the Fat Girl

Maggie is wonderful - and I have to believe that every chubby girl out there has the same sort of internal dialogue with herself, and I think most overweight girls, have had a skinny friend ( whether or not said friend was fat is a different matter - mine was.) who builds herself by making her chubby friend feel bad. I disagree with the reviews that say that Maggie's last act with Olivia was vindictive -- and that she should have taken the high road... My first question is WHY should she do that... Olivia was pretty abusive from page one, and why should her behavior go unchecked. People treat you the way you teach them to treat you. It is often said that there are no victims - only volunteers in these situations, and I do not see Maggie's act as vindictive ... I see it first as empowering to herself - and I think she did it not out of a spirit of revenge - but to remind Olivia not only of who she was - not in a physical sense, but in a physical sense. Maggie was reminding her that there was a time when they were really friends - and they really loved each other. I think that while there is a love interest in this book, it really is a love story between friends - and what it is like to lose that. I also think it is a book about empowerment, and how Maggie took back her life - and discovered it was worth living

I want to have coffee with this, Liza Palmer, because she wrote my life story. I want to know how she knew me before I had ever even heard of her. This book was incredible, not just because of the subject, but how she writes. It was a conversation (thus the title), you followed every train of thought that "Maggie" had, and Palmer did not skip one detail. I was floored reading this and how accurate it was FOR ME as a person. Shopping in the notorious "women's section" is hard enough, especially when you think you are going through all of these emotions by yourself. How she handles herself was so truthful. I believe that this book has and will continue to break down barriers that overweight individuals set up for themselves.

It all starts with a note from Maggie's landlord, announcing that Maggie's little home is about to be bulldozed-and she has 48 hours to move out. The timing couldn't be worse for Maggie, who's preparing to be the maid of honor when her best friend, Olivia, marries a handsome surgeon in a matter of weeks. But the note somehow sparks a chain reaction in Maggie's life. With her move to her cute new cottage, Maggie begins to face the changes and take charge of her life. That means calling about that internship at the museum and finally doing something about her crush on Domenic, the dishwasher at the café. It also means facing the fact that, Olivia, her Best Friend Forever might not be the best of friends anymore. Conversations with the Fat Girl is one of those books that you won't want to put down. Palmer's style is relaxed and easy-going-just like a chat with a good friend. Her voice is witty and honest-and, at times, cynical and just plain sad. Maggie is such a loveable and realistic character that you'll instantly get caught up in her story-and you'll be able to relate, no matter what your size. You'll laugh with her, you'll commiserate with her, and you'll cheer her on from the first page to the last. The story may not be entirely original or unpredictable, but it's so truthful and well-written that none of that matters. It's a powerful novel that will make you laugh while challenging you to take a look at your own life, too. It'll inspire you and entertain you.

Liza Palmer has definitely proven herself to be an Author to watch. In this, her first book, she has an amazing ability to invite the reader into her life. She shares her perspective in such a way that you feel as though you are her friend, confidante and partner in crime. You are with her as she experiences love, loss and personal growth, all the while dealing with the stigma of being the "Fat Girl". When you read this book, you will not only see yourself, but your friends...and you will definitely wish that Liza Palmer is one of them.

I picked up this advance copy at the Book Expo in NYC. The cover caught my eye right away. I picked up it thinking it would be some Bridget Jones knock off - but was blown away with it's humor, the depth of it's characters and how universal the story was. Everyone has that 'fat' quality that we wish we could change - hair too curly, too short, funny looking nose - and if we changed this *one* thing our life would be perfect. This book tells a story of loving yourself exactly as you are and letting other people in... Can't wait for the next book!