Dumplin' - Book Review

Dumplin' (Dumplin' #1)
by Julie Murphy

What is it about:
Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

What did I think of it:
I'd wish this book had a different lead character.

Seriously: there are lots of fun things about this story, but Will isn't one of them. I thought she was selfish and mean to her friends. She keeps secrets from her best friend and then blames that best friend for the growing distance between them. And don't get me started on how she treated my favorite male character in this book.

So I really would have enjoyed this book more if one of her new friends - Millie or Hannah - had been the lead character.

That being said the overall story was fun enough to keep reading. I was really invested in how the other girls would do in the pageant, and if Will would see how selfish and unreasonable she is.

The ending was nice, even if one event felt a bit like a cop-out. All in all a nice, entertaining read. I borrowed this book from a friend and might borrow the next book if she buys it.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice read.


buy from bookdepository