Meet New Books
Book Cover

Size 12 Is Not Fat

Book 1 in the series:Heather Wells

Save:
Find on Amazon

Former teen pop star, Heather Wells, now a size 12 and working as an assistant dorm manager, finds herself in the midst of mysterious deaths in the college dorm she oversees. With a mix of humor, romance, and mystery, Heather sets out to prove that these incidents are not accidents, leading to an unexpected turn of events. The book combines light-hearted storytelling with elements of suspense as Heather navigates through love, self-esteem, and her career while trying to unravel the mystery behind the tragic incidents.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and engaging, with Heather as a relatable protagonist dealing with insecurities, and familiar tropes like the charming love interest add to the story's richness.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is humorous and conversational, typical of chick lit, often featuring repetitive phrases and a casual tone that makes the narrative feel relatable but sometimes becomes tedious.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows Heather Wells, a former pop sensation, as she adjusts to a new life working in a college dorm. When a string of suspicious deaths occur, she embarks on her own investigation, challenging both her skills and personal issues.

Setting:

Set within a college residence hall in New York City, the vibrant environment enhances the narrative and reflects the challenges faced by young adults.

Pacing:

The pacing is mostly quick, making for an engaging read, though there are moments where repetition slows the narrative.
“Because size twelve is the size of the average American woman,” I point out to him. I know this because I just read it inPeople magazine. “Are you saying that instead of being average, we’re all fat?...

Notes:

Heather Wells is a former pop star who was dropped by her record label for wanting to sing her own songs.
Her mother ran off with her money and manager, which contributed to her downfall.
Heather now works as an assistant dorm manager at a college in New York to pay for her education.
The book deals with body image issues, specifically addressing the idea that size 12 is not fat, alongside a murder mystery.
Freshman girls start turning up dead in a dorm elevator shaft, which Heather suspects is no accident.
The narrative blends elements of chick lit with mystery, featuring a strong dose of humor and romance.
Heather's love interest is Cooper, who happens to be the brother of her ex-fiance.
The writing is characterized by a light and fun tone, though some readers find Heather's self-deprecating remarks tiresome.
The book touches on issues of self-acceptance and societal pressures regarding body image.
Many readers have noted the book's humorous and engaging voice, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions on body image and weight, potential issues of misogyny, and themes surrounding death.

Has Romance?

The book features a medium level of romance, mainly centered around Heather's crush on Cooper, her ex-fiancé's brother. Their dynamic adds a romantic subplot to the mystery narrative.

From The Publisher:

Heather Wells Rocks!

Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two - and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knows teenage girls . . . and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen - not the police, her colleagues, or the P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives - even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective!

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong . . .

Ratings (10)

Loved It (6)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (25):

Read It (10)
Want To Read (12)
Not Interested (3)

1 comment(s)

It Was OK
7 months

When I was a teenager I felt in love with Meg Cabot's Princess Mia series. It was probably one of the first series in young adult genre I have ever read. So Mrs Cabot will always have a warm place in my heart.

I started this book some time ago and left it after few chapters looking for something completely different. Now, spending my vacations by the pool, I decided to came back to it, especially that it suited one of my challenges. And I was surprised by actually how good is this book.

At first the silliness and naivety of Heather was driving me mad but I get used to it and later on found her really charming. I liked that she cared about people. All the past events in her life make her an interesting character.

The setting, the dorm building, is enough unusual to make the story differ from the others. And the whole suspense part was really grabbing.

I found this book somewhat similar to Janet Evanovich series about Stephanie Plum. It was as easy to read as Evanovich.

I am definitely going to read other books in this series.

 
 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.