A Laugh Out Loud Romantic Comedy (Ugly Girl Series Book 1)

I really enjoyed this book. How inspiring to see this relationship develop even with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The leading man, Sam, is in a unique situation and has a wonderfully positive character without being over-the-top. He's not perfect, but you'll love him. Millie suffers from low self-esteem that appears to be based on a predominantly imagined self-image. She suffers from over-thinking and a cowardly approach to fighting for what she wants. She's leans toward "run and hide" solutions. Puts a new and favorable light on the phrase "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". The only parts I found distasteful were scenes during the New Year's Eve party...a time slice showing how embarrassing over-indulgence in alcohol can become. I would recommend this book and will watch for more from Alice Wasser. I gave a new author a chance and am so glad I did!

I liked the premise of the story but I completely lost patience with the protagonist and her persistent "oh poor me nobody loves me" attitude. Even when this swoonworthy guy shows interest in her she figures it just because he can't get anybody else, then keeps him at arm's length--not literally, but emotionally--until she goes completely over the top near the end.

The only thing that salvaged that episode was her best friend pretty much giving her a reality check and figuratively slapping some sense into her to make way for a happy ending. The love interest was pretty well done, and the issue of a disabled man in a romantic relationship with a clueless person was handled sensitively and with humor.

But to be honest, I really just wanted to shake the heroine more than once during the novel. Perhaps it's because I've known more than one woman similar to her and even though I've loved a couple of them dearly, I've also wanted to shake some sense into them as well.

I enjoyed this book. It was different from the very beginning. The characters were interesting and unique. I love that they were not perfect. They had real problems and real lives. I can't wait to read the next o e.

I admit, I found this book by following BookBub recommendations. I am not really sure who or what BookBub thinks I am, but this is so far off base that I feel compelled to write a review to warn other women that this book by Alice Wasser really needed 3 things.
1: How about a little less "The Mirror Has Two Faces" and a lot more original, less stereotypical storyline.
2: We get it, you think you're an "ugly girl".... Yes, it's in the title. We understand. But how about not completely offending people based on your preconceived ideals. Like, the title character's full, ethnic name. Or the fact that she is overweight (although, more than 3/4 through the book Millie mentions having had to purchase 'plus sized' clothing for the first time) despite repeatedly mentioning multiple times that she has a closet full of 'fat clothes'
3: Oh, I don't know about the average reader, but I'm well versed in the medical field. You may just want to do a tad bit more research on quadriplegia. On what those that suffer with it can/cannot do or the plausibility of the storyline set forth.
On a positive note, the text was easy to read. Sam Webber is a very likeable character. Too bad Wasser didn't give him room to grow and develop as a character. His overcompensating by pleasing is nauseatingly predictable. The only clue into his ordeal being the vague "accident".
If you want to, you really could skip the entire middle of the story. If you did you'd only miss more of the title character's whining.
Typically, I'll finish what I start. This was Book1....sigh. I'm only giving Book 2 a shot because I don't like leaving feeling unfinished. I'll be sure to clue anyone who wants to read reviews, after, and IF I can get through the sequel.

This book is terrible. I bet this woman, Matilda wouldn't be so ugly if she put some effort into her appearance. The main character sounds like a bitter angry, self-pittying woman. A new wardrobe and some makeup never hurt anyone. Can't she find a stylish friend to take her shopping, maybe a caring older sister? Maybe the author wrote this book because she is exactly like the main character. A bitter woman who glares at women prettier than her yet won't do anything to change herself. I'm glad I got this book for free because it is awful. I will not purchase the sequels.

I really loved this story. The main character, Millie is not your typical romance heroine. She has very low self-esteem and considers herself ugly. Her loser attitude is compounded by the following factors: her sister, Rachel younger by 3 years is beautiful. Rachel had a boyfriend at 14 while Millie could not get herself one at 17! Rachel got married to a doctor and seems to always be on their mom's approval list (Rachel this and Rachel that). Millie can hardly get a date, doesn't get any roses on Valentine's Day, is constantly disheartened by the disappointed looks from potential dates and does not have long term relationships. Millie's mom constantly badgers her about her weight and tries to set her up with nice Jewish boys. Everything about herself spells loser: her name (Matilda Glockenfeld), her hair, even her ID photo at work. But Millie is smart and is very good at her job. Millie's only friend is Donna who sets up her online dating profile. Donna recently married and was desperate to get Millie hooked up with a guy as well. Millie is terribly self-deprecating but in a funny sort of way. She keeps her diary and the story unfolds from her point of view. She meets Sam Webber at work. He's a handsome IT wiz who was hired to bolster computer systems security in the company. She could not believe he would ask her out and even rejected lunch invites twice. Sam is the perfect guy except that he's a paraplegic who recently nursed a broken heart. He seems genuinely attracted to her and they start a relationship.

The Millie character is authentic. I am certain that there are a thousands of Millies in this world and believe that I even have half a Millie in me. I love the fact that the author Alice Wasser does not dwell on changing Millie's physical attributes and lets her be. There are no make overs in this book. Millie just needed to believe in herself. Millie's character has got the right amount of angst, her insecurities were authentic and despite her emotional baggage and self-battery, does not annoy the reader. I cannot help but root for Millie so I bought the next book to accompany to see where her journey takes her.

This book is a quick and easy read, always punctuated with humor in the same way as Bridget Jones Diary but makes for lighter reading.

First and foremost, the language was an issue for me. Not f-bombs or anything petty like that, but the g***amnit scattered throughout. There's so many ways to express displeasure in the English language (really, we're lucky), so I don't understand why it's necessary for people who don't believe to offend people who do. I also noticed God written as "god" and thought that was equally pathetic. I don't believe in Zeus, but know what a proper noun is. The obsession with non-believers making sure everyone knows it and the lack of respect for people who feel otherwise needs to stop. A little maturity never hurt anyone.

Anyway, there were so many stats and fun-facts in the beginning that I wasn't sure if it was a novel or a textbook.

The rest was okay. A few grammatical errors here and there, a smooth storyline, likeable characters, etc. For someone so completely fixated on her unattractive appearance, it was not described very thoroughly or confirmed by anything but Millie's claims that no one had asked her out. I kept expecting a description in the beginning and only got more stats. Being overweight and unattractive aren't always mutually inclusive, so more details would have been convincing that this isn't just in Millie's head.

If it was not in her head and Sam's ex is as stunning as Millie claims, then I am also not sure how he found her so attractive. It didn't feel realistic in that respect.

I did appreciate Millie's honesty, though. She didn't bite her tongue about her ugliness, Sam's disability, her annoyance with her mother, her jealousy toward her sister, her fascination with Sam's beautiful ex, etc.

Taken together, the book could have been better and could have been worse.

Both funny and touching with a very likable and relatable heroine. The author does a great job putting us inside Millie's head while we can still see that others don't find her as unattractive as she finds herself. She is a very refreshingly normal girl. Sam is my favorite kind of romance hero: kind, gentle, and loving.