Skinny Me (A New Start Book 1)

You'd think I'd learn not to trust the reviews for a free book on the store, but here we are. This book is horrible. It reads like it was written by someone who just despises overweight people. The main character is... well, a caricature. She's a bumbling, sloppy, and gluttonous loser with an utter lack of self control. Her only defining character trait is being jealous of thin women. She is completely ignorant about wellness and nutrition until someone shows her the way. Once she stops stuffing her face and learns that vegetables exist, the pounds begin to fall off and all is well. Sounds like it was written from the perspective of some dude on Reddit's fatlogic. How horribly insulting to any real person who has struggled with their weight.

Didn't care for this book in any way. It was not inspirational, the protagonist was not likeable, and I can't think of one redeeming element to make me give it the one star I'm required to give. Fortunately, it was a free download, but yet somehow I still didn't get my money's worth. Walk away. There is much better out there.

I really enjoyed this book. Needs better editing but it still was somewhat enjoyable and the only reason I say 'somewhat' because the pining over a man who clearly belonged to someone who you always had in your corner...the only one of the few who cared about you.. was sickening but besides that, I can't wait to continue this story.

Glad this book was free, I would have been very upset had I paid for it. A waste of time to read. A book about an adult woman going through teenage angst. Not a good book at all, don't waste your time trying to read it like I did. You've been fire warned.

I would like to know what happens but not bad enough to have to read it with the language that the author uses. It was completely unnecessary to the story. It could have been a good book if she had not ruined it. I really like to give a good review but cannot in all good conscience as I know others feel the same way.

I read three-quarters of the book and then simply got tired of what is supposed to be clever insults between two people who are sexually attracted to each other, so I sent it back to the Kindle cloud. In reality, it got boring. No plot. Mostly grammatically correct, though.

It was okay, kind of hard to believe she dropped down to a size 6 and not have surgery to remove the excess skin... but...?

Didn't like that she was so determined to lose weight, was practical minded in a many ways... then became an idiotic moron with Marshall. yuk!

Glad this book was free, I would have been very upset had I paid for it. A waste of time to read. A book about an adult woman going through teenage angst. Not a good book at all, don't waste your time trying to read it like I did. You've been fire warned.

I would like to know what happens but not bad enough to have to read it with the language that the author uses. It was completely unnecessary to the story. It could have been a good book if she had not ruined it. I really like to give a good review but cannot in all good conscience as I know others feel the same way.

I read three-quarters of the book and then simply got tired of what is supposed to be clever insults between two people who are sexually attracted to each other, so I sent it back to the Kindle cloud. In reality, it got boring. No plot. Mostly grammatically correct, though.

It was okay, kind of hard to believe she dropped down to a size 6 and not have surgery to remove the excess skin... but...?

Didn't like that she was so determined to lose weight, was practical minded in a many ways... then became an idiotic moron with Marshall. yuk!

Before I say anything else, just let me say I really enjoyed this book. I've always enjoyed reading books where the main character is someone who is overweight or has lost weight, I suppose because it makes me feel a little better about myself in some way, like I'm not the only person going through it.

The main character in this story is Jennifer, or Jenn, as her family calls her. She is 27, in need of a new job, overweight and desperately unhappy. You see just how unhappy she is very early on in the story and several things happen which propel her on a mission to lose weight. She also has a lot of family issues and you come to see how they have affected her throughout her life.

As the story progresses, you see how determined she is to lose this weight, but also how negative her mindset is about many things–her own self-image, her opinion of others, and her thoughts about what others think of her. Her self-loathing is very evident, and at times painful for me to read, because I've often had some of the same negative feelings. For Jenn, her ultimate accomplishment is reaching a certain set number on the scale (although that number is never actually stated) and she will not let herself feel happy or like she matters until she does.

She has an overweight friend, Tammy, who is in a relationship, has a good job, and likes to look nice, despite her weight. Basically Tammy doesn't let her weight hold her back in what she wants. Jenn doesn't understand how she can possibly be happy, and seems to think that trying to look pretty when you're overweight is pointless (another way in which you realize her level of self-loathing). This, and another scene later in the book involving picking out jewelry to wear out, make me think of how society often views overweight women who do put effort into their appearance. I know for myself I've often had moments where I've felt this way, like, "What's the point? No matter how nice my clothes are or how I do my hair, I'm still fat and that's all people see." Jenn feels that way.

Jenn has a supportive cousin, Amber, and throughout the book her relationship with Amber– and most of her other relatives– evolves. She realizes that she's often pushed people away and created a lot of her own unhappiness.

What I really liked about this book was how real it felt. The author of the book is not overweight (at least from her picture). She looks young and pretty, and I wonder if she's ever had a weight problem, or if someone close to her has. I feel she understood a lot of the feelings that many overweight women probably have. I know that I've had many of the struggles that Jenn has, like being embarrassed with your clothes not fitting well or having family members make fun of you.

I also like the progression of the story. Some books are all over the place and I'm always wondering at what point in time we are, but this story follows a sort of timeline from start to finish, and I like that. Last night I finished the book and realized at the end that there is going to be another book, so that's exciting because I really want to know more! There is a tendency in me to get attached to characters, and I am definitely attached. There is a character, Rajeev, and I must know what happens to him because I really liked him a lot.

As far as criticisms, I can't really think of anything that stands out. The only thing that I can think of is Jenn's attitude at times, but that is not a criticism of the book or story, it's just one of those things where you want to shake a person and ask what the heck is wrong with them because you see how destructive they are being. A lot of Jenn's thoughts no one knows, she's just often so negative, and at times, can seem very selfish, which was bugging me even though I like her at the same time.

The book isn't very long (less than 200 pages on my e-reader) so it's something you can read fairly quickly. I read it in 3 or 4 sessions before bed each night and I had to stop myself from reading and go to bed. I really wanted to know if Jenn succeeded.

In my opinion, this is a book almost anyone would enjoy, particularly if you've ever struggled with weight. I know I've been overweight my whole life (like Jenn) and I know how it can affect you.

I'd definitely recommend reading this, and I can't wait to read the next book as I love reading a series.

An emotionally charged journey to self-awareness/discovery and healing!!
Jennifer/Jenn is an overweight, intelligent, pretty young woman; she doesn't see the beauty, she just sees the fat, rolls and bulges. She was working at a Boys and Girls Club but quit when one too many teenagers boys taunted her about her weight; the boys said "nasty, obscene things about" her weight and other verbal abuse. Her mother recently died due to heart problems caused by her obesity. She'd had enough! People never see HER; they see a fat girl, not the woman she really is. She had a charming, vivacious, intelligent, kind, skinny person inside her; if only she could lose the weight and let "her" (the skinny person), out!
This is a compelling glance into what some people go through when dealing with obesity. (I say some people because the author, brilliantly, included other overweight people who dealt with their weight differently.) Jenn faced many changes in her young life and handled them the only way she knew. But in this journey she found new, productive ways.
I enjoyed the exploration and resulting fresh start Jenn found towards healing!
I was given this book for free to give an honest review.

I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
This book was a great read!
I have suffered with being overweight all my life and have had the same feelings that she had.
It was awesome to read a book about it's not always what's on the outside but too look inside the person.
I admired her for seeing this in herself and rectifying it.
It shows that no matter the problem it can be solved with hard work and determination.
I especially liked how she realized what her problems were and strived to correct them.
I would recommend this book to anyone not just overweight people.

Skinny Me by Charlene Carr involves a young woman who has battled her weight her entire life and is dealing with the feeling of hitting rock bottom. She feels that her weight is out of control, she's unemployed and her mother has passed away. She picks herself up and focuses on what she can do to improve her life and relationships. Little by little, Jenny makes changes starting with a new menu and beginner exercises and a job acceptance. She tries to socialize more and also pushes herself to run. Jenny meets with a personal trainer and sets a possible goal and continues to work on her relationships. She realizes that losing weight isn't going to stop her insecurities and internal struggles; she has to work on her self esteem also. 4 stars for a realistic story geared toward adult readers. Per author request, I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

I was contacted by Charlene Carr and offered a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As I was reading Skinny Me, I couldn't help but develop a bad taste for Jennifer. I've had family that have lost hundreds of pounds and I understood that there is more to getting healthy than the physical side. It's an emotional battle. And yes, by the end, Jennifer redeems some of her more unlikeable qualities from earlier in the book. But the way she treated people, especially her own cousin who was nothing but kind to her for the entirety of her life? That really bothered me.

Even when she was trying to be happy with herself she was still jealous of what others had. It seemed very petty and childish and as though she wouldn't be able to flip a switch with those sorts of character traits holding her back.

She wasn't the worst character though. And I enjoyed all the other characters and their diversity. Part of me thinks Jenn was written as a character we were meant to "love to hate." Kudos to Carr for achieving that, as it's not an easy feat.

The plot was sound and wrapped up nicely, though rather quickly.

Overall a good, quick read. Just be prepared to not love Jenn. She'll make you roll your eyes and appreciate what you have for how little she appreciates everything she's been granted. But she definitely portrays how extreme the mental aspect of losing weight can be.

I liked this book very much. To create three-dimensional characters, a writer must include negative personality traits without making the character unlikeable. Charlene Carr does this well. The protagonist, Jenn, suffers from obesity, and Carr clearly understands the pain and unpleasantness that come with it.
In our culture, obesity is treated like a character defect, one that is visible on the outside at all times. It is a fact that fat people are treated differently, and considered weak-willed, lazy, and self-indulgent. What is not readily evident is the emotional pain and isolation that accompanies obesity. Carr puts us inside Jenn's head, and we experience her agony and begin to understand why she feels her problem is insurmountable.
Jenn sees everyone, even those who love her, through the lens of those who treat her with distaste. She decides to lose the weight and change how people see her, but finds she still has the same problem--she still doesn't fit in. Only when she realizes she must change internally does she start evolving into a well-adjusted individual.
This is not a book for everyone, as is demonstrated by comments of reviewers who want to "slap" Jenn. She is lost in a world of pain and confusion. The book takes us along on her journey to peace and happiness.
I received this book free in return for an honest review.

I received a free copy of this book to read and leave my review. This is such a great book! It was so personal to me, I felt like the book was telling my life. I have been telling everyone about this book even before I was finished reading it! I can't wait for the next book to come out. If you want a good read this is definitely the book for you. Spoiler alert: This book shows that it's what on the inside of a person that matters, not the external looks.

This was a powerful read. I wasn't sure what to expect after reading the synopsis, but I was not disappointed. This is more than a story about a young woman losing a large amount of weight, and how it changes her life. It's also about what a young woman thinks about herself, and how she thinks other people see her. As a person who's been 'not exactly skinny', myself, I was ashamed to realize that there was a lot of me in Jenn. Feeling angry that I wasn't good enough, or that others were judging me because of my weight, is something that I've experienced in my life. I'm older now and know that a lot of that wasn't real, but it's very difficult to let go of that mindset. It's easy to get caught up in bitterness and anger, and let it take over your life. It's much harder to think positive and just love yourself for who you are. I think most women, and probably men, too, think this way, whether it be over weight or some other imagined 'flaw'.

The young woman, Jenn, struggles with her illusions of what others see and think, throughout her entire transformation, and can't wait to show them they're wrong when she reaches her weight loss goal. Once she's lost almost all of the weight she wanted, though, she realizes that most everyone still treats her the same. She also realizes that she's still not happy with herself. She holds onto a lot of hurt and negativity over how some people have treated her, but mostly over how she imagines she's been treated. Once she starts thinking differently, thinking that maybe it's not just everyone else, but herself, as well, that's when her life truly begins to transform.

Learning to love yourself, is probably the hardest love of all, as Whitney Houston so beautiful sang. This story tells of one woman who's trying to get there but it's really about all of us. Jenn's struggle shows how transforming your body isn't enough to make you love yourself. You have to transform your mind, as well.

Beautifully written. I can't wait to read more from Charlene Carr. I even signed up for her newsletter to read a bonus chapter of this story. It was wonderful, and I also found out that Ms. Carr offers writing services, as well as communication and writing seminars. I'll definitely be learning more about (from) this author.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I received this free book from the author for an honest review. Dealing with being overweight most of my life like Jennifer and losing all the weight for the wrong reasons doesn't solve our problems. We have to find happiness in whatever state we are in physically. This book brought helpful insight into my life about dealing with personal issues. I recommend reading this book.

This is a story of Jennifer Carpenter. She is unhappy with her looks and embarrassed that anyone notices how heavy she is.

I love the honesty in this book - we hear from Jennifer's own point of view how damaging a negative outlook on life can be. We see whst can motivate and help us on our journey. In this case, it means seeing her lose the weight and why.

Jennifer is surrounded by friends and some family. She has recently lost her mother and is wondering should she give her estranged father another chance to be in her life? He invites her to lunch and other outings and she rarely, if ever, gets together with him. Too hurt by the childhood memories of rejection by him and her brother.

We see serious character development and such honest feelings, reactions, and even scenarios that a single women with losing weight would live through. I was impressed with the way the author handled it. Not sugar-coating any of it. Her own cousin has it out with her several times.

It is easy to relate to such a character like Jennifer, all women feel some kind of negative toward themselves. Whether it is a personal dislike of a certain feature or weight, we all have something that makes this story hit home.

I enjoyed the read - and found it it is a series now with a whole new book coming out soon with more on these wonderfully rich characters. I cannot wait to read the next installment of the A NEW START series.

***This book was given FREE from Netgalley.com, for review purposes. My honest opinion does not reflect Netgalley nor its affiliates.

Skinny Me by Charlene Carr is a surprise! I received a free e book copy by signing up on Ms. Carr's website.

Skinny Me is about a 27 year old woman named Jennifer Carpenter. Jennifer is overweight, unhappy, somewhat bitter but honest. After a major loss, Jennifer decides to change her lifestyle and lose weight. She challenges herself to become the "perfect me" she thinks will make her happy. Only to discover that what she wants will not bring happiness only by embracing who she is will.

I really appreciate the honesty Ms. Carr puts in her writing. I could fully understand the sadness, shame and embarrassment Jennifer went through. I have been there myself. However, I began to dislike Jennifer as she was becoming bitter towards her family and friends. But when she began to discover that in order to be truly happy one must appreciate life I opened my arms back up to her.

I look forward to reading the rest of this series and the other books Ms. Carr has written.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt pulled into Jennifers story right from the first page. The book is well written, it draws you in to the point where you truly feel her struggles with her weight. Several times I wanted to shake the fire out of her! But to me, that marks a good story. My only grump is that I felt the last chapter was a bit rushed and ended a tad abruptly.
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Skinny Me as it was well written and touched many a nerve for me that resonated in my own life.

Skinny Me tells the story of Jennifer or Jenn as she struggles the way I, along with many others, have with not only their weight, but self image and obsession. I've struggled most of my life with my weight and have gone through periods of coping with eating disorders when I was younger. Added to this, my daughter suffered from anorexia and depression in her youth, so I more than identified with the main character's struggle.

One of the things I thought was so well done in this book was the main character's initial self loathing as she battled with the vicious circle of feeling bad because she was overweight, so she ate, so then felt worse, so she ate and so on. This came over as Jen often not being sympathetic and sometimes I wanted to scream at her, which for me is a sign of a well developed character. Her journey into obsession with her weight loss and the need to gain some control over her life also rang very true with me and the way she struggled to understand how other people were not weight obsessed and yet happy with their lives was very well done and again I totally identified with her journey. For me, a 'good' character should go on a journey of some kind and Jen certainly does.

I would certainly recommend skinny Me and look forward to reading more by Charlene Carr.

This is an Amazing journey of a young woman who is ready for change. This is an inspirational book about her journey of weight loss that isn’t always easy. Much like many of the journeys we take on a daily basis it doesn’t always go as planned. We fail, we break, and we give up sometimes but she never gives up. Even after facing one hardship after another she still continues for what she wants. This is an amazing book that makes you want to sit down and read it all at once! This is by far one of my favorite books!

This book was easy to read. It was realistic and engaging. I didn't always like the main character, Jennifer because she was so unhappy and had such a chip on her shoulder. It fit the character and the inner struggle that she was was facing. As the book progressed and Jennifer was able to find herself in the loss of her weight, she shed the bitterness and contention and started to view her world from a different perspective.

I rather enjoyed this book about a 27 year old obese female that decides she's had enough and wants to get her life in order and find the "skinny" person that she knows is within. Jennifer is miserable and just knows that becoming skinny will make her happy. But, as it goes in real life, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

One thing I thought was realistic was that her weight loss journey wasn't just starving herself, she actually ate healthy and exercised and took time to work on her healthy changes. Something I didn't like, and I understand it is part of what the book is about, was her attitude. The main character was rude, acted spoiled, and entitled. Ultimately, this attitude problem is part of her lifestyle change, but my gosh, there were so many times I was just mad at her and wanted to tell her to "get over herself!" Even with this issue, I still wanted Jennifer to succeed and find happiness with her body, family, and friends.

At the end of the book, I was pleasantly surprised to find that by contacting the author I could get a "bonus" chapter, which I've already read and was happy to have because after the journey with Jennifer, it was nice to have a bit of direction on how a certain area of her life was headed.

I've downloaded the second book of the series and am looking forward to reading it, beginning this evening!

I loved this book. I have to admit I kept going back and forth. Sometimes I loved it, sometimes not so much. I think that's because the realism is there.
She has gotten inside of my mind (that is of a very over weight person).
There is so much truth in the way I've thought about myself that it's hard to see it in print. Then to see how it can be twisted and turned when you're so focused on your weight.
I'm looking forward to reading her other books and have started the next one already.

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jenn's life seems to have hit rock bottom. She doesn't have a job, has very few friends, is extremely overweight, and feels like everyone around her is judging her. She is unhappy with her life and decides that the way to improve it and to be happy is to get skinny. So she embarks on a weight loss journey and hits a few bumps along the way. She also learns a few lessons.

I love Jenn! I love the development of her character. Jenn was so real to me! And I found myself pulled into her story as she searched for her "skinny me" believing that she would find happiness when she met her weight loss and fitness goals. I love the lessons that she learned and the realization that she came to that skinny didn't buy happiness. Not only was she able to shed the outer weight that she carried, but also her inner baggage! I really enjoyed this book!

This book is one of the best contemporary novels I've read lately. I was really taken by the development of the main character as she made her way in a journey all too familiar to so many. Her misguided and sometimes self-defeating actions made me want to shake her and hug her all at once. I understood that she was on a wrong path while to the world who watched her she appeared to be living the dream. Charlene Carr has much to offer as an author and I look forward to her next release with great anticipation.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and very thought provoking. The characters were well thought out and likable. My only minor, very minor, criticism is - I have read this story before. There are several books with similar themes and outcomes. I do think this is a very good read. I would recommend it. gbash

Loved this book. It is a good look at manic compulsion and social reaction to people being different.You can feel the characters emotions as she struggles to fit an image she sees for herself.
I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

I found that I couldn't stop reading this book. I wasn't sure what to expect with the title. I really enjoyed the main character and all her flaws and I could relate to some of her struggles. This is my first book by Charlene Carr and I think she's a good writer. I hope there is a sequel to this particular character, as I want to see how life goes for her on her journey to change.

I loved this book.....I read it in one afternoon, I couldn't put it down!! I would defiantly recommend to friends. I could relate to the thoughts and feelings Jennifer experienced.... I cried and laughed and hated for the story to end.

I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Charlen Carr is the Canadian Jodi Picoult ! I thought she had been walking around in my head. I have battled weight all my life - the last time I was in single digit sizes was my baby clothes.....I felt someone finally understood the battle of weight loss and also the conclusion we all must face - that change comes from the inside - the outside changes after we fix our thinking. Well done Ms. Carr.

An insightful look at the daily challenges of being overweight. The challenges the main character overcomes in order to lose weight and be healthy very realistic. I love the humor and the characters' personal growth through self examination. A great read. I couldn't put it down.

Got this book as a freebie and so glad that I did. I love that the main character was so flawed mainly by what I thought was her own perception of how people viewed her because of her weight. I think the book captured the self obsession that can come from losing a lot of weight really honestly and how taking it too far can impact on the person and those around them. Charlene Carr has intrigued me with her writing and I'll continue to read her books and happily pay for them next time!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved taking the journey with Jenn through the changes she made outside as well as inside. I felt frustration at how she was missing so much with because of her obsession with her weight & insecurities. It was wonderful to read how she changed her outlook & started enjoying life. Great book!

As someone who has been morbidly obese my whole life, I could absolutely relate to Jenn. My mom weighed more than 650 pounds when she passed at the age of 60 and I struggle every day to avoid a similar fate. I felt like Jenn was a very real and inspiring character.

I not only enjoyed this book but it motivated me to start running again! I've read other reviews where the people couldn't stand Jennifer's attitude but that was the whole point of the book - her physical and emotional/personal transformation.

Loved this book! I had it read in just a few days. Easy read and a great story line. Loved the characters and enjoyed the morals so much I shared my review all over social media! Worth the read! Be happy for who you are and stop striving to be what you perceive to be ideal or how you expect people would want others to see you. Happiness comes from within.

I really enjoyed this book! I related to the main character Jenn a lot. I also have spent most of my life overweight and very unhappy about it. I quickly became interested in all of the characters in Skinny Me. I like how Charlene Carr writes. I'm really looking forward to reading all of her other books!

Every woman who has struggled with their weight should read this book. We all think being skinny will solve all our problems, but it doesn't. This book took us through 1 woman's struggle and ultimately becomes a better woman. Fantastic reading. Keep up the good work. Loved this book.

This book hits home for me. It gives me a greater perspective on how I should look at myself in the mirror. I have been Jennifer. I have been the girl that hides away because of body image issues. I still look in the mirror and see someone who is not as pretty or as skinny as I wish I was. This book hits the heart deeply. I loved every page. Thank you.

I enjoyed the storyline and the understanding of the central character. Unless you have made a dramatic change it is so hard to understand the psychological impact on your life. This author nailed it! Good, bad,and ugly it is all here.

I was provided a free copy of this book for review. I really enjoyed it, quick read, insightful reading, Shows how people feel about themselves is more important than how they look. People judge people by looks instead of the qualities a person portrays.

Charlene is a great author! This is the first book of hers that I read, and I absolutely adored the characters. I couldn't put it down. When it was over, I immediately went out and bought more of her books! Definitely a fast, relaxing read.

"I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review."
I liked the premise of this book but some things were a little vague. Overall, I thought it was a good story and showed how obsessive people can be about certain things.

This book hits home for me. It gives me a greater perspective on how I should look at myself in the mirror. I have been Jennifer. I have been the girl that hides away because of body image issues. I still look in the mirror and see someone who is not as pretty or as skinny as I wish I was. This book hits the heart deeply. I loved every page. Thank you.

I enjoyed the storyline and the understanding of the central character. Unless you have made a dramatic change it is so hard to understand the psychological impact on your life. This author nailed it! Good, bad,and ugly it is all here.

I was provided a free copy of this book for review. I really enjoyed it, quick read, insightful reading, Shows how people feel about themselves is more important than how they look. People judge people by looks instead of the qualities a person portrays.

Charlene is a great author! This is the first book of hers that I read, and I absolutely adored the characters. I couldn't put it down. When it was over, I immediately went out and bought more of her books! Definitely a fast, relaxing read.

"I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review."
I liked the premise of this book but some things were a little vague. Overall, I thought it was a good story and showed how obsessive people can be about certain things.