Dumplin' by Julie Murphy Published by HarperCollins on September 15, 2015
Pages: 400
Source: Purchased
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Now a popular Netflix feature film, starring Jennifer Aniston, Danielle Macdonald, and Dove Cameron, as well as a soundtrack from Dolly Parton!
The #1 New York Times bestseller and feel-good YA of the year—about Willowdean Dixon, the fearless, funny, and totally unforgettable heroine who takes on her small town’s beauty pageant.
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 girl does.
Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.
My Thoughts:
Yes, I am oh so very late to the game with this one. I know there are many, many, many reviews out there. You probably know all about it. Maybe you’ve even seen the movie. But I couldn’t NOT talk about this one! I adored it oh so very much.
First and foremost… Willowdean. She’s funny and flawed, my favorite kind of main character. There were times I just wanted to shake her because of the choices she was making. But they always read as authentic. (I would love to go back and shake high school me as well!) I loved her perspective and getting to see the ways her outlook changed. I also really liked the various relationships she has in her life. I was totally invested in seeing how they grew and changed.
The pageant aspect was so interesting to me. Same with the small town Texas setting. And Dolly!!!! Stars, I love Dolly Parton. Add in some really great secondary characters (Hi Millie! I love you!) and you have a book I simply couldn’t put down. I will certainly be picking up Puddin’ in the near future!
Summer
One of my favorites, too, Julie Murphy writes such great, down to earth stuff.