Review: Moore to Love by Faith Andrews
Note: This ARC was provided by Sassy Savvy Fab PR in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve never been here before. In love. For a brief time back in college I thought I was with Alex, but that was more of a crazy crush than the real thing. This? Lane. The whole entire thing—I’m pretty sure it’s the real thing. It has to be. I haven’t even had sex with the dude and already I’m hoping to have his babies one day.
You know how you meet the main character in a book you’re reading and you instantly connect with them because you are them? That’s how it was with me and Madeline Moore, heroine of Faith Andrews’s five-plus-starred standalone of a romantic comedy with a healthy helping of angst to more than satisfy my palate. I got her because I’ve lived many parts of her story. I know how it is feels to get those backhanded compliments: “You’re pretty but you’d be prettier if you lost a pound or two…dozen,” “If you lost some weight, I know guys will finally notice how beautiful you are,” or “You’re smart and cute but you do know that ‘cute’ is usually a term used for fat girls, right?” Been there, heard that, got the shirt (that either does or doesn’t fit anymore). I’ve made bitchy comebacks reserved for friends and flashed the be-grateful-my-parents-taught-me-better-than-to-smack-you grin at others. The comments vary but the sentiment remains the same and gets so tiresome after a while. Yeah, yeah, I get it. I’m fat.
I’ve experienced the whole “Oh my God! You’ve lost so much weight! You look absolutely *insert glowing compliment here*!” exclamations as well when I’ve actually lost a significant amount of weight. It’s great in the beginning but loses its luster when you start to wonder why you had to lose the weight for people to notice whatever attributes were already there all along. I mean, it’s not as if I’ve been fat all my life. I was actually a skinny kid and only became chubby before entering my teens and then lost A LOT of weight the summer before my senior year in high school. I’ve gained and lost weight several times in my lifetime, so yes, I know I can lose the weight. I guess it becomes a matter of motivation. You want to lose the weight for yourself, not because everyone’s nagging you to do so. The more you tell me to do something, the more resistant I am to do it. I’m bull-headed that way, just ask my family and best friend. So I know where Madeline “Leni” Moore was coming from, because in many ways, Leni was me.
Leni Moore is twenty-five and weighs over two hundred pounds. She’s always struggled with her weight and she’s gone through crash diets before, only to have the weight come back with a vengeance. When her younger brother becomes engaged, Leni decides, for the sake of her soon-to-be sister-in-law, who also happens to one of her closest friends, she’ll do the workouts and diet so as to spare her the agony of having a fat maid of honor who can only fit in the shapeless, ugly formal wear. Losing the fat, gaining the muscle, controlling your urge to eat junk food, and sticking with healthier food choices and portions is no easy feat, but Leni does what’s necessary and not only does she begin to feel the difference, other people see it as well. Men finally notice her, but it’s the one who runs along the same path she does, who still seems oblivious to her. When Mr. Fancy Pants, aka Lane Sheffield, finally does turn his attention toward her, he seems to be absolutely perfect. But could Lane be too good to be true for Leni?
I adored Leni and I swooned over Lane. Heck, I loved every freaking prominent character in this book, each one playing a vital role in Leni’s journey to realizing the woman she’s always been and embracing her most authentic version of herself. It was way too easy to laugh and cry along with Leni, celebrating every milestone made and goal met while lamenting those all too familiar, perceived shortcomings and shortfalls. Leni’s story isn’t one that only people who have weight issues can relate to because she represents individuals who have looked at themselves and have been looked upon by others as not meeting a certain standard set by whoever thought they were better than everyone else. If you aren’t happy with the person that you are, do something about it, but do it for the right reasons. Like Leni, physical changes do not always vanquish long-held insecurities. Moore to Love is a tale that inspires, one that reiterates the need to love and accept yourself and everything else falls into place. Five-plus stars. ♥
Release date: 18 July 2016
Date Read: 16 July 2016
Learn more about Faith Andrews.
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