{Review} Puddin' (Dumplin' #2) by Julie Murphy

Posted by Donna
Release Date: May 8th, 2018
Finished Date: April 25th, 2018

Publishers: Harper 360 
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: ARC

Pages: 448
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo 

 

It is a companion novel to Dumplin', which follows supporting characters from the first book in the months after Willowdean's star turn in the Clover City pageant. 

Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she’s more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

The Review: Dumplin’ was such a refreshing and fun YA contemporary read that I couldn’t help fall in love with when I read it a few years ago. And now with the movie that will be releasing soon, I definitely felt this was the right time for Julie Murphy to write a companion novel. As you can imagine I had really high hopes for Puddin’ but this one fell a little short for me which I’m really sad about. 

Puddin’ is told from alternative points of view about two girls who couldn’t be more opposite. Every summer Millie has gone to fat camp while Callie is on the dance team. It’s when a prank goes wrong that these two girls come together. 

Even weeks after reading this book I’m still contemplating why I couldn’t connect to it as much as I was hoping to and I think my main reason was the alternative points of view. Although both of the girls from the story are complete opposites, I sometimes found getting lost in their points of view and forgetting who was who. I wasn’t a big fan of Callie – I found her the hardest character to like and I felt like maybe I would have enjoyed this book if it had been in Millie's point of view. I was already familiar with Millie from Dumplin’ but I honestly don’t remember meeting Callie before or if she was a completely new character.

I was definitely hoping for more Willowdean since she is the reason I loved the first book so much but, she didn’t get much time in this book which, I kind of understand but definitely felt like she could have been around more. I also felt the story was slow at times with not much happening along the way until the end,which was a little underwhelming. And the book was way too long for the amount that happens in the story. 

The book wasn’t all bad there was so good moments – the romance – not only one but two different romances which I loved and I enjoyed seeing each girl’s relationship develop. And also the friendship that forms between the two main characters. The solidary that develops between them is fierce and something we should all want from our own friendships. 

Julie Murphy’s books no matter what are always enjoyable reads. I’ve enjoyed all her books and even though Puddin’ wasn’t as good as I was expecting, I still think everyone should read them because her writing reflects the perfect example of staying true to yourself, no matter how you look, no matter what colour skin you are, and to accept who you are and I love that this message is loud and clear from the very first page. This is the real beauty of Julie's books. 

Thank you to Harper 360  for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

{Review} Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

Posted by Donna
Release Date: August 10th, 2017
Finished Date: August 13th, 2017

Publishers: Harper360 UK
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Source: For Review
Format: Hardback

Pages: 432
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo 

 

Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever.

Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever.

The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem.

The Review: Ramona Blue is a story about a gay teenage girl who is struggling through each day dealing with the suffering from Hurricane Katrina which ruined her family home years before, her mother leaving, her older sister becoming pregnant by some loser guy and now she is questioning her sexuality. Ramona knows she likes girls, she has done since she can remember so there has never been any doubt there until her long lost friend Freddie moves back to her hometown and her feelings for him make her question she thinks she knows about herself. 

Ramona is a strong character who despite her family’s problems, she loves very much. She is very caring and loving for her sister. Despite their limited space in her family’s trailer she appreciates how much her father works and tries to care for them despite his low earnings. It’s why Ramona tries to help her sister so much. This proves how much of a loving character Ramona is and how loyal she is to her family. She really is a fab character! 

I have to say I think (from what I can remember) that this might be the first book I’ve ever read about a bi-sexual character. I like to think as an open minded reader I’ve read my share of diverse reads but then once in a while a new book will come along and then it’s opened me up to something different. I really enjoyed Ramona’s story. It’s different, it’s honest, it’s raw and it’s definitely an eye opening read that makes you understand what real people might just be going through on a normal day to day basis.

Now if you ask me what’s my favourite between Dumplin’ and Ramona Blue, I have to admit, Dumplin’ is so far my favourite. I guess the one problem I had with Ramona Blue is how long the book is. It needed at least 100 pages taken off but other than that, I really enjoyed it and I can not wait to see what Julie will do next.

Thank you to Harper360 UK for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

{Blog Tour} Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Posted by Donna
Release Date: January 28th, 2016 
Finished Date: January 17th, 2016

Publishers: HarperCollins 
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Source: For Review
Format: Hardback

Pages: 384
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

 

For fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell comes this powerful novel with the most fearless heroine-self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson-from Julie Murphy, the acclaimed author of Side Effects May Vary. With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine-Dumplin' is guaranteed to steal your heart. Dubbed "Dumplin'" by her former beauty queen mom, Willowdean 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 Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant-along with several other unlikely candidates-to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she'll shock the hell out of Clover City-and maybe herself most of all.

The Review: Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy was a book I knew I wanted to read. I’d heard great reviews from the people who had read so I knew I was going to like it and I was right! 

Willowdean is dubbed as Dumplin’ by her mother. It’s her nickname for her but there’s one thing Willowdean doesn’t want and that’s for all the people at school to catch on to the embarrassing title. Being a ‘larger’ girl Will has never felt comfortable in her body and even more so when she takes notice in Bo – the guy she works with. But when Bo starts showing interest in her Will just can’t be happy with herself she knows she will always compare herself to the much skinner girls. So in a way to try and take back her confidence and do something her late aunt could never do for herself, Will enters the Miss Clover City beauty pageant – the one her mother won all them years ago. But will she have the confidence and strength to show the world that not only skinny people deserve to be a Queen?

I really enjoyed Willowdean’s story and I just loved the Dolly Parton reference’s. I had Jolene stuck in my head all the way through the story! Will was such a strong character at times and I so wanted for her to see her own beauty and become more confident about her body. Girls and Women are always worried about their weight at some point in their lives and I was sad for Will that it came so early for her and it was such a battle. I could sympathise with her struggles and my heart really went out to her. Her relationship with her mother was slightly rocky. I felt as though her mother really ‘helped’ her and just tried to ignore that she had a daughter that was slightly larger. I really wanted her to open her and just accept Will for the way she was but there was nothing wrong with her. And I really would have loved to have read more about Aunt Lucy who sounded liked the Mother Will should have had. 

Will and Bo’s relationship is a rollercoaster but one I loved. Bo didn’t look at things like Will, he didn’t see her as the ‘fat’ girl but just for her. He’s so sweet! 

In all, I really enjoyed Dumplin’ and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more work by Julie! 

Thank you to HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.