BOOK REVIEW: TO BE HONEST BY MAGGIE ANN MARTIN

To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin

Published August 21, 2018

Hardcover, 304 pages

MY GOODREADS RATING 4.5/5 STARS

(Thanks to Netgalley & Swoon Reads, I received an eARC)

 

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

    Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.

Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.

 

MY THOUGHTS:

First off, I thought this was going to be one of those oh a boy loves me, I love my figure now. But NOPE! I loved the representation of a girl who is comfortable in her body from the very beginning and didn’t feel the need to have everyone make her feel good. Her mom’s obsession with weight an being “healthy” shows just how all consuming body image can be.

Savannah was a very complex character, and I fell in love with her immediately! I love that she is her own person and has her own beliefs that she doesn’t waver for anyone. She was extremely relatable to me because she suffers from panic attacks as I do. I thought the depiction of her attacks were spot on. I know everyone has different reactions and feelings during them, but I really felt connected to her. I also loved her relationship with her sister, who was more of the peace keeper, while Savannah would try she wasn’t the best at keeping her mouth closed.

I thought this book was just great! There were so many aspects that added to the story. Such as Savvy being on the newspaper, and Goerge playing instruments. I was kept interested the whole book and was kind of sad when it was over, I want more of Savvy and her story.