Fat Chance, Charlie Vega

Super cute coming-of-age story - the blurb doesn't match most of the book's content, though, which is a little disconcerting, but not the story's fault? Which is to say, what the blurb describes does happen, but not until the last 25% or so of the book, and the story is a lot more about the romance, Charlie's relationship with her mom, and general growing up stuff. I really enjoyed this. I loved how Charlie wasn't super-confident all the time and I loved the relationship between Charlie and Brian - they were so sweet together! This was an adorable contemporary YA (and lest I forget, this cover is also just amazing).

Charlie Vega is our titular lead. Her personality jumps from the page. She's smart, funny, artistic and a go getter. She and her mom. It's about a plus size young woman of color navigating through life. It deals with with being brown in a white neighborhood. Maldonado did a great job fleshing out Charlie and her relations with other people. People at work, school and at home. This title touches on diet culture and how mothers can love their daughters and be toxic at the same time. Heads up on that. I And I'm glad that there wasn't a situation were suddenly everything is okay because that kind of relationship really can???t easily be ???fixed???.

I love how the romance and Charlie's friendship had equal importance. It has an HEA and a non white interracial couple, heck yeah.


I recommend Fat chance, Charlie Vega for the lead alone. She truly is the MAIN CHARACTER. Living her MC life and i say this with lots of love. I know that many will fall in love with her

This was so cute !!! I thought I'd rate lower since it's YA and a romance but I really can't. It made me feel the feels and I related to Charlie enough to want see how her decisions panned out. I probably would've gushed over this back in middle school/high school but I'm really just feeling sappy and happy