Somethings of Substance by Tia Souders
Seventeen-year-old Grace Michaels is determined to be thin, even if she dies trying.
Part of the in-crowd at Providence High, she is steps away from being asked out by the most desired guy at school, winning a prom queen nomination, and her parents’ approval. If she can just get skinny enough, be pretty enough, and popular enough.
But Grace is thin on the outside and fat on the inside. No amount of weight-loss ever seems enough. Convinced the melting pounds will solve her problems, every pound lost brings her closer to her goals. But flesh and bone can only hide the weight of her secret for so long.
Author’s Bio
Tia Souders is the author of bestselling women’s fiction novel, Waiting On Hope and the upcoming award-winning young adult novel Better Than This (formerly titled Freedom Road). When she isn’t writing, she’s likely renovating their century home. She’s a wine-loving, coffeeholic, with a sweet tooth and resides on a farm in rural Ohio with her husband and children.
My Review
5 stars
Last year Grace was the chunky girl but after spending the summer at a fat camp she has slimmed down and become part of the “in” crowd at school. But she just isn’t enough. Pretty enough, thin enough, perfect enough, etc. So she starts obsessing with weight loss. She has convinced herself that if she loses just a little more weight that she can be the hot guys girl, the perfect daughter, even happy.
This story is about a teenager that is suffering from anorexia. Grace constantly focuses of food, calories, and trying to lose weight. Her body image has become warped and she doesn’t see herself and those around her as she falls deeper and deeper into herself. Yes, this story repeats itself. She constantly keeps telling herself the same thing over and over and this does get to be annoying. But when you are suffering from some issue you make everything about this thing. You start believing what the dark voices in your head tell you and can’t seem to break out of this rut no matter what you do.
This is a touching, heartbreaking story. I felt for Grace and it broke my heart that she didn’t see those around her that loved her through the haze that she focused on. It’s a sad message but one that needs to get out. With body image issues it’s a great story to show how destructive these thoughts and behaviors really are.
This might not be the book for everyone, especially since I have seen others write along the same line. But it is a sad but honest look at this disease.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I would like to thank eBooks for Review for the opportunity to read and share this book.
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