Chrissy’s Review: Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Dumplin’
written by Julie Murphy
published by Balzar & Bray,

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Target, Book Depository, Goodreads

Did I enjoy this book? You know what? I loved it. It caught me by surprise, and it sucked me in.

Willowdean Dickson is a main character you can get behind. She has flaws, insecurities, but a certain confidence. She is just like you, me, anyone. She takes a stand and enters a beauty pageant. She didn’t do it to prove she could win. I don’t think she even expected that. I think it was just an “I’m fed up and I’m going to do it” type of thing. Willowdean is wonderful. There were times I just shook my head at her, but then I had to keep reading to see what happened next. I felt bad for Willowdean, but not really. I just wanted her to be happy, to allow herself to be happy.

There is so much in this story. It is one that I think most will relate to. Everyone has insecurities. Everyone doubts. Some have been bullied. Others have bullied. We all have had friends that we want to help, that we have felt inferior to, that we love. Everyone will relate to something in this book.

 

 

Would I recommend it? Yes, everyone should read it.

 

About the book – from Goodreads: Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) 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 Clover City beauty 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.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

 

 

* This post contains affiliate links.
** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on December 4, 2015. Graphics and links updated on December 10, 2018.