Review: Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Synopsis from Goodreads:

You are what you eat. . . .Cat's smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . .

This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves.

Review:

Fat Cat by Robin Brande was a fantastic novel. I stayed up late into the night to read it. Sometimes all you want is a story that will make you smile, but Fat Cat was more than just that. It was insightful, thought-provoking and clever.

Cat is fat; hence the name of the book. All she wants to do is beat Matt-her ex-best friend- at the science fair and get the top spot. However, to do this, she knows she'll need to pull out all the stops. So begins her 207 day project of living like the hominids (homo erectus).

Luckily, she doesn't have to eat raw or putrid meat or light fires to cook dinner (that is, if the hominids even discovered fire), but instead, she eats healthily, walks everywhere (if possible) and cuts herself off from as much technology as possible (emergencies permitting).

With some struggles, Cat's project begins to go well and her healthy eating and exercise means that the pounds drop off and she begins to get varied male attention. But she knows that in the end, all that matters is that she makes Matt pay for hurting her.

I really enjoyed Fat Cat and read it in one sitting. It was funny, clever and unique. I liked the spin on the usual plot of 'fat girl becomes thin and avenges herself' by having it to do with a school project. I liked the fact that Cat developed her confidence throughout the book. I found the project interesting and educational. Most of all, I liked the characters, especially Cat's friend, Amanda, who pushed her to come out of her shell. Doesn't every girl need a friend like that?

Now that she can, Cat analyses boys, something that was unknown territory not too long ago, but the more she learns, the more confusing it all gets. I loved seeing Cat grow as a character, get rid of her insecurites and confront Matt. Though her hate for him was slightly disproportionate to what he did (I'm not condoning it. Only, it is a few years later and the hurt of what he did should have ebbed slightly).

Overall, I liked Matt and Cat's relationship. Fat Cat was a great book and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a light and funny read.
Book Rating: 5/5

Cover Rating: 3/5

Author: Robin Brande