So this book did not start off in the best light. The author - from the perspective of dead anorexic teenager Annabel - writes in a very fatphobic way and I almost gave up on it but there was something about Annabel's voice that drew me, she's stubborn, snarky and reluctant. About what?
Annabel has been assigned the job of being a spirit guide for overworked, stressed, overweight Julie a former classmate before Annabel's illness forced her to leave school. At first Annabel thinks that Julie's weight is her only problem and that if she loses weight she'll only be happy, like she herself was, or thought she was. It soon becomes clear that Julie's weight isn't the problem but a symptom of a larger problem in her life.
This book ends up being a really interesting look at the psychology behind eating disorders and the effect it can have on friends and family and how they can support the sick individual. It's also not a how-to book by any stretch and there's no mention of numbers at all. Julie, with the help of her friends (it's implied her parents don't notice or she doesn't tell them), manages to pull herself out before things get too serious and actually has a happy ending. As for Annabel I think she manages to resolve some of her lasting issues as well.
2/5 stars.
Stef Out x
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