Finished it in 5 hours! Amazing book! Wholesome. Queer. Representing diversity in all the good ways! Just a really feel-good-gay-rom-com kinda book. Great for when you need a pick me up and happy smiles.

3.5

This one had so, so much potential... Felipe is one of those precious characters you want to hug and protect from the world and keep to yourself forever. His voice was wonderful, his relationship with his mum was a delight and his interactions with Caio were precious. The story itself was the perfect balance of heartbreaking and uplifting.

Why the three stars then?? It's nothing that's in the book, it's more a case of what's not in the book. I'm always complaining about the overabundance of drama in YA and NA books, but here is the complete opposite: basically nothing happens. The author told the story he wanted to tell and I don't pretend to know better, but when I closed the book I felt it was unfinished. We are introduced to so many interesting things that I was dying to read about, but they are just mentioned and then forgotten, and honestly I felt duped. Usually YA books are way longer than they need to be, but here I could have done with an extra 100 pages.

My other problem is that once he gets together with Caio, Felipe's personality changes in a way that was too close to the "love cures anything" trope that I hate with all my heart. There are a couple of things in the book that makes me think that this was not the author's intention, but that's what I felt, and I'm sure that it's something that could have been fixed with a bit more development on their relationship.

So basically I loved most of what I read, but I am hugely disappointed by what was missing from the story

An enjoyable read. Simple, beautiful, thought provoking. I enjoyed the story and characters very much.

Love.
I wish I could read Portuguese so that I could read this in its original glory, but I am so grateful for this translation. Felipe is an insecure, imperfect, kind, isolated, nerdy person. I was rooting for him every page along the way- when he visits his therapist, when classic bullies are terrible to him, and when he has to cope with his crush suddenly staying at his home. His mom is a figurative rockstar of a mom, who just wants Felipe to understand his own worth. And he's trying...
I loved this book.
My ONLY piece of complaint is that I don't feel the English title is memorable. It will make it harder to recommend to people if I can't remember the title!

C’était beaucoup trop mignon !

J’adore les deux personnages principaux Felipe et Caio, leurs rencontres et la construction de la relation était trop chou.
J’ai beaucoup aimé le nombre de représentations dans ce livre entre une personne grosse, des personnages qui ne sont pas hetero et un personnage noir, la diversité dans ce livre est bien présente !

Le fait que Felipe soir gros est vachement bien dépeint et c’est rafraîchissant d’avoir un personnage qui n’est pas skinny.

Les personnages secondaires comme la mère de Felipe ou Becky la meilleure amie de Caio sont aussi géniaux !

OMG I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

Felipe is 17, in high school, and he is fat. His neighbor, Caio, comes to stay with him for their 15 day vacation because Caio's parents are in Chile and they didn't feel comfortable leaving him alone.

Things I loved in this book:
-Felipe's voice is charming and unique. I loved his perspective.
-Felipe's mom is loving and fun and sweet, they have a great relationship.
-Felipe goes to therapy and enjoys it!
-Caio's BFF Becky's personality and their friendship
-The pop culture references are fun but won't ever feel outdated.

I could not get enough of Felipe. His character arc is perfect, he is such a charming, gentle soul. The book mostly takes place inside his head, inside the apartment, but it felt homey and safe.

There is some homophobia in the book from a family member and classmates, but mostly this book is just warm fuzzy sweetness. The romance is very low-key.

Read for Book Riot Read Harder 2021, a non-European novel in translation and a fat-positive romance.