Puddin’ audiobook

4.5 stars!!! Puddin’ is such a wonderful, feel good YA book. I am a huge fan of Julie Murphys after reading Dumplin’, and now Puddin’ and I was lucky enough to meet her this past weekend and get an autographed copy of both books! Eek! 

This book has two main characters/narrators. The first is Millie. Millie is amazing. She would have been my BFF in HS. Heck, in many ways, I was a lot like her in school. I loved how she was always positive, focused on friendship, and had dreams and goals of her own. I only wish I would have had the confidence she has at that age. The other mc is Callie. Callie couldn’t be more opposite than Millie. She is sort of a ‘mean girl’, but Callie changes with time over the course of the book and becomes much more likable. 
Both girls had a love interest in the story. Millie’s was sweet and wonderful, and I liked Callie’s love interest more than her a lot of the time. But as much as I loved the romance aspect of these books, the fact that Murphy focuses on positive female friendships at this age is EVERYTHING. That is the biggest focus within this story. And those are the relationships when you’re a teen that are important. I also love that the familial relationships are in the forefront of the book. Millie’s relationship with her parents, as well as Callie’s played a big part. I loved this story so much. Once again, my only complaint is that it ended too soon. I wanted more. Thank you Julie Murphy for writing characters that are realistic, positive, have hopes and dreams, and ones that are relatable to all. I wish books like this would have been written when I was in high school! My magic truth -- the thing that has changed everything for me -- is this : the body I have shouldn't change how deserving I am of my dreams.

Every Julie Murphy Book just gets better and better. Did I cry? Of course! Did I laugh? Of course! But mostly I cheered! My full review will be up on my booktube channel at http://Youtube.com/peterlikesbooks

3.5 starsI thought this was a pretty nice follow-up to the book Dumplin'. Willowdean isn't the main character in this one, but she does make some appearances so you do get to find out a little bit about what is going on in her life. Callie and Millie were side characters in the previous book and I enjoyed seeing them featured in this novel.Millie is sick of attending fat camp every summer and is determined to get into a camp with other students who have an interest in broadcast journalism. Callie might seem to have it all with a popular boyfriend and a spot on the dance team, but yet girls just don't seem to get along with her. The two girls are forced to interact with one another and big shocker, they might have more in common than they think.Female friendships were definitely the main focus of this book although there are some romances also. This is one of those in which you definitely know in what direction the story is heading but you enjoy watching it all unfold. Callie pretty much had no redeeming qualities in the first book and while she still might not be as likable as Millie, you do get to understand her a bit better. I might have liked Dumplin' a smidge better but this was a good read also. I'm curious to see if the author will end up writing another book featuring some of the other girls. Would definitely read if she does.

Review can also be found on my blog. Super big thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for letting me read an e-arc of this.This. Book. Was. So. Stinkin'. Sweet.WARNING: Reading this book too quickly may put you at an increased risk for Type 2 Diabetes.I seriously adore Millie with all my heart. Heck, even mean girl Callie grew on me. I didn't think that was going to be possible but Julie Murphy is some kind of a magical unicorn woman. She knows how to write a friendship tale like no other.I have the same complaint with this one that I had with Dumplin'. The ending was somewhat abrupt and my body was not ready to leave these characters behind. Overall, this was an incredibly solid YA contemporary. I would definitely be down for another companion novel in this series. Or pretty much anything else Julie Murphy wants to bless us with. I promise not to be too picky.

After reading (and loving) Dumplin', I was so excited to hear that there was a sequel in the works.I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed this sequel. Maybe not as much as I enjoyed Dumplin', but close to it. These characters were diverse, relatable, and mostly a good representation of what it's like to be a teenager. There may have been more dramatic moments that may not be particularly realistic, but for the most part, I thought it was was pretty realistic. The characters were also diverse in body types, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations. I definitely respect that because I think that is more of an accurate representation of reality than having everyone be the same. It was an enjoyable, fast-paced read that I really did like. Julie Murphy has become one of my "auto-buy" authors and this novel certainly didn't disappoint. I did have some issues with the novel but as a whole, it was a very good read.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this review copy!ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. Body-positive, fat-positive, kick-a** females and a whole lot of wit. This book is an amazing follow up to Dumplin' and I don't want this series to ever, ever end! This is required reading for every mother, every daughter, and everyone on earth who could use an affirmation or reminder that ALL BODIES ARE BEAUTIFUL. And all dreams are worthwhile and worth fighting for. And crushes are awesome and all love is fabulous and girls can love girls and girls can love boys and girls can be asexual and IT'S ALL THE RIGHT KIND OF LOVE! The mean girl cheerleader role is flipped on its rear end and I just LOVED THAT.And yes, you need to read Dumplin' first. Duh. Why deprive yourself of that amazingness?And yes, the more I love a book the MORE SHOUTING I DO.

Very cute and sweet follow-up to Dumplin'

4.5 stars! I am so full of thoughts and emotions about this book. I need some time to compile them. Riots not diets!---------Full review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...I’ve been struggling with my review for Puddin’ because it was just that good of a story. I usually doubt my words and my ability to express how much I really enjoyed a story that pushes people to want to read it as well. I loved Dumplin’ because it gave a voice where there needed to be one. I feel this story did the same thing.**I will state that this is a companion novel to Dumplin’, not a sequel.*Short recap: Millie and Callie have never been, what you might call, friends. Millie is constantly made fun of by Callie and her friends because Millie is a big girl. Millie has gone to fat camp and struggles with her weight, but she doesn’t let it get her down. Callie an all around mean girl on the school dance team. Callie is involved with a prank that goes horribly wrong and ends up being forced to work with Millie. Being forced to spend so much time together means these two discover things about themselves and each other they never realized.From the moment the story started, I knew I was going to feel for Millie. I was going to have her back no matter what. I kept seeing parts of myself in her character and that caused me to bond with her even more. Millie was all around a good girl. She was the type of girl I wish I had in my high school so I could have been friends with her. She was always honest and always stood up for what she thought was right, regardless of who it might upset. She stayed true to herself and that was wonderful to read. Callie, well, she was not those things. She was a spoiled brat of a girl who believed she was above everything and everyone. She was always making fun of people (especially Millie) because she thought Millie’s size warranted jokes. Always be careful because Karma is a bitch. And Karma came for Callie in this story.Everything about this story kept me turning the pages. I could not get enough. I was cheering Millie on for her dream to be a journalist. It may sound morbid, but I was oh so curious about Callie’s true self and if she really was as stellar and solid as she appeared to be on the outside. (Spoiler: NO) I loved the guest appearances by Willowdean! *squeee!* Any good Julie Murphy story has a love interest and this story is no different. Both girls had a love interest and it was so much fun to read about. BUT! The main focus of the story is not the romance, but friendship and how much of a difference a positive female friendship can make. I do remember being an overweight teen being picked on day in and day out. I remember how hateful my classmates were and how horrible that all made me feel. My best friend was not going to my school at the time so I felt incredibly alone. All I needed and wanted was a friend. That is why I try to nurture my friendships as much as possible because we all deserve positive females that will hold us up when we lose our strength.I did warn you that this review might not be too good. Just know that I loved this story and would love more from these characters, this universe. I’m on board for more stories about great friendships, Dolly Parton, drag queens.

I've been reading so many quality contemporaries lately oml>> specific rep includes a plus-size representation mc, a biracial half-latinx mc, an Indian love interest, two side f/f relationships, an asexual side character

I've been sitting on writing this review for a couple of days because I just don't know how to express my love for this book and Julie Murphy. Puddin' offers so many great aspects and I simply enjoyed all of them.In Puddin' we follow the perspective of Millie, Willowdean's friend from Dumplin', and Callie, basically Willowdean's arch enemy. I don't think you necessarily have to have read Dumplin' to go into Puddin' but it makes for a much better reading experience and I genuinely don't know why you wouldn't wanna read Dumplin' first. Both novels are wonderful.In terms of diversity, Millie is fat and Callie is biracial. Her dad is Mexican and her mum is white and she lives with her and her white step-dad and sister, so there's some talk about her feeling like she doesn't fit in and how the outside perceives her and her family.Millie's love interest is Indian and Callie's later love interest is also fat. There's a lesbian, and asexual side-character. I can't speak for any of these marginalizations and I'm not sure if there were sensitivity readers.There is a lot of fatphobia in this book, some coming from Millie's classmates, a lot comes from her mum but we also experience it from Callie's POV. Millie's fatness is an #ownvoices aspect but the things said to her regarding that can be incredibly tough to read.Both main characters are basically polar opposites. Millie is such a sweetheart and deserves the whole world. In this novel she is still learning how to stand up for herself, trust herself and be her own person.Callie on the other hand is a real dick. Especially the first few chapters reading from her perspective is really not pleasant but she's one of those unlikeable characters that are still fun to follow. She's also, on the opposite of Millie, someone who learns how to truly trust other people. Her shift in this novel is a big one. She does things that are truly unforgivable and disgusting but in the end I felt satisfied with her character development.The absolute best aspect of this novel are the friendships. The old pageant friend group from Dumplin' gets back together and I couldn't be happier about it. I truly love these girls and I wanna be friends with them as well! It's so fun to see them all be there for each other, to support and encourage, but also to not be afraid to tell someone off. It's a great portrayal of friendship because it shows the ups and downs and that a friendship doesn't have to be perfect to be a great one!I also loved both romances. Julie Murphy absolutely exceeds at writing fluffy romances. Ooof and that romance between Millie and Malik??? Two people who really like each other but are both to shy to do anything about it???????? RELATABLE!It's another aspect that absolutely shows the ups and downs of a healthy relationship but that doesn't make it less fluffy for me. My heart SINGS just thinking about these two couples!Overall Puddin' is a wonderfully emotional ride that shows the power of friendship and how much the people you surround yourself with can inspire you. I'd highly recommend it, just as basically every other Julie Murphy novel!♦ Booktube Channel ♦ Twitter ♦ Instagram ♦I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exhange for an honest review!

Don't mind me over here crying like a little baby. Julie Murphy's books, man- they just make me feel seen! The characters, the tenderness, the open explorations of how to become the person you want to be, the special insights into the challenges of being a (mostly) (somewhat) unapologetic fat girl.I mean, Dumplin' and Puddin' both pretty much read like they're taken straight from my Most Perfect Fat Girl Fairytale Checklist. Let's see:-Actual fat girl on the cover? Check!-Title that doesn't contain a fat pun, a number, or the words weight, pound, or curve? Check!-Fat main character who has distinct thoughts, opinions, goals, and overall personality? Check!-Fat main character who doesn't need to lose weight to get the guy or the happy ending? Check!-Fat main character who isn't some fat unicorn and actually has a fat parent and/or friends? Check! Check! (This one is IMPORTANT--more later.)My main worry going into this was that Millie was going to get on my nerves. Whereas Willowdean from Dumplin' is my cynical soul sister, Millie always struck me as the kind of hyper-positive person that I honestly have a hard time with in real life. And indeed, our opening shot is of Millie in her room surrounded by a bunch of hand cross-stitched motivational sayings.But I always put my trust in Julie Murphy and she has yet to let me down. Sure enough, it didn't take long to convinced me that Millie is less annoying-toothpaste-commercial and more spunky-ass-cinnamon-roll. This book works for two main reasons: one, because Murphy is one of the queens of character development when it comes to lighter contemporaries (right after Rainbow Rowell imo), and two, because she chose to alternate perspectives with Callie, a pretty, popular dance team co-captain who has fallen from grace. Watching Callie gradually open up and organically growing as a person is flippin' awesome. With a lesser author it could easily have turned into some simplistic, sappy crap, but this is too good for that.While I do think the narrative slows down at points, making this somewhat of a put-downable read, there are just SO MANY THINGS to love.I love that this is basically a love letter to female friendships. Sure there are guys and swoony bits and life happening, but friendship is the true star here.I love how sex positive these books are, featuring a wide range of sexual activity and comfort levels. You've got an asexual character, one who angrily makes out with a cute guy behind the dumpsters but isn't ready for sex, a sweet, blushy first kiss, and a girl who just straight up loves banging her hot boyfriend.I love that it shows how hard change can be, that it's not always a linear thing, that it doesn't always progress in a logical, upward fashion. It shows that even if you decide to change something, your negative thoughts and impulses surrounding it can still be there. For instance, when Millie's stressing over whether or not her crush likes her and is thinking that maybe he's just been faking his interest, she says: "I know thinking like that isn’t gonna get me anywhere. And it’s the exact reason why I’m not going to fat camp and obsessing over diets with my mom anymore, but all those horrible thoughts still exist. I’m just trying to figure out how to live in spite of them." I love that it shows how we can see the good in others when we can't see it in ourselves. It looks at the importance of allowing our friends in to see into our dark, squishy insides so that they can counter the mean voices in our brains that tell us that we're not worthy.Lastly, to loop back around, I love that there are multiple fat characters. There are specific dynamics that exist between fat characters that you won't quite find elsewhere. These dynamics can be a positive, like in the relationship between Willow and Millie where they show each other what's possible. They can be more fraught when one person wants to change and the other wants things to stay the same because changing might mean losing common ground, feeling left behind, etc. Mutually fat mother/daughter relationships in particular have their own particular brand of expectations, patterns, enmeshment, etc. This was the thing in the first book that resonated with me so strongly, and it's the thing that gives it such a special, unique place in my heart. I've just never seen anyone else quite explore this with such nuance before, which is honestly a shame.Why is this so rare? Why do we so often portray people with certain marginalized identities as alone?Anywho. I don't know. Something to stick in the ol' braintube to think about later...Ok, I'm going to stop now because this is already far too long. Overall I liked this a scoach less than Dumplin' but I think it's still pretty apparent that I just really dig Julie Murphy's books for their sweetness, all-around endearing characters and thoughtful themes.

Oh man, I REALLY loved this. I loved it even more than Dumplin'. Such a real heartwarming story with authentic characters. Millie is a crafty rule following fat girl who wants to be a broadcast journalist. Callie is a popular girl with a jerk bf, no true friends, and super into the dance team. Strange circumstances bring them together, and they become friends against all odds. Wonderful diversity of all stripes, and seriously adorable romances. I was really happy to see Mitch from Dumplin' get an HEA (HFN?) and Millie and Malik were just so cute I couldn't handle it. Nerds in love are my favourite! This book also has fantastic fat-positive and fatphobia content. I totally learned stuff but it didn't feel preachy.

I have so many feelings about this book and I doubt I will explain them well.  I absolutely love the way Julie Murphy writes.  Her words are touching, but there is always a lot of humor, too.  Her characters are so easy to relate to and I end up loving them.Millie   I adored Millie.  She was definitely my favorite person in this book.  Millie was in Dumplin', but this time the story is about her and Callie.  Millie is overweight and she makes no excuses for it.  She uses the word fat like it's nothing bad.  She explains that it's just a word and it's part of who she is.  Millie is kind to everyone and knows exactly what she wants in life.  Her mom was overweight when she was younger and her whole life is defined by weight loss and diets.  She pushes this on Millie at a young age and sends Millie to "fat camp" every summer.  Millie decides that she's done with camp, but doesn't know how to explain it to her mom.  Callie    Callie is the mean girl and is so hard to like at first.  She is rude to just about everyone and is pretty selfish.  She is part of the dance team and they get really upset when the local gym drops their fundraising.  The team decides to get even and ends up vandalizing the gym.  Callie is the only one who is caught and she has to go work at the gym to pay off the debt.  She is also dropped from the team and her boyfriend breaks up with her.  Her whole life is changed by one bad choice.  Callie starts working with Millie and as much as the fights it, she can't help but like Millie.  Millie's friendship helps Callie grow so much throughout the book.  We find that Callie has her own personal struggles at times, partly because of her race.  She also has no idea who she is without dance and her boyfriend.  She struggles to make good choices in her life and tends to act on impulse without thinking things through.The rest.   We see all the girls back from Dumplin and they add a lot of friendship and laughter to the story.  We also get a couple boys.  Malik who Millie really likes a lot and Mitch that ends up talking to Callie more.  Millie pushes the girls to spend more time together again and they start having slumber parties.  My favorite one was when Callie hosted.The parents.   We see a lot of love from the parents in the story, but also a lot of flaws.  Callie's mom is obsessed with the dance team.  She does the right thing with grounding Callie after all the bad things she does, but she also struggles with the fact that her daughter won't repeat her dance history.  I really liked Callie's bio dad and wish he would have been in the book more.  Millie's mom was the big problem parent for me.  Yes, she loved her daughter.  But her focus on weight was such an issue.  This one hit close to home for me.  She just couldn't be happy with Millie how she was and I could feel Millie's pain."There's a thin girl in you just waiting to get out."Callie's abuela.   I loved Callie's abuela so much!  Her relationship with her reminded me a lot of my grandma.  There was just this pure love.  No matter what Callie did, her grandma loved her for who she was.  She had so much wisdom that she shared in the little time we had with her."If you only love what comes easy for you, you'll find you don't have much to love.  Work for it, girl."Puddin' really focuses on friendships and finding yourself and being happy with who you are.  There was a little bit of romance, too.  I loved everything about it and gave it 5 stars.I received a copy from Edelweiss for review.  Quotes are taken from an arc and may change before final publication. 

I don't have time to talk about everything this book means to me, but I need every single person on the planet to read it.

This book, was by far, better than Dumplin'. Dumplin' wasn't a bad book by any means, but Puddin' happened to be so much better. Millie was awesome, and I loved her as a narrator. It was nice to see what she was thinking, and how she felt about things. She wanted that journalism spot, and when she didn't get it, she didn't quit (although Callie was the one who really helped her) and she went to Austin, TX, and she got that spot. I hated Callie in Dumplin', but this book really gave me some perspective. Callie was actually kind of amazing. Her standing up for Millie was great. And I really, really ended up rooting for her. I happy she quit the dance team, even if she didn't get to partake in nationals with the other girls, she still helped in the end by getting them more funding. I loved that Ellen, Willowdean, Hannah, and Amanda were still in the book, even if the did play small rolls in story, they were still there, and that's what counts. Amanda being a asexual was surprising, but not un-welcomed, on top of that Hannah's a lesbian with a girlfriend, and Callie's sister is a lesbian with a girlfriend. All good things. I believe there should be a third book called Muffin' with maybe Hannah as a narrator? With Amanda, or Ellen?Great book! 5/5 stars.