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ARC Book Review: Dumplin’ – Julie Murphy


dumplinDumplin’
Author: Julie Murphy
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD

Summary:

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.

 
First Sentence: All the best things in my life have started with a Dolly Parton song.

I received a copy of the book from BEA in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

My Review:

Dumplin’ was one of the books that have obtained a lot of buzz in the book community lately. I wasn’t necessarily interested in Dumplin’ since the synopsis of the book didn’t grab me and contemporaries are mainly a miss for me. However, after hearing about other people read and love Dumplin’, my interest in it grew (this has been happening a lot lately) and I decided to try it for myself, hoping that Dumplin’ would be another contemporary that I’ll enjoy reading.

But that’s me. I’m fat. It’s not a cuss word. It’s not an insult. At least it’s not when I say it. So I always figure why not get it out of the way? (ARC 9)

Reading Dumplin’ turned out to be one wild ride. Dumplin’ constantly pulled at my emotions – I found myself rolling my eyes at a certain character, mentally growling at another character, and just having tons of feels in general, something I wasn’t expecting to happen with a book about finding self-confidence and beauty pageants.

I also really connected with Willowdean. I understood her and got everything she was doing even though I was never faced with a situation she was dealing with before. I felt for Willowdean, shared her insecurities with her, and understood her reluctance regarding Bo. I was so involved in Willowdean’s life that I didn’t notice anything else that was currently happening around me while I was reading.

“And they want to enter the pageant, too.”
“Is this some kind of ploy for attention? Are you trying to get back at me for something?”
…
“Oh, are those the questions you ask all the contestants? I didn’t see them on the form.” (ARC 159)

There is no doubt that Dumplin’ is a well-written book. However, it just wasn’t a perfect book for me. I just can’t give Dumplin’ a rating of four or more stars. I wasn’t into the entire book all the time and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed with the way a subplot of the book ended. I wanted a deeper talk, more apologizing, and all the feels, but instead, what I got was disappointment.

Overall, Dumplin’ was a pretty enjoyable book – it just wasn’t 100% the book for me. I’m sure plenty of people would enjoy and love reading Dumplin’ more than I did.

threepointfive

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 9-14-15 · 22 Comments
Categories: 2015 book, book review Tagged: 3.5 star

« ARC Book Review: Tonight the Streets Are Ours – Leila Sales
ARC Book Review: What We Saw – Aaron Hartzler »

Speak Your Mind

  1. Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) says

    9-14-15 at 9:32 AM

    I didn’t read too much of your review as I am reading this at the moment. But I’m sorry to hear it was as great for you as it has been for me. I can barely put it down to do other things. Great review from what I read though!
    Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Cover Reveal: Blooders by Laura CatherineMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Jodie @ Words Read & Written says

    9-14-15 at 8:45 PM

    I enjoyed this one :) It was different.
    Jodie @ Words Read & Written recently posted…Is NA a Sexed-up YA?My Profile

    Reply
  3. Cyn @ Book Munchies says

    9-14-15 at 10:05 PM

    I’m pretty much in the same boat as you for this guy. It was a well-written book and there’s things I liked about it but definitely things that were a bit disappointing.
    Lovely review, Kelly (:
    Cyn @ Book Munchies recently posted…Musing About Things: Fear of the 5-StarMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Rin says

    9-14-15 at 11:45 PM

    I’ve been thinking hard about whether or not I should read this book when it comes out. My friend has been pestering me on reading it in the future. After reading this, I guess I have a higher chance of actually reading it :) Great Review By the Way!
    Rin recently posted…Middle Grade Mondays: Strange Country by Charles Curtis!My Profile

    Reply
  5. Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books says

    9-15-15 at 1:26 AM

    Oh I’m sorry you didn’t love this one more. I love that first line. I love Dolly Parton. Ha.
    Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Tonight The Streets Are Ours by Leila SalesMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Kristen@My Friends Are Fiction says

    9-15-15 at 10:34 AM

    I’m not sure if this book would be for me or not. I’ve seen really great reviews and then some meh ones. I’m not huge on contemporary so just not sure. Great review Kelly! It is a stand-alone, right?
    Kristen@My Friends Are Fiction recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday- Top Ten Books I’m looking forward to in 2016My Profile

    Reply
  7. isha @ two sisters bloggin' says

    9-16-15 at 10:41 AM

    i felt like the issues discussed in dumplin was easily relatable. i’m only 50% in but i hope the other half wouldnt disappoint me ah.

    xxx isha
    isha @ two sisters bloggin’ recently posted…// waiting on wednesday: illuminae by amie kaufman & jay kristoffMy Profile

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  8. Carina Olsen says

    9-17-15 at 3:13 PM

    Aw, I’m sorry you were a bit disappointed with this one sweetie :\ That don’t sound good at all. But yay for still liking a lot of it :D I also do think it sounds awesome. But it really isn’t my genre. So not for me right now ;p Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it Kelly. <3 Glad you didn't hate it :D
    Carina Olsen recently posted…Review: A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefanoMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Abbie SJ says

    9-18-15 at 10:17 AM

    I rarely hear about books that deal with self-image (maybe that’s just me). This looks like such an interesting read, I can’t wait to get my hands on it someday! Great review! :)

    Reply
  10. Aimal Farooq says

    9-19-15 at 9:58 PM

    Great review! I’ve been looking into reading this, but much like you, I’m hesitant when it comes to contemporaries. I might just give it a go!
    Aimal Farooq recently posted…Top 5 Wednesday | Books that Deal with Mental IllnessMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Kaitlyn A. says

    9-27-15 at 9:58 PM

    I really enjoyed this book, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending! I wanted more resolution!

    Reply
  12. Fatima Merchant says

    9-28-15 at 3:44 PM

    That’s actually the same thing for me as well. This year I started getting into more contemporaries. Just like you I also gave in to the reviews and the hype. While I haven’t read it yet I do have a feeling that I will enjoy it. At least you were able to connect with Willowdean. And I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it! Great review :)

    Reply
  13. Hannah Davies says

    9-28-15 at 10:09 PM

    I hear mixed reviews about this but I’m still looking forward to giving it a go! Nice review :)
    Hannah Davies recently posted…What I Currently Love (August 2015)My Profile

    Reply
  14. Misty says

    9-29-15 at 10:15 AM

    There seems to be real debate over this book. I can’t wait to read it and find out where my opinion lands.

    Reply
  15. Emily Edwards says

    9-29-15 at 12:36 PM

    After reading your review I totally get what you are saying about how it is not a perfect book, but I still loved and enjoyed it! I think the reason I loved it so much is because I can relate to willow so well. I was a lot like her in high school and i get where she is coming from! Great Review!!
    Emily Edwards recently posted…Graphic Novel: Saved By the Bell (Vol 1) By Joelle SellnerMy Profile

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  16. kayla keefer says

    9-29-15 at 3:45 PM

    Aw I’m sorry to read that you didn’t love it as much as other people have. This one has been getting a lot of hype and unfortunately sometimes the books we read don’t live up to all the hype that surrounds them that has happened to me a lot too

    Reply
  17. laila campos says

    9-29-15 at 10:13 PM

    interesting main character…physical and low esteem is what we all experienced in one way or another…i might pick this one up later this year. thanks for the review even though it wasn’t 100% for you ;)

    Reply
  18. Isa says

    9-30-15 at 9:11 PM

    Its a little sad when books don’t deliver on all points but there’s something fantastic about identifying so well with a character and I think I rather feel all the things instead of being bored and nonresponsive while reading. I’m pretty interested in Dumplin’, it’s probably something I will pick up next year.
    Isa recently posted…Bout of Books 13 Read-a-ThonMy Profile

    Reply
  19. meyan rose says

    10-01-15 at 3:03 AM

    I have seen this book being discussed in blogs and even on YouTube as well and didn’t really mind it until I read this review.. I’m thinking of picking it up now… great review.. and by the way, I’m with you with contemporaries, they often miss the mark for me too!

    Reply
  20. Beth W says

    10-05-15 at 11:57 PM

    I think it speaks volumes that you went into it not expecting much, but connecting to the book emotionally anyway. Thanks for your honest review- I think I’ll read this one, but I’ll try not to go into it with expectations that it’ll be my anthem or anything. :)
    Beth W recently posted…Announcing Page à Vu!My Profile

    Reply
  21. Mel says

    10-06-15 at 9:20 PM

    I have a question about Dumplin’ (lovely review by the way!!), does it do big girls justice? I’m a big girl and I am a bit worried about being misrepresented and finding this book offensive..
    Mel recently posted…Review 39 – Stolen by Lucy ChristopherMy Profile

    Reply
  22. Arkwen says

    11-02-15 at 1:31 AM

    This book has been on my mind recently and I’ve been looking for a detailed review on it so that I could figure out if it was worth a read. Thanks so much for the insight! :-)
    Arkwen recently posted…Underneath Everything Book Review + GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply

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