More Than a Number - by Tia Souders

Title: More Than a Number

Author: Tia Souders

Published: 28 March 2018

Series: -

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Grace Michaels is determined to be thin, even if she dies trying.
Part of the in-crowd at Providence High, she is steps away from being asked out by the most desired guy at school, winning a prom queen nomination, and her parents’ approval. If she can just get skinny enough, be pretty enough, and popular enough.
But Grace is thin on the outside and fat on the inside. No amount of weight-loss ever seems enough. Convinced the melting pounds will solve her problems, every pound lost brings her closer to her goals. But flesh and bone can only hide the weight of her secret for so long.

Trigger Warning: eating disorder, bullying, body image issues

*previously titled "Something of Substance"*

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This book was a hard one to read at times and I definitely had to take breaks while reading it. It was about body issues, bullying, weight loss, and it included real high school emotions. 

I wanted to cuddle Jake and make him my best friend, Dex was kind of rude and a bully, Jen and Lindsey were bitches and bullies, and Cara is the best friend everyone wants in their lives.

The multiple roses with notes was quite cute, along with the speech after Grace finally has them all. I also correctly guessed who gave Kelly a rose, even though I was sure I had to be wrong.

I felt like Grace felt insignificant against her twin sister Kelly, wanted her parents to be proud of her, was fat shaming herself, like she felt inadequate, and like she was seeking popularity.

However this book also tells us about the issues faced when you lose too much weight - period loss, always being cold, being tired all the time, and having your hair fall out. I was confused by the couple of hospital scenes before it was explained too as it felt a little like they were randomly spread out.

At the end, Grace realises that happiness is all that matters though which is definitely the positive message to end this book on.

This book is a bit of a wake up call about what can happen, so please seek help with eating disorders!

"You can."