Book Review: Fatty Patty

Author: Kathleen Irene Paterka
Title: Fatty Patty
Publish Date: May 5, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

Small towns, long memories. Everyone in the exclusive summer resort of James Bay, Michigan remembers FATTY PATTY, the chubby little girl with the round face and wild red curls. All grown up now, Patty Perreault teaches at the same elementary school where the painful playground memories still taunt her. She hasn’t forgotten the cruel nickname—plus she still hasn’t lost those extra pounds. Convinced her weight is the biggest reason why she’s a four time loser in the semi-finals for Teacher of the Year, Patty resolves to make some changes in her body and her life. Sam Curtis, an overweight accountant she meets at the community pool, swims into Patty’s life with romance on his mind. But as their friendship grows, Patty finds it hard to see beyond his extra pounds. She’s torn as Sam refuses to deal with his own overweight issues. Her heart tells her one thing, but her eyes see another. She’s not interested in an overweight boyfriend. When it comes to winning the Grand Prize in life and love, Patty has some hard lessons to learn. Will she be able to confront her fears about the kind of woman she yearns to be? Will she be able to put down the fork and give her heart a try? Fatty Patty is Book #1 in the James Bay Novel series.

Review: I wanted to love this book. When I read the synopsis, I thought Patty would be a bit more like Molly from Mike and Molly, but alas she is not. She's really not all that likable. In fact for the most part, she's a character much like the ones that picked on her as a child for being overweight.

Patty should have inspired sympathy, but in the long run, she made you angry with her, plus her weight issues took control of so much of the story including the happily ever after. That was another bone of contention I had with the book and all books that have an overweight heroine who is dieting to lose weight.

Weight loss = happy.

That is not the case, though the author did make the case for when you are happy with yourself it makes it easier to lose the weight, but that message didn't really make it until the last pages of the book, after learning some pretty hard lessons about one of the people in her life.

Overall, I loved Sam. He was a good guy who really cared about her as did her twin sister Priscilla. There were so many instances where I wanted to pop Patty for her treatment of these two.

Nick is the new 5th grade teacher, who is everything Patty would want in a guy. He's also a creep. Readers can see that early on, which is why it is hard to believe that Patty can't. She's a smart lady, but she's blinded by a good-looking user.

I wish the story would have focused more on Priscilla and Dr. Brown because she was by far the more likable character in the story.

What kept me turning the pages, was waiting to see what it would take to get Patty to open her eyes.

Rating: 3 flowers