Big Fat Disaster
By Beth Fehlbaum
By Beth Fehlbaum
Insecure, shy, and way overweight, Colby hates the limelight as much as her pageant-pretty mom and sisters love it. It’s her life: Dad’s a superstar, running for office on a family values platform. Then suddenly, he ditches his marriage for a younger woman and gets caught stealing money from the campaign. Everyone hates Colby for finding out and blowing the whistle on him. From a mansion, they end up in a poor relative’s trailer, where her mom’s contempt swells right along with Colby’s supersized jeans. Then, a cruel video of Colby half-dressed, made by her cousin Ryan, finds its way onto the internet. Colby plans her own death. A tragic family accident intervenes, and Colby’s role in it seems to paint her as a hero, but she’s only a fraud. Finally, threatened with exposure, Colby must face facts about her selfish mother and her own shame. Harrowing and hopeful, proof that the truth that saves us can come with a fierce and terrible price, Big Fat Disaster is that rare thing, a story that is authentically new.
“Colby’s life … is difficult enough, but it gets worse very quickly once she discovers a photo of her politician father kissing another woman. The fast pace, lively … dialogue, and timely topic make it a quick and enjoyable read.” – Kirkus Reviews (Starred)
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Colby's seemingly picture perfect life is crashing down around her. She struggles with her weight and is overwhelmed with self loathing. Her mother, former Miss something or other, doesn't help matters in the lease. Constantly belittling Colby, putting her down and condemning her about her weight. When her dad, former football star, gets caught in a cheating and corruption scandel Colby herself is the one to blow the whistle. Instead of being commended for her honesty, her mother only comes down on her even harder for ruining their not so perfect life.
The family is forced to move Piney Creek with her aunt Leah and cousin Ryan. Life only worsens for this young misguided and misunderstood teenager. She is picked on, ridiculed and harassed at school. You'd think a young girl could go home and cry on her mother's shoulder, feel safe at home at least, right? WRONG. Her mother would be a fabulous candidate for involuntary sterilization, just sayin.
I digress. As Colby's world begins to implode around her, she makes a drastic decision to take her own life, with more dire consequences than even she imagined. The plan doesn't go as planned, and Colby ends up wrapped so tight in a lie she can't even begin to comprehend how to get out of it. Things go from bad to worse before they get better, but Colby has friends and allies she hasn't recognized yet.
This book pushes a lot of buttons. An emotionally absent and verbally abusive mother, rape, corruption, bullying, suicide and body image issues. It was hard at times for me to separate the content with the emotions it stirred. The book itself is very well written, and the pain and anguish that Colby feels is very well conveyed, maybe too well. I found myself wondering at the end, how much is too much?
If you can see beyond all the negativity in this story, as I said, the writing is quite good. And even with everything young Colby endures throughout, she is still standing in the end, maybe even a little taller. I'd love a sequel though showing how she progressed with her therapy, after she finally embraced it. Is she going to college? Has someone hit her bitch ass mother with their car?? I'm giving this one 3.5/5. While the writing is strong and character development was evident, the 2 steps forward then 3 steps back weighed the overall storyline down for me.
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- a Signed Hardcover of BIG FAT DISASTER
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- a Signed Hardcover of BIG FAT DISASTER
- a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card
- and a Surprise Pack of other titles from Merit Books
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Beth has a following in the young adult literature world and also among survivors of sexual abuse because of her work with victims’ advocacy groups. She has been the keynote speaker at the National Crime Victims’ Week Commemoration Ceremony at the Hall of State in Dallas, Texas and a presenter for Greater Texas Community Partners, where she addressed a group of social workers and foster children on the subject of “Hope”.
Beth is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, like Ashley in The Patience Trilogy, and the day-to-day manager of an eating disorder much like Colby’s in Big Fat Disaster. These life experiences give her a unique perspective, and she writes her characters’ stories in a way meant to inspire hope.
Beth lives with her family in the woods of East Texas.
You can find Beth online at http:www.bethfehlbaumbooks.comon Facebook, and on https://twitter.com/
Fehlbaun is also offering up a signed print copy of this book through Goodreads!
Follow this link to enter.
You can find Beth online at http:www.bethfehlbaumbooks.comon Facebook, and on https://twitter.com/
Fehlbaun is also offering up a signed print copy of this book through Goodreads!
Follow this link to enter.
Yes, I am writing a follow-up, starting this summer.
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