Conversations with the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

Published by

Sarah Ann

on

July 28, 2013

I was instantly drawn to this book because of its title. Our country has a serious obesity epidemic, which is not only being ignored, but celebrated in many circles.

Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is one of my freelance writing specialties. I couldn’t resist this book after learning one of its main characters has gastric bypass surgery.

Conversations with the Fat Girl revolves around Maggie—an upbeat and highly self-conscious 27-year-old. Her weight controls her life and affects how she interacts with other people. She’s also letting her artistic talent and master’s degree go to waste, while she spends her days earning minimum wage at a local coffeehouse.

Maggie’s best “fat” friend from elementary school, Olivia, is now engaged to a handsome and successful bariatric surgeon. He has no idea that the now-skinny Olivia was once as overweight as Maggie.

As Maggie helps Olivia prepare for her wedding, she realizes the way she feels about her weight is preventing her from enjoying life. She also realizes that being skinny doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness, at least now according to the way Olivia and her new skinny friends behave. Maggie’s new goal is to improve her life without changing her true self on the inside.

Conversations with the Fat Girl is nothing like I thought it would be. It was much better!

I thought I’d be reading about an overweight woman who laments about being fat throughout the entire book. I thought I’d be reading about Maggie’s jealousy toward thinner, healthier people, but this wasn’t at all the case. She has a wonderful and humble personality, and you can’t help but feel sorry for her when she feels like there’s nothing she can do to get healthier.

I couldn’t help but feel incredibly proud of Maggie when she becomes healthier with diet and exercise as opposed to relying on bariatric surgery like Olivia had done. I also loved when Maggie’s personal gym trainer says he doesn’t care about seeing her “fat area” when she does certain exercises. That’s usually always true, because most trainers are thrilled you’re exercising to address is.

Lastly, I think the author is genius for not telling us Maggie’s true sizes.

I loved Conversations with the Fat Girl! I read it straight through without stopping and wanted it to never end.

Overall, this novel is very charming. It’s cute, funny, and very heartwarming.

Other books by Liza Palmer include:

Last Updated on November 28, 2025 by Sarah Ann

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