The Jock and the Fat Chick by Nicole Winters
Hello everyone! Not too long ago Nicole contacted me by email and asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing her book. I read what it was all about and I couldn’t pass it up. I’m so glad that I didn’t. I really hope you all have the chance to read this one. I really think everyone will enjoy this story. Today I have the review for you and Nicole also agreed to do a guest post on my blog. Today I am interviewing the main character Kevin. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments at the bottom of this post . I would love to hear if any of you read this or plan to.
–Michelle <3
The Jock and the Fat Chick by Nicole Winters
Published: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Harper Collins/HarperTeen
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 250
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Synopsis
No one ever said high school was easy. In this hilarious and heartwarming debut, one high school senior has to ask himself how much he’s willing to give up in order to fit in.
Kevin seems to have it all: he’s popular, good looking, and on his way to scoring a college hockey scholarship. However, he’s keeping two big secrets. The first is that he failed an assignment and is now forced to take the most embarrassing course ever–domestic tech. The second is that he is falling for his domestic tech classmate, Claire.
As far as Kevin is concerned, Claire does have it all: she’s funny, smart, beautiful, and confident. But she’s off-limits. Because Kevin knows what happens when someone in his group dares to date a girl who isn’t a cheerleader, and there’s no way he is going to put himself—or Claire—through that.
But steering clear of the girl of his dreams is a lot harder than Kevin thought…especially when a cooking project they are paired together for provides the perfect opportunity for things to heat up between them outside the classroom….
My Review
Such a wonderful read! I loved every moment of this book. The characters and situations in this book were very believable. They felt very real and not far-fetched like some contemporaries I have read. The imperfections in the characters were what made it so real and believable. They were flawed, not perfect. The situations felt like things that teens truly deal with in everyday life.
This book tackled some of the things that teenagers have to deal with such as peer-pressure, self- confidence, judgement, weight, beauty, bullying, love, and friendships. The subjects and issues this story faced were wonderful.
This book had all the elements that make a fantastic story! There was funny moments, and tender moments, moments that both teens and adults could relate to. The language and lingo the teens spoke was easy to understand. It wasn’t too overdone or annoying. The writing was easy to follow. I loved that the main character was a male teenager written by a female author. I don’t think I have ever read a book where the main character was a male written by a female author. If I did, I guess the story wasn’t memorable or real enough for me to remember. The author did a fantastic job of portraying a male character in my opinion. It was truly refreshing to read.
I loved all the cooking in this book. Make sure you grab a snack or read on a full stomach. This book will definitely make you hungry, or make you want to cook…maybe both.
If you are looking for one of those true-to-life, teen contemporary stories, look no further. This book had real moments. Not far-fetched unbelievable moments. The teens felt like teens, not teens pretending to be adults. It was touching, heart-warming, funny, sweet, and an all-around great read!
Character Interview with Kevin (answered by Nicole)
Michelle: Now that you have learned to cook, what is your favorite meal to prepare?
Kevin: Meeeat. Me like meat.
I still love making a good ol’ Sunday roast: potatoes, carrots, beef with some fresh horseradish.
Michelle: How is Buddy doing?
He’s doing good. In fact, he’s sitting beside me right now wagging his tail. He’s a good ol’ boy. Best boy ever.
Michelle: Who is the current love of your life?
Kevin: The girl who makes my heart go thumpity-smash: Claire.
Michelle: What talent would you most like to have?
Kevin: I’d like to be able use a sword and know Kung Fu like a Samurai Warrior.
Michelle: Besides hockey, what is your favorite sport?
Kevin: Any sport where I can kick my buddy, Viktor’s ass. So ALL of them. (heh, heh)
Michelle: What are your plans for college?
Kevin: Me and Viktor (who also got into Michigan State) are going to share a dorm room together. He says this is perfect because I can cook for him. So I hope he likes his Ramon noodles while I snack on my steak tartare.
Aside from that, I’m going to study hard, play hockey and spend every spare second chatting with Claire online. We’re making plans for me to visit her in Paris.
About the Author
As a C average student with a learning disability, Nicole was herself a reluctant reader. That changed when, at the age of twelve, she was assigned S. E. Hinton’s classic YA novel The Outsiders. After devouring the book in a single sitting, Nicole came to understand how the right story can capture the imagination and enthusiasm of anyone – reluctant reader or otherwise. From there, Nicole gravitated towards tales of adventure, suspense and horror. The elements she loved in those stories are carried into her own work which combines fast-paced action-adventure with teens in realistic and believable situations. Her works focus on human relationships and the personal journeys of the characters, creating stories she hopes will excite and inspire young readers.
Nicole enjoys travelling the world, but calls Toronto home. She is currently at work on her third book involving magic, called The Conjurer.
