More than a Number

By: Tia Souders

Narrated by: Sarah Brands

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

My sophomore year changed everything. I dropped 40 pounds after a stint in fat camp. Prior to losing weight, most of my time was spent comparing myself to my twin sister and trying to hide my cankles. But losing weight made all things seem possible.

Now I'm popular, vying for the hottest guy in school and competing for a prom queen nomination. Finally, I'm getting noticed, and it's all because I dropped the pounds.

Everything I ever wanted is right at my fingertips.

If only I could lose more weight, I'd be perfect.

But my friend Jake tells me I want all the wrong things. He thinks I'm already perfect.

Sometimes, you can't see what's right in front of you. Like, how I'm spiraling in a deadly game of self-acceptance. Or how, despite being my best friend's brother, Jake has always been the one to catch me when I fall.

Can he catch me again? Or, am I too far gone?

If you like emotional YA, you'll fall in love with Souders' heart-wrenching novel. Like Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why and Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, More than a Number raises thought-provoking questions about love and acceptance, as well as the cost of beauty. Previously titled Something of Substance.

Trigger warning: This book takes a very real look at eating disorders.

©2018 Theresa Souders (P)2020 Theresa Souders

raw and beautiful

this was a beautiful and raw story of love, growth, challenges and more. absolutely beautiful

Skinny vs fat

This book is very thought provoking about being a teen and the pressure of being accepted “after” losing a lot of weight. This audiobook might be hard to listen to especially if you experience weight loss. It’s interesting how the mind works when everyone accepted you by physically change.... whether fat or skinny. They will always be name calling in either category and it’s very rare to find the right friends that truly cares for you. It’s even sad how it affects her behavior and how she can not control the voices in her head, the lies she is hearing was the best bet. The approval from everyone pleases her more v.s. The approval from herself was quite intense. I couldn’t stop listening/reading this book and you just get so invested in the story, you, the reader, want to reach out to help her. This could happen in real life and it’s a good book to read because it comes across thinkIng twice about impressing people around you, you being just you, and the “in” crowd could be a facade. I don’t normally read these kind of books but I’m glad I did!

More than a number

During the end of the book I was a little disappointed that there was not a deeper reason for the eating disorder. I thought it would end up describing a hidden trauma but there was nothing. And I wish it would have described more of her recovery process, as it would just have a time skip at the end. The MC annoyed me. As she was always talking about being "popular" and wanting to get with her crush. The side characters like Jake and Kelly were a lot more interesting.

An emotional journey

A story of eating disorders and trying to understand how to love oneself as they are. I thought it was very well done with a great narrator.

Realistic

I survived anorexia as a teen. During the pandemic, I relapsed. This book has been part of my recovery journey as I seek normalcy and to regain control over my life. Very touching and heartbreaking story—one that is told too often.