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

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.

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!

Great emotional listen

I loved listening to the audio version of this book. The characters were believable. It tells the story of the struggle a young girl with an eating disorder has as she tries her hardest to fit in and be liked in high school. At times it is absolutely heart wrenching. I think the author did a super job and the narrator was excellent at telling the story with emotion. I would recommend this story. I loved listening to the audio version of this book. The characters were believable. It tells the story of the struggle a young girl with an eating disorder has as she tries her hardest to fit in and be liked in high school. At times it is absolutely heart wrenching. I think the author did a super job and the narrator was excellent at telling the story with emotion. I would recommend this story.