Thin Girls

A Novel

By: Diana Clarke

Narrated by: Jayme Mattler

Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

A dark, edgy, voice-driven literary debut novel about twin sisters that explores body image and queerness as well as toxic diet culture and the power of sisterhood, love, and lifelong friendships, written by a talented protégé of Roxane Gay.

Rose and Lily Winters are twins, as close as the bond implies; they feel each other’s emotions, taste what the other is feeling. Like most young women, they’ve struggled with their bodies and food since childhood, and high school finds them turning to food - or not - to battle the waves of insecurity and the yearning for popularity. But their connection can be as destructive as it is supportive, a yin to yang. When Rose stops eating, Lily starts - consuming everything Rose won’t or can’t. 

Within a few years, Rose is about to mark her one-year anniversary in a rehabilitation facility for anorexics. Lily, her sole visitor, is the only thing tethering her to a normal life.

But Lily is struggling, too. A kindergarten teacher, she dates abusive men, including a student’s married father, in search of the close yet complicated companionship she lost when she became separated from Rose. 

When Lily joins a cult diet group led by a social media faux feminist, whose eating plan consists of consuming questionable noncaloric foods, Rose senses that Lily needs her help. With her sister’s life in jeopardy, Rose must find a way to rescue her - and perhaps, save herself.

Illuminating some of the most fraught and common issues confronting women, Thin Girls is a powerful, emotionally resonant story, beautifully told, that will keep you captivated to the gratifying, hopeful end. 

©2020 Diana Clarke (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

nothing special

well written, promising at first but as a twin who has also gone through anorexia, i didn't find it all that authentic, the other twin lily is a cliché of the girly girl while the protagonist is the "i'm not like other girls" cliché. Also misrepresentation of abusive relationships in my opinion and very judgamental of BDSM for some reason.

Too precious & predictable

Full of tropes and as self indulgent as a soap opera. Every plot twist was predictable and melodramatic.

Great narration

I enjoyed the story, it’s thoughtfully written. What I really loved was the narration. This person’s voice is sort of deep and sultry, she purrs the story into your ear and I couldn’t get enough. I’ve already chosen my next listen because she’s the narrator. Really really nice to listen to.

Raspy voice

I couldn’t get through the first 2 chapters without wanting to rip out my headphones from the super forced raspy voice. Immediately grosses me out.

wow

not much words other than OMG this hook blow my mind
but it can be triggering so caution about that

Finally a book about the true dangers of dieting!

I think the author did a great job with this book because she covered the extremes of an eating disorders and treatment centers, but she also talked about disordered eating and how we've normalized it in our society which is not okay.

She even mentions orthorexia which most think is "clean eating" but it's way more extreme than that.

Diet culture is to blame for all of this and more books like this are needed so the general population can understand that it all starts with a diet and/or restriction of some kind.