Review: Puddin' by Julie Murphy

Title: Puddin

Author:  Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publishing Date:  May 8th, 2018

Pages: 448
Genre: YA Contemporary, Coming of Age

Series:  Dumplin #2
Source:  Audio

 

It is a companion novel to Dumplin', which follows supporting characters from the first book in the months after Willowdean's star turn in the Clover City pageant.

Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she’s more frenemy than a friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

I was so excited to see that Julie Murphy was coming out with another book in the Dumplin' world. I absolutely adored Dumplin. The second one did not disappoint. I loved this one even more than the first if that was even possible. More humor, more characters to love, more fun to be had. This book was just more and I loved it. 

Millie is a big girl. She has lived with this her entire life. She has learned to ignore the jokes, deal with fat people clothes, and just be herself. She was always true to herself. This summer there is a chance to start her dreams with a summer class at the University of Texas. Her mother wants her to go to fat camp once instead. She has that to worry about, but there are more. She feels her friends are getting distant from her, her uncle's gym was vandalized, and the mean girl is now working with her. This year is full of stressful things, but Millie learns how to stand up for herself and be there for others. 

Callie is the popular girl, on the dance team, hot boyfriend, her life seems to be going well. That is until everything falls apart, the dance team loses funding, she decided to vandalize private property, and she gets caught. Now she has to quite the dance team, lose her boyfriend, friends, and freedom, and she has to work at the gym she destroyed, with the fat annoying girl. Except maybe she's not that girl and just maybe Callie could use some different kind of friends and different kind of fun. 

I so adored this book! This book, yup, it owns my heart. I adored the first one but this one is even more. More fun, more love, more good stuff, more teary-eyed moments. This book is about loving yourself, being yourself, friendship, truths, and just finding your way in the world. I love these type of books. I think these stories are so good for teens. I mean this is pretty much the life problems of a teen. At least it was for me. Finding real friends, not giving into the social hierarchy of high school, finding who you are and what you want, and most of all loving yourself. This book was so positive. More positivity in life, please. 

What I loved about Mille, I loved her uplifting words, her outlook on life, her love for all things. Even when faced with bullies, and people who don't accept her, and hard times in life, she finds a way to be positive and joyful. She refused to let life get her down. She made her way, she made her happiness! 

Callie is great too. Well not at first. At first, she is very shallow and self-centered and whiny. But her life changes and its good for her, even if she can't see it at first. She needs to find who she wants to be, what she wants in life. She needs definition. With all the things that blind her gone, she is able to do this... with the help of Millie and the other misfits of course. She turns into a pretty cool person. It takes forever, but she gets there and in the end, I loved her! 

So the old crew is back. They are essential in the story, but not the focus. I mean friendship is the focus and they are a part of that, but they are in the background most of the time. I do wish they would have been in the story more often. I loved the slumber parties with all the girls. They are quite a bandit of misfits and its so much fun. I really do hope there are a few more books because I just love these girls. I think I would love a story from Hannah's POV. 

There is also some romance in this story, it's not as prominent as it was in Dumplin, but it's there and it's sweet and it's fun. There is a bit for Millie and a small tiny bit for Callie. It's barely there but what is there is just right. 

I really can't say enough about what is good in this book and how much I loved this book. It's just so good for the soul and so much feel good. I just can't get enough of this world and I need more. So please Ms. Murphy... there needs to be more. 

So much love... so much love! 

Julie lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cat who tolerates her. When she's not writing or trying to catch stray cats, she works at an academic library. Side Effects May Vary is Julie's debut novel.