Review: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Title: Big Girl Panties

Author: Stephanie Evanovich

Published: William Morrow July 2013

Status: Read from July 08 to 09, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy the publisher/Edelweiss}

My Thoughts:

As the niece of Janet Evanovich, I was more than willing to give debut author Stephanie Evanovich the chance to impress me. The premise of this romantic comedy, Big Girl Panties, seemed promising. I much prefer a protagonist with average attributes and I looked forward to Logan shedding his bias to recognise that beauty is more than skin deep.

Sadly, while I think the writing was fine in general, I really struggled with particular elements of the story.

Primarily I was disappointed at the negative messages inherent in the relationship between Holly and Logan. Though the author makes an attempt to frame the issue of Holly’s weight with reference to health rather than attractiveness, it is a half hearted effort. At its core, the story still relies on the stereotype of the fat (and therefore ugly), lonely, jolly girl who, only after losing weight, becomes someone worthy of sexual attention and happiness (and the hot guy).

What had me almost toss the book aside though was the scene (just after the halfway mark) where Logan, with the encouragement of Chase, decides to spank Holly for talking back to him. Spanking is supposed to be a consensual activity within the terms of a loving and trusting relationship for the purpose of sexual arousal, it is not about disciplining a woman for a perceived slight. This scene not only soured me on Logan (and Chase and Amanda’s relationship) but also Holly, as while she slapped him in outrage, minutes later she is ashamed and embarrassed because ‘Logan has done nothing but help her’ and then the scene segues into their first sexual encounter – ugh!

Despite the temptation to put the book aside I kept reading hoping that Evanovich would turn things around somehow. Unfortunately, while Logan may eventually fall in love with the curvy Holly, there is no evidence that he has changed his attitude regarding ‘fat’ and should Holly ever gain back a few pounds I’m not convinced the relationship would survive. Meanwhile, Holly ends up staking her entire happiness on Logan’s acceptance of her and that is never healthy.

While I think Stephanie Evanovich was aiming to present an entertaining romantic comedy, in the final analysis, for me, Big Girl Panties was a disappointment.

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