(Review) Diary of a Mad Fat Girl

With a sharp and distinctive voice, Stephanie McAfee delivers a hilarious and fast-paced tale about Ace Jones and her two best friends-thick as thieves and tough as nails-navigating Southern small-town politics and prejudices, finding love, and standing up for each other all the way.

I was recently offered this book from Penguin USA and it sounded like it was going to be a fun read so I decided to accept the offer to review it and I have to say that I am happy that I did because I thought this was a fun read. I managed to read it over a two day span. Thankfully most of the time I read it I was home alone because I was giggling alot and the times I was reading it when people were around I was getting asked “What’s so funny?”

This is Stephanie’s debut novel and when I was looking up info I discovered that Stephanie has signed a three book deal with the publisher so I will be curious to see what comes out next.

Just a heads up to my readers who might be offended by offensive language that this might not be the book for you. Personally for me if its not over the top I don’t mind it because for me its just a book and not real life.

I have to say that I really liked Ace (Graciela, her real name) because she was who she was and didn’t care what others thought of her. She is very brass and what you see is what you get. She hasn’t had the ideal life. Her parents died in a car accident at and early age and from there she went to live with her grandmother. Then when she is older her grandmother dies leaving Ace her house and land which just happens to boast a beautiful garden that Ace has maintained.

Ace is living in Bugtassle with her dog. Her best friends (Chloe and Lilly) live in the same city as her and no boyfriend or husband insight and that is because we slowly find out that Ace pushing them away. She is afraid to get hurt. She sabotages the relationships with jealousy and insecurities.

Now Ace and her best friend Lilly are teachers at the school and as the book is beginning Ace is excited for spring break because she is desperate for a vacation with her bestie but with a few hours to spare Lilly calls to tell Ace she can’t go. Instead of going on her own Ace decides to wellow in her own self pity and stays home mad at her best friend for cancelling at the last minute thinking that she is jetting off some where fabulous with a mysterious man.

Before long Lilly gets fired from the school because apparently she is linked to a student (hmm could this be true and that is why she is so mysterious?) and of course it looks like that from the outside and it makes sense with all the secrets. But is it true?

Ace’s other bestie is Chloe. When Ace finds out that Chloe has been admitted to the hospital because she was beaten up (although its been reported that she fell down some stairs) she is hell bent on getting her away from her abusive husband. Which of course lands her in to some trouble and arrested and of course the principle from hell fires her too.

Thankfully Mason, Ace’s long time ex boyfriend who happens to be a lawyer shows up on her doorstep trying to help her out of this situation she is in and hoping that perhaps this time she will wake up and see that he isn’t such a bad guy and that he can be trusted. He is honestly her true love and he is there to tell her. But will her insecurities cause her to doubt him?

I loved how much friendships meant to Ace and that she would do anything for her friends no matter what it costs her.

I really enjoyed reading this book and wished I had a friend like Ace.

Thanks again Penguin USA for sending me this book to review.