B as in Beauty [Paperback]

Alberto Ferreras (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2009

Everyone in the world, it seems, is either prettier or thinner (or both) than Beauty Marie Zavala. And the only thing "B" resents more than her name is the way others judge her for the extra 40 pounds she can't lose. At least she has her career. Or did, until she overhears her boss criticizing her weight and devising a scheme to keep her from being promoted. Enter B's new tax accountant, a modern-day matchmaker determined to boost B's flagging self-esteem by introducing her to rich, successful men who will accept her for who she is. As B's confidence blossoms, so do her fantasies of revenge. But will B find true happiness or true disaster when she unwittingly falls for the one guy she shouldn't?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Move over, Ugly Betty; Fat B's in town and she's just as bewitching, bodacious and beautiful as the unconventional Latina TV star. In Ferreras's dazzling debut, Cuban-American Beauty Maria Zavala—B to her friends—bounces off the page like a firecracker while she discovers how to embrace her curves under the tutelage of a wise madam. At the outset, B's not just ashamed of her chubby bod, but finds it standing in the way of a promotion at her Manhattan ad agency—thanks to a bitchy boss—and she hasn't been laid in ages. B's best friend and co-worker, petite Lillian, tells B to reinvent herself. Natasha Sokolov, her Russian-American tax preparer, goes a step further by offering her a moonlighting position comforting men with a fetish for voluptuous women—men who will pay to worship a body like yours. B accepts the proposition (selling time but not sex), only to find once again the sting of rejection: her first client rejects her for being too lightweight. It's just one of many illuminating, funny and deliciously awkward moments on B's page-turning road to love and happiness. (Apr.)
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Review

"A funny and moving search for one's self esteem. It makes you realize that beauty lies not in the eyes of the beholder but in the eyes of your own mind and heart." (Denise Quinones, Miss Universe 2001 )

"B as in Beauty is a winner. Hilarious, bizarre and poignant all in one wonderful read. I absolutely loved it. B as in Beauty is B as in Brilliant!" (Soledad O'Brien, CNN )

"Move over, Ugly Betty; Fat B's in town and she's just as bewitching, bodacious and beautiful as the unconventional Latina TV star. In Ferreras's dazzling debut, Cuban-American Beauty Maria Zavala-"B" to her friends-bounces off the page like a firecracker while she discovers how to embrace her curves under the tutelage of a wise madam. At the outset, B's not just ashamed of her chubby bod, but finds it standing in the way of a promotion at her Manhattan ad agency-thanks to a bitchy boss-and she hasn't been laid in ages. B's best friend and co-worker, petite Lillian, tells B to "reinvent" herself. Natasha Sokolov, her Russian-American tax preparer, goes a step further by offering her a moonlighting position "comforting" men with a fetish for voluptuous women-men who will pay "to worship a body like yours." B accepts the proposition (selling time but not sex), only to find once again the sting of rejection: her first client rejects her for being too lightweight. It's just one of many illuminating, funny and deliciously awkward moments on B's page-turning road to love and happiness." (PW )

"Move over, Ugly Betty; Fat B's in town and she's just as bewitching, bodacious and beautiful as the unconventional Latina TV star. In Ferreras's dazzling debut, Cuban-American Beauty Maria Zavala-"B" to her friends-bounces off the page like a firecracker while she discovers how to embrace her curves ." (PW )

"Alberto Ferrera's first novel is engaging, funny, poignant, and hard to put down--except to confidently embrace ones beauty and have that other pastelito with grace & humor!" (Ambiente Magazine )

"At a time when the TV show Mad Men is all the rage, B as in Beauty is full of witty and clever observations about life in an ad agency. (Peggy Olsen meets Julia Alvarez.)" (mylatinovoice.com )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446697893
• ISBN-13: 978-0446697897
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,366,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alberto Ferreras is a New York based author. Since 1990 he has worked as TV writer and producer. In 2002 he created the "Habla" Series for HBO Latino, and co-developed the animated show "El Perro y El Gato" for HBO Family. As a songwriter, he penned the Spanish version of "What it Feels Like For A Girl" (Lo Que Siente La Mujer) for Madonna's "Drowned World Tour".
His first novel "B as in Beauty" won the International Latino Book Award - Best English Popular Fiction 2009.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: B as in Beauty, June 24, 2009

By 

A Novel Menagerie (Huntington Beach) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B as in Beauty (Paperback)

The Review

I must start off by telling you that the most shocking thing about this book, for me, is that it is written by a man. I would have SWORN that it was written by a woman. Beauty, aka "B," is the heroine and narrator of this novel and, if you are a woman, you would completely assume that this narrative was written by a woman. How this author was able to write, in first person, from a "curvy" woman's perspective is beyond me. However, by the way that the men in this novel react to her, I can envision this book being written by one in the male species. Don't get me wrong.... I have nothing against men. I love men, actually. But, to think that they actually understand the insecurities and dreams of a woman is hard for me to grasp. Let me give you an example. Ferreras writes:

"Life for a married man might be tough, but life for a married woman is hell. Woman have to work and take care of the house and take care of the kids and stay young and stay thin and pretty. Nowadays we have to be housewives, mothers, professionals, and models: that's four full-time jobs right there. Oh! And please try to save an hour a day for yoga, so you can alleviate some of the stress of this insane lifestyle. I see women walking in and out of the gym with a baby in one hand and a Blackberry in the other one. I have yet to meet a man who can juggle all the responsibilities that we handle."

See? That doesn't sound like a man's authorship, does it? I applaud Ferreras for putting himself into the character of B and really trying to relate to what women struggle against. Now, I'm not trying to be sexist. I have read many men's authorship of woman's point of view and vice verse. But, this is Chick Lit. Chick Lit has a certain tongue-in-cheek voice that appears to emerge from the woman's mind. So far, I have only really seen this type of writing from female authors. So, I have to give props to Ferreras for really surprising me with this read and blowing my stereotype.

Now that I'm off of that topic, which borders on being sexist, which I hate... (shame, tisk tisk) I didn't have a ton of hope for this book when I started it. After a few chapters, I was in Chick Lit Heaven. I really enjoyed the spin on this book. How B came to love herself was odd... yet, a fun read. The storyline kept me hooked and I wanted to see B progress from somebody who never really loved herself to a woman who became comfortable in her own skin. It was quirky, a bit funny, and a good adventure.

On Sher's "Out of Ten Scale:"


I'd recommend this book to Chick Lit enthusiasts. There is some material in here that is borderline on the "naughty scale." You've got to have an open mind and, better yet, a curious one, to enjoy this book. But, I did. Let me give you an example why:

"When I met Simon I never imagined that he could be that kind of guy, and I'm not embarressed to admit that I was wrong. It takes time to get to know somebody, and if I had dismissed him on that first night, I would have never been able to witness this side of him."

-and-

"Women go through men, and men go through women, is if we were going through shoes: too high, too low, too tight, too loose, too white, too dark. We're not taking the time to get to know anybody."

It is because of these types of endearing lines that I felt connected to the book and a bit like a hopeless romantic realist (if there is such a thing). Therefore, I am going to rate this book, genre: Fiction:Chick Lit an 8 OUT OF 10. It's a great poolside, airplane ride, or escape the kids screaming read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars entertaining contemporary tale, April 29, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: B as in Beauty (Paperback)

Cuban-American Beauty Marie Zavala is tired of the world judging her by her waistline just because she is forty pounds over the so called norm. She has tried everything to lose the excess, but fads come and go, diets and exercise come and go, but her weight remains the same. B is ashamed of her body.

She really tanks when she overhears her boss at the Manhattan ad company commenting negatively about her size; even worse her waistline apparently will prevent her from receiving a well deserved promotion. B has had enough with the put downs. Her best friend Lillian the petit suggests she do a remake of the entire B. Russian-American Tax accountant Natasha Sokolov offers her work to show off her voluptuous body to men who will pay for a big woman. B accepts the deal of spending time with big body worshipping males only her first client is disappointed when he sees her as he insists she is too small to be anything but a fashion model.

B AS IN BEAUTY is an entertaining contemporary tale starring a woman who fans will root for as she begins to not accept her size, she learns to accentuate her assets. B is the star, but the kindhearted madam-mentor somewhat steals the show with her tutelage. The irony that B is too small adds humor to a profound tale in which the heroine learns beauty is only skin deep.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the thin man gets in touch with the heavy girl, April 18, 2009

By 

Wayne Crosby "skinny boy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: B as in Beauty (Paperback)

As a thin man, I wouldn't have expected that I would have liked B as in Beauty so much. But I loved this book. It made me think a lot more about how tough it can be to be heavyset, especially in a world that celebrates anorexia in the fashion media. Let's face it: we can say it's all about diet and exercise, but sometimes peoples bodies are just different. I am thin and will likely always be thin no matter what I eat or do. I go to the gym and never gain muscle. I also take the protein drinks. But no muscle ever develops. I think this book will be a fantastic beach read. As you are lying in the sand half naked in the sun, you can contemplate how everyone feels a bit nervous about their bodies around you and have a good laugh as you read a great story.