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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome chick lit mystery!, December 12, 2006
This review is from: Size 14 Is Not Fat Either (A Heather Wells Mystery) (Paperback)
I'm a huge fan of Meg Cabot's chick lit and I wasn't let down by this sequel to Size 12 Is Not Fat. Really, who wouldn't love to read about Heather Wells? She's a loveable character that anyone (whether you're a size 2 or a 12) can relate to. The only thing I didn't like was that it was a little too gruesome for me. Maybe the next mystery wont involve a missing body and a boiled head.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next Heather Well's mystery.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A detective who wets the palate, and leaves you stuffed!, December 14, 2006
This review is from: Size 14 Is Not Fat Either (A Heather Wells Mystery) (Paperback)
Twenty-nine-year-old ex-pop star, and current assistant resident hall advisor, Heather Wells, never thought that her mall tour fame from years ago would follow her through over ten years of her life, and various pants sizes. But, as much as she'd like to shake her old image, it seems to suck the life out of her wherever she goes. Of course, it doesn't help that her ex-fiance (and ex-Easy Street boy band member) Jordan Cartwright, won't get out of her face, or keep his new top of the charts fiance, Tania Trace, from feeling threatened by the newly-plus sized Heather. However, as she attempts to avoid Jordan's constant calls inviting him to his Celebrity Wedding, she finds herself colliding headfirst with a severely disturbing incident in her dormitory - the discovery of the head cheerleader, Lindsay Combs' decapitated head boiling in a pot in the dormitory kitchen. With the first day of the new semester in full swing, Heather feels bombarded by whiny students, and an ex-con father who has suddenly shown up on her doorstep looking to make amends, and actually welcomes the chance to put on her Detective shoes, and do a little sleuthing of her own. Getting the chance to work side-by-side with her landlord, and the love of her life - Private Eye Cooper Cartwright (yes, Jordan's older brother) - doesn't hurt a bit either. But as the murder trail begins leading Heather into a shady world, where students don't start partying until the break of dawn, and spend their time smoking anything that they encounter, she realizes that she's playing with fire. And, if she isn't careful, she may be singing her last melody.
You don't need many words to describe Meg Cabot's writing. The words flawless and magnificent seem to be accurate enough. Which is why those are the two words that fit perfectly, when talking about SIZE 14 IS NOT FAT EITHER. After encountering Heather Wells in her first sordid detective tale, I thought she was an intriguing character with a hearty appetite, and the ability to win over fans both young and old. Now, given the chance to delve into her delusional world once more, I realize that Heather is much more. She's the host with the most, with the ability to outsmart killers - and detectives - with one switch of the wrist. Her self-deprecating humor regarding her weight leaves you in stitches, while the tumultuous relationship she appears to have with all the males in her life - from Jordan to Cooper, and now to her jailbird father - is relatable, and enjoyable to read about, as she traverses the difficulties she encounters on a daily basis. A detective who wets the palate, and leaves you stuffed!
Erika Sorocco
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Charming and entertaining, June 9, 2008
This review is from: Size 14 Is Not Fat Either (A Heather Wells Mystery) (Paperback)
I find Meg Cabot rather irresistible. I imagine her to be the sort of sunny girlfriend who always has a great story to tell and who has a knack for making you laugh, no matter how lousy of a day you've had. The style translates to her work and that is what makes it so enjoyable to me. Cabot's novels are pure fun, just like an afternoon spent gossiping and laughing with a close female friends.
The engaging Heather Wells is back in this novel. The premise of her being a former pop princess who is now broke courtesy of her mother running off with her money in probably the most original back story I've heard for a character in some time. Still, though her background is rather dramatic, Heather is not bitter. If there's one criticism I have of the character it would be that she perhaps lacks a bit of nuance. I don't think I'd be as forgiving as she is but Cabot portrays her as a woman who's satisfied enough with her lot in life. This makes her a bit unrealistic but Cabot does save her from being too perfect, which would kill the character all together. At any rate, Heather is fun and funny and the kind of person with whom I would get along famously in real life.
As with the previous novel, Size 12 Is Not Fat, Heather stumbles her way into the midst of a mystery. Given that she aspires to a major in criminal justice, it's not entirely surprising. Still, Heather's no Nancy Drew. She's so inept at times that she bears more resemblance to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and her ineptitude is used to great effect. Though Heather eventually triumphs, she hits many obstacles and makes many mistakes along the way--small wonder her roommate and would-be-love Cooper doesn't want to clue her in to his activities.
Along with the mystery, there is the added tension of Heather's father's reappearance in her life and while she deals with his return fairly calmly, she is also wary of him. There is also the continued romantic tension between Cooper and Heather. Cooper is determined to believe that Heather is not yet over his brother Jordan, though I found this to be a bit debatable. I get the impression that Cooper's conflict may be more to do with the fact that perhaps he's not quite ready to get into a relationship with Heather which would, admittedly, be quite complex. Cabot is a master of orchestrating that kind of frustration that keeps readers eager to experience that sweet moment of vicarious bliss in which their well-loved heroine finally gets the man she wants and deserves.
I think one of the things I like most about this series is the frank way in which Cabot treats the issue of Heather's weight. It makes me wonder if Cabot has some first-hand experience. Though Heather is aware of her size and knows that her eating habits have a great deal to do with it, she remains a confident and centered person. Cabot strikes a very nice balance here and steers clear of making the books all about Heather's size. The fact that she wears a 12 and then probably a 14 is just one part of who she is. Perhaps others underestimate her because of it but it makes me happy to see that Heather is as well-adjusted as she is and that she likes herself even though society likes to tell women her size that they should despise themselves.
Cabot has left a lot of room for this character to grow, which is good. While Heather is a lot of fun, I don't think she'd make much of a private eye--at least not at this point. I'm glad about that, though, because it hints that Cabot may treat us to more Heather Wells novels for some time to come.
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