The Way It Is [Paperback]

Patrick Sanchez (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Following the success of Girlfriends (2001), Sanchez presents three Washington, D.C., gals who have a penchant for living large. Recently divorced and determined to lose weight, Ruby takes in two new roommates. Wanda, a striking African American beauty, makes no bones about her aspirations for making it as a plus-sized model, while Simone, a sexy Latina and Washington's hottest news reporter, takes pride in her perfect size six figure. As Ruby bonds with Wanda and Simone, they help her come out of her shell by encouraging her to be herself and giving her a head-to-toe makeover. Ruby comes to treasure her new look, her new attitude, and her new friends. So when an up-and-coming model threatens Wanda's career and Ruby discovers that Simone is keeping a destructive secret, Ruby becomes determined to go to battle for them and to win. A witty tale about single women searching for friendship, unconditional love, and the perfect dessert. Megan Kalan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758204116
• ISBN-13: 978-0758204110
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,245,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Good in Bed" fans, take note (4 3/4 stars), October 16, 2003

By 

curvynovelsdotinfo "[e-mail]" (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way It Is (Paperback)

Heroines: varied

They don't know it but they are on a collision course with each other, three women who will change each other's lives:

Rubenesque Ruby wants to be thin and craves her mother's and society's acceptance almost as much as she does food. But every time these opposing desires start bickering in her head, the food demons win out and she finds herself agonizing as each bite she consumes carries her farther away from her size six ideal. Anxious to love something other than food Ruby fixes her eye on her gorgeous coworker, but her low self esteem keeps her from trying to reach out to him. Or to any man she wants. Up until this point the peaks of her romantic experiences have been flatter than Kansas, and the only men in her life now are her lackluster ex-hubby and her gay pal.

Bootylicious Wanda is anxious to make it big in the plus modeling world, but she has three strikes against her: size, age, and race. Add to that a snotty, rich, daddy's girl coworker who undermines her at every turn, Wanda will be lucky not to wind up in the slammer for wringing the chick's neck.

Luscious Simone is dying to get out of the local TV news racket and into the limelight of the entertainment industry. Literally. She even figures the notoriety of leaving behind a trail of boy toys might add to her cachet. But she's got tunnel vision where her career is concerned and doesn't see that her life is unraveling around the edges. Living fast and furious might be her ticket to the top--or to six feet underground.

What worked for me:

This book has a great cover! It's sexy and sassy, colorful and eye-catching. And most importantly it doesn't downsize the big girls.

The story is funny, has interesting characters, good plot twists, and a great if not completely pat (the way I like it) ending. Yet it takes the time to insert insightful comments on various social issues rather than deliver up pure fluff.

The characters have some flaws that render them unlikable at times, but it's these same flaws which make them leap off the page with realism. (The author also did a great job nailing down the behavior and innermost thoughts of an unhappy-to-be-fat woman.)

Size-wise Ruby and Wanda were abundant and Simone was petite but shapely.

What didn't work for me:

I slurped this story down in one sitting. So honestly, the few technical issues I saw barely registered with me as I was so anxious to keep cruising along.

Overall:

"The Way It Is" is: . . . outrageous! You'll laugh, cry, and possibly throw a few things while reading this book. Don't miss it!

Warning: there are some coarse words, eating disorders, and sexual references in this book.

If you liked "The Way It Is" you might also enjoy "The Fat Friend", "All of Me", "The High Price of a Good Man", "Good in Bed", "Jemima J.", "Sisterhood Situation", "Etta Mae's Little Theory", or the "Odelia Grey" series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, November 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Way It Is (Paperback)

When I read the jacket copy for The Way It Is, I thought is was going to a Bridget Jones' type book about neurotic women trying to take off 10 pounds....boy was I wrong! Two of the main characters are fat...and I mean FAT...not typical chick-lit "I'm a size 8 and I'm a hippo and need to loose weight." Sanchez never says how big they are but from one scene in the book we do know they are larger than a size 16. It was so refreshing to read a book about two truly large women and see how each one of them handled it so differently. The book was hilarious, well written, and has a great ending. BUY IT!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Great Time!, November 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Way It Is (Paperback)

Kudos to Patrick Sanchez for writing such a sympathetic book about us big girls. I felt Ruby's pain throughout the book although at some points I just felt so terrible for her I had to put the book down for awhile. Patrick Sanchez tells it like it is and the results are often hilarious but sometimes very sad. The book had a great ending and left me wanting more. Anyone who has ever struggled with weight should buy this book!