Genre: Comics, Graphic Novels, Teens & YA
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Pages: 164
Publication Date: 21 April, 2020
My Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks
Synopsis:
A story about Mindy, a woman living with an eating disorder who has to learn how to love herself again.
In pursuit of the perfect body, Mindy buys the low-fat diet products and the glossy magazines which promise the secret to losing weight. One night, while perusing the aisles of the neighborhood convenience store for a midnight snack, she finds a new product. A chocolate bar called “Eat and Love Yourself”. On a whim, Mindy buys the curious candy, not knowing that with every piece of chocolate she eats, she will be brought back to a specific moment of her past — helping her to look at herself honestly, learn to love her body the way it is, and accepting love. Perhaps, she will even realize that her long lost high school best friend, Elliot, was more than just a friend…
Sweeney Boo (Love Is Love) presents an honest and uncompromising look at how we form our self-image, the eating disorders that haunt our most private moments and what it takes to learn to love ourselves again.
My Review:
“There you are, living your life when all of a sudden, the weight of the world drops on your shoulders without a word of warning.”
This is my first graphic novel in a very long time and I couldn’t put it down! The book addresses the issue of body dysmorphia, an eating disorder which quite a lot of people face. I am in absolute awe of the illustrations and how the story flows flawlessly.
While reading this book, I could relate to so many feelings which the protagonist – Mindy was feeling. Body type and self esteem are something I deeply relate to because of having gone through a similar phase and I do wish to go back and tell myself how I was doing the best I could and that it’d be alright pretty soon.
Mindy is a woman who’s been trying hard to not be a disappointment all her life, especially because of her weight. The book boldly addresses how brutal criticism from the people we love around us can leave the deepest scars within us.
But what I liked best about the story was the time travelling journey which Mindy had to go through in order to introspect and eventually end up accepting her journey and loving herself because of it.
If you’re looking for a light read and a book to remind you about self acceptance then this is definitely your go-to book! I rate it 5 out of 5 bookmarks because how candidly this issue has been portrayed and of course because of the amazing graphics throughout.