Rating: 
Summary: a massive fun read
Review: Jemima Jones is way overweight, treated like a servant by her roommates, regarded as just a buddy by her gorgeous co-worker Ben, given the horrible assignments at work while helping out her less talented but thin coworker. Then, after a seminar on using the Internet, she meets Brad from California in a chat room and decides to reinvent herself as JJ, thin healthy active person. She joins a gym and loses masses of weight, and gets a makeover from her stylish friend. Then she just goes to California to meet Brad.The narration is choppy, told by Jemima, Ben and sometimes in the third person. The whole world is apparently taken in by looks. It's a little insulting that Ben only really notices Jemima's personality after she loses so much weight --- so much that he doesn't even recognize her. There is an ironic twist regarding weight in her relationship with Brad --- I think you are supposed to think he is a bit of a jerk but I kind of admired him. This is frothy and fun like all post-Bridget Jones Brit-chick books (In fact, Jemima's last name is Jones and she works in journalism as well.) Like the others, it's a great book to read while you ride the train to work, but by no means one from which to learn any life lessons!!
Rating:
Summary: Fast read, good book.
Review: Being an ungly duckling on her way to "swandom", I really enjoyed this book. If you've never been fat, sometimes others have no idea what it's like. Jemima has to worry about not only about being fat, but how the whole world perceives her. Proving that the extra padding doesn't mean that one's feelings are padded as well. What's great about this book is that the fact that she is large isn't really the story at all. You read along as she has probably one the best years of her life; making close friends, becoming more confident, and even finding love. If you're expecting to walk away with the meaning of life from this one, you'll be disappointed. But you do walk away from this book wanting to take a chance.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother....Bridget is far superior!!
Review: Being a loyal fan of Bridget Jones, I was interested in reading something that claimed to be similar in nature. I thought it was a decent story, but as people have already mentioned, quite unrealistic (which, granted books don't have to be), but the idea of losing that much weight in such a short time is unsafe and unlikely...and let's be honest, the skin doesn't follow that quickly. I can understand the appeal of the "ugly duckling" becoming a "swan"...who hasn't wished the same thing? However, beyond the unbelievable story, I found the writing style distracting and at times unbearable. Stick with Bridget, she is much funnier and Helen is a far superior writer.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring!!
Review: I loved this book. If you loved Bridget Jones, Confessions of a Shopaholic, etc., than you will love this book, especially if you have a few lbs. to shed as well. I do not think this book is at all ditzy or shallow, and anyone who says it is obviously has never known what it is like to be overweight. Jane Green gives a perfect perspective on what it's like to be really heavy, and yes, although she only gets her man once she sheds the (many) pounds, that too is quite true to life and the reader appreciated that. When you finish this amazing book, you will feel so bubbly and happy. You feel like you too can now accomplish something--Go For It!!
Rating:
Summary: A waste of time!!!
Review: I had high hopes for this book based on the reviews. However, I was very disappointed. The plot was not even decent fluff! The characters were pathetic. The message that it sent was that it is okay to be a brainless twit who's only goal in life is to get a gorgeous man at any price and to surround yourself with uncaring, egocentric "friends". 1 star is pushing it on the ratings. This book is definitely trash can material.
Rating:
Summary: Loved this Book!!
Review: I obtained this book by accident. It was given to me by a guy friend that had never read it. I am so glad that he gave it me. I loved it, and read the entire book in one sitting. Jemima is so me. I understand the way she feels, and I think that Jane Green did an awesome job of creating a character that is real. I understood Jemima's fears and reactions to particular events in the story. (Any overweight woman who has ever been to a bar full of beautiful people would!) Yeah, maybe the story is shallow in the fact that Jemima becomes beautiful, and every man wanted her, but who cares. If you lost a hundred pounds I'm sure you would get a few more stares than before. Jemima is strong, and that is the message to take away with you. She decided what she wanted and went for it. If only we could all be like that.
Pick this up the next time you are out. It is a great story line, and hillarious at times. A real pleasure to read.
Rating: 
Summary: No Bridget Jones - Why not just see "Shallow Hal?"
Review: Akin to Bridget Jones' Diary? I think not. This book lacks the humor and wit of the Bridget Jones books. The characters are very one-dimensional, aside from Ben, whom we learn more about than we know about Jemima - presumably because the author thought it would be difficult to convince readers that good looking guys aren't all out for sex, and not too tough to convince them that overweight women do nothing but sit at home and eat. Jemima even says at one point that the only reason people get to be her former size is that they constantly eat. Is that really fair? And am I really supposed to believe that as soon as she reaches her desired dress size she is rewarded with a promotion, a pay raise, professional respect, unlimited vacation, and even airline upgrades? The book hints that Jemima is losing weight unhealthily, but there are no physical repercussions, and she finally returns to a healthy weight only AFTER she has scored the man. I also found it offensive that the only male character who is attracted to an overweight woman just happens to be "into" fat chicks. Are we really supposed to be oh-so-glad that this man has an overweight girlfriend when he won't even publicly acknowledge that he is in love with her because he is afraid of what his gym cronies will think? Whether or not they get their man, I found no comfort in the fact that the 2 overweight women in this story obsess over "unattainable" men and essentially follow them to the ends of the earth. Not only that, but virtually any non-overweight woman (I leave Lauren as the only exception to this rule) is characterized as either vapid, a social climber, or both. This book is neither inspirational, nor amusing, nor worth buying. Read it only if someone gives it to you and you have nothing better to do...
Rating:
Summary: Get over it people!!!
Review: ...I completely identified with Jemina since I myself was once fat. However, I took control of my eating habits and now enjoy my physical appearance. Therefore, instead of disliking thin women, drop that chocolate eclair and hit the gym!!!
Rating:
Summary: Shallow book with an ok story
Review: This book is about life Jemima Jones, a girl whose life is miserable and she is unnoticed until she loses over 100 pounds. Then her boss starts giving her promotions and men can't keep their eyes off of her. The story is very shallow and I think an insult to overweight and thin women alike. It is written very poorly in first and then out of nowhere 3rd person comentary. I recommend this book to teenagers with nothing better to do.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bit of Inspiration
Review: Some of the other customer reviews were dead-on regarding the fact that Jemima transforms herself so quickly and easily. When a person loses that much weight in a couple of months, their skin is usually saggy. Fictional Jemima has no need for a tummy tuck. However, the can-do attitude comes through, and I found that this was a great book to take to the gym and read on the treadmill and lifecycle.
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