What We Give Away by Paulette Stout
When I first heard about Paulette Stout’s latest release, What We Give Away, I had only heard that it was a book about weight issues. So, of course, my mind went immediately to myself and my own beliefs about the subject. Most of the characters I write are curvy or plus size, and some are ridiculed for that, so that’s where my mind went. But main character Leslie is not zaftig or even overweight. In fact, she’s extremely thin, hungry all the time, and having trouble climbing stairs when we meet her. I knew then I had to adjust my approach to this novel.
Leslie is a hard-hitting New York City journalist, one that is few and far between in the real world and the world of this novel. She goes undercover to get the full story about her topics, and she’s well-known for going in-depth on her stories. In fact, Leslie’s so good at her job that she’s been offered a position as a Saturday anchor at a popular cable news show. But before she takes on the job, her cousin asks if she can help her mother, Leslie’s Aunt Dot, after a major surgery, since her cousin will be out of town for work. Leslie’s aunt has downsized to a new house in Pennsylvania, is very active in her community — leading body positivity support groups and a yoga class — and is plus size.
Aunt Dot also happens to be part owner of a Puerto Rican restaurant and neighbor to its head chef and other owner, Risto — Leslie’s ex-boyfriend. The two could have had a future together, if only Leslie had supported Risto’s dream of owning a restaurant.
We Can’t Hide from Those Who Care About Us
As soon as Leslie gets settled at her aunt’s house, it’s evident that she’s not going to be able to live the way she did in New York. She has to take over her aunt’s hostess duties at the restaurant, which means being around food she refuses to eat all day. She has to walk Aunt Dot’s dog, which means exerting energy she doesn’t have because she doesn’t eat. And she’s staying in a house with a full refrigerator. How will Leslie stay thin with all of this around her?
Instead of her aunt confronting her about her diet habits, she encourages Leslie to do what she does best: write an exposé on the diet industry and diet culture. When Leslie takes on the challenge, she finds out that the industry has ingrained an untrue philosophy into society, and that she’s grown up believing it, even though it’s causing her harm.
The Spices Aren’t Just in the Restaurant
Chef Risto is owner of the extremely popular Boricua — a Puerto Rican-themed restaurant. When Leslie walks back into his life, he realizes that this is their second chance to get things right. Even though he broke up with her, he never stopped loving her. And now that he’s reached a certain level of success, maybe this will show her that his dream was a viable one. When they work in the restaurant together, it’s evident that the passion is still between them — despite her ineptitude at the hostess stand.
What We Give Away isn’t the usual romantic women’s fiction with one or two flowery paragraphs describing intimacy between the main characters. Leslie and Risto’s love scenes are on-page and steamy, and frankly, I’m here for it. The genre’s main feature is that of a main character’s emotional journey, and love is the ultimate emotion. So, why not show that?
But showing and talking about sex in the novel isn’t just to show that long-time friends are finally getting a chance at love. It also addresses how dieting and eating disorders can not only cause harm mentally, but in several physical aspects as well. Leslie’s eating struggles affect her libido, her menstrual cycles, even her energy levels for sex. Stout paints a complete picture of how diet culture can affect not just meal times, but sexy times, too.
Need Help (or Convincing)? Resources Abound
While many new contemporary romance and romantic women’s fiction novels tackle big societal problems that their readers can identify with, very few have a section of helpful resources where readers who are having those actual problems — or just those who want to know more — can go for more information.
At the end of the novel is a bibliography of articles, books and other resources for diet studies, diet culture background and history, and even yoga resources. Although I will add Jessamyn Stanley to the yoga list. Her plus-size yoga classes on YouTube are uplifting and accessible no matter what you weigh.
A Standalone — and a Series — You’ll Love
What We Give Away is book 4 of the Bold Journeys series, and while other couples from the previous three books make appearances, this is definitely a standalone. Readers who are just discovering Ms. Stout can do so with this novel and not feel they have to go back to book one. However, once you read this, you’ll feel empowered and want to go read all the other bold journeys the author depicts in this series.
Overall, this book is as hard-hitting as the journalism that Leslie practices. If you come in with misconceptions about diet culture or weight and its correlation with health, your views will either change, or you will come from this novel unfulfilled (and probably arguing with Leslie). This is one novel where you need to keep an open mind and throw away your food hang-ups for some real education on weight, food and health. Because your health is a “you” problem. Others’ perceptions of your body size and weight? That’s a “them” problem. All day, every day.
Trigger Warnings: on page eating disorder struggles, fatphobia, bullying, body shaming
Paulette Stout is the fearless author of contemporary fiction whose books say the quiet things out loud. Her debut, Love, Only Better, is a relatable and empowering story readers are calling a “must read.” Her follow-up, What We Never Say, explores a ripped-from-the-headlines #MeToo topic with a surprising twist. Book three tackles race, class and belonging featuring two characters with sizzling chemistry.
Born in Manhattan and raised by a single dad, Paulette loves crafting stories that make readers feel and think.
You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts. Either that, or texting pictures of something she’s whipped up in her kitchen to her two adult kids while her husband rolls his eyes.
Enjoy free reads on Paulette’s website at paulettestout.com/free, and follow Paulette on social media @paulettestoutauthor.
