Plus by Veronica Chambers
Publisher: Razorbill
Release date: August 5, 2010
Source: Publisher
"This is the unbelievable story of how I went to college, gained twenty-five pounds, got dumped by my boyfriend, failed physics and became a worldfamous supermodel."
So begins the Cinderella story of Beatrice Wilson, whose life changes overnight when she’s discovered by a scout for the oldest, most prestigious modeling agency in America—for their plus-sized division.
Now she must find the confidence to vanquish skinny rivals, fend off sleazy photographers, and banish scheming frenemies in her rise to superstardom, all while trying to get her ex-boyfriend back. But Bea learns that to win prince charming, you first have to find a way to love yourself.
Review:
Plus was an amusing and entertaining read that's perfect for the summer. The premise and characters were all really unique, and I enjoyed getting to read about the modeling world from someone who was actually experiencing it.
Bee was a likable main character, but at times she really got on my nerves. She let her life revolve around a boy that really wasn't nice at all. From the beginning I never liked Brian, he seemed to take Bee for granted and never cared about anyone but himself. I felt for Bee when he broke up with her, but she really hit rock bottom after that. She gained a lot of weight and just sat around moping all the time. Two good things came out of the break up. One, Bee made a good friend in Brian's previous ex Chela. Chela was different and spunky in a way that really gave Bee a new lease on life. Two, the main plot of the story, Bee was discovered at a restaurant by a top modeling agency- for plus models.
I really liked the model side of the book, it was interesting to see how dedicated and demanding the industry is and to see what it was like for a girl with no experience to shoot up to the top so quickly. After one really successful shoot, Bee was turning out to be America's number one plus model. There were a few problems with this. First of all, the model who feels she is being displaced by Bee launches her attack. Then as Bee becomes more and more popular she is being sent all over for shoots and doesn't have enough time for her best friend, Chela, or for school work.
I liked being able to experience things with Bee and watch her grow and change, and finally realize where she'd went wrong. Plus really proved how important it is to "do you" and be yourself. Bee knew how to stand up for herself, but it took a little hurting and betrayal before she realized which guy was right for her.
All in all, Plus was a fun summer read with more serious undertones. Bee was a sweet, albeit confused, main character who didn't always know what was best for herself. Plus proved how the modeling industry isn't always the nicest place and how models really have their work cut out for them. While it has it's flaws, Plus is, overall, a quick and entertaining read.
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
