#Thighgap

            

      One of the risks that stories that are about weight loss often face is that the character often “finds” themselves after losing weight or finally gets the love interest or the job they’ve always wanted. #Thighgap takes a much more subversive approach to the concept of weight loss, making the concept of being thin a lot more sinister.  The main character, Helen Troy, has not only gone from obese to thin but has also become a successful fashion model.  But now it is an obsession for her as she can’t stand not being the thinnest woman in the room. She gets told she is beautiful BECAUSE she is so thin. Helen Troy’s quest for thinness impacts her relationships and eventually her health. The tension and dialogue that brings the reader into this journey is not only enticing, but also full of sharp social commentary and beautifully written body horror.  Because of how entertaining and well written it was, I did not want this story to end!

              Body shaming people for not conforming to society’s beauty standards and for being perceived of as overweight is a real horror in our culture.  As a woman, the internalization of these standards is something I’ve personally grappled with.  Between the Feminist Book Club community and Maintenance Phase podcast, I’ve been learning to embrace more body positive thinking.  I would definitely feel comfortable recommending this book to people in these non-horror communities with the disclaimer that it IS a horror book. Discussion about weight can be a sensitive topic for some readers, but the genre and description of the book does indicate that the notion of extreme weight loss will be explored through the lens of horror fiction.

              This novella is extra special as it is a part of  My Dark Library series that is curated by Sadie Hartman (known as Mother Horror) that  will be released through Cemetery Gates Media. Sadie’s reviews and her Nightworms packages have strongly influenced my TBR pile. I held the bias that #Thighgap would be great because of this and Chandler Morrison definitely lived up to the high bar! I really loved this novella!

              I am also posting this review on Goodreads.