Book Review: Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Heather Wells once had it all. She was a minor pop star, her boyfriend was one of the most desirable men in the country (for the under-18 crowd, anyway), and she had all the money she needed. That is, until she decided she wanted to have more control over her career and image. At that point, she lost her recording contract, her boyfriend, gained a few pounds, and her mother ran off with her money. Now, she's on her own. With no marketable skills, she turns to a job as assistant dorm director at a college in New York. Although she's one of the most competent people to ever hold the job, or maybe because of it, the residents want her out of there so the old assistant will come back and let them get away with anything they want.

Heather's job suddenly becomes more interesting when a young female resident is found dead at the bottom of the elevator shaft. Her death is chalked up as an accident from "elevator surfing," but Heather knows something isn't right-daredevil boys elevator surf, not preppy girls. Heather is determined to find out who the killer is before he strikes again, but things get scarier. Another girl dies, and soon Heather's own life is in danger.

Despite the murder mystery, Size 12 is Not Fat is a light and entertaining read. I love the concept of the main character, a glimpse of what happens to a star when she loses star status and has to walk amongst the mortals. She's just famous enough that only some people recognize her, and others look at her and wonder where they've seen her before. She struggles with the same self esteem issues so many of us do, but she has a strong enough sense of self to hold out for what she wants, and to stave off the advances of her cheating, yet hunky, rich and famous, ex-boyfriend.

Meg Cabot kept me engaged and entertained through the whole story, making it hard for me to put it down. The dialogue is catchy and the plot is unpredictable. I have a horrible habit of trying to predict what will happen in every story I read or watch, and I didn't hit the mark through this whole book. I felt connected to Heather and enjoyed exploring the mystery with her, reveling in her triumphs and cringing at her failures.

I really enjoyed Size 12 is Not Fat, and I plan to read more books by Meg Cabot, such as "The Boy Next Door," "Boy Meets Girl," and "Every Boy's Got One."