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Fitness Junkie
From the bestselling authors of The Knockoff, an outrageously funny novel about one woman's attempt--through clay diets, naked yoga, green juice, and cultish workout classes--to win back her career, save her best friend, and lose thirty pounds.
When Janey Sweet, CEO of a couture wedding dress company, is photographed in the front row of a fashion show eating a bruffin--the delicious lovechild of a brioche and a muffin--her best friend and business partner, Beau, gives her an ultimatum: Lose thirty pounds or lose your job. Sure, Janey has gained some weight since her divorce, and no, her beautifully cut trousers don't fit like they used to, so Janey throws herself headlong into the world of the fitness revolution, signing up for a shockingly expensive workout pass, baring it all for Free the Nipple yoga, sweating through boot camp classes run by Sri Lankan militants and spinning to the screams of a Lycra-clad instructor with rage issues. At a juice shop she meets Jacob, a cute young guy who takes her dumpster-diving outside Whole Foods on their first date. At a shaman's tea ceremony she meets Hugh, a silver fox who holds her hand through an ayahuasca hallucination And at a secret exercise studio Janey meets Sara Strong, the wildly popular workout guru whose special dance routine has starlets and wealthy women flocking to her for results that seem too good to be true. As Janey eschews delicious carbs, pays thousands of dollars to charlatans, and is harassed by her very own fitness bracelet, she can't help but wonder: Did she really need to lose weight in the first place?
A hilarious send-up of the health and wellness industry, Fitness Junkie is a glorious romp through the absurd landscape of our weight-obsessed culture.
When Janey Sweet, CEO of a couture wedding dress company, is photographed in the front row of a fashion show eating a bruffin--the delicious lovechild of a brioche and a muffin--her best friend and business partner, Beau, gives her an ultimatum: Lose thirty pounds or lose your job. Sure, Janey has gained some weight since her divorce, and no, her beautifully cut trousers don't fit like they used to, so Janey throws herself headlong into the world of the fitness revolution, signing up for a shockingly expensive workout pass, baring it all for Free the Nipple yoga, sweating through boot camp classes run by Sri Lankan militants and spinning to the screams of a Lycra-clad instructor with rage issues. At a juice shop she meets Jacob, a cute young guy who takes her dumpster-diving outside Whole Foods on their first date. At a shaman's tea ceremony she meets Hugh, a silver fox who holds her hand through an ayahuasca hallucination And at a secret exercise studio Janey meets Sara Strong, the wildly popular workout guru whose special dance routine has starlets and wealthy women flocking to her for results that seem too good to be true. As Janey eschews delicious carbs, pays thousands of dollars to charlatans, and is harassed by her very own fitness bracelet, she can't help but wonder: Did she really need to lose weight in the first place?
A hilarious send-up of the health and wellness industry, Fitness Junkie is a glorious romp through the absurd landscape of our weight-obsessed culture.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2017
About the author
Lucy Sykes
3 books297 followersLucy Sykes has worked in the fashion world as a stylist, fashion editor, and fashion director. For six years Lucy was the fashion director at Marie Claire magazine, and was most recently fashion director for Rent the Runway. Her own children’s clothing line, Lucy Sykes New York, was sold in more than a hundred department stores worldwide, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, and Nordstrom. Together with her twin sister Plum, Lucy moved from London to New York City in 1997, where she now lives with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,049 reviews
September 12, 2017
A relatively biting but funny satire. It takes a hard look at all of the ridiculous health fads and crazes and pressure on women to be someone else's idea of perfect. You should definitely instagram that piece of avocado toast you've been served at the restaurant of the moment, but you probably shouldn't eat it... ugh, bread! (That was sarcasm, by the way. I really love bread.) It's an interesting social commentary that somehow manages to be funny, relatable, outlandish, and ridiculous at the same time. I'm not even quite sure how they managed that.
It all started with a bruffin. (That's a hybrid of a brioche and a muffin, and frankly sounds delicious to me.) Janey Sweet was photographed rating that delectable treat in the front row of a fashion show. The picture isn't even bad, but her business partner is fuming as if it's a personal affront. Janey has gained some weight recently, and Beau isn't having it. They've been friends since they were children, but that somehow doesn't stop him from lambasting her about her "weight problem". As the primary owner of their extremely successful wedding dress company, he gives her an ultimatum: lose thirty pounds in three months or you're out. He gives her time off to do it. As illegal as that sounds, turns out there's actually a clause in their initial contract which supposedly makes it okay.
Janey has recently divorced her husband, but she didn't experience real heartbreak. This is her heartbreak... her best friend, the person she seems to consider her soul mate, basically abandoning her. She's beyond hurt. Beyond dismayed. Beyond ashamed.
This is how if begins... a crazy funny journey of diets and workouts that seem to have come from another planet. (They might as well, for most of us, with what they cost.) They're incredibly ridiculous. This book made me laugh a lot, but about 70% in I started to get a little weary of all the diet and workout talk which kept it from getting a higher rating from me. Though it's not a long book at all, I may have enjoyed it a little more if it had been shorter. There's some romance thrown in there, but no sex. (We know it happens, but no descriptions.) There's also some incredibly strong friendships among some amazing ladies, which helps make up for the toxic Beau.
All in all, an enjoyable story. If you're a fan of women's fiction and humor and you're sick of the crazy health fads flying around or may have even participated in some yourself but have a sense of humor, you might enjoy it. I've never been a health fad kind of gal myself, except for the one where red wine is supposed to be good for you. I like that one.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Doubleday Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
It all started with a bruffin. (That's a hybrid of a brioche and a muffin, and frankly sounds delicious to me.) Janey Sweet was photographed rating that delectable treat in the front row of a fashion show. The picture isn't even bad, but her business partner is fuming as if it's a personal affront. Janey has gained some weight recently, and Beau isn't having it. They've been friends since they were children, but that somehow doesn't stop him from lambasting her about her "weight problem". As the primary owner of their extremely successful wedding dress company, he gives her an ultimatum: lose thirty pounds in three months or you're out. He gives her time off to do it. As illegal as that sounds, turns out there's actually a clause in their initial contract which supposedly makes it okay.
Janey has recently divorced her husband, but she didn't experience real heartbreak. This is her heartbreak... her best friend, the person she seems to consider her soul mate, basically abandoning her. She's beyond hurt. Beyond dismayed. Beyond ashamed.
This is how if begins... a crazy funny journey of diets and workouts that seem to have come from another planet. (They might as well, for most of us, with what they cost.) They're incredibly ridiculous. This book made me laugh a lot, but about 70% in I started to get a little weary of all the diet and workout talk which kept it from getting a higher rating from me. Though it's not a long book at all, I may have enjoyed it a little more if it had been shorter. There's some romance thrown in there, but no sex. (We know it happens, but no descriptions.) There's also some incredibly strong friendships among some amazing ladies, which helps make up for the toxic Beau.
All in all, an enjoyable story. If you're a fan of women's fiction and humor and you're sick of the crazy health fads flying around or may have even participated in some yourself but have a sense of humor, you might enjoy it. I've never been a health fad kind of gal myself, except for the one where red wine is supposed to be good for you. I like that one.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Doubleday Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
March 26, 2018
4 Stars
Ummm this book was kind of great! I found myself laughing along to the ridiculousness on every chapter, this was such a fun clever satire. Take this book and read it on a beach its guaranteed to make you feel a lot less self-conscious about that roll of fat that hangs over your bikini bottom.
Review To Come.
Ummm this book was kind of great! I found myself laughing along to the ridiculousness on every chapter, this was such a fun clever satire. Take this book and read it on a beach its guaranteed to make you feel a lot less self-conscious about that roll of fat that hangs over your bikini bottom.
Review To Come.
July 12, 2017
All-juice diets, no-juice diets, vegan, freegan, paleo -- today's health & fitness obsession is ripe for a satirical book like "Fitness Junkie". In this novel -- tailor-made for beach and vacation reading -- protaganist Janey Sweet, co-owner of a couture wedding dress design firm, is sent on a forced sabbatical by her buiness partner after being photographed in the trades eating baked goods and looking a bit too "pudgy" at the latest fashion shows. Janey tries all manner of diets and new-fangled exercise trends to lose weight -- and save her spot and the company she's built.
While I enjoyed The Knockoff a few summers ago, this book just felt like one joke that went on way too long. Character development was scant, the plot was thin, and all loose ends got tied up in a bow in the last few pages.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While I enjoyed The Knockoff a few summers ago, this book just felt like one joke that went on way too long. Character development was scant, the plot was thin, and all loose ends got tied up in a bow in the last few pages.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2017
This novel is hysterical—but much more substantive than I had anticipated. The main character, Janey, is infinitely likeable (although initially a little too willing to believe the best in people, to her detriment).
The story mocks the ridiculous lengths people will go to get or stay thin, but the entire book constantly reinforces the idea that it’s important to be healthy, not skinny. (After all, meth heads are skinny, not healthy.)
Before you begin reading the book, there is a letter from the editor that says that the writers, Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza, discovered that the ridiculous exercise classes and diets they write about are in fact real. The authors sometimes began to fabricate something outlandish—only to find that this exercise or food fad actually exists (which is often painfully hard to believe).
The novel begins when Janey’s business partner and lifelong friend, Beau, tells her she needs to drop thirty pounds because she’s an embarrassment to their brand—supremely expensive wedding dresses for only the thinnest of women.
One thing that’s wonderful is that Janey has never worried about her weight. She doesn’t necessarily pig out, but she eats waffles if she’s in the mood and doesn’t beat herself up over it (how refreshing!). Because Janey owns only 49 percent of the company, she doesn’t see what choice she has but to take the enforced sabbatical and drop the weight. And after all, maybe her tummy has gotten a little rounder than it once was and maybe her forty-year-old chin isn’t quite as tight as it had been.
The foil to Janey is her girlfriend CJ, who IS obsessed about her weight, and therefore gung ho to try these various ridiculous activities along with her. CJ even obsesses about whether her young twin boys look too chubby for Facebook. (!) So together, they discover a world where women spend outrageous sums of money to be screamed at about how fat and worthless they are. They eat clay. The words “artisanal” “organic” and “journeys” are used frequently—about everything.
This book actually did inspire me to get back into my fitness routine—one that costs almost nothing, like going on walks and eating more vegetables.
Ivy, Janey, and a few others are likeable and the villains are perfect folks you love to hate. I highly recommend this fun book. It has hints of romance, but you know Janey will be fine on her own, with or without a man (also refreshing!)
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
The story mocks the ridiculous lengths people will go to get or stay thin, but the entire book constantly reinforces the idea that it’s important to be healthy, not skinny. (After all, meth heads are skinny, not healthy.)
Before you begin reading the book, there is a letter from the editor that says that the writers, Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza, discovered that the ridiculous exercise classes and diets they write about are in fact real. The authors sometimes began to fabricate something outlandish—only to find that this exercise or food fad actually exists (which is often painfully hard to believe).
The novel begins when Janey’s business partner and lifelong friend, Beau, tells her she needs to drop thirty pounds because she’s an embarrassment to their brand—supremely expensive wedding dresses for only the thinnest of women.
One thing that’s wonderful is that Janey has never worried about her weight. She doesn’t necessarily pig out, but she eats waffles if she’s in the mood and doesn’t beat herself up over it (how refreshing!). Because Janey owns only 49 percent of the company, she doesn’t see what choice she has but to take the enforced sabbatical and drop the weight. And after all, maybe her tummy has gotten a little rounder than it once was and maybe her forty-year-old chin isn’t quite as tight as it had been.
The foil to Janey is her girlfriend CJ, who IS obsessed about her weight, and therefore gung ho to try these various ridiculous activities along with her. CJ even obsesses about whether her young twin boys look too chubby for Facebook. (!) So together, they discover a world where women spend outrageous sums of money to be screamed at about how fat and worthless they are. They eat clay. The words “artisanal” “organic” and “journeys” are used frequently—about everything.
This book actually did inspire me to get back into my fitness routine—one that costs almost nothing, like going on walks and eating more vegetables.
Ivy, Janey, and a few others are likeable and the villains are perfect folks you love to hate. I highly recommend this fun book. It has hints of romance, but you know Janey will be fine on her own, with or without a man (also refreshing!)
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
September 13, 2017
I throughly enjoyed this book. The health food/exercise craze is real, and this book does a great job bringing to light how ridiculous it can get. Obviously this book isn't fact, it is a comedy/satire, but I thought the authors did a great job of bringing crazy-rich-dying-to-be-skinny New Yorkers to life.
I loved the "articles" that started some of the chapters. They literally made me laugh, had my mouth dropping open with how ridiculous it was, or a combination of both (even if none of them were actually true).
This book isn't for everyone, but if you like reading about the ridiculousness of the skinny-obsessed, satire and chick lit, then this book is probably for you. It's a nice, lighter read.
4⭐️
I loved the "articles" that started some of the chapters. They literally made me laugh, had my mouth dropping open with how ridiculous it was, or a combination of both (even if none of them were actually true).
This book isn't for everyone, but if you like reading about the ridiculousness of the skinny-obsessed, satire and chick lit, then this book is probably for you. It's a nice, lighter read.
4⭐️
July 11, 2017
I was hesitant to pick up this title. Very, very hesitant. Now I love a good beach read (emphasis on the good ), but a book whose premise is a woman being forced to lose weight in order to keep her job? That makes me nervous. In this fat-shaming, female-bashing world, yet another product that sends the message that women aren't good enough isn't needed. Period. Qualms aside, I decided to valiantly plough ahead. And of how this beach read deceived me.
Yes the narrative's thesis remains the same, but the book is so much more than that. Naturally, there's the protagonist's requisite character growth (present in practically every beach read), but Fitness Junkie also beautifully describes the evolution of a longtime friendship. And it gives that friendship a weight that most novels fail to do. It places it above any romantic relationship featured and in doing so the novel becomes something more than it would have been otherwise.
As for the entire fat-shaming issue, to avoid spoilers I'll be as broad as possible: any issues I had were addressed and handled excellently. I particularly loved that for Janey, our main character, the focus was more on fitness than crash dieting. Janey didn't center on restrictive eating or calorie counting to lose weight. And while I'm aware over-exercising can also be problematic, Janey's attitude toward the entire situation is one to admire. She's a strong female character who only becomes more empowered over the course of the book. And as I said earlier, pretty much ALL of my concerns were put to rest by the last page. The ending is especially fantastic.
Would I classify Fitness Junkie as a beach read (I abhor the phrase "chick lit"--it's so demeaning)? Yes. If you despise the beach reading genre, this novel won't change your mind. But it's definitely meatier than most of its contemporaries. Think more Jennifer Weiner than Sophie Kinsella. It's light and funny at times. There's a HILARIOUS, spot-on, thinly-veiled account of our GOOP-ified Gwyneth. Janey and her female friends are also charming, while they (and the novel) nail and eviscerate pop fitness & diet culture. But as mentioned above, the emotional weight elevates what could've been a piddly, ridiculous book into something well worth your time.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Yes the narrative's thesis remains the same, but the book is so much more than that. Naturally, there's the protagonist's requisite character growth (present in practically every beach read), but Fitness Junkie also beautifully describes the evolution of a longtime friendship. And it gives that friendship a weight that most novels fail to do. It places it above any romantic relationship featured and in doing so the novel becomes something more than it would have been otherwise.
As for the entire fat-shaming issue, to avoid spoilers I'll be as broad as possible: any issues I had were addressed and handled excellently. I particularly loved that for Janey, our main character, the focus was more on fitness than crash dieting. Janey didn't center on restrictive eating or calorie counting to lose weight. And while I'm aware over-exercising can also be problematic, Janey's attitude toward the entire situation is one to admire. She's a strong female character who only becomes more empowered over the course of the book. And as I said earlier, pretty much ALL of my concerns were put to rest by the last page. The ending is especially fantastic.
Would I classify Fitness Junkie as a beach read (I abhor the phrase "chick lit"--it's so demeaning)? Yes. If you despise the beach reading genre, this novel won't change your mind. But it's definitely meatier than most of its contemporaries. Think more Jennifer Weiner than Sophie Kinsella. It's light and funny at times. There's a HILARIOUS, spot-on, thinly-veiled account of our GOOP-ified Gwyneth. Janey and her female friends are also charming, while they (and the novel) nail and eviscerate pop fitness & diet culture. But as mentioned above, the emotional weight elevates what could've been a piddly, ridiculous book into something well worth your time.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2018
This is a book about wealthy people wasting their money on fad health crazes and one 40ish successful woman’s descent into it all after her business partner, who is also her childhood best friend, tells her she is an embarrassment and can no longer be the face of the company she helped build because she’s too fat. And no, very much to my disappointment, she does not stab him to death.
She owns 49% of the company and though she’s hurt by his rejection and horrible insults, she silently slinks away and embarks on all of the fad fitness journeys that money can buy. And, apparently, money can buy you a lot of useless diet aides (clay eating?!) and retreats and painful over-priced workouts. Thankfully, I’ll never have enough extra money laying around to throw away on a $50 topless yoga class!
Janie wasn’t too bad as the main character. She’s dealing with a double whammy of betrayal and humiliation and manages to keep on plugging away instead of falling into a fit of “poor me” despair. Despite being a little insecure and very dumb about her business partner, Beau, she’s pretty likable as far as these types go. She knows these things are ridiculous but she goes along with them anyway; drinking strange juices, spending $15,000 on a retreat, eating a little clay, taking her top off and buying a fitness watch thingy that embarrasses her at every turn.
This book does poke fun at Gwyneth Paltrow and her silly Goop-iness but other than that I found it all pretty shallow and only vaguely entertaining and though it promised to be “outrageously funny” it really was not. However, you may have a better sense of humor than I.
She owns 49% of the company and though she’s hurt by his rejection and horrible insults, she silently slinks away and embarks on all of the fad fitness journeys that money can buy. And, apparently, money can buy you a lot of useless diet aides (clay eating?!) and retreats and painful over-priced workouts. Thankfully, I’ll never have enough extra money laying around to throw away on a $50 topless yoga class!
Janie wasn’t too bad as the main character. She’s dealing with a double whammy of betrayal and humiliation and manages to keep on plugging away instead of falling into a fit of “poor me” despair. Despite being a little insecure and very dumb about her business partner, Beau, she’s pretty likable as far as these types go. She knows these things are ridiculous but she goes along with them anyway; drinking strange juices, spending $15,000 on a retreat, eating a little clay, taking her top off and buying a fitness watch thingy that embarrasses her at every turn.
This book does poke fun at Gwyneth Paltrow and her silly Goop-iness but other than that I found it all pretty shallow and only vaguely entertaining and though it promised to be “outrageously funny” it really was not. However, you may have a better sense of humor than I.
June 17, 2017
Welcome to one of the true horrors of our society…weight. Get ready to see our weight obsession through the eyes of humor, attitude and snark when Janey’s world crashed around her and she fell for the, “I’ll be happier, healthier, more successful and more likable if I am thinner,” garbage she was fed, along with a good dose of clay.
Janey’s sometimes painful, sometimes comical journey to weight loss all began with an unspoken lie from her best friend. Get ready to laugh out loud, and witness the extremes our looks-conscious society will go to in search of shedding just one more pound. Sure, this is fiction, but I think Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza nailed more truths than meet the eye! FITNESS JUNKIE is a wonderful satire that showcases the absurdity of a society that would kill itself for a number on a scale or the size tag on a dress.
I’m not sure Janey felt real to me, but she did feel like the tool used to make the weight loss industry look pretty outlandish. Sure her miracle diets, programs and exercises were over the top, but that is what amps up the humor.
Sometimes a little overdone, but always entertaining, especially if one eats a bruffin while reading. Did Janey learn a lesson? What did she take away from the horrors she put her self through? Satire or not....this hits some pretty hot topics without apology!
I received an ARC edition from Doubleday in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Doubleday (July 11, 2017)
Publication Date: July 11, 2017
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Janey’s sometimes painful, sometimes comical journey to weight loss all began with an unspoken lie from her best friend. Get ready to laugh out loud, and witness the extremes our looks-conscious society will go to in search of shedding just one more pound. Sure, this is fiction, but I think Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza nailed more truths than meet the eye! FITNESS JUNKIE is a wonderful satire that showcases the absurdity of a society that would kill itself for a number on a scale or the size tag on a dress.
I’m not sure Janey felt real to me, but she did feel like the tool used to make the weight loss industry look pretty outlandish. Sure her miracle diets, programs and exercises were over the top, but that is what amps up the humor.
Sometimes a little overdone, but always entertaining, especially if one eats a bruffin while reading. Did Janey learn a lesson? What did she take away from the horrors she put her self through? Satire or not....this hits some pretty hot topics without apology!
I received an ARC edition from Doubleday in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Doubleday (July 11, 2017)
Publication Date: July 11, 2017
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Read
May 18, 2017When Janey Sweet, CEO of a couture wedding dress company that only makes clothes up to a size 6, is photographed in the front row of a fashion show eating a bruffin–a mix of brioche and muffin–her life-long best friend and business partner, Beau, gives her an ultimatum: Lose thirty pounds or lose your job.
Janey is shocked. She knows she’s put on a few pounds since her divorce, but she’s not a model—she’s the business part of the company! When she tries to remonstrate, Beau, her best friend since they were eight years old, reminds her that he has 51% of the business, and there is an actual clause in her contract about her weight.
So she goes to her college friend CJ, who is obsessed about her weight, and the two hurl themselves into the world of New York’s high end fitness revolution.
What got me interested was the promise of hilarity, specifically a reference to nude yoga, but that scene is more cringe-worthy and thought-provoking than it is hilarious. That is not to say that the funny isn’t there, because it is. The authors do a nifty job of satirizing not only rich New York’s obsession with being thin, but the entrepreneurs who cater to them (and prey on them), sometimes at the cost of their own sanity.
A sub-thread is Ivy, Janey’s cousin who is not rich, unlike Janey, and who lost her career as a ballet dancer to an accident, so is now a fitness instructor. Ivy, a genuinely nice girl with a hopeful and happy outlook on life, discovers that the more she abuses the people who come to her hip, expensive workouts, the more they return.
There is a lot of colorful detail about the high fashion world of New York, and where it intersects with artisanal health-food obsessions as well as fitness, but even more important, this book is about humans relating to one another as well as to their own bodies.
The backbone of the story is betrayal by the one closest to you. Janey has a great deal of reevaluating to do, and not just about her physical self. This journey, as well as the escalating story of the search for the Perfect Thin kept me turning the pages.
The narrative is charming, funny, observant, and spiced with wish-fulfillment, making the book a terrific summer read.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Janey is shocked. She knows she’s put on a few pounds since her divorce, but she’s not a model—she’s the business part of the company! When she tries to remonstrate, Beau, her best friend since they were eight years old, reminds her that he has 51% of the business, and there is an actual clause in her contract about her weight.
So she goes to her college friend CJ, who is obsessed about her weight, and the two hurl themselves into the world of New York’s high end fitness revolution.
What got me interested was the promise of hilarity, specifically a reference to nude yoga, but that scene is more cringe-worthy and thought-provoking than it is hilarious. That is not to say that the funny isn’t there, because it is. The authors do a nifty job of satirizing not only rich New York’s obsession with being thin, but the entrepreneurs who cater to them (and prey on them), sometimes at the cost of their own sanity.
A sub-thread is Ivy, Janey’s cousin who is not rich, unlike Janey, and who lost her career as a ballet dancer to an accident, so is now a fitness instructor. Ivy, a genuinely nice girl with a hopeful and happy outlook on life, discovers that the more she abuses the people who come to her hip, expensive workouts, the more they return.
There is a lot of colorful detail about the high fashion world of New York, and where it intersects with artisanal health-food obsessions as well as fitness, but even more important, this book is about humans relating to one another as well as to their own bodies.
The backbone of the story is betrayal by the one closest to you. Janey has a great deal of reevaluating to do, and not just about her physical self. This journey, as well as the escalating story of the search for the Perfect Thin kept me turning the pages.
The narrative is charming, funny, observant, and spiced with wish-fulfillment, making the book a terrific summer read.
Copy provided by NetGalley
August 27, 2017
Okay, so if you read a lot of my reviews you know I'm totally anti-diet and anti-fitspo and anti-fat-shaming. AND I have a bit of a history with all of this stuff so I can be pretty sensitive. However, this might be the most hilarious take on the whole fitness/diet industry ever, mostly because it's so scarily real. If you don't believe me, just search #fitspo #tiu #strongnotskinny on Instagram ~ I was HARDCORE in that community for too long and am not proud of it. This book pokes fun at the whole horrible industry in the best way, but also has a surprising amount f truth and heart as well. The audio version was excellent. highly recommended as a fun, light read for people who don't believe that skinny = happy.
November 14, 2019
Have you ever been a part of any fitness craze? I learned after trying different things that I'm just not the kind of person who is going to find her inner light and that I need active, really physical classes to get me moving... it's where I take out all my pent up emotions. Kickboxing is the perfect outlet. And recently I found indoor rowing which is way better for my back. But to meditate, ohm or let the universe decide my fate isn't the person I am. I don't begrudge the person it DOES work for - everyone has their own path in life. You do you. I'll do me.
It's satirical, it's satirical, it's satirical. I kept this mantra in my head as I read it because if I didn't I think I would've dislocated an eye - that's how many time I kept rolling them as I was reading this damn book. There are definitely some cute moments but mostly it felt like one big body shaming, cultish, anti-feminist read. SATIRICAL. I kept reading because Janey is a character I ended up quite liking a lot. She tries the new things and has this inner turmoil of is she/isn't she that I can relate to. But so many times I just wanted to be like WAKE UP JANEY SWEET! I had to find out how this was all going to end. I knew the direction it was going to go in, but I had to finish out the adventure. Unfortunately it just didn't work for me.
Not my cup of green juice. Nope. NEXT!
It's satirical, it's satirical, it's satirical. I kept this mantra in my head as I read it because if I didn't I think I would've dislocated an eye - that's how many time I kept rolling them as I was reading this damn book. There are definitely some cute moments but mostly it felt like one big body shaming, cultish, anti-feminist read. SATIRICAL. I kept reading because Janey is a character I ended up quite liking a lot. She tries the new things and has this inner turmoil of is she/isn't she that I can relate to. But so many times I just wanted to be like WAKE UP JANEY SWEET! I had to find out how this was all going to end. I knew the direction it was going to go in, but I had to finish out the adventure. Unfortunately it just didn't work for me.
Not my cup of green juice. Nope. NEXT!
April 13, 2020
I loved it.
I have never read a book that captures the essence of me so clearly in any given moment. Its comments on boutique fitness and its current trend was spot on and perfect satire. I loved the main character; I loved the subject matter. I was compelled to read in in free time but I did take my time and read it in a week. For all of you who are keeping track, that means I liked it.
January 31, 2019
I've written this review for Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Just like that sweet crooner, Shawn Mendes, this book had me in stitches. It’s hilarious. Likely the best thing about Fitness Junkie is that everyone can relate to it because we have all struggled with our own body image issues at some point. Janey is a bad ass southern girl taking NYC by storm when her little pest, Beau tells her she needs to drop some weight because she represents their wedding gown brand & can’t be seen eating a bruffin. A bruffin is a muffin & a brioche hybrid- it’s a real thing; just ask Oprah.
Janey goes on this quest to drop 30 lbs & enlists the help of her weight-obsessed, but lovable friend, CJ & her cousin, Ivy. She enters the world of the NYC fitness obsessed elite. There are spin classes where the instructors treat you like a drill sergeant, color coordinated cardio classes tucked into a secret location & tropical retreats where they feed you clay (seriously). She ventures out to a juice bar, there’s mention of a broth store & she even plays a freegan for a night & goes dumpster diving.
There are serious Goop vibes displayed by some of the characters and there is plenty of talk about organic, non-GMO, humane, ion filtered, hormone free, anti-inflammatory, turmeric, ghee, vitamin boosting IV treatments, kale, swiss chard & many other “all the rage” diet/health tips. Many of these made me smile because I’ve been guilty of a few of them myself. I seriously laughed out loud hearing about a PR rep for swiss chard with plans of it becoming the new kale. I mean, it will probably happen!
Now, I know this is supposed to be an unbiased review, but I am Really Into these authors, Lucy & Jo. I read The Knockoff when it was published in 2015 & I loved it. Readers of both will love the small nod to Glossy as it shows up in Fitness Junkie. Lucy & Jo do a fantastic job balancing out the ridiculous diet fads with the real life struggle of obtaining a healthy image. The story wraps up nicely & left me with a smile & a gentle nod to my girl, Janey. This is sure to be a perfect, fun, easy read this summer (or anytime, really) & it’s guaranteed to make you laugh, smile & possibly rethink your fitness regime.
Special thanks to Lucy Sykes, Jo Piazza, Doubleday Books & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Just like that sweet crooner, Shawn Mendes, this book had me in stitches. It’s hilarious. Likely the best thing about Fitness Junkie is that everyone can relate to it because we have all struggled with our own body image issues at some point. Janey is a bad ass southern girl taking NYC by storm when her little pest, Beau tells her she needs to drop some weight because she represents their wedding gown brand & can’t be seen eating a bruffin. A bruffin is a muffin & a brioche hybrid- it’s a real thing; just ask Oprah.
Janey goes on this quest to drop 30 lbs & enlists the help of her weight-obsessed, but lovable friend, CJ & her cousin, Ivy. She enters the world of the NYC fitness obsessed elite. There are spin classes where the instructors treat you like a drill sergeant, color coordinated cardio classes tucked into a secret location & tropical retreats where they feed you clay (seriously). She ventures out to a juice bar, there’s mention of a broth store & she even plays a freegan for a night & goes dumpster diving.
There are serious Goop vibes displayed by some of the characters and there is plenty of talk about organic, non-GMO, humane, ion filtered, hormone free, anti-inflammatory, turmeric, ghee, vitamin boosting IV treatments, kale, swiss chard & many other “all the rage” diet/health tips. Many of these made me smile because I’ve been guilty of a few of them myself. I seriously laughed out loud hearing about a PR rep for swiss chard with plans of it becoming the new kale. I mean, it will probably happen!
Now, I know this is supposed to be an unbiased review, but I am Really Into these authors, Lucy & Jo. I read The Knockoff when it was published in 2015 & I loved it. Readers of both will love the small nod to Glossy as it shows up in Fitness Junkie. Lucy & Jo do a fantastic job balancing out the ridiculous diet fads with the real life struggle of obtaining a healthy image. The story wraps up nicely & left me with a smile & a gentle nod to my girl, Janey. This is sure to be a perfect, fun, easy read this summer (or anytime, really) & it’s guaranteed to make you laugh, smile & possibly rethink your fitness regime.
Special thanks to Lucy Sykes, Jo Piazza, Doubleday Books & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
March 16, 2021
This is a fun book! Full review coming soon.
July 26, 2017
"But to be divorced, over forty, without kids - that made Janey something different altogether."
Any woman of a certain age that has been through something and then went on a journey to "find" herself will be able to relate to this book. There are parts that are lighthearted and completely over the top in a funny way and others that hit on the serious measures some women will go to for their happiness. All of those things make this an almost perfect chick lit book. My only issue is that the ending seemed rushed and I wanted more details about the progression of the characters. Overall, I predict this book will be a HUGE hit and a perfect companion for the beach this summer!!!
Any woman of a certain age that has been through something and then went on a journey to "find" herself will be able to relate to this book. There are parts that are lighthearted and completely over the top in a funny way and others that hit on the serious measures some women will go to for their happiness. All of those things make this an almost perfect chick lit book. My only issue is that the ending seemed rushed and I wanted more details about the progression of the characters. Overall, I predict this book will be a HUGE hit and a perfect companion for the beach this summer!!!
August 10, 2017
Fitness Junkie is a book that uses wonderful satire to depict the extremes of the fitness trends. With this basis, Sykes and Piazza added in romance post-divorce, finding yourself comfortable in your own skin, and the extremes of what people will do for money, fame, and fortune.
I thought the protagonist in Janey was wonderful. She took us along on her journey of self worth through fitness and wellness that is relatable to everyone. Many women go through the same struggles of simply wanting someone to tell them it is okay to be the size they are, rather than feeling beautiful in their skin no matter what. Janey tackles romance post-divorce like a pro. She juggles two different men that are very different. One symbolizes a boy, or her past, and the other is more man, and symbolizes her future. She goes through the journey of realizing what it is she actually wants and needs along with the journey she is taking with her body.
Sara Strong and Beau Von B were wonderful characters to show what fame and fortune can do to a person on the absolute extreme. They sabotage those around them to better themselves. Not only are they essential to greediness, but also to Janey learning that she doesn't need someone like that in her life to just use her. Another form of growth. The other supporting characters with their own similar stories also add enough to the book to keep it interesting.
Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable summer read.
I give this book 4. 6 out of 5 reads.
I thought the protagonist in Janey was wonderful. She took us along on her journey of self worth through fitness and wellness that is relatable to everyone. Many women go through the same struggles of simply wanting someone to tell them it is okay to be the size they are, rather than feeling beautiful in their skin no matter what. Janey tackles romance post-divorce like a pro. She juggles two different men that are very different. One symbolizes a boy, or her past, and the other is more man, and symbolizes her future. She goes through the journey of realizing what it is she actually wants and needs along with the journey she is taking with her body.
Sara Strong and Beau Von B were wonderful characters to show what fame and fortune can do to a person on the absolute extreme. They sabotage those around them to better themselves. Not only are they essential to greediness, but also to Janey learning that she doesn't need someone like that in her life to just use her. Another form of growth. The other supporting characters with their own similar stories also add enough to the book to keep it interesting.
Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable summer read.
I give this book 4. 6 out of 5 reads.
July 26, 2017
Fitness Junkie is a ridiculously funny satiric prose on the pressure women, and some men, are facing in order to conform to the idea of being perfect and fit that the society is trying to shove upon us. It is also like an inside look into the life of rich and famous people, how obsessed they are to follow the newest trend and the pressure they go through to fit right in their circle. Albeit ridiculously, they mirrored the perception of some women have these days on what is perceived to be the acceptable size by the society and the lengths those women go through to achieve that. I had such a laugh at crazy diets and exercise classes thinking it’s all fabricated only to find out that they really do exist. It may not be something you’ll call a deep book but it sure addresses a rather serious self-esteem issue that is so relevant today. A hilarious story that gives off a moral lesson of being happy with what you are and loving yourself for it. It is a hilarious quick-paced story and certainly an enjoyable read.
June 16, 2017
This darkly funny novel is an entertaining roast of fitness culture. Janey Sweet's lifelong bestie/business partner lays it out for her: "You're out until you drop thirty." As in, pounds. Janey begins her quest to shed the weight and quickly learns the fitness industry is cutthroat and just plain shady. If you've ever rolled your eyes over the kale craze or wanted to throw your FitBit in the trash, you'll enjoy this book!
I won this ARC in a giveaway from Goodreads and Doubleday books. Thanks to both!
I won this ARC in a giveaway from Goodreads and Doubleday books. Thanks to both!
February 20, 2018
I needed something funny and fluffy and this delivered. This satirical look at health and fitness had me laughing my ass off (if only that were truly possible 😏). It’s witty and smart and fun. It pokes fun at pretty much all things pretentious. Loved it!
March 1, 2018
Having recently gotten into fitness the last few months, I thought this satirical novel was spot on and hysterical. I found Janie Sweet extremely likable and relatable. Can't wait to read more from this team!
July 14, 2017
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-B review- Fitness Junkie by Lisa Sykes and Jo Piazza (comedy/tori)
Favorite Quote: “You work out 3 hours every day for fun?
Fitness Junkie is snark-filled laugh out loud satire that wildly swings on a pendulum from realistic and relatable to the outrageous and insane as authors Sykes and Piazza mock and poke fun at the fitness and health fad craze of the rich and famous. Delightfully humorous and loaded with energy, we follow Janey Sweet, the CEO of B Wedding Designs, through her weight loss odyssey after her business partner and best guy friend catches her eating a bruffin at a fashion show. He informs her that she needs to lose thirty pounds in three months or not bother coming back. Apparently, being photographed eating in the fashion world is akin to sacrificing little babies on TV. Janey, devastated but determined, dives feet first into the complicated world of dieting as she investigates the latest and greatest weight dissolving ploys such as nipple free yoga, fat freezing, clay diets, and supposed terrorist run boot camps. With the help of a cousin and her best gal pal, Janey learns a lesson about relationships, friendship, family, and being happy.
As someone who hates working out and dieting, I can certainly relate to this book. Sykes and Piazza capitalize on the wild and crazy but also dig down deep and take a good hard look at the unrealistic expectations society places on people and the extent to which we will go to measure up. Thin is in and God help you if you aren’t what others think you should look like. The story does start out a little slow as we are dragged down memory lane and Janey recaps her relationship with Beau from first meeting in grade school to the present. Luckily, after that chapter, the book speeds up to a comfortable level.
Janey was very easy for me to relate to. Even with her $1500 Chanel distressed knee-high boots. She’s a divorced forty years old who built a business with her childhood friend, Beau, and is content with her life. She may have gained a few pounds here and there but she’s not obese nor unhealthy. But in a town where eating is a crime, her partner, Beau, humiliates her by calling her fat and demanding she lose the weight. Beau’s actions hurt Janey and cause her to doubt herself, but also force her to take an honest look at her life and the decisions she’s made through the years.
I liked that Janey isn’t made to be a martyr or a flake. She is a strong, self-assured, intelligent woman who at first follows Beau’s edict because she scared of losing her business and her friend. But as the story progresses, we see Janey slowly evolving. We see how she has used Beau and her work to shut herself off from the world and not have to deal with its unpleasantness. Through her reconnection with old friends, the making of new friends, and a few romantic encounters, Janey is ushered into the here and now with a stronger self, core, and outlook on life.
A very eclectic secondary cast punctuates the story with humor and drama as they filter in and out of Janey’s life.CJ is a diet & fitness aficionado and is a hoot as she joins up with Janey on her quest. Janey’s cousin Ivy is an expensive former ballerina/ fitness instructor with anger issues. We meet born again shamans, financial advisors turned juice gurus, and a few actress/bloggers *cough cough* whose unrealistic articles will leave you giggling at their pretentiousness.
Fitness Junkie is a hilarious look at humanity and it’s many many MANY issues. It left me giggling and promising myself to stop stepping in the scale so much.
Grade: B
Favorite Quote: “You work out 3 hours every day for fun?
Fitness Junkie is snark-filled laugh out loud satire that wildly swings on a pendulum from realistic and relatable to the outrageous and insane as authors Sykes and Piazza mock and poke fun at the fitness and health fad craze of the rich and famous. Delightfully humorous and loaded with energy, we follow Janey Sweet, the CEO of B Wedding Designs, through her weight loss odyssey after her business partner and best guy friend catches her eating a bruffin at a fashion show. He informs her that she needs to lose thirty pounds in three months or not bother coming back. Apparently, being photographed eating in the fashion world is akin to sacrificing little babies on TV. Janey, devastated but determined, dives feet first into the complicated world of dieting as she investigates the latest and greatest weight dissolving ploys such as nipple free yoga, fat freezing, clay diets, and supposed terrorist run boot camps. With the help of a cousin and her best gal pal, Janey learns a lesson about relationships, friendship, family, and being happy.
As someone who hates working out and dieting, I can certainly relate to this book. Sykes and Piazza capitalize on the wild and crazy but also dig down deep and take a good hard look at the unrealistic expectations society places on people and the extent to which we will go to measure up. Thin is in and God help you if you aren’t what others think you should look like. The story does start out a little slow as we are dragged down memory lane and Janey recaps her relationship with Beau from first meeting in grade school to the present. Luckily, after that chapter, the book speeds up to a comfortable level.
Janey was very easy for me to relate to. Even with her $1500 Chanel distressed knee-high boots. She’s a divorced forty years old who built a business with her childhood friend, Beau, and is content with her life. She may have gained a few pounds here and there but she’s not obese nor unhealthy. But in a town where eating is a crime, her partner, Beau, humiliates her by calling her fat and demanding she lose the weight. Beau’s actions hurt Janey and cause her to doubt herself, but also force her to take an honest look at her life and the decisions she’s made through the years.
I liked that Janey isn’t made to be a martyr or a flake. She is a strong, self-assured, intelligent woman who at first follows Beau’s edict because she scared of losing her business and her friend. But as the story progresses, we see Janey slowly evolving. We see how she has used Beau and her work to shut herself off from the world and not have to deal with its unpleasantness. Through her reconnection with old friends, the making of new friends, and a few romantic encounters, Janey is ushered into the here and now with a stronger self, core, and outlook on life.
A very eclectic secondary cast punctuates the story with humor and drama as they filter in and out of Janey’s life.CJ is a diet & fitness aficionado and is a hoot as she joins up with Janey on her quest. Janey’s cousin Ivy is an expensive former ballerina/ fitness instructor with anger issues. We meet born again shamans, financial advisors turned juice gurus, and a few actress/bloggers *cough cough* whose unrealistic articles will leave you giggling at their pretentiousness.
Fitness Junkie is a hilarious look at humanity and it’s many many MANY issues. It left me giggling and promising myself to stop stepping in the scale so much.
Grade: B
September 13, 2021
What is it with books about uber-rich women that I find so fascinating?
Fitness Junkie is one of the more interesting ones I’ve come across. Janey is a 40-year-old divorcee , who is a CEO of B, a wedding dress design company she runs with her best friend, Beau.
He is the creative designer. She is the level-headed CEO.
One day at brunch, Beau tells Janey she’s embarrassing. She’s too fat and needs to take three months off to lose 30 pounds. After all, her fatness is not a good representation of the company.
Sarcasm intended.
This is the point that could lose the reader. Although Janey consults with lawyers in the book, this could not be legally feasible in real life.
Even if it was legal, would a powerful CEO really roll over, take an unwanted sabbatical, and be happy chasing exercise trends, even with knowledge of a coup in the works? Would a successful CEO have no other business aspirations or machinations?
Absolutely not. The book forces the reader to suspend disbelief for the fun of going on these absurd diet and exercise excursions.
Okay, then. Turn off the logical part of the brain and enjoy the ride.
When you do away with common sense and the disgustingly sexist construct, the story is actually interesting. Like an anthropologist studying the habits of another culture, one which most people will never inhabit.
During her leave, Janey figures out that
This sounds like a scathing review, but it really isn't. This book is a lot of fun. Most of the fun in the winking tongue-in-cheek absurdity. The book knows how ridiculous it is. It's in on the joke. And at the same time, Janey is likeable. She'd be a fun friend.
Plot holes aside, Fitness Junkie actually is escapist fun. Grab the binoculars and explore this other culture in its natural habitat.
I mean, it includes topless yoga. How can you pass that up?
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of Fitness Junkie in exchange for an honest review.
Watch the video review of Fitness Junkie here.
Read Remark Reviews | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest
Fitness Junkie is one of the more interesting ones I’ve come across. Janey is a 40-year-old divorcee , who is a CEO of B, a wedding dress design company she runs with her best friend, Beau.
He is the creative designer. She is the level-headed CEO.
One day at brunch, Beau tells Janey she’s embarrassing. She’s too fat and needs to take three months off to lose 30 pounds. After all, her fatness is not a good representation of the company.
Sarcasm intended.
This is the point that could lose the reader. Although Janey consults with lawyers in the book, this could not be legally feasible in real life.
Even if it was legal, would a powerful CEO really roll over, take an unwanted sabbatical, and be happy chasing exercise trends, even with knowledge of a coup in the works? Would a successful CEO have no other business aspirations or machinations?
Absolutely not. The book forces the reader to suspend disbelief for the fun of going on these absurd diet and exercise excursions.
Okay, then. Turn off the logical part of the brain and enjoy the ride.
When you do away with common sense and the disgustingly sexist construct, the story is actually interesting. Like an anthropologist studying the habits of another culture, one which most people will never inhabit.
During her leave, Janey figures out that
This sounds like a scathing review, but it really isn't. This book is a lot of fun. Most of the fun in the winking tongue-in-cheek absurdity. The book knows how ridiculous it is. It's in on the joke. And at the same time, Janey is likeable. She'd be a fun friend.
Plot holes aside, Fitness Junkie actually is escapist fun. Grab the binoculars and explore this other culture in its natural habitat.
I mean, it includes topless yoga. How can you pass that up?
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of Fitness Junkie in exchange for an honest review.
Watch the video review of Fitness Junkie here.
Read Remark Reviews | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest
August 13, 2017
(I've just fangirl-ed quite a bit, as Lucy Sykes has followed my Instagram :) )
I really, really enjoyed this book. It was fun and fast-paced, though there was no heavy page-turning drama (albeit some drama, of course). It has been a while since I've felt the joy of not wanting to put a book down and when I did have to put it down, the satisfaction of picking it back up and getting right back into it.
I don't like to use the term "chick-lit" as it's sexist and exclusive (in a bad way), but if I had to choose a book to fit the "chick-lit" bill, this would be it. Mostly female characters in the lavish, idealistic version of New York City, many of whom are slaves to couture and to diets that aren't approved by the FDA. But for me, that's fun, because it's not my reality. It's the other half, and most of us would like to be a fly on the wall to see how they live. It's light and easy and the perfect read for my week dog-sitting, where I had to pet the sweet girl's head whilst simultaneously turning the page. Not as easy as it sounds!
Janey was a really nice, sweet character that I felt for. At times needy and insecure, yet comfortable in her own skin at other times, she is someone I could root for and get behind.
Again, this is not a challenging read, but a fun one. A clay-eating, Louboutin-wearing world to get lost in and just enjoy.
Thank you to the publishers and the authors for the opportunity to read this book in advance!
I really, really enjoyed this book. It was fun and fast-paced, though there was no heavy page-turning drama (albeit some drama, of course). It has been a while since I've felt the joy of not wanting to put a book down and when I did have to put it down, the satisfaction of picking it back up and getting right back into it.
I don't like to use the term "chick-lit" as it's sexist and exclusive (in a bad way), but if I had to choose a book to fit the "chick-lit" bill, this would be it. Mostly female characters in the lavish, idealistic version of New York City, many of whom are slaves to couture and to diets that aren't approved by the FDA. But for me, that's fun, because it's not my reality. It's the other half, and most of us would like to be a fly on the wall to see how they live. It's light and easy and the perfect read for my week dog-sitting, where I had to pet the sweet girl's head whilst simultaneously turning the page. Not as easy as it sounds!
Janey was a really nice, sweet character that I felt for. At times needy and insecure, yet comfortable in her own skin at other times, she is someone I could root for and get behind.
Again, this is not a challenging read, but a fun one. A clay-eating, Louboutin-wearing world to get lost in and just enjoy.
Thank you to the publishers and the authors for the opportunity to read this book in advance!
August 8, 2017
This book was very meh for me. I enjoyed Janey's perspective and the fitness world stuff was fascinating, but I didn't find the plot (or really, the lack of plot) very interesting. Janey's journey of self-discovery was fun, though, and I laughed really hard at some details - the the coffee the bird poops out. I hated Beau (as I think we're supposed to) and loved the guys she dates. I also kind of hated CJ. I know they're friends, and at the end, it's obvious that CJ has Janey's best interests at heart, but she was weirdly obsessive about her children's weight, and I'm not about that.
So. I'm meh about the plot and liked the narrator. In addition, there is a LOT of fat-shaming in this book, along with some completely unnecessary homophobic remarks. Yuck. So anyway. This meh book gets a meh rating.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for supplying me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So. I'm meh about the plot and liked the narrator. In addition, there is a LOT of fat-shaming in this book, along with some completely unnecessary homophobic remarks. Yuck. So anyway. This meh book gets a meh rating.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for supplying me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2018
The Fitness Junkie does to the fitness industry what the author's previous book, The Knockoff, did for the fashion industry. With her snarky wit, the author pokes fun at fitness trends and those who are eager to jump on the bandwagon. The book takes a more serious turn as the story goes on, proving that moderation is always the best course of action.
I enjoy this author's style of writing and while the book was mostly fun, there are lessons to be learned from the main character's experience.
**Following the projected release date of July, I'll be featuring this book on my blog book club in August! Check it out and share your review: http://www.takinglongwayhome.com
I was given a copy of the book for review from NetGalley.
I enjoy this author's style of writing and while the book was mostly fun, there are lessons to be learned from the main character's experience.
**Following the projected release date of July, I'll be featuring this book on my blog book club in August! Check it out and share your review: http://www.takinglongwayhome.com
I was given a copy of the book for review from NetGalley.
August 1, 2017
I adored this book! I loved the first book this duo wrote together, The Knockoff, and I thought this was a great second venture! The writing was witty and outlandish with just the perfect amount of realism thrown in to how how absurd the fitness craze can be. As a New Yorker, I can vouch that most of the "trendy" workouts in the book are based on fact, and that in this case the truth might be even stranger than fiction!
I completely sympathized with the protagonist and I loved her journey! A wonderful summer read!
*fyi, I got this one from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review :)
I completely sympathized with the protagonist and I loved her journey! A wonderful summer read!
*fyi, I got this one from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review :)
April 1, 2021
What a fun book!
The characters were amusing and relatable.
With a few fun twists that popped in near the end, the book stayed interesting throughout.
Very enjoyable!
***********ARC FROM GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***********
The characters were amusing and relatable.
With a few fun twists that popped in near the end, the book stayed interesting throughout.
Very enjoyable!
***********ARC FROM GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***********
July 1, 2020
This was a fun book to read. Such nutty fun :)
July 4, 2023
Paper & Glam Book Club June 2023
👟👟👟.5 Sneakers
This novel is the perfect Self Care Summer read, with its backdrop of the 1.5 trillion dollar wellness industry in all its glory, possibility, and problematic narratives.
It's a fun romp through the backrooms of the businesses selling "wellth" and the journey of self discovery we go on to find it on our own terms.
👟👟👟.5 Sneakers
This novel is the perfect Self Care Summer read, with its backdrop of the 1.5 trillion dollar wellness industry in all its glory, possibility, and problematic narratives.
It's a fun romp through the backrooms of the businesses selling "wellth" and the journey of self discovery we go on to find it on our own terms.
July 22, 2017
The view from the life of the 1% has been America’s strange obsession for a long time, but never has that obsession seemed more ridiculous than in Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza’s new novel, Fitness Junkie. While the book’s PR claims it is “a hilarious send-up of the health and wellness industry,” you won’t find anyone who hasn’t drank the Kool-Aid in this book, including, it feels, its authors. To echo the words of the immortal Titus Andromedon (and if you don’t know who that is, get thee to Netflix post haste): “What white nonsense is this?”
With most books set in the lives of the rich and famous, there is usually at least one character that feels grounded in reality, giving us an “Everyman” view (think Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, or more recently, Rachel Chu of the Crazy Rich Asians series). The main character in Fitness Junkie, Janey Sweet, starts off seemingly sane, even saddled with the job of CEO of a famous couture wedding dress company, and as she dips her finger into the syrup of her French toast, you’re already rooting for her. However, after an insulting ultimatum from her BFF/business partner, Beau – basically “Don’t come back to work until you lose 30 pounds” - Janey is right on the crazy train, trying every diet fad and workout craze, falling from relatable to incomprehensible in a matter of pages. Most of this has to do with how the authors choose to write not only Janey, but her world as well. Janey, of course, is rich; her only concern on being outed of her job for three months is being “bored out of her mind” and only wanting to vacation in places that would be counterproductive to her losing weight. Her friends are also rich: a stay-at-home mom married to a lawyer, a famous fitness instructor, a shaman (no, really) – you want to laugh, but the way the characters are written don’t feel like a parody. You start to suspect, after a while, that these are thinly-veiled fictionalizations of actual people, people that the authors might actually respect, which makes the story less ludicrous and more sad and slightly pathetic.
To be frank, there are a lot of people in the world that deserve empathy and understanding. I certainly don’t want to feel it for the ultra-wealthy about the consequences of their over-the-top habits; I even less want to pay for a book that might make me feel sorry for them. I’m sure they have enough money to pay people to do that.
With most books set in the lives of the rich and famous, there is usually at least one character that feels grounded in reality, giving us an “Everyman” view (think Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, or more recently, Rachel Chu of the Crazy Rich Asians series). The main character in Fitness Junkie, Janey Sweet, starts off seemingly sane, even saddled with the job of CEO of a famous couture wedding dress company, and as she dips her finger into the syrup of her French toast, you’re already rooting for her. However, after an insulting ultimatum from her BFF/business partner, Beau – basically “Don’t come back to work until you lose 30 pounds” - Janey is right on the crazy train, trying every diet fad and workout craze, falling from relatable to incomprehensible in a matter of pages. Most of this has to do with how the authors choose to write not only Janey, but her world as well. Janey, of course, is rich; her only concern on being outed of her job for three months is being “bored out of her mind” and only wanting to vacation in places that would be counterproductive to her losing weight. Her friends are also rich: a stay-at-home mom married to a lawyer, a famous fitness instructor, a shaman (no, really) – you want to laugh, but the way the characters are written don’t feel like a parody. You start to suspect, after a while, that these are thinly-veiled fictionalizations of actual people, people that the authors might actually respect, which makes the story less ludicrous and more sad and slightly pathetic.
To be frank, there are a lot of people in the world that deserve empathy and understanding. I certainly don’t want to feel it for the ultra-wealthy about the consequences of their over-the-top habits; I even less want to pay for a book that might make me feel sorry for them. I’m sure they have enough money to pay people to do that.
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