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Thinspo
Jenni is an average teenage girl about to graduate from high school who keeps a blog about her struggles to get a boyfriend and arguments with her best friend, Carly. But Jenni's blog is a bit different. She's a pro-ana/pro-mia blogger documenting her struggles with her eating disorder, keeping track of her weight, calorie intake and what her parents made her eat. When her best friend Carly discovers her blog, things start to blow up, only getting worse as Jenni meets Dani, who also suffers from an eating disorder. Jenni's story is tragic and sarcastic rolled into blog format and told through her posts and text messages.
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2012
About the author
Amy Ellis
8 books36 followersAmy Ellis lives in London and works in publishing. She has a BA in Creative Writing from Longwood University and a Masters in Digital Publishing from Oxford Brookes University. She enjoys writing poems, knitting, gardening, and playing with her dog.
You can find her online at amy-ellis.com or on social media @amesplaza.
You can find her online at amy-ellis.com or on social media @amesplaza.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 4, 2019
“THINSPO” by AMY ELLIS is a short book written in the format of blogs and texts following Jenni who is suffering from an eating disorder and running a ProAna blog.
If you’re unfamiliar with the vile concept of “Pro Ana”, it is essentially a community which promotes anorexia and believe it is a beautiful lifestyle that everyone should strive to attain. They glamourise their slow suicide and encourage others to do it too. Naturally, reading a book with this as it’s primary focus is haunting and shocking, especially since our protagonist, Jenni is completely oblivious to how sickening it actually is.
On one hand, I find this incredible. We are stuck inside Jenni's brain, reading her perspective on the blog. This offers an incredible and authentic insight into the realities of someone who is suffering. It really highlights to a reader who is fortunate not to have this disease what really goes through their minds. The self torture, self hatred and low self esteem that all contribute and ultimately fuel the disorder. Moreover, it shows the disgusting idea of “ana buddies”, fellow sufferers who prompt the other to engage in anorexic behaviours, congratulate them when they obey and scold them where they don’t. It’s horrific. The concept makes my stomach churn and curdle which adds to the shocking tone of the book.
On the other hand, to someone who does have an eating disorder, this is possibly the most triggering and damaging book you will ever read. Eating disorders are already competitive illnesses so reading this book when you are not in the correct state of mind is a huge mistake. There are frequent and visceral descriptions of purging, calories and weight mentioned on every other page and the content of some foods. Even the cover features an emaciated girl, her bones prominent as they jut out of her malnourished body. It was truly horrendous and damaging to me personally so if you struggle, I urge you to stay clear of this book because of how harmful it was.
Although short, it did keep my interest. I read it in one sitting at three o' clock in the morning as extreme hunger decided to wake me up so I flew through it, grateful for the distraction. It’s plain and unsophisticated writing style made it quick to fly through and process what was occurring.
However, although it was successful in engaging me, the cast of characters were the most bland and one dimensional people I have ever read about. That is not even an exaggeration. Jenni was her disorder; she lacks hobbies, interests, hates, likes, ambitions. She was entirely consumed. Of course I am aware how overwhelming mental illnesses are, forcing you only to ever think about them, having your life dictated by it but once you develop the disorder but your personality doesn’t evaporate. I believe the reader failed to develop anyone. In addition to this, Jenni's best friend, Carly was so boring I can only think to compare her to dry toast and water. She was so dry. Insipid. Dull. It is possible to create lifelike characters in a novella but the writer ultimately fails to do this. Consequently, I was slightly losing interest in the story as it felt I was reading about cardboard cutouts rather than people.
Another complaint that I have is: it almost glamourises anorexia. Obviously it shows the protagonist as she is literally the creator of a blog that believes anorexia is beautiful but it is unsuccessful in conveying to the reader it is otherwise. We have the occasional mention of abdominal pain due to a lack of food and the incident where Jenni nearly passes out but otherwise, there is no discussion of other symptoms and side effects of such a painful disease. Overwhelming vertigo accompanied by nausea? Chest pain so painful you can't breathe? Hair loss and brittle nails? Actually fainting and the repercussions of that (hitting your head, injuring yourself)? I believe the book would have benefitted from integrating these in so the reader too doesn’t get warped into the twisted world of pro ana.
The ending, in my opinion, was rushed but realistic. It seemed very quick to end and there were a few ties left lose; the lack of denouement initially angered me but the ambiguity allowed me to come up with my own conclusion and inevitably hope for the best for Jenni. The ending was incredibly realistic, educating the reader on the fact not everyone with anorexia recovers. Not everybody ever heals from the disease. Although dark and grim, the book offers the authentic insight to the reality for many.
In conclusion, this book was quick and unsophisticated although it portrays an honest look into the truth of anorexia. It really juxtaposes and contrasts the stigma and stereotype that anorexia is just not eating and exercising all the time. It’s not. It’s mental torture, starving and hating yourself when you eat, thinking that nourishing your body is a lack of willpower, food has to be earned, control has to be attained, perfection has to be conquered. It’s a disease; not a shy, petite and pretty girl laughing as she refuses a cupcake and a boy telling her she’s perfect the way she is. It’s hating every single inch of yourself and destroying your body because you don’t think you’re worthy of life. It’s not just quick weight loss, it’s slow suicide. All of these ideas are presented in the book so to someone who doesn’t struggle, this book is brilliant in educating them on the topic. However, if an eating disorder of any kind is something you do deal with, I beg you to avoid this book. There are plenty of other novels on this subject matter that can convey similar or identical messages without harming your recovery, wellbeing or mental health.
If you’re unfamiliar with the vile concept of “Pro Ana”, it is essentially a community which promotes anorexia and believe it is a beautiful lifestyle that everyone should strive to attain. They glamourise their slow suicide and encourage others to do it too. Naturally, reading a book with this as it’s primary focus is haunting and shocking, especially since our protagonist, Jenni is completely oblivious to how sickening it actually is.
On one hand, I find this incredible. We are stuck inside Jenni's brain, reading her perspective on the blog. This offers an incredible and authentic insight into the realities of someone who is suffering. It really highlights to a reader who is fortunate not to have this disease what really goes through their minds. The self torture, self hatred and low self esteem that all contribute and ultimately fuel the disorder. Moreover, it shows the disgusting idea of “ana buddies”, fellow sufferers who prompt the other to engage in anorexic behaviours, congratulate them when they obey and scold them where they don’t. It’s horrific. The concept makes my stomach churn and curdle which adds to the shocking tone of the book.
On the other hand, to someone who does have an eating disorder, this is possibly the most triggering and damaging book you will ever read. Eating disorders are already competitive illnesses so reading this book when you are not in the correct state of mind is a huge mistake. There are frequent and visceral descriptions of purging, calories and weight mentioned on every other page and the content of some foods. Even the cover features an emaciated girl, her bones prominent as they jut out of her malnourished body. It was truly horrendous and damaging to me personally so if you struggle, I urge you to stay clear of this book because of how harmful it was.
Although short, it did keep my interest. I read it in one sitting at three o' clock in the morning as extreme hunger decided to wake me up so I flew through it, grateful for the distraction. It’s plain and unsophisticated writing style made it quick to fly through and process what was occurring.
However, although it was successful in engaging me, the cast of characters were the most bland and one dimensional people I have ever read about. That is not even an exaggeration. Jenni was her disorder; she lacks hobbies, interests, hates, likes, ambitions. She was entirely consumed. Of course I am aware how overwhelming mental illnesses are, forcing you only to ever think about them, having your life dictated by it but once you develop the disorder but your personality doesn’t evaporate. I believe the reader failed to develop anyone. In addition to this, Jenni's best friend, Carly was so boring I can only think to compare her to dry toast and water. She was so dry. Insipid. Dull. It is possible to create lifelike characters in a novella but the writer ultimately fails to do this. Consequently, I was slightly losing interest in the story as it felt I was reading about cardboard cutouts rather than people.
Another complaint that I have is: it almost glamourises anorexia. Obviously it shows the protagonist as she is literally the creator of a blog that believes anorexia is beautiful but it is unsuccessful in conveying to the reader it is otherwise. We have the occasional mention of abdominal pain due to a lack of food and the incident where Jenni nearly passes out but otherwise, there is no discussion of other symptoms and side effects of such a painful disease. Overwhelming vertigo accompanied by nausea? Chest pain so painful you can't breathe? Hair loss and brittle nails? Actually fainting and the repercussions of that (hitting your head, injuring yourself)? I believe the book would have benefitted from integrating these in so the reader too doesn’t get warped into the twisted world of pro ana.
The ending, in my opinion, was rushed but realistic. It seemed very quick to end and there were a few ties left lose; the lack of denouement initially angered me but the ambiguity allowed me to come up with my own conclusion and inevitably hope for the best for Jenni. The ending was incredibly realistic, educating the reader on the fact not everyone with anorexia recovers. Not everybody ever heals from the disease. Although dark and grim, the book offers the authentic insight to the reality for many.
In conclusion, this book was quick and unsophisticated although it portrays an honest look into the truth of anorexia. It really juxtaposes and contrasts the stigma and stereotype that anorexia is just not eating and exercising all the time. It’s not. It’s mental torture, starving and hating yourself when you eat, thinking that nourishing your body is a lack of willpower, food has to be earned, control has to be attained, perfection has to be conquered. It’s a disease; not a shy, petite and pretty girl laughing as she refuses a cupcake and a boy telling her she’s perfect the way she is. It’s hating every single inch of yourself and destroying your body because you don’t think you’re worthy of life. It’s not just quick weight loss, it’s slow suicide. All of these ideas are presented in the book so to someone who doesn’t struggle, this book is brilliant in educating them on the topic. However, if an eating disorder of any kind is something you do deal with, I beg you to avoid this book. There are plenty of other novels on this subject matter that can convey similar or identical messages without harming your recovery, wellbeing or mental health.
January 3, 2013
Very short book and a quick read. At first I thought the writing style would be annoying, but the book wasn't long enough for that to happen. Overall I enjoyed the book but would probably not recommend it. It reads as if you're reading the middle excerpt of a book. You suddenly enter the story and you suddenly leave it.
August 13, 2021
This is maybe the worst book I've ever read. Completely fails to be an engaging narrative OR a realistic depiction of a blog like this. The characters are so flat and stereotypical and unrealistic, none of them have personalities that are distinct from one another, every plot thread goes nowhere and is dropped without question. It also reads like nobody fucking proofread it (the main character's name is spelled wrong). These are mistakes that could've been caught by just. Reading back your book one time. But apparently nobody bothered!
Basically, I can't think of any reason to read this book except as self-harm if you're deep in the throes of an ED. It would be great for that. But nobody should ever publish a book for that purpose.
Basically, I can't think of any reason to read this book except as self-harm if you're deep in the throes of an ED. It would be great for that. But nobody should ever publish a book for that purpose.
March 4, 2016
Although the story was typical and predictable and the writing unsophisticated, having been through the issues the protagonist faced meant this book connected with me. It was extremely accurate and honest. Despite the spelling mistakes I read it in less than 24 hours in order to see what my life experience was like written on paper. Would not recommend it for those not on the road to recovery but for others this may be an eye-opener to the scary mindframe of suffering from an eating disorder.
January 2, 2022
2 stars because I think the representation isn’t the worst I’ve seen, the way it’s written gives authenticity but idk I don’t think it’s helpful for anyone to read really. The characters have zero depth, I think itd have been more helpful to show how EDs impact aspects of your life and that wasn’t shown
April 16, 2024
Ultimately, very bad. Um. lame, triggering, and flat. Don’t read, lol.
July 19, 2022
The main character was unlikeable, the plot has no development, ends really abruptly, and it's super pro-ana. Nobody acts like a real person, all the dialogue is just as cringe worthy as the title and cover of the book suggests. Nobody should read this book, even if you're intentionally trying to trigger yourself, at least read something with decent writing.
May 20, 2020
Ms. Ellis, you spelled your main character's name wrong multiple times. "Jenni" and "Jenny" were found throughout the novel. Many words were misspelled. This felt like someone who heard of what an eating disorder is a week ago wrote this book. Utterly unrealistic and full of stereotypes with no real ending.
Read
May 13, 2023I'm not sure honestly how I feel about this. It was a harrowing and very real, frighteningly realistic portrayal although fictionalized. The ending was too ambiguous for me, but I do think it was so accurate and as someone quite candid about my own personal experiences with such disordered patterns of behaviour, of course I could relate and empathize. I'm curious to know people's thoughts on, is this common with all girls and at some point in every girl's life? Do we all go through such difficulties with our bodies, selves, foods/drinks what we intake? Has that become the normal for the female gender over time and with cultural / sociological development?
July 16, 2020
TL;DR/WARNING: I would NOT recommend reading this book if you have/had an eating disorder. I've read a lot of eating disorder books, and there are many that I feel people with ED can relate to, and take a healthy message of recovery from, but this is NOT that book. Seriously, if you have ever been affected by ED personally, please don't read this. (I guess if you're someone who has a friend or loved one with ED and wants to better understand them, this might, help.) But fuck that, there are better books. I'll leave a list of better books at the end of this. Read one of this review.
Nope. I love issue books. Anyone who knows me knows that I hunt them down, because I love them. But the thing I love most about issue books was alarmingly absent in this book, and that's the inspiration of overcoming. I love to get really attached to a character who is combating a very real problem, and I love watching them struggle and deal with their pain, their trauma, and emerge, triumphant on the other side. This book though, lacks that end piece, where the character ultimately learns to cope in a healthy way and overcomes. And all this book ends up reading as is a big fat trigger warning.
Seriously. I can see this book being WILDLY triggering to people who suffer from eating disorders. There are constant mentions of bingeing/purging, weight totals on damn near every page, calorie counts, and it all feels very pro-anorexia, which I suppose is the point. Don't get me wrong, I think a book that exposes the danger of pro-ana/mia blogs is not only important, but necessary. But this book isn't it. This book does do a good job of detailing the mental status and thoughts of someone trapped in an anorexic lifestyle, so consumed by their eating disorder that they think of nothing else. So i will give the book credit for being realistic on that front. But that's also part of the problem.
Our protagonist Jenni/Jenny doesn't even feel like a real person, and has no thoughts that aren't her disorder. For a book like this to work, you have to have real character development, so we can get attached to that character, comet o love them, and feel for them, and feel the torment of being such an unreliable narrator, of being so ill. Jenni is definitely ill, but she was pretty much boiled down to being only her illness and nothing more. And that's just one of the issues I have with this book.
The bigger issue here is that it almost feels like it's glamorizing eating disorders. For a book like this to work, it has to also show the dangerous and ugly side of disorders. And this book does that, in spades, but only to a healthy reader who can see how distorted and fucked up Jenni's life has become. But to anyone who isn't healthy, who might actually be suffering with an eating disorder and looking for some solace, looking for a book that understands but shows that it's possible to overcome, this book is just plain dangerous. Because this book constantly details how beautiful and perfect people are that are unnaturally thin. And that's so damaging. If you only see the negative side of things from outside of the book, that's not ok. (Me, for example, I can see how toxic and unhealthy Jenni is, because I am healthy enough to recognize how wrong and problematic Jenni's thoughts are.) But I only see those problems outside for the book, and there's very little mention of the fact that Jenni does indeed have a problem, except in her denial of it when people try to confront her. And because of that, this book ends up reading like a glamorization of eating disorders, and ends up being the thing (I think/hope) it was trying to warn against. It ends up reading like nothing more than a pro-ana/mia book. Couple that with the fact that at the end, Jenni is sent to treatment, and goes with the mindset that she WILL not get better because there is nothing wrong with her, and you've got a pretty problematic book.
The whole point of books like this is to show regular people who aren't struggling with this particular issue what it looks and feels like from the inside, what's going on in someone's head who IS dealing with that problem. And then to hold that up against a mirror of reality and expose all the glaring flaws in their mental state, and to ultimately impart the message to the reader that this is NOT healthy, and is not ok. And because I like Happily Ever Afters, I prefer it (for the most part), when books like this end on a happy note, where someone finally gets through to the character and they realize they have a problem and that they need help, and they make the choice to fight to get healthy again. Successful issue books will do just that, help people step into the mind of someone dealing with something horrible, and show the reader what their world looks like versus what reality is, and if they want to be nice, end on an inspirational note. But I felt like this book only did the first part, (and not well at that, since we didn't get much character development at all). And the fact is that if you only accomplish the first part, but don't shine a light on how much that illness, and the mindset of someone with that illness is so at odds with healthy thinking, then you just end up with a book like this; a book which glamorizes the issue.
And that's not a huge problem if it's a reader like me who picks this up, who is in a healthy mental state and not struggling with this issue, or a reader who can keep an objective outside view while reading this book. But god help me, I fear what would happen if someone struggling with an eating disorder read this book, because I think it would be incredibly triggering and ultimately, bad for their health. I guess at least, on the pus side, it's a very short book, and therefore a quick and hopefully forgettable read.
For anyone struggling with ED, just don't read this. If you want to read a book about someone who feels what you do, a character who gets it, there are better books that won't be triggering as fuck. And if you're someone who just wants to understand how people with ED think, there are still better books. Books I'd recommend on the subject of eating disorder are as follows (these are all fictional YA. If you're looking for adult fiction or non-fiction, I'm sure goodreads has lists for that):
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Paperweight by Meg Haston
What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard
Lighter Than My Shadow (graphic novel) by Katie Green
Nope. I love issue books. Anyone who knows me knows that I hunt them down, because I love them. But the thing I love most about issue books was alarmingly absent in this book, and that's the inspiration of overcoming. I love to get really attached to a character who is combating a very real problem, and I love watching them struggle and deal with their pain, their trauma, and emerge, triumphant on the other side. This book though, lacks that end piece, where the character ultimately learns to cope in a healthy way and overcomes. And all this book ends up reading as is a big fat trigger warning.
Seriously. I can see this book being WILDLY triggering to people who suffer from eating disorders. There are constant mentions of bingeing/purging, weight totals on damn near every page, calorie counts, and it all feels very pro-anorexia, which I suppose is the point. Don't get me wrong, I think a book that exposes the danger of pro-ana/mia blogs is not only important, but necessary. But this book isn't it. This book does do a good job of detailing the mental status and thoughts of someone trapped in an anorexic lifestyle, so consumed by their eating disorder that they think of nothing else. So i will give the book credit for being realistic on that front. But that's also part of the problem.
Our protagonist Jenni/Jenny doesn't even feel like a real person, and has no thoughts that aren't her disorder. For a book like this to work, you have to have real character development, so we can get attached to that character, comet o love them, and feel for them, and feel the torment of being such an unreliable narrator, of being so ill. Jenni is definitely ill, but she was pretty much boiled down to being only her illness and nothing more. And that's just one of the issues I have with this book.
The bigger issue here is that it almost feels like it's glamorizing eating disorders. For a book like this to work, it has to also show the dangerous and ugly side of disorders. And this book does that, in spades, but only to a healthy reader who can see how distorted and fucked up Jenni's life has become. But to anyone who isn't healthy, who might actually be suffering with an eating disorder and looking for some solace, looking for a book that understands but shows that it's possible to overcome, this book is just plain dangerous. Because this book constantly details how beautiful and perfect people are that are unnaturally thin. And that's so damaging. If you only see the negative side of things from outside of the book, that's not ok. (Me, for example, I can see how toxic and unhealthy Jenni is, because I am healthy enough to recognize how wrong and problematic Jenni's thoughts are.) But I only see those problems outside for the book, and there's very little mention of the fact that Jenni does indeed have a problem, except in her denial of it when people try to confront her. And because of that, this book ends up reading like a glamorization of eating disorders, and ends up being the thing (I think/hope) it was trying to warn against. It ends up reading like nothing more than a pro-ana/mia book. Couple that with the fact that at the end, Jenni is sent to treatment, and goes with the mindset that she WILL not get better because there is nothing wrong with her, and you've got a pretty problematic book.
The whole point of books like this is to show regular people who aren't struggling with this particular issue what it looks and feels like from the inside, what's going on in someone's head who IS dealing with that problem. And then to hold that up against a mirror of reality and expose all the glaring flaws in their mental state, and to ultimately impart the message to the reader that this is NOT healthy, and is not ok. And because I like Happily Ever Afters, I prefer it (for the most part), when books like this end on a happy note, where someone finally gets through to the character and they realize they have a problem and that they need help, and they make the choice to fight to get healthy again. Successful issue books will do just that, help people step into the mind of someone dealing with something horrible, and show the reader what their world looks like versus what reality is, and if they want to be nice, end on an inspirational note. But I felt like this book only did the first part, (and not well at that, since we didn't get much character development at all). And the fact is that if you only accomplish the first part, but don't shine a light on how much that illness, and the mindset of someone with that illness is so at odds with healthy thinking, then you just end up with a book like this; a book which glamorizes the issue.
And that's not a huge problem if it's a reader like me who picks this up, who is in a healthy mental state and not struggling with this issue, or a reader who can keep an objective outside view while reading this book. But god help me, I fear what would happen if someone struggling with an eating disorder read this book, because I think it would be incredibly triggering and ultimately, bad for their health. I guess at least, on the pus side, it's a very short book, and therefore a quick and hopefully forgettable read.
For anyone struggling with ED, just don't read this. If you want to read a book about someone who feels what you do, a character who gets it, there are better books that won't be triggering as fuck. And if you're someone who just wants to understand how people with ED think, there are still better books. Books I'd recommend on the subject of eating disorder are as follows (these are all fictional YA. If you're looking for adult fiction or non-fiction, I'm sure goodreads has lists for that):
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Paperweight by Meg Haston
What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard
Lighter Than My Shadow (graphic novel) by Katie Green
December 10, 2015
Despite this book is far from being one the best on eating disorders I've read, I found myself completely hooked on it because it is highly relatable.
That's the reason why I can tell Jenni's thoughts are real. That's exactly what someone suffering from an ED who runs a blog about their struggles feels. Anyway, I felt that some information was missing, and I completed it myself so it is not a big deal to me, but it is for someone who has never been under her skin.
What I liked the most is that it touches a trending topic nowadays: the proana/mia thing. Not because I agree with it, but because it lets everybody see that the suffering is real.
Glamorising eating disorders on the internet is not something done by healthy teenagers looking forward having an eating disorder in order to lose some weight. In most cases, it's done by people all ages who actually do have a problem which needs to be addressed. It's a way to vent out the overwhelming feelings that come along with the disorder and to seek for support and understanding. And Jenni portrays this idea perfectly, in my opinion.
That's the reason why I can tell Jenni's thoughts are real. That's exactly what someone suffering from an ED who runs a blog about their struggles feels. Anyway, I felt that some information was missing, and I completed it myself so it is not a big deal to me, but it is for someone who has never been under her skin.
What I liked the most is that it touches a trending topic nowadays: the proana/mia thing. Not because I agree with it, but because it lets everybody see that the suffering is real.
Glamorising eating disorders on the internet is not something done by healthy teenagers looking forward having an eating disorder in order to lose some weight. In most cases, it's done by people all ages who actually do have a problem which needs to be addressed. It's a way to vent out the overwhelming feelings that come along with the disorder and to seek for support and understanding. And Jenni portrays this idea perfectly, in my opinion.
January 7, 2015
You know, despite this being a super short book and full of typos in places where I'm pretty sure there weren't supposed to be typos, I actually enjoyed reading this.
It's a bunch of blog posts and comments and texts by a teenage girl who runs a pro-ana blog. And guess what. The narrator actually does sound like a teenage girl running a pro-ana blog.
Let it be known that I'm totally against the whole pro-ana movement. Anorexia is a very serious issues. It is not a diet. It is not a lifestyle choice. It is not a fad. It is a disorder.
For those of you who have or do suffer from eating disorders: this book has the potential to be triggering. Food habits and issues and behaviors are often very vague in this piece, due to the fact that it is meant to be a blog by a teen girl, but active minds do what they will. Sometimes all it takes is a word to send you over.
I appreciate the realistic nature of this piece. I'm tired of reading books like this that are blown up to a super exaggerated point.
It's a bunch of blog posts and comments and texts by a teenage girl who runs a pro-ana blog. And guess what. The narrator actually does sound like a teenage girl running a pro-ana blog.
Let it be known that I'm totally against the whole pro-ana movement. Anorexia is a very serious issues. It is not a diet. It is not a lifestyle choice. It is not a fad. It is a disorder.
For those of you who have or do suffer from eating disorders: this book has the potential to be triggering. Food habits and issues and behaviors are often very vague in this piece, due to the fact that it is meant to be a blog by a teen girl, but active minds do what they will. Sometimes all it takes is a word to send you over.
I appreciate the realistic nature of this piece. I'm tired of reading books like this that are blown up to a super exaggerated point.
June 19, 2017
I give this book 3.6/5
I found it Easy to read. i did feel like it was a little bit too short, When You suddenly enter the story, you suddenly leave it. The ending felt very rushed. it could have been made longer like by making it into her recovery.
It was quite easy to connect with Jenni, as she was made into a believable and relateable character.
.
when she was describing her desire to be thin, it was easy to understand her. There were a few spelling errors but nothing that affected the story too badly.
.
I felt that some information was missing, and I completed it myself so it is not a big deal to me, but it is for someone who has never been under her skin.
At times the story did lack a bit of a plot and nothing really happened until the end. This book didn't knock my socks off, but I didn't hate it either.
.
i do say this is not a good book for someone recovering from an Eating Disorder to read. but for others this may be an eye-opener to the scary mindframe of suffering from an eating disorder.
.
With no real ending, it leaves her future to our imagination.
I found it Easy to read. i did feel like it was a little bit too short, When You suddenly enter the story, you suddenly leave it. The ending felt very rushed. it could have been made longer like by making it into her recovery.
It was quite easy to connect with Jenni, as she was made into a believable and relateable character.
.
when she was describing her desire to be thin, it was easy to understand her. There were a few spelling errors but nothing that affected the story too badly.
.
I felt that some information was missing, and I completed it myself so it is not a big deal to me, but it is for someone who has never been under her skin.
At times the story did lack a bit of a plot and nothing really happened until the end. This book didn't knock my socks off, but I didn't hate it either.
.
i do say this is not a good book for someone recovering from an Eating Disorder to read. but for others this may be an eye-opener to the scary mindframe of suffering from an eating disorder.
.
With no real ending, it leaves her future to our imagination.
December 28, 2015
Thinspo is written entirely in blog posts and text messages and the like, which means that on the one hand it sounds pretty realistic and on the other hand...sometimes it's a bit too realistic. There's very little in terms of characterisation or description and so on, because that's not really what teenagers are thinking about when they're blogging. It makes sense, to an extent, but it also feels like...poke around on the Internet and you could find very similar blogs, very easily, with perhaps a bit less of a plot but otherwise the exact same feel.
I suppose that's the point? Will suit some people quite well; there's much worse out there. For me, though, it was just as well that it was such a short read.
I suppose that's the point? Will suit some people quite well; there's much worse out there. For me, though, it was just as well that it was such a short read.
September 17, 2013
Told in blog posts, blog comments, and text messages, this book follows the life of Jenni. She's obsessed with her weight and calorie consumption and maintains a pro-ana/-mia blog. She alienates old friends as she makes new friends who have eating disorders. They get her, while her former friends don't. This isn't really plot-driven, but it's still a fascinating book. Even though it's not in a diary format, it reminds me of other issue books written in such a way.
June 2, 2015
I enjoyed this short read but I wish there was more. I hate being kept in the dark about characters that I feel invested in.
May 26, 2023
Although it's a breezy read and I found it mildly interesting, I wouldn't recommend Thinspo. It lacks the emotional depth and substantive discussion of mental illness I expect from ED fiction, such that I got less out of this book than I would from reading a real proana blog (which, obviously, I also do not recommend).
The story lacks direction, the characters' personalities are bland, and Ellis neglects the deeper complexities of anorexia and bulimia. I don't necessarily expect Jenni herself to consciously grapple with these complexities, but I have found other works that manage to explore the psychology of EDed characters who don't fully understand their own illness. It can be done.
Also, Ellis aggravated a pet peeve of mine. Initially, I found Jenni's writing style and petty school drama so juvenile, I thought she couldn't have been older than 12. I got through a decent chunk of the page length before I realized she was older. If you also cringe at 16-year-old characters written as if they're prepubescent, that's one more reason to give Thinspo a pass.
The story lacks direction, the characters' personalities are bland, and Ellis neglects the deeper complexities of anorexia and bulimia. I don't necessarily expect Jenni herself to consciously grapple with these complexities, but I have found other works that manage to explore the psychology of EDed characters who don't fully understand their own illness. It can be done.
Also, Ellis aggravated a pet peeve of mine. Initially, I found Jenni's writing style and petty school drama so juvenile, I thought she couldn't have been older than 12. I got through a decent chunk of the page length before I realized she was older. If you also cringe at 16-year-old characters written as if they're prepubescent, that's one more reason to give Thinspo a pass.
January 10, 2023
Trigger Warnings: ED, depression, suicidal thoughts.
I read a bunch of other reviews before settling on my own rating...because I wanted more perspective on this book. I don't have an ED. I think that books about characters with ED's have their place. We don't need a lot of them, but we do need some. Just like I think we need novels about every topic. Part of battling something is recognizing it and knowing that there are options.
This book was well done, in my opinion. It's told through blog posts. It kept me captivated. I liked the characters, I liked the plot...so I don't have any complaints. I read a lot of bad reviews complaining about the shallow writing (which is to be expected with a book told through blog posts), and I saw good reviews praising the characters and realness.
So I don't push this on anyone because it's a bleak book, but if it's something you're interested in reading then definitely check it out.
I read a bunch of other reviews before settling on my own rating...because I wanted more perspective on this book. I don't have an ED. I think that books about characters with ED's have their place. We don't need a lot of them, but we do need some. Just like I think we need novels about every topic. Part of battling something is recognizing it and knowing that there are options.
This book was well done, in my opinion. It's told through blog posts. It kept me captivated. I liked the characters, I liked the plot...so I don't have any complaints. I read a lot of bad reviews complaining about the shallow writing (which is to be expected with a book told through blog posts), and I saw good reviews praising the characters and realness.
So I don't push this on anyone because it's a bleak book, but if it's something you're interested in reading then definitely check it out.
June 15, 2017
I was very interested in reading this book but I felt very disappointed. It was filled with uninteresting, unlikeable and one dimensional characters that I could not bring myself to care about. There is virtually no character or plot progression and the entire book ends abruptly followed by a preview of another book by the author. It is a random cobbling of inconsequential, unrealistic events and conversations. After finishing the whole book, I could not recommend this book to anyone.
There are a wealth of books that represent similar subject matters, far better I suggest reading them instead.
There are a wealth of books that represent similar subject matters, far better I suggest reading them instead.
January 7, 2024
En kort, hurtig bog at læse. Jeg var egentlig spændt på at læse den her bog, da jeg så, at den handlede om det forfærdelige internetfænomen “Thinspiration” og “Pro-Ana”, men jeg blev ret skuffet. Selve karaktererne i bogen har ikke rigtig nogen personlighed eller træk, der definerer dem særligt. Og så har den ikke en særlig god slutning, det er ret hårdt at læse om en, der er så spiseforstyrret, og vi ikke hører, om hun udvikler sig/får hjælp. Dermed er den også ret triggering at læse for andre spiseforstyrrede og på en virkelig ærgerlig måde. Kan nok ikke anbefale den til andre, i hvert fald ikke andre med en spiseforstyrrelse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2020
A quick read indeed. I feel as though the book is left unfinished. There is an ending, yes, but it leaves a sort of opening for a possible second book should the author choose to pursue it.
I finished this book in one evening while working on art. There is very little that goes on in the story that strays from the main character's wishes to be thin. It feels one dimensional. While he's, eating disorders are very time consuming, and often the sufferers have little to no interest in much else, there should have been more insight or... something.
This book is a great time killer, but it is blasé at best.
I finished this book in one evening while working on art. There is very little that goes on in the story that strays from the main character's wishes to be thin. It feels one dimensional. While he's, eating disorders are very time consuming, and often the sufferers have little to no interest in much else, there should have been more insight or... something.
This book is a great time killer, but it is blasé at best.
September 19, 2020
TW: can be very triggering for people who are recovering from an eating disorders
My god, this book was TERRIBLE. It was so unrealistic, the characters didn't even talk like a real person would. Every single character was so flat and one dimensional. I mean, it was a good idea but the execution was terrible.
My god, this book was TERRIBLE. It was so unrealistic, the characters didn't even talk like a real person would. Every single character was so flat and one dimensional. I mean, it was a good idea but the execution was terrible.
October 4, 2023
Morbid. But the kind of morbid that makes you crave for more. I was so entranced by this book for some strange reason. The entire book consists of a series of blog posts, punctuated with brief conversations and text messages, all of which centre around the character of Jenni, an anorexic girl who desires the perfect body. This book is dark and desperate and manages to keep you hooked throughout!
December 18, 2023
very stereotypical and made the character their whole personality revolve around calories when in reality people with EDs don't really act like that. but either way, it was a good book tho, very interesting and it kinda left off with a cliff hanger, i wonder what happened after she got released from the hospital
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2020
Literally nothing in this book is realistic in the slightest. You cannot gain a pound of real weight from eating 1000 calories a day. The characters don’t talk like they’re human. This is so fucking bad I wish I could give it zero stars.
September 18, 2020
This is such an underdeveloped novel. The premise is great but the author leaves so many loose threads. Why was Dani so dangerous? Who was Anonymous? Did the main character recover? Her parents also pop in and out conveniently, like props. I loved the idea but I have so many questions...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2020
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, except this book, which is just as bad and triggering as its cover. The ending gave it the solid 1 star, it wasn’t even an ending. The whole cover should honestly just say “extreme trigger warning”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2018
TRIGGER WARNING
February 26, 2020
Good
Good I liked it it was great I hate that I have to put words to leave a review lol
Good I liked it it was great I hate that I have to put words to leave a review lol
June 5, 2020
this is in need of some editing, at one point our main character Jenni is spelled Jenny, plus a lot of sentences that didn’t make sense for what I assume was the wrong word used.
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