For me this book took a while to warm up. Especially as there was so much self-loathing, and over dramatising, coming from Henry - it was only half funny. Anything read by Joel Leslie has to be funny, otherwise his comic voice doesn't fit. Not that he can't do pathos, but I do find his voice too exaggerated.

It does have some delicious humour in it though, and the characters of the unfit Henry and and the physically perfect Reed are adorable.

I've seen The Weight of It All (2016) mentioned on several lists of must-read MM books, and it is good, but not great. At 7hr 45 mins, at least it knows what length it should be.

I've now read 3 of NR Walker's books, and Private Charter 2021 is the standout. So if that is anything to go by, her latest books are the best. ( )

Whoever would have thought anyone could even write a book about this subject, let alone actually sell it? If anyone can do it N R Walker would be the one. You can honestly feel Henry's heart breaking from the start of the story. Everywhere he looked in the house, he was reminded of the breakup.... the feeling of not being "good enough". But it came to him again and again by just looking in the mirror. I felt sorry for Henry for being faced with the reality that he had allowed his body to get away from him over the years. While Henry was coming to terms with this reality and actually thinking the word "gym" ...I was wondering why his "long term" boyfriend didn't, long before it came to this, care enough about him to sit down and talk about the weight before it became the main focus of their lives together. He obviously was in the relationship for how it benefited him and cared little or nothing about Henry...which in itself was heartbreaking. The gym was the best idea that Henry ever had because he met Reed, his new trainer. Reed is nothing like Henry had had in his life in like forever. Reed laughs at Henry's jokes...encourages him to work on himself... boosts his self-image and... above all, BELIEVES in him. Not surprisingly Henry starts to lose weight and feel more confident about his appearance. Reed and Henry build a solid relationship and they become good friends. It’s a slow story but covers a variety of pitfalls and successes that sometimes are not thought about or spoken by people trying to improve their images. The book does include some body shaming and other triggers that may affect some readers, but most will cheer for Henry. ( )

Henry is a sincerely funny protagonist! Highly recommended for humor. :) The heart, the intent, of this story is five star, but I reserve that fifth star for exemplary writing, and it wasn't quite there. Had the relaying of thoughts been more often nuanced, less often mere laundry lists, I would have given this five stars. The motivations are a little muddled (true in reality, too) but not as thoughtfully laid out as I'd hoped -- research showed as chunks of prose, rather than rising organically from Henry.

So close. Very close. Already bought her next book. I have faith, because the issues are just craft. Her talent is clear, she just needs more practice and critical feedback. I wish I could set this one farther along in her career, when she knows more. ( )

Laugh out loud funny ( )

There is something so soft and wholesome about Henry and Reed’s story that keeps me coming back every couple of months for a re-read/listen that I almost consider it a ritual at this point! Stories that deal with physical appearance and changing said appearance are always tricky ones to write, but this was done oh so tastefully well. An honest-to-God feel-good story that can be experienced again and again.

Now if Henry could just send me a Christmas dinner invite... ( )