Mean Girls

By: Lucy Felthouse

Narrated by: Xanthia Bloom

Length: 1 hr and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Adele Blackthorne is a big girl, a curvy chick. She knows it, and she's been picked on all her life because of it. But she's gotten to the stage where she doesn't care. She may be Rubenesque, but she's healthy, too. Much healthier than the mean girls at the leisure center that point and stare and say spiteful things about her. Adele rises above it all, and simply enjoys her secretive glances at the center's hunky lifeguard, Oliver.

As the bullying of Adele becomes worse, Oliver finds it increasingly difficult not to intervene. He doesn't want to get into trouble with work, but equally he can't stand to see Adele treated in such a horrible way. Especially since he doesn't agree that she's fat and unattractive. He thinks she's a seriously sexy woman, and would like to get to know her better. Much better.

©2016 Lucy Felthouse (P)2017 Lucy Felthouse

Better Title: Nice Girl and Guy Prevail.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I received a copy of Mean Girls from the author, via AudioBook Boom, in exchange for an objective review. I enjoy reading romance, so I was open to listening after reading the blurb. First off, Mean Girls is definitely a novella, if not a slightly prolonged short story. In fact, if you take out the erotic sections, what it reminded me of most was the short story romances I used to read in my grandmother's Good Housekeeping magazines 40+ years ago. Those stories were short and sweet - they had a heroine who was misunderstood for whatever reason, and a hero who cut through the nonsense and fell in love. And that's what Mean Girls is. I actually find the name a bit irritating, as it grants importance to the very people and ideas the triumphant couple put in their place. So as long as you don't expect more, this is a delightful story. If you start analyzing too much, you find the age difference, the heroine's protests about her inability to lose weight, and the middle school behavior of the titular mean girls a bit hard to swallow, so just don't. Take it for what it is: a well-performed, sweet story. It has a few explicit sex scenes - some imaginary, and some real - so if that puts you off, don't listen. Otherwise, it's a nice short diversion, just like those stories from long ago.

PROMOTING PLUS-SIZE SELF ESTEEM IS A PLUS

Any additional comments?

I was provided this audiobook through Audiobook Boom at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Heroine is plus-size and learns there are men who don't look for a body type but a personality. There are also men who prefer a plus-size body. In promoting that truth, the book is a smash hit. However, in the level of story and character complexity, it is not. The Hero is a lifeguard who is no alpha. He's physically built, handsome, and women chase him but he has no confidence. He doesn't know how to ask Adele out. Heck, he even runs out of gas and doesn't know it. I think if we're trying to promote BBW's being sexy and desirable, then the book should have a confident, alpha-type Hero.

But, all that aside, it was cute, it was quick and it had it's HEA.
Yay-Rah... go Adele.

An ode to plus-sized women!

Any additional comments?

I knew from the title that this listen would involve women behaving badly but since it was only two hours, I figured it wasn't going to be a long, drawn out angsty listen. (I hate those.) It was not.

I liked the story. I liked that it was basically a love story of self. I LOVED that it was set in England! (That was an unexpected extra bonus to my ears.) There was a bit more sex at the ending than I prefer but that's just me.

I do wish the author would have let Adele, the main character, handle the mean girls. Letting Oliver, Adele's love interest, settle the score was a bit anti-climactic.

The narration is why I kept listening though. Xanthia Bloom (how great is that name!) was perfection on a stick.

This short listen is definitely worth your time, especially because of the narrator.

Super Sweet and Sexy!

Super Sweet and Sexy!

Adele is so adorable and so is the main love interest Oliver!

Adele Blackthorne is curvy and she knows it and she owns it! She made herself sick when she tried to live up to others ideas of what is the right ideal type for her body, so she made a pack with herself to be healthy not skinny. So what if she isn't a size 2. She is a chef, owns her own business, and not only eats healthy but also swims at the local leisure center. This is where she gets eyefuls of the hunky lifeguard who stars in her fantasies on a regular basis.

Oliver hears the hateful things the mean girls say about Adele, and he hates it. Turns out he has been lusting after Adele just as much if not more. He wants to do something about the verbal bullying, but doesn’t want to get fired. He totally blows his shot at telling Adele how he feels, but luckily a cheerful bartender helps him fix his blunder.

The two give love a second chance and find out that they have a lot more in common than they might have thought. They are so sweet and adorable together, I just want to give them both a big hug! I totally agree with Adele that there is a big difference between being naked in front of someone and stripping in front of them. Being naked is just naked, but if you strip for someone, it is a long focus on your body and way more unnerving.

Don't worry about the b*@#%es, cause they don't go un-scolded.

This audiobook is narrated by Xanthia Bloom. She does a good job with all the various characters, as well as with the story telling.

Overall I give this 5 of 5 stars!
Audiobook was given to me for free at my request in exchange for an unbiased review.
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More to Love

Lucy Felthouse is a new author to me. I appreciate the fact that she writes about someone who is big, buxom and beautiful (both on the outside as well as inside). As someone who is curvy, it is nice that some men can find someone over size 10 attractive. (Only a swimmer can understand the dedication of swimming 30 laps) I also appreciate the author's sense of humor. This short listen was refreshing and realistic. The narrator did a great performance as well. I was provided with this review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The story of Adele and Oliver was both sweet and sexy. I loved it how Oliver stood up for Adele infront of the "mean girls"

An adult book with a wonderful moral

So many of us can relate to Adele. It is hard to live life as a plus size with "mean girls" everywhere. Adele masters that with self confidence. Her ability to ignore the mean girls gets her noticed by the one guy all the girls are after. What a wonderful, upbeat story.

The narrators voice was easy to listen to bit was a bit too fast. At times it was hard to understand the narrator and since she read quickly, there was little time to decipher words.

wishing for a little more

If you could sum up Mean Girls in three words, what would they be?

quick, mean, sex

If you’ve listened to books by Lucy Felthouse before, how does this one compare?

I have not

Which character – as performed by Xanthia Bloom – was your favorite?

I liked both the lead characters, but i have to say i really really liked the bartender the best

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no it didn't. It wasn't long enough for me to really get to know or really care much about the main characters.

Any additional comments?

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Good Short Story

I got this ARC via audiobook boom. The narrator was very good. The story is one of showing that in spite of the mean girls Adele is able to catch the eye of the lifeguard. The lifeguard/ has been watching her all along. This is the case of the good girl gets the guy. Very short story but nice. Perhaps if it were longer she would have stepped up and fought her own battle but it is ok for someone else to help you fight.

Good read

Any additional comments?

Mean Girls by Lucy Felthouse was a good book. Adele is a big girl who is finally at the stage of not caring what people think. Adele is a very healthy woman who meets the sexy lifeguard Oliver while swimming. Unfortunately there is one clique of women who make it a point to bully Adele. I loved reading this book.

Adele swims every day at the leisure center....

/\

Adele swims every day at the leisure center. She always has her eye out for the hot lifeguard, Oliver. She believes he is way out of her league because he is handsome and fit and she is a girl with a few extra pounds.

Oliver, the lifeguard, admires Adele from afar – on top of his lifeguard stand. He admires Adele's strength as a swimmer as well as her self-control around mean-spirited peers, who enjoy talking about Adele's size front of everyone. Their comments are far from flattering!

After an interlude in the sauna, Oliver and Adele seem to be on the right track, but poor Oliver makes a comment for which the author doesn't seem to forgive him (*smile*) but it moves the story along and we get to enjoy their sweet bumbling around.

Xanthia Bloom has a wonderful voice and gives a perfect performance with her lovely accent.

This short story is reminiscent of Bridget Jones's Diary. I would consider it feel good, Chic Lit. Fantastic for any occasion, beach or otherwise. However, it is not something you want to listen to in the car with the little ones, as there are several NC-17 scenes that began about halfway through the book. :-)

Five stars all around

**I received this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I hope that you will take a moment and select – yes – below if you found this review helpful. I invite you to consider following me here on Audible to get my most recent reviews. Thank you.