Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have

Andrew Zansky is a 306-pound sophomore who feels invisible at his high school, except when he's being bullied. His main comforts are food and his best friend Eytan, until he develops a crush on April, one of the most popular girls at school. When an unexpected opportunity puts Andrew in contact with the school's star football players, he sees a chance to reinvent himself. He joins the football team and begins navigating an entirely new social landscape, which impacts his relationships with both old and new friends. Through Andrew's changes and challenges, he grapples with questions of identity, loyalty, and what it means to be true to oneself. His story intersects with family dynamics, as he deals with his parents' divorce and his mother's career as a caterer who shows love through food. The novel tackles themes of self-acceptance, transformation, and the price of belonging, offering a male perspective on body image issues that are rarely addressed in young adult literature.

Readers connect with the authentic voice of protagonist Andy Zansky and his relatable struggles with weight, bullying, and high school social dynamics. Many reviews note the book's humor and heart while tackling serious topics. Readers appreciated: - Realistic portrayal of teen weight issues without being preachy - Balance of comedy and emotional depth - Supporting characters that avoid stereotypes - Male perspective on body image issues Common criticisms: - Some found the ending rushed - Romance subplot feels predictable - Parents/adults portrayed as one-dimensional Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews) "Finally a book about weight issues that doesn't feel like an after school special," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another commented, "The main character's voice rings true without falling into self-pity." Multiple reviews mention relating to Andy's inner monologue and social anxiety, though some wished for more resolution to certain storylines.

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🍕 The book's main character, Andy Zansky, weighs 306.4 pounds at the start of the story, offering readers a candid look at life as an obese teenager in high school. 📚 Author Allen Zadoff wrote this novel drawing from his own experiences with weight issues and food addiction, lending authenticity to Andy's internal struggles and emotions. 🏈 The story combines themes of body image, first love, and social acceptance with American football, as Andy unexpectedly joins the high school football team despite having no athletic background. 🏆 The book won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award in 2010, recognizing excellence in humorous children's literature. 💡 Zadoff wrote this as his debut young adult novel after previously publishing an adult memoir about his struggles with food addiction titled "Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin."