Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas
Published: March 26th 2013
ARC provided by publisher
About the book:Fashion design major Cat Mitchell has a closet full of gorgeous clothes - and not a single thing fits. After two years of runway modeling for easy cash, an accident shattered her lower leg bone and her self-esteem in just one swift fall. Ten months of no exercise, prescription steroids, comfort eating and yoga pants meant returning to campus as a size twelve instead of her former size two.
When her gorgeous long-time friend with benefits sees her for the first time after her accident and snubs her in front of all her friends, Cat’s self-image hits rock bottom. Her sorority sisters all insist that she looks gorgeous, but all Cat sees is the roll of her stomach when she sits down, or the dimpling at the back of her thighs that wasn't there last year. Cat’s therapist prescribes something radical to stop the downward spiral - nude modeling for a nearby college's human form drawing classes.
When Cat faces her fears and bares it all for the class, she realizes that she's posing naked in front the most gorgeous, buffest guy she's ever seen in her life. He asks her out after the class, and after one steamy night together, Cat's absolutely smitten.
Nate’s pretty close to perfect – he takes Cat rock climbing when he discovers that it makes her feel strong and becomes a great chef after he learns that the perfect pesto sauce makes her swoon. Cat starts to feel like her old self again - confident and beautiful - as long as Nate's around. Even when he discourages her from entering the Real Woman Project, a design competition for plus-sized apparel, she reasons that he's just trying to prevent old body image wounds from splitting wide open again.
But when Cat goes home with Nate for Thanksgiving, she discovers something shocking from his recent past that proves that he hasn’t always been so encouraging of women of all shapes and sizes. Cat has no idea what to think, but she does know one thing - this might destroy their relationship before it's even had a chance to get off the ground.
Before Cat can figure out whether the real Nate is the sensitive, adoring guy she fell in love with, or an undercover asshole, she'll have to finally feel comfortable in her own skin - even if it means leaving him forever.
(This book contains sex and adult language.)
My Thoughts:
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Cat is a model who, after suffering an unfortunate horse-riding accident, has to go through extensive surgeries and therapy, resulting in her gaining 60 lbs. When modeling and fashion is the only thing she knew (and that paid the bills) she returns to college uneasy and insecure about her body. Add her sort-of boyfriend humiliating her in front of everyone to the mix - Cat realizes she needs to seek help in order to deal with her depression and insecurities.
She sees a counselor on campus who suggests that she pose nude for an art class in a neighboring college. What she never expected was that Nate, an incredibly gorgeous guy, that she met once before, would be a student in the class. She manages to do the pose for most of the session before rushing out embarrassed. Then Nate follows her and asks her out.
Being a fat kid growing up and dealing with his own insecurities for years, Nate moved away from that life to start over. He sees Cat as the beautiful woman that she is and sweeps her off her feet. But something from his past will make waves in their relationship and cause Cat to second-guess his true feelings for her.
I was able to relate to Cat so much throughout this story, and that's why I devoured the book in two days. I could put myself in her shoes, having dealt with body issues and insecurities my whole life. The important lesson this story teaches is that you have to learn to love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin - not relying on someone else to make you feel beautiful. I think every woman deserves a man who makes them feel beautiful and sexy. But I also know that it's important to have self-confidence and be accepting of yourself, because you can never truly be happy without that. It's not healthy to rely on others to make you feel good. And that's the struggle Cat and Nate had to deal with throughout this book. Learning that she can be happy in her skin, but also be loved and desired by an incredible man like Nate.
Nate was a sweetheart. I loved how romantic and wonderful he was to Cat.
She sees a counselor on campus who suggests that she pose nude for an art class in a neighboring college. What she never expected was that Nate, an incredibly gorgeous guy, that she met once before, would be a student in the class. She manages to do the pose for most of the session before rushing out embarrassed. Then Nate follows her and asks her out.
Being a fat kid growing up and dealing with his own insecurities for years, Nate moved away from that life to start over. He sees Cat as the beautiful woman that she is and sweeps her off her feet. But something from his past will make waves in their relationship and cause Cat to second-guess his true feelings for her.
I was able to relate to Cat so much throughout this story, and that's why I devoured the book in two days. I could put myself in her shoes, having dealt with body issues and insecurities my whole life. The important lesson this story teaches is that you have to learn to love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin - not relying on someone else to make you feel beautiful. I think every woman deserves a man who makes them feel beautiful and sexy. But I also know that it's important to have self-confidence and be accepting of yourself, because you can never truly be happy without that. It's not healthy to rely on others to make you feel good. And that's the struggle Cat and Nate had to deal with throughout this book. Learning that she can be happy in her skin, but also be loved and desired by an incredible man like Nate.
Nate was a sweetheart. I loved how romantic and wonderful he was to Cat.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and feel that a lot of women will be able to relate to Cat. Her and Nate had a beautiful romance that was great to see unfold throughout the book, but it was her self-transformation that was the real beauty of the story.
3.5 Suns
Author Bio:
Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since she's not, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and
girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.
girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.
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