It's a plot torn from the pages of TV Guide: six overweight women live in a house of temptations and compete to see who loses the most weight. But it's far more satisfying than your average prime-time fare. The main character, Kat, always believed that life begins when you're thin. When her best friend, Donna, reads about a casting call for From Fat to Fabulous, Kat decides she has nothing to lose but her belly. Of course, fame comes with a price. The tabloids dub her Kat the Brat, and the show's surprise guest, her online boyfriend, dumps her on national television. Not to despair, however; Kat's story does have a happy ending. Edwards addresses image issues with wit and candor, and what's most refreshing is that losing weight doesn't make Kat's life perfect. Fans of Jennifer Weiner's realistic female protagonists will find a new favorite here. --Aleksandra Kostovski Copyright 2005 Booklist