Puddin’
By: Julie Murphy
I have been sitting on a Puddin’ review for a month (which I have never waited so long on anything involving actual pudding ever) and despite multiple tries I’ve never felt like it was right.
And I don’t know why because there is a lot to say about this sequel to Dumplin. It wasn’t like finishing a book and thinking yeah, that happened but I have nothing to say about it. I had feelings about Puddin’.
And it shouldn’t be that hard because it’s not a hard book. Millie- who we meet in Dumplin’ wants to go to a journalism summer program. Her mother wants to send her back to fat camp for the seven thousandth time. Callie thinks the world revolves around her and commits a felony because other people have problems that interfere with her life.
And now to stop overthinking and sum up my thoughts as I read the book:
I like it. Millie is so sweet and admirable.
Ugh. Callie is really annoying I can’t believe Millie’s falling for this crap.
Everything seems off. I don’t remember Willowdean and Ellen being so eye-rolling in the first book.
I hate them all!
Okay, fine nice wrap up but still…
Julie Murphy remains the contemporary Queen of writing really flawed human characters and like most humans sometimes it works and you want to spend time with them and other times they give you a headache.
Recommend: 50-50
I wound up liking the book but definitely not as much as Dumplin’. Yet I still give Murphy credit for her character work and Millie is great representation not often seen in books.
It’s so hard trying to get stuck into a book when you can’t stand any (or all!) of the main characters!
I have been eyeing Dumlin’ for a realllllyyyyy looooongg time now but I think it’s not gonna be good enough? Is it good enough read?
And I didn’t even know it’s sequel was out? Or even it HAD a sequel ?! 🤣🤣 But it sounds like it sucked ass, huh? It’s soo frustrating when the characters are not well-developed and annoying as hell. I am sorry you didn’t enjoy the book and now I am reluctant to try either of these! 🤣🤣
Liked your honest review a lot! ❤️
I’m very torn on Puddin’ but I did enjoy Dumplin a lot! I think Murphy writes such relatable and sometimes unlikable characters it really falls on a personal scale of like what you can take. So I would definitely try Dumplin’ though it’s a lot of fun 🙂
Okieeee then…going by your recommendation, I think I am gonna read Dumpin’ I am SURE it’s gonna be fun! ❤️❤️❤️