Anne Pfeffer’s novel BINGE finds Sabrina Hunter, aka Bree, struggling with binge eating. Her stressful job as an assistant at a talent agency and the upcoming release of her first published book overwhelm her, and her sister’s relationship with a recovering addict pushes her over the edge. When Bree joins a compulsive overeater recovery program, with a process akin to AA, in the hopes of losing weight before her book release party, she develops a crush on a fellow member named Daniel and begins to realize that she has a real problem with food. As she works through the program and deals with stresses in work and in her family and love life, Bree comes to accept the traumatic past that led to her eating disorder while gaining self-confidence and self-respect. Bree’s heartening personality shines through the first person narrative perspective. As she maneuvers the ups and downs of her story, she grows into a full, dynamic person. When she encounters her demeaning boss and chaotic younger sister, her assertive side comes out. When she remembers her childhood and deals with her father’s return in the present, she becomes fiercely protective of her sister and her own dignity. Each obstacle that arises in the story works to reveal Bree’s strengths and weaknesses and to help her change into a more powerful woman.

The book’s plot is dramatic and emotionally compelling, from Bree realizing that the two most important work events of her life are scheduled on the same day to a revelation of her boss’s wife’s struggle with severe mental illness. BINGE approaches difficult topics with tact, even turning them lighthearted, to make emotionally wrought scenes more accessible and relatable. The book balances heartrending and humorous moments with sensitivity and ease, including Bree’s struggle with internalized fatphobia and her sometimes cringy dating foibles. Pfeffer’s writing is straightforward and engaging, encouraging a fast-moving pace and an ease of understanding of Bree’s thoughts and actions. While weight loss was Bree’s goal upon joining the compulsive overeater recovery program, she ultimately learns how to love herself for who she is, to forgive her past for its influence on her mental stability, and to take control of the things she is capable of changing. This message is reinforced on every page of the book, such as when she learns to stand for herself to her boss and when she bravely speaks about her childhood trauma to the recovery program crowd.

Anne Pfeffer’s inspiring, dramatic and humorous novel BINGE approaches difficult topics with tact, while each obstacle in the story reveals the strong female lead’s strengths and weaknesses and teaches a powerful lesson about self-love.

~Aimee Jodoin for IndieReader