This belongs on your shelf if:
- You’ve never quite fit in with people before
- You want an uplifting read about being loved unconditionally
- You want to read about a supportive mother-son relationship
- You’re in need of a tender tale of self-acceptance
Review:
Can I just say a huge thank you to whoever decided that this book needed to be translated from Brazilian into English? Seriously, I’ve never appreciated a translation the way I appreciate this one. Here the Whole Time is a wholesome story about Felipe and his long-time crush Caio, who, when his parents go on vacation, gets to stay at Felipe’s place for the duration of the winter break. Caio and Felipe have some history between them—they used to be best friends until Felipe drew away. Now, Felipe’s plans of staying inside all day long and watching YouTube videos are crushed when he has to share his room with his former crush. Little by little, the two rekindle their friendship and a wonderful relationship begins to blossom.
I was blown away by this book and read it in one sitting because Felipe is the most tender character you can imagine. He is fat, struggles with his self-confidence because of it and it keeps him from interacting with people (like Caio) because he fears he is inferior to everyone and nothing but a burden. All the discussions surrounding the topic of fatphobia and self-hatred were handled with so much care. When we get to meet Caio’s friends, the reader as well as Felipe realises that there is more to a person than their appearance and that self-doubt and body dysmorphia are way bigger problems than we as a society acknowledge. As such, this book really was food for thought because it made me rethink a lot about socially conditioned responses to anything that isn’t standard and on top of that, bullying and how it shapes one’s understanding of self.
Caio and Felipe’s friendship and eventual romance was also so well done. Felipe needs a lot of time to thaw enough to actually engage with Caio and make his opinions heard and it was such a profound exploration of what makes a friendship tick and that these things can’t be rushed. There was so much emphasis on only doing what feels right and honouring boundaries set by your partner and that felt so validating. Not to mention that Caio has his own issues to deal with and instead of denying them, he eventually accepts that his relationship with his mother needs to change.
Speaking of mothers, Felipe’s relationship with his mother broke me. It was such a trusting and kind bond that was portrayed that it made me want to hug my own mom every other page because Felipe’s mom does everything she can to make him feel loved and protected. There is cake on the weekends and specially planned times when they watch TV together and there are themed evenings on their couch and basically this was close to the relationship the Gilmore Girls have with each other. We get so many depictions in YA novels about neglectful or absentee parents and Felipe’s mom just showed up and stole the spotlight with her vibrancy and genuine kindness.
There are so many important messages in this book that will warm your heart and fill you with positivity while reading. With a supportive and caring mom, a friend who gives you the space to grow and a cast of characters that is the embodiment of the word wholesome, Here the Whole Time tackles tough topics like fatphobia, bullying and anxiety and envelops them in a beautiful journey toward self-acceptance and self-love.
Here The Whole Time is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of November 10th 2020.
Will you be picking up Here The Whole Time? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
What would you do if you had to spend the next 15 days with your lifelong crush?
Felipe gets it — he’s fat. Not chubby. Not big-boned. Fat. And he doesn’t need anyone to remind him, which is, of course, what everyone does. That’s why he’s been waiting for this moment ever since the school year began: school break. Finally, he’ll be able to spend some time far away from school and the classmates who tease him incessantly. His plans include catching up on his favorite TV shows, finishing his to-be-read pile, and watching YouTube tutorials on skills he’ll never actually put into practice.
But things get a little out of hand when Felipe’s mom informs him that Caio, the neighbor kid from apartment 57, will be spending the next 15 days with them while his parents are on vacation. Felipe is distraught because A) he’s had a crush on Caio since, well, forever, and B) Felipe has a list of body image insecurities and absolutely NO idea how he’s going to entertain his neighbor for two full weeks.
Suddenly, the days ahead of him that once promised rest and relaxation (not to mention some epic Netflix bingeing) end up bringing a whirlwind of feelings, forcing Felipe to dive head-first into every unresolved issue he has had with himself — but maybe, just maybe, he’ll manage to win over Caio, too.
