150 Pounds: A Novel of Waists and Measures

Publishers Weekly

Bloggers find common ground on beauty in Rockland’s second novel (after Falling Is Like This). For an episode on health and fitness, Oprah invites two bloggers on opposite ends of the body image debate to discuss views, and things turn heated. Shoshana’s blog, Fat and Fabulous, dedicated to being “healthy at any size,” shows that being big shouldn’t detract from enjoying life. Meanwhile, at Skinny Chick, Alexis chronicles the strict diet and exercise plan that keeps her in a size zero, and warns about the health hazards that await if readers don’t follow suit. After Oprah, Alexis and Shoshana go their separate ways and are in time forced to question their views. Alexis’s rigid routine is disrupted when she falls for a handsome chef; Shoshana inherits an orchard and sheds pounds with physical labor and locavorism. When their paths cross again, they have more in common than they originally thought. Though Rockland does an excellent job of subverting chick lit tropes, character trajectories are easy to predict and her prose is too often leaden with exposition. Still, the uplifting message and quirky humor should satisfy readers of all sizes. Agent: The Fischer-Harbage Agency. (Jan.)

From the Publisher

Praise for 150 Pounds:

"A fun read from a fresh new voice"—New York Times-bestselling author, Jane Green

“In Kate Rockland’s newest novel, Shoshana and Alexis couldn’t be more relatable—not to mention comedic, sassy and full of a rare sense of honesty. The perfect novel for women of all sizes; to enjoy with a cupcake or on the stairmaster!”—Lisa Patton, bestselling author of Yankee Doodle Dixie

“Ms. Rockland handles an emotional topic sensitively yet head-on. The result is that the reader is left with an inner confidence and somehow more sure of living in HER own skin. Every woman who has hang-ups about her weight should read this.” —Laura Pepper, author of Wow! Glowing Bride in 30 Days

“Rockland does an excellent job of subverting chick lit tropes…the uplifting message and quirky humor should satisfy readers of all sizes.”–Publishers Weekly

“Charming, especially in Shoshana’s story, which calls to mind Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed. An interesting, if fluffy, approach to women’s body-image issues and female empowerment.”–Booklist

Praise for Falling is Like This:

"Rockland [has an] ear for dialogue...and thoughtful, humorous prose."–Nylon Magazine

“Say hello to a new rock star in women's fiction...one of the best novels I've read in a long while.”–New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin

"Saucy, sexy, and well-written"–Courtney Love

Kirkus Reviews

Two 20-something bloggers consider American women's love/hate relationship with food in this amusing second novel from Rockland. The story opens on the set of Oprah as Alexis (author of the Skinny Chick blog) and Shoshana (of Fat and Fabulous fame) are about to weigh in on weight. Shoshana's blog advocates that a healthy self-esteem and healthy diet are all women need to feel good about themselves, no matter the dress size. She's over 200 pounds, and her millions of followers, called Fatties, like her just the way she is. Alexis, barely 100 pounds, writes about America's alarming obesity epidemic and dictates everyone should count their calories and burn their buns. After the explosive TV appearance, the two part ways and don't meet again until a year later at the end of the novel. In the meantime, both Shoshana and Alexis come to realize that their fanaticism stems from…issues. Alexis, proud of her tart bitchiness, lives with her best friend Billy. While Billy is flamboyant and fun, Alexis lives a life controlled by weight—she weighs her food, herself, the value of others. She exercises at the crack of dawn to keep her whippet-like figure, but all that flies out the window when she meets Noah, a gorgeous, funny chef. Noah reminds her of her dead brother, and Alexis allows herself to be happy again. Less fragile than Alexis, Shoshana's life changes when she inherits an old farmhouse and orchard. She befriends her eccentric Irish neighbor and begins restoring the property, with an eye to a new business venture. With all that manual labor, Shoshana begins to drop the pounds while pregnant Alexis begins to put them on, and the two meet in the middle. Occasionally the language lacks polish ("Shoshana had beautiful, stunning hair") but Rockland's study of the two women is fresh and enjoyable. Skinny chicks, chubby gals and all in between will connect to this perennially favorite female subject: how much a body should weigh.