“Almost sixteen year old Veronica got a job at a clothing-mega-thrift store for the summer by conveniently omitting her age (also related: the fact that she's only going to be a sophomore in high school) during the hiring process. She's one of those beat-of-your-own-drummer types that wouldn't seem out of place in a Rachel Cohn/David Leviathan pairing. Oh, and also, she's fat. The way she tells it, her yoga-teaching mom is constantly harping on her appearance, but we (the reader) encounter Mom so infrequently in the book that it's almost like hearsay.
Because she's FAT and WEIRD, OMG, Veronica doesn't have friends, and she likes it that way. Or so she says. Working to sort incoming clothing in EMPLOYEES ONLY! helps her hermit tendencies. But when she captures the attention of two Florons (floor workers), including the larger-than-life bully Zoe, it seems like maybe that's about to change? Unfortunately, skinny coworker Len aka Dead Boy Walking that they sic her on is about to inspire feeeeeeelings in Veronica. Now she's got to tread carefully.
Liked it enough to finish it, but it never really connected with me. Maybe it was the oh-so-convenient lack of adult authority figures. But it did also capture what it's like to be fifteen, alone, and wanting to please everyone. Tepid.
--Ann”
