I had the pleasure of listening to the audible of Big Girl Pill by KD Williamson this week, and what a week it has been!
Here’s a quick plot—
When Nina Sterling invites her former best friend, Maya Davis, to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, Maya accepts with the intention of shaking off the residual feelings from their intimate encounter back in college. Nina is drowning in her own silent conformity to the life her controlling mother and fiancé have laid out in front of her. Inviting Maya to come back to town was a last ditch effort from her subconscious to yank her free from a future she doesn’t actually want. But Nina had hurt Maya back then, and the two women are unable to fully jump into a once seamless friendship with the lingering pain. Can Nina and Maya restore their personal lives and relationship?
One thing I enjoyed in this story was the sibling dynamic. Maya and her brothers lost their parents but have remained close to one another despite physical distance and long working hours. The conversations between them were easygoing and lent insight to their relationship. All of the characters, including Rachel who was the oldest, felt pretty young, especially with their nonchalant attitudes towards personal privacy. This led to some interesting scenarios.
Largely this is a book about growing—in life, love, and family. We have a set of characters who need to welcome change in order to find happiness. I have always enjoyed seeing obstacles like this play out. These growing pains are what moves the story along as opposed to a heavy or complicated plot. I’d also say that this is what sets Big Girl Pill apart from a typical romance. The climax isn’t necessarily Nina and Maya getting together, but Nina finding her voice and Maya working towards a future.
What a joy and relief it was when Nina does find her voice. I enjoyed watching Nina grow into herself—stopped repressing and taking the easier route with fiancé, Drew, realizing what she wanted, and standing up for herself by confronting her mother. The conversation with her mother was heartbreaking (and infuriating), but I like that we got to see Nina finally fight for herself.
If you’re looking for a cut-of-life story with a romantic edge then Big Girl Pill could be for you!