THE PERFECTLY TRUE TALES OF A PERFECT SIZE 12

Domestic divas battle for the top position at a Martha Stewart–esque enterprise.

Size 12 and not obsessed about a diet plan? Yes, it can happen! Delilah White is a whiz with her glue gun and can whip up a cake in minutes. She’s handy, clever, loyal and confident. Delilah is not desperate to meet a man or to drop ten pounds—what a refreshing concept. Delilah has a great job at Domestic Bliss, a lifestyle show that panders to overachieving housewives. Delilah is up for a major promotion at work, but landing this choice position won’t be easy. The competition is Margo Hart, a lean, mean, baking machine. Drop-dead gorgeous and skinny as a rail, Margo is everything Delilah is not. The rapacious Margo will stop at nothing to make sure she is given the Executive Producer position. Unwilling to simply let the craftiest gal win, Margo launches a campaign to sabotage Delilah’s efforts at work. Margo’s malevolent plans involve ambushing Delilah as the heroine attempts to relax at a Fourth of July retreat. Over the weekend, Margo proceeds to trash Delilah’s laptop (crammed with great segment ideas) and throw herself at Delilah’s new love interest. Delilah decides to fight back. In between water-skiing and enjoying tasty buffets, Delilah attacks. Just when she’s got Margo cornered and it appears the position is hers, Delilah bows out of the competition. She takes the moral high road and decides no job, or man, is worth sacrificing dignity. There are many things to love about Delilah: She’s witty, charming and makes no apologies for not striving to be a size 2. It’s too bad that the author wastes a great opportunity to debunk the popular myth that you need to be perfectly svelte and impeccably groomed to have a glamorous job and a rewarding love life—opting instead for a trite story that’s as unappealing as a soggy picnic.

A memorable character stuck in a forgettable story about a girl with a big appetite and even bigger dreams.