Gemma is competing in the Olympia bodybuilding competition in the highly competitive bikini division. In a world of deprivation diets, fake tans, and sparkling bikinis, she thinks the hardest part is going to be fighting the inner part of her that wants to just ditch it all and eat a deep-dish Chicago pizza. Ashley is a plus size software designer sick and tired of being forced into conversations about her weight. When a mysterious woman meets her at a weight loss information session, so finds herself in a world of women forming a guerilla team to riot against diets. One by one, Fit Girl models from Instagram begin to die. Gemma thinks she’s next. Ashley just might know who is behind it. Will the Olympia competition be explosive for all the right or all the wrong reasons?
Author Lori Brand was once a body builder and model, so she definitely knows the territory in this new thriller novel, Bodies to Die For. I went into this book a little nervous about how plus size women would be portrayed, only to be thrilled at the message of getting stronger rather than focusing on weight loss. Brand walks a careful line, showing the destructive sides of two competing movements while still telling a compelling story that left me quickly turning pages until the very end.
Bodies to Die for comes to stores from Blackstone Publishing on June 11, 2024.
