The Saline Solution

By: Caitlin Whitaker

Narrated by: Chloe Dolandis

Ethel Klyczek’s development stalled in middle school, making her self-conscious and insecure. Aiming for prom perfection, Ethel plans to go from As to Cs, and she doesn’t mean her grades.

Ethel’s parents are dead-set against her self-improvement plan. Without their sanction, Ethel will have to do a lot more than sling fried chicken if she’s to get a new set of twins in time for prom.

Extreme fundraising of car washing, cupcake baking, and t-shirt selling start out strong. But as the money rolls in, Ethel’s support system rolls out. Her best friend is sick of her too-busy schedule and preoccupation with her boobs, and her boyfriend is tired of fighting other guys for her attention.

With her grades dropping and her family at the breaking point, Ethel plans an epic rager to push past the finish line. The party is a massive success, but the invite to view her A cups draws a crowd Ethel can’t control.

Now, the question isn’t if she can earn the money for the surgery; it’s whether or not she can live with herself when it’s done.

The Saline Solution is a quirky and fun story about female empowerment and self love. It includes themes of modern feminism, female body image, and agency.

©2020 Caitlin Whitaker (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Spoilers ahead

Sexual Assault triggers



I enjoyed this book until the main character is shamed for wanting to control her body and it’s appearance, then after she is sexually assaulted, which feels like it was written as an inevitable response to a female expressing herself, she is blamed by her parents for the assault. It’s gross. I was so angry at these characters.

Disappointed

I was sure that by the end of the book there would be a beautiful message about loving yourself but it only left me disappointed.
It kept dragging on and overall had no real depth.
The story also has sexual assault so be warned.
I have a hard time leaving a negative review but I would not recommend this book.
The narrator however did a wonderful job!