When Mattie has issues with her weight, she decides to take charge of her life, redo her image, find confidence and maybe even dare to talk to guys. She also discovers that boys can be insecure and have self-doubts too. Will a change in lifestyle, a friend, a tormentor, and a dream guy help Mattie discover her real self and find romance along the way? ..". a plot that is big on empowerment for the female teen, while exploring the conflicting emotions, uncertainty, and dreams that are prevalent in those "between" years. ... a story about a young woman who has character, a sense of compassion, strong commitment, determination, and understanding beyond her years. We see the questions about ethics, compassion and morality arise and how they are handled. This is a very good portrayal of the teen years, addressing some of the issues that are faced, the challenges and opportunities that can arise, and the choices that are made. Best of all, we watch Mattie bloom before our very eyes and grow into what she calls, 'the real me.'" Kim Green-Spangler, Womenonwriting.com ..".a charming young adult novel about love and identity. Mattie, the first-person narrator, is a spunky heroine who takes charge of her life, makes mistakes, dusts herself off, and tries again. Kevin, her heartthrob, is both believable and appealing. The plot moves quickly with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing about whether-and with-whom Mattie will find true love. I predict that young adults who enjoy the romance genre will be thrilled with The Real Me." Debra Stang, eBook Reviews Weekly