As the story progresses, we learn that he adopted a himbo persona due to insecurity over a disability, and over his strained relationship with his parents. Marcus is as much as nerd as April is, and I absolutely love that about him. We also see in this scene how Marcus’s work as an actor is informed not just by the script or the show, but also by the novels on which the show was based, and the Greek mythology that inspired those novels. Within the physicality of the scene is the thought and rigour with which Marcus approaches his work, such that every movement is infused with a whole world of motivations informed by his character’s history. The author introduces us to Marcus as he’s filming a fight scene with choreography he and his co-star have practiced so much the movements have become automatic. But from his very first appearance, we know the himbo persona is far from the truth. He’s a Nikolaj Coster-Waldau-type actor (he plays a Jaime Lannister-type character in a Game of Thrones-like TV show) with a himbo public persona. I also love how nuanced Marcus is as a character. One of her and Marcus’ dates is at a museum with a reenactment of an earthquake, which I also thought was awesome. She’s also a popular fan fiction writer with a talent for fluffy fan fics and steamy sex scenes, who has had to hide this part of her from her former co-workers (government job), and so has to learn to be more open at her new job. She’s a geologist (yay nerdy heroine / woman in STEM!) who likens getting to know Marcus to digging into types of soil (yay nerdy science references!). I also love how April is a rich and nuanced character beyond the amazing fat rep. I forgot the exact phrases the author used, but the novel gives us a very clear picture of a fat woman - with dimpled thighs, belly rolls, round face, and overall physical heft - as desirable, and I love the author so much for this. Marcus obviously finds her gorgeous and sexy, and their sex scenes show how April’s fatness is part of her sex appeal, with Marcus getting turned on by her big thighs and overall softness. April is confident in her body, but she’s faced bullying from loved ones and online trolls alike, so her confidence is hard-earned, and not always steady.
I love the way the author writes about her fat heroine (April outright says that she’s not chubby or plump, but fat).
Spoiler Alert is adorable and fun - one of my favourite books this year!
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