ALTERNATE BEAUTY offers a refreshing change of pace.  At the book's heart is a young, overweight woman, Ronnie Tremayne, who learns she is about to lose her job because of her weight issues.  The problem is Ronnie may be a size 28, but she happens to work in a clothing boutique that specializes in clothes for plus-sized women.  When she learns her boss feels she is "disturbing the clientele" with her size, Ronnie's world begins to crumble.

Ronnie goes home that night and makes an important observation while watching Oprah®.  "The key to happiness is living in a world where fat is beautiful."

When morning arrives, Ronnie heads off to work and finds herself in a strange new world.  Skinny women are acting ashamed of their bodies, men are lusting after Ronnie, and being overweight is every woman's dream.  What seems incredible soon takes on nightmarish qualities.

I highly enjoyed ALTERNATE BEAUTY.  The writing is fast-paced and mesmerizing.  I loved the idea of a world where plus-sized women reigned supreme.  However, there is a bigger message at heart.  The author uses this book to demonstrate that discrimination of any kind--fat or skinny--is intolerable.  I thoroughly agree.

While I enjoyed ALTERNATE BEAUTY, one aspect of the novel surprised me.  The ending isn't at all what I was expecting.  I'm not about to give a spoiler, but don't expect a conventional ending.  You just won't find it within Andrea Rains Waggoner's latest.