OK, first thing first, thank for the new chapter. Actually, I have been catching up with the story, reading a couple of chapters straight.
I still like the characters but I am not sure I like the direction the story is going, really. And reading about it going "insane" doesn't sound too good for me.
So, the 1st thing that bugs me is this health/gym/bootcamp thing. Now, don't get me wrong : I am all for Roxie to do what she want to do, especially if it makes her feel good. But why is this situation referred to as her getting or being "healthy" now? Never before was Roxie weight even implied being unhealthy. She's big, but it was never mentionned that her weight badly affected her health. So now her getting to the gym and dropping a few is referred as her getting "healthy". I found it a bit fatphobic , as if being big AND healthy were antithetical. Also, the "glow" thing. All of sudden, Roxie is going to the gym, she feels "happy" (while actually being quite miserable, at least that is what it feels to me), and now she is "glowing". As if she had no "glow" before. I just...I don't like the feel of it : geeting "healthy" even though she wasnt unhealthy before, "glowing" as if she her nice and fun personality was showing and shining before, etc.
Another thing that adds to the odd feelings about this all situation is how insecure Roxie is being. I mean, I get why and how she feels lonely and so so, and for a couple of chapters I could get along with this. But now it is getting annoying.
Like, what with the prenup gate? Why is she making such a big deal out of it? She didn't even read it through!!! Why does she feel "hurt" about it? Like she's a grown sensible woman, she should know this is "standard" and such, especially considereing Griffith's status. It feels like a cheap trick to create drama, really. And she comes off as being kind childish and naive : like she's really that clueless? That's not the Roxie I remember.
Another this is that thing about NOT communicating with Griffith and telling how she truly feels. What's with the faux "Im ok with this", and then turning cold shoulder on him, and then the blowjob and sex, and then cold shoulder again? It's geeting old really fast, girlfriend ! And it is even worse 'cause Griffith is portrayed here as trying everything to make the situation less complicated (maybe a bit too: he should stop coddling her a bit...), and it's not that Roxie isn't "trying, the writing keeps reminding/telling le that, but I feel like she isn't trying trying. It doesn't show.
Like she is letting herself get caught up into all those insecurities and is shutting herself from Griffith, being even a bit passive agrgressive about it (which is totally on her!). And I really feel like giving her some though love read now. Like what the f*ck, girl?
And that's one of the reason why I think this new gym obsession is not as "healthy" as it is heralded to be. And keeping repeating how "healthy" and "glowing" she is is geeting tiring too : yet again too much "telling" not enough "showing"...Or what is showed is that she may look "healthy" because she slimmed down a bit, she she doesn't sound or behave like she is "happy". Also it peaks of a very distorted view of "health" when she is said to be "glowing" while being so lost and confused all the time...
Another problematic thing is that it seems like while being really busy with wedding planning, and physicaly active by going to the gym with some of the other BB wives, she isn't really doing anything else quite fulfilling. Like what about her career? There has been no mention of her even thinking about it. Like all she is now is a "bride", she is said to be in her element while dealing with bride stuff, etc. which adds, IMHO, to her loneliness. I don't think that if she finds a job, she won't miss Griiffth or all her problems will be solved, but that is one thing that could help her rebuild a bit of her sense of self and fight back against her insecurities. She seemed to enjoy what she was studying at school, she seemed to want to work and was passionate about that. And now, it's as if all that didn't even exist. She doesn't even have Roller Derby anymore! Like all she has now is Griffith (when he's in town), the wedding and the gym!! THIS is not healthy.
So, I am already being too long about it, but I really wanted to point out what I think are several weak points, story/plot wise. I get why she feels the way she feels, but I think it is getting a bit too long now. I don't want Roxie to turn into a stereotypical annoying passive aggressive shcisophrenic female character and this story to spiral into some "insane" drama for drama's sake kind of story.