Reviews - Bellies | The StoryGraph

2.18k reviews for:

Bellies

Nicola Dinan

4.1 AVERAGE

the_ratreads's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

emilybookworm's review against another edition

3.0

More character driven than a plot line. Liked the two POV’s for the audiobook. It was a LGBTQIA’s+ version of Normal People by Sally Rooney.

mais_is_reading's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bbyrealm's review against another edition

5.0

I remember my first relationship, ever, was when I was in the cusp of transness. He had loved me for a long time and when we got together, I transitioned - not because we got together but just because I needed to try it. He wanted to be supportive of me, but I knew and he knew that he didn't like men even if the man was me. When we broke up, I grew a lot more, but the fondness stayed there for quite some time and we tried again to the same conclusion, with much more certainty.

Ming hits close to home in a way I've not felt in media before. I think the word is sore.

On transition, on love, on sex, on queerness, this intersection of I love you but not you. Like the fear of everyone around you. It's almost episodic. There's a lot of complex feelings I'm having now finishing the book that border feeling selfish about it and I'm not sure if I'm getting the words I want to say across. I will say I am unfamiliar with the amount of drug use in this book. But I enjoyed being able to explore that uncomfortable threshold of self-discovery from both perspectives, following how both characters try to answer the question, "am I lovable?"

clotalksbooks's review against another edition

3.75

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

I liked the dual narrative, as it really helped to see things from different perspectives. The food descriptions make you drool. There are some sexy scenes too. Parts had me shedding a tear. A full bag!

I wasn't a fan of all the drugs, if I'm honest, but I guess I just didn't have that kind of uni life. I enjoyed the various jobs it looks at, even when the characters weren't a fan of them. It shows a real diversity of experience. I really liked that this book centered on friendships, and the love you can have for your friends.

It's very character-driven, so maybe not for you if you prefer lots of plot. It's almost like a coming of age, or coming of self story.

A strong debut.

Content Warnings