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abbie_'s review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for my free eARC!
I’m reaching for a lot of queer lit this year and let me tell you, the 2023 offerings I’ve read so far this year have been 😚 chef’s kiss 😚 Bellies is a wonderfully tender and intimate portrayal of messy queer love at its finest, the title is absolutely perfect - it really does make you reflect on your own vulnerabilities, how much you show and share with those you love, the courage it takes to show your belly, expose the soft, squishy parts usually kept to ourselves.
I’m reaching for a lot of queer lit this year and let me tell you, the 2023 offerings I’ve read so far this year have been 😚 chef’s kiss 😚 Bellies is a wonderfully tender and intimate portrayal of messy queer love at its finest, the title is absolutely perfect - it really does make you reflect on your own vulnerabilities, how much you show and share with those you love, the courage it takes to show your belly, expose the soft, squishy parts usually kept to ourselves.
To sum up super briefly, Ming and Tom meet at uni and quickly become boyfriends, but just as they’re about to begin their ‘real lives’ together after graduation, Ming announces her transition. Cue, all the feelings. Nicola Dinan has done an exquisite job of capturing the messy glory of life. The plot, as it were, is basically just Tom and Ming navigating their way through their twenties, amid so much professional and personal shift. Half of the book is told through Tom’s eyes, half through Ming’s, and it’s always a wonderful thing when an author can make each voice as compelling as the other. Both Ming and Tom’s flaws are laid bare, and while I definitely felt frustrated at some of their choices, I’ve also not felt such tenderness towards fictional characters in a long time. They’re young and do dumb shit while figuring out who they are and what they mean to each other, something they find themselves doing over and over again (don’t we all). Dinan tackles gender, race, sexual orientation, mental illness, grief, and so much more without it ever feeling shoe-horned in.
The supporting characters are also bloody amazing, and honestly my heart was ripped in two at one point. I had to put down my iPad and take a breather lol, it’s been a while since I had such a dramatic reaction to an event in a book 👀 This is just exactly the type of book I adore but which has evaded me for a little bit - compelling and utterly engrossing, but being driven by nothing but people living out their little lives. Love it love it love it 🥰
Out on the 29th of June in the UK!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Transphobia, Grief, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
annie26's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A beautiful story about life, love, identity, grief and accepting yourself for who you are. I adore both Tom and Ming. They are fully realised people to me. I think both were brilliantly characterised and Nicola does an amazing job of writing both their journeys full of complexity and in a non judgemental way. I truly appreciate being able to see the experience of transitioning through the eyes of a trans woman. I also appreciated seeing the journey of someone watching the person that they love transition and sadly fall away from them. I loved how community and friendship is explored here. Although some parts were more engaging than others, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Nicola Dinan is a talent. Thanks to Doubleday UK for my proof copy. This fab book comes out in July.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Transphobia, and Death of parent