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junglejelly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I wish I hadn't read Bellies so fast but I couldn't put it down. Everything about it is just phenomenal. Easily one of my favourite books that I have read in a long time.
While incredibly sad and hard to read at times, the writing is so captivating and the characters you come to care for so easily.
A book that will be hard to forget but easy to love.
While incredibly sad and hard to read at times, the writing is so captivating and the characters you come to care for so easily.
A book that will be hard to forget but easy to love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Medical content
elbereth97's review
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
shortstackz's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
A beautifully written, bittersweet love story of the evolving experience of queerness. It's an introspective literary fiction that follows our two main characters: Tom and Ming. I cannot emphasize enough how beautiful the prose is, and how kind the perspective is to each of the characters as we explore how queer couples navigate and question one partner's transition journey.
Ming's character development across the whole book brings me so much joy for her, as she navigates her gender identity and finds her playwriter voice. I loved the added characterization of Ming being an immigrant from a country that would deny her existence, and discusses the very real inability to return to her home country (Malaysia) as herself. Ming brings up a lot of logistics of being a trans person, particularly a trans immigrant, that many cis-people (myself included) have had the privilege to not notice.
In contrast we also see Tom's perspective, which I think is really valuable to see how a cis-partner might cope with their partner transitioning during the relationship. Tom identifies as a gay man, and that complicates his relationship with Ming when she begins to transition. I found sitting in Tom's head really interesting to see how he navigates his love for Ming, and his attraction towards masculine features.
Ming and Tom love each other so much, and the bittersweet journey through Ming's transition is so beautifully complicated and heart-wrenching. At no point did I think either character wanted to deny Ming her gender identity, but love is more complicated than gender alone.
Ming's character development across the whole book brings me so much joy for her, as she navigates her gender identity and finds her playwriter voice. I loved the added characterization of Ming being an immigrant from a country that would deny her existence, and discusses the very real inability to return to her home country (Malaysia) as herself. Ming brings up a lot of logistics of being a trans person, particularly a trans immigrant, that many cis-people (myself included) have had the privilege to not notice.
In contrast we also see Tom's perspective, which I think is really valuable to see how a cis-partner might cope with their partner transitioning during the relationship. Tom identifies as a gay man, and that complicates his relationship with Ming when she begins to transition. I found sitting in Tom's head really interesting to see how he navigates his love for Ming, and his attraction towards masculine features.
Ming and Tom love each other so much, and the bittersweet journey through Ming's transition is so beautifully complicated and heart-wrenching. At no point did I think either character wanted to deny Ming her gender identity, but love is more complicated than gender alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Deadnaming and Death of parent
Minor: Deportation
bebobel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
bookishmillennial's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This was such a tender read that follows Ming and Tom’s relationship (romantic, platonic, and non-speaking terms) over the years. We read how two people continue to yearn for and ruminate on the past, and feel so isolated to their present lives.
There’s a “is this fucking play about us?”moment, and though these characters work through seething anger, betrayal, and heartache, it’s ultimately about the gratitude, melancholy, simmering pain, and reverence we hold for past connections.
This was such a tender read that follows Ming and Tom’s relationship (romantic, platonic, and non-speaking terms) over the years. We read how two people continue to yearn for and ruminate on the past, and feel so isolated to their present lives.
There’s a “is this fucking play about us?”moment, and though these characters work through seething anger, betrayal, and heartache, it’s ultimately about the gratitude, melancholy, simmering pain, and reverence we hold for past connections.
If you enjoyed Normal People by Sally Rooney and Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine (read: i wish i hated you, bye, & we can’t be friends), this is your book! (Also, this review doesn't do this book justice & I may try to come back & write a more detailed review .... one day!)
Thank you to my friend @maddysbookopinions for speaking so highly of this book & moving it up on my TBR!
Thank you to my friend @maddysbookopinions for speaking so highly of this book & moving it up on my TBR!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
anaheeta's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
This felt like reading a memoir, I mean that in the sense that all characters and events and feelings were so fleshed out that it felt like I was reading about the people through their own minds. It was emotional and heartbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Mental illness, Transphobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Infidelity, Dementia, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bootsmom3's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent
readwithchar's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Transphobia, Car accident, and Pandemic/Epidemic
ukponge's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, and Death of parent
milliemarilyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
This was one of the most beautiful books I have read in a long time. It is very character driven, with the plot being taken from the relationships between the characters. If you are a plot-driven reader and need snappy plot points then you may struggle with this one as it is slower paced.
I adored the characters in this book, I could read about Tom and Ming forever. The writing is raw and tender, the characters are increasingly vulnerable as they move into adulthood and try to figure out who they are and what that means for not only themselves but the others in their lives. Overall this is a stunning and real exploration of youth, queerness, transness, friendship and relationships and I have nothing negative to say about it, hence the 5 star review.
I adored the characters in this book, I could read about Tom and Ming forever. The writing is raw and tender, the characters are increasingly vulnerable as they move into adulthood and try to figure out who they are and what that means for not only themselves but the others in their lives. Overall this is a stunning and real exploration of youth, queerness, transness, friendship and relationships and I have nothing negative to say about it, hence the 5 star review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Eating disorder
Minor: Death of parent