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A review by alexiconic
Bellies by Nicola Dinan
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bellies is like if Skins were a book in the 2020s. No character is really a perfect person. Many have some messed up stuff to deal with - and they pften don't do so with much elegance. There's a lot of drugs, parties, and sex. One of the characters is named Cass.
But like Skins drew me in before, so did Bellies. It's an impressively written, intimate, and tangible book. I loved the place food and touch and friendships held. It felt loving and warm. Bellies had its flaws - the middle section was slightly slow for me, some aspects felt a bit too smooth, and I didn't buy into Ming and Tom's relationship as much as the book told me I should - but it was overall a tender and sweet novel. And I appreciate its dealing with trans themes and difficulties in a transition without this becoming the sole focus of the book, or a complete sadness and misery draw.
But like Skins drew me in before, so did Bellies. It's an impressively written, intimate, and tangible book. I loved the place food and touch and friendships held. It felt loving and warm. Bellies had its flaws - the middle section was slightly slow for me, some aspects felt a bit too smooth, and I didn't buy into Ming and Tom's relationship as much as the book told me I should - but it was overall a tender and sweet novel. And I appreciate its dealing with trans themes and difficulties in a transition without this becoming the sole focus of the book, or a complete sadness and misery draw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism