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A review by stephsbooktalk
Because Fat Girl by Lauren Marie Fleming
5.0
Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing for a copy of this book!
This book is out now!
Listen I am kicking myself for waiting to read this book. I absolutely LOVED this book and it is not getting the flowers it deserves.
This book is a mixed fiction & romance. The romance weaves throughout the book but we really don't see the characters fully connect until later in the book.
It is hard to put into words why I enjoyed this book so much. If you know me, you know I love pop culture and all things Hollywood, so that aspect really pulled me in. The way that Fleming wrote the characters and the chapters just had me tapping on my screen page after page. I am not a queer person so I appreciated getting Diana's inner monologue on how she struggled to be falling for a man. What frustrated me was how she kept suppression her feelings for Andy because of a failed relationship years and years ago and only dated non men since. And it frustrated me because all relationships have a chance of failing. Whether you are with a she, he or they, they all have a potential to fall apart.
Andy/Drew was the MMC of my book dreams. He was just such a gem throughout this book. And his mom was such a fun side character! He just was so drawn to Diana from the moment they met at a party and pretty much the whole book is him trying to convince Diana that he is the one for her. There was a moment where she texts him during a date and he suddenly appears with a requested cheese fries - SWOON. He just loved her for who she was. Diana was apprehensive about Andy from the very beginning. And I understood why she did not think the romance would not work. The public is very critical of bigger bodied women and if she would be ripped to pieces if she was seen dating a famous movie star.
I loved all the side characters in this book especially Chris. We went on a journey with Diana throughout the book (she is the star of the show) but a big part of this book is her relationship with Chris, Andy's best friend. And honestly I need a book about him.
This book snuck up on me as a favorite of mine this year. I highly recommend!
If you enjoy behind the scenes of movie making, frenemies, friends to lover, diverse cast, queer rep and so much more!
Some of my favorite lines:
"I know fatphobia is a big issue for gay men, trans people and nonbinary folk too. And straight men don't have a pass from it, but life will always be easier for white, straight, cis men like Drew, even when they're fat."
"Grief had left me living in sweatpants for so long that I'd forgotten how much I loved making a statement as I walked into a room."
"I haven't felt this closeted since college. You'd think it would be easier, saying you're falling for a guy."
"You act this way every time you fall for someone, regardless of their gender. You go in the downward spiral of insecurity until you've convinced yourself there's no way this person could like you. Or if they like you, then there has to be something with them. Just stop already."
This book is out now!
Listen I am kicking myself for waiting to read this book. I absolutely LOVED this book and it is not getting the flowers it deserves.
This book is a mixed fiction & romance. The romance weaves throughout the book but we really don't see the characters fully connect until later in the book.
It is hard to put into words why I enjoyed this book so much. If you know me, you know I love pop culture and all things Hollywood, so that aspect really pulled me in. The way that Fleming wrote the characters and the chapters just had me tapping on my screen page after page. I am not a queer person so I appreciated getting Diana's inner monologue on how she struggled to be falling for a man. What frustrated me was how she kept suppression her feelings for Andy because of a failed relationship years and years ago and only dated non men since. And it frustrated me because all relationships have a chance of failing. Whether you are with a she, he or they, they all have a potential to fall apart.
Andy/Drew was the MMC of my book dreams. He was just such a gem throughout this book. And his mom was such a fun side character! He just was so drawn to Diana from the moment they met at a party and pretty much the whole book is him trying to convince Diana that he is the one for her. There was a moment where she texts him during a date and he suddenly appears with a requested cheese fries - SWOON. He just loved her for who she was. Diana was apprehensive about Andy from the very beginning. And I understood why she did not think the romance would not work. The public is very critical of bigger bodied women and if she would be ripped to pieces if she was seen dating a famous movie star.
I loved all the side characters in this book especially Chris. We went on a journey with Diana throughout the book (she is the star of the show) but a big part of this book is her relationship with Chris, Andy's best friend. And honestly I need a book about him.
This book snuck up on me as a favorite of mine this year. I highly recommend!
If you enjoy behind the scenes of movie making, frenemies, friends to lover, diverse cast, queer rep and so much more!
Some of my favorite lines:
"I know fatphobia is a big issue for gay men, trans people and nonbinary folk too. And straight men don't have a pass from it, but life will always be easier for white, straight, cis men like Drew, even when they're fat."
"Grief had left me living in sweatpants for so long that I'd forgotten how much I loved making a statement as I walked into a room."
"I haven't felt this closeted since college. You'd think it would be easier, saying you're falling for a guy."
"You act this way every time you fall for someone, regardless of their gender. You go in the downward spiral of insecurity until you've convinced yourself there's no way this person could like you. Or if they like you, then there has to be something with them. Just stop already."