I really wanted to love this book. The plot was engaging and as a curvy, queer femme I was excited to see my experience in print. Unfortunately, there were many times where the author seemed to be quite heavy-handed in her descriptions and language. I think this can be easily cleaned up with better editing, but it made the story far clunkier than necessary.

“I thought for the millionth time about what life would be life if women quit catering to men. What would we wear? What would we say? What would we weight?”
Because Fat Girl follows our MC Diana (who is a queer fat women) as they navigate back into the film industry after a tragic death in the family. As we already know Hollywood is not kind to anyone who is different and does not fit the “typical mold”. Diana’s goal is to produce their film with the most diverse cast and crew Hollywood has seen. Diana starts to question who they are as a queer person when we meet our MMC Drew, and well you will just have to read to find out the rest 😉.
When I first started this book, I would say I didn’t care for Diana. BUT I think this is part of their character development for me. The more I read, the more I began to understand them, the trauma, events, etc. that made Diana who they are present day. A flawed human, that makes mistakes that is relatable to.
I really enjoyed this book. By the end of the book there was not a character I didn’t like. I laughed, hurt with them, and even teared up at the end.
It is very evident that this book was written from personal experience and from the heart with how the topics of fatphobia, transphobia, homophobia, gender inequality, and mental health struggles were woven into this book. It is a beautiful story and one anyone can benefit from. It has a strong message of to be who you are without apology (even if you aren’t fully confident in it) and always continue to strive for your goals despite any obstacles that are in your way. Fight for what you believe in.
Thank you Entangled, Brittany Zimmerman, Lauren Fleming and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Because Fat Girl, is an inspiring story for anyone who is overweight or in a minority that has big dreams.

Diana has always dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. Even with setbacks and hiccups along the way she has never given up on her dream. She makes some new friends along the way that are a huge help, and sometimes add some excitement to her life. This book is a great read for anyone who had even been told you can do something because the way you look.

5 ⭐️

What an absolutely beautiful book! If you want to read something full of representation, feminism, dreaming big, and hot movie stars, this is the book for you.

Diana, a self-described fat queer woman, has a big dream to make a movie and win an Oscar one day. By chance, she ends up at a Hollywood party and becomes friends with action movie star Drew Williams, who might be able to make her dream come true.

With her sister and best friend by her side, Diana navigates the moviemaking process, the ups and downs of being in Hollywood, and what it’s like to fall in love with someone you don’t think you can or should have. But beyond that, her real goal is to take her incredible opportunities and turn them into lessons on amplifying diverse voices, feeling confident in your own skin, and following your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.

The epilogue of this book made me cry, but not for the reason I expected. But even through my tears, I was smiling and so satisfied, exactly how I want to feel when I close a book.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I was so happy to participate in the Entangled Insiders read along with other ARC readers!

Title: Because Fat Girl
Author: Lauren Marie Fleming
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Lauren Marie Fleming's Because Fat Girl is a deeply personal, humorous, and unapologetically raw memoir that delves into the challenges of living in a society that stigmatizes bodies that don’t fit the stereotypical norm. Fleming shares her journey with both courage and vulnerability, making this book not just a personal story, but also a rallying cry for self-love and acceptance.

One of the highlights of the book is the relationships that develop throughout the story. The dynamic between Drew and Diana is authentic and multifaceted—capturing the complexities of love and intimacy in a world filled with judgment. Similarly, the friendship between Diana and Janelle offers a heartwarming portrayal of support, camaraderie, and the power of true friendship to uplift and encourage during challenging times. Diana's interactions with Cecily are equally compelling, presenting a nuanced picture of familial ties and the struggles of navigating complicated expectations while striving for self-acceptance.

The book's strength lies in its honesty. Fleming doesn’t shy away from her darkest moments—exploring themes like mental health struggles, body image, and the constant pressures faced by plus-sized women in a fatphobic world. Her candid approach draws readers in, encouraging empathy and understanding for anyone who has ever felt marginalized or invisible. Her humor, often biting but always poignant, helps to lighten the heavy subject matter, making the book both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

However, there are moments where the narrative can feel a bit repetitive. The book could have benefited from a tighter edit, with certain parts trimmed to maintain a steady flow. Despite this minor flaw, Because Fat Girl stands as a powerful reminder that no one should have to apologize for their body or the space they take up in the world.

Fleming's message of self-compassion and embracing one's true self is empowering. It's a book that invites readers to question societal standards and confront their biases, ultimately delivering a message of hope. It's a must-read for anyone seeking a relatable, heartfelt perspective on body positivity, the complexity of human relationships, and the journey to self-acceptance.

The book tells the story of Diana Smith, a plus-sized, queer woman determined to make diverse films in Hollywood. After an unexpected connection at a gala with a famous action star, Drew, She finds a way to pursue those dreams. I loved Drew and how grounded he was for Diana. I really enjoyed how she navigated pursuing her dreams and standing up for herself and others who are frequently overlooked, whether it be for being overweight, queer or for your gender. I loved the ending.
Themes of grief and depression, fatphobia, imposter syndrome, friendship and complicated family relationships.
4.25/5

The journey the FMC went through on personal development and growth was a very powerful one. I found myself learning more than I ever knew about the LGBTQIA+ community. I appreciated seeing her insecurities and how they affected her relationships. Diana was ultimately the one responsible but needed to break past societal norms to find her place and her happiness. Lessons I think we can all learn from. <3

Not only did we see some of the intricacies of Hollywood but the author touched on grief, fat phobia, transphobia, homophobia as well as other topics like depression, self harm and the feeling of self acceptance. But on top of that, the relationships and characters were beautiful and believable and I enjoyed reading how it all came together.

Growing up in a hispanic household and being overweight was always a struggle. Being accepted and loving myself growing up was hard and I enjoyed how this book explained how to self accept and feel confident.

Wow. Simply wow. I have read a handful of LBGTQIA+ but this one takes the 🍰.

Lauren wrote from the heart, as well as from her own experience, created a diverse cast of characters and a truly wonderful story.

Diana identifies as a Queer woman of color. A plus size girl. Who loves food. Knows fashion, and has big ass dreams of getting her movie made and winning an Oscar.

As chance happens one day and she’s invited to a Hollywood elite party and noticed by a movie star things start to slowly unfold.

Diana refuses to give up on her dreams or what it entails. She questions herself and her sexuality and what it means and what is “allowed” in the community and society. She navigates many hardships yet chooses the catch phrase “Because Fat Girl” as her anthem for body Positivity.

I also really liked how the exploration of sexuality came into play. Both sided. Bias on all sides and the struggle Diana felt and pressure at different points of her life on having to choose. Love is love. You may identify how you choose and perceive yourself but the heart wants what the heart wants. Choose love, nothing else outside of that matters.

There is so much more to this story you just have to read it for yourself!

Hits shelves 10/22/24!

This was an enjoyable read! I loved the complex topics that were targeted. It was funny, fun, and engaging! I can’t wait for the next one!

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out later this month. Very important book about the impact fathate and bihate has on everything in your life and complicates things. I enjoyed it even though the mc more than once irritated me.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

It has been a mission of mine to read books about characters who don’t fit into the conventional boxes. Diana fits my goal because she was a queer fmc who is a happy plus-size or fat (let’s reclaim the word!) woman. This book could’ve been super heavy vibe, but the author, Lauren Marie Fleming, really approached the main themes of the book with grace and nuance. I didn’t feel like this book was heavy at all even though it touches on grief, family dynamics, being in an industry like Hollywood, and fat shaming. I like Diana as our fmc. While I don’t fully relate to her, I do relate to many different aspects of her character and I think so many people will relate to her. The relationship between Diana and Drew was believable from my perspective, which is important for me in a good book. All of the side characters made me go through the full gambit of my emotions. I would definitely recommend you give this book a try!

I enjoyed this story, but I cant say I loved in

I did love the overall theme of not giving up on yourself and your dreams.

I really wanted to like the mfc, Diana, but there where times she just felt insufferable and immature. Her insecurities at times made me feel more frustrated than connected to her as a character. I also did not enjoy how in your face the prioritization of food and being “hangry” was for a character that is plus size- being plus size myself. She was unreasonably mean at times to the other characters, judgmental and self centered. While her friends and family tried to uplift her, or the MMC Drew was constantly being straight forward with his feelings, non it mattered because of what she felt was true- that she was just too fat or too queer etc to be loved and accepted. I understand the struggles in the communities, the need for representation, and for voices to be heard- but in this case I didnt feel like she was a positive representation.
On the other hand I did love the side characters and Drew the MMC. Her friends , her sister and the male leads constantly accepted her for who she was, trying their best to uplift her when she put herself down constantly. They were supportive and I felt like they pushed the story forward ultimately.
The ending was predictable but was filled with love, found family, friendship, hope and acceptance.

"ᴍʏ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴜᴛꜱ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴄʟᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍʏ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ."

First off, I loved Drew from the first moment we meet him. The dialogue with Diana made me laugh. Second, Diana was a strong-minded FMC with flaws like any other person. She was such an advocate for size and gender equality. There were times when I found myself getting frustrated with her though for her own pre-judgements based on what others looked like (when she was fighting against others doing that to her). But then again, is that my own privilege showing? This book made me think about just that. I found myself learning a lot about size biases, gender fluidity & the queer community.

This story was also about pursuing your dreams no matter what. About taking up space and owning it.

The epilogue made me cry happy tears 🥹

🌧One of my favorite scenes is the moment where they're dancing in the rain. It felt like pure joy. It was playing out like a movie scene in my head & it was a beautiful moment.

"𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝘆𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀"

Big thanks to Entangled, Netgalley & Lauren Fleming for this arc!

Overall, I did enjoy this book and the ending was very cute and the story was paced well enough that it was a quick read. And as a plus size individual myself I really wanted to love this book. But there were many times it felt like the main character was going on a bit of a diatribe about the issues plus size individuals face, while the statements were true it often pulled me out of the story itself and felt a bit jarring and sometimes like a lecture was being delivered. I also feel like there were a few characters we didn’t get a full explanation on how they really fit in the story and I wanted more (cough cough Simon & Chris’s story).

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC!

*ARC REVIEW*

So this wasn’t my favorite that I’ve read so far this year but it wasn’t bad at all. Very well written and I love the outlook on body positivity and lgbtq+ 🖤

Because Fat Girl
Author: Lauren Marie Fleming
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a sweet quick read that really dug deep into a number of different issues when you thought you were just getting a surface deep book.

Not only did we see some of the intricacies of Hollywood but the author touched on grief, fat phobia, transphobia, homophobia as well as other topics like depression, self harm and the feeling of self acceptance. There were many pieces to this book and they were all done very well and I enjoyed the overall feel and flow. But on top of that, the relationships and characters were beautiful and believable and I enjoyed reading how it all came together.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to have an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Because Fat Girl and was thrilled to join a read-along. This was my first time being selected for an ARC, and I didn't even read the description—I was just excited to be part of the experience! I really enjoyed following Diana, the main character, on her journey. I feel this book will resonate with many readers, thanks to its diverse cast of characters who each add something unique to the story. I got so caught up in Diana's story that I read ahead and finished the book early because I just had to know how it would end. I especially loved Janelle, Diana's best friend. We all need someone like Janelle in our lives—someone who encourages us when we doubt ourselves and what we're capable of.

Quick read with a beautiful friend-first romance and a behind the scenes into the complexities of the film industry. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Because Fat Girl was such a delight!! I so needed to read Diana's story of figuring out her exact type of queerness later in life, after she thought her identity was pretty set in stone. I loved her best friend and how Diana fought for her. I loved the backstories of some of the famous actors and how they were so much more than you would guess from their outward appearances (aren't we all?). THIS IS THE KIND OF BOOK AND THE KIND OF STORIES WE ALL NEED!

Full review coming on readingwhilefat.com on publication day!