Because Fat Girl by Lauren Marie Fleming is seriously so good!

I mean this book is #goals for this fat queer girl. This book has all the representation I could ever want in a book.

I absolutely felt seen reading this book. I was crying during the epilogue.

I really enjoy the identity crisis that the main character goes through and trying to figure out where she belongs in her community.

Fatphobia is such a real thing that most people don't truly understand. Along with homophobia.
This book is a wonderful romance that deals with this some very relatable issues.

I love the theme of not giving up on your dreams.

This is a must read!!!!!

I absolutely loved this book so much!!!!

Because Fat Girl
By Lauren Marie Fleming

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Net Galley for allowing me to read this book.
I really tried hard to like this book and even though I'm a fat girl I just felt it focused too much on that instead of the actual story of the script for the movie. Diana Smith has goals to have one of her scripts win a Oscar so with the help of several of her former customers from personal shopper job they help her realize her dream. But with their fund raising and finding the right actors it might become true.

Along the way her sister and two nieces whom she lives with round out the story with a lot of giggles and insight of their back story. As the world evolves the LGBTQIA community will find their way to acceptance and I understood the struggles they have and face daily.

All in all it was a good 3.9 star book.

This book deserves all of the stars!!! This book was funny, inspirational, it was just EVERYTHING. We meet Diana who is an aspiring director, she is now a personal shopper, who works with her best friend, she lives with her sister and her kids and she’s just THERE. She was given a chance to go to a movie stars party, brought her best friend Janelle and the rest is history. It’s really all about who you know, but Diana was known for her work in her own way and when Drew, this famous actor, sees her at this party and told her about her work and why she stopped creating??????? AGAIN the rest is history, Diana’s life was never the same after. Even though she is dealing with her own issues of accepting her weight and the fact that she is a woman of value who deserves everything, she is also a queer woman and she is dealing with her past when it comes to that as well, and we can’t forget the romance part. OHHHHHH the romance part. This book does not need a huge review because it’s a GEM of a book. You can’t help but love these characters and celebrate everything with them.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!
I found this book to be overall a good read! I liked a plus size main character because I realized all the books I’ve read, they describe the main characters as skinny, ripped, and perfect and not everyone can relate to that. It was a nice read with the right amount of romance

Delightfully queer and fat, this book puts aspiring filmmaker Diana at center stage. After making a connection with a massive star at a party, she finally has a chance to get her life back on track for an Oscar. It's fun, it's sweet, it's uplifting, it's a good book.
It has a lot of long descriptions of what everyone is wearing, so beware if that's not your thing.

I loved the queer and plus size representation in this book and it was a cute read. It just wasn't my favourite read.

Diana was a bit irritating. She came across as immature and self centered. She was judgemental and could be quite mean. I also struggled with the constant mention of food and how hangry she was. It just felt a bit insulting with the fat character being obsessed with food.

Drew was lovable and the dream boyfriend. He could talk about his feelings, was honest and supportive. His mum was probably the star of the show though. There are so many fantastic side characters. I actually preferred most of the side characters to Diana. I wanted to know more of their stories, especially what the deal was with Simon and Chris.

It did feel like a big chunk of the book was a lecture. It covers a lot of important topics on privilege and discrimination towards POC and the queer and plus size communities. It just took me out of the story and disrupted the pace.

Absolutely obsessed with this book. I tore through it in one sitting, and now I’m sad it’s over. There’s so much representation in this book, from fat to POC to women to promiscuous people to the whole spectrum of sexuality, but it’s not at all forced - it’s just showing what life can be like.

Beyond this, we also get a fun Hollywood love story, a bit of the famous x non famous trope, and one of the best ensemble casts I’ve read in a long time.

This is such a great addition to the romance genre and I really hope everyone takes the time to read this.

I could not put this book down! It’s so well written and attention grabbing. I had no clue what this book was about when I started it. It’s not normally something I would choose and I was so surprised at how much I liked it. Diana is a writer and filmmaker who is plus sized, queer and femme. She’s trying to achieve her dreams of getting her movie made while having to navigate so many obstacles. Definitely recommend giving this book a read!

The description of the book intrigued me and I’m glad I requested it as it was a fun but poignant read.
For the most part I enjoyed the tropes present as it rang true for a romance under the circumstances put forth.

I think many will be able to identify with Diana the female protagonist as she lives her life in a body which others can be critical over.

The book definitely is more than just a romance, a person realizing their dreams and standing up for their personal convictions. It provides a social commentary on sizism in Hollywood as well as societies response to gender politics, sexuality and transgender individuals.

Overall ai enjoyed the message and I think it can serve as an education to so many that need it while packaged with a fun and romance based plot which is different than typical romance novels. However what prevents it from being a 5 star read is that it pushes a bit too much.

For one it equates an overweight person with constant eating which is just not reality. The FMC Diana is constantly mentioning how hungry she is. Rather than making it just a part of the book that she is going to make food choices without worrying about what others think it goes too overboard making it look like she can’t function as a reasonable adult unless she is fed constantly. While it never mentions disordered eating in the book, that is how it is presented. While Diana should be comfortable in her own skin (which she says she is but clearly isn’t since it dominates her world and her relationships in a negative way) and each whatever she wishes without shame, her behavior is toxic at times and while she is pointing the finger at the world for X issue, she isn’t and aware enough to understand that she is being just as judgmental.

Now, part of that is the plot and makes for an engaging book but some of it comes off way to over the top that the author is trying to send a particular message which not everyone will appreciate.

Anyway, I’m honestly not sure if I wanted to root for Diana in the end because her behavior was awful and her mantra of “because fat girl” didn’t come off as empowering but rather as an excuse for bad behavior. I couldn’t tell what the authors intent was which is what prevented a higher rating.

I do recommend this book as it
Has more “meat on the bones” than most romances… no pun intended.


I am thankful to have gotten the eARC for free from Netgalley and Entangled Publishing so I can leave my voluntary review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

We need more books like this. Oh mhm sorry. *stands on soap box* WE NEED MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS!!! The INCLUSIVITY!! People who hold fat and/or queer and/or POC identities so rarely get to see themselves in art. Whether it’s books or, as is the center of this story, visual media, it’s so rare to see minority identities thrive. I can and will shout from the rooftops until the book market is saturated with representation. A book like this is an excellent inclusion. The writing was great and the story was well paced, it kept you entertained without rushing anything. I looooved the characters. Every single one. The power of feminism coursed throughout the characters in the book in such a vibrant way you couldn’t help but love them. Even when I wanted to shake Diana to get out of her own way, I loved her! They were all so relatable and so personable, I just wanted to join them at a weekend hang at Chris’ house. I loved how it balanced the realistic with the dream, anchoring the reader strongly in the present with Diana as she navigated whatever came next. The end was wonderful and such a great way to wrap up the story.

Do you enjoy queer literature, slow-burn romances, and strong female protagonists? How about a big softie hero who supports his partner's dreams? If you answered yes, you'll adore “Because Fat Girl” by Lauren Marie Fleming.

I devoured this book! The protagonist, Diana, is a plus-sized queer woman navigating her bisexuality while grappling with societal expectations. Her journey resonates deeply, especially as she fears losing her queer community while dating the charming action star, Drew Williams.

Interestingly, the author was inspired by a dream in which Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson asked her out, and she turned him down “because fat girl.” Knowing this made the book even more enjoyable for me, as I love The Rock! Diana's aspiration to be an award-winning director is challenged by personal tragedy, yet she bravely returns to Hollywood. This novel delivers all the feels—perfect for a cozy reading session!

Terrific, complex, and soul-filling romance. A truly exceptional story about representation, the complexities of identity & sexuality, the film industry, and showing up authentically for those you love. The MCs are well-developed, relatable, and complicated characters. Narrative structure is unfussy, allowing mental space for readers to feel their way through the emotionally-charged issues throughout the book. A glorious HEA. Highly recommend.

I have a lot to say on this one unfortunately. I think this is objectively a good book - it's very engaging, really easy to read, and has some fun characters and plot lines - however, I actually think I maybe hated it a bit? I think this teeters into the overtly PC culture where everything, every injustice ever, must be brought up, used as a plot point, and explained into the ground and I think that as a reader I have moved on from the need of these books. I'm so happy (and relieved) to finally see fat, queer, trans, and a myriad of other characters that have been underrepresented in media forever get their moments but I think when you define a character as their label you completely lose me. I found it really hard to see so many of these characters outside of the tropes they were getting forced into; Diana is a fat, queer woman who consistently explains how much she loves food and hates exercise and like yes woo power to you girl I love the representation (for me!!) but I am not defined by these things, I actually exist beyond that and while I understand that was, to an extent, the point of the book it's actually slightly disheartening to read that that maybe is all I exist as: a trope. I don't know, I read it and the plot was fine but it's left quite a bitter taste in my mouth that other stories centring fat women or queer women haven't.

4.5⭐️

"To anyone who has ever been told you were too much, I beg you to stand tall in your greatness. I beg you to expand and grow. I beg you to never shrink away."

All I knew going into this book was that the main character was plus size, and that's all I needed to hear as a plus-size woman. This book was about so much more. Diana's journey in Hollywood as a plus size, queer woman was not easy, but she wasn't about to shrink herself into something that was more easily accepted. She was loud & proud. She was like stained glass: full of color and made up of pieces of all the people that she surrounds herself with. Janelle: who is a fierce & loyal friend, Cecily: who has always been there for her, Drew: who accepts her for who she is, & so many more.

Lauren crafted a beautiful book that poignantly tells the story of acceptance, resilience, & pursuing your dreams in a world that's not always on your side. Xe found the words that perfectly describe the complexity of life & remaining true to yourself as you evolve. This made me laugh, cry, and gave me hope. Thank you, Lauren. Your radical inclusivity is much needed in this world.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a quick read that kept my attention throughout. As a plus size woman, it was nice to see this repped in a book and be able to relate to the struggles Diana had with body image, finding clothing she felt confident in, and how others perceive her. I also really loved how inclusive this book was with queer representation.

The only drawback for me is that some of the “fat girl” stereotypes really seemed to be emphasized multiple times (always being hangry, eating tons of bacon and fries with cheese, hating fitness). I think that took away from the main character because it reiterated those negative stereotypes of plus size people, which I think is the opposite of what the author was intending. Also, by the end of the book it began feeling more like a lecture on queer inequality as Diana didn’t seem to be able to do anything without her over emphasizing these things to the reader. I do think it’s important to emphasize inequalities and I am an ally, but it felt a bit overdone.

I loved the HEA!

Thank you to Entangled Amara for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Diana Smith was so close to reaching her dream of directing important movies in Hollywood, but when tragedy struck she closed in on herself and her world became small. She is proudly queer and plus-sized, but she can't seem to get out of her own way or catch a break. But when an A-list action star won't take no for an answer, she finds herself finally getting her chance to write and direct an impactful feature film. But does finally living her dream mean that she will have to make some tough choices about what cost she is willing to pay?

I struggled so much through the first part of this book: Diana was so self-destructive, sabotaging herself at every turn and pushing away her opportunities left and right (often by being hurtful to those who honestly cared), and then pitying herself for not getting farther in life. Her trauma and mental health struggles were real and had a real impact on her ability to thrive. But ultimately I cheered on Diana's healing journey, along with all the body- and LGBTQ-positivity. As the story progressed, we see a broader picture of what's happening even as Diana allows her world to broaden. When you stop putting limits on yourself and stop getting in your own way, it's amazing what opportunities you can make in life. I found this to be a very uplifting, redemptive story with serious psychological undertones.

And, as always, kudos to Entangled for once again nailing the content warning!

Diana is a queer plus size personal shopper in a Hollywood upscale store for celebrities and A listers, living with her sister in the suburbs, but she really wants to be a writer, director, and actor. Diana is invited to a celebrity thrown charity event held by famous action star Chris Stanson. She and her best friend show up hoping to do some networking and end up meeting Chris's famous actor best friend, Drew (Andy) Williams. Andy starts to pursue her, but Diana thwarts his advances and tries to keep him in the friend zone, insisting she's only into women. As Chris and Drew invest in Diana's script for a film and they start working closer together, Diana begins to question the feelings she has for Drew and if she, as a fat queer woman, can have a relationship with a hot movie star and be accepted and taken seriously in both Hollywood and Queer societies.

This was an emotional self-discovery journey and showed so much character development for Diana. She needed to learn to trust in the people who love her and herself. It's okay to be different and pursue your dreams outside the norm of what's expected. I loved every bit of Drew's character and his determination to never give up on Diana. This was such a great story theme to never give up on your dreams or love no matter what size you or they are... because fat girl!

This book is the perfect book for a book club. It has that feel good spirit and loveable characters.

An inspiring quick read story about believing in yourself and your community.

Because Fat Girl is about a plus size queer woman, Diana, who lives in Arcadia with a dream to win an Oscar. The story is told from the POV of Diana who has a lot of preconceived notions about people and the industry. Some of it based on experiences and the world and some of it just not based on reality. When her reality is challenged Diana struggles to understand and is at times I found annoying. She gets in her own way of happiness and crates unneeded hurdles to her success. The supporting characters are strong and enjoyable to read about. Diana, in my opinion, makes the book a 3 star book but her supporting cast really elevate the story to 4 stars. Lauren Marie Fleming promises you’ll cry by the end of the story, and she delivers.

My thoughts:
A beautiful, inspiring story about fighting for what you want for your life. Something you have dreamed about since you were a young child.
Can dreams really come true?
Will Hollywood be achieved?
Is it possible to stay true to yourself and others?
The characters were engaging.
I loved the growth and chemistry felt throughout the story.
Because Fat Girl was a heartfelt, feel good read.

All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.