Hey, I‘ve read some novels about the experience of living in a female body in our society, but I haven‘t come across any novels that feature a female protagonist who isn‘t skinny. Body issues don‘t have to be the only centre of the novel, but I‘d like to follow a protagonist being within and loving (or learning to love, experiencing) her body. Thanks!
by brainrotten_potato
25 Comments
Sorry I don’t have a suggestion, but commenting because I want to read something like this too 😭
Set on You by Amy Lea.
Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino
Shrill by Lindy West
Linda Holmes’ novels have larger female protagonists. She mentions this enough for it to be part of the reality of the story, but nothing about the women’s size drives the plot.
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Dietland by Sarai Walker
Jemima J by Jane green centers around body shapes and self love. I read it about 20 years ago so I don’t remember all of it. But it’s kind of a quickie!
The magical midlife series features a middle aged female protagonist who is by her own admission not skinny. Well written and humorous series, too.
Dumplin (YA), Good in Bed, Eleanor & Park (YA),
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb. It’s a really beautiful read and Lamb did a great job writing a female protagonist.
SHE’S COME UNDONE by Wally Lamb is one
Poppy McCallister Mysteries by Libby Klein.
Pretty much anything by Rainbow Rowell. I really loved her most recent novel, Slow Dance.
An anti-recommendation I have is 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad. The woman only spends the first part of the book being actually fat and then she’s just an evil ex-fat who hates everyone and herself.
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy is YA but very sweet.
Shrill by Lindy West is not a novel but is really affirming, as well as Hunger by Roxane Gay.
Manhunt by Gretchen Felker Martin has a prominent fat character.
I believe there are a number of romance novels involving fat femme protagonists but that’s not quite my genre.
I’m currently reading Merry Little Meet Cute, where one of the main characters is a plus-sized adult film star who’s cast in a Christmas movie with a former boy band bad boy.
I’ve noticed lots of British female authors are more likely to describe their bodies as “not skinny” and lean into that.
Lindy West’s memoir *Shrill* is excellent and super funny, and I think it would be a great fit 🙂 it was adapted into a great TV show (also called Shrill) starring Aidy Bryant. LW also has a follow-up book coming out I think sometime next year.
Dietland by Sarai Walker
_Time and Time Again_ by Chatham Greenfield
Wow, so many replies already, thanks guys! Probably should note that I‘m not into YA/Romance books at all, so looking for more literary and contemporary novels. Thanks a lot already, will go through the results now!
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher — it is a fantasy where one of the main characters is a middle age, chubby, disabled woman, but that is not the focus of her character.
Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon. It’s a romance. The main character talks about how she has a big butt and hips, and is somewhat insecure about it, especially after she has to borrow clothes from her much smaller cousin at one point with nearly disastrous results. She learns to love her body after the love interest (also mentioned as being overweight) shows her that she’s beautiful just the way she is.
Gabourey Sidibe’s book, any Amanda Lovelace poetry books
Jennifer Weiner’s early books were about this. Good in Bed comes to mind.
One to Watch by Kate Stayman London
Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
(⬆️⬆️Both of these are romance, which is not normally something I read much of, but I really enjoyed these)
Not a novel, but Nicole Byer’s #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: The Fat Girl’s Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-in-the-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini is great and really funny.
Good in Bed (or any Jennifer Weiner, really)
Dietland