Some years ago I noticed that many of the books I consumed featured the same type of protagonists. I’d been studying creative writing in New York, and the traditional canon— declared by, well, men— were by and for and about middle aged white men. I had considered that the goal to strive for somehow; that if I read these books I’d be taken seriously. But then I wondered how many diverse writers and stories I read at all, including fat writers. It wasn’t many. My roommate at the time suggested I read Lindy West, and ever since I’ve strived to read as widely as possible— to create my own canon.
By filling up my brain with more diverse and realistic people, it helped me accept and love my body more. (Fat people write books… and are successful…? Who knew.)
If you’re not sure what to read, but are curious about fat writers, or are open to reading about the experiences of fat folks, this is a good starting point. Grab a copy from your local library or favorite bookstore and dig in.
(Note: some writers prefer terms like plus-size or curvy rather than fat and vice versa.)
Here are some favorites of mine, in no particular order.
Meaty by Samantha Irby (nonfiction, humor essays). The book covers alone are enough to induce a giggle. And with titles like Meaty, We Are Never Meeting In Real Life, and Wow, No Thank You, you get an idea of what you’re in for. This “cheese fry-eating slightly damp Midwest person” writes about cringey stuff like chin hairs, bad dates, and forced friendships. Bonus if you get the audiobook to hear her reading it with all her glorious inflections. She also has a blog called Bitches Gotta Eat, and a new collection coming out later this year.
Heavy by Kiese Laymon (nonfiction, memoir). Heavy is about Laymon growing up in Mississippi as a fat Black boy experiencing violence and abuse. He writes candidly about his trauma, the relationship with his mother, the education system, and eating disorders. As the title implies, this is a heavy book so take your time with it.
13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad (fiction, novel). I’d written a piece once with a similar title so when I came across this book later, I was intrigued. This novel follows a protagonist through several phases (and body sizes) of life in 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl. If you’re looking for something that explores body image and diet culture in fiction, this is a good start. At times humorous, at turns harrowing, it shows how image-obsessed our society can be.
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado (fiction, young adult). There wasn’t much in terms of young adult books with a fat main character when I was growing up, as I recall anyway. So seeing a book like Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, I knew I had to read it. It felt like my teenage self was validated. Recommended for teens and adults alike, this book is about “coming of age as a fat brown girl in a white Connecticut suburb.”
Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (fiction, romance). This Black British romance novelist writes inclusive books that show people living their lives and falling in love who also happen to be fat or disabled. Start with Get a Life Chloe Brown, which features a web designer with fibromyalgia. There are two more books in the ‘Brown Sisters’ series which is kind of like a cross-over episode of your favorite TV show.
One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London (fiction, novel). A friend recommended this one and I was keen on the concept of a fat Bachelorette. If you’re into that reality dating show (or used to be like me, until seeing the same tiny bodies over and over became too exhausting), this reimagines it if they had 25 ‘hot’ men all vying for a singleton’s attention in One To Watch. A note though that it does include the reactions of the audience/ tabloids/narrow-minded folks which can be kind of hard to read.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (fiction, short stories). Her Body and Other Parties is more capital-L Literature (said with a refined accent and a cup of tea) that won a bunch of awards. This short story collection isn’t wholly focused on fat bodies though. “Real Women Have Bodies” explores a dress shop in which women ‘fade’ and are sewn into dresses and “Eight Bites” is about a mother who undergoes weight loss surgery. Machado also has a great nonfiction essay in Guernica called “The Trash Heap Has Spoken: the power and danger of women who take up space.”
My Life as a Goddess by Guy Branum (fiction, memoir). Branum writes a “memoir through (un)popular culture” that explores his life growing up in a farm town in northern California as a fat gay boy. He eventually attends UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) and as someone who went there too, I related to so many of the moments of feeling isolated on such an enormous campus. Told with humor, these mini essays have Mindy Kaling’s stamp of approval.
If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (fiction, romance). Perhaps best known for Dumplin’ (a young adult novel which was made into a Netflix film with Jennifer Aniston as the non-dumplin’ mother), Murphy reimagines Cinderella if she were a plus-sized princess in If The Shoe Fits. Even my 95-year-old abuelita loved it. And if that doesn’t convince you, Murphy also has a comic book featuring a plus-sized high school superhero. I was the kid who read her brother’s comic books looking at X-Men’s Storm and Rogue willing my body to look like theirs so this is a triumph. *weeps tears of fat joy*
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory (fiction, romance). Okay, so I guess I read more rom-com than I realized. This Bay Area Black writer is the “queen of modern day romance” so says Vogue and usually features a curvy woman of color at the height of her career. I’ve read a few of her books, but I think my favorite was The Wedding Date (they do all kind of seem to follow the same pattern, just different settings: NYC, SF; different careers: lawyer, actress). By the Book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast if you’re looking for a modern-day Disney fix.
There are many more, but this should get your feet wet. Let me know if you end up reading one, or have suggestions. 🤓
PS— If you have or know kids ages 2+ consider Beautifully Me by Nabela Noor. It’s about Zubi, a “joyful Bangladeshi girl who’s excited about her first day of school. But when she sees her mother frowning in the mirror and talking about being ‘too big’ she starts to worry about her own body and how she looks.”