I didn’t know what to expect from Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow (publication day August 30, 2024) by Damilare Kuku, Described as “a powerful and hilarious debut novel about family secrets, judgmental aunties, and Brazilian butt lifts,” I was interested to see how it handled anti-fatness. Told from the multiple perspectives of the women inContinue reading “Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow”
Author Archives: bbwesquire
The Guncle
I am a little late to The Guncle party (2021) by Steven Rowley, but better late than never, although I do have mixed feelings about it, primarily because of the anti-fat bias throughout. Patrick, who was an actor in a popular sitcom, lives alone in his Palm Springs house and hasn’t worked for several years.Continue reading “The Guncle”
Catalina
Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio (publication day July 23, 2024) is a novel about an undocumented young woman from Ecuador, Catalina, who was brought to the United States at 5 years old to live with her grandparents in Queens, and goes to Harvard. I think some people will absolutely love it. Catalina is a smartass,Continue reading “Catalina”
The Poet X
The Poet X (2018) by Elizabeth Acevedo is an award-winning YA novel-in-verse that just blew me away. The audiobook is narrated by the author, which I especially loved, as you hear the pacing and intonation as she intended. Xiomara (pronounced See-oh-MAH-ruh) lives in Harlem with her parents and twin brother. They are 15 and Dominican,Continue reading “The Poet X”
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Last Night at the Telegraph Club (2021) by Malinda Lo is an award-winning queer young adult historical romance/ thriller set in 1954 San Francisco, featuring Lily Hu, a Chinese-American high school student who discovers that she is not like most girls because she likes other girls. Lily has spent most of her life sheltered inContinue reading “Last Night at the Telegraph Club”
Tell It to Me Singing
Tell It to Me Singing by Tita Ramírez (publication date 7/9/2024) takes its title from a Cuban and Dominican greeting “dímelo cantando” which translates directly as “tell it to me singing” but means “tell me everything!” It is a fitting title for this book that reads like a telenovela with unexpected twists and turns. AsContinue reading “Tell It to Me Singing”
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
The Girl Who Drank the Moon (2016) by Kelly Barnhill has been around for a bit, and has won many awards (including the 2017 Newbery), but I just discovered it after reading Barnhill’s brilliant When Women Were Dragons (2022). After listening to The Girl Who Drank the Moon, I immediately purchased my own hardcover copy,Continue reading “The Girl Who Drank the Moon”
The Lion Women of Tehran
There were so many things to love about The Lion Women of Tehran (publication date July 2, 2024) by Marjan Kamali, including long-lasting female friendship, the historical setting in 1950s and 1960s Iran, and beautiful writing. I was immediately enthralled by the story of 7-year old Ellie (Elaheh), the only child of a widowed mother,Continue reading “The Lion Women of Tehran”
Maame
Maame (2023) by Jessica George was on my TBR list as soon as I read the description, and I was not disappointed. 25-year old Maddie is Ghanaian and lives with her father in the London area. He has Parkinson’s and she is is primary caregiver, along with a home health worker that comes in mostContinue reading “Maame”
The Make-Up Test
The Make-Up Test (2022), by Jenny Howe, is a fat-positive, second chance romance set in the fraught world of the Academy. It’s filled with dogs, geeky medieval literature references, impostor syndrome and extreme competitiveness, and a difficult parental relationship that included a lot of anti-fatness. And the best part is how Howe describes the mainContinue reading “The Make-Up Test”
Reading While Fat 