A Fat + Spicy Book Review

Ten books with fat protagonists + my thoughts

The title of this blog is what us pretentious English majors would call a double entendre {meaning this review will be SPICY for 2 reasons}.  Yes, we will cover fat + spicy romance books. But I’m also pretty spicy in my opinion.

Over the last few months, I added SEVERAL titles to my TBR (to be read) to  include a fat main character with a plot not focused on intentional weight loss.

You should know before we dive in – I do not give 5 stars easily. 

Reading preferences are just like anything else; they are extremely individual.

For me to give a book 5 stars it needs to:

• REEL me in from the beginning

• CAPTURE a good + believable plot

• DEVELOP likable characters

• If there is SMUT – it can s m u t

• And there is NO unbearably cheesy predictable ending (we are SO over 2nd act break up tropes )

Not asking for much here.

I’ve given 5 stars out to books that I didn’t even think the writing was that good. But if I can be taken to another world with your words – you’ll pass in my book. 

This review will focus ONLY on the books with fat main characters but I did post about my 5 star selection on my IG.

Let’s start with my FAVORITES. 

5 star:

I’m indignant that of all the books I read with fat main characters, only TWO made the 5 star list for me.

One to Watch by Kate Stayman London

Storyline:  In a nutshell, this book centers a fat fashion blogger who ends up on a bachelor style reality tv show to find love.

Rating: 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reasons: I absolutely LOVED this book from start to finish.  I was hooked from page one. The plot and storyline felt believable, especially from the perspective of a fat person. The author did a FANTASTIC job with character development especially since there were SO many characters on the dating show.  

Trigger Warnings: As any book with  a fat main character, there is fatphobia in the story. There was also self esteem wounds the character needed to explore + I felt it only added to the overall story (as well as felt relatable). Other things to be mindful of include the heartache that comes with dating.  

Spice: 2 peppers 🌶️ 🌶️  As an avid SPICE reader, I wished this book had been spicier.  There was LOTS of build up but I wish there had been more. It does have Open Book Spice (meaning the reader is PRESENT during the spice).

In a Jam by Kate Canterbury 

Storyline:  In a nutshell, this book centers a fat kindergarten teacher who comes to inherit a farm from her late grandmother.  The inheritance requires her to get married in order to take ownership over the land - which is a problem because she just broke off her engagement.  

Rating: 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reasons: This book. It was everything I wanted in a fat love story + more.  This book made me audibly laugh. This book made me cry. And best off all – no stupid 2nd act break up trope.  Though I was unsure of what was going to happen next, the main plot is clear from the beginning, and the author keeps you on your toes throughout. That is until she has them CURLING from smut {We will talk about the smut below}.   I absolutely LOVED the characters in this book.  We would have been my friends IRL.  One of the criticisms I’ve read on good reads is that the book is “slow” or boring – but that wasn’t my experience at all.  I didn’t want the story to end. 

Trigger Warnings: While there were a few explicit examples of fatphobia in the story, it really is the undertone and not central to the story. Of course there are self esteem wounds, relationship wounds and other super relatable experiences that the author brilliantly demonstrates. There are mentions of a character losing weight, but it isn’t a focal point and it isn’t celebrated by the character.  Also there is some food healthism, but I didn’t feel like it was distracting to the plot. Here are some of the other content warnings provided by the author:

absentee parents, brief mention of parent death, brief mention of parent chronic illness, mention of incarceration, mention of temporary foster care placement, reference to teenage teasing/bullying (not detailed, not explicit), brief incidence of fat-shaming

Spice: 4 peppers 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️  Holy Smokes. This book was the HOLY GRAIL of fat smut.  SEVERAL Open Book Spice scenes. And I was here for every godblessed moment.  Obviously – all of this is subjective, but for me, the romance + sexual chemistry felt organic + NOT JUST centered on wanting the other for their bodies.  It was true, raw desire. The romance, the build up, the aftermath. Pure bliss. 

Only 4 peppers because while it was HOT - I’ve read wayyyy spicier books. But this spice was perfect for this story. Be sure to get the extended epilogue for even more spice here.

Honorable Mentions: 

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy 

Storyline:  In a nutshell, this book centers on a producers step daughter who ends up on a bachelor style reality tv show to find love {familiar, aye?)

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reasons: This was a beautiful, sweet story! I didn’t love the character development as much I did in other books but I was hooked from beginning to end. A quick, light read! It was one of the first fat main character books I’d ever read, so my expectations were low.

Spice: 0 peppers, no smut in this book

All the FEELS by Olivia Dade

Storyline:  Okay so this is where I struggle. If I can’t explain the plot in 1 to 2 sentences, I feel like we are off to a rocky start.  The series centers an unruly actor who needs to be “managed” because he is bringing bad press to the series. The “manager” is a fat cousin of the producer who is taking time off from her job to figure out her life. 

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reasons: This book was an absolute breeze. Easy to go through, I was captive the whole time.  But there were parts of the plot I really struggled with.  They introduce a lot of characters that I found difficulty caring about (there are a lot of spin offs – this was the second in the series).   There’s a lot of text messages, emails, fan fiction that my nuerospicy brain really struggled with following (especially on audio). The one bonus was that the smut could smut 🤌🏻. 

Trigger Warnings: There is a lot of fatphobia in the story.  It’s hard to read. It’s still an important story to tell. 

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ This book was spicy for sure! But I remember wishing there was MORE because there was so much build up. But the love + romance + smut ratio was delightful.

Shipwrecked by Olivia Dade

Storyline:  I have similar complaints about this plot as I did the other one.  Where do I even begin? Essentially, this story centers on 2 characters in the same series from All the Feels.  These 2 actors play lovers on the show + naturally don’t get along in real life {we love a frenemies to lover trope}.

Rating: 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reasons: This story is absolutely one to add to your list! I LOVED that it centered TWO fat protagonists (instead of one fat + one conventionally attractive).  I would love to read MORE stories about fat COUPLES. I love the journey they take as fat actors cast in roles that weren’t specifically written for fat people – and how they maneuver the hurdles in this. And the smut 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨  But like the other story, there were so many storylines and details that I found myself not caring about.  There was also a lack of character growth I’d like to see in my protagonists. Neither protagonist was UNLIKEABLE per say, just not my favorite characters to read about. And while SMUT makes a book better – I want to be taken on a journey. And I don’t want to get lost on the way. 

Trigger Warnings: There wasn’t as much fatphobia in this story as in others.. but it still comes up! I would say these characters are much more confident in their fatness then in the other Olivia Dade book.

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ Yup. The spice was spicy.  The beginning of the book starts with a Open Bedroom Scene.  I was unprepared and was blasting my audible without headphones. You’ve been warned.

Not For Me:

Let me clarify one last time that I never want to YUCK your yum. If you love these books – please do not come for me. These stories were just NOT what I was looking for. Blame my pretentious bachelor's degree.

Curves for Days by Laura Moher

Storyline:  This story centers on a fat protagnist who incidentally wins the lottery and wants to escape her town as now, people are treating her differently.  She finds herself in a small sleepy town where she decides to set roots. 

Rating: 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reasons: I wanted to love this story so much. I really tried.  I would say I got about half way before I just found myself annoyed and ready to DNF {did not finish in booktalk}. The characters were likable enough, but I truly struggled to understand the plot. Why am I reading this story? Why do I care? {I am still not sure and I did finish the book}.  Also, this is absolutely a ME issue but I hate when authors write about characters as therapists.  They just don’t do a great job IMO. Therefore making some of the plot just unbelievable for me. 

Trigger Warnings: I believe this book handled really difficult topics such as sexual assault + ptsd really well.  I applaud how trauma informed the writer was in handling such difficult topics. There is also mention of grief, death, blatant fatphobia + relationship struggles throughout.  

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

It had some nice spice! But there was a lot of build up. Too much in my opinion. And not enough delivery. 

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Gullory

Storyline:  This one had so much potential. Couple meets in an elevator that breaks down.  She agrees to be his date to a wedding.  Then the rest of the plot is exploring their relationship dynamics.

Rating: 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reasons: This book was sweet! I loved that it centered an interracial couple and addressed serious issues that can come up when dating a BIPOC or larger bodied person. It’s never addressed HOW large the main character is but we know that she wears spanx to suck herself in and compares herself to other smaller white women in the story.  This story had so much potential and I just found myself bored + disappointed with the lack of character growth. 

Trigger Warnings: I don’t remember anything glaring!

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️  This book was mildly spicy! There was a lot of build up and then just alluded to the spice rather than taking you on the journey with them. Or took you on parts of the journey. Not gonna lie, it was kind of a let down.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Storyline:  Deep breath on this one. The plot of this story is a fat porn star lands a role in a Hallmarkesque movie + no one can know she is a porn star. Her romantic partner in the movie is a former band + bad boy who needs the job. He knows his movie partner is a pornstar because he has followed her porn for years.. 

Rating: 2 stars ⭐️⭐️

Reasons: I cannot even with this book yall. I wanted to love it. But I didn’t even like it.  The plot and storyline were just so outrageous; ex: in this small sleepy town the only strip club is called the North Pole? Are you kidding me?  Furthermore, I want to fall in love. It did not feel like the characters fell in love. They just wanted to have sex. WHICH IS COOL. but then don’t to play it off as a love story. That’s not what’s happening here! He wants her for her body. She wants him for nostalgia.  And that doesn’t do it for me. I just didn’t vibe with the entire plot, the characters or the smut.  

Trigger Warnings:  It was fine. The usual. 

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ There was a lot of sex in this book. But it wasn’t spicy to me. It felt like I walked into a room I wasn’t supposed to be in. 

A Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Storyline:   Once again, I don’t even know how to conceptualize the plot.  A fat fashion blogger {are we even surprised tho} is asked to be in the wedding of a former best friend. 

Rating: 2 stars ⭐️⭐️

Reasons: Y’all.  We lost the plot on this one. This book included WAY too many details that idgaf about.  There was such a great foundation for a body image story + intuitive eating journey. BUT THAT WASN’T WHAT THE SECOND HALF THE BOOK WAS ABOUT. It felt like 3 books in one + none of them written well. Sorry not sorry.

Trigger Warnings:  I don’t even know what to tell you. Read at your own risk.  

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️  There was one spicy scene.  But I honestly was traumatized by the rest of the book I couldn’t even tell you if it was spicy or not. 

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert

Storyline:  Please don’t come for me on this one y’all.  I finished it even though I wanted to stop at chapter 7. It didn’t get better. The characters didn’t get more likable. This story centers on a prince who meets this women who works in a school. He doesn’t reveal he’s a prince.  When the paparazzi catch them together, they pretend to be engaged and have to keep up the ruse. 

Rating: 1 star ⭐️

Reasons: The plot had potential. But truly, I did not care about the characters. Or the story. Or the smut. We love BIPOC representation + I will absolutely give TH another try. This book just did nothing for me.  I hate when they force a love story.  Like if you want them to just hook + have sex, let them. But don’t make the entire book about him wanting her body and then he all of sudden loves her.  I can’t.  There is also a random plot twist. I hate that too. I just found the story hard to believe. I wasn’t taken to another world. And then I got to read lots of really graphic sex. 

Trigger Warnings:  There is domestic violence in this story (not the main couple)

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ This wasn’t smut. This was straight up porn. No judgment. Just not my cup of tea. 

DNF (Did not finish)

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

I stopped at chapter 3. I was bored, the main character was funny but I don’t like it when I don’t know what the plot is. And if it’s anything like her other book, I am not interested in another wild ride. I also got annoyed with HOW much detail this author included. We can be descriptive with out being SO detailed we lose the point of our sentence.

This concludes my fat + spicy book review.

Here are some plus size lead stories on my never ending TBR (to be read) list:

• Currently reading Electric Idol by Katee Roberts (Loving it so far..)

• Also started Mother Faker by Brittanee Nicole (Meh so far)

• Pucking Wild by Emily Rath

• Puck Shy by Kayla Grosse (DNFed I Like You Like That)

• Set on You by Amy Lea

• Mile High by Liz Tomforde

• The No Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

• Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly

• Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter

• Set in Stone by Lynn Camden

• Marshmallow by Megan Wade

• Grin + Beard It by Penny Reid

• The Fast Way to Fall by Denise Williams

• Misadventures of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone

• Curvy Girls Can’t Date Quarterbacks by Kelsie Stelting

• Act Your Age Eve Brown + Get a life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

• Mickey Chambers Shakes it Up by Charish Reid

• The Make-up Test by Jenny Howe

• Blindsided by Amy Daws

• Good Luck with that Kristan Higgins

Did I miss any must-read fat protagonists? Comment Below!