Bellies
Ratings10
Average rating4.2
It begins as your typical boy meets boy. While out with friends at their local university drag night, Tom buys Ming a drink. Confident and witty, a magnetic young playwright, Ming is the perfect antidote to Tom’s awkward energy, and their connection is instant. Tom finds himself deeply and desperately drawn into Ming’s orbit, and on the cusp of graduation, he’s already mapped out their future together. But shortly after they move to London to start their next chapter, Ming announces her intention to transition.
From London to Kuala Lumpur, New York to Cologne, we follow Tom and Ming as they face tectonic shifts in their relationship and friend circle in the wake of Ming’s transition. Through a spiral of unforeseen crises—some personal, some professional, some life-altering—Tom and Ming are forced to confront the vastly different shapes their lives have taken since graduating, and each must answer the essential question: Is it worth losing a part of yourself to become who you are?
Buoyed by a voice as tender, effervescent and wryly funny as the cast of characters it centers, Bellies is an unforgettable story of youth, intimacy, hunger and heartbreak, at once boldly original yet fiercely familiar, which unabashedly holds a mirror up to our most vulnerable selves and desires.
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“Accepting responsibility doesn't mean accepting blame.”
~
“You can take charge of your own life without it being an admission of guilt or fault.”
Bellies would have to be one of my favourite reads of the year. I found it hard to sit down and try to find the words to explain just why this is one of my favourites so forgive me if this review doesn't do it justice.
You know when an animal trusts you when they roll onto their backs and show you their belly, the most softest and vulnerable part of their bodies. As humans, sharing your emotions, being open and laying out your deepest fears and hopes are the same. I think what is so beautiful and memorable about Bellies is that none of the characters are perfect, they each have moments where their fears manifest or come across as something hurtful. As humans, we often make mistakes or hurt people while we try to navigate our way through this world and Bellies depicted this in a way that was so raw and honest.
This book truly touched me and I know it's going to be one that I carry with me for a long time. I struggle to believe that this is only a debut when it's managed to impact me so profoundly. I can't express how excited I am to see what comes next from this author or how excited I am for everyone else to read this so I can scream from the rooftops about it. I feel that I am about to become a Bellies Marketing account.
Absolute Fantastic Read.
What a lovely book about falling in love, meeting challenges in a relationship and friendship throughout. Also a great insight into being trans and having OCD.
Gripping, stunning work. Beautiful prose. Deep characters. One of the best I've read of the year.
