For me this was just an okay read. My main issue was the writing style and overall tone of this book, but this is actually something I can also see a lot of other people really enjoying and connecting with.
Tom meets Ming at a drag show, and the pair have an instant connection, the novel following their relationship over the years, after Ming makes the decision to transition.
This novel examines the shifting relationship dynamics from the impact of Ming transitioning, but also the shifts in identitiy and personalities as the characters journey and struggle through different stages of their life. I think the author captured that feeling of being stuck in limbo post-graduation really effectively, that dread when weighing your options against your own desires, and the heavy burden of social and familial expectations to establish a career as soon as your degree is handed to you.
I think the strengths of this book lay in Ming's perspective. Getting an intimate look into her thoughts during and after her transition was really interesting and made for some heavy emotional blows. We were able to explore the anxiety and fear that comes from simply being visible in the world as a trans person, and just trying to do simple things like catching the train or going grocery shopping.
However, I personally found the writing in this book to be a bit flat, and sometimes it read slightly immature. There was a lot of unnecessary details, and then the parts I felt needed to be fleshed out more were rather sparse. The dialogue often felt very awkward, and constant pop culture references are not something I enjoy in a book. I can however imagine that this would be a big draw for other readers.
The pacing was a bit odd, and the time jumps felt quite clunky. I didn't feel that any of the side characters were fleshed out enough, which meant I wasn't really interested in reading about them, nor was I emotionally invested in their place in the story. I did find most of the characters unlikeable, which isn't a problem in itself, and I enjoy books that show raw, flawed characters. I think the problem was that I couldn't quite tell if the author had purposefully written them to feel that way.
There were still some really effective plot points and passages in this book which hit those heavy and effective emotional beats, and there was enough in here to make me truly care about Tom and Ming, and want to find out how their journey would end.
Overall a decent read, one that I found strongest from Ming's perspective. I would sitll recommend this to most people. As mentioned before, the more casual tone and pop culture saturation in this book is something I can imagine a lot of people loving, it is just a personal preference that I do not get on with.

Bellies follows such a diverse group of characters that it’s impossible to not have room in your heart for the bunch of them. They all grow through so much, even the secondary characters, that it’s a refreshing reminder of how important diversity and inclusivity is in the world. The group all experience the mundane through to some extraordinary tragedy in this spellbinding and heartbreaking new book. This book is going to be a huge hit upon publication!

Tom meets Ming at a drag night. This novel is about their relationship - and the relationships in their wider circles.
But it’s also about sexual identity, cultural heritage, how we live in and accept our bodies, and how we open up (or show our bellies) to each other.
The narration and time frame switch between the two characters which makes it a bit disjointed but also means we cover a lot of ground in their stories.
It took me a while to warm to some of the characters although there were others who I enjoyed - such as Ming’s Malaysian stepmother Cindy.
But by the end -especially as there is a shocking event near it - I really cared for them.
Recommended: a touching novel that sometimes seems superficial but is also a profound meditation on who we are and our connections to each other.

What a fantastic read!
Tom and Ming have a beautiful relationship, at least in Toms eyes but Ming begins to need something different.
Following the story of the boys meeting and having a relationship and then Ming transitioning and all the feelings that throws up for Tom was revelatory- I guess it is not something you think about unless you or someone you love is going through it.
The story is told from the 2 lead characters perspectives and is done extremely well with two very distinct styles, one of which morphs further as Ming beings to transition. There are also some incredible support characters, with Rob really standing out for me in the way he is with his friends, the affection and support he gives them all unconditionally is lovely.

Bellies by Nicola Dinan, is a unique, moving and (somewhat in moments) tense novel about a complex relationship between Ming and Tom - commenting on the multifaceted nature of identity and belonging in such a modern world. It tackles complex subjects including gender, mental illness, race, class and sexuality. I do not often get on with dual-narrative books, (I struggle with the changes) but Bellies, is different perhaps because of my own personal experiences. The book depicts what I can only say reads likes a real life story of queerness. I would recommend it to fellow readers of contemporary fiction and people who want a diverse LGBTQ+ story.

This novel starts as your typical boy meets boy - Tom and Ming meet on a night out during university and Ming seems to be the perfect antidote to Tom's awkwardness. Shortly after graduation and their move to London, Ming announces her intention to transition.

We follow Tom and Ming throughout their changing relationship in the wake of Ming's transition and how they're forced to confront the ways their lives have changed since graduation and each must answer the quintessential question: is it worth losing a part of yourself to become who you are?


This isn't a novel I would usually pick up but my goodness am I happy I did! I love Tom and Ming when they first met and how they brought out the best of each other, but as their relationship grows and ages I saw it becoming toxic. I started to hate them; the choices they make, the way they act with one another, the lies, and the words left unspoken between them.

We flit between Tom and Ming and I loved how this was done. I felt doing this helped me understand Ming more; about her feelings, phobias, why she did what she did in the relationship. I grew to love them both in their own way as separate entities.

Dinan fleshed out her supporting characters just as much as the main characters and it makes all the difference. Tom is lucky to have friends like Sarah and Rob, who care for him and are always there no matter what.

This book broke my heart in two but it's such an important pivotal point in the book that's required and I love the way everything works out - it's not the fairytale ending you want, it's the realistic life that we live.

Thank you to Netgalley, Nicola Dinan, and Penguin books for an advanced copy.
I highly recommend you check this one out, especially if you're looking at reading more queer in 2023.
4.5⭐️

In this tender, emotional exploration of gender and sexual identity, Tom and Ming share a deep connection from the moment night they meet at university drag night. They continue as a couple through to graduation and beyond. But when Ming announces her plan to transition, their relationship enters uncharted waters.

This book was interesting. It turned the typical trans narrative on its head to an extent. It was much less controversial than I expected and I enjoyed the narrative voice a lot. I didn't feel as emotionally connected as I perhaps could have and I think the comparisons to A Little Life are overblown but I nevertheless enjoyed it. I gave it 4.25 stars.

Defining this novel as an intimate look at the impact of one person transitioning within a preexisting relationship is too simplistic, the novel examines the ways that individual personalities and journeys and growth all affect a relationship. The exploration of attraction, secrecy, guilt, selfishness and selflessness incapsulated Ming’s transition but also the mental health and self esteem of Ming and Tom more broadly. Where the novel was able to share two perspectives on the same experience, it made for a gripping reading experience – the kind where you wish the characters would just communicate! Ming’s transition was handled really sensitively, not going into unnecessary medical details, conveying a holistic approach to transition and the multitude of ways transphobia can cause pain, and reflecting on the lack of safety Ming felt in everyday activities and even in returning home to a country in which her transition is illegal.

But there were also elements of the novel – particularly its structure – that I found frustrating. The time jumps in the narrative often missed key moments in a way that felt a little lazy. The choice of whose perspective we were given was often at odds with the plot, which worked to show how the other person was feeling, but made the characters seem self-absorbed at the worst moments.

The narrative itself was difficult at times. There was too much tell and not enough show in a way that made the novel feel repetitive and difficult to engage with. Although Ming was aware of using too much ‘therapy talk’, the novel veered into long therapy-esque discussions that felt too scripted and forced, even if their existence felt positive within the story.

I know I am being picky, but in so many small ways this novel fell slightly flat. That being said, I am still glad to have read it and I would recommend it for the value of the overall story.

loved this book. a really beautiful examination of identity and how that indentity shifts and flourishes and sputters when it comes into contact with other people. about how you can love people and hurt them. about that hurt is sometimes essential to your survival. emotional without ever feeling overwrought. deft. very funny.

feels hard to really put this into words - that someone can be the most important person in your life who understands you and gets you and gives voice and form to the deepest things you feel, but the experience can pull you away from them? dinan does it so masterfully. it feels messy, bubbling over, like the book is constantly resisting hemming itself in. in the hands of a lesser writer some of the plotting would have felt detatched but this is always sharp and tender. a contradiction of a contemporary novel.

also nice to read something quite london-y and quite theatre-y.

This book was a slow burner for me but suddenly I felt totally immersed in the lives of the characters. In essence this is a love story, both found in friendships and relationships. It is beautifully written, raw and real and I'd highly recommend to anyone!

CW: Drug use, Eating disorder, Transphobia, Death, Mental illness, Grief

I've seen this hyped a lot over the last few weeks on Bookstagram and Twitter - I'm normally a bit cynical about social media darlings but I think Bellies deserves it. I would not be surprised if this wins awards.
I've seen this book compared to Normal People. I didn't love Normal People - I found Bellies more convincing, more enjoyable and I was rooting for both Tom and Ming more.

This is a brilliant, beautiful, book about vulnerability, acceptance, love, self-acceptance and self-love. Told from the perspective of both halves of a relationship it explores ideas of gender identity, transition, growth and change. And while the characters are complex and messy, the story is told with tenderness and warmth.

I read this book over 24 hours - I just wanted to know what happened, and I couldn't get off the emotional rollercoaster - it's been a while since a book has had that effect on me.

There’s something magical about this book, where queerness and being trans are key themes, even important to the story but- unlike in many other books dealing with the subjects- are not the only themes and there are layers to the plot. Several of the characters are very realistic being relatable, sometimes likeable and other times frustrating. I found I couldn’t put this down; the last time I remember being this invested in a world between pages was the first time I read A Little Life. I loved the title at first glance but having now read the book I hope it’s vagueness doesn’t put people off (the meaning ultimately becomes clear as you read).

Bellies follows the stories of Tom and Ming, who meet at a university drag night and end up together. After they graduate, Tom lands himself a job in the corporate world, meanwhile Ming intends to focus on his playwriting, and both decide to move to London. All appears well in their relationship, until Ming tells Tom he’s transgender and wants to live life as a woman. Spanning across London, New York and Kuala Lumpur, and split between alternating POV’s of both characters, we see how their relationship changes, how their lives change and how they grow up and sadly grow apart.

This book is one of those which I read and immediately thought ‘this has to win a prize’. It is absolutely sensational, and very much lives up the current hype I’ve seen! (I’m usually very skeptical about books being hyped, but this one truly deserves it). It is just such a beautiful story, and reminded me a lot of Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’ with such a stunning prose and complex characters. The whole plot line is so bitter-sweet, and although both Tom and Ming are flawed, I felt so much empathy for them both.

Overall a truly fabulous novel and one which I seriously hope wins a prize or becomes a modern classic. If you have the chance, I suggest pre-ordering this now! I have a feeling this book may go completely viral when it’s released!!

Many thanks, first of all, to Netgalley and Random House UK for the e-reader ARC.

Firstly, I absolutely have to insist that this book is excellent. I really enjoyed it. Nicola Dinan - thank you!

Secondly, I absolutely have to warn you that this is not a light, fluffy, easy read! It is dark in places. It is bleak. It will rip your heart out of your chest, stamp on it and then shove it back in so it doesn't fit anymore. Please read this book!

Bellies tells the tale of Tom and Ming, a young gay couple who meet at a uni party. Both have gone to the party in dresses/drag; one of the two does it far better than the other. The pair meet, quickly fall into a relationship and fall in love (no spoilers - it tells us that in the blurb!).

The pair are, initially, two halves of the real deal. Tom is shy and awkward, while Ming seems outgoing, witty and confident. They complement each other beautifully. However, as the story progresses, we see changes in Ming as they realise that, rather than being gay, they need to transition. (Apologies if my terminology is incorrect.)

This is a character-driven exploration of life and love that sees these two individuals working towards finding out who they really are. There is heartbreak, anxiety, tragedy and, above all, learning to love. The writing is, at times, lyrical. The dual narrative allows us to see both perspectives of Tom and Ming, sharing the tumult of emotions they endure. It is heartbreakingly honest in its portrayal of human emotion and how difficult real life and love can be.

The title of the novel really intrigued me, as I thought it was unusual for the subject matter. However, the in-book explanation makes perfect sense and is a really beautiful concept. Bellies - animals will only show their bellies when they feel safe; they are the softest part of us and to reveal them shows us at our most vulnerable. Stunning.

Did I like all of the characters? No. I adored Tom and Rob, but couldn't quite gel with Ming, and thought she made some really bad mistakes. I thought the female characters were also a bit pointless, although helped to carry the story at times. This did not stop my enjoyment, though. I did, however, love Cindy, Ming's step-mum. She really did make me giggle! I was also frustrated at the boys/men that Tom meets and their seemingly one-dimensional personalities. Gay friends, have, however, confirmed that such men are quite common, particularly on dating and hook-up aps!

Beautifully written, this is an exceptional debut.

This is an excellent novel following the connected lives of characters, exploring identity and gender identity. The prose is gorgeous in places, and the story is contemporary and compelling. I'm making it sound a bit shallow, but it isn't. It's me, I'm lost for words because perhaps I didn't expect it to have the impact it has. I see some reviewers have compared it to Sally Rooney, and whilst I admire her, Rooney, Dinan is (dare I say it) better. My grateful thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher. This novel is a corker, and it ought to do incredibly well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early access to this book!

I absolutely devoured Bellies. It is a gorgeous and rich look at relationships, love, queerness and identity. I thought the writing was stunning and found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't reading it. I couldn't wait until I could next pick it up again. Its emotional and powerful, and I really really loved it.

A very now book, absolutely of the time, dealing with transitioning and love and being yourself in the World. Well written and thoughtful.

Bellies has been a bit hyped – telling the story of a gay couple, Tom and Ming, and what happens when Ming comes out as trans. Sometimes I don't really gel with books because the story that unfolds isn't the most interesting that I could envisage for the characters, which is maybe a stupid thing to say about a book I haven't written. But I felt that way about this book: it's definitely good and well-written and delves into lots of interesting emotions that I'm sure I'll be thinking about for a while. I liked too how it's a very normal story about a relationship, but told through a lens we don't often see in literature (and without the tragedy that so often characterises trans narratives) and the way that the characters sometimes say and do mean things that doesn't actually reflect who they are as people. Anyway, I didn't like it as much as I was hoping, but that's definitely much more to do with me than the book.

A beautiful, emotional read about finding who you are and what you want. Smart, honest, perfect for summer.