A book I wish I had access to as a queer, lost teenager. I feel I have only come into myself truly in the last couple of years and I look back on my teenage self and feel sad at what they had to deal with and go through. If I could have read about queer people learning to love their bodies and be authentic to themselves I may have been happier, faster. But that’s not how it went and I can only appreciate that this book has shown me I am not alone and things are changing for us all. This will be on my highly recommended book list for a while.

As a young, queer, plus-size person, Essie Dennis has spent a lot of time feeling like they weren't enough - not queer enough, not feminine enough, not perfect enough. When they took to social media to share how they felt, they were overwhelmed by how many others felt the same.
"I look too masculine to be non-binary
I look too feminine to be a lesbian
Am I too fat for drag?"

Queer Body Power is an invitation to explore the beauty and individuality of our bodies and gives a raw, reflective look on the truths behind how society has viewed the bodies that have been 'othered' - disabled bodies, fat bodies, bodies that don't fit into their ideas of gender. With powerful commentary on not only Queerness and Queer bodies, but how these issues can overlap and seep into other areas of our lives from healthcare, eating habits, relationships and our own mental health and self-worth.

Featuring submissions from many other people, we get a range of backgrounds and viewpoints, providing valuable insight and making us just feel that little bit less alone.

Now, as a chubby, disabled Queer woman myself, I've spent my life fighting with my body. I don't look disabled, so should I act like I'm not? I'm a cisgender female, but I don't feel attached the idea of femininity in the way society expects me to. Do my looks match my sexuality? Learning about the power and to love the body I live in is a journey I am still on - and this book is for anyone on that same journey.

In a super easy to read style that has an almost conversational flow, but with plenty of informative references and statistics without feeling too much like a book of facts or a lecture.

I was absolutely ecstatic when I was able to read the Arc of this book. I am a queer person with a feminine body. I believe that body power is a topic that needs to be discussed more often and this book does it perfectly. I enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it. The author's writing is pleasant to read and the order of the book is amazing and kept me hooked.

As someone who struggles with self-image, I appreciated this book's perspective on body positivity and self-esteem. Especially empowering to view both topics through a queer lens.

This is so helpful. Something I needed and something I believe others will find helpful. Always had questions about who I was and no one to go to. This is such a great source. Well written and contains some personal experiences which help to make you feel less alone.

This book was beautifully written. Multiple perspectives and stories are featured in a way that helps you better understand and feel what they are experiencing. If you have ever struggled with body image, you will relate to much of this book—a perfect read for young queer people.

As a bisexual woman of color who has recovered from eight years of disordered eating and eating disorders, I'm glad you wrote this book. Looking back at when I struggled with my body image, I had this warped idea of what I should look like. Though I'm more attuned to Body Neutrality these days, your interpretation of Body Positivity is what the movement should strive to be and I'm still unlearning fatophobia. I didn't know that one of the sources of my eating disorders were from not accepting my queer identities till my early twenties. You also reinforced the idea that I should keep my social media friendly, which I did this year, and maintain my worth not just on my body, but my character too.