Welcome to a year-long celebration of love in all its forms! 💕Thick & Thriving is all about celebrating romance with fat characters front and center. 

We’ll dive into books featuring bigger bodies thriving in love, with characters of all colors, genders, and sexualities. It’s about joy, representation, and finding happily-ever-afters that look like all of us. 

Whether you’re already a fan of fat-positive romance or just curious to try it out, this challenge is the perfect way to discover some great reads and connect with others who love inclusive love stories.

Let’s shake off outdated stereotypes and enjoy romances where every body—and every love—belongs. 

Read one book each month featuring a fat-positive main character, following a unique monthly prompt. Completing all 12 months means you’ve beaten the challenge! For an extra challenge, bonus prompts are available. Don’t forget to read diversely, including books by BIPOC authors and featuring LGBTQIA+ and disability representation. 

Hello everyone! My name is Raven, I am the creator of the Thick & Thriving challenge!🤗 I am a 33-year-old fat Latina who loves romance novels! I currently work in a library, am a lover of video games, and naps. You can find all of my socials here! Also, feel free to friend/follow me on StoryGraph and Fable as well!

Here is a folder for the Thick & Thriving graphics. It houses the completed version as well as links to Canva so you can edit the graphic!

Be sure to use #thickandthriving25 on all platforms to share your progress and reviews! 

These words do not have a negative connotation until we give them one. These are descriptors, they describe a type of body, a bigger body. As a fat person my whole life, I have been called these in a negative light before. Did it hurt my feelings? Yes, of course. Did it motivate me to change my life and become skinny? No, cause I'm still fat. I understand that these words can be triggering for some people, they are still to me at times. I am not here to tell you to get over that or to avoid this challenge, do what honestly feels best for you. I will say, that just because we are in bigger bodies does not mean we don't deserve love and representation. 

I know loving my body isn't going to look/be the same as loving a size 0, but my body and I are worthy of worship. My body and I deserve to be lusted after. My body and I have the right to go on cute dates, to be shown affection in public, and to fall in love. Due to this belief, the words "fat", "plus size", "curvy", "big", etc. will never have a negative meaning in this reading challenge. They will be used interchangeably because I dislike repetitiveness but are never used with malice. With all of that being said, I am beyond happy if you decide to join this challenge! I can't wait for a year of amazing reads! 

 Some book recommendations might include triggering language or situations related to fat experiences. I encourage my fellow readers to check trigger warnings and reviews beforehand to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable reading experience.