thefatpaperback's reviews
475 reviews

“I stayed long enough until time slid into the blurry karaoke alternate universe. Where all that mattered was each song, singing along and laughing and forgetting that anything other than this—pop songs and nostalgia and queer people—existed.” 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I giggled through all one hundred and thirty-two pages of this novella. It’s a short read, which mainly takes place over the course of one night in a karaoke bar, but I had the best time reading it. 

When Sam’s friends don’t show up at the bar for karaoke, they decide to leave. Until their crush walks in with her friends. Because Sam should at least see her sing one song, right? When Lily notices Sam by themself instead of with their friends, and realizes that Sam is staring at her—Lily stares back. Then invites them to join Lily and her friends for the night. Sam and Lily becomes enraptured by each other and the magic of Moonie’s Cafe. But can they keep that magic for more than one night?

🌟FAT REP: the fat representation in this novella is EXQUISITE! Lily’s character is gloriously and happily fat. She never expresses qualms about her body, but she does complain about shopping as a fat person and makes sure she’s sharing her body with people who truly care about her. Sam’s character also has a non-thin body, but they aren’t as confident as Lily. Body dysmorphia is represented in the book with care. Fatness is never degraded. Instead, Lily helps Sam feel comfortable in their skin. It’s heartwarming, the care that went into crafting the characters and the care they show one another. 

🎶 One Night Stand to Lovers

🎶 Non-binary characters

🎶 Fat FMC 

🎶 Falling in love over karaoke

🎶 Dolly Parton references 

🎶 Cute history nerd 🥹

“The world felt right for once. They were anchored to the sand, to the earth? To the wind and sun and sky; there was no gender, no Internet, no timelines—just skin and muscle and salt.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS was so !!!!!!!! I just!!!!!! AAAHHHH!!!!! At one point, a secondary character says that looking at the couple was so pure it felt like their heart was breaking and S A M E. Readers get to see the smallest intimacies between London and Dahlia grow into care and love. ALSO, I feel it is worth mentioning that this book talk about food A LOT and I don’t remember a single diet-y thing being said. I so so appreciated that touch. 

Dahlia is recently divorced and newly unemployed when she becomes a contestant on the cooking competition reality TV show Chef’s Special. On the first day of filming, Dahlia meets a grumbly person with strawberry hair. London outs themself as nonbinary on the show, and they hope to win the prize money to start a nonprofit for LGBTQ kids. They didn’t anticipate becoming infatuated with Dahlia’s hair. Or her smile. And while Dahlia first thought London to be a grump, Dahlia is drawn to them. Dahlia and London find chemistry fast, but struggle to find their balance when it comes to the competition, the future, and their dreams. 

🧅 Nonbinary Rep 

🧅 Pansexual & Queer Rep 

🧅 Grumpy/Sunshine 

🧅 Reality TV Competition 

🧅 LA Shenanigans 

🧅 Forced Proximity 

🧅 Competitors to Friends to Lovers