We know how important representation can be…

As a reader, I think it is important that we see fat characters that are fully-formed and well-rounded…characters that have more going on in their lives than hating their body. We should be able to see ourselves in the heroes of a crazy adventure or as the love interest in a swoon-worthy romance.

Which is why the Well-Rounded Book Club started! As a therapist working in the body liberation space, I’ve seen how powerful reading can be on the road to body acceptance. Reading fiction featuring larger bodies can make us feel seen, help us build empathy for ourselves and our experience, and can show a different way to exist in our bodies. Despite being a therapist myself, this book club will not be therapy..it’s exactly as it says it is, a book club! It is purely something that I wish existed, both as a reader and as somebody living in a larger body, and decided to make happen.

On the third Tuesday of every month, we will meet in person at Belleville Books in Belleville, IL to read books featuring fat characters that are way more interesting than the size of their body and how they feel about it. Books from a variety of genres have been chosen and feature fat characters with diverse backgrounds.

Fat representation is for more than fat readers…all bodies are welcome!