Book Reviews

Review: Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories about Living Fabulously Fat edited by Cassandra Newbould

It’s been forever since I’ve read an anthology and I am so glad I picked up Every Body Shines. Reading a story before bed just left me with smiles before sleeping. Full of some of my favorite authors, and many new ones, reading Every Body Shines was fabulous. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.

Summary

An intersectional, feminist YA anthology from some of today’s most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories.

Fat girls and boys and nonbinary teens are: friends who lift each other up, heroes who rescue themselves, big bodies in space, intellects taking up space, and bodies looking and feeling beautiful. They express themselves through fashion, sports and other physical pursuits, through food, and music, and art. They are flirting and falling in love. They are loving to themselves and one another. With stories that feature fat main characters starring in a multitude of stories and genres, and written by authors who live these lives too, this is truly a unique collection that shows fat young people the representation they deserve.

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

Before I even began, I loved the premise of Every Body Shines. The ways that these stories celebrate fat characters existing and living their best lives. Of being able to read about the little things you might never have thought of in your own life. Used by society as bodies to be shamed or made fun of, Every Body Shines is heartfelt as it both examines fatphobia but also the joys of their lives. How we internalize the fatphobia, how it’s passed down to us, but how Every Body Shines celebrates their hopes, futures, and ghosts.

I ended up loving this anthology with its variety, love, and life. Finding new authors to track down their books is also the best part of an anthology. Read this one with a notepad beside you if you haven’t read all of these authors! Every Body Shines was the perfect example of the right book at the right place. I loved reading a story a day because they made me think, dream, and love.

Find Every Body Shines on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Discussion

What is your favorite anthology author you’ve discovered?


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