Bellies (Original)

Bellies by Nicola Dinan

A Tender, Fearless Queer Coming-of-Age Novel About Love, Identity, and the Transformative Power of Becoming
For fans of Torrey Peters, Raven Leilani, and Elliot Page’s next favorite read.

A Best Book of the Year — NPR, BookRiot, BookPage
Amazon Editors’ Pick: Best Books of 2023
Praise from Elliot Page: “Smart, hilarious, and deeply moving.”

Bellies by Nicola Dinan is a raw, captivating debut about two queer students who fall in love at university—only to have their world turned upside down when one of them comes out as trans. Told with emotional precision and sharp wit, this is a novel about youthful intimacy, shifting identity, and the cost—and joy—of becoming who we truly are.

It starts with a spark: Tom, sweet and socially awkward, meets Ming, a confident playwright, at a university drag night. Their chemistry is instant, and as they graduate and move to London together, Tom envisions a future where they’re inseparable.

Then Ming announces her decision to transition—a revelation that forces them to renegotiate the very foundation of their relationship.

From London to Kuala Lumpur, Cologne to New York, Bellies follows their journey through friendship, career shifts, personal crisis, and the sometimes painful evolution of love. As Tom and Ming grow into new versions of themselves, they must each ask: Can love survive transformation? And who are we when everything changes?

🌈 Perfect for fans of Torrey Peters, Ocean Vuong, and Alice Oseman
🌈 A beautifully written exploration of gender identity, love, and self-discovery
🌈 A powerful LGBTQ+ literary debut full of humor, heartbreak, and hope

Format: Paperback 
Genre: LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Contemporary Romance
Themes: Trans Identity, Queer Relationships, Personal Growth, Gender Transition
Audience: Readers of LGBTQ+ fiction, lovers of emotionally rich narratives, and fans of bold, vulnerable storytelling