Bellies
{{Short description|2023 novel by Nicola Dinan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use British English |date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title = yes
| name = Bellies
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| author = Nicola Dinan
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| country = England
| language = English
| genre = Literary fiction
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| pub_date = 1 August 2023
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| pages = 368
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| isbn = 1-335-49088-4
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Bellies is the 2023 debut novel of British-Malaysian writer Nicola Dinan.
Premise
Set in London, Bellies follows the story of Ming and Tom, two lovers who meet at a drag party, both dressed as women. Ming begins to transition and accept herself as a trans women. Tom, a gay man, is less attracted to his partner as she transitions and Ming ends the relationship. Ming writes a play about the breakup, angering Tom.
Reception
The novel was positively reviewed in The Guardian,{{cite web |last=Lin |first=Jeremy Atherton |title=Bellies by Nicola Dinan review – the fizz of first love |website=The Guardian |date=23 June 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/23/bellies-by-nicola-dinan-review-the-fizz-of-first-love |access-date=27 September 2024}} The Times,{{cite web |last=Power |first=Chris |title=Bellies by Nicola Dinan review – a trans love story with shades of Sally Rooney |date=1 July 2023 |website=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/bellies-by-nicola-dinan-review-8jczhhvb9 |access-date=27 September 2024}} and The Skinny.{{cite web |last=Sproull |first=Patrick |title=Bellies by Nicola Dinan: a veritable buffet of a novel |website=The Skinny |date=29 June 2023 |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/books/book-reviews/bellies-by-nicola-dinan |access-date=27 September 2024}} In December 2022, it was announced that Element Pictures plans to create an adaptation of the novel.{{cite web |last=Yossman |first=K.J. |title='Normal People' Producer Element Pictures to Adapt Nicola Dinan's 'Bellies' for TV |website=Variety |date=December 13, 2022 |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/element-pictures-nicola-dinan-bellies-television-1235459121/ |access-date=27 September 2024}} The book was nominated for a 2023 Lambda Literary Award for transgender fiction.{{cite web |last=Lou |first=Jo |title=Meet the Transgender Fiction Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards |website=Electric Literature |date=5 June 2024 |url=https://electricliterature.com/meet-the-transgender-fiction-finalists-for-the-36th-annual-lambda-literary-awards/ |access-date=28 September 2024}}