For years I have been trying to find books with plus-size characters. One is treated well by others and is not self-deprecating throughout the book. That was a challenging feat to find in any genre, especially romance. But in the last few years, authors have realized that people can love and are loving plus-size or fat individuals. All the books I picked feature Black fat female characters. The man male characters are either thin, athletic, or fat. Some of the men are Black, POC, or are white.
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Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy
Zora owns a bookstore in DC. She shows commitment to her bookstore and promoting authors. But she would like to be in a relationship. One day, she gets her wish when she meets one of her favorite authors. Lawrence is charming, handsome, and well-dressed. He seems perfect even though he does not know much about the books he wrote. Lawerence’s grumpy Reid, however, understands women and Lawerence’s female protagonist. After talking to Reid, she realizes that he is a kind man. Somehow, she ends up dating them both. Which one will Zora choose the charming one or the kind one?
Where to find these books: Here or at your local library.
TW: sex scenes
Representation: Black romance
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Dani Brown focuses on her research and being a professor.
She does not want a relationship, but just an occasional hookup. Dani feels
that a relationship is distracting her career goals. But a security guard at
the university where she works has a crush on her. Zaf, a former football
player, is interested in Dani but believes she is looking for something other than a committed
relationship. They both have chemistry and are compatible. Everyone who
does not know their plan, they are a real couple.
What I loved about this book is how Zaf, despite his stoic
ways, is a kind guy, who loves his family and Dani. I also liked reading about
Dani’s family. Dani’s sisters are a hoot and have their romantic books. I
featured the other Brown sisters in this post.
Representation: Interracial romance, bisexual protagonist, Black protagonist, Muslim protagonist.
TW- car crash, deals with grief and loss (death of loved ones), anxiety. sex scenes
Trope: fake dating
Where to find this book: Here, Here, or at your local library
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Eve Brown is an adult but seems to find it hard to act her
age. After quitting another job and spending too much money, her family
intervenes. They demand she get a job, or they will cut her off. She storms out
and finds a job. She comes across a bed-and-breakfast. Where she met two
owners. One owner expresses admiration for her resume, while the other owner,
Jacob, is brooding because she arrived unannounced and unprepared. She ends up
getting the job after she injures Jacob. Now she must stay on to
cook and prove to herself and others that she can keep her job.
He is angry that Sunshine and Rainbows Eve is working for
him. He does everything to try to change her or at least irritate her. Her
sunny disposition and quick wit have him smitten despite his best
efforts.
Representation: Interracial romance, neurodivergent main characters, and pansexual side characters.
TW: Ableism, Car accident, Past Child Neglect, Past
Parental abandonment, and Sex Scenes
Where to find the book: Here, Here, or at your local library
The Accidental Pin-up by Danielle Jackson
Cassie loves her job as a boudoir photographer. She wants to make everyone feel beautiful and empowered with her photography skills. Dana’s best friend sets out to launch her lingerie line. Since Dana is pregnant, she cannot pose for pictures. Cassie wants to be the photographer for the project, but her rival gets the job. Instead, they choose Cassie to be the model for the brand. Despite her turmoil, she chooses to accept the job.
She thinks Reid is flashy with his photography ideas. But she wants to be involved in the project. Despite her feelings about his work, she is attracted to Reid. He is also attracted to Cassie. Will they be able to settle their differences and work together? Will they end up more than just working together?
Cassie is a breath of fresh air with a positive and kind nature. She wants to make each client feel special and confident in their bodies. I think that is what I enjoyed the most.
Representation: Interracial romance, Black main character, plus size or fat main character, lesbian side characters.
Where to find this book Here, Here, or local library.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Chloe is a determined workaholic despite her chronic
illness. Despite that, she has a list of things she wants to do. He wants to
enjoy a night out, ride a motorcycle, go camping, have a romp, travel, and do
something bad.
To help her accomplish her bucket list, she needs help. Someone
to teach her how to have fun. Red Morgan, her apartment’s handyperson, is up to
be the person she needs to help her accomplish her list. Even though she
disliked his rough behavior.
Representation: Black main character, Interracial romance, fat plus size protagonist, chronically ill protagonist
Where to find the book: Here, Here, or at the local library.
If it Makes you Happy
Winnie, a girl who is overweight, is living her dream. She hopes to make this summer epic. When she works at her family dinner, she takes pleasure in serving food and making money from tips. With her friends and family, she feels unstoppable and believes she can make this the best summer yet before she heads to college. The highly expected matching-making tradition of Misty Haven’s Summer Queen awaits her. Being involved is the last thing Winnie wants in this situation. Now, they force her to take photoshoots and speak in front of enormous crowds.
Where to find the book: Here, Here, or at the local library.
While we were dating
Ben Stephens does not have serious relationships. Between family drama, work, and casual relationships, he is busy. Until he landed one of the biggest campaigns ever. His advertising firm lands one of the biggest accounts. Anna Gardner, who is a movie star, is his next client. She is sexy, funny, and down to earth. Her goal is to be a household name and this ad will accomplish it. Until she gets her key role, that she has been waiting and working on. She does not want to mix business and pleasure with Ben. But a little flirting with a handsome man would not do any harm. Ben does not mind either because he thinks she is beautiful and is enamored by her.
Jasmine Guillory features characters from her books such as The Wedding Date. I love seeing the other characters because they provide humor and background stories about Ben's life. Anna's family is also featured in the book. She has a close relationship with her family and enjoys being around them.
I like how Jasmine mentions that Anna is fat early in the book. The scene when the ad manger says, she is so "confident" alludes to the fact that he and others are amazed that a fat woman can be confident.
Representation: Black main characters, Black
TW: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, microaggressions
Where to find the book, Here, Here, or your local library
Black romance
Xeni
Xeni Everly-Wilkins recently has a deceased aunt. Xeni has to clean out her aunt's massive home and deal with her family. The feud with the remaining sisters comes from them being in a singing group together. She discovers that she is to inherit her late aunt's estate. But there is a catch. To receive her inheritance, she must marry a Scotsman, named Mason McInroy. He too is suffering from a loss. He lost his friend and mentor, who happens to be Xeni's aunt, Sable Everly. He must marry Xeni to inherit money from her estate as well. He really needs that money to cover a debt and be able to enter his home in Scotland.
The plot alone had me interested because I always wanted to see how two people in an arranged marriage would act with one another.
Representation: Interracial romance, Black bisexual main character, Black side characters, Lesbian side characters, East Asian side characters, Dominican side characters, autistic side character
TW: death, sex scenes, death of a family member before the story begins, bisexual adult with an unsupportive parent, discussion of abortion in a character's past, brief mention of miscarriage in a character's past, a pregnant supporting character, graphic Sex Scenes, additional trigger warnings, biphobia, child abuse (emotional), grief, heart attack
Where to find the book, Here or Here, or your local library.
High Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
A young adult book about Celina Bangura who is conspiracy theory obsessed. She uses her social media to discuss UFOs. This obsession does not make her popular.
Representation: Black romance
TW: obsessive-compulsive disorder, mental illness, parent abandonment.
Where to find the book, Here, Here, or your local library.
The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert
Cherry Neita is thirty and flirty but is done with men. Except with this hot stranger, she meets at the office. She thinks he is the perfect one-night stand. Unknown to her this man is a Prince. Prince Rueb is reckless and famous. When photogs catch the two kissing, now they have to pretend to be engaged. Cherry is not impressed with the arrangement, but neither is the King.
Representation: Interracial, Plus size, or fat main character
TW: Has scenes about abuse, sex scenes, racism, child abuse, and suicide mentioned.
Where to find the book, Here, Here, or local library
The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco by Talia Hibbert
I love how Nik adored Aria at first sight. He loved her hair, what was wore, and her tattoos. Aria finds him to be attractive yet is trying not to admire the hot and athletic Nik. Nik is a rich retired footballer who has a lot of admirers. That is why he contrives a plan to hire Aria to be his fake girlfriend to keep crazed fans and exes away from him. She agrees because she gets the money and a free trip out of it. Little does she know Nik wants to romance her into being his real girlfriend.
I love how the character is confident in her body and does not feel inferior around all of the footballers in the book. Even when one person tries to make a snobby comment about her, she does not back down. It was wonderful to see a plus-size Black woman having fun and being herself even when she was in a different environment.
Representation: Interracial romance, Black Plus size main character, bisexual main character
TW: Stalking, sex scenes, biphobia,
Where to find the book, Here, Here, and the local library.
Goal St. Louis by Alexandria House
Maleek Jones is a freelance hockey player whose only love is hockey. He loved hockey at sixteen after being rejected by his dad. Hockey was his savior and caused him to forget his past. Until he had new responsibilities. Her father and stepmother have passed away and is responsible for raising his half-siblings.
Nuri Knox is a former teacher who is suffering from a having a traumatic event at her school. She now has nightmares and tries to restart her life. The first step is to get a job. When she sees an ad to be a nanny for Maleek's two siblings you take the job.
Reading the prologue helps you to understand why Maleek looks at relationships in the manner that he does. The family issues with his mom, dad, and stepmom explain his hesitation toward a romantic relationship. Rejection, neglect, and abandonment will cause a person to not trust people. Nuri has family issues as well.
The children, Junior and Jules are sweet and need a lot of love, after losing both of their parents.
Black romance
Where to find the book: Here and at your local library.
