Fat Girls Dance

by Cathleen Meredith

Irreverent, witty, full of surprises, and based on a fabulous true story, this dynamic new series debut reveals what happens when three very different, very talented, fat women break all the rules, go viral—and discover life’s most breathtaking moves . . . Liv. Reese. Faith. Yes, they are plus-size, curvy,thick, whatever. Point is, they are past sick of society’s relentless body-shaming defining them. Liv slays in dance classes, where she shakes off her frustrations as a struggling writer. Introverted Reese avoids “taking up too much space” by staying in the background as Liv's wing woman. And while diva-cold professional dancer Faith aces countless auditions, she’s “too big” for starring roles. At the end of their respective ropes, all it takes is one more insult . . . for Liv to suddenly have an idea that will unite them all . . .   It’s a shake-it-up, zero Fs challenge in which women like her will choreograph and perform a demanding new dance every week. For a year. Online. And just like that . . . after a boatload of hard work, FatGirlsDance becomes an Internet phenomenon, racking up thousands of followers, clicks—and controversy. More important, FGD creates a precious space for community. And it gives the three ladies an impossible a major competition featuring the world’s best dancers . . . Yet while Liv is determined to prove FGD can go from amazing to outstanding, Faith thinks they’re reaching too high, and Reese is caught in the middle. As the grueling practices and new goals start taking a toll, the trio soon finds their friendship stretched to the breaking point. With their biggest test ahead of them as their drama spins out of control, can these gutsy women pull it together to remake their futures—and become the women they were meant to be?

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Friendship

304 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[Shantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was so FULL, of life, vibrancy, love, creativity, raw realness, resilience and so much more! it was just so full!!! it was like reading a movie in the best way! this lovely author! may her beautiful soul rest in peace and her legacy and fatgirlsdance continue to increase!!! 🤍

i would have loved to read more from her! 💔

[Megan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story this is what happens when three plus size talented women get fed up with body shaming and missing out on jobs because of their size. They band together at dance class and although they aren't all as driven they do realize that it is people's perception of them that is holding them back. They decide to tape a new dance every week and put it on the internet where they become a sensation but much more awaits.

[Kade Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

bright, unapologetic, fun and touching. This book had it all. And although tackled a lot didn't feel like was doing too much. Cathleen Meredith wove together deep and nuanced friendships, anti-fatphobia analysis, romance, sex, propulsive descriptions of dance routines, and more.

It was also one of the best usages of three-person pov I've seen. Each woman felt authentic in their own personhood, developed nuanced relations with various characters, and brought a unique reflection upon the grounding element of the book, the Fat Girls Dance Squad.


Also, as someone who knows so little about dance, I appreciated learning about the intensity of work that goes into developing, learning, and mastering dance routines. Felt very authentic coming from the voice of Cathleen, someone who developed the Fat Girls Dance squad outside the realm of fiction. Deeply saddened to hear she died so young - this world will miss out on more of her amazing dance routines, and stunning fictional works.

[Tamia M · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

I don't know what I was thinking cramming in a book before the end of the year.

Fat Girls Dance focused on a group of women who wanted to dance. Each woman has a different "why" and story that they bring to the table. This book really highlights the importance of self discovery, love, and having your own individual journey, while honoring your community.

I really enjoyed the book and getting bits from each woman's journey. I will say, some parts did feel a little repetitive. Overall, a good read and great way to send off the year.

Thanks to NetGalley & Cathleen Meredith.

[A. Housewife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I watched a 15 min video on this movement when it was happening. I didn't realize this book was based on reality. I wonder how much of this was fictionalized and how much was true. I can't believe this was published posthumously. I found her so unflinchingly honest about how she viewed the movement and what it did for people and how her psychology was so different than other people's. I ADORED the conflicts she had with her friends. They were so well done. So meaty and good. I loved the support and the conflicts. I loved watching all their different journeys. It was a great read.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a big departure from my more typical choices in historical fiction, and generally books with more mature characters. Despite that, I enjoyed it and found it both refreshing and empowering.

Liv is a black woman in her 30s who is a real go-getter with a big personality and a body to match. She throws herself into her dance classes, which are her outlet for her frustrations with her efforts with writing, and against the body shaming she experiences as a very plus-sized woman.

She shares a Washington Heights, New York City apartment with Reese, her best friend, who is as introverted as Liv is outgoing. Reese prefers reading, watching movies, and needs a lot of "me" time. She too is a larger woman.

When Liv hits on the idea of forming a group of women of size who will dance together, creating a newly choreographed dance together each week that will be posted on the internet for everyone to see, she pulls a reluctant Reese into the project. Liv also connects with Faith, a determined professional dancer who is trying to find success despite her full body size and prodigious height.

The project gradually takes off, and Liv draws other large women into the group – women of all backgrounds and colors, but all large. Liv is determined to make a statement with her dance group, which puts a new routine out every week for a year.

They work hard, with Faith driving them physically while Liv provides the mental and emotional support side. The plan is to enter an amateur dance contest that draws groups from all over and win.

The novel explores friendship, intimate relationships (straight and gay), ambition, and what is means to be a large out-there woman in a world that celebrates thinness.

This is a successful first novel, but unfortunately there will be no sequel as the author passed away in February 2024 after a short illness. May her memory be a blessing and an inspiration.

[amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. I went in expecting this to be too corny and feel-good for my usual tastes but I was really delighted. There are some twists and turns in the plot that made this book fun to read!

[nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good light hearted movie.

[Anne Blatchford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. It was OK. I liked the different bonds between the girls and loved the idea to love oneself. The language got a bit old to me. Lots of f bombs and I don't even get offended by the word! Lol. I felt the author used a lot....alot....ALOT of adjectives. A bit much, and I'd skim over the 3 sentences to describe something. Just me, but it was a bit extra for me.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fat Girls Dance was such a fun read, a solid 4 star read for me. Although each and every one of these women drove me absolutely crazy where I had to catch myself from talking to the book, I enjoyed each journey each character took. Liv was full of body positivity & created FGD to spread her love of dance & how it looks on fat bodies. I loved her optimism but hated the way she treated her bff Reese at times. Yet even that whole situation came full circle also by the end of the book. Reese had no backbone & had so much negative self talk I was actually dreading when her POV came up until I seen how beautiful her story was going forward & how so many people in society are fighting to become better versions of themselves. Even though she drove me crazy at times it was actually very real & inspiring that she fought thru her self doubt. Omg I had a love hate relationship for Faith the most. I loved that she breathed dance no matter what and that she was no nonsense but she was so hard on the girls sometimes! That’s what I loved about this story tho, everyone had faults but FGD taught them how to win at each of their own journey and in their own way. So grateful for this complimentary copy for exchange of my honest review.

[Monica Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, this book was a breath of fresh air! Five women, all of them bigger than what society thinks they should be and all dancers. Was this book written for my demographic? Not really, since I am older, white and can't dance (other than "mum dancing" in my lounge room!) but I AM fat. Have been all my life, and I understand the frustrations of being invisible - for jobs, for relationships, even when you are in a queue in a shop. I admire people who can dance :) My equivalent, the place where I can just be me and let go is when I am singing, so I do get it. And I am using the word "fat" deliberately, just like I do in my real life. Sick to death of people like me being described with all these euphemisms. I am not even slightly offended if someone calls me fat, because I am.

Liv, Paige, Faith, Avery, Reese........loved all of these characters, so, so much!! All these women were brought together by the relentless energy and drive of Liv, who started the Fat Girls Dance movement. A difficult choreography every week, for a year. To be put on social media. Yikes!

As you can imagine, the fact that these women, all very diverse, get together and rehearse and produce incredible dances every week, is something that the average person should get behind and I was cheering them all on. Behind the scenes, they all have a lot going on, and it is these layers that makes this book such an interesting read, for me.

The dancers become family to each other and there are highs and lows with that, just like in any family.

Loved it!!

The only thing that brought my rating down was my inability to read any of the interviews because they were formatted in a strange way. All of them were a series of letters down the page, in single file, completely impossible to read without wanting to throw something across the room! Hopefully, in the final version of the Kindle book, that issue got resolved.

4.5, rounded up to 5 because it was just such a great read! You GO, fat women who want to achieve something, just go for it :) Don't let the extra layers on your body hold you back. Why on EARTH does society think it is OK to fat-shame people?? The size of one's body is none of anyone else's business!

I was very sad to realise that the author had passed away :( I can imagine a sequel of this book being very successful! RIP Cathleen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing.

[Nicki Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing Dafina for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book was such a delight to read, women's friendships/relationships with each other and their own bodies, body conscious women who have been previously fat shamed into wanting to be unseen by society now being empowered to overcome their self doubts and self body shaming and learning to embrace the body they are currently in and all the ways that it can move and bring them joy. Not to be forgotten also the bonds that these women forge over their time dancing together and how they lift each other up with nothing but love and support whilst also undergoing changes to how they see themselves and how they will not allow themselves to be marginalised or body shamed any longer was so inspirational and made this book such a joy to read. This book shows us what happens when three plus size talented women get fed up with body shaming and missing out on jobs because of their size band together at dance class and although they aren't all as driven they do realize that it is people's perception of them that is holding them back. They decide to tape a new dance every week and put it on the internet where they become a sensation but much more awaits. This was a read overflowing with life, vibrancy, love, creativity, raw realness, resilience and friendships. Such a great read I didn't want it to end. #fatgirlsdance #cathleenmeredith #netgalley #kensingtonpublishinggdafina #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #getlitsy #fable #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram #contemporary

[TheLisaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cathleen Meredith’s Fat Girls Dance is a vibrant and empowering exploration of self-love, confidence, and the joy of movement. With its heartfelt narrative and unapologetic celebration of body positivity, the book serves as an inspiring manifesto for readers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.

At its core, Fat Girls Dance is about more than just dance—it’s about breaking barriers, redefining beauty standards, and embracing one’s true self. Meredith’s voice is engaging and authentic, weaving her personal experiences with universal themes of acceptance and resilience. The book radiates positivity while also addressing societal pressures and the challenges of navigating a world often obsessed with appearance.

The true strength of the book lies in its inclusivity and relatability. Meredith’s stories inspire readers to let go of self-doubt and step boldly into spaces where they may have felt unwelcome. Her journey reminds us that joy and self-expression are not reserved for a select few but are accessible to everyone willing to claim them.

Fat Girls Dance is a must-read for anyone seeking a reminder of the power of confidence and community. Its uplifting message will resonate long after the final page, encouraging readers to embrace their individuality and move through life with courage and grace.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was chosen by my local library as the February book of the month. I checked it out from the library and it is due before February, so I went ahead and read it now. :) The author, Cathleen Meredith, passed away in February of last year. She was co-founder of Fat Girls Dance Movement. The book is fiction, but inspired by real life events.

This is not a genre I typically read so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I loved this book and the message. There were so many takeaways many of us could apply to our everyday life:

"We might all be in class together, but we are all on individual journeys with the music and the moves."

"...that attitude does not belong in dance...All relationships take time, energy, patience, communication and compromise. It takes what it takes."

"You can be a fat girl or a fat girl who dances."

"...because we never see her, we immediately reject her."

"We never learn how to love ourselves as we love our own child. That's the kind of thing FGD is trying to create, an attitude of self-love and self-worth. Where you can look at yourself the way you look at your daughter."

I hope more people are able to discover this book.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fat Girls Dance is the body positive, BIPOC, queer version of Bring it On! that we all need in our lives! A five-star read for me! This memorable, joyful, painfully true story will resonate with any woman who's ever felt too large by society's standards, both in physical size, talent, or emotionality. Meredith does a phenomenal job bringing her diverse multidimensional characters to life swiftly and realistically. It's easy to picture and connect with these women because we've either known them or been them. This book is about so many things all at once: learning to love (or at minimum, be comfortable in) your physical body, jumping into and maintaining new creative endeavors in adulthood, navigating romantic relationships and friendships, and challenging old ideas about what it means to be "healthy." This was a phenomenal read and I can't wait for it's debut! Thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Vanessa Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a semi-autobiographical novel that focuses on the love of dancing, not as a means to an end (i.e., losing weight, looking great); but just for the release it brings. Somewhere along the lines, the competition comes into the storyline, and we all recall the show 'Dance Moms' and the drama that can come from the dance community. I liked the audio version as it helped give each character a distinct personality; although one of the voices was SLOW and boring and kind of drove me bonkers. The overbearing friend who freaked out on her friend for missing a practice made me mad, but hey, it happens. I looked more into this story as it intrigued me, and I wanted to follow this group, but I was sad to see that the author recently passed away. Kudos to her for the work she did in bringing awareness that larger sized people can work out, eat healthy, and still remain large; so do not judge that it is a lifestyle choice.

[SaraLu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for something funny and light to read before the end of the year and this book took me for a ride. I loved every part and character of this book. I needed this book. I love all the different angles: interviews, hate mail, family dynamics, pregnancy, queerness, so many emotions and such a deep connection to the body. the number of time feelings were described via vaginas was glorious. All the sharing of the mental load e.g. introverts, people pleasing, determination, self love and lack thereof was masterfully thoughtful and real. I’m so grateful I read this book. The takeaways will stay with me for a while. I couldn’t believe the faith of the author. A really sad reality after all she created. What a legacy. We need more people like her.

[Pabvon · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥺🕊 I was a fan of FGD and Cathleen in real life and real time. Seeing her baby finally be released into the world is inspiring. Like so many other things she did. I laughed and cried listening to the book, and although I'm done listening to the audio version of it and have a hard copy, I don't want to return it to the audio library yet. Thank you to all involved with getting this book out here after Cathleen passed. She is a fierce force that couldn't be contained, and that's even more evident after reading the book.
5 stars! Maybe I'm biased, but you would be too if you had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Cathleen. ❤️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[Jessica Mather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an incredible read!
Full of life, love, sweat, inspiration, and more.

Three “fat girls” band together and begin a campaign to post a dance on social media every day for a year in the hopes of breaking the body shaming, and promoting love.
There were so many inspirational quotes in here, that this could have it’s own merch line.
The friendship between these ladies, and the choreographer, was so good. It reminded me of Sex and the City meets Step Up. Very binge-able and can’t wait to see more from this author.
Great debut. Well done!

[adiantum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grabbed this because I thought it might have interesting things to say about the experience of monetizing a hobby (in this case, turning dance from a fun therapeutic activity into a viral moment)

That said, the writing style wasn’t my jam and was really millennial modern and full of hashtags and constant references to wokeness. The story is to some degree about social media, but when the characters’ internal monologues have sentences like “I wish I could take credit for my #nofucksgiven lifestyle” it just takes me out of things.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I think it was written as inspiration to plus-sized women all over the world. This is the type of book that I would recommend all women to read even if you are not a plus-sized woman because the messages that I took away from the book were for all women. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hilarious and I loved nearly every minute. We interact with all different types of women, all unapologetically fat and living life with their heads (mostly held high.) I think the only character I was a little bit iffy about was Faith but I truly recommend this for any reader who is looking for a platonic sisterhood centered around plus sized women living in New York.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body positive Liv really wants to start up a dance group for plus size women. Liv starts by proposing her idea to her bestie, Reese. A year long challenge to learn new choreography each week and post it online for all the world to see. Reese is very reluctant to participate, but not as much as Liv is determined and persistent.

Day One of FGD (FatGirlsDance), Liv and Reese sit alone in the studio disappointed because despite their efforts in spreading the word, no-one else has turned up. Slowly but steadily, a squad is formed. The girls are pushed to their limits in and outside of the studio. Can they push through to Liv's desired end game, the Capezio Hip Hop contest?

The story is all about self love, social acceptance, and relationships in a fat girls world. I loved how the characters evolved throughout the book and became improved versions of themselves. In addition, the squad created friendships that will last their lifetime.

I really enjoyed Fat Girls Dance. While reading the book I was either laughing, giggling or shocked by the girls antics.

Post read I learnt that the story is based on #thefatgirlsmovement which was founded by the author who was an amazing women's advocate and playwright (among many more great feats), Cathleen Meredith, who passed away while this book was being published. She was an inspirational, life-loving, body positive lady.
Also, Reese is based on Meredith's real life best friend.

Thankyou to #kensingtonpublishing and #netgalley for the free copy of #fatgirlsdance in exchange for an honest review.

[Cardyn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't wait.

Don't wait to be your authentic self. Don't wait to dance, to love, to pursue your heart's deepest desires... This story of friendship and audacity offers angst, humor, and compelling reasons to live life with unapologetic intention.

https://blerdybingereader.blogspot.co...

[Caitlyn Monks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light read. Easy to get through. Only annoyance is that the Liv character is very unlikable for me. She lacks boundaries and uses her friends, and doesn't seem to learn or change anything about that, everyone around her just seems to learn to like it. Also, the use of words like "slay, epic, b*tch" etc are extremely overused and seem out of date.

[Laurel Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely, fun read. As a plus size woman myself i was rooting for all these women. I love that it’s based on a true story and the body positive messages were exactly what I needed to hear.

I can’t wait for the movie of this, someone pick it
Up ;)

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this!

[MG · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a case of cool/cute concept, so-so execution for me. I found the language off-putting at times. I liked the body positivity angle though and the friendships were also a highlight.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

[Lex Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. I laughed a lot. I felt like one of the squad. I couldn't wait to finish the book so I could reach out to the author and tell her how much I loved it. So sad to hear of her passing. Such an inspiring book ❤️

[Mais · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Emma Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's gorgeous. The women, the story, the feels, all of it. Reading it makes you want to dance, jiggle, and sing out loud.