I Named My Bellyfat Charlene

by Louanne McFarlane

What if your most troublesome body part could talk?

For Ell, a successful computer programmer who solves her coding bugs with comfort food, life is relatively cozy. She has a great job and a loving, food-obsessed partner who cooks like a chef. But when her best friend dares her to wear a bikini to a public bar, Ell is thrown into a complete tailspin.

The panic of baring it all awakens a whole new personality: Charlene.

Charlene is the belly fat that’s been tagging along for years, and she is finally ready for her starring role. Sassy, unapologetic, and loudly opinionated, Charlene has been there through every late-night ice cream binge and awkward HR meeting.

Written in a hilarious, relatable diary format, Ell's troubleshooting mission includes:

The Dress Code Dilemma: Navigating business-casual minefields where her "girls" violate company policy simply by existing.
The Diet Disasters: Surviving toxic gym assessments with hunky-but-shallow trainers.
The Sacred Ritual: Embracing the absolute necessity of unbuttoning her jeans immediately after dinner.

Between a partner who expresses love through carbohydrates and a best friend fighting her own hidden insecurities, Ell must decide if she’s ready to stop hiding in oversized black clothes. She soon realizes that "fixing" herself isn't a matter of spreadsheets or calorie counts—it's a matter of self-respect.

I Named My Bellyfat Charlene is a heartfelt, witty love letter to every woman who has ever felt like her body was the punchline.

Genres: Fiction

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2026

Reviews

[Conni Guffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising in so many ways.

I'm not sure what I expected when I started this story.
A little humor, I suppose. Got that.
Some pathos for an overweight girl trying to live in a skinny world. Got that, too.
I expected to feel her pain and anger and frustration at a world that wants to shove a certain type of body into the shadows, never to be considered or discussed again in "polite society". I expected to feel rage at the people who shun a fat person, or who try, in their own misguided way, to "help" her be the person they think she wants to be, even when she doesn't really want it.
I didn't expect to like Ell, and by extension, Charlene, as much as I did.

Ell is just like the rest of us that have ever had body image issues. She wants to be better, but she doesn't want to give up the things that make her happiest...in her case...food. Anyone who has ever been on a diet knows that the minute to restrict yourself to what you can, and can't eat, the temptations start flying in from every direction. Unfortunately for Ell, she has assigned Charlene her own voice, and that voice says exactly what she wants to hear when she wants to hear it. Thus, sabotaging any effort at losing weight or getting fit.

I spent half the book screaming at Ell to push away her so-called "friends" and their toxic comments about how she should live her own life, and the other half wanting to put my arms around her and telling she would be okay, but could she maybe tell Charlene to shut up for a few minutes and make a few better decisions without outside interference.

There's a lot to love about this book. That's where my biggest surprise came in. I expected fluff with a side order of humor. I got introspection, a look at the world in a slightly bigger perspective than I'm used to, and a reason to see what this author will write next.

All cheers for Ell and her journey. Give Charlene the cheesecake and put her in a corner with a command to shut up for just a little while.

All my gratitude to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this book ahead of the pub date. I had no idea what I was getting into, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Named My Belly Fat Charlene is a funny and heartfelt book about body image, self-acceptance, and learning to appreciate yourself. By giving her belly fat the name "Charlene," the author uses humor to make a topic that many people find difficult feel more relatable and approachable.

The writing is engaging and conversational, making it easy to connect with the author's personal experiences. While the book is filled with humor, it also delivers meaningful messages about confidence, self-compassion, and recognizing that our value is not determined by our appearance.

What stands out most is the author's honesty. Rather than offering quick solutions, she encourages readers to embrace progress, accept themselves, and find joy in the journey.

Overall, I Named My Belly Fat Charlene is an entertaining and inspiring read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted book that also offers an uplifting perspective on self-love and body positivity. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

[Tammy Bertrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a quick and memorable read. The message of loving yourself as you are is so relatable. I loved that the FMC had a love/hate relationship with her body. The humor behind naming her body fat and having conversations with it was hilarious. This book focused on the stereotypes that women of all shapes and sizes face on a daily basis with both humor and seriousness. I recommend reading this book to anyone who has ever struggled with loving themselves in their own body. As a debut book, Louanne McFarlane hit it out of the park!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Noir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one and it was a quick read.

I liked the message of body image and self-love/worth and everyone has insecurities no matter how they may present themselves to others. It just feels like the author has gone through some similar experiences as the main character, which makes it so relatable. Personifying her body fat as a supportive cheerleader was a nice touch.

Overall, I found I Named My Bellyfat Charlene to be entertaining and uplifting.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy to review.

[Mathter Works · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Rounded To 5

A quick read that tackles one of the most relatable topics in a fun way. Love the main character and love that it's more a story of acceptance than makeover. Heavy topics mixed with humor that doesn't detract or make fun of the issues described.

[Anniee Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute realistic story. There were so many moments where I paused and was like wow! Charlene is right. I highly recommend this one.

[Readwithsamijo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely written by someone who knows the struggle.

There were so many moments of recognition for me. From the constant struggle of trying to loose weight, doing everything and still nothing happening to the guess I'll just accept this is my body whether I like it or not (but not actually accepting it).

I laughed and cheered, felt angry and accepted all rolled into one story. It was a little slow going but you come to love the characters and want to see them achieve it all.

I loved seeing the different side characters meeting their partners and accepting who they were as the book shows : fat, thin, men, women we all have issues and self confidence struggles and we can overcome them too.

Thank you to the author and books go social for the copy to review and Netgalley read now recommendation.