Dumplin’ is Willowdean Dickson – the nickname given to her by her former beauty queen mother. But Willowdean doesn’t mind too much, she’s happy with who she is and if she’s carrying a bit more weight than the world thinks she ‘should’, then to hell with them. She’s got her bestest bud Ellen and their shared love of all things Dolly Parton to get her through any rough patches. But then Will takes a job at Harpy’s restaurant and meets Bo, a private school educated boy who really, really likes Willowdean and it throws her world off kilter. Because Bo is hot, and them being together starts to make her question herself. Her confidence takes a knock and her relationship with Ellen suffers. In order to find her old self, Will signs up for the local pageant, and inspires a host of other unlikely candidates to join her.
Like a lot of people, I recently watched the Netflix film version of this book, and loved it. It was warm and funny and had a brilliant cast, and I’m really happy to say that I enjoyed the book just as much. There are some differences – characters that didn’t make the cut in the film, and much more about the pageant in the film I think – but nothing radical.
I really enjoyed Willowdean as a character. She is confident and takes no shit but also does have insecurities like all of us. And she’s coming to terms with the recent loss of her aunt, Lucy, who she was very close to and could share things with more than her mother at times. It’s the not wanting to miss out on things like Lucy did that gives her the push to enter the pageant, but also prove a point that anyone should be able to take part, no matter what they look like.
And though there is romance – with both Bo and another boy, Mitch – I appreciated that a big ‘love story’ within the book is that between Will and Ellen. Their friendship suffers some growing pains as they figure out what they mean to each other now they’re growing up, and possibly apart. I don’t think there are enough books out there that tackle the joys and pain of friendship, especially when you’re a teenager and your friends can be your whole world.
This was lovely and exactly the kind of book I needed right now. I’m gonna go get my hands on Puddin’ next.
