The book focuses on Willowdean "Dumplin'" Dickson, a plus-size teenager who finds love, but also realizes that she is more insecure about herself than she initially thought.

[1] Willowdean, nicknamed "Dumplin’" by her mother and called "Will" by her friends, is a plus-size teenager who has always felt comfortable with her body and herself.

[2][3][4] Commonsensemedia and Entertainment Weekly both gave Dumplin' favorable reviews and both praised Murphy for writing about and through the lens of a plus size teen, "who is struggling with her weight only in terms of accepting it".

[5][6] The Chicago Tribune also wrote a favorable review, noting that, "If the book's ending is a little too Disney Channel optimistic, it's understandable — Willowdean deserves no less.

"[7] The movie adaptation stars Danielle Macdonald as Willowdean and Jennifer Aniston as her mother, Rosie Dickson.