Hello, I’m Taylor. TCF’s resident chief story stylist and plus-size book club guide.
I lead conversations, content, and readings that center and celebrate plus-size people, love, and the kinds of stories we ourselves deserve to see. Here we are not just reading a book, we are building a bookshelf that reflects us, our life, our desires and the energy of our protagonist.
And let me tell you…we are. off At the beginning.
We officially kicked off our first TCF Book Club meeting. This week only By Natasha Bishop So what if I told you I had time? That means real stories about laughter, passion, expression, and lots of love for seeing plus size/fat/curvy women at the center of stories that are equal parts soft, spicy, and self-discovery.
It’s everything I wanted for this space and we’re just getting started.
Now let’s talk about this book that got us all a little excited, annoyed, and all-in invested…
Everyone please come in here!
The weather is getting hotter and so is the TCF Book Club! We officially kicked off in Natasha Bishop’s enthusiastic fashion. “This week only”. It starts in the most tortuous way!I’ve only been reading this novel for a week, and things don’t seem to be cooling down anytime soon.
Come on, let’s go in. This week only… so far
Our main character, Janelle, is a curvaceous, confident, accomplished 30-year-old black woman who is an obstetrician-gynecologist, a caretaker, and the person everyone relies on.
And yet…she finds herself in a situation she didn’t want to be in. She attends her sister’s wedding as a maid of honor, but the job is not at all fun.
Oh, and the groom Arnold…he’s Janelle’s ex-boyfriend. Between Budezilla and her family’s desperate sympathy, we are left wondering if Janelle will be able to make it through this wedding. The only reason I believe she’ll survive this wedding hell is because of the best man, Rome Martin.
Tulum is the destination, but the real distraction is Rome.
I don’t know what the weather or food is like in Rome, but if Roman Martín is any indication, it’s going to be hot, spicy, and delicious, even if the first 50 pages alone are any indication. From their first interaction, the chemistry between them is undeniable!
Unbeknownst to Janelle, Rome has been keeping an eye on her ever since she had an affair with Arnold, and now that he’s up close and personal with the dark brown goddess of his dreams, it’s proving too hard to keep his eyes and hands off her.
Let’s talk about Rome…because we need to
He is studying her. LAWD.
And listen…don’t we all want to be studied and explored that way? Or are we like that too? Roma studies not only the luscious beaded curves of her waist and the way her braids flow down her back, but also her personality, her passions, her habits, and the way people treat her. Trust me he has something to say about it.
Janelle, Boundaries, and Your Own Choices
Janelle is a physician passionate about improving the reproductive health of women of color, and such care comes naturally to her.
But somewhere along the way, that same instinct to show up for others made her struggle to show up for herself.
And that part? It hit a little too close to home.
She bit her tongue. When she is disrespected, she becomes silent. She apologizes for something that wasn’t her fault. Roman is quick to call this out, but it’s clear that Janelle isn’t used to asserting herself or having others do it for her.
I’m already rooting for her to find her voice. to be honest? I want you to bring about that growth. sheit’s not just the men’s fault.
Because while support is beautiful, choosing yourself is powerful.
joy, power, and “This week only”
A few days into reading this story, I’m already rooting for Janelle to find her voice, but to be honest, I found myself hoping it had less to do with Roman and more to do with her finding her strength as a woman.
We all need support to do difficult things, but I don’t like the idea that men are the reason why women improve their lives. Hopefully, the deeper we understand this story, the more Janelle will find strength in the choices she makes.
It looks like Janelle is off to a good start in choosing herself…because she decides to have Roman knock Mario Coin out of the honeypot…for just one week.
Listen, is she choosing joy? Does she allow herself to feel good and be desired in her body? That may be exactly what she needs.
dual POV This week only
I love reading dual POV and this book is no exception. The dual POV gives us real insight into Janelle and her love interest. No guesswork or unnecessary confusion.
It eliminates a lot of guesswork, makes characters with frankly masculine presences more likeable, and less of a “casual metaphor.” Girls, we know there are a lot of casual behaviors of real men, we don’t even need to read about it!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and honestly, the spicier the better!
So where is this story taking us?
I can’t wait to see where Janelle’s story takes us and, more importantly, whether she reaches her full powers.
Not only about love, but also about how she chooses herself.
I personally want that for Black women and POC women in the real world as well. I hope Janelle serves as a great fictional example for all of us to step up to the plate, maintain healthy boundaries, and prioritize joy.
Because I want that for her. And we want that too.
Let’s talk about it… Join us at the next TCF Book Club meeting!
You don’t want to miss this conversation because you’re not done with Janelle yet.
Whether you’ve read the book so far or are just starting, there’s still time to experience the magic together.
Join the TCF Book Club (inside the TCF Style Society community) and analyze content. This week onlyshare your favorite moments and dive into everything this story has to offer, from tension to growth to the joy and power woven throughout.
Next meeting:
Saturday, April 25th
1:30 PM ET (10:30 AM PT)
Hosted virtually within Lit Lounge
Be prepared to talk, react, and spiral a little bit… We had a lot of fun in our first meeting, so what about next? It will only get better from now on.
Participation is free. You need a good atmosphere.
Source: The Curvy Fashionista – thecurvyfashionista.com
