Hi, I’m Taylor, TCF’s resident lead story stylist and your guide to our Plus Size Book Club.
I’m leading conversations, content, and reading that celebrate plus-size people, love, and the stories we deserve to see ourselves in. Here, we’re not just reading books, we’re building a bookshelf that reflects us, our lives, our desires, and the energy of our main character.
And let me tell you…we are Close for a start.
We officially kicked off our first TCF Book Club meeting only for the week By Natasha Bishop And when I say we had a time? I mean laughter, passion, real conversations about representation, and a whole lot of love to see a plus size/fat/curvy woman centered in a story that is equal parts tender, spicy, and soul-searching.
It was everything I wanted this place to be and we’re just getting started.
Now let’s talk about the book that has us all a little excited, disturbed and totally invested…
You all come here!
The weather is getting warmer and so is the TCF Book Club! We’ve officially started in the hottest way possible, with Natasha Bishop “only for the week“. We’re starting with the most circuitous one! It’s only been a week since I read this novel and it doesn’t look like things are going to calm down any time soon!
let’s enter only for the week… As yet
Our main character, Janelle, is a shapely, confident, accomplished 30-year-old black woman, an OBGYN, a caregiver, and someone everyone depends on.
And yet… she’s stuck in a situation she didn’t ask for. She has attended her older sister’s wedding as maid of honor and it has been a joyless task!
Oh, and the groom, Arnold…he’s Janelle’s ex-boyfriend. Between Bridezilla and her family’s pathetic kindness, we’re left to wonder if Janelle will be able to pull off this wedding? There’s only one reason I believe she’ll save this marriage from hell: Rome Martin, the best man.
And while Tulum is the destination…Rome is the real distraction.
I’m not sure what the weather or food is like in Rome, but if Rome is any indication of Martin, from just the first 50 pages, I imagine hot, spicy and very tasty! The chemistry between the two is undeniable from their first interaction!
What Janelle didn’t know was that Rome had his eye on her ever since she was in a relationship with Arnold, now he’s gotten up close and personal with the plump brown goddess of his dreams and it’s proving very difficult to keep his eyes and hands off her.
Let’s talk about Rome… because we need to
He studies it. L.A.W.D.
And listen…don’t we all want to study and explore like this? Or do we? Rome is not only studying her attractive figure with her pearls wrapped around her waist and the way her locks hang down her back, but he is also studying her personality, her passions, her habits and how people treat her. Best believe he has something to say about it.
Genres, Boundaries, and Choosing Yourself
Janelle is a physician who is deeply passionate about improving the reproductive health of women of color and you can tell that this kind of care comes naturally to her.
But somewhere, that same tendency to show up for others has forced him to struggle to show up for himself.
And that part? He reached a little too close to home.
She bites her tongue. She becomes silent when she is insulted. She apologizes for things that aren’t her fault. And while Rome is quick to highlight those things, it’s clear that Jenelle isn’t used to advocating for herself or having someone else do it for her.
I’m already trying to find her voice. And honestly? I want development to happen from there HisNot just because of one man.
Because while support is beautiful, choosing yourself is powerful.
joy, power, and “Only for the week”
Over the past few days I’ve been reading this story, I’m already excited for Janelle to find her voice, but honestly, I’m hoping it has nothing to do with Rome and more to do with her finding her own strength as a woman!
While we all need support in doing difficult things, I don’t like the idea that a man is the one to make a woman’s life better. Hopefully, the more deeply we read this, Jenelle will find strength through choosing herself.
Although Janelle has gotten off to a good start in choosing herself… because she’s decided to let Rome take Mario’s coins out of his honey pot… just for a week.
And listen, his chosen happiness? Is she allowing herself to feel good, to be desired, to exist in her body? This may be just what he needs.
For a dual pov only for the week
I’m a sucker for dual POV reads and this book is no exception. A dual POV gives us real insight into both Janelle and her love interest: no guesswork, no unnecessary confusion.
This eliminates a lot of the guesswork and makes explicitly masculine presenting characters more likable and reduces the “nonsense trope”. Girl, we know men behave too recklessly in real life to read about!
Overall, I’m really enjoying this story and honestly, the spicier the better!
So, where is this story taking us?
I’m excited to see where Janelle’s story takes us and more importantly, whether she fully steps into her power.
Not just in love, but also in how she chooses herself.
I personally want the same for Black women and POC women in the real world. I’m hoping that Jenelle will be a great role model for all of us to stand in your power, maintain healthy boundaries, and put your happiness first.
Because that’s what I want for her. And that’s what I want for us.
Let’s talk about it… Join us for our next TCF Book Club meeting!
Our work with Janelle isn’t over yet and trust me, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Whether you’re studying or just starting out, there’s still time to join in and experience the magic with us.
Join us in the TCF Book Club (inside our TCF Style Society community) as we break down only for the weekShare our favorite moments, and join in on everything this story has to offer… from tension, to growth, to joy and strength.
next meeting:
Saturday, April 25
1:30 PM EST (10:30 AM PST)
Hosted virtually inside Lit Lounge
Get ready to discuss, respond, and maybe spiral a little… Our first meeting was a lot of fun, and this next one? It’s about to get even better.
Free to join. Need good vibes.
