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Hi, I’m Taylor… TCF’s resident Chief Story Stylist and your guide to our Plus Size Book Club.<\/p>\n
I’m leading conversations, content, and reads that celebrate plus-size people, love, and the stories we want to see ourselves in. Here, we’re not just reading books…we’re building a bookshelf that reflects us: our lives, our desires, and our main character energy.<\/p>\n
And let me tell you… we have started and are continuing Big Girl Blitz<\/em>By Danielle Allen. But, before we get into that, let us tell you what you missed only for the week<\/em>! <\/p>\n We officially kicked off our first TCF Book Club meeting only for the week<\/a><\/em> 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 shapely black woman centered in a story that is equal parts soft, spicy, and soul-searching.<\/p>\n It was everything this place was supposed to be and somehow, it already feels bigger than us.<\/p>\n Now, as we close the chapter on our first lesson, it’s time to turn the page.<\/p>\n The conversation that emerged from our first reading was layered, honest, and deeply personal.<\/p>\n We talked about body image. About boundaries. About those cool ways we’ve all been taught to shrink ourselves… And<\/em><\/strong> What stopping finally looks like.<\/p>\n There was something powerful about being in one place with women who share similar life experiences, yet bring completely different perspectives. We unpack what we loved, what disappointed us, and yes, everything that made us blush a little while reading.<\/p>\n only for the week<\/em> It didn’t just give us a story, it gave us a starting point. And we ran with it.<\/p>\n April’s book of the month took us on a complete emotional rollercoaster.<\/p>\n Janelle, our plus size main character, finds herself at her sister’s destination wedding in Tulum… where said sister is marrying Janelle’s ex-boyfriend. Yes. He<\/em> Former lover.<\/p>\n Naturally, the dynamic raised eyebrows. But what surprised us most was Jenelle herself. His heart was not broken. She was not clinging to the past. She was clear…this relationship would no longer serve her.<\/p>\n What Did<\/em> However, the revelation was something much darker. A pattern of imbalance. A sister who took endlessly. A family dynamic that lacked boundaries. And a woman who spent too much time with him for too long.<\/p>\n As one of our favorite sayings goes: Givers need to set boundaries, because takers rarely do.<\/p>\n Watching Janelle come to that realization in real time was both disappointing and deeply concerning.<\/p>\n Then there was Rome.<\/p>\n From the moment they stepped in, the chemistry was undeniable. Which you can feel through the pages. What started out as “just for a week” situation soon turned into something more layered, more intentional, and honestly, more therapeutic than either of them expected.<\/p>\n But what really connected us wasn’t just romance. This was the evolution of Janelle.<\/p>\n She allowed herself pleasure without any guilt. That kind of growth? We will always strive for this.<\/p>\n Of course, in our virtual meetings, we did not hold back.<\/p>\n Janelle’s hesitation to advocate for herself tested our patience. The male-centric moments raised legitimate slants. And yes, we wanted more balance when it came to what she looked like for her friendships.<\/p>\n But the conclusion we reached was this: evolution is not linear, and it is rarely perfectly linear.<\/p>\n If anything, Janelle’s journey reminded us that learning to choose ourselves, especially<\/em> After years of not doing it, it can feel messy, uneven, and overdone.<\/p>\n And yet, it’s worth it every time.<\/p>\nTCF Book Club: First Month, First Read, First Impressions<\/h2>\n
Genes, limitations, and the chaos we can’t look away from<\/h2>\n
Chemistry, Courage, and Choosing Yourself<\/h2>\n
She began to set boundaries that protected her peace.
She began to step into the life she really wanted… which included her purpose of serving Black and POC women as an OBGYN.<\/p>\nThe criticisms we had to talk about<\/h2>\n
what are we taking with us<\/h3>\n