Hi, I’m Taylor Corrien, TCF’s Chief Story Stylist and your guide through the TCF Book Club, our plus size romance book club where we gush over swoony romances, plus size main characters and all the wonderfully unhinged situations they manage to find themselves in.
Our July Book Club adventure officially came to an end, and what a ride it was. I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire by Jessica Cage was our very first supernatural romance, and it gave us exactly what we hoped for: romance, action, mystery, a little chaos and plenty of moments that had us yelling at the pages.
Of course, once we gathered for Book Club, the conversation went far beyond vampires.
Here’s what we couldn’t stop talking about.
One Night Changed Everything
Whitney Harris wasn’t looking for a supernatural adventure.
She’d just lost her job, signed the mortgage on her dream home and desperately needed a night out. One unforgettable hookup with the mysterious Domino should have been just that, a one-night stand.
Instead, Whitney discovers she has ancient blood running through her veins, putting her squarely in the middle of a vampire power struggle she never saw coming.
Fortunately, she’s surrounded by an unforgettable cast. A witch for a best friend. A monster hunter for another. And a vampire boyfriend who may or may not be able to keep her alive.
Needless to say, things escalated quickly.
When Your Best Friend Can’t Stand Your Partner
One of the liveliest conversations from our July meeting centered around Whitney’s relationships, specifically the tension between Domino and her best friend Jackie.
Neither Jackie nor Lena trusted Domino in the beginning, but Jackie and Domino’s constant back-and-forth had us asking one very important question.
What does it actually mean when your best friend and your partner can’t seem to get along?
It reminded me of one of those long-running pop culture debates about Martin. For years, fans have joked that Martin and Pam argued so much they almost seemed destined to end up together.
So naturally, we started asking ourselves:
Is constant bickering a sign of chemistry?
Is it simply two strong personalities clashing?
Or is it a genuine warning sign?
Our Book Club had opinions.
Some of us felt your friends should tread carefully when it comes to criticizing your partner because those conversations can permanently damage friendships.
Others believed that if someone genuinely loves you and notices red flags, it’s their responsibility to speak up.
There wasn’t one “right” answer, but that’s exactly what made the discussion so much fun.
Who Are You Without Your Job?
Another theme that really resonated with us was Whitney’s identity.
When we first meet her, she’s checking all the boxes society tells us should make us happy. She’s purchased a home, earned a promotion, transformed her health and built meaningful friendships.
Then she loses her job.
Suddenly, all that stability disappears.
Watching Whitney rebuild her confidence reminded us that our careers, accomplishments and titles are only one part of who we are.
As her world expands, so do her dreams. She discovers new strengths, embraces unexpected adventures and begins imagining a life built around curiosity instead of obligation.
That led us to one of my favorite questions from the afternoon.
Who are you outside of your job?
Outside of your responsibilities?
Outside of everyone else’s expectations?
If you suddenly had the freedom to start over, what would you do?
It’s amazing where one fictional story can lead a real-life conversation.
Next Up: An Age Gap Romance That’s Already Got Us Talking
Our August Book of the Month is 40-Love by Olivia Dade, and we’re trading vampires for vacation romance.
This time we’ll meet Tess, a confident 40-year-old plus size heroine, and Lucas, a 26-year-old former professional tennis player whose unexpected connection with Tess challenges both of their assumptions about age, attraction and love.
This will be the biggest age-gap romance we’ve read together, and we’re already looking forward to unpacking the conversations around confidence, insecurities, second chances and what it really means to find love on your own timeline.
Something tells me we’re going to have a lot to discuss.
Join Our Plus Size Romance Book Club
We’ll be discussing 40-Love by Olivia Dade on Saturday, August 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT via Zoom, and we’d love for you to join us.
Be sure to RSVP so you’ll receive your meeting reminder and all the event details.
And if you haven’t picked up 40-Love yet, don’t let that stop you.
One of the best things about our plus size romance book club is that our conversations are about so much more than finishing the book. We explore the characters, the themes, the representation and all the real-life questions these stories inspire.
Whether you’ve already started reading, are planning to dive in this weekend or simply want to hear what everyone else has to say, there’s absolutely a seat for you.
Come join the conversation, meet fellow romance readers and discover why Book Club has become one of our favorite ways to connect as a community.
We’ll see you on Zoom!
