Hi, I’m Taylor Corrien, TCF’s Chief Story Stylist and your guide through the TCF Book Club! We officially wrapped up Just Our Luck by Denise Williams and, let me tell you, this book gave us way more to talk about than lottery tickets and fake dating. Our latest meeting had us laughing, debating and questioning some very strong opinions we didn’t realize we had until someone said, “Okay… but what if you were a millionaire?”
Now that we’ve closed the chapter on one unforgettable rom-com, we’re getting ready for something completely different. Our July pick is officially our first plus size supernatural romance, and honestly? We are so ready.
But before we meet our vampire…
Let’s talk about Just Our Luck.
A Lottery Win, Fake Dating and Two Very Stubborn People
Our plus size heroine, Sybil Sweet, has spent most of her life believing she’s the family screw-up.
She struggles to hold onto jobs, jumps into things headfirst and constantly feels like she’s falling short of everyone else’s expectations. Then one lucky lottery ticket changes everything.
Enter Kieran Anderson.
He’s the handsome donut shop owner who finds Sybil’s winning ticket after one very memorable night together. One viral social media post later, they’re pretending to be a couple, and suddenly fake dating becomes much more complicated than either of them expected.
Kieran quickly became one of our favorite book boyfriends, despite being one of the most stubborn male main characters many of us have ever read.
He’s loyal to a fault, deeply devoted to his family and has put his own dreams of becoming a doctor on hold to care for his grandfather and keep the family business alive.
Major green flags.
Well… mostly.
When Your Family Decides You’re the “Disappointment”
One of the biggest conversations during Book Club centered around Sybil’s relationship with her family.
Her sister and brother-in-law are incredibly supportive, but her mother’s constant criticism becomes a thread running throughout the novel. The comments are subtle enough to be dismissed individually, but together they paint a painful picture of what it feels like when the people closest to you make you feel like you’re somehow behind in life.
It sparked a conversation that hit home for many of us.
How often are women made to feel like they’re failing simply because they’re single? Or don’t have children? Or aren’t following the timeline everyone else expects?
By the time Sybil finally confronts her mother, we’re told those comments “weren’t meant that way.”
Respectfully…
We weren’t buying it.
While those attitudes have shifted over the years, many women still experience subtle pressure to fit a traditional timeline. That’s one reason Sybil’s story resonated with so many of us.
The Question That Took Over Book Club
Then came the conversation none of us expected.
Would you give a man money?
In the novel, Sybil offers to help Kieran financially after winning the lottery. He’s deeply uncomfortable accepting it because he’s spent his life being the one everyone depends on.
That simple plot point turned into one of the liveliest discussions we’ve had all year.
Social media has plenty to say about women paying for men, lending money or financially supporting a partner. Some people draw a hard line. Others think it depends on the relationship.
As a group?
The first answer was a collective…
“Hell no.”
Then someone asked the real question.
“What if you won the lottery tomorrow?”
Suddenly opinions started changing.
Some of us still stood firm. Others admitted having an abundance of money might change the equation.
Now we want to hear from you.
Would you ever lend or give money to someone you’re dating? Would becoming a millionaire change your answer?
The Representation We Want More Of
One of my favorite parts of Just Our Luck was watching Sybil embrace exactly who she is.
She’s optimistic, impulsive, generous and full of energy. Later in the novel, we learn she’s been diagnosed with ADHD, a revelation that reframes many of the experiences she’s had throughout her life.
That representation matters.
Research has shown that women, particularly women of color, are often diagnosed with ADHD later than boys because symptoms can present differently and are frequently overlooked. Many spend years masking behaviors or being misunderstood before receiving answers.
I’d love to see even more stories that embrace this kind of intersectionality for plus size women.
We deserve characters who exist in multiple identities at once because so many of us do.
Next Up: Our First Plus Size Supernatural Romance
Now for the exciting part.
For July, we’re diving into our very first plus size supernatural romance with I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire by Jessica Cage, and yes, this was the book that YOU, our community, voted to read together.
Whitney Harris is our plus size heroine. Domino is the mysterious vampire she definitely did not expect to spend the night with.
Without giving too much away, what starts as one unforgettable hookup quickly spirals into something much more dangerous.
If you’ve been looking for a plus size paranormal love story that’s equal parts romance, suspense and spice, this feels like the perfect place to start.
We’re excited to explore a completely new romance subgenre together, and honestly, we have a feeling this discussion is going to be wild.
Join Us for July’s TCFBook Club Discussion
We’ll be on Zoom, discussing I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire on Saturday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT, and we’d love for you to join us.
Make sure you RSVP so you’ll receive the meeting reminder and all the details before we go live.
Trust me.
And here’s the best part: you don’t have to finish the book, or even start it, before joining us.
Our conversations are about so much more than plot points. We dig into the characters, the themes, the representation, the romance and all the real-life conversations a great book can spark. Whether you’ve read every page, you’re halfway through or you’re simply curious about our first plus size supernatural romance, there’s a seat for you at the TCFBook Club.
Come hang out, share your thoughts, hear everyone else’s hot takes and maybe even discover your next favorite read. We can’t wait to see you there.
If our Just Our Luck discussion taught us anything, it’s that the conversations after the final chapter can be just as entertaining as the book itself.
We can’t wait to see you there.
