The Wedding Date

by: Jasmine Guillory

It’s no surprise that I’m a lover of the romance genre but contemporary relationships that ooze real life and current times, sign me up! Jasmine Guillory’s, The Wedding Date, is a read that I could not put down. Guillory's novel is about two strangers that meet from an unconventional circumstance and eventually try to put their deal to the test, but of course, nothing is that easy. In this romance novel, Guillory takes a dive into the complexities of interracial dating and how the ‘fake it, until you make it’ complex becomes a struggle in both their professional and personal lives. We start with our two main characters — Alexa, a curvy black queen who leads political initiatives in her community, and Drew, A prestigious pediatric surgeon, being stuck in an elevator and instantly finding a connection. But does that chemistry become more, or does it fizzle out just as fast as it starts? Before I give too much away, let's get into some of the reasons why I know you'll love this book.

Alexa has the grace in which I hope to grow into (LOL). Her ability to adapt to all situations in which most of us may feel completely uncomfortable is not only relatable but a must, especially in her field of work. Usually, I find most female characters in novels figuring out who they are and develop their personalities based on platonic or romantic relationships. But Alexa knows exactly who she is which is why Drew is attracted to her in the first place.

What I found most admirable and interesting about Drew is that Guillory didn't write him to have ‘preference’. Instead of over sexualizing her Blackness he simply admired her beauty. The type of maturity and attentiveness was just an added bonus, nevertheless, very attractive (trust me!). All in all, he likes her for more than her physical attributes and wants to get to know her better, and trust me when I say, he definitely gets to know her better!

Overdramatized sex scenes can sometimes be too much for me but Guillory's efforts to emulate passion and consent is everything! Again, doing this without fetishizing the Black women's body. Alexa was able to indulge and feel comfortable in her own skin doing these things with someone that she never thought she could. In this day and age where women are not able to express their desire for sex, Guillory breaks all boundaries.

I do, however, wish that Guillory gave us a peek behind the scenes to experience the opinions from Alexa’s family and friends about her budding new romance with Drew (because we all know how that goes). Seeing those dynamics intertwine would have been interesting to experience but it definitely didn’t take away from this literary excellence. So, I invite you to give this book a chance not only for the positive images that we see within a relationship but the diversity in the characters and professions that are not always on display in your favorite sitcom or TV show. Allow yourself to get lost in this novel and put yourself in place of those in which you identify with, and easily fall in love. Enjoy!