D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding

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Book Jacket 

Author: Chencia C. Higgins 

 

Title: D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding

 

Genre: Lesbian Romance


Publication Date: January 25, 2022


Number of Pages: 336 pages


Geographical Setting: Houston, TX


Time Period: Contemporary


Series (If applicable): None

 

Plot Summary: Instant I Do is a reality TV program where the contestants are paired up with fake fiancés to plan a wedding in six weeks. To win the prize, they have to convince their friends and families that the relationship and wedding are legitimate. The story follows two women paired as fiancés on this reality TV show, D’Vaughn Miller and Kris Zavala.


Kris has made it pretty big as an influencer so participating in a reality television competition seems like a logical next step. D’Vaughn, meanwhile, has her own ulterior motives as she plans on using the experience as a way to come out as lesbian to her mom finally. The two have instant chemistry once they’re paired together and working together to fool their friends and family almost seems easy at first. They struggle a bit along the way as their underlying motives become apparent and they face challenges along the way, but romance blossoms nonetheless.


Beyond the romantic relationship between the two leads, the ties of family are deeply important in this book. Kris’ tightly knit Afro-Latinx family is dynamic and supportive throughout while D’Vaughn struggles a little more to find common ground with her deeply religious though clearly loving southern Black mother. 

 

Subject Headings: 

    African American lesbians - Fiction

    Reality television programs - Fiction

    Weddings - Fiction


Appeal:

  • Tone - The story of D’Vaughn and Kris is emotional, though not overly angsty. There’s no major misunderstanding or falling out between the two leads and instead the tone focuses more on love and connectedness. “Readers feel the power of love on all levels: parents to children, among siblings and friends, and with lovers” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2018). While the romance between the leads takes center stage, there’s a huge focus on the love and emotions of family as well. Some parts are sad and even bordering on tense, specifically with D’Vaughn’s mother, but the tone is overall lighter and hopeful.

  • Characterization - As stated by Wyatt & Saricks (2018), romance is a character driven genre and D’Vaughn and Kris is no different. The book alternates perspectives, spending equal time in each woman’s head where the reader gets to learn their deepest thoughts and feelings. Side characters like their siblings and parents are well-developed, too.

  •  Story Line - The main story line of D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding revolves around the trope of fake dating, this time through the lens of the reality TV program. This fairly common trope in the romance genre sees a relationship start out on fraudulent terms but slowly become real throughout the course of the book. 

  • Language/Style - Romance authors must “manage set pieces readers expect, but present them afresh each time” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2018). While there’s nothing deeply unique about the overall story line, the details Higgins adds and the way she writes makes this book feel different than all others. The dialogue between D’Vaughn and Kris is witty and sweet while the ribbing between Kris and her siblings feels extremely realistic. Higgins’ descriptions are lush and engaging, both of the women’s emotions as well as set pieces such as the food at the Zavala baby shower.

  • Frame/Setting - The book is set in contemporary times in Houston, TX. Various locations around the city are mentioned in passing to set the stage. Wyatt & Saricks (2018) mention the importance of hobbies and careers to the framing of contemporary romances. D’Vaughn is a ninth grade counselor and Kris is a middle school gym teacher as well as a social media fitness influencer.

  • Pacing - The entire novel takes place over six weeks and the writing reflects this pace. It is a quick and easy read.

 

 3 terms that best describe this book: emotional, intersectionality, LGBTQ+

 

 

Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:

   


Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

      

 

References 

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2018). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd ed.). ALA Editions.

Comments

  1. Lexi OwensFebruary 18, 2023 at 2:50 PM

    Hi Laurie,

    I have not read this book, but from your description, it seems that the author chose to have Kris come from an Afro-Latinx family, giving depth to her character by allowing for a more multifaceted characterization. Do you agree with this statement?
    You mention briefly that D’Vaughn’s mother is religious; is religion a significant factor in the novel, particularly as it relates to the mother-daughter dynamics between D’Vaughn and her mother, or were there other elements influencing the seeming precariousness of their relationship?

    Did you choose your relevant fiction and nonfiction read-alikes based primarily on the intersection between race and LGBTQ+ identity? Many of the characters featured on the covers of the books are people of color, and I know, for example, Audre Lorde, whose book you featured, was an African American lesbian.

    A suggestion for another nonfiction work would be Kimberlé William Crenshaw’s (who coined the term intersectionality) 2014 book, On Intersectionality: Essential Writings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laurie FancherFebruary 19, 2023 at 8:02 AM

      Hi Lexi! I do think she chose to have Kris come from an Afro-Latinx family to give her more depth as a character. The family dynamics of both women create a lot of the backdrop and tension in the novel.

      As far as D'Vaughn and her mother, religion is a significant factor between them but I wouldn't say it's the only element influencing their relationship. D'Vaughn goes to church and refers to herself as spiritual if not religious. Her mother, meanwhile, is very devout and involved in their church. However, D'Vaughn's lesbianism doesn't seem at odds with the teachings of their church. It's more a personal struggle between mother and daughter that's more nuanced than just the religious aspect.

      As far as relevant fiction and nonfiction, that wasn't the only criteria I used. While the intersection between race and LGBTQ+ identity is relevant for a few of the titles, primarily Audre Lorde's book, I used other considerations as well. For example, the Romance Recipe is another title that features a lesbian relationship at its forefront as well as a reality TV competition and, from what I can tell from reviews and appeal terms, seems to read quite similarly.

      I did admittedly struggle with the non-fiction titles a bit because I do not read non-fiction generally and I found it harder to search for them via the usual means. Thank you for the suggestion!

      Delete
  2. olivia l.February 19, 2023 at 11:28 AM

    This one has been on my TBR for ages, so I'm thrilled to have been able to read your annotation and learn even more about the specifics of the book! I'm particularly grateful to you for highlighting that there's "no major misunderstanding or falling out between the two leads and instead the tone focuses more on love and connectedness." One of the things that can easily turn me off of a romance is contrived conflict and angst that just seems to arise out of a vacuum, so I'm delighted to know that I don't have to worry about that here. I also think you did a solid job of conveying the familial dynamics and personalities of characters outside of the main couple, which can definitely be a difficult job with an annotation. Knowing that side characters are just as fleshed out as the main characters is another big draw for me, so clearly I'm going to have to bump this one to the top of my list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laurie FancherFebruary 19, 2023 at 12:17 PM

      Hi Olivia! I also dislike the contrived conflict and misunderstandings that could be solved by having a simple conversation like adults lol. So I really appreciated the maturity of the relationship at the center of this title. There's certainly conflict and struggle, but none of it feels unrealistic or angsty. I definitely recommend it as someone who doesn't really read romance novels regularly!

      Delete
  3. Erin CataldiFebruary 20, 2023 at 10:29 AM

    Great job on this annotation. Full points and great job outlining the appeals!

    ReplyDelete

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