"First Love Language" by Stefany Valentine, Beautiful–Conventionally Attractive

Catie tries to learn more about her Taiwanese heritage with the help of a coworker, Toby. When he asks her to be his dating coach in return, Catie hides her own lack of dating experience.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Broken Hearts and Broken Homes–A Different Love Language
The Culture in My Veins–A Flicker of the Past
Beautiful–Conventionally Attractive
One Perpetual Moment–Obvious
Tongue-Tied–Firsts
15 words 24 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. perpetually
    everlastingly; for all time
    Ever since the Uncle Nick thing, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m perpetually in trouble for existing.
  2. consultation
    a meeting to discuss a particular question or topic
    “I can give you a quick consultation if you’d like,” Toby offers, returning my phone.
  3. waft
    blow gently
    I’m buckling my seat belt when the scent of cedar and cherry wafts up my nose.
  4. save face
    avoid public embarrassment and maintain self-respect
    And I can’t pretend we broke up just so that I can save face.
  5. cohesive
    combining well to form a unified whole
    Toby breaks it down phrase by phrase until I’m able to combine everything into something cohesive.
  6. inevitably
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
    If she turns, she’ll inevitably see me.
  7. figment
    a contrived or fantastic idea
    But now I know that the moment we had in his kitchen wasn’t a figment of my imagination.
  8. futile
    producing no result or effect
    I’m not relieved either—despite my futile attempt to convince myself that being free from Toby’s lessons would be a good side effect.
  9. laughingstock
    an object of mockery or ridicule
    I’m the laughingstock of destiny, because it doesn’t matter how desperately I want something—it doesn’t matter how much I’ve worked for it, how much I’ve suffered—this is my fate.
  10. aback
    by surprise
    Granny Eloise looks taken aback.
  11. mediator
    a negotiator who acts as a link between parties
    It’s comforting to know that Mavis and I are on good terms like this again. That we don’t need Dad to be our mediator.
  12. adversity
    a state of misfortune or affliction
    Even before learning this—well, relearning this—I knew that my existence was adversity.
  13. cul de sac
    a street with only one way in or out
    Finally, I reach the end of a cul-de-sac.
  14. vigorously
    in an energetic manner
    Nichole nods vigorously, tucking a silky strand of loose hair behind her ear.
  15. lavish
    characterized by extravagance and profusion
    “Well, he kind of does live a lavish lifestyle like a K-pop idol. His mom drives a Porsche, and the kitchen in his basement looks like it could be the set of a cooking show—”
Created on Mon Feb 09 08:18:28 EST 2026 (updated Fri Feb 20 17:42:02 EST 2026)

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