The Build Up by Tati Richardson
What's It About?
A clumsy-in-love romance set in the drama-filled world of architectural design.Strong, resilient, go-getter. Those are the adjectives we hear when we tout women during International Women’s Month. Cautious and indecisive are not.
But if we’re talking about real women or women as role models, these adjectives should be part of the narrative. That’s what made me root for Ari James in Tati Richardson’s debut novel, The Build Up (Carina Press).
Clumsy in Love
Ari James is a Black female professional in the white male-dominated architectural industry. She’s just come from Chicago and landed at what she feels is a utopia: an all-Black architectural firm. She’s ready to make a fresh new start — except for the fact that she’s come in on her first day with a huge rip in her stockings, a broken heel and coffee on her blouse. Not the best way to meet the senior architect in her group, Porter Harrison.
But Porter’s seen her before — on the train heading to work when that doused cup of coffee added insult to her already “injured” pantyhose. He’s instantly attracted to her, and when he got another eyeful of her in her office changing her stained blouse, he — and all of us readers — knew we were in for a wild ride.
This novel not only has us falling for these two clumsy-in-love protagonists, it has us diving into the cutthroat, drama-filled world of architectural design, and makes us long for that moment when Shonda Rimes finds this one and adapts it for the screen. For those missing the messy and outrageous antics of Annalise Keating and her crew, The Build Up can satiate some of those cravings.
Real Love, No Games
There’s no game playing between Porter and Ari; they’re in their forties. These two are their true stripped-down versions of themselves when they’re together — no pretense, no manipulation — only falling in love. It’s a refreshing respite from their dramatic office scenes, but even more so, it’s so much easier on the palate than high-angst, insecure new adult romance. At least for me.
I love to see how people get to know each other and fall in love in romance — when they laugh together at the same joke, when they’re surprised they like the same things, when tensions ramp up the closer they get to each other — all of these are so much sweeter without couples playing games. Here the game playing stays firmly in Greer, the villain’s, office where it belongs.
By the time people with established careers get to their forties, they’ve dropped the pretense and the angst, because there’s no time for that, and Mrs. Richardson shows that well here. While Ari does fall in the miscommunication trap for a while, it’s not because she doesn’t have feelings for Porter — it’s because she doesn’t want to get burned again by an office romance going wrong. This couple is in love, and they can’t seem to hide it from anyone, least of all themselves.
Breaking Stereotypes
The Build Up also crushes several negative stereotypes in its character portrayals. One is the fact that Ari and Porter both graduated from Hampton University, an historically Black college. The school itself has a praised architectural program,which doesn’t get enough attention. Plus seeing these two in professional roles while proudly representing their alma mater crumbles the myth that HBCUs don’t produce professional and significant contributors to society.
Another is Ari portrayed as a plus-sized woman who’s confident in her allure and comfortable with her body. There’s a freedom in that self-confidence, one that all plus-sized women should have the chance to see if they can’t feel it themselves. Porter recognizes it as well, and it attracts him even more. This is yet another welcome representation that we need more of in romance.
Overall, this page-turning debut had me in Ari James’ corner from the beginning. Maybe the best adjective we can use to laud women during Women’s History Month is not strong or persevering. Maybe the best adjective is authentic.
—∞—
Nerdy Romantics Podcast was able to interview Tati Richardson and talk more about her debut novel as well as her podcast Romance in Colour. Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast provider or check it out below:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ey85wmrL7a07mIXgwT6RH?si=46ecc1d3c8424ee7
About Tati Richardson:
Tatianna Richardson is co-founder of the Romance in Colour podcast and debut contemporary romance author of The Build Up. A higher education professional for two decades, Tati holds degrees in English from Clark Atlanta University and University of North Carolina-Greensboro. A native of Atlanta, Tati lives in the suburbs with her husband and daughter. She collects red lipstick, Wonder Woman memorabilia, and unique eyewear.
