"First Love Language" by Stefany Valentine, Tongue-Tied–Firsts

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 22 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. perimeter
    the boundary line or area immediately inside the boundary
    We pull up to Applewood Park to see that Toby and his friends have already laid out a perimeter.
  2. cram
    crowd or pack to capacity
    He’s sandwiched between Alex and Jeremy while Lucas holds the camera out to cram everyone into the shot, all of them wearing the same happy grins.
  3. succumb
    give in, as to overwhelming force, influence, or pressure
    The Taylor home seemed like the Titanic when I first walked in—something too masterful to succumb to anything.
  4. receptionist
    an office worker who answers calls and greets visitors
    The Yoon-Hansons may need to hire another receptionist or give me a raise, because without Toby’s company, it really feels like I’m doing the work of two people.
  5. saunter
    walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
    I’ve just finished calling to confirm tomorrow’s appointments when Toby saunters up to the counter.
  6. sabotage
    destroy property or hinder normal operations
    Finally, he says, “Are you trying to sabotage me?”
  7. concoct
    devise or invent
    Even though I fabricated fake dating advice for Toby, a part of me wonders if he’s planned something I concocted.
  8. labyrinth
    complex system of paths in which it is easy to get lost
    I roll my eyes internally, but I know that this spa can be a bit of a labyrinth, especially for new clients.
  9. stagnant
    not growing or changing; without force or vitality
    The last time I did this was at Dad’s bedside while an IV dripped into veins of stagnant blood.
  10. cessation
    a stopping
    To pass the time, I read from the book Rayleigh let me borrow and dive headfirst into the cessation of attachments—Nirodha.
  11. complement
    make perfect or supply what is wanting
    The top is haltered, and this shade of peachy pink complements my skin perfectly.
  12. vibrant
    (of colors) bright and striking
    The vibrant color blends with the warm hues in my sundress.
  13. adorned
    decorated or dressed up to be more beautiful or distinct
    They swoop above a patio table adorned with a white tablecloth.
  14. pinnacle
    the highest level or degree attainable
    Between the music and the way Salt Lake City glimmers like a backdrop behind him, Utah suddenly seems like the pinnacle of romance.
  15. persistence
    steady determination
    I give in to Toby’s persistence with a sigh. “Well, then I suppose I should just say thank you and let you help me.”
Created on Mon Feb 09 08:19:19 EST 2026 (updated Fri Feb 20 18:27:23 EST 2026)

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