u/Emotional_Spite_8937

I had posted 3 months ago, added people to the chat but no one has actually come so I’m trying again!

I run a book club and we're looking for new members to join us! We are a free, international, all-women group and our members are in their late twenties, early thirties.

All our discussions and books are in English, so it's a great space for foreigners and locals alike to connect!

How it works:

⭐️We only read books under 300 pages. At the
start of each month, we vote on one of the 4 options. Suggestions are always welcome!

⭐️We meet on the last Sunday of the month in the 13e arrondissement to discuss the book.

⭐️We get to share our love for reading, talk about
our lives and even build friendships.

The goal is to build a small, active community that actually shows up: those who miss more than 3 consecutive meetings will be removed.

Our next meeting will be on June 28 and we’ll be voting for our next book tomorrow.

We’ve read Crying in H Mart, The Dry Heart, Severance, Strong Female Character, among others.

If you're looking for your book community and can commit to joining our discussion meetings, we’d love to have you.

Comment below if you're interested and I'II DM you the link to our group chat. I’ll be asking for IG handles/screenshots to confirm you’re a woman. See you soon!

Sorry for the long text.

I’m from South America and live in one of the main tourist cities in Europe.

I have a complicated relationship with my parents and am currently in a break from therapy. I always did what my mom used to tell me and I was very close to her before moving here (I’m disabled and we’ve bonded over this, she was my caregiver in my home country. Been independent for 10 years and I’m very happy about it): I didn’t know where I started and where she ended, we were one.

When I moved to Europe I lived alone and she’d come some summers for the holidays. I’ve been living with my boyfriend for the past 6 years and she still wants to come and stay at my place, because hotels are extremely expensive here.

3 years ago, my parents came for the Christmas holidays. I had told her I couldn’t host them because my apartment has only 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom. And I don’t live alone anymore. She seemed to understand, but a few days later she asked me again and told me they wouldn’t be able to afford the hotel. I felt guilty and let them stay for 2 weeks. 4 people, 1 bathroom and 1 bedroom. They slept on 2 air mattresses on the tiny living room. I do gotta say they always try to not to take up a lot of space and didn’t bother us, but I was still uncomfortable. We were too many people in a tiny apartment.

Now, she sent me a message asking me if she could stay 2 weeks in July. I said no. She tries to play it cool but her wording obviously makes it seem like I’m the bad guy. Sent her an audio telling her it wasn’t fair to me, and that me not being able to host her doesn’t mean I don’t love her and don’t wanna see her. And to stop trying to guilt trip me.

I feel less guilty than 3 years ago, but I still feel crappy because I’m not hosting my own mother. But at the same time, she keeps trying to use me as a free hotel and always uses the excuse of coming here to cook and care for me (which she does when she comes, but I’ve told her multiple times that while I love her cooking, I can make things for myself and that she doesn’t need to flight just fo that).

It’s been 3 years since I last went to my birth country and don’t wanna go again for the moment. Everytime I get nostalgic, I remember why I have to wait until I can go back on my own terms. Here’s a reminder to stick to that idea.