romance novel discussion

Dr. Maria DeBlassie joins me to discuss engaging with banned media, and dealing with the discomfort and joy of growth. Is Gone With the Wind watchable with context? What happens when I force myself to watch it and realize how far into the present its influence reaches? And, I finally read Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase and see what the fuss is about: but am I allowed to enjoy it?

Content notes: this episode discusses racism and intimate partner violence.

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Gone With the Wind, Lord of Scoundrels, and Variations on the Theme of Growth

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon: it may be a Tik-Tok sensation now, but over a year ago it was a podcast sensation. Dani Lacey invited me as a guest on her podcast, Ice Planet Podcast, to discuss Barbarian's Hope, a second chance romance between two very tall blue humanoid-ish aliens with horns whose love life is controlled by a parasite. This is an edited version of that episode. 

CW: loss of a child, grief, depression.

093. Ice Ice (Planet) Baby: Barbarian's Hope

A touch of taboo...the Joyless Hags (Katrina Jackson & Tasha L. Harrison) reunite to dissect Seducing My Guardian by Katee Robert. We ask "What is this book trying to do?" When a book opens a door, does it have to close a window somewhere?! Also some news!

090. Taboo Lite: Joyless Hags Book Club

1 Bonkers Book; 3 Joyless Hags. If you could escape earth, would you happily hitch your wagon to a lizard-man's space ship? When we scratch the surface of alien abduction romance, what do we find, and does insta-love exist? All of these questions are answered in the first ever Joyless Hags Book Club. I'm joined by Tasha L. Harrison and Katrina Jackson to discuss Alien Mate Experiment by Zenobia Renquist.

083. Earth is Ghetto: Joyless Hags Book Club

Scarlett Peckham, professional writer of alpha heroines, joins me to discuss her problematic favorite trope: house parties! Forced Proximity! Lunch hampers! Bed hopping! Both everything and nothing is riding on who marries whom! And of course, capitalism, imperialism, and labor exploitation. Womp womp - don't worry, they kiss at the end.

069. Scarlett Peckham and the Problematic House Party

Dr. Maria DeBlassie joins me to discuss three contemporary romance novels that explore everyday, practical magic with Black heroines: Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon, A Taste of Her Own Medicine by Tasha L. Harrison, and Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert. Maria shares her experience as a practitioner of Brujeria, and explains how everyone can manifest some everyday magic.

067. Everyday Black Magic

Dr. Eric Selinger is back to discuss Glitterland by Alexis Hall and how it's basically a big old allegory for the romance genre. Eric and I speak authoritatively about books we've never read, and how Glitterland addresses mental health stigma. Visit Shelflovepodcast.com for show notes and transcript.

065. Glitter Pirates in Glitterland by Alexis Hall

Guest Jayashree Kamble, romance scholar is back to discuss My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas. This novel is a cross between Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and a passing narrative, and layers in discussion of Chinese culture and the history British imperialism. Jayashree explored the Wuxia influence and transculturalism in a paper published in March 2020 in the Journal of Popular Romance Studies. 

062. Transculturalism & Wuxia in My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas

I Think I Might Love You by Christina C. Jones is the Romcom Novella that will have you laughing out loud and wondering what DOD stands for. Highly irreverent, wholly lovable Nicole Falls is back for part 2 to discuss this romance novel worth reading.

056. I Think I Might Love You by Christina C. Jones with Nicole Falls

A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole is our romance worth reading, and Tasha L. Harrison joins me once again to drop wisdom faster than a sword-making Scottish Duke can make our heroine forget that she definitely should not be making out with her boss. Our conversation is far-ranging - friends who aren't friends, parents who suck, figuring out how your brain works, and the horse your man smells like. Enjoy!

054. A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole with Tasha L. Harrison

Hannah Hearts Romance joins me to discuss The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham, a historical romance that asks the question: can women be rakes? And what would a rakess look like? Content warnings for this book are lengthy, and so I called in a mental health professional to help me unpack the brilliance of Seraphina Arden.

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I think this book is brilliant and important - but it might not be for everyone: 

Content Warnings Provided by B. And Her Books, used with permission: 
Past miscarriage described on page, past death from pregnancy and a bad delivery, grief, alcoholism, addiction, gas lighting (not by hero or heroine), animal cruelty (birds killed and maimed and left for heroine to find to scare her), forced kidnapping and imprisonment of a secondary female character in an asylum, described torture in said asylum

051. The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham with Hannah Hearts Romance

Katrina Jackson never actually left: we talk about Scandal, why impermanence and entropy are the root cause for readers' desire for a happily ever after - or at least according to my theory, and how Katrina's research on Black romance as liberation is coming along. We also discuss Blind Date with a Book Boyfriend by Lucy Eden, a true romcom novella that turns the one-day courtship trope on its head.
03:05 - What Kat’s been up to. Scandal. Contagion. Growing jalapenos.

14:21 - Kat’s Research: Black Romance as Liberation
41:53 - HEA, HFN, Andrea’s grand theory of romance
50:53 - The fantasy of resolution
59:16 - Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend


049. Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend by Lucy Eden with Katrina Jackson

Jess, my guest, is Shelf Love's first and most prolific listener contributor, and minted the term Shelf Lovelies, so she's basically a legend around here.

We normally choose one book to discuss per episode, but we couldn't decide between Rose Lerner's novel Listen to the Moon and her novella All or Nothing, so we decided to do a double-header episode. Between these two historical romances, we explore topics ranging from feeling out a polyamorous marriage, adulting and boundaries, daddy issues, Jewishness, and the big question: does it violate the laws of escapist reading to read about servants in a time period where there is so much manual labor involved? There is so much dusting, and it's somehow still so good!

047. Rose Lerner Double Header with Shelf Lovely Jess

Bree, half of the romance writing duo Kit Rocha, is my guest! She shares her thoughts on why romance novels are all about power and if now is a good time to read dystopian fiction. We discuss A Conspiracy of Whispers by Ada Harper, a romance with intriguing world building, a discussion of gender roles told through genetically modified dispositions, and a wary heroine who learns how to use her broken pieces to stab her enemies.   

046. A Conspiracy of Whispers by Ada Harper with Bree (from Kit Rocha)

EE Ottoman, romance author, is my guest! He shares his thoughts on men writing romance, what sexy, fun fantasy can look like when writing trans characters, and writing queerness in a historical setting. The romance worth reading that we discuss is Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles, which is a fun Victorian romp with jewel thieves, baddies who get their comeuppance, and a beautiful love story between two men who also experience personal growth along the way.

044. Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles with EE Ottoman

042. The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

Dr. Maria DeBlassie, educator and writer, on pleasure activism, how romance is a safe place to explore fantasy, emotions, and relationships, how media acts as a conduct manual where people can learn emotional literacy, and the importance of cultivating joy as a form of social justice.

We also discuss Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient, which Maria discussed with her students in class, through the lens of pleasure activism.

041. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang with Dr. Maria DeBlassie

This episode is the lighthearted romp you need right now.
 
My friend Becky is the kind of person who believes every misconception about the romance genre, so I gave her one of modern romance’s most treasured works, A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare, and crossed my fingers that this book could reach Becky and at least bust some of the myths about romance.
 
But is witty banter, a rom com regency, and a cast of lovable characters enough to kindle the fires of love for romance in the depths of Becky’s cold, black New England soul?

038. A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

Megan Erickson (USA Today bestselling romance author) is my guest, and we talk prison planet romances, which can briefly be summarized as “forced proximity on steroids.” The romance worth reading is Guardian by Emmy Chandler, the first in a series of prison planet romances. 
 
Discussed: Morality, The Trolley Dilemma, Consent, Humanity.

CW: in this episode we discuss consent, sex work, threat of sexual violence, and violence.

035. Megan Erickson, Hope in Dystopia: Guardian by Emmy Chandler

Charish Reid (author: Hearts on Hold: A Librarian Romance) is my guest, and we talk about why we should stop shitting on majoring in English and ah-ha! moments in teaching. The Romance Worth Reading (™) that we discuss is White Whiskey Bargain by Jodie Slaughter.
 
Discussed: Low-angst romance, marriages of convenience, just once bed, owning land as the American dream. Plus: female leadership in a male-dominated field, people of color in Appalachia, and mutual self love.

031. White Whiskey Bargain by Jodie Slaughter with Charish Reid

Romance novelist Emma Barry is my guest, and we read A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles. This male/male Regency romance features a cross-class romance that gets us discussing if there is an element of coercion in most cross-class romances. 
 
Plus, does this book end with a happily ever after, or just a happily for now? What is “ever after” anyway? What is permanence? It’s possible I had an existential crisis in the middle of recording this one, but thank goodness I had Professor Emma Barry to guide me through this discussion. 
 
We talk about how academics are intellectual colonizers, plus how one of the best oral sex scenes saved Emma from the trauma of the ‘90s, and I ask the question: Is it bad to read escapist trash?

030. A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles with Emma Barry

Longing, Connection, and Friendship as Foundational to Romance

Kennedy Ryan is back to discuss Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi, a book that LJ Shen (lovingly) forced Kennedy to read. It’s the story of two lonely protagonists who become obsessed with contact and their love story is about friendship, trust, and understanding as the foundation for a relationship.
 
We also talk about meeting your writing heroes, Kennedy’s influences and her nomination for the romance canon, and why love is a hazard to your health. Plus, a cameo from Penny Reid.
 
Also, did you know that tonight on March 9, 2020 it is the beginning of Purim? Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, you’re going to love this enemies to lovers rom-com Write This Book from Hannah Hearts Romance at the end of this episode.


028. Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi with Kennedy Ryan

Talia Hibbert, best-selling author of romance novels like Get a Life, Chloe Brown, and Work For It, joins me to talk about how Disney’s 1998 film Mulan explores genderqueer themes, Talia shares her nomination for the romance canon, and we discuss how Therese Beharrie is a master of the condensed timeline, as explored in her sweet Harlequin romance: Island Fling with the Tycoon. 
 
Also, if you enjoy Derek Craven, puns and romance novels, you’re going to love a special surprise at the end of this episode involving my favorite Tweet Artist, Ash Dylan.

027. Island Fling with the Tycoon by Therese Beharrie with Talia Hibbert

Is power a pie that once eaten, disappears? What’s the opposite of toxic masculinity? And, most importantly, what is a cinnamon roll hero and why are they all the rage right now in romantic fiction?
 
Denise Williams (How to Fail at Flirting) is back to discuss Teach Me by Olivia Dade, which is about two very passionate, mature, and respectful high school history teachers. It's a super hot romance between an emotionally-distant ice queen heroine and a cinnamon roll hero. 

Also: Preview of the April 2020 NECRWA Conference with Sionna Fox, and what options local RWA chapters are considering in the wake of the national chapter's massive failure to address racism and lack of diversity.

026. Teach Me by Olivia Dade with Denise Williams

Tamara Lush (romance writer and AP journalist) and I discuss Wattpad and Radish, where you can find serialized fiction by writers and for readers that are international, young, and diverse. We also talk about pacing yourself as a writer and what’s troubling Tamara about indie publishing. 
 
The text we discuss today is a Wattpad story called The Love Riots by Delhi Belly, aka Noora Zaroon. This cross-genre story reminds us of the bonkbusters novels by Sidney Sheldon or Danielle Steel, and tells a gritty and sometimes uncomfortable story about a toxic inter-religious Romeo + Juliet relationship between a Hindu woman and a Muslim man in India. While this story explores a relationship, it is NOT a romance novel, and the ending is definitely not emotionally satisfying. We also discuss issues of dubious consent within the story.

025. Wattpad - The Love Riots by Noora Zaroon with Tamara Lush

Tif Marcelo (romance & women’s fiction author writing joyful stories of Filipino relationships without the oppression) and I read Thirsty by Mia Hopkins. This sexy contemporary explores outcasts, anti heroes, and forgiveness. We also discuss communities, how communities aren’t always what they seem to outsiders, and the personal calculus one makes about wanting to continue belonging to a community - when do you stay, and when is it time to go?

This Episode is sponsored by Owner of a Broken Heart by Cheris Hodges (Kensington Books).

022. Thirsty by Mia Hopkins with Tif Marcelo

Penny Reid (Knitting in the City Series, Winston Brothers) and I discuss A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. It’s a dark fairy tale that blends Beauty and the Beast, the Hades/Persephone myth, and the Hunger Games. 
 
In addition to asking the deep existential questions - At what cost freedom? Freedom at what cost?! - we talk about how your first love isn’t always your last love, YA, and how there’s strength in being a marshmallow. 
 
Penny will be back in a future episode to discuss her new publishing venture, Smarty Pants Romance.


019. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas with Penny Reid

Katrina Jackson, erotic romance author by night, historian by day, joins the podcast. We read An Unconditional Freedom by Alyssa Cole, about reluctant spy partners working to bring down the Confederacy in the Civil War. Katrina shares her thoughts from her own research into love as an integral part of radical Black politics, the definition of “diaspora” and “interwar,” as well as all sorts of things you probably didn’t learn in history class.

CW: We talk about the treatment of enslaved people in the Civil War, including a character’s PTSD as a result of being enslaved. This character has suicidal ideation. 


017. An Unconditional Freedom by Alyssa Cole with Katrina Jackson

Norma Perez-Hernandez, an assistant editor at romance publisher Kensington, warms my heart as we talk about working in publishing, how rom coms are returning to the city, and how people of color pursuing a career in publishing experience systemic inequality.
 
Our Romance Worth Reading is Sanctuary by Rebekah Weatherspoon, which is part of the Beards and Bondage series. We discuss recovery, hating your job, sweet dogs, delicious romance tropes, and how this book is both like and very much NOT like a Hallmark movie.

016: Sanctuary by Rebekah Weatherspoon with Norma Perez-Hernandez

Funmi (romance reader, reviewer, aspiring writer), a fierce and passionate advocate for Black romance, shares her own story of becoming a romance reader, and we discuss who is worthy of a Happily Ever After.

This week’s romance worth reading is Equivalent Exchange by Christina C. Jones. We discuss themes of therapy, health literacy, and what Black contemporary authors are doing to destigmatize mental health in their communities. We also talk about how books might not be for you...but why you should still read them.

014. Equivalent Exchange by Christina C. Jones with Funmi B.

Guest Steve Ammidown (BGSU Browne Popular Culture Library Archivist) joins the podcast to discuss The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams. Topics include Romancelandia’s history, Warm blanket reads, Men’s friendships, Men reading romance, Emotional idiots, What we give of ourselves in marriage, and Why The Bromance Book Club is a book worth reading.

013. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams with Steve Ammidown

Lucy Score, indie publishing extraordinaire, pulls back the curtain on how she’s innovating and thriving as a romance novelist and we discuss The Obsession by Nora Roberts (queen of romance). The Obsession is a romantic suspense novel, and we discuss being a survivor and not a victim, the true crime craze (murderinos unite!), home renovations, and the family you choose. 

012. The Obsession by Nora Roberts with Lucy Score

This week, romance novelist Kate Clayborn (Love Lettering) and I talk a lot about work! We read A Midnight Feast, a marriage in trouble novella by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner. 

A Midnight Feast begins on Thanksgiving day 1965 - a day of second chances! We discuss how it’s a subversive act to respectfully represent domestic labor on the page, why work is so often shorthand for identity and why that’s problematic, as well as why women’s work in particular is undervalued.

Bonus clip at the end of the episode featuring another special person!


011. A Midnight Feast by Emma Barry/Genevieve Turner with Kate Clayborn

Kelly Reynolds (Boobies & Noobies Podcast) joins me to discuss Wallbanger by Alice Clayton, a rom-com that took Romancelandia by storm in 2014. This book features a missing Orgasm, neighbors to lovers, and a modern rake archetype. We also dive into generational crushes, why some books seem to age really fast, and what makes a book worth reading.

010. Wallbanger by Alice Clayton with Kelly Reynolds (Boobies & Noobies)

Romance novelist Alyssa Cole joins the podcast to discuss Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh, which features emotional badasses. Also discussed: Using your Power. Systemic Oppression. Growing Your Circle. Sign up for the email newsletter on shelflovepodcast.com for bonus episode content!

008. Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh with Alyssa Cole

Erin Leafe (Learning the Tropes Podcast) and I get deep into a discussion of power, privilege, the patriarchy, and pretending to be someone you’re not after reading The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan. Also discussed: Podcasting. Inspirational Westerns rife with sexual tension. The Gorilla Twins.

007. The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan with Erin Leafe (Learning the Tropes)

Andrea and her non-romance-reading friend Becky read Halloween Boo by Sarah Spade and it does not go according to plan. In this sometimes frightening, but ultimately uplifting holiday episode, Andrea digs deep into Becky’s unromantic psyche, and also into the lore of Salem, MA where Becky lived for 10 years. Does fate exist? Can ghosts get boners? Do you believe a self-professed cold New Englander can learn to love Romance Novels? Listen to find out.

006. Halloween Boo? by Sarah Spade - with my BFF Becky

Kini Allen (Smexy Books) and Andrea discuss Time Served, a steamy second chance contemporary by Julianna Keyes. We cover “unlikeable” heroines, social class/Otherness, steamy revenge sex, and why it’s ok to like books in which characters do problematic things.

005. Time Served by Julianna Keyes with Kini Allen

Esme Brett (Feminist Romance) and Andrea discuss Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean, plus-size representation in romance novels, ladies with skillz, and introduce a new game to Romancelandia: Hot Damn/No Ma’am.

004. Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean with Esme Brett

Bree Hill (Falling For Romance) and Andrea discuss Rebel by Beverly Jenkins, inspiring teachers, Pizza Hut’s reading agenda, and heroes who give and give, and ask nothing in return.


003. Rebel by Beverly Jenkins with Bree Hill

Amanda Diehl (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; NPR Books) and Andrea discuss their favorite Jennifer Crusie novels and other reader favorites. Andrea introduces the Crusie Drinking Game to the world and urges you to drink responsibly. Many books are recommended.

002. Jennifer Crusie's Oeuvre - guest Amanda Diehl

Amanda Diehl (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; NPR Books) and Andrea duke it out to select their favorite Wallflower from Lisa Kleypas’s memorable Wallflower quartet series. 

001. Lisa Kleypas Wallflowers Quartet with Amanda Diehl

Arranged marriage trope in contemporary Indian American diaspora romance novels with cognitive psychologist and author Sri Savita.

Arranged Marriage Trope in Contemporary Indian American Diaspora Romance Novels

A billionaire romance novel that name drops Citizen’s United only comes along every so often. Carter Sherman, Senior reporter for VICE News, joins me to discuss Preferential Treatment by Heather Guerre. We talk about power exchange, heterosexual marriage as a transaction, and subverting the single script of the hegemonic BDSM billionaire romance to focus on the fantasy as care & safety as opposed to letting go of control.

Romancelandia Holiday Fairies: https://shelflovepodcast.com/blog-posts/romancelandia-holiday-fairies

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