This month we read Romance Fiction! We talk about “interpersonal attraction”, fake fan fiction, imagining the leads of romance novels look like David Bowie, spice-o-meters, the prime minister of the werewolves, and romance novels about low income housing. Plus: In the Arms of the Spider Hunk!

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In this episode

Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray | RJ Edwards

Books We Read This Month (or tried to read)

• Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt
  • ‘But his eyes were black, framed by curling lashes, and he hadn’t shaved and he looked like a highwayman with cynically twisted thick lips. He looked like one of those rogues the molls in St Giles loved to sing romantic ballads about in the taverns. A man born to hang. A man born to break a woman’s heart.’
  • ‘Hugh caught the man and had another thought, which was: Tits?’
  • The Maiden Lane series
• Alaskan Sweethearts by Janet Tronstad
• Ship It by Britta Lundin
  • “How 1 question triggered a “Supernatural” fandom meltdown”
• The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
  • ‘He leaned forward and whispered in conspiratorial fashion. “It’s your tits.”’
• Protector of the Realm by Gun Brooke
  • ‘Examining Rae’s sex, so trustingly displayed before her, she identified the engorged clitoris, grateful for the similarity in human and Gantharian physiology.’
• Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
• Let’s Talk About Love By Claire Kann
• Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
• A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson
• Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
  • Lindsay Ellis Twilight video link: “Dear Stephanie Meyer”
• Roller Girl by Vanessa North

Other Media We Mention

• Tessa Dare (romance author Anna mentioned enjoying)
• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
• My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins
• Spicy Library Stories (rated two-stars on Goodreads!)
• Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan
• Wickedly Wonderful by Deborah Blake
• The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries series by Gyles Brandreth
• The Monster at the End of this Book: An episode of Supernatural that discusses slash fiction
• The Story of My Tits by Jennifer Hayden
• Mass Effect (Wikipedia)
• Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
• The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
• Archival Quality by Ivy Noelle Weir and  Steenz
• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
• The Others series by Anne Bishop
• Stardew Valley (Wikipedia)

Links, Articles, and Things

• 31 Podcasts For Every Type Of Book Lover – BuzzFeed
• Episode 001 – Historical Romance (it’s literally been 40 months since we did this one!)
• Episode 008 – Holiday/Christmas Reads
• Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
• Smart Podcast, Trashy Books
• Selkie (Wikipedia)
• WereBear (Wikipedia) (the image on this page is the one that Matthew sent to Meghan and RJ)
• Lindsay Ellis Twilight video link: “Dear Stephanie Meyer”
• Wine Moms
• Anne of Green Gables gets her hair pulled
• An Ode to the Romance Novel by Lindsay Ellis

Questions

• At what point did consent become a bigger thing in romance?
• How do you think werewolves go deep sea diving?
• Are there any super-awkward were-creatures?
• What’s the most adorable were-creature?
• Who we want to date in Stardew Valley
• What romance genre would you like us to read next?

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Join us again on Tuesday, October 2nd when we’ll give you an update on our non-bookclub related media consumption!

Then come back on Tuesday, October 16th when we’ll be talking about our “genre” of books that costs one dollar or less!