In this episode, we’re catching up on everything that’s been on our minds lately. From movie and book discussions to fandom theories and the state of romance in pop culture. We start with the discourse around Sarah J. Maas. From unhinged fan theories to unrealistic expectations, we share all our thoughts on her recent appearance on Call Her Daddy and what it might mean for upcoming books, adaptations, and the future "A Court of Thorns and Roses".

Then we shift to Romeo and Juliet and the many adaptations it has inspired. Why does this story keep getting retold? And why are audiences still so fascinated by it? We share our full review of Rosaline, the modern rom-com retelling told from the perspective of Romeo’s “ex,” Rosaline.

Along the way, we also end up doing a mini history lesson on sex, kissing, and relationship norms in the Renaissance era—what was considered normal at the time, what definitely wasn’t, and how those expectations differ from the Regency era or even modern dating culture.

It’s a fun, slightly chaotic conversation about romance media, fandom culture, and why we love picking apart the stories we can’t stop thinking about. 💕In this episode, we kick things off with the latest news and discourse around Sarah J. Maas. From unhinged fan theories to sky-high fan expectations, we share all our thoughts on her recent appearance on Call Her Daddy and what it might mean for upcoming books and the future of her worlds.

Then we get into our movie review. This week we watched "Rosaline", a slightly modernized, rom-com retelling told from the perspective of Romeo’s “ex,” Rosaline. We chat about the story of Romeo and Juliet and the many adaptations it has inspired. Why does this story keep getting retold? And why are audiences still so fascinated by it?

Along the way, we also end up doing a mini history lesson on sex, kissing, and relationship norms in the Renaissance era. What was considered normal at the time? What wasn’t? And why is intimacy portrayed differently in the Renaissance era media vs Regency era media if the standard was the same?

It’s a fun, slightly chaotic conversation about all the things we love about romance books and movies.

Come debrief with us and share all your candid thoughts too!

Did you like the episode and want to show us some love? Don’t forget to follow and leave us a review!

Love, CMWTK 💕

Keywords:

movies, books, fan theories, Romeo and Juliet, Sarah J. Maas, romantic comedies, adaptation, fan speculation, book industry, film critique, historical romance, Regency era, Renaissance, movie ratings, period pieces, romantic tropes, film podcast, rosaline movie, rom com review, movie review, a court off thorns and roses, acotar, call her daddy, alex cooper

Do Sophie and Benedict get their happily ever after? Of course! And we were sat for all the twists and turns. In this episode, we share our thoughts on Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 and break it all down. From the biggest and best moments, character arcs, and storytelling choices to what could’ve been done better and what left us wanting more—we don’t hold anything back.Of course, it wouldn’t CMWTK without a little speculation… so we also look ahead to future seasons, possible storylines, and what spin-offs could be coming next. Oh! And who's the new Lady Whistedown?? We've heard some theories.Come debrief with us and share all your candid thoughts too! What did you think of Part 2?Did you like the episode and want to show us some love? Don’t forget to follow and leave us a review!Love, CMWTK 💕Keywords:Bridgerton, romance, romance movies, romance series, tv shows, pop culture, movie review, bridgerton review, Netflix, bridgerton season 4, Violet, Benedict, Sophie, netflix series, lady bridgerton, lady danbury, regency romance

Sandokan is giving us everything we didn’t know we needed: a pirate prince with a heart of gold, a slow-burning grand romance, dramatic standoffs, and yes… an epic theme song ("Sandokan!" 🎶).

If our thoughts can't convince you to watch the show, then just look at Can Yaman...are you convinced yet?

*This episode contains spoilers* -- We dive into what makes the series work so well, such as the perfect balance of romance, action, strong emotional messaging, and just the right amount of cheesiness.

But it wouldn't be CMWTK without also over-analyzing the main characters and sharing what we love (and hate) about them. We break down their motivations, chemistry, and the emotional weight each of them carries.

While there were many things we enjoyed, we also discuss where the show could grow, especially when it comes to deepening the female characters (and hopefully introducing more women into the story overall).

It was so fun to shift gears from what we've been watching lately and... honestly, we need more romantic pirate books and movies ASAP.

With Season 2 officially confirmed, we’re absolutely tuning in.

If you love romance, high-stakes drama, adventures, and pirates with emotional depth, this one’s for you.

Keywords: Sandokan, pirates, romance, romantasy, TV shows, romance tv shows, movie review, tv show review, netflix, Ed Westwick, Can Yaman, character analysis, pirate show, pirate movie, new tv shows

It’s time for another bonus book episode! This month, we’re doing a deep dive into the Regency romance genre, and Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare.

We kick it off by catching up on the latest in book and adaptation news, starting with Abby Jimenez’s upcoming book, The Night We Met, and the BIG casting announcement for Emily Henry’s next film adaptation, Beach Read.

And thennnn we dive into Say Yes to the Marquess (don’t worry, we give a full summary, so even if you haven’t read the book, you can still enjoy it with us!). We share the good, the bad, and the silly—and why, despite its flaws, we still enjoyed this book. Say Yes to the Marquess is a Regency romance that feels very modern. The humor and personal struggles of the characters can feel very relatable. But do you prefer your Regency romances more historically accurate? We discuss the pros and cons of more accurate depictions of the time period vs. taking more creative liberties.

As always, we wrap up with our ratings and a few fun facts about the genre, as well as romance literature as a whole, that might surprise you. Like, did you know Fabio has been on the cover of over 400 romance novels?

If you love reading and romance, then this episode is for you <3
You’re all invited to read with us each month and join the convo! And you can also join us every Friday for a romance movie review.

Did you like the episode and want to show us some love? Don’t forget to follow and leave us a review!

Love,
CMWTK 💕

Last week we watched Emerald Fennell’s "Wuthering Heights"...and yes, we have a LOT of thoughts. 

We talk through the casting choices of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the artistic direction, and why adapting this story always feels like such a bold, yet risky move. What makes a good adaptation? And why do we keep coming back to this one in particular? 


We unpack Emerald Fennell’s creative choices, the film’s overall aesthetic, and how this version handles some of the story’s biggest themes: love, obsession, cruelty, sex, abuse, and death. 


We spend a lot of time on Heathcliff and Cathy’s relationship and why it’s so complex, and whether this adaptation actually portrays the reality of it. Did Fennell truly turn it into "the greatest love story of all time"? Because we certainly don't believe the original story matches that description.

Since this isn’t the first time Wuthering Heights has been adapted, we also compare this version to the original novel by Emily Brontë and past adaptations (Isa watched ELEVEN leading up to the premiere of this movie).

We discuss how the story is impacted when it's filtered through a modern lens, when Heathcliff's race is removed from the conversation, and when key themes such as generational trauma, nature vs nurture, and breaking the cycle of abuse are missing from an adaptation.

By the end, we’re asking big questions like why do so many people frame Wuthering Heights as a "tragic love story"? Is Nellie an unreliable narrator? Was creating a steamier version the right creative choice? And can Wuthering Heights ever be adapted without losing something essential?

Ultimately, this episode isn’t just about whether this adaptation “worked”, it’s about why Wuthering Heights still provokes such strong reactions, and what that says about romance, the viewers interpretation, and storytelling in modern time.

Share your thoughts on the adaptation in the comments and don't forget to like, share, follow or subscribe!

Keywords:Wuthering Heights, film adaptation, casting, cinematography, cultural impact, classic literature, Emerald Fennell, Jacob Elordi, Margot Robbie, film adaptation, Emily Bronte, Heathcliff, Cathy, movie analysis, film review, movie review

It’s our Valentine’s Day episode, and what better way to celebrate love, no matter how crazy or stupid it can be, than with Crazy, Stupid, Love? In this episode, we dive into this messy, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful rom-com and unpack why it is considered one of the most iconic of the 2010s.

We get into the chaotic character dynamics, THE plot twist, what this film says about love at different stages of life...and everything in between. We truly discuss every aspect. From the incredible cast to what the film gets wrong, why media literacy is so important, and the humor that still has us laughing out loud.
Romantic comedies have evolved, and critics reception to the genre has shifted...Was this one of the last “good” rom-coms we got in theater? Let us know in the comments! Do you like this movie? Why or why not?

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day single, coupled up, or somewhere in between, this episode is all about embracing love in all its messy, imperfect forms, and all are welcome to listen and celebrate with us!

And don’t forget to follow us and leave a review besties <3

Keywords

Crazy Stupid Love, rom-com, relationships, love, character dynamics, plot summary, valentine day movie, movie podcast, romantic comedies, romance movies, romance movie podcast, nostalgia, Steve Carell, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, film analysis, rom-com dynamics, movie chemistry, Hollywood, pop culture

In this episode of Call Me When They Kiss, we unpack all our thoughts and feelings on Bridgerton Season 4, Episodes 3 and 4. Some scenes had us swooning and glued to the screen, while others left us feeling frustrated and confused.

Benedict and Sophie’s relationship shifts and grows a LOT over these two episodes, and we chat about the complexities of their societal roles and what exactly is keeping them apart. What did you think of Benedict’s “proposal”? Because… we definitely have some thoughts.

We also dive into Eloise’s character growth (or lack thereof), Francesca and John’s relationship, and of course, Violet’s *blooming* desires.

We don’t shy away from the messier stuff though. We talk about the pacing of the season and how it affects our engagement, the challenges of balancing historical accuracy with creative liberties, and the way Bridgerton handles sexuality—which often feels full of double standards and contradictions.

Throughout it all, we keep coming back to how we, as the audience, bring our own expectations into the viewing experience, and how that shapes what lands and what doesn’t. Are we expecting too much, or is production and the new show-runner negatively impacting the direction of the show?

Come debrief with us. We don’t hold back, and you shouldn’t either. Let us know in the comments what you thought of the first part of Season 4!

Keywords:

Bridgerton, romance, romance movies, romance series, tv shows, pop culture, movie review, bridgerton review, Netflix, bridgerton season 4, Violet, Benedict, Sophie, netflix series

Is Benedict still a notorious rake? Or is he ready to settle down? In this episode of Call Me When They Kiss, we discuss the first two episodes of Bridgerton Season 4, and we are already LOVING Sophie and this season's fresh twist on the classic Cinderella story.

We share some of our most unhinged show theories and predictions, and look back at past seasons -- what worked, what didn’t, which character's development we'd like to see more of, and what’s starting to feel a little too repetitive. In true CMWTK fashion, we have… a lot of opinions.

We also get into the double standards between male and female characters, especially when it comes to sexual empowerment, talking about what the show is doing well to push back against harmful purity culture, and where it still has room to do better.

What are we most excited for this season? Deeper character development, higher emotional stakes, and a slow-burn romance that actually earns the payoff.

We can't wait to keep watching with you and see how the story unfolds!

______________________________

Keywords

Bridgerton, bridgerton season 4, character development, romance, themes, love, purity culture, historical romance, regency romance, netflix, Benedict Bridgerton, film podcast, romance podcast, tv show

Welcome to our second bonus book episode! Last month we explored the contemporary romance genre, but this month we’re tackling the romantasy genre with a review of The Knight in the Moth.

We talk through what we liked, what we wished there had been more of, and why the book ultimately landed as “it was good, but fine” rather than “we loved it!!!".

But it wouldn’t be a Call Me When They Kiss episode without a classic rant. Can we rant about the romantasy genre as a whole with you for a sec? We’re begging for flawed, interesting characters, better villains, higher stakes, and a true slow burn. We talk about what makes a romantic storyline feel earned instead of rushed, and why we’ll always choose character-driven stories with real emotional depth over flashy world-building.

We wrap things up with our personal ratings, honest recommendations, and a fun round of romantasy trivia (some of the facts really shocked us!!).

So whether you read the book or not, join our convo, have some fun with us, and tell us what you love and hate about the beloved romantasy genre.

Don't forget to like, rate, and subscribe 💋

Dirty Dancing was our first 5-star movie, so we were very excited to follow it up with the iconic ’90s rom-com Notting Hill…Imagine our surprise when it turned out to be our first 1-star movie! In this episode of Call Me When They Kiss, we give our fully unfiltered review of the film and share some wild behind-the-scenes tea. BUT not before showing some love to HBO Max’s new hit, Heated Rivalry.

While Notting Hill was a major miss, Heated Rivalry gave us something to believe in again. The show made us laugh, cry, and feel things we did *not* expect, especially after just the first two episodes. But then there was episode three… and everything changed.

Tune in to hear allllllll the details. From what we loved most about Shane and Ilya to where Notting Hill missed the mark, and even the one thing Hugh Grant did that drove us completely insane...

Whether you’re here for the romance, the chaos, or the hot takes, this episode has it all. So press play and if you disagree...PLEASE tell us what we're missing.

Keywords

romance movies, Heated Rivalry, Notting Hill, romance critique, hockey, shane and ilya, hbo max, romance books, Notting Hill, romantic comedy, Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, film critique, celebrity culture, dialogue analysis, audience reception