This week we look at different transformation tales. This troupe has been in fiction for a long time, with many stories being direct adaptations of the Beauty and the Beast story. So this week we look at three such tales: By The Book by Jasmine Guillory, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, and the 2006 film Penelope. How do these stories stack up to the classic fairy tale they take inspiration from, and will Disney+ listen to Mary’s pitch for their own rom com universe? Listen to this week’s episode and find out.

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.

In  this episode, we take a break from books for our summer movie episode of the podcast. And what are we viewing? The Lost City! This movie is about an author on an adventure through the jungle with her sexy cover model. If there was ever a movie made for this podcast, this is it. We discuss the film (this is your spoiler warning) and how well it takes on romance novel and romance cover troupes, and we hope you’ll join us on this adventure.

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.

In Part 2 of our look at Hades and Persephone retellings we tackle two popular modern takes on the tale. The first is the webcomic turned graphic novel Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe, a favorite of both your Casing the Cover hosts. The second is A Touch of Darkness, a sexy retelling by Scarlett St. Clair, and we have some feelings. Fair warning folks, this is a rant episode.

For more information on Lore Olympus visit: https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/list?title_no=1320&page=1

For more information on A Touch of Darkness visit: https://www.bloombooks.com/a-touch-of-darkness.html

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

This month we are tackling retellings of the Greek Myth of Spring. Before we dive into modern tales featuring Hades and Persephone, we take a look at a classic novel that has obvious allusions to Greek myth but has in turn inspired just as many retellings itself: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Join us as we study an array of covers, from bad stock art choices to covers obviously stealing ideas from the broadway musical. Keep an eye out for part 2 of our exploration of Hades and Persephone retellings.

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.

Following the theme of Casing the Cover 2022, we are tackling another set of retellings this month. Since February is the month of romance, we decided to take on Romeo and Juliet, the most doomed romance in literature and our least favorite Shakespeare play. Will adapting this tired old tale into a modern geek love story or a noir mystery make it any better? That’s what we are here to find out as we review Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.

For more information on These Violent Delights visit: https://thechloegong.com/books/

For more information on Verona Comics visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2162037/jennifer-dugan

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.

It’s a new year and a new season of Casing the Cover. We’re kicking things off with a double hitter as Mary and Jenn take on one of their favorite topics: retellings. We’ve each brought a modern version of the fairy tale classic Cinderella. Jenn’s pick, My Fairy Godmother is a Drag Queen by David Clawson, gives us a gender bent LGBT romance. Mary’s choice, If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy, reimagines the Cinderela story as a dating show featuring a plus size Cindy.

Join us as we compare these modernized versions of the world’s most famous fairy tale, and discuss how the retellings take on the story’s iconic details, and stick around for our analysis of how Disney has brainwashed you with the color blue. All this and more in our first episode of 2022!

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.

It’s spooky season, and for our Halloween episode Jenn has brought us a very disturbing read: Burnt Tongues, An Anthology of Transgressive Stories. These short stories come with a massive trigger warning, so only listen IF YOU DARE! But seriously, these stories can get disturbing, after all this is a collection compiled by the author of Fight Club. So put on a brave face and join us as we dissect Burnt Tongues.

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.

This episode was recorded this year at the virtual CoKoCon 2021. For this episode Mary quizzed Jenn and our virtual audience on how well they know bad covers. We looked at several mysterious covers, all while trying to figure out what classic novel they belonged to. Along the way we discovered some really cool, and some really awful classic covers. Play along and see how many covers you can guess.

Special thanks to CoKoCon for having us as guests at this year’s convention!

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.

The news just broke in the publishing world that James Paterson is teaming up with none other than music superstar Dolly Parton on a new book project. As weird as this team up may seem, it certainly isn’t the first time that a celebrity name has been put on a work of fiction. In many cases readers are left to wonder: did the celebrity actually write this?

So that is the question we tackle this week on Casing the Cover. In this episode, we take a look at 40 celebrity authors, and do our best to guess which celebrities we think actually added autor to their list of accomplishments, and which we think had a little more help than they are letting on. This is all speculation on our parts, but feel free to follow along with us and make your own guesses by checking out the article: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/g33987725/celebrities-who-wrote-fiction-books/

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the last Tuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

This week we take a look at The Librarian and the Spy, a good romantic thriller with an awful stock art cover and one incredibly problematic plot point. Come with us to a world where only a librarian can save the world from terrorism with her special research skills, but she certainly doesnt deserve to get paid for it. It’s weird to read a book about your real life job that doesn’t quite understand how your job works...

For more information on Susan Mann and her works visit http://www.thesusanmann.com/

New episodes of Casing the Cover are released on the fourthTuesday of each month. New and current episodes available at

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qg83iCryEXcwoTIJ6aqOA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mary-harrington/casing-the-cover

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casing-the-cover/id1470176150

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qOQUYz-qEJZ0JGgFsmnQQ

To get regular updates about Casing the Cover, or to suggest an upcoming episode topic or book for review you can find us at:

https://www.facebook.com/CasingTheCover

@casingthecover on Twitter

or email us at [email protected]

Special thanks to Mic Leone for our logo design: https://www.facebook.com/MicLeoneDesigner

Disclaimer: Copyrighted images and text excerpts used in Casing The Cover’s video or audio belong to their respective owners. Casing the Cover does not claim any ownership of these copyrighted materials. The use of cover images and text excerpts in our podcast is for the purposes of review and critique and is protected under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows fair use of copyrighted works for the purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.