Welcome to Plotting and Panting!! We are back from a week hiatus enjoying our holidays, and we hope you enjoyed time with all those that you love! As we enter into 2026, we will not let our seasonal depression get us down, so this episode is full of fluffy, lovey-dovey, kiss-kiss romantic shit! But first, grab your favorite drink, get comfy and let’s turn the page together!

The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry - People We Meet on Vacation — EMILY HENRY

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren - The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren

Love is a War Song by Danica Nava - Books | Danica Nava Books

Panting Scale

1. Barely Warm – You could read this to your grandma and not blush
2. A Little Breathless – Some flirty banter and a chaste kiss… maybe two if we’re feeling wild
3. Need a Sip of Water – The shirt’s off, the lights are dim, and your cheeks are warm
4. Heart Racing, Fan Required – Pages are sizzling and you’re reading with one eyebrow permanently raised
5. Full-On Gasping for Air – The book is basically illegal in at least three countries

Plotting Scale

1. The Chaos Gremlin - No outline in sight. The book feels like the author just shook a bag of tropes and dumped them onto the page. Fun? Absolutely! Structured? Not even a little bit
2. The Wandering Map - There is a plan… somewhere. The story takes detours, loses the GPS signal, and you might be asking, “Wait, where are we going again?”
3. The Color-Coded Calendar - Some structure, some vibes. You can tell the author had a plan but also went off-script when the characters demanded a spontaneous road trip.
4. The Spreadsheet of Destiny - Everything is neat, organized and right on cue. You can practically see the beat sheet taped above the author’s desk.
5. The Puppet Master - Immaculate plotting. Every detail snaps into place, every breadcrumb leads somewhere and by the end you’re applauding the master plan.