This week, Josh and Dietrich examine how authors craft believable romantic relationships, and the potential pitfalls. They look at the idea of crafting a relationship in service to the story, instead of the other way around. They look at how authors develop characters before bringing them together, making sure that they exist as distinct, three-dimensional individuals rather than just relationship fodder. Josh talks about some of the more remarkable examples of romance in some unexpected places, while Dietrich discusses the art of developing a relationship over a multi-book series. In addition, Josh reads the surprisingly dark conclusion to one of the most insane and surrealistic book series he's ever found, and Dietrich raves about a fantasy series inspired by the history of the Chinese. Finally, they debate the finale of The Good Place, trying to decide if it was great or really, REALLY great. You can send questions or comments to [email protected].