Back-to-School September ends on the ice with Elle Kennedy’s The Deal and Him (co-written with Sarina Bowen).

Nikki and Meg dig into why these two 2015 hockey romances are still topping charts nearly a decade later, comparing fake dating vs. best-friends-to-lovers, college vs. new adult vibes, and what made both books blueprint-level sports romances.

Listen in for:

* Garrett Graham: the original “he falls first, he falls hardest” hero?

* Why hockey housing should come with a hazmat rating

* The book that made everyone fake-date a little harder

* Nikki’s ringette camp horror story: pine needles, lake baths, and trauma bonding

Books/Media Mentioned:

* The Deal by Elle Kennedy, part of the Off-Campus series: https://amzn.to/4nH7Ahb

* Him by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen: https://amzn.to/3ItT0L9

* Us by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen: https://amzn.to/3ItT0L9

* Boyfriend Material & Husband Material by Alexis Hall: https://amzn.to/47VOCPl

* Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews: https://amzn.to/47PLCUF

* Heated Rivalry & The Long Game by Rachel Reid: https://amzn.to/3KAAgtS

* Puckboy series by Eden Finley & Saxon James: https://amzn.to/3VwR5s7

* Savannah universe books by Aimee Nicole Walker: https://amzn.to/3Kgbr6u

* In the Game by Sloane St James, book 3 in the Lakes Hockey series: https://amzn.to/4gBHRoe

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

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What happens when you take Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, add soccer, boarding school hijinks, and early-2000s Amanda Bynes?

You get She’s the Man! In this episode, Nikki and Meg break down the comedy, chaos, and charm that make this rom-com still hold up nearly 20 years later (at least for Nikki!)

Listen in for:

* The Top 5 reasons Nikki thinks She’s the Man works as a Shakespeare retelling

* Why the school setting makes the comedy sharper and the romance sweeter

* Meg’s strong opinions on the vocal choices and gender rep in this early ‘00s flick

* The rise of the 2000s teen rom-com as Shakespeare’s modern home

* Why identity swaps never stop being messy (and fun)

Books & Media We Mention

* She’s the Man (2006)

* Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996)

* 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

* How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin

* Focus Friend app

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

In this episode, Nikki and Meg sit down with author M.A. Wardell (of the Teachers in Love series) along with guest host Andréa Jones (aka author Olivia Carter) to talk about why teacher romances never go out of style.

From the messy, cozy dynamics of faculty lounges to the importance of mental health and Jewish representation in romance, Wardell shares what makes his characters so memorable.

Listen in for:

* Why parent / teacher romances feel fun, forbidden, and relatable

* M.A. Wardell’s take on writing *real* queer characters (including how there’s never enough r**ming or prep)

* The allure of the hot single parent character and why every teacher wants their kid in their class

* Why we think Matt needs to do a webinar…

About Our Guest:

Writing as M.A. Wardell, Lambda Literary Award nominee Matt writes spicy queer rom-coms.

His goal is to tell adult gay love stories with a diverse representation of flawed and damaged characters who find healing through love.

Matt loves rom-coms and has always wished for better representation, so he's writing the stories he wishes existed. The queer men in his stories are flawed and messy. Helping them find their HEA is Matt's passion.

www.mawardell.com

Check out Matt’s teacher/school series:

* Teacher of the Year

* Mistletoe and Mishigas

* Napkins and Other Distractions

* Husband of the Year (coming November 2025)

About Our Guest Host:

Writing as Olivia Carter, Andréa writes emotionally rich, high-heat MM romance with medium angst, queer joy, and a guaranteed HEA.

https://authoroliviacarter.com/

Books & Media We Mention

* Pretty Mess by Lily Morton: https://amzn.to/4pcPJjX

* Wooing the Wiccan by Louisa Masters: https://amzn.to/45XnKgx

* Monstrous audiobooks by Lily Mayne: https://amzn.to/4m7p1WU

* Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: https://amzn.to/4ghThxf

* The Lonely Island & Seth Meyers Podcast

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

In their 69th episode (OH 69!), Nikki and Meg tackle a trope that’s as controversial as it is compelling: professor/student romance. Once labeled a hard “no” for Nikki, this trope has crept into her “read and liked” pile in ways that can be confusing.

This episode covers:

* Why these stories can feel squicky, and when they work

* Why POV can impact the…ROI… of the story

* the difference between consensual fantasy and real-world boundaries.

* When authors navigate the trope ethically—and when they just…don’t

Nikki’s Recommendation List:

* Kissing Tolstoy by Penny Reid

* Loathed by Lagan by Nora Phoenix

* Just a Bit Twisted by Alessandra Hazard

* Disciplinary Action by Onley James

* Teach Me by Neve Wilder

* The Boy Who Loved Wicked by C.P. Harris.

* Secrets & Lies by Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank

* Full Service by Cora Rose

* Dream a Little Dream (To Love a Psycho #1) by CF White

* Kismet by Ashley James

* My (Not So) Slutty Professor (Not So University Series Book 1) by DK Sutton

* A Foot in the Door (Open Doors #3) by Vinni George

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

Nikki and Meg head into the 1950s for a double feature of classic romantic comedies: Roman Holiday and The Prince and the Showgirl.

They discuss:

* Audrey Hepburn’s strength in restraint vs. Marilyn Monroe’s comedic weaponization of sex appeal

* How both films use physical space and quiet space to build (or block) intimacy and restraint

* The role of glamor, class, and discomfort in shaping romantic tension

Books & Media We Mention:

* Roman Holiday (film)

* The Prince and the Showgirl (film)

* The Philadelphia Story

* His Girl Friday

* My Week with Marilyn

* Shroom for Improvement by Jemma Croft

* Dredge (Nintendo Switch)

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

Nikki and Meg sit down with bestselling author Eden Finley to talk all things generational romance, character crossovers, and the chaos of collaborative writing. From her Fake Boyfriend series to Puckboy, Eden shares how she builds interconnected worlds where the HEAs don’t stop with one couple but they span generations.

Listen in as they discuss:

* Why gay hockey is such a reliable niche

* Keeping track of a sprawling cast across multiple spin-offs and shared universes

* Eden’s writing process (spoiler: chaos is embraced)

* Tropes, tension, and the line between sweet and spicy

Grab Eden’s latest release, The Office Bet at https://mybook.to/TheOfficeBet

About Our Guest:

Eden Finley didn't start writing until the age of 28. She always loved being creative and writing stories for English and Lit classes in high school but never thought she could make a career out of it. The reason she is where she is today is because of a list of 30 things she wanted to do before she was 30, one of them being 'write a book.' One turned into two and kept growing, and now she is an Amazon top 10 bestseller.

https://linktr.ee/edenfinley

https://edenfinley.com

https://www.instagram.com/finley.eden/

Books & Media We Mention:

* Fake Boyfriend series by Eden Finley

* Puckboy series (co-written with Saxon James)

* Franklin University (shared universe series)

* Calling His Bluff by Charlie Cochet

* Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

This week, Nikki takes over with her Gay Little Book Club, a roundup of recent M/M romance reads featuring everything from pierced men with large…attributes… to nerdy Caltech grads getting dating lessons from hot bros.

In this episode:

* Bull’s Boy by Kiki Clark: daddy/boy dynamics, size difference, dirty talk, and a surprising amount of genuine tenderness

* The Allure of Ruins by Mary Calmes: boss/employee tension, trauma recovery, and somehow the mafia is involved!

* Rocket Science by K.M. Neuhold: awkward genius meets the brother’s best friend, and a “teach me how to flirt” setup that turns into the real thing

* Wedding Bet by Raleigh Ruebins: childhood best friends turned fake grooms in a Vegas wedding scheme with accidental feelings

* Of Pranks and Passion by Amy Padilla : fake dating, underground MMA, and absolutely zero chill

Sprinkle in an accidental theme of protector love interests, age gaps, and emotionally repressed workaholics who need a hug (or a firm spanking) and you’ve got an episode that’ll make you blush!

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

Meg dug into the weird world of romance search terms, using real SEO data to see what readers are actually Googling and what that means for the stories we love (and maybe secretly judge).

In this episode:

* What is “sex pollen” and why does it come up in so many search results?

* The internet’s quiet obsession with “touch her and die” vs. “who did this to you”

* How SEO influenced the renaming of their most SEO’ed (?) episode

* The surprising fan interest in terms like “Xena Warrior Princess,” “Gundam fandom,” and “standing there menacingly”

* The ethics(?) of dinosaur romance and Amish love stories

* Meg’s nerdy delight over keyword strategy, niche categories, and the Amazon orange banner

Books & Media We Mention:

* Heartless by Elsie Silver

* Hot Head by Stella Rhys

* Tammy and the T-Rex (1994 film)

* Buffy the Vampire Slayer

* Practical Magic

* Xena: Warrior Princess

* Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)

* Gundam

* Date Everything (video game where you romance household objects)

* K-Pop: Demon Hunters (Netflix animated film)

* Publisher Rocket (SEO/keyword research tool)

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

Meg and Nikki tackle Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez and the book club is in session! They’re breaking down all the sandy, swoony, and slightly chaotic details of this “one summer only” love story.

There’s fake dating, complicated exes, secret emotions, and exactly the kind of drama you'd expect from a romance that promises to be temporary.

Listen in for:

* Parental trauma, lake house love, and good dog content

* Nikki’s obvious love of pre-date questionnaires

* The emotional arc of Justin and Emma (and why they’re both too competent for this trope)

* Why we LOVE to see a solid “if he wanted to, he would”

Books & Media We Mention

* Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

* Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

* Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

* The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

* Good Luck Chuck (film)

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack

This week, Meg and Nikki play a wacky round of Romance Would You Rather, where the questions are unhinged, the stakes are fictional, and the answers reveal way too much about their taste in book boyfriends.

It's trope vs. trope, kink vs. kink, and sometimes just pure chaos (would you rather walk in on a shifter in animal form… or not know your partner was a vampire until you’re mid-bite?).

Listen in for:

* Secret pining vs. public declarations

* a great debate over mediocre or high quality stories

* Our preferences on Nick Miller or Ben Wyatt

* Nikki’s firm boundaries on Christian Grey-eque red flags

* the famous 80’s romance tropes that we would date

Books & Media We Mention:

* Games We Play series by D.J. Jamison

* House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

* Romeo and Juliet (brief mention as not a romance)

* Nicholas Sparks books (several, not specific)

* A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (reference to Rhysand)

* Peppermint Bark, No Bite by Bailey Seaborn (Meg’s book)

* All Twerk, No Play by Bailey Seaborn

Films/TV Shows Mentioned:

* White Chicks (2004)

* The Notebook (2004)

* 500 Days of Summer (2009)

* Say Anything (1989)

* Spider-Man (2002 – Tobey Maguire reference)

* Easy A (2010)

* Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

* Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003)

* Jeopardy (TV game show – anecdotal mention)

* Ben Wyatt – character from Parks and Recreation

* Nick Miller – character from New Girl

* Mr. Darcy – character from Pride and Prejudice

* Christian Grey – character from Fifty Shades of Grey

* 50 Shades of Grey (book and movie reference)

How You Can Support The Show

Follow Us On Social:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo

Email us at [email protected]

Share the show with a friend or loved one!

Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?

Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk

Get Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative

Upgrade to a paid tier on Substack