First off, Meg’s new book All Twerk No Play drops May 15th! So get thee to the ‘Zon and download/buy your copy ASAP. Support indie writers! https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z

Now onto the show…

This week on First Dates and Soulmates, Nikki and Meg unpack “Hothead” by Stella Rhys—a spicy sports romance that kicks off with a bar fight, a public meltdown, and a viral paparazzi photo that leads to fake dating.

They talk about:

* When fake dating is survival, not strategy

* How power dynamics shift when one character is emotionally volatile

* Why we need more groveling from alpha heroes

* The rare joy of watching someone finally snap on video

Books & Media We Mention

* Hothead by Stella Rhys

* Heartless by Elsie Silver

* Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

* Not That series by Isabel Murray (Not That Complicated, Not That Impossible, Not That Ridiculous)

Pre-Order Meg’s next book, All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z releasing May 15, 2025!

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

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

View the full show notes on our Substack.

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

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of First Dates and Soulmates, Nikki and Meg dive into The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood—a fan-favorite academic rom-com that sparked an entire wave of STEM heroines.

Click play on this week’s episode to hear:

* Why Olive is a chronic overthinker and why Adam is a misunderstood grump (who totally has a soft side)

* How this book walks the line between swoony slow-burn and sexy payoff

* The balance of realistic vs. wildly fictional about academia

Read our written review at firstdatesandsoulmates.com/the-love-hypothesis-review/

Get the full show notes: https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/the-love-hypothesis-review/

Books & Media We Mention

* The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

* Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

* Reacher (tv show)

* To Love a Psycho series by CF White (Dream a Little Dream, Kiss me Honey Honey)

* The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

* The 12 stages of sexual intimacy

Pre-Order Meg’s next book, All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z releasing May 15, 2025!

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

This week on First Dates and Soulmates, Nikki and Meg dive into the first three books in Eden Finley's Fake Boyfriend series — Fake Out, Trick Play, and Deke. Same author, same trope, same shared universe, and three completely different answers to who's actually being fooled and by what.

If you want the full breakdown with per-book analysis, read the written review — or go back to our interview with Eden Finley herself for more on how this universe all connects.

Listen in as they break down:

* What works and what stresses us the hell out

* The joys of chaos gremlin side characters

* The ethics of journalism in romance novels (looking at you, A Christmas Prince),

* and what it means when your characters start bossing you around as a writer!

Damon, read aloud by Nikki, on setting a boundary with Maddox [45:38]:

Nikki, on Noah as a character [17:09]:

From Eden Finley's own acknowledgments in Deke, read aloud by Meg [24:26]:

Nikki, on the structural insight of the episode [41:11]:

That last one is short, but it's the load-bearing line of the whole episode's argument (the public/private breakdown that follows it), so it's worth pulling on its own even without a long clause attached.

Books & Media We Mention

* Fake Out, Trick Play, Deke by Eden Finley

* I Can’t Say Goodbye by Eden Finley (next-gen spinoff)

* Rebound and It’s Complicated (mid-series novellas)

* Puckboy and Mike Bravo series (Eden Finley)

* Franklin University books (Eden Finley & Saxon James)

* Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

* Calling Chaos by Grae Bryan

* A Christmas Prince (Netflix)

* Lady Whistlethreads on Substack

Pre-Order Meg’s next book, All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z releasing May 15, 2025!

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Continuing our April theme of fake dating, this week’s pick is Just Go With It (2011), starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston—and spoiler: Meg hated it.

In This Episode:

* When your “Save the Cat” moment is… never

* Catherine deserved a raise, not a ring

* Hawaii as the ultimate fake dating backdrop

* How this movie failed at its own emotional payoff

* Why all rom-coms should show the reveal AND the fallout

Subscribe. Review. Come yell with us about why male protagonists never have to grovel enough.

Books & Media We Mention:

* Just Go With It (2011)

* Mr. & Mrs. Smith

* The Morning Show (Jennifer Aniston)

* Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

* Forgetting Sarah Marshall

* Murder Mystery (Netflix series)

* Uncut Gems

* Punch-Drunk Love

* Sleepless in Seattle

* The Bachelor (Chris O’Donnell again)

* Alien Mate for Christmas (previous episode reference)

* Book Boyfriend by Claire Kingsley

* Arden Fox’s Coveted Bonds series - How to Train Your Human Omega and How to Save Your Human Invader

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

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

View the full show notes on our Substack.

Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)

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

Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Strap in. We’re going deep. This week on First Dates & Soulmates, it’s a trope episode! And we’re dissecting every glorious and absurd nuance of fake dating.

Nikki may think this trope is the Chardonnay of romance (she’ll drink it if you serve it), while Meg is out here creating full frameworks while waiting in line at Disneyland.

In This Episode:

* Why so many fake dating books fall apart if the initial premise isn’t strong

* Why romantic vulnerability matters more than jellybeans

* The difference between fake dating for good vs fake dating for damage control

* The role of the designated extroverted friend and why we all need one

* When fake dating turns into real cheerleading, and why that’s hot

This episode developed the FAKING IT Framework — First Dates & Soulmates' analytical guide to fake dating romance, built around the eight structural elements every fake dating story needs.

Meg loves a third-act breakup. Nikki wants to be your fake date and your designated hype woman.

Leave a review, comment on Substack, tell us your favourite fake dating books, or ask Nikki to be your designated fake fiance so you can get that promotion!

View the full show notes at: https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/episode/fake-dating-trope

And check out the FAKING IT Framework -- all eight elements that every great fake dating romance has: https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/faking-it-framework/

Get our full list of our top 20 favorite fake dating romance books!

Books & Media We Mention:

* The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

* Heat Transfer by Cathryn McIntyre

* Reckless Hearts by Jax Calder

* Book Boyfriend by Claire Kingsley

* Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

* The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

* Love Light Farms by B.K. Borison

* Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher

* Best Man by Lily Morton

* How Not to Fall and How Not to Let Go by Emily Foster

* Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill

* The Confetti Hitched Series by Lily Morton

* The Kings of Chaos series by Jocelynn Drake

* The Edge of Fate by Sheena Jolie

* The Duke & I, Bridgerton Book 1 by Julia Quinn

Fake Dating Movies:

* How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

* The Proposal

* 10 Things I Hate About You

* The Bachelor (Chris O’Donnell movie)

* Purple Hearts

* The Firm

* Sleepless in Seattle

* Bridgerton

* Sex and the City

* Just Go With It

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

This week we wrap up our month-long Secret Identity theme with the most opulent trope of all: Secret Billionaires.

We discuss “Butt-Dialing the Billionaire” by Annika Martin and…

* The "specialist boy" framework: time, money, title—and how power imbalance is managed (or not).

* What readers love about billionaire books: wish fulfillment, lifestyle fantasy, and… not having to cook dinner.

* Why this book had us yelling “That’s not how phones work!” for the first 20 pages.

* A breakdown of billionaire romance structure: the transformation from emotionally stunted workaholic to romantic marshmallow.

* When the non-specialist love interest is just... already whole.

Subscribe to the podcast, rate us, leave a review, and come yell about vending machine sandwiches with us on Substack or Instagram!

Books & Media We Mention

* Butt-Dialing the Billionaire by Annika Martin

* The Billionaire Brotherhood series by Lucy Lennox

* Book Lovers by Emily Henry

* Fresh Catch by Kate Canterbary

* Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill

* Love Light Farms by B.K. Borison

* The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

* How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (movie and its retelling: Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher)

* Book Boyfriend by Claire Kingsley

* Reckless Hearts by Jax Calder

* Arrested Development

* The Firm

* Sleepless in Seattle

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

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

View the full show notes on our Substack.

Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)

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

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

How do you fix a secret spy marriage? Blow some stuff up.

This episode, Nikki and Meg discuss two classic secret identity action romance films, 1994’s True Lies & 2005’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Inside this episode:

* Which spy couple actually had the healthier marriage?

* How do you balance of action, romance, and insane sexual tension WITH GASLIGHTING?

* Why do both of these movies feature the worst best friends ever (looking at you, Tom Arnold & Vince Vaughn).

* Would Nikki & Meg survive if they were secretly spies? (Spoiler: one of them definitely would not).

Books & Media We Mention:

Two Thousand Promises by Jocelynn Drake The Edge of Fate by Sheena JolieHow Not to Fall & How Not to Let Go by Emily Foster

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

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

View the full show notes on our Substack.

Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)

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

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

This week the March theme of secret identities continues by diving into secret royalty romance: the ones where princes, princesses, and future kings just want a little taste of normalcy… until love (and a dramatic reveal) ruins their plans.

Nikki & Meg are diving deep into two secret royal books: Cordina’s Crown Jewel by Nora Roberts, and Felix & The Prince by Lucy Lennox.

Listen in as they discuss:

* What makes the “secret royalty” trope so fun? And why is it different in MF vs. MM romance?

* The pressure of public vs. private identity—is it worth it to give up your normal life for love?

* How these books handle the whole “having an heir” thing in straight vs. queer royalty stories.

* Deception & betrayal: Can love survive when one partner is literally lying about their identity?

Books & Media We MentionCordina’s Crown Jewel by Nora RobertsFelix & The Prince by Lucy Lennox. In Plain Sight (Legacy Mechanics book 3) by Willow DixonHow to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

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

View the full show notes on our Substack.

Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)

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

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever fallen for someone only to realize they’re secretly a billionaire? Or a prince? Or, oh, just a government spy with a kill count?

This week, Nikki and Meg are diving deep into one of the most over-the-top, high-drama romance tropes of all time: SECRET IDENTITY ROMANCE.

What’s inside this episode:

* The "Love Me Despite" Factor: Why the conflict in these stories is always I want to be loved for me, not my title/wealth/dangerous profession.

* The Aladdin Effect: How romance novels use this trope to explore class dynamics, privilege, and public vs. private identity.

* The Almost Reveal: That agonizing moment where the specialist boy (gender-neutral term!) almost confesses…but doesn’t.

* The Uno Reverse Card Reveal: Sometimes, the "commoner" love interest is actually hiding a secret, too. (Plot twist!)

Check out our list of secret identity romances on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kiWZbq *affiliate link

Books & Media We Mention:

* Crazy Rich Asians (film)

* A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole

* Ever After (film)

* The Prince and Me (film)

* True Lies (film)

* Mr. & Mrs. Smith (film)

* Roman Holiday (film)

* The Billionaire Brotherhood series by Lucy Lennox

* Prince of Lies by Lucy Lennox

* The Spy & Mobsters Son by Keira Andrews

* The Big Fix (Torus Intercession Book 5)

* How to Catch a Prince by Ana Ashley

* Felix & The Prince by Lucy Lennox

* Interview with Harrison Ford and Allison Hammond

* The Gorge (film)

* Only One Bed by Katie Wild

Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/

Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates

Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates

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

View the full show notes on our Substack.

Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)

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

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

What do you get when you mix Cyrano, The Parent Trap, and two insanely charming leads? You get “Set It Up”, the Netflix rom-com that had us yearning for the days of classic romantic comedies.

Push play and hear all about:

* Workplace romances that don’t make us feel bad and don’t require an HR intervention

* Meet cutes, friends to lovers, grand gestures, and other common tropes that are given a modern touch

* Why this movie hits differently when you’ve been a burnt-out 20-something (or just a busy entrepreneur)

* A scheme that we surprisingly don’t hate but also like that there are consequences?

If you’ve been seeking a lighthearted romantic comedy where the main characters aren’t horrible people who don’t deserve happiness, then hit that subscribe button!

Get the full show notes at: https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/episode/42-set-it-up-the-millennial-rom-com-we-deserve/

Books & Media We Mention

All Twerk No Play by Bailey Seaborn (pre-order coming soon!)

Meet Me Next Christmas episode of First Dates & Soulmates: episode 31

The SLC Sting series by Olivia Lynd

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade