Welcome to 'The Story Is' Podcast with Katie and Amanda! We're chatting our new favorite obsession, “Heated Rivalry” by Rachel Reid and other romance adaptations coming in 2026. We’re also sharing our thoughts on Wicked Part 2, the winners of the 2025 Goodreads awards for romance and romantasy, and our Spotify wrapped. 

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Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro catch up

(0:58) We saw Wicked: For Good

(9:01) Heated Rivalry 

(24:46) Stranger things maybe 

(26:04) Miley Cyrus is engaged

(28:43) Halle Bailey and Rege Jean Page Romcom

(31:28) People We Meet on Vacation Trailer

(34:03) Book Report: Goodreads Awards for Romance and Romantasy

(46:59) Amanda’s Book Report: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon, Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghann Quinn, Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop, Brimstone by Callie Hart and Savage Fae by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti

(48:25) Katie’s Book Report: Mate by Ali Hazelwood, Soul Searching by Lyla Sage, Brimstone by Callie Hart, Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

(50:29) Spotify Wrapped results

*Correction: Bethany Weaver plays Dorothy in Wicked: For Good

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠⁠⁠

Listen on Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vLkNE1OX5cDnR1Jj0rHEb⁠⁠⁠

📖 SHOP THE EPISODE:

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593546024⁠ 

Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghann Quinn: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464230165⁠ 

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538759196⁠ 

Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781668023778⁠ 

Soul Searching by Lyla Sage: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593977774⁠ 

Mate by Ali Hazelwood: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593952580⁠ 

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538769621⁠ 

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