My Perfect Romance

By Valerie, Courtney & LisaTV & Film Society & Culture Arts Books Relationships

My Perfect Romance episodes

November 04112 | Inside Safekeeping with Claudia Hinz as we Discuss PTSD, Anti-Draft Activism, and a May-December Romance
My Perfect Romance hosts interview author, former television reporter, and Harvard alumna Claudia Hinz about her debut novel, Safekeeping. The story follows Tenley, a wealthy Dallas socialite and mother accustomed to fixing any problem with a single phone call. When the military draft is reinstated and her son is called up, she faces a crisis she cannot control. So she starts an anti-draft movement and becomes romantically entagled with Leland, a 22-year-old combat veteran, who showed up to support the movement.
MPR explores how wealth, privilege, and the traps of romanticizing service members. The discussion examines midlife marriage, career sacrifices, and an age-gap relationship born of a shared desire to be truly seen with debut author Claudia Hinz. Drawing from her reporting background on military bases, Claudia shares how she approached themes of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), survivor's guilt, and maternal guilt with care and nuance.
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Key Topics:
Wealth and privilege as a shield from collective grief
Avoiding hero archetypes and stereotyping military personnel
Aging, desirability, and societal invisibility for women
Marriages on parallel tracks and lingering resentment
The career costs of motherhood
May–December romance and power dynamics
PTSD, survivor's guilt, and the civilian–military divide
Maternal guilt, helicopter parenting, and learning to let go
Connect with Claudia:
Claudia Hinz Website
Claudi Hinz Instagram
Where to buy Safekeeping by Claudia Hinz
Connect With Us!!!
If you have a romantic movie or a must-read book suggestion, a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for us, or you've published your own romance, we are also eager to hear from you! Go to our website, and send us a quick message or fill out the query form if you'd like to interview with us.
My Perfect Romance Website
MPR on Instagram
MPR on TikTok
MPR on YouTube
Before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support and feedback means everything to us!
Coming Up:
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
Meet Me On Mistletoe Lane with Cassie Miller
Pearl Harbor starring Josh Hartnett, Ben Affleck & Kate Beckinsale
Legal Disclaimer:
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
1 hr 2 min
October 28111 | Lights Out by Navessa Allen - MPR Takes a Deep Dive into Stalker Tropes, Morally Grey Heroes & Dark Romance
Val, Courtney, and Lisa cover a dark romantic comedy with heavy kink, stalking, trauma, and consent issues, while also asking a bigger question: can two deeply damaged people build something real from an intentionally unreal setup? MPR unpacks the chemistry, the ethical gray areas, and the emotional logic behind the story’s “mask and anonymity” dynamic, and as always, we ask the question: Can this relationship actually last?
Key Topics
In this episode, the hosts break down Lights Out by Navessa Allen, a 2024 dark romantic comedy that blends horror, humor, and kink.
They discuss Allie, an overworked ER trauma nurse who uses adrenaline, intense workouts, and dark online content as escapism after a devastating loss.
They explore Josh, the masked thirst-trap creator, whose own childhood trauma and identity crisis stem from being the son of a notorious serial killer.
The conversation centers on the book’s central kink setup, including masked roleplay, power exchange, voyeurism, and the tension between fantasy and real-world boundaries.
The hosts note that both leads are high-functioning but deeply guarded, using intensity and sexual risk as a way to avoid emotional vulnerability.
They spend time on the biggest ethical question in the book: Josh’s stalking and surveillance are deeply violating, even if the story frames parts of it as kink-adjacent and eventually consensual.
They compare Josh’s fear that he is becoming like his father with Allie’s fear that she may hurt the people she loves if she ever slows down or gets close.
The discussion also covers the “real villain” in the book, a wealthy sociopath whose violence raises the stakes and pushes Josh into a protective role.
The hosts reflect on how the story uses fear, desire, and trauma bonding to create intimacy, and how that can be compelling on the page even when it would be alarming in real life.
They also touch on the book’s humor, especially the cat Fred, and praise the writing for making a very strange premise surprisingly readable.
Check out: Lights Out by Navessa Allen on Goodreads
Connect With Us
If you have a romantic movie or a must-read book suggestion, a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for us, or you've published your own romance, we are also eager to hear from you! Go to our website, and send us a quick message or fill out the query form if you'd like to interview with us.
My Perfect Romance Website
MPR on Instagram
MPR on TikTok
MPR on YouTube
Before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support and feedback means everything to us!
Coming Up:
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
Safekeeping with Claudia Hinz
Pearl Harbor starring Josh Hartnett, Ben Affleck & Kate Beckinsale
Legal Disclaimer
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
1 hr 5 min
October 21110 | WWYD #21 - Is This Friendship, Codependency, or a Throuple?
Val, Lisa, and Courtney unpack a listener dilemma about boundaries, couple time, and a best friend who acts like he’s automatically included in every plan. The conversation focuses on whether the boyfriend is truly respecting his partner’s needs, or just avoiding conflict by letting his friend steamroll the relationship. They also dig into whether the friend is simply clueless, lonely, or trying to force his way into a throuple.
Key topics
We discuss a boyfriend’s best friend who keeps showing up to dates, movie nights, and trips without being invited.
Val frames the issue as a boundary problem, especially after the friend bought a non refundable airline ticket for a couple’s trip.
Lisa points out that unclear relationship rules can make someone think they are welcome when they are not.
The hosts question whether the boyfriend is actually enforcing boundaries or just pacifying his partner in the moment.
They explore whether the friend has no other social circle, is socially unaware, or may be overly dependent on the boyfriend.
The group considers whether the friend’s behavior is innocent cluelessness or something more intentional.
They discuss how the girlfriend should protect couple time without forcing an unnecessary ultimatum.
The hosts emphasize that a boundary is about what you will accept, not just what you want someone else to do.
Practical advice centers on keeping the trip separate, not sharing full plans, and making it clear that the destination does not make it a shared vacation.
The episode closes with a reminder that the hosts are not professionals and that listeners should seek professional advice when needed.
Notable quotes
“A boundary is not an expectation of an action from someone else. A boundary is what you're willing to expose yourself to.”
“He needs to be her safe place.”
“He can talk about things after you've done them with his best friends. And yeah, I mean, it's okay just take time, just the two of you.”e keeps the boundary problem alive
Connect With Us
If you have a romantic movie or a must-read book suggestion, a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for us, or you've published your own romance, we are also eager to hear from you! Go to our website, and send us a quick message or fill out the query form if you'd like to interview with us.
My Perfect Romance Website
MPR on Instagram
MPR on TikTok
MPR on YouTube
Before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support and feedback means everything to us!
Coming Up:
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
Safekeeping with Claudia Hinz
Pearl Harbor starring Josh Hartnett, Ben Affleck & Kate Beckinsale
Legal Disclaimer
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
26 min
October 14109 | Did Christian Bale Portray the Best Frankenstein… or Did Jessie Buckley as, The Bride?
Valerie and Lisa unpack The Bride, a stylized 1930s horror romance that is as much about consent and selfhood as it is about monsters. They discuss how Maggie Gyllenhaal’s film turns a Frankenstein story into a layered conversation about silence, power, healing, and what it means to choose someone and be chosen in return.In this episode, the hosts explore why the film is emotionally heavy, visually striking, and far more romantic than expected. They also connect its themes to real relationship dynamics, from learning to speak up to repairing trust after harm.
Key topics
Valerie and Lisa frame The Bride as a “heavy” film with strong metaphor, not a background watch
Maggie Gyllenhaal is credited as writer, director, and producer, and her stylistic vision is praised throughout
Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale are singled out for especially strong performances
The film’s family connection is noted, with Peter Sarsgaard and Jake Gyllenhaal involved in the cast
The opening image of the bride vomiting black ink becomes a symbol of words unspoken and silenced trauma
The repeated phrase “I’d rather not” is treated as the film’s central statement about consent and agency
Frank begins as shy, inarticulate, and deeply lonely, but grows into a more direct and protective partner
The movie theater scene is read as a moment about public boundary-setting and speaking up for another woman
The movie’s Frankenstein roots are discussed, including the original bride’s silence and refusal
The ending is interpreted as a full-circle reversal where the bride chooses herself, her name, and her future
Offical Trailor: The Bride written by Maggie Gyllenhaal, starring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley
Notable quotes
“I’d rather not.”
“Love is a choice. It is not a feeling.”
“When you love someone and you see them for who they are, there is no end to the power of healing.”
Action items
Rewatch the film if you saw it once but felt overwhelmed or distracted
Pay attention to the repeated boundary language and how often the film centers consent
Notice how Frank’s voice, posture, and confidence change over time
Consider how the movie reframes the Frankenstein story through mutual growth instead of domination
Connect With Us
If you have a romantic movie or a must-read book suggestion, a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for us, or you've published your own romance, we are also eager to hear from you! Go to our website, and send us a quick message or fill out the query form if you'd like to interview with us.
My Perfect Romance Website
MPR on Instagram
MPR on TikTok
MPR on YouTube
Before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support and feedback means everything to us!
Coming Up:
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
Safekeeping with Claudia Hinz
Pearl Harbor starring Josh Hartnett, Ben Affleck & Kate Beckinsale
Legal Disclaimer
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
1 hr 10 min
October 07108 | Vengefully Matched with Audery Rouff
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff joins My Perfect Romance to talk about her new book Vengefully Matched, a witchy enemies-to-lovers romance novel built on revenge, forced proximity, prank wars, and emotional growth. The conversation explores why vengeance can be honest, how messy characters can still be lovable, and why communication and consent matter just as much as chemistry. They also discuss the witchy Hallowcross world, memorable side characters, dream casting, and what Audrey hopes readers take away from a romance that starts in chaos and grows into trust.
In this episode
Why revenge can be a compelling and honest force in romance
How to write messy, vengeful characters readers still root for
The enemies-to-lovers tension between Agatha and Priscilla
How pranks and close observation bring the characters together
Communication, consent, boundaries, and emotional growth
The inspiration behind Audrey’s Hallowcross world
Writing vulnerable scenes during a difficult time
Possible casting choices for a screen adaptation
Audrey’s upcoming young adult novel, Personal Space Issues
Mentioned in the episode
Vengefully Matched by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff
Personal Space Issues, Audrey’s upcoming young adult novel
Practical Magic, Pushing Daisies, and The Addams Family
Notable quotes
“I want to support women’s rights and also women’s wrongs.”
“You don’t have to settle for anything less than electric.”
“We get to believe in love even when we mess up.”
About the guest
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff is the author of Vengefully Matched and teaches high school English. She discusses her books and updates on Instagram as Audrey Goldberg Ruoff.
Audrey's Website
Audrey's Instagram
Audrey's TikTok
Audrey's X
Connect With Us
If you have a romantic movie or a must-read book suggestion, a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for us, or you've published your own romance, we are also eager to hear from you! Go to our website, and send us a quick message or fill out the query form if you'd like to interview with us.
My Perfect Romance Website
MPR on Instagram
MPR on TikTok
MPR on YouTube
Before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support and feedback means everything to us!
Coming Up:
The Bride written by Maggie Gyllenhaal, starring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
Safekeeping with Claudia Hinz
Legal Disclaimer
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
51 min
September 30107 | Girls Like Girls: Hayley Kiyoko's Masterpiece is All That
Val, Lisa, and Courtney review the coming-of-age film Girls Like Girls, a late-summer story about grief, first love, and the messiness of being young in a small town. They dig into the film’s 2006 setting, its roots in Hayley Kiyoko’s viral music video, and why the father-daughter relationship becomes the emotional center of the movie.
Key topics
The film’s nostalgic 2006 setting and how life before social media shapes the characters’ choices
Cole’s grief, isolation, and adjustment to life with a father she barely knows
The story’s path from Hayley Kiyoko’s 2015 music video to the YA novel and feature adaptation
Cole and Sonia’s attraction, secret hangouts, and complicated relationship
Pressure, identity, and the tension between safety and authenticity
Controlling behavior and relationship red flags
Why the father-daughter relationship stands out as one of the film’s most moving elements
The difference between representation and a healthy relationship
Loveable Quote/s:
“We need to look at the quality of the relationship and the healthiness of the people engaged in the relationship
Resources:
Trailor: Girls Like Girls
Original Music Video for Girls Like Girls
Connect With Us!!!
If you have a romantic movie or a must-read book suggestion, a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for us, or you've published your own romance, we are also eager to hear from you! Go to our website, and send us a quick message or fill out the query form if you'd like to interview with us.
My Perfect Romance Website
MPR on Instagram
MPR on TikTok
MPR on YouTube
Before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support and feedback means everything to us!
Coming Up:
Vengefully Matched with Aubrey Goldberg Ruoff
The Bride written by Maggie Gyllenhaal, starring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
Safekeeping with Claudia Hinz
Legal Disclaimer:
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
50 min
September 30107 | Girls like Girls
Girls Like Girls
Val, Lisa, and Courtney review the coming-of-age film Girls Like Girls, a late-summer story about grief, first love, and the messiness of being young in a small town. They dig into the film’s 2006 setting, its roots in Hayley Kiyoko’s viral music video, and why the father-daughter relationship becomes the emotional center of the movie.
Key topics
The film’s nostalgic 2006 setting and how life before social media shapes the characters’ choices
Cole’s grief, isolation, and adjustment to life with a father she barely knows
The story’s path from Hayley Kiyoko’s 2015 music video to the YA novel and feature adaptation
Cole and Sonia’s attraction, secret hangouts, and complicated relationship
Small-ship
own pressure, identity, and the tension between safety and authenticity
The hosts’ discussion of controlling behavior and relationship red flags
Why the father-daughter relationship stands out as one of the film’s most moving elements
The difference between representation and a healthy relatioship
Timestamps
00:00 – Getting settled
04:53 – Valerie’s dirt-biking injury
09:04 – Introducing Girls Like Girls and its 2006 setting
15:22 – The music video origins
19:04 – Why the pre-social-media setting matters
23:27 – Cole meets Sonia
29:15 – Grief, image, and fitting in
33:32 – Secret hangouts and honest conversations
36:35 – Relationship tension builds
38:55 – Safety versus authenticity
41:55 – Cole’s fear of vulnerability
46:10 – The father-daughter relationship
48:35 – What would you do in Cole’s position?
52:13 – How realistic is the relationship?
55:28 – How spicy is the movie?
58:26 – Representation and relationship health
66:13 – What’s coming up on the show
You need to be your authentic self
“We need to look at the quality of the relationship and the healthiness of the people engaged in the relationship
54 min
September 23106 | Stuck in a Transactional Relationship: How to Reclaim Autonomy and Break the Pattern
Lisa, Cortney, and Val unpack a listener dilemma about repeating a relationship pattern that offers financial stability but comes with control, emotional abuse, and dependence. They discuss warning signs, why unhealthy dynamics can feel familiar, and practical first steps toward building independence.
Key topics
A listener in her mid-50s feels trapped in a cycle: partners provide financial security, but the relationships become controlling and leave her feeling used and exhausted.
When support becomes transactional: the hosts discuss demands around appearance, exercise, hobbies, and “performing” to a partner’s expectations.
Warning signs of emotional abuse: being given the cold shoulder or made to feel small for resisting an activity or setting a boundary.
Respecting safety and boundaries: a caring partner asks what feels comfortable and doesn’t pressure or punish someone for saying no.
Family patterns and emotional neglect: the listener’s mother responds dismissively when she asks for support, which may echo earlier experiences of having her needs minimized.
Financial dependence and vulnerability: the hosts consider how a lack of personal income can make it harder to save money and leave.
Possible steps toward independence: exploring community college, short technical programs, and counseling services.
Relearning healthy love: recognizing that a stable relationship may feel unfamiliar after relationships built around pleasing someone else.
Possible next steps discussed
Explore community college or a short technical program that could lead to independent income.
Ask about counseling services through a college or university, or seek trauma-informed counseling.
Identify where a relationship involves control, fear, or financial dependence rather than mutual care.
Make a practical plan before leaving if financial or safety concerns make an immediate exit difficult.
Work toward recognizing healthy, stable love without mistaking it for boredom.
Connect With Us!
Do you have a romantic tale or a must-read book suggestion? Perhaps a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for our team? We are also eager to hear from authors or creators who want to join us for a chat!
Visit www.myperfectromance.com to get in touch,
And before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support truly means everything to us!
Coming Up:
Girls like Girls directed by Hayley Kiyoko
Vengefully Matched by Aubrey Goldberg Ruoff
The Bride with Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley
Legal Disclaimer:
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
25 min
September 16105 | Year Two Favorites and Relationship Lessons from My Perfect Romance
Val, Lisa, and Courtney look back on a full year of romance books, movies, and author interviews, then compare notes on the stories and relationship advice that stayed with them most. It is a reflective, personal episode about what romance media can teach about communication, healing, trust, and connection. In this episode, the hosts share their favorite books and movies from the year, the authors who made the biggest impression, and the relationship lessons they keep applying in real life.
Key topics
The hosts recap a year of romance books, movies, and author conversations.
Val discusses How to Save Your Marriage by Lee Baucom and its practical relationship advice.
Lisa shares why Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez resonated with her, particularly its portrayal of anxiety and supportive partnership.
Courtney highlights One Golden Summer by Carly Fortune and its friends-to-lovers storyline.
Val reminds us that A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey takes you on a relationship odyssey of a lifetime.
Lisa shares why her favorite movie, Fall Guy, was a fun, action-packed film that's really about learning to trust your partner.
Courtney will always love a good zombie romance, and Warm Bodies, hits all the right romantic story-lines just right.
Val, Courtney and Lisa explore communication, boundaries, vulnerability, healing, trust, and emotional intimacy.
They reflect on lessons from their author interviews and the value of hearing writers discuss their creative process.
A central takeaway is that healthy relationships require honest communication and the courage to be seen authentically.
Connect With Us! Do you have a romantic tale or a must-read book suggestion? Perhaps a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for our team? We are also eager to hear from authors or creators who want to join us for a chat! Visit www.myperfectromance.com to get in touch,
And before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support truly means everything to us!
Legal Disclaimer:
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
Coming Up:
Girls like Girls directed by Hayley Kiyoko
Vengefully Matched by Aubrey Goldberg Ruoff
The Bride with Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley
57 min
September 09104 | Hot Takes on Carley Fortune’s One Golden Summer: Every Summer After Companion Breakdown
Val, Courtney, and Lisa break down One Golden Summer a story of summer romance, emotional vulnerability, and what happens when chemistry is not matched by honesty. The discuss the book’s central relationship and the secrets underneath it, and why the story works more as a summer friendship than a forever love story.
Check Out One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune in Goodreads
Key topics
In this episode: the hosts review One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, published May 6, 2025, and explain that it works as a companion novel to Every Summer After.
They discuss Charlie Ford, Alice, and the lake setting, including the award-winning photograph that launched Alice’s photography career and the yellow boat rescue that brings the two leads together.
They explore Alice’s growth arc, especially her desire to stay authentic in a media world that pushes overly edited, idealized images.
They break down Charlie’s appeal as a charming, thoughtful, highly confident love interest who cooks, helps around the cabin, and shows up in small practical ways.
The hosts focus on the book’s biggest tension: Charlie keeps acting like a boyfriend while insisting the relationship is only a summer thing.
They discuss how Alice’s bucket list becomes the emotional engine of the story, giving her a way to reclaim fun, risk, and self-definition after heartbreak.
They examine the deeper reason Charlie holds back: his father died at 35, he is facing serious cardiac issues, and he is terrified of becoming close to someone before his own health crisis unfolds.
They talk through the communication problem at the center of the book, especially the idea that partners cannot make each other’s choices by withholding important truth.
They compare the story’s romance to real life, arguing that mind reading is unrealistic and that honest communication is necessary for any lasting relationship.
They end with a broader reflection on healing, self-discovery, and why the summer friendship feels real even if the happily ever after does not.
Notable quotes
“Some people feel like summer.”
“When you speak, he listens. When you smile, he smiles. When you need something, he offers help.”
“Peace out, asshole.”
Action items
Try making a realistic seasonal bucket list instead of a huge life list.
Say the thing you actually mean instead of expecting someone to guess it.
Connect With Us! Do you have a romantic tale or a must-read book suggestion? Perhaps a tricky “what would you do?” scenario for our team? We are also eager to hear from authors or creators who want to join us for a chat! Visit www.myperfectromance.com to get in touch,
And before you go... make sure to follow and rate or review our show. Your support truly means everything to us!
Legal Disclaimer:
My Perfect Romance features besties discussing their own perspectives for fun. We aren't professional therapists or relationship experts. For serious matters, please reach out to a licensed counselor or qualified specialist.
Coming Up:
Girls like Girls directed by Hayley Kiyoko
Vengefully Matched by Aubrey Goldberg Ruoff
The Bride with Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley
1 hr 3 min

About My Perfect Romance

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Valerie, Courtney and Lisa share and discuss all things romance whether it be books, movies, love stories or your stories.

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My Perfect Romance

My Perfect Romance episodes

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