Not Another Heroine

Wish fulfillment is what the story feels like and there ain't nothing wrong with that, except when:

• a mustache-twirling villain hijacks the plot (at least it was exciting);
• the MCs have a taste for exhibitionism but awful timing; and,
• the heroine is an inconsistent idiot.

We finished it (shocking considering how many issues we found in the overall design), but we highly recommend skipping this pod read in favor of some of the author's fanfiction. (You can find her on AO3 under LovesBitca8)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201627074-not-another-love-song

https://archiveofourown.org/users/LovesBitca8/pseuds/LovesBitca8

Rating: 3

Spice: 4

Genre: Contemporary

Sub-genre: more romance than plot

Heroine: The Diamond, The Downtrodden

Hero: Billionaire, Walking Red Flag

Tropes: slow burn, enemies to lovers

Sincerely Yours is a gender-swapped Dramione retelling of You've Got Mail. Hidden identities, letter writing, self-growth - all wrapped into a tidy novella. This is a perfect introduction to fanfiction if you're not a die-hard HP fan and tomes like Manacled are a little intimidating.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48211207/chapters/121579090

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61618737-forget-me-not?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=24LFYmEpAo&rank=1

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784546-divine-rivals?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_13

All things Ali Hazelwood

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21098177.Ali_Hazelwood

Want more of Jordan, Katie, and Not Another Heroine? Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes and to listen to our Patreon-exclusive series, Tawdry Tuesday! https://patreon.com/notanotherheroine

You know when you're hungry and the only thing available is a gas station sandwich that's a few days old but somehow still has some flavor? So you finish it and you feel less hungry but somewhat disappointed with your life choices. That's how we feel about this book.

The writing is fine, there's some semblance of a plot, and the cool background details are engaging, but the characters are unlikeable mostly due to their immaturity. Stick around for the fun music references but maybe wait until the title pops up on Libby to start reading.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201627074-not-another-love-song

Rating: 3

Spice: 4

Genre: Contemporary

Sub-genre: more romance than plot

Heroine: The Diamond, The Downtrodden

Hero: Billionaire, Walking Red Flag

Tropes: slow burn, enemies to lovers

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61618737-forget-me-not

Reality TV is about how Katie sums this book up. It's not great, there are definitely other books that surpass Icebreaker in general quality, but if you need something to fill the time and you're in your hockey romance era, this just might tide you over until you find a better read. *Mild caution for some eating disorder themes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61767292-icebreaker

Other books mentioned in this episode:

The Graham Effect and The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123255391-the-graham-effect?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=MUKab2vIIr&rank=1

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200338241-the-dixon-rule?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mL7O9iE78r&rank=1

All of Ali Hazelwood's works:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21098177.Ali_Hazelwood?from_search=true&from_srp=true

Some hidden gems:

Easy by Tammara Weber

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16056408-easy?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=3vpKLYRjSK&rank=2

Simon Says by Lori Foster

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/155317.Simon_Says?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mNVqcFA8gg&rank=19

We have entered our era of fanfiction. This week we're reading "The Right Thing To Do" by LovesBitca8 (aka Julie Soto, the author of Forget Me Not). This work is the author's first fanfiction, posted in 2017 and served as the inspiration for another beloved fic, "The Auction," due to be published later this year under the title "Rose in Chains."

"The Right Thing To Do" feels like a 16-episode corporate romance k-drama complete with makeover sequence, busybody mom, several secondary love interests, and a third-act break-up. At its heart, this story is driven by the character's insecurities and repeated instances of miscommunication, but despite these typically alienizing tropes we devoured this story and the slowburn to a happily ever after.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11472648/chapters/25724661

Rating: 5

Spice: 3

Genre: Fantasy

Sub-genre: more romance than plot

Heroine: Soft Girl

Hero: Billionaire, Golden Retriever

Tropes: slow burn, forbidden love

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201627074-not-another-love-song

It's another DNF week for both of us but not for the reasons you might think. Throne in the Dark is the first book in the Villains & Virtues series and it is all over the romantasy subbreddit. This book is frequently recommended hand in hand with Reign & Ruin by J. D. Evans (which we loved), but this just hits a little different. Well-written but created in the vein of Spaceballs and The Princess Bride, this is a campy romp following the evil son of a demon lord and a do-goody damsel. If that's your thing, you will love this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62232755-throne-in-the-dark?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=zFYRO5uAfD&rank=1

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123257687-assistant-to-the-villain?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_5

The Songbird & The Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210134467-the-songbird-the-heart-of-stone?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_23

Reign & Ruin by J. D. Evans

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50607309-reign-ruin?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=oUkIsWUSuJ&rank=1

When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202507554-when-the-moon-hatched?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Sb4riMkZpN&rank=1

Also check out: 

Galavant

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3305096/

We have entered our era of fanfiction. This week we're reading "The Right Thing To Do" by LovesBitca8 (aka Julie Soto, the author of Forget Me Not). This work is the author's first fanfiction, posted in 2017 and served as the inspiration for another beloved fic, "The Auction," due to be published later this year under the title "Rose in Chains."

"The Right Thing To Do" feels like a 16-episode corporate romance k-drama complete with makeover sequence, busybody mom, several secondary love interests, and a third-act break-up. At its heart, this story is driven by the character's insecurities and repeated instances of miscommunication, but despite these typically alienizing tropes we devoured this story and the slowburn to a happily ever after.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11472648/chapters/25724661

Rating: 5

Spice: 3

Genre: Fantasy

Sub-genre: more romance than plot

Heroine: Soft Girl

Hero: Billionaire, Golden Retriever

Tropes: slow burn, forbidden love

Rival gang members in early 20th century Shanghai battle a mysterious plague while battling feelings for each other: seems like a stay-up-all night reading concoction but this take on Romeo and Juliet falls flat. Katie recommends it if you're an Allison Saft fan (which she is not) but maybe check out Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross or Dance of Thieves by Mary Pearson instead.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50892212-these-violent-delights?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=YQOUh4VyNf&rank=1

We have entered our era of fanfiction. This week we're reading "The Right Thing To Do" by LovesBitca8 (aka Julie Soto, the author of Forget Me Not). This work is the author's first fanfiction, posted in 2017 and served as the inspiration for another beloved fic, "The Auction," due to be published later this year under the title "Rose in Chains."

"The Right Thing To Do" feels like a 16-episode corporate romance k-drama complete with makeover sequence, busybody mom, several secondary love interests, and a third-act break-up. At its heart, this story is driven by the character's insecurities and repeated instances of miscommunication, but despite these typically alienizing tropes we devoured this story and the slowburn to a happily ever after.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11472648/chapters/25724661

Rating: 5

Spice: 3

Genre: Fantasy

Sub-genre: more romance than plot

Heroine: Soft Girl

Hero: Billionaire, Golden Retriever

Tropes: slow burn, forbidden love

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Almost Forever by Linda Howard

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/411698.Almost_Forever?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=uAVvxC0TbP&rank=1

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221179254-rose-in-chains?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mM8W2eM1IT&rank=1

An introverted librarian with a talking plant escapes a burning city to flee to her island home out in the boondocks. A gorgeous neighbor delivers her delicious treats.

And that's as far as Jordan got in this book. Despite its GoodReads Choice Award nomination, this one is standing on a pretty cover and a cottage-core setting only. It's not bad, it's boring...and blue.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst