Queerly Recommended

We're running on fumes and getting loopy. Kris is fresh off of a ten-hour drive and Tara has been working all day. You know what that means? That's right, it's a Monday night recording sesh. Get ready for the weird, the tired and the queer… recommendations, that is.

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Official Recommendations

This week, Kris recommends the Netflix drama, Inventing Anna. It's inspired by the story of Russian-born Anna Sorokin, who conned members of New York City's elite into believing she's Anna Delvey, German heiress. By leaning on this (very, very fake) image, she's able to get people to give her hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, goods, and services, towards her goal of opening a club.

Tara recommends the delightful f/f romance Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake. It follows Delilah Green as she returns home to Bright Falls, Oregon, so she can photograph her estranged stepsister's wedding. A fling with her stepsister's totally proper, single-mom, super-hot best friend might be just the ticket for getting through the festivities. Now they just need to make sure they don't catch any feelings.

Works/People Discussed

• Killing Eve (BBC)
• Good Sam (CBS)
• Hotel Queens by Lee Winter
• Nalini Singh
• Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)
• Gentleman Jack (HBO)
• I Was Better Last Night by Harvey Fierstein
• Above All Things by Roslyn Sinclair
• Abby Craden

It's the run up to awards season! So, in addition to congratulating our friend Brit Ryder for making finalist in the Foreword Indies for Not Guilty, Tara and Kris discuss the Lammy nominations.

Next, they dive into an important listener question from Sheena at The Lesbian Review about which movie would they would queer up. Tara and Kris also indulge in the reality world of the Tinder Swindler and Love is Blind and have some takes to share.

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Official Recommendations

Kris cheats! She has two official recommendations this week. The first is Normal Heart, the 2014 movie based on the largely autobiographical play of the same name by Larry Kramer, detailing the rise of the AIDS epidemic from 1981-1984. Kris's second recommendation is Nuclear Family, a documentary mini-series on HBO that follows the lives of two lesbians raising their children and the legal complications that ensue from the sperm donor.

Tara didn't cheat, but she did something else this week: she changed her mind. She had all these notes for one recommendation, but pivots wildly to bring to you the lesbian fiction classic, Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule. There's a deep history to his book, which revolves around queerness in the mid-20th century against the backdrop of Reno's divorce industry.

Works/Authors Discussed

• Shrill (Hulu)
• While You Were Sleeping (1995)
• Ocean's 8 (2018)
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
• American Survivor
• Dog (2022)
• Spiderman: No Way Home (2021)
• The Tinder Swindler (Netflix)
• Love is Blind Season Two (Netflix)
• The Headmistress audiobook (narrated by Abby Crayden, OMG)
• The Roads Left Behind Us by Kat Jackson

There's a lot of looking back in this episode. Kinda weird how that turns out sometimes. What are we looking back at? Our favourite butch-femme pairings, the age gap romance discussion from the previous episode, and the evergreen Evelyn Hugo discussion.

Kris and Tara also pose the impossible question: is Stanley Tucci the Toni Collette of men…OR is Toni Collette the Stanley Tucci of women?

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Official Recommendations

This week, Kris recommends the film Supernova (2020). Sam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have. Kris reflects on how representation doesn't always have to be happy, that it's important to showcase the difficult and sad realities of losing someone you love to dementia.

Tara recommends Truth and Measure by Roslyn Sinclair. What began life as a 300K word Devil Wears Prada fanfic has been reborn as a superb duology, The Carlisle Series. Jules Moretti is personal assistant to the icy fashion magazine mogul, Vivian Carlisle. Their professional relationship takes an unexpected turn towards romance when Vivian learns she's pregnant and Jules is the one person who has her back.

Works/Authors Discussed

• Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters
• Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae
• Spindrift by Anna Burke
• Jenny Frame
• Rachel Spangler
• Radclyffe
• My Policeman (2022)
• Mistakes were Made by Meryl Wilsner
• Killing Eve (BBC)
• The Walking Dead (AMC)
• Love is Blind (Netflix)
• Pieces of Her (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World
• RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This week's episode is a live recording that was part of The Lesbian Review's Sexy Reads event!

Kris and Tara come bearing recommendations. Sexy recommendations. You have questions, we have questions. What is Kris's safe word? Is live, in-person sex therapy 'a thing'? People in the chat have the answer!

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Works Discussed

• Macho Sluts by Patrick Califia
• The Night Off by Meghan O'Brien
• Party Favors by Jaime Clevenger
• Seasons of Love by Harper Bliss
• Fire on the Ice by Tamsen Parker
• In Her Court by Tamsen Parker
• The Sex Therapist Next Door by Meghan O'Brien

What stage of the pandemic are you in? We're not talking waves here — we're talking clothes. No pants? That's a given, but what else? When's the last time you wore a shirt? A proper, honest-to-goodness adult shirt? It's been a while, hasn't it?

Post-pandemic catch-up, Tara and Kris talk about what's good and continue to plan their post-covid Kansas City tour. Kris also comes out as a Toon Blaster and she doesn't care who knows it! What's a Toon Blaster? We have some ideas.

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Official Recommendations

This week, Kris recommends Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June. It's a debut novel that introduces us to a gay teenager who can't exactly join in with the straight kids in his life about their romantic lives, so instead plans out all the firsts that await him once he graduates. As Kris says, it's a book for all queers about the excitement and joy of coming out and into a wider community.

Tara recommends The Demon Equilibrium by Cathy Pegau. Yes, this book has demons and the lesbians who hunt them. But at its heart, it's the story of Grace and Maggie, two women who — when together — can harness magical power to fight evil. The story is told in two timelines: the first when Grace and Maggie meet, learn to use their shared power and fall in love, and the second when they reunite after a forced separation and Maggie can't remember who Grace is. While demon hordes abound, Grace waits to see if her old love will fall in love all over again.

Works Discussed

• Reacher (Amazon Prime)
• Perilous Obsession by Carsen Taite
• Toon Blast (Zynga)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: UK Versus the World (BBC Three)
• Queer Eye (Netflix)
• Gnosia (Petit Depotto) - Played on Nintendo Switch
• Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and we have chosen you (yes, you!) to be our valentine. And the gift we've chosen? A very special hangout with f/f romance author extraordinaire Melissa Brayden, who's recently had her story Kiss the Girl turned into a game through the Chapters: Interactive Stories app.

We're talking love this episode, people! In addition to reading your valentines, Kris, Tara and Melissa compare their fave fictional couples, kisses, and romances that they love to reread. We also find out if Kris has a low bar for kissing in media (Melissa thinks so), Kris thinks out loud about Charlize Theron's mouth, and Tara recounts her Summer of Steel at the tender age of twelve.

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Transcript coming soon!

Works Discussed

• Chapters: Interactive Stories - App
• Imagine Me & You (2005)
• Atomic Blonde (2017)
• Steven Universe (Cartoon Network)
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Tricky Wisdom by Camryn Eyde
• And Playing the Role of Herself by K.E. Lane
• Wynonna Earp (Syfy)
• The Red Files and Under Your Skin by Lee Winter
• Star by Danielle Steel
• Paradise by Judith McNaught
• Too Close to Touch by Georgia Beers
• Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran
• Turn Back Time by Radclyffe
• Fated Love by Radclyffe
• Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon
• Winter Jacket by Eliza Lentzski
• Leave Yesterday Behind (1978)
• Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman (CBS)
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• All that Matters by Susan X. Meagher
• Didn't Stay in Vegas by Chelsea M. Cameron
• Truth and Measure by Telanu

If you want to check out more from Melissa, you can find her on:

• Twitter: @MelissaBrayden
• Instagram: @mbraydenbooks
• Facebook @melissabrayden

What can I say? I'm a little disappointed. Tara and Kris start with some teasing about stuff that's not even in this episode and I'm the show notes! I want to include everything!

There's a whole bunch of stuff that does come up that I can tell you about, though. Kris has a Cujo story (what, you're surprised?). Somehow Willy Wonka makes an appearance. Kris reminisces about the time Queer Eye came to her town and the pair discuss what it would take for them to get in bed together. It's less than you'd think!

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Official Recommendations

This week, Kris recommends the Showtime series Yellowjackets. It's the story of a girl's soccer team in the 1990s that crash lands in the wilderness, only to be rescued 18 months later. What happened in those 18 months? It's a creepy, tense show that jumps time periods between the crash and the girls in middle age being confronted with the possibility that someone knows the secret of what happened to them.

Tara follows with her recommendation for D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins. Kris and D'Vaughn are contestants in a reality show, Instant I Do, where strangers get together and pretend to be getting married in six weeks. They have to convince their families that everything is real, and if anyone suspects, they lose. The problem is that Kris and D'Vaughn catch real feelings in their fake relationship.

Works Discussed

• The Lesbian Review Sexy Reads Event
• Lez Geek Out!cast episode with Tara
• Australian Survivor (Castaway Television)
• Catfish (MTV)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
• Queer Eye (Bravo)
• You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo
• The Map to You by Rachel Stockbridge

It's that time of year again! The latest instalment of The Best Lesbian Erotica series is here, and Kris and Tara are thrilled to be joined by the collection's editor, Sinclair Sexsmith.

Together, they discuss why writing queer erotica is a radical and political act, the healing potential of reading erotica that reflects your identity and desires, and the case for expanding the definition of the word "lesbian."

Buckle up, friends. It's an important and enlightening conversation.

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Works Discussed

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
• Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio
• Steven Universe (Cartoon Network)
• The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
• Hurts so Good: The Science and Culture of Pain on Purpose by Leigh Cowart

About Sinclair Sexsmith

Sinclair Sexsmith (they/them) is "the best-known butch erotica writer whose kinky, groundbreaking stories have turned on countless queer women" (AfterEllen), who "is in all the books, wins all the awards, speaks at all the panels and readings, knows all the stuff, and writes for all the places" (Autostraddle). ​Their short story collection, Sweet & Rough: Queer Kink Erotica, was a 2016 finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, and they are the current editor of the Best Lesbian Erotica series. Find more of their work at sugarbutch.net.

It's our first pod of 2022, and Kris and Tara jump straight into the deep end.

They talk about Jeopardy! and how Wheel of Fortune is beneath Kris. (Did you know that Kris was almost on Wheel of Fortune? Or the obstacle that blocked her dreams of game show domination forever? Find out!) Also, it should be no surprise that Kris has an Alanis Morissette story. It's a good time. We have fun here.

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Official Recommendations

This week, Kris recommends Vigil, a six-part series from BBC One. It revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death onboard a Trident nuclear submarine, which bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. For Gentleman Jack fans, Suranne Jones heads up the investigation with Game of Thrones alum Rose Leslie.

Tara rounds out the recommendations with Love and other Disasters by Anita Kelly, a romance about the first openly nonbinary contestant on America's favorite cooking show, who falls for their clumsy competitor. It's got angst, and it's that good, good angst.

Topics & Works Discussed

• Amy Schneider
• Wordle
• Yellowjackets (Showtime)
• Jagged (HBO)
• Tina (HBO)
• Changing Majors by Anna Harnett Rikeart
• RuPaul's Drag Race - Season 14
• Willow (1988)
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Nintendo Switch)
• 1 Queen, 5 Queers (Crave)

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Auntie Tara and Aunt Kris welcome you around the fire with their recommendations and yours for the Christmas season.

Also, we know this time of year can be especially hard for the queer community, so we want you to know that we're here for you. If you're needing a pick-me-up, an urgent recommendation to get you out of a funk, or a cheering section, reach out to us at @queerlyrec on Twitter or email podcast(at)queerlyrecommended(dot)com. You're not alone. Not now, not ever.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi!

Your recommendations:

• Tagan Shepherd recommends Single All the Way
• Cathy Pegau recommends A Muppet Christmas Carol
• Alyssa Linn Palmer recommends The Christmas Toy
• Sage recommends Baking Spirits Bright by Bryce Oakley
• Coffee Achiever recommends The Holiday

Kris's recommendations:

• Single All the Way
• Christmas at the Ranch
• Zoe's Extraordinary Christmas
• The Christmas Setup

Tara's recommendations

• Silent Night by Lily Seabrooke
• Faux Ho Ho by Nathan Burgoine
• Christmas Inn Maine by Chelsea M. Cameron
• Mangos and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera