Queerly Recommended

It's Kris's birthday today! Happy Birthday, Kris. (How old is she? She'll never tell.) This birthday episode is special in more ways than one. Our hosts compare war stories over driver's license photos and Kris discovers Tara's "sexy angry" face from the distant past.

Then it's time for the *check notes* ONE official recommendation? That's right, folks, there's only one official recommendation today and it's The Devil Wears Prada 2. The original film still has a thriving fanfic community, which is very important personally to Tara. Dive in with them as they discuss the original film's legacy, the new movie, and all the fun they had.

Works/People Discussed

• Million Dollar Secret (Netflix)
• Survivor (CBS)
• Project Hail Mary (2026)
• Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith
• Summer Official by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• The Long Con by Jenna Voris
• The Duke by Anna Cowan

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Things have been mostly quiet here at the old QR HQ, but the only news is good news! Kris's book Scandalous is up for a Goldie in the contemporary romance: mid-length novels category. In place of any new developments, Tara brings an extra official recommendation to the party.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Pillion (2025)

Kris's official recommendation this week is the movie Pillion. It's the story of a dreary wallflower of a young man who meets a biker and is carried into the world of BDSM. Kris learned a lot from this movie and enjoyed it thoroughly.

From Tara: The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz McLeod and The Second Draft by Carrie Byrd

This week, Tara's first recommendation isThe Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz McLeod. It's the second story in her Ausentatious series, which asks "what if?" about sapphic partnerships among the side characters of Pride and Prejudice. Tara recommended the previous book, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, waaaaay back in episode 104 and came away from this one liking it more. In this story, Caroline Bingley asks Georgiana Darcy to teach her how to be a good person, and they find love along the way. The writing nails the balance between sounding period appropriate and remaining compelling for a modern audience (plus it has all the sex scenes that Austen didn't put in, but probably wanted to).

The second recommendation is The Second Draft by Carrie Byrd. Tara adored this one. The only problem is, all the reasons she loved it most are spoilers! What she can tell you is that it's a later-in-life coming out story bundled with a sweet and emotional friends-to-lovers arc. The writing moved her and she thinks it'll move you too.

Works/People Discussed

• Shrinking (Apple TV+)
• Paradise, Season Two (Hulu)
• Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
• The Red Duet (Chasing Red & Catching Red) by Alix Marren

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This week, Kris returns to the pod smelling of peppermint and burdened with so much toilet paper and toothpaste, you wouldn't believe it. Together with Tara, they talk about the television finales that have let us down and the rigged reality shows that break our hearts. Finally, they make their moves and recommend what's been stirring their hearts lately.

Listen to your pit crews, listeners. They might just save your life.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Make Your Move by Melissa Brayden

Kris's official recommendation this week is the soon-to-be-released Make Your Move by Melissa Brayden. Taking place in the world of F1 racing, Kris found this sapphic romance to be a fast and furious read. She praises Brayden's exploration of a new world and how deeply the author delves into her characters.

From Tara: Keep Talking by J.J. Arias Tara's official recommendation this week is Keep Talking by J.J. Arias, an age gap romance set in the world of sapphic audiobook narration. Tara adored this book for its writing and its characters, and says it's the one to beat so far in 2026 for best books. Definitely check it out.

Works/People Discussed

• Game of Thrones (HBO)
• March Madness
• Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
• Age of Attraction (Netflix)
• Trixie & Katya watch Age of Attraction Season One
• Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (World of Wonder)
• Extracted (Fox)
• Culinary Class Wars: Season Two (Netflix)
• Intercepting Her Heart by KatDeMedi
• Strap In by Lou Morgan

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It's 2026, so we're talking about plagues and protests. Kris is sick again after spending too much time around small children, which means she has a bevy of binge-worthy television to recommend. Despite a board game haul and a blast from gaming past, Tara's also had time to read a book or two. They also talk about prologue protocol and epilogue etiquette.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Deadloch (Amazon Prime) Kris's recommendation this week is Deadloch, an Australian black-comedy crime mystery series set in a remote town that's dealing with a murder. Kris praised the character work and the different approach to comedy (including its face-eating seal named Kevin). Deadloch is in its second season now, but Kris's recommendation is solely for its first.

From Tara: Margin of Error by Rachel Lacey Tara's official recommendation this week is Margin of Error by Rachel Lacey. This sapphic romance begins with a chance meeting and a traumatic event that impacts the two leads, who reconnect a couple of years later in a small town in Vermont. Tara loved how this story shows two women coming to their sexuality later in life and the different ways that is expressed. It's a deliciously slow burn, and Tara thinks that if you're into slow, you'll love this book.

Works/People Discussed

• What's Wrong With You (game)
• Game of Thrones (HBO)
• Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton
• Extracted (Fox)
• Bridgerton (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (BBC Three)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (World of Wonder)
• Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)
• Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter (2026)
• Of Potions and Honey by Cara N. Delaney

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As we hunker down for a horrible winter storm, Kris and Tara have their first-ever fight on the podcast. Lines are drawn, things are said that can't be taken back, but laughs are also had.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: The Holiday Club (2024) Kris's official recommendation this week is The Holiday Club, a movie that follows two friends over the course of a year through various holidays as their relationship blossoms into something deeper and more romantic. Kris was charmed by this slow burn, low-angst story, and thinks you will be too.

The Love Book by Gun Brooke Tara's official recommendation this week is The Love Book by Gun Brooke. It's a sapphic romance novel that's bursting with things. Too many things, some might say, but Tara found it just right. When the poorly performing assistant to a high powered literary agent (who the assistant is also in love with) accidentally sends them their own manuscript anonymously, the two begin a dance of deception intended to keep the assistant's job but might end up winning…their hearts.

Works/People Discussed

• Paradise, Season Two (Hulu)
• Love is Blind (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (World of Wonder)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (BBC Three)
• Drag Queens Trixie Mattel & Katya React to The Boyfriend Season 2 | Netflix (YouTube)
• and I fell heavy into your arms by Libstar (56k words)
• What's In A Name by InBetweens (18k words)

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This week, Kris has no news and Tara tells all about her latest boob squishing appointment. Get your boobs squished, y'all. It's important. They also talk about the Olympics and other current topics like the Newhart series finale.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: The 'Burbs (Peacock) Kris's official recommendation this week is The 'Burbs, a new TV adaptation of the 1989 movie starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher. Kris found herself late to the Keke Palmer party, but now she's here and loving it.

From Tara: Moonstone Island (Studio Supersoft) Tara's official recommendation this week is Moonstone Island, an indie game described by Tara as a mix of Stardew Valley and Pokemon.

Works/People Discussed

• The Night Agent (Netflix)
• Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (World of Wonder)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (BBC Three)
• The Boyfriend (Netflix)
• The 'Burbs (1989)

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So… we skipped a week and didn't tell anyone. Sorry about that, folks. Life got in the way in a big way, but we're back with stories to tell.

Kris and Tara share COVID stories. Kris dives into her experience at ReadOUT. And of course, we've got those tasty, tasty recommendations.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Best in Show (2000) Kris's official recommendation this week is the film Best in Show, in honour of the late, great, and very much missed Catherine O'Hara. It's a mockumentary set in the wild and wacky world of competitive dog shows and the people who devote their lives to it. And, it turns out that the film aged fairly well. If you haven't seen it before, check it out.

From Tara: When She Flies by Lee Winter Tara's official recommendation this week is When She Flies by Lee Winter. Despite a humiliating first encounter that only one of them remembers, Jasmine and Sienna reconnect later in life by chance and their relationship churns up a lot of things that need changing in their personal lives. Tara thinks this book would make an awesome mini-series.

Works/People Discussed

• ReadOUT 2026
• EF5 by Kris Bryant
• Bridgerton (Netflix)
• Queer Eye (Netflix)
• 60 Days In (A&E)
• The Traitors (Peacock)
• His and Hers (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (World of Wonder)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (BBC Three)
• Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! (2026)
• This Love is Undeniable by MJ Duncan

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We talked about this! New year. NEW. Different. Better. Not (waves hands at the world) all of this.

Oh well, at least there's puppies, blurbs, and recommendations on tap. Pull up a chair, fellow sapphic fiction readers. We've got what you've been looking for.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Kris's official recommendation this week is a historical novel set in the distant past of the 1980s, when dinosaurs and other creatures still walked the earth. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is the story of a female astronaut coming to understand herself as she prepares to go to space. Kris says that this book helped fill in the emotional gaps that last year's recommendation of Sally, the documentary about astronaut Sally Ride, didn't provide.

From Tara: Greta Gets the Girl by Melissa Marr Tara's official recommendation this week is Greta Gets the Girl by Melissa Marr. Similar to Kris's recommendation, this book reaches back to a previous recommendation by the same author, Toni and Addie Go Viral. This book has that sweet, sweet one-night-to-forever trope that Tara craves. The book comes with a trigger warning because one of the leads is a sexual assault survivor, although no assault happens on the page. (Note: Tara forgot about the trigger warning when discussing this aspect of the book and how it's not mentioned in the blurb.)

Works/People Discussed

• 11.22.63 (Hulu)
• The Traitors (Peacock)
• Canada's Drag Race (Crave)
• RuPaul's Drag Race (World of Wonder)
• The Good Place (NBC)
• 10 Dance (2025)
• Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Sally (2025)
• Toni and Addie Go Viral by Melissa Marr

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It's a new year and we're already full of surprises here at Queerly Recommended. Kris reveals that she's never seen the sitcom Arrested Development. Tara drops more personal lore that connects her with an infamous Canadian serial killer. We have updates on Daryl Dixon the cat and the newest QR pet, Henry Rollins, Tara's little black schnoodle who hadn't yet arrived by the time of recording but is home now and thriving.

This episode, instead of looking forward, Kris and Tara look back at their favourite recommendations of 2025. They are, in no particular order.

Top Recommendations of 2025

Kris's top three

• Incendiant by Virginia Black
• Younger (Netflix)
• The Hunting Wives (Netflix)

Tara's top three

• Number Six by Lee Winter
• The Woman from the Waves by Roslyn Sinclair
• Discovering Nicola by Clare Ashton

Works/People Discussed

• Stranger Things (Netflix)
• Robin Hood (MGM+)
• The Christmas Baby (2025)
• Canada's Drag Race (Crave)
• Kickboxer (1989)
• Group Therapy (2024)
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
• The Science of Sex by charlottepriestly (note: you have to be signed in to an Ao3 account to read it)

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Someone's been rocking around the Christmas tree early and has already paid for it. Kris threw out her back! She's been laid up, recovering and catching up on her Netflix. Tara's on vacation and replaying Baldur's Gate 3. She also has a freckle on her damn eyeball. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Official Recommendations

From Kris: A Keller Christmas Vacation (2025)

Kris's official recommendation this week is A Keller Christmas Vacation, one of the few queer holiday movies that Hallmark put out this year. Kris had a lot of fun with this one and thinks you will too!

From Tara: Christmas Toys by Lily Seabrooke

Tara's official recommendation this week is Christmas Toys by Lily Seabrooke, an erotic, falling-for-the-roommate, Christmas romance that has a surprising amount of laughs. Tara loves Seabrooke's Christmas offerings and this is no different. Pick it up!

Works/People Discussed

• Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
• Stranger Things (Netflix)
• Ripple (Netflix)
• The Running Man (2025)
• Canada's Drag Race (Crave)
• Bloodsport (1988)
• Asking Kate by Clare Ashton
• Breakup Buddies by JJ Arias and Bryce Oakley

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