We recorded a thicc episode for you this month with our special guest Sarah, one of the hosts of the podcast Afternoona Asks! Together, we get into the nitty-gritty of red flag and green flag characters and cover a lot of ground: from what makes a red flag red and a green flag green, to the surprising gender dynamics of “flagging” characters at all.

Along the way, we mention a lot of our favorite love interests, including Baek Seon of When the Phone Rings, Mr. Gu of My Liberation Notes, Captain Ri of gateway KDrama Crash Landing on You, and many, many more. 

(If you want an SLL drinking game, take a sip every time Ayanni says "interesting" 🙃)

CW: Mention of SA and r*pe from (15:13-15:58)

Show Notes:

• Take the SLL Audience Survey! Closes April 30th, 2025: ⁠https://forms.gle/AJhFuMDzjSZeTE1f8⁠

• Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast
• Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kdramathis/
• Listen to Afternoona Asks: https://www.afternoonaasks.com/https://www.afternoonaasks.com/

Lit discussed this episode: Crash Landing on You, Taxi Driver Two, Love Like the Galaxy, My Liberation Notes, Twilight, Love Between Fairy and Devil, When the Phone Rings, A Sign of Affection, My Dearest, The First Frost, Blossom, Love Scout, See You in My 19th Life, True Beauty, Mickey 17, Future Diary, Lose You Forever, Just Between Lovers, Or Rain or Shine, Goodbye My Princess, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, Motel California, Lovestruck in the City, One Spring Night, Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food, Love Next Door, DP, Connect, Prison Playbook, Flower of Evil, Mr. Sunshine, Hospital Playlist, Reply 1994, The Slime Has Left Your Eyes, Doom At Your Service, Shopaholic King Louis, Yumi Cells, Little Women, Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Some Choice Afternoona Asks Episodes

• The History and Culture of South Korean Protest with Charles Kim - https://www.afternoonaasks.com/podcast/episode/2932457d/the-history-and-culture-of-south-korean-protest-with-charles-kim (Check out Dr. Kim's book - https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/youth-for-nation-culture-and-protest-in-cold-war-south-korea/)
• The Shocking Burning Sun Scandal - Interview with Chloe Hadjimatheou - https://www.afternoonaasks.com/podcast/episode/1c7b49eb/the-shocking-burning-sun-scandal-interview-with-chloe-hadjimatheou (Find Chloe Hadjimatheou's podcast here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001n9kv)
• Heartriders Unite! All About the Fallen for Seo In Guk US Fan Meets - https://www.afternoonaasks.com/podcast/episode/5bf07d2e/heartriders-unite-all-about-the-fallen-for-seo-in-guk-us-fan-meets

Check out SLL Live in 2025:

• April 2025 - Romance in CNY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://romanceincny.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On Future SLL Episodes: Ever After and Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity.

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US.

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

It's time for our annual SLL tradition of rounding up the pop culture of the previous year! We start with what pop-culture is "sparking joy” in February,  our favorites of 2024, and what we’re looking forward to in 2025.

As a treat, Corinne's snark levels were very high this episode (lol).

CW: Brief mention of S*icide from (1:06:51-1:06:54)

Show Notes:

• Take the SLL Audience Survey! Closes March 28th, 2025: https://forms.gle/AJhFuMDzjSZeTE1f8
• Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast
• Check out Corinne's 2024 drama round ups on Tumblr:

• Korean Dramas: https://www.tumblr.com/starcrossed591/770716418956312576/kdrama-year-in-review-2024?source=share
• Chinese Dramas: https://www.tumblr.com/starcrossed591/771029764525916160/cdrama-year-in-review-2024?source=share

• Lit Mentioned By Section:

• What's Sparking Joy Feb 2025: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater, and My Old Ass
• Joy Sparked in 2024 - Yoga with Kassandra (https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithkassandra), Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, My Sweet Mobster (KDrama), As If Love Does Not Exist (Webtoon), Blossom (CDrama), Kaos, True Detective (Season 4), Someone to Build a Nest In by John Wiswell, Poor Things, Challengers, Build Mama a Coffin: An Old Gods of Appalachia story (https://www.oldgodsofappalachia.com/episodes/2020-02-06/build-mama-a-coffin-trailer/202002061153231909)
• Joy Sparked in 2024, Deep Dives - Lovely Runner (KDrama),The Princess Royal (CDrama), Look Back, Flow, Nosferatu (2024)
• Future Joy Sparked in 2025: Back After This by Linda Holmes, Wheel of Time (Season 3), Witch Hat Atelier anime, Sinners
• Others: Extraordinary You, Goblin, Romance of Tiger and Rose, Love Like the Galaxy, Flourished Peony, Abbott Elementary, Blue Box, My Happy Marriage, Apothecary Diaries, Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun, Perfect Marriage Revenge, Marry My Husband, The Wild Robot

Check out SLL Live in 2025:

• April 2025 - Romance in CNY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://romanceincny.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On Future SLL Episodes: Strangers Again, Let's Get Divorced, and Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity.

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US.

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Joined once again by our younger siblings, Erin and Akinde, we dive right into Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury spoilers in part two of our discussion.

To kick things off, we start with our complicated feelings on main character Feyre. We also ask the hard hitting questions, like: are these sex scenes sexy? Why is there so much growling? And what would actually happen if the wings of the Illyrians were really that sensitive?

As a heads up for people who adore these books: we’re not here to kill your vibe! Still, while we do appreciate a lot of what Maas is doing, as well as her wider influence on pop culture, we do have some bones to pick. Also, we drop a few spoilers for some of the later books, so if you care about spoilers for books 3, 4 or 5, please be forewarned!

Sorry for the delay on this one, folks! January was a month...but we left a treat for you at the end of this episode to make up for it.

Show Notes:

Check out SLL Live in 2025:

On Future SLL Episodes:

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast.

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). TheSLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. ACOTAR synopsis background music is "Nice Surprise" from Purple Planet Music (www.purple-planet.com).

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

You’ve asked, you've waited, and now, we’re finally delivering! Welcome to our two-part deep dive on the international best selling Romantasy novels A Court of Thorns and Roses and a Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas. 

In this first, spoiler free episode, we touch on our initial reactions to the series, and think a bit about what romantasy is and why it’s so appealing to so many readers.

Plus, we’re joined by some very special guests for these two episodes: our younger siblings!  They may claim to have been manipulated into coming on the show, but we’re glad to have them both on for this discussion 💛

Show Notes:

Check out SLL Live in 2025:

On Future SLL Episodes:

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast.

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). TheSLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot going on *gestures everywhere*, so rather than get into anything too tragic, as we’re wont to do, we’ve instead gathered some Comfort Media for Interesting Times (™)–that is, the pop culture we turn to when things are rough and we’re in need of a boost to help us make it through.

This episode, in the style of our Pop-Culture Round Ups, we trade off sharing cozy books, music, and TV shows that bolster our spirits and help us feel warm inside.

Lit "rounded up" this Episode:

Show Notes:

Check out SLL Live in 2025:

On Future SLL Episodes:

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast.

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). TheSLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Sorry for the delay on this episode folks - October and November have been a lot. But, without further ado, here's Last Night at the Telegraph Club, episode two!

Joined once again by Dr. Kai Chen, we dive right into Last Night at the Telegraph Club spoilers, starting with our feelings on Kath and Lily’s relationship and the high-key stress of classroom makeouts. From there, we consider the queer space of the Telegraph Club, Lily’s complicated and not always likable bestie Shirley, and our thoughts on the admittedly fraught ending.

Show Notes:

Check out SLL Live in 2025:

On Future SLL Episodes:

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast.

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). TheSLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

In classic SLL fashion, I welcome you to another accidental two-part discussion. This time, we’re joined by Dr. Kai Chen to discuss Malinda Lo’s award-winning novel, Last Night at the Telegraph Club. This episode, we keep things spoiler free by first giving some context for the book and then our overall impressions. (Plus, we get a bonus visit from Ayanni's 20 year old family cat.)

Show Notes:

Check out SLL Live in 2025:

On Future SLL Episodes: Strangers Again, Let's Get Divorced, Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, and A Court of Thorns and Roses

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast.

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). TheSLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Welcome to our second episode on the Chinese Drama Lost You Forever, part 2! We jump right into Tushan Jing and Xiao Yao’s relationship as the ostensible OTP of the show. From there, we consider just how sad our snake demon man Xiang Liu made us in his determination to push Xiao Yao away, as well as A’Nian’s surprisingly poignant maturation arc.

Lit Discussed this Episode: "Spring Snow" by 10 Centimeters, "Love Heart Cheat Code" by Hiatus Kaiyote, "Nightfalling" by John Park, Lovely Runner, Love Between Fairy and Devil

(Plus, check out our new Spotify playlist that rounds up songs we love and that have sparked joy: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=SjvEqPF_RdS7Y5-AXDH5zg&pi=u-5IZPrM2xRc-N)

Show Notes:

You can listen to all the previous Lost You Forever episodes on your favorite podcast platforms:

• ​Season 2, Part 1: https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/e47-lost-you-forever-season-2-episode-1-of-2-a-lot-of-sad-weddings-in-this-one/
• ​Season 1, Part 1 (no spoilers): https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/e35-lost-you-forever-season-1-mini-series-part-1-spoiler-free/
• ​Season 1, Part 2: https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/e36-lost-you-forever-season-1-mini-series-part-2-spoiler-filled/
• ​Season 1, Part 3: https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/e37-lost-you-forever-season-1-mini-series-part-3-spoiler-filled/

Come see us LIVE at Romance in CNY: https://romanceincny.com/

Planning for RomantiConn 2025 is already underway! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/351611412074474/⁠⁠⁠

On Future SLL Episodes: Strangers Again, Let's Get Divorced, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, and A Court of Thorns and Roses

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠; on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit; and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). TheSLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Your girls had a lot of feelings and a lot to say about the most recent installment of the Chinese drama Lost You Forever. So welcome to part one of our deep dive that starts with our overall reactions to the show. Then, we go into Cang Xuan and Xiao Yao’s complicated relationship, and especially how some of the changes in adaptation from the novel affect how it all ties together at the end.

Lit Discussed this Episode: Mayonaka Punch, The Earl Who Isn't, Love Like the Galaxy, Snowfall, Little Women (2019), Goodbye My Princess

Show Notes:

Come see us LIVE at Romance in CNY: https://romanceincny.com/

Planning for RomantiConn 2025 is already underway! ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/351611412074474/⁠⁠

You can listen to all the previous Lost You Forever episodes on your favorite podcast platforms:

On Future SLL Episodes: Strangers Again, Let's Get Divorced, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, and A Court of Thorns and Roses

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠; on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit; and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Due to circumstances entirely within our control, we interrupt your regularly scheduled SLL programming for a special summer edition of our What’s Sparking Joy: Pop Culture Round Up.  In addition to checking in about what we’ve been watching, reading, and listening to so far this year, we each share three pieces of media that continue to live rent free in our heads.

Lit Discussed this Episode: Lost You Forever Season 2 (no spoilers), Challengers, There's a Door in this Darkness, A Sign of Affection, The Princess Royal, The Bear, and The Midnight Romance in Hagwon

Show Notes:

Come visit Ayanni at the SLL table during RomantiConn this July! The vendors room is free to visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.eventbrite.com/e/romanticonn-2024-a-romance-author-signing-event-tickets-786820470207⁠⁠⁠ ; https://www.facebook.com/groups/351611412074474/

Other Lit Mentioned this Episode:

On Future SLL Episodes: Strangers Again, Let's Get Divorced, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, and A Court of Thorns and Roses

Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at SexLoveLitPodcast.com; on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit; and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast

Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The

Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.