Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse

Jess, my guest, is Shelf Love's first and most prolific listener contributor, and minted the term Shelf Lovelies, so she's basically a legend around here.

We normally choose one book to discuss per episode, but we couldn't decide between Rose Lerner's novel Listen to the Moon and her novella All or Nothing, so we decided to do a double-header episode. Between these two historical romances, we explore topics ranging from feeling out a polyamorous marriage, adulting and boundaries, daddy issues, Jewishness, and the big question: does it violate the laws of escapist reading to read about servants in a time period where there is so much manual labor involved? There is so much dusting, and it's somehow still so good!

Show Notes:

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]
• 58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of Hope
• Check out Shelf Love’s updated website including the transcript for this episode

Guest: Jess

We Read:

Listen to the Moon & All or Nothing by Rose Lerner

Modern Romance Canon Nomination(s)

*The Cinderella Deal* by Jennifer Crusie

*Artistic License* by Elle Pierson

Notes:

• Jess made her first major appearance in episode 2, which was actually the first episode that was recorded. This was the Jennifer Crusie episode.
• Jess's voice first made an appearance in episode 15 when she shared a Write This Book.
• Behold: Jessica (Sunfire #6). Here's a list of more Sunfire romances.
• This was my tween romance series: my favorite was The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 (Historical Disasters #2) by Kathleen Duey. I got all the dates just slightly wrong in the episode - for shame. Coincidentally given our discussion in this episode, the heroine in this was a maid!
• Snowpiercer (2013 film); John Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast (1946 film)
• Rose Lerner on Journeys of Romance episode 24 but it's also possible I was mostly remembering things I heard on episode 350 of Smart Podcast, Trashy Books or perhaps even episode 84 of Wicked Wallflowers. I'm not a meticulous researcher (unlike Rose Lerner).
• Sugar Baby Series by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• Georgette Heyer was an Antisemite and Her Work is Not Foundational Historical Romance by Felicia Grossman on Romance Daily News

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Bree, half of the romance writing duo Kit Rocha, is my guest! She shares her thoughts on why romance novels are all about power and if now is a good time to read dystopian fiction. We discuss A Conspiracy of Whispers by Ada Harper, a romance with intriguing world building, a discussion of gender roles told through genetically modified dispositions, and a wary heroine who learns how to use her broken pieces to stab her enemies.

Show Notes:

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]
• 58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of Hope
• Check out Shelf Love’s updated website including the transcript for this episode

Guest: Bree from Kit Rocha

• Twitter | Website | Buy Deal with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians book 1)

We Read:

*A Conspiracy of Whispers* by Ada Harper

Modern Romance Canon Nomination

*A Duke by Default* by Alyssa Cole

Notes:

Intersectionality Matters with Kimberle Crenshaw, Under the Blacklight series

Bree recommended Ann Aguirre's Jax series, which begins with Grimspace, as a good sci-fi romance cross-over.

We recorded this before the NYT published a sizzling article on the Omegaverse, but here you go friends.

Ada Harper also writes Sci-fi (not romance) as AJ Hackwith - Check out The Library of the Unwritten.

Also, I mentioned episode 045 when I was talking about people in power punching down. Episode 045 with Katrina Jackson, Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Felicia Grossman just came out, so if you haven't listened yet it's a good companion episode.

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

History in Romance with Rebekah Weatherspoon, Katrina Jackson, and Felicia Grossman. 

Stay safe, stay mad, and keep reading romance.

Transcript available for this episode (045) at Shelflovepodcast.com

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Book Recommendations:

• Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
• Gold Mountain by Sharon Cullars
• Spellbound by Allie Therin

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]
• 58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of Hope
• Check out Shelf Love’s updated website

Guests:

• Katrina Jackson
  • Twitter | Buy Office Hours by Katrina Jackson
• Felicia Grossman
  • Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Website | Amazon | Buy Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman
• Rebekah Weatherspoon
  • Twitter | Instagram | Website | Buy A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

EE Ottoman, romance author, is my guest! He shares his thoughts on men writing romance, what sexy, fun fantasy can look like when writing trans characters, and writing queerness in a historical setting. The romance worth reading that we discuss is Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles, which is a fun Victorian romp with jewel thieves, baddies who get their comeuppance, and a beautiful love story between two men who also experience personal growth along the way.

Show Notes:

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]
  • 58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of Hope
  • Check out Shelf Love’s updated website including the transcript for this episode

Guest: EE Ottoman

• Twitter | Website | Buy The Doctor's Discretion

We Read:

• Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles
  • KJ Charles' A Seditious Affair was discussed in episode episode 030 with Emma Barry.

Modern Romance Canon Nomination

Prosperity by Alexis Hall

Notes:

• Thanks to Nathan Burgoine for contributing his real life experience to the myths and misconceptions segment.
• RWA demographic study
• A Matter of Disagreement by EE Ottoman
• EE's Twitter thread about what writing pure sexual fantasy looks like for trans romance authors
  • Corey Alexander's response tweet

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Fantasy in romance with romance novel experts LaQuette, Felicia Grossman, and Jessica Van Slooten. My guests interpreted this theme a bit differently than I thought they would, and it's a delight to see a common thread emerge in their book recommendations.

The Quarantine Romance Book Club is a 10-episode mini-series of short, casual conversations with romance experts.

Stay safe, stay calm, and keep reading romance.

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Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]
• 58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of Hope
• Check out Shelf Love’s updated website

Guests:

• LaQuette 
  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon | Buy Bedding the Enemy by LaQuette

• Jessica Van Slooten 
  Twitter | Instagram | Website | Listen to Jessica’s Ted Talk “Romance Novels are Feminist”

• Felicia Grossman 
  Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Website | Amazon | Buy Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman

Book Recommendations

• Lakota Dreaming by Constance Gillam
• Lord of the Last Heartbeat by May Peterson
• Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts (CW: MC was a victim of domestic partner violence)

(I'd recommend listening to the episode for full content warnings, and please do your own research as well.)

You can also listen to this same trio of guests in episode 036. Parenthood in Romance with LaQuette, Felicia Grossman, Jessica Van Slooten

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

The Kingmaker Duet by Kennedy Ryan!

Show Notes:

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]
• 58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of Hope
• Check out Shelf Love’s updated website including the transcript for this episode

Guest: Adriana Herrera

• Twitter | Instagram | Website | He’s Come Undone

We Read:

The Kingmaker Duet by Kennedy Ryan (also includes The Rebel King)

Kennedy Ryan joined Shelf Love on the following episodes:

• 028. Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi
• 024. Body Image in romance
• 018. Kennedy Ryan on the RITAs

Myth: Feminists don’t read romance

Rhoda Baxter provided thoughts on this myth.

Awesome intersectional feminists you should read:

• Audre Lorde
• Patricia Hill Collins
• Gloria Anzaldua
• Angela Davis
• bell hooks
• Kimberle Crenshaw

Modern Romance Canon Nominations

• Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins: Conversation around a white-passing hero
• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: neurodiverse MC, Vietnamese culture
• A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles: Amazing class conversation

Books:

• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (YA M/M)
• Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan (Available May 26, 2020 - same universe as The Kingmaker)
• Girls and Sex and Boys and Sex by Peggy Orenstein
• Unhooked by Laura Sessions Stepp
• Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan (won a RITA)

Dear Prudie Column that inspired Adriana’s latest story in He’s Come Undone!

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Dr. Maria DeBlassie, educator and writer, on pleasure activism, how romance is a safe place to explore fantasy, emotions, and relationships, how media acts as a conduct manual where people can learn emotional literacy, and the importance of cultivating joy as a form of social justice.

We also discuss Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient, which Maria discussed with her students in class, through the lens of pleasure activism.

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]

Guest: Dr. Maria DeBlassie

• Twitter | Goodreads HEA All Day | Instagram | Website

We Read:

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Show Notes:

58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of Hope

Check out the updated website

Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria E. Anzaldúa

When Maria mentioned the survey of romance readers, she was referring to Reading the Romance by Janice Radway, which was published in 1984.

I then referred to something that I had read that compared Radway to other romance texts. Turns out that was Pamela Regis’s Keynote that I read in JPRS titled: What Do Critics Owe the Romance? Keynote Address at the Second Annual Conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance (Published October 12, 2011).

Pride and Prejudice. Sex and the City. Are links necessary?

Book Club (2018 film)

Second wave feminism

Sexually Speaking by Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown - learning how to reclaim your pleasure and your joy as a form of social justice. Maria said in the discussion that she has simplified ideas from this book for her class, and really you should read it for the full discussion about what brown is talking about.

Pretty Woman (1990 film) - it’s discussed. You don’t need to watch it if you haven’t already.

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Enemies in romance with romance novel experts LaQuette, Katee Robert, and Ruby Lang. Why do we love the hate in romance?

Stay safe, stay calm, and keep reading romance.

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Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list
• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Email: [email protected]

Sign up for the Shelf Love newsletter for bonus content!

Guests

• Katee Robert
  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Bookbub | Buy A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert
• LaQuette
  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon | Buy Bedding the Enemy by LaQuette
• Ruby Lang
  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon | Buy House Rules by Ruby Lang

Book Recommendations

• Lush Money by Angelina Lopez
• The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
• Second Chance Temptation by Joss Wood

(I'd recommend listening to the episode for full content warnings, and please do your own research as well.)

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Religion in romance with romance novel experts Rebekah Weatherspoon, Katrina Jackson, and Felicia Grossman, in which we discuss all the things you shouldn't talk about in polite society.

The Quarantine Romance Book Club is a 10-episode mini-series of short, casual conversations with romance experts, who are here to spread the joy of romance novels so that we can all stay home and NOT spread the Coronavirus. Stay safe, stay calm, and keep reading romance.

This episode is brought to you by Kensington’s newest title from Priscilla Oliveras, ISLAND AFFAIR. You can find ISLAND AFFAIR by Priscilla Oliveras wherever books are sold. Find out more at Kensingtonbooks.com. 

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Book recs:

• The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
• The Lord I Left by Scarlett Peckham
• Sinner by Sierra Simone (CW: Child abuse, suicide)

Other mentions:

Fated Mates episode that discussed Priest by Sierra Simone

(I'd recommend listening to the episode for full content warnings, and please do your own research as well.)

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list
• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Email: [email protected]

Sign up for the Shelf Love newsletter for bonus content!

Guests:

• Katrina Jackson
  • Twitter | Buy Office Hours by Katrina Jackson
• Felicia Grossman
  • Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Website | Amazon | Buy Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman
• Rebekah Weatherspoon
  • Twitter | Instagram | Website | Buy A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list
• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Email: [email protected]

Sign up for the Shelf Love newsletter for bonus content!

My guest Becky is big on Instagram and first joined me on episode 6 - we read Halloween Boo.  In this episode, we read A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare, which was kindly recommended by Lara van Lelyveld in episode 6.

Books/Media Mentioned:

• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
• Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (it’s about Theranos)
• Excel Bible 2019
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
• She’s All That (film)

Modern Romance Canon Nomination by Hannah Hearts Romance: Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

If you’d like to recommend Becky’s next romance, here’s what we’re looking for:

Yes to: Contemporary, crime, murder, political intrigue, external plot, kept on toes entire time not knowing what’s coming

No to: Historical, Mystery, fantasy/magic, internal musing

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]