Jess and Trisha talk through updates, the “Fyre Festival of Book Cons”, and - as promised - recommend some transportation-related romances.

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Book club is coming in June! We’ll be reading Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron and talking about it in our June 23 episode.

Perhaps you’ve heard: the A Million Lives book festival didn’t go great. At All. [Newsweek]

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Bananapants by Penny Reid

Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan (AOC)

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews (AOC)

Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau (AOC)

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh

Fly With Me by Andie Burke

The Best Bad Decision by S. Sidney

Aisle Be Yours by Nina High (AOC)

Big Boy and Ride with Me by Ruthie Knox

Tycoon by Joanna Shupe

The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton

The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee (AOC)

Hooked on You by Ada Barume (AOC)

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

NewsBooks Discussed

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Jess and Trisha talk about WIR book club, why/if point of view matters in romance, and they have some recs for reverse adaptations.

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Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co!

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News:

Book club is coming in June! We’ll be reading Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron probably in the second half of the month — stay tuned for specific dates.

Books Discussed:

Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma

The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee

Compromised Into a Scandalous Marriage by Lydia San Andres

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar

Love Letters from the Trail by Tif Marcelo

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

The Last Guy You Kiss by Carla de Guzman

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess is back, and she and Trisha catch up on news and books — specifically, outdoorsy romance.

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Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co!

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Consider preordering To L.A. With Love: A Charity Anthology

More AI…sigh. [Bloomberg]

The top fiction 100 books of the 21st Century from Kirkus include 6 romances! 

There’s a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice! So, great, I guess…!

Marriage Bargain with the Comte by Parker J. Cole

Fan Service by Rosie Danan

Losing Sight by Tati Richardson

Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly

Love Letters from the Trail by Tif Marcelo

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

Cubs and Campfires by Dylan Drakes

(Trust) Falling With You by Charish Reid

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Trisha is joined by special guest Liberty Hardy to chat a bit about news and a lot about romance mysteries and mystery romances.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co!

Read more about the Meta/LibGen digital piracy story [Forbes]

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Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine

Suitor Armor: Volume 2 by Purpah

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton

Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon

It's Elementary by Elise Bryant

A Murder Most Actual by Alexis Hall

Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow

The Riley Thorne series (starting with The Dead Guy Next Door) by Lucy Score

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). And you can find Liberty on Instagram @franzencomesalive and hear her on the All the Books podcast.

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Jess and Trisha talk through some romance news and then dive into our first book club book of the year.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co!

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Big sigh to this situation about a (very correctly) cancelled book [New York Times]

A little of the very basic background on the Amazon boycott [CNN]

Just search Ali Hazelwood on socials to learn how great she is!

Love Buzz by Neely Tubati Alexander

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

Even if The Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy

Just Playing House by Farah Heron

I’ll Come Back for You by Charish Reid

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha talk about romance graphic novels, short stories, and novellas — just in case you’re already feeling behind on your 2025 reading goals.

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To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co!

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Book club is back!! We’re reading Even if The Sky is Falling, edited by Taj McCoy, for an episode we’re recording on March 13 and which will be live on March 17. Send us your thoughts!

The Lisa Kleypas Historical Hero Showdown hosted by Romancing The Data brought us the joy we needed in February.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander 

Sunny Disposition by Deanna Gray

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham

Check, Please by Ngozi Ukazu

My Boyfriend is a Bear by Pamela Ribon

Hungry Heart by Jem Milton

I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner

Boyfriends by Refrainbow

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

Les Normaux by Janine Janssen

Baes of Juneteenth series (starting with Mr. Straight Up No Chaser by Sherelle Green)

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

The Governess Affair and Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan

A Rake, His Patron, and Their Muse by Nicola Davidson

The Sweetest Connection by Denise Williams

Aisle Be Yours by Nina High

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha talk about what they read when the real world is difficult and recommend some Black romance authors who might be new to you.

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To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

A new year means a new Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons. To get recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. All Access subscribers get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. You can become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year to get unlimited access to all members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies of knowing you are supporting independent media. To join, visit bookriot.com/readharder.

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Book club is back!! We’re reading Even if The Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy for an episode we’re recording on March 13 and which will be live on March 17. Send us your thoughts!

Find the Lisa Kleypas Historical Hero Showdown on Instagram through @romancingthedata.

Check out the Black Romance Has a History podcast AND the article Jess mentioned.

Jess was on the Book Riot pod - check it out!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall

Before I Say Goodbye by Mary Higgens Clark

Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

A Man for Mrs. Claus or Rafe (or anything) by Rebekah Weatherspoon

It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian

Hungry Heart by Jem Milton

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

When I Think of You by Myah Ariel

Just Right by Shon

Luca by Grey Huffington

Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places by Claire Kann

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha do a news roundup and recommend some great books with trans characters and trans authors.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

A new year means a new Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons. To get recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. All Access subscribers get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. You can become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year to get unlimited access to all members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies of knowing you are supporting independent media. To join, visit bookriot.com/readharder.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Book club is back!! We’re reading Even if The Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy, for an episode we’re recording on March 13 and which will be live on March 17. Send us your thoughts!

Here’s a link to the New Yorker article by Katy Waldman about the romantasy lawsuit that we talked about. 

And please consider taking part in this auction to support those impacted by the California wildfires.

Alone with Mr. Darcy by Abigail Reynolds

Yours, Forever by Leonor Soliz

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham

Even if The Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy

They Ain’t Proper by M.B. Guel

Hold Me by Courtney Milan

A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell

Divine Intervention by R.M. Virtues

Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao

Reverb by Anna Zabo

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha discuss what might be coming in 2025, including book club, trends, and romances they can’t wait to read.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

A new year means a new Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons. To get recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. All Access subscribers get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. You can become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year to get unlimited access to all members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies of knowing you are supporting independent media. To join, visit bookriot.com/readharder.

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Book club is back!! We’re reading Even if The Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy, probably in late February! Or early March!

And Jess was on Rebel Ever After with Ella Dawson. Check it out!

One for the Team by Aria Daze

A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell

I Think I’m In Love With an Alien by Ann Aguirre (6/17/25)

There’s Something About Mira by Sonali Dev (2/1/25)

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Romcom by Kimberly Lemming (2/25/25)

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews (5/20/25)

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes (1/21/25)

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (7/15/25)

Losing Sight by Tati Richardson (2/11/25)

Dream On Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake (5/13/25)

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha talk about lists and roundups that closed out 2024, as well as their favorite backlist reads of the last year.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

A new year means a new Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons. To get recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. All Access subscribers get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. You can become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year to get unlimited access to all members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies of knowing you are supporting independent media. To join, visit bookriot.com/readharder.

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Rifts and Refrains by Tiye and Keisha Mennefee

Just Playing House by Farah Heron

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Demon’s Dream by Elle Kayson

Fly with Me by Andie Burke

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

White Whiskey Bargain by Jodie Slaughter

Love in Color by Bolu Babalola

The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy

Amor, Actually by Adriana Herrara et al

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes (publishing 1/21/25)

Secret Spark by Kelly Farmer (publishing 1/7/25)

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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