When In Romance

Jess and Trisha talk about why Heated Rivalry is so much more successful than other Harlequin adaptations released at the same time and then share some of their most anticipated titles of 2026.

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News:

Send us your most anticipated romances of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!!

Some background on Heated Rivalry [Vanity Fair]

And a reminder of those Harlequin adaptations airing on the CW [Variety]

Books Discussed:

Every New Year by Katrina Jackson 

Deception by Amanda Quick

The Packing List (anthology)

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Restore Me by JL Seegars (1/6/26)

Father Material by Alexis Hall (6/2/26)

By the Bootstraps by Alexa Martin (5/26/26)

It’s All In Your Head by Sabina Nordqvist (2/10/26)

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez (3/31/26)

Only Friends by Lydia San Andres (2/10/26)

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters (1/27/26)

Like In Love With You by Emma R. Alban (1/13/26)

A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander (3/10/26)

The Baby Dragon Bookshop by A.T. Qureshi (2/12/26)

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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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When in Romance is taking a short holiday break, so we thought we'd share an episode from our newest Book Riot Podcast, Zero to Well-Read, in which Jeff and Rebecca revisit Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, a story so familiar it’s often mistaken for simple. They consider its moral stakes, its enduring influence on readers and society, and why Scrooge's redemption still resonates.

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Email us: [email protected]

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Jess and Trisha talk about some of their favorite romance reads of 2025, including books that are light and fun, books that pack an emotional punch, books with mysteries, books with sports…and more!

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

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

We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started.

News:

Send us your most anticipated romances of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!!

Check out Book Riot’s amazing list of the Best Books of 2025!

Jess recommended the adaptation Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell - check it out!

Books Discussed:

Mr Collins in Love by Lee Welch

10 Dance by Satoh Inoue

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Romcom by Kimberly Lemming

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram

Secret Spark by Kelly Farmer

How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin

Fan Service by Rosie Danan

Homemaker by Ruthie Knox

Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa

Breakout Year by KD Casey

Love Letters from the Trail by Tif Marcelo

A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell

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 offer romance recommendations for characters with diabetes, characters who are immigrants, characters who are dinosaurs (or dinosaur adjacent) and more!

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

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

We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started.

News:

Send us your favorite romances of 2025, your most anticipated of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!!

Check out Book Riot’s amazing list of the Best Books of 2025!

Trisha mentioned the podcast Maintenance Phase and also the book What We Don’t Talk about When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon - check them both out. 

Trisha also mentioned Book Riot’s Grumpy/Grumpy romance list pulled together by R. Nassor.

Books Discussed:

Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne 

The Companion by EE Ottoman 

They Ain’t Proper by M.B. Guel

Any romance written by Diana Quincy

The Heart of the Blade duology by Sherry Thomas

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

Give Me A Reason by Stephanie Nicole Norris

Pulling Doubles by Christina C. Jones

Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden

Loving Queen by Saffron Brooks

Captured by Siren Crow

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington

Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

Trade Me by Courtney Milan

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

Romance Class authors, including Carla de Guzman, Tara Frejas, and Mina V. Esguerra

The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish by Xue Shan Fei Hu

The Anatomy of Magic by J.C. Cervantes

Anything by Therese Beharrie (one option is Single Dads Club)

Nalini Singh’s contemporary romances (one series starts with Rock Addiction)

Love in Color by Bobu Babalola

Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Something About You by Julie James

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan

Office Hours by Katrina Jackson

White Whiskey Bargain by Jodie Slaughter

Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg

Anger Bang by Avery Flynn

A Sharp Endless Need by Marisa Crane

Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta

A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

The Long Game by Elena Armas

The Hate Project by Kris Ripper

After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian

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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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'Tis the season! Jess and Trisha offer recommendations for paranormal romances that aren’t toxic, queernorm romance, epistolary romances, and more!

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

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

We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started.

News:

Send us your favorite romances of 2025, your most anticipated of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!!

Books Discussed:

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

Seasons of Love by Helena Greer

His True Alpha by Chencia C. Higgins

Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi

Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder

The Psy/Changling series (Book 1 is Slave to Sensation) by Nalini Singh

Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray

Witch You Would by Lia Amador

Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport

The Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee

Hot and Badgered and other titles by Shelley Laurenston/ G.A. Aiken

Deadly Ever After by Brittany Johnson

Paranormal romances by Viano Oniomoh, Rebel Carter, and Holley Trent

Iris Kelley Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Worst Soulmate Ever by Haruta 

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

The Flatshare by Beth O Leary

Isn’t It Obvious by Rachel Runya Katz

Follow My Voice by Ariana Godoy

Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae

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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 share adaptation news, highlight books by Native and Indigenous romance authors, and remind listeners to send in their recommendation requests.

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

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

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

News:

Send your requests for romance recs to [email protected] ASAP - ideally before the end of October…or close to it. ;-)

If you can, bid on something at the Steamy Lit Foundation auction - and/or share the auction before November 2.

Here are a lot of adaptations that are coming. We are excited about some! Not so much about others! You’ll be able to tell who we think is missing:

Red, White & Royal Wedding [Deadline]

Adventures in Love and Birding (Here’s a video of Sarah listening to the Wait Wait audio.)

Reminders of Him [Vulture]

People We Meet on Vacation [YouTube Trailer]

The Love Hypothesis [Marie Claire]

The Bodyguard [The Viewer’s Perspective]

Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell [The Wrap]

Books Discussed:

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade

The Crownless King by Dria Andersen

Yours for the Season by Uzma Jalaluddin

The Truth According to Ember and Love is a War Song by Danica Nava

Pivot by Anna Pulley

Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown

The Road Home by Christina Berry 

His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington 

Winning the Neonatal Doc’s Heart by Amy Ruttan

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

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 fall, The Enchanted Hacienda, and some magicky romance appropriate for this (or any) season.

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

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

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

News:

Send your requests for romance recs to [email protected] ASAP (or at least this month)!

Books Discussed:

Under a Strawberry Moon by Tasha L. Harrison

His Small-Town Challenge by Kelli Storm

My Boyfriends Are All Monsters by Kimberly Lemming

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan

The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller

Looking for Love in All The Haunted Places by Claire Kann

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

The Redemption of Philip Thane by Lisa Berne

Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper

Losing Sight by Tati Richardson

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 your recommendations for first time romance readers before digging into theirs - from historical to contemporary, dramatic to comedic, and low heat to...The Dragon’s Bride.

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

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

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

News:

Book club is coming!! Read The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes with us for our Oct 13 episode.

Books Discussed:

Pucking Strong by Emily Rath

Ride With Me by Simone Soltani

Ready or Not and Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes

His Perfect Partner by Priscilla Oliveras

Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert

Take a Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

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 the success of the Kickstarter model for book publishing and celebrate Sapphic September with some recs.

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

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

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

News:

Book club is coming!! Read The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes with us for our Oct 13 episode. 

You can still join the After the End Kickstarter party!

You can also play Sapphic September Bingo!

Books Discussed:

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes

Chocolate Chip City by Be Steadwell

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake 

An Unexpected Turn by Meka James

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

Secret Spark by Kelly Farmer

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 through some updates (book club is back!!) and then turn the conversation to vacation/getaway-themed 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!

Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.

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News:

Did someone say WIR Book Club? Trisha and Jess did! Read The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes with us for our October 13 episode. 

It’s not too late to experience Bookstore Romance Day (not Romance Bookstore Day)! Check out the BRD YouTube channel for a bunch of fun conversations.

Books Discussed:

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Because Fat Girl by Lauren Marie Fleming

Fumbled by Alexa Martin

Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

It Had to be Him by Adib Khorram

Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

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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