Jess and Trisha talk about weddings in romance: why there are so many, their ties to different tropes, why all the weddings can be a problem, and some recommendations that include weddings in one way or another.

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Read The Beast by Katee Robert to join in the WIR Book Club fun, and send us your thoughts by June 23.

Mechanics of Love by Meka James

The Emma Project by Sonali Dev

American Sweethearts by Adriana Herrera

The Billionaire’s Last Minute Marriage by Amanda Cinelli 

Running Away With the Bride by Sophia Singh Sasson

Not Another Family Wedding Jackie Lau

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare 

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

Tell us what you think about weddings in romance and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about their current reads, romance novel cover history, and backlist books to add to – or move up on – your TBR.

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Read The Beast by Katee Robert to join in the WIR Book Club fun, and send us your thoughts by June 23.

“The Steamy, Throbbing History of Romance Novel Covers” by Kelly Faircloth [Jezebel]

“Hey Right Quick: Fabio Was on Just a Minority of Romance Covers” by Kelly Faircloth [Jezebel]

“The Origin of Romance Novel Clinch Covers” by Jessica Avery [Book Riot]

“How Are Romance Novel Covers Made?” by Sarah Nicolas [Book Riot]

Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh (May 3, 2022)

Tanked by Mia Hopkins

Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai

All the Feels by Olivia Dade

A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley

Tell us what backlist books you’d recommend, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha share some listener recommendations and other updates, announce a new book club book, and talk about authors who are new to them. 

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It’s time again for book club!! Read The Beast by Katee Robert to join in the fun, and send us your thoughts by June 23.

The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Love Him Free by EM Lindsey

I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson

Tell us about your favorite “new to you” authors, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess is joined by special guest Liberty Hardy, Book Riot’s resident velocireader. Important questions are asked and answered, and they wander into the world of monster romance.

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Thirsty, Trashed, and Tanked by Mia Hopkins

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

Deceived by the Gargoyle by Lillian Lark

Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nascosta

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon and Mistlefoe by Kimberly Lemming

The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert

Sing Me to Sleep by RM Virtues

Thanks to Liberty Hardy for joining as a special guest! Listen to her on All The Books and All The Backlist podcasts, read her posts on Book Riot proper and the New Books newsletter, and find her on Instagram @franzencomesalive. Send us your favorite monster romances, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about recent romance (bad) news stories and recommend romances with main characters above the age of 40. 

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Please keep in mind that many of this week’s news stories contain topics that could be triggering for listeners/readers.

A TikTok explaining the Eros and Dana Isaly story

An article by Alyssa Shotwell [The Mary Sue] about the reactions to ableism in the summary of Cora Reilly’s A Touch of Fate

A Twitter thread with some information on the backlash and harassment related to Jennifer L. Armentrout’s new book

Per another article by Alyssa Shotwell [The Mary Sue], somehow there are still romances about Nazis being sold…

…And we’re also still dealing with books about enslavers. 

But!! In happier news!! Margo Hendricks’ Masterclass on Indigo by Beverly Jenkins is available online for anyone to enjoy!

And here are a couple of Book Riot lists about romances with older main characters from Jess and our friend Annika.

At Your Service by Sandra Antonelli

If You Love Something by Jayce Ellis

Something About You by Reese Ryan

The Wedding Bait by Adele Buck 

Autumn by Cole McCade

Second Wind by Ceillie Simkiss

Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan

Send us your favorite romances feature older (or even just “older”) couples, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha dive into Written in the Stars for WIR book club and then talk through some of the other romance retellings they love.

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We don’t deserve Dulcé Sloan.

Jess and Jenn talked about Jane Austen adaptations way back in 2020.

If you want to find out a little more about your star chart, check out Café Astrology.

Written in the Stars and Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

Where the Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass

A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma

If I Loved You Less by Tamsen Parker

Send us your thoughts on Written in the Stars and all of your other favorite romance retellings. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha celebrate episode 100 with a new quiz, look back (and forward!) at changes in the romance world, and share recommendations that come from WIR listeners.

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News

Don’t forget to check out our new line of bookish, Wordle-inspired merch! 

Don’t forget – the first WIR Book Club book of 2022 is Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur. We’ll be discussing on our March 7 episode, so send your thoughts/feelings by March 3!

Books Discussed

Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin 

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Theirs for the Night by Katee Robert

Wolfsong by TJ Klune

Whiteout by Adriana Anders

Office Hours by Katrina Jackson

Thirsty by Mia Hopkins

Wrong Number, Right Woman (and other books!) by Jae

Payback’s A Witch by Lana Harper

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

Thanks for hanging with us for 100 episodes! Send us your thoughts on Written in the Stars – and whatever else 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 and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha have some exciting news about episode 100(!), talk about the pros and cons of Twitter discussions, and recommend books that sat on the TBR for far too long.

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News

We want YOU to be a part of our 100th episode! Tell us about a book you love that we talked about at some point on the show. You can either send us a note OR send us a voice memo (30 seconds or less!) to [email protected]. Send them in by February 15!

Don’t forget – the first WIR Book Club book of 2022 is Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur. We’ll be discussing on our March 7 episode, so send your thoughts/feelings by March 3!

Time to vote in the finals of the Swoon Awards.  

Since you obviously like romance podcasts, check out Love Struck Daily.

Here’s a link to Jack Harbon’s tweet, and one to Jack Edwards’s tweet as well.

Books Discussed

Wherever You Are by Elle Wright 

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

If She Says Yes by Tasha L. Harrison

Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn

Check, Please by Ngozi Ukazu

Something Like Love by Christina C. Jones (not to be confused with Something Like Love by Beverly Jenkins)

Send us your favorite romances that we’ve talked about over the last 99 episodes, and let us know what you’re glad you finally got to on your TBR! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha discuss romance news updates, offer recs for the 2022 Read Harder Challenge, and chat about sports romance and what makes it unique.

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News

Big announcement alert!! The first WIR Book Club book of 2022 is Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur! We’ll be discussing on our March 7 episode, so send your thoughts/feelings by March 3!

You can vote now in the Swoon Awards – semi-final voting ends Jan 28.  

Harlequin Plus is has arrived – is it for you?

Books Discussed

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Syncopation by Anna Zabo

Say Jesus and Come to Me by Ann Allen Shockley

So Sweet by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles

Unexpected Goals by Kelly Farmer

Aiming High by Tanya Chris

His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington

Unwritten Rules by KD Casey

Love Hard by Nalini Singh

Shots Not Taken by Nicole Falls

Let us know what romances you’re reading for reading challenges this year, and send us your favorite sports romances as well. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha share some follow-up from the recommendation request episodes, talk New Year’s resolutions, and get excited about the next six months in romance reading.

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News

All Book Riot all the time this week! Here’s reading log Trisha found in a BR newsletter; here’s the link to the Read Harder Challenge (and the accompanying newsletter), and here’s the Book Riot Insider’s link – try it out and hear Jess on the Read Harder podcast!

Books Discussed

Red Dot by Mike Karpa

The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly (Jan 18, 2022)

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins (Jan 25, 2022)

Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Reyne (May 24, 2022)

The Emma Project by Sonali Dev (May 17, 2022)

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (May 24, 2022)

Black Love Matters by Jessica P. Pryde (Editor) (Feb 1, 2022)

Let us know if you have any thoughts on 2022’s WIR book club – or on 2022’s books in general! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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