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Jess and Trisha discuss where “best of” lists come from and what they’re for, and then they do a deep dive into meet cutes – and not so cutes – that includes a pop quiz and some recommendations. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life; Sorrow by Tiffanie DeBartolo from Woodhall Press; and If The Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon from Kensington Books. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News  Publishers Weekly has weighed in on the best romances of the year, and Goodreads has asked readers to do the same.   Send us your recommendation requests for our holiday rec episode! Books Discussed His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert I Think I Might Love You by Christina C. Jones One Last Chance by Therese Beharrie My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh Strange Love by Ann Aguirre Play It Again by Aiden Wayne Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang Send us your holiday recommendation requests! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When In Romance is a biweekly romance podcast dedicated to romance novel news, enthusiasm, and romance book recommendations from Book Riot! Join hosts Jess and Trisha every other Monday as they dig into the joys and complexities of the genre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha do some quick updates, talk about a complicated decision from Harlequin, and recommend romances with great friendships. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life; Sips by: Experience the joy of personalized tea discovery; and Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News  Brenda Jackson’s books are getting the adaptation they so richly deserve! [Variety] And speaking of adaptations, we have a premiere date for the Shonda Rhimes Bridgerton adaptation! [Deadline] We adore Roan Parish and still have some thoughts about this because more than one thing can be true.  Jess wrote this great piece on friendships in Black and multicultural romance for Book Riot. Send us your recommendation requests for our holiday rec episode! Books Discussed París Puede Esperar by Marisa Sicilia Bane by Brenda Jackson The Duke and I by Julia Quinn Sustained and the whole Legal Briefs series by Emma Chase Meet Cute Club and Kitten by Jack Harbon The Love Study by Kris Ripper Thanks to everyone who sends us emails and input! Feel free to keep ‘em coming. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk about the end of Audible Escape and why the “all you can read” model is a challenge in romance, and they recommend books with bisexual characters.  This episode is sponsored by Book Riot’s mystery thriller podcast, Read or Dead; TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life; and The Return by Nicholas Sparks. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Audible Escape is ending and romance readers aren’t pleased about the new option supposedly replacing it. [Distractify] But according to The Digital Reader, many romance authors had been frustrated with the service for some time.  And if all of this sounds familiar, you might be remembering when this happened at Scribd. [The Guardian] Books Discussed Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon Better Than People by Roan Parrish Just Like That by Cole McCade From Scratch by Katrina Jackson Out on the Ice by Kelly Farmer Let us know if you have feelings about the end of Audible Escape or favorite romances with bi characters. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk about the impacts of the pandemic on romance publishing, brainstorm possible ways it will affect future stories, and share favorite romances by Latinx authors.  This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life; Book Riot Insiders; the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community, and Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Publisher’s Weekly did a few articles on the impact of the pandemic on small and indie publishers. But romance sales increased this spring… And a printing backlog is compounding problems. Trisha also mentioned this discussion about COVID impacts on pop culture from Pop Culture Happy Hour. Books Discussed You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria The Infamous Miss Rodriguez by Lydia San Andres His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto American Dreamer, American Fairytale, and American Love Story by Adriana Herrera Let us know if you have predictions about how COVID might impact romance and what your favorite books with Latinx authors and characters are. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha discuss the impact Corey Alexander had on romance discourse, check in about Bookstore Romance Day, and recommend romances involving sports.  This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life; Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community; and The Switch by Beth O’Leary. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Corey Alexander, who wrote under the name Xan West, has died. You can find their insightful blog here. You can still experience Bookstore Romance Day via YouTube. Romance critic @JenReadsRomance put together this map of romance-friendly indie bookstores. Might be a good time to revisit Trisha’s post on why indie bookstores need to carry romance. Oh, and listen to our friends Alice and Kim (from whom we shamelessly stole this sports books in lieu of the Olympics idea) on Book Riot’s For Real podcast for nonfiction.  If you’re looking for more sports romance titles, here’s a list of 100 Must Read Sports Romances, and a few more Jess put together when she was writing about sports romance and white supremacy culture. Books Discussed Nine of Swords, Reversed by Xan West Their Troublesome Crush by Xan West Eight Kinky Nights by Xan West The Changeup by Nicole Falls Love Hard by Nalini Singh Neighborly by Katrina Jackson Out on the Ice by Kelly Farmer So Forward by Mina V. Esguerra The Hat Trick Series (first book is Off the Ice) by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan  His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington The Playbook series (first book is Intercepted) by Alexa Martin The Nymphs and Trojans series (first book is Shots Not Taken) by Nicole Falls and Alexandra Warren Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan 40-Love by Olivia Dade Let us know what bookstores you love that love romance and which sports romances you’re reading in lieu of the Olympics. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha flag some upcoming romance events, discuss how we talk about who writes and reads romance, and recommend romance series in which you can completely immerse yourself. This episode is sponsored by Read or Dead, Book Riot’s mystery/thriller podcast, Deal With the Devil by Kit Rocha from Tor Books, and TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Listeners added Upload and The Baby-Sitters Club to our recommendations in the last episode The Ripped Bodice Awards are back! Check out the Summer of Black Love Virtual Book Fair (ends August 14) and Bookstore Romance Day (August 15)  Information about Sorcha Rowan’s horrifying behavior is here Publisher’s Weekly interviewed Avi Steinberg/Dana Becker Some guys started a bromance book club Books Discussed The Bromance Book Club by Lissa Kay Adams The Blessings series by Beverly Jenkins (first book is Bring on the Blessings) The Brothers Sinister series by Courtney Milan (first book is The Duchess War) The Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews (first book is Burn For Me) The Sugar Baby series by Rebekah Weatherspoon (first book is So Sweet) The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carrigar (first book is Soulless)  The Gathering of Dragons series by Milla Vane (first book is A Heart of Blood and Ashes) The Twisted Wishes series by Anna Zabo (first book is Syncopation) The Seducing the Sedgwicks series by Cat Sebastian (first book is It Takes Two to Tumble) The Westmoreland series by Brenda Jackson (first book is Delaney’s Desert Sheikh) The Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh (first book is Slave to Sensation) Let us know what series have hooked you from the first book (seriously, Trisha is almost done with the Blessings series and needs the recs). As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk about things people love about reading romance and then offer some non-romance novel entertainment options that might share similar qualities. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life; Libro FM; and Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Discussed You – yes you! – can attend the virtual Romance GenreCon from the Mid-Continent Public Library! Books and Non-Book Entertainment Discussed Tangled Playing House The Great Harlots Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Adrian Alphona Green Lantern Legacy by Minh Le and illustrated by Andie Tong America Vol 1: The Life and Times of America Chavez and America Vol 2: Fast and Furtona by Gabby Rivera Digital coloring, and specifically Happy Color and Color Planet Sanjay’s Super Team Purl Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin with pictures by Betsy Lewin Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett and drawn by Ron Barrett The Bold Type The Weekend  Tig Imagine Me & You Kissing Jessica Stein But I’m a Cheerleader Free Solo Let us know what you love about reading romance and whether you can get any of those feelings or perspectives through other media. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk about all of the many things they liked about Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones and and recommend some favorite romance reads from the year so far – to the extent that they’ve been able to read. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life; Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, from Sourcebooks; and Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Book Riot’s best books of 2020 so far is here for your enjoyment and TBR-extending purposes. Books Discussed Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham Guarding Temptation by Talia Hibbert Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert One Last Chance by Therese Beharrie Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian Check, Please: Sticks and Scones by Ngozi Ukazu Let us know what you thought of Getting Schooled (do you need the dark moment??) and what your favorite books of 2020 so far have been. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha discuss some more RWA work, takeaways from a Juneteeth Book Fest panel on writing Black romance, the delight for all readers in reading queer romance, and offer some favorites for Pride Month. This episode is sponsored by Hey YA, Book Riot’s own podcast about all things young adult lit; Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community; and TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations, Book Riot’s personalized reading recommendation service, which now has gifting! Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Please take a few minutes and fill out our survey! You could win an ereader! RWA is working to support Dreamspinner authors who are owed money. Here’s a great longform piece from Vox on the racism in RWA and how a new board is trying to turn things around. Learn about the Juneteenth Book Fest and then watch the “Black Love: Writing Black Romance” panel! Books Discussed Treasure by Rebekah Weatherspoon Just Like That by Cole McCade That Could be Enough by Alyssa Cole Lord of the Last Heartbeat by May Petersen Two Rogues Make a Right and It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian The Craft of Love by EE Ottoman Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert Every Dark Desire by Fiona Zedde Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones (read it now for our book club discussion in the next episode!) Let us know what you thoughts of the Juneteeth Book Fest romance panel and what thoughts and questions you have about Getting Schooled! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk about the impact of anti-Black racism in publishing, an RWA awards decision, and books we love by Black authors. Plus! We announce a new book club pick! This episode is sponsored by Hey YA, Book Riot’s own podcast about all things young adult lit; Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community; and TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations, Book Riot’s personalized reading recommendation service, which now has gifting! Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News #PublishingPaidMe has illustrated the systemic racism in publishing. Lee and Low helped quantify it by posting their data about the appallingly low number of Black authors and publishing professionals. RWA has dropped the RITA and replaced it with the Vivian, a new award named for RWA founder Vivian Stephens. Books Discussed The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert Pink Slip by Katrina Jackson Wherever You Are Are by Elle Wright So Sweet by Rebekah Weatherspoon In Case You Forgot by Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones (read it now for our July book club discussion!) As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk with Passionflix founder and CEO Tosca Musk about romance adaptations, managing fan and author expectations, and what being a “producer” actually means. This episode is sponsored by a Taste of Sage from Harper Paperbacks; Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev and William Morrow paperbacks; and TBR: Book Riot’s service for Tailored Book Recommendations, now available as a gift! Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Take a peek at Gabriel’s Inferno or one of the other romance novel adaptations on Passionflix. Books Discussed Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard The Ravenswood Series (the first book is A Girl Like Her) by Talia Hibbert Better Off Red by Rebekah Weatherspoon Let It Shine by Alyssa Cole Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner The Driven series (the first book is Driven) by K. Bromberg Fighting to Breathe by Aurora Rose Reynolds Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout You can find Tosca and Passionflix on Twitter and Instagram at @toscamusk and @passionflix, and as always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk about the importance of inclusive language, have MANY thoughts about an adaptation of Safe Harbour by Danielle Steel, and recommend a few more readalikes and some romances that are set entirely in one location. This episode is sponsored by Lit Stitch: 25 Cross-Stitch Patterns for Book Lovers, made by Book Riot and Abrams; TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes; and Stay with Me from author Becky Wade. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News The GLAAD Media Reference Guide might be a useful resource for a lot of us. Safe Harbour – with a “u” – may be the romance adaptation you need right now. It also very much may not be. Books Discussed Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors and Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras One Last Chance by Terese Beharrie American Fairytale and American Love Story by Adriana Herrera Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon Sleeper by Kayley Loring A Taste of Her own Medicine by Tasha L. Harrison Do You Want to Start a Scandal? by Tessa Dare A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon Candy Hearts by Erin McLellan Proper English by KJ Charles Bear With Me by Lucy Eden Keep sending us your recs for what romance adaptations we should discuss, and let us know what your favorite single setting romances are. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha chat about remote romance author events, share their thoughts on the adaptation of Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella, and offer read-alikes for some of the books and series they talk about most. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes; Libro FM; and Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Info about the May 1 Loyalty Bookstore event with Alyssa Cole, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Sharina Harris, and Mia Sosa is here! (Doesn’t look like there’s a video up at this point, so keep an eye out!) Can You Keep a Secret? may be the romance adaptation you need right now…maybe. Books Discussed Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert The Princess Affair by Nell Stark The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller Glitterland by Alexis Hall It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn The Marriage Game by Sara Desai (scheduled for release on June 9, 2020) The Twisted Wishes series (first book is Syncopation) by Anna Zabo The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite How to Talk to Nice English Girls by Gretchen Evans Life is Sweet by Lily Seabrooke Being Hospitable by Meka James Keep sending us your recs for what romance adaptations we should discuss, and let us know what WIR faves you need read-alikes for. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha discuss some recent RWA developments, review the adaptation of Beverly Jenkins’s Deadly Sexy, and recommend some favorites by Ms. Bev. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot's subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes; Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community; and Sourcebooks’s Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News RWA has a brand new Board of Directors and one of the first orders of business was to offer some apologies. Deadly Sexy on Amazon Video may be the romance adaptation you need right now. Books Discussed A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon Do You Want to Start a Scandal? By Tessa Dare Reverb by Anna Zabo By Beverly Jenkins: Destiny’s Embrace and the Destiny Series Indigo Through the Storm Forbidden Rebel Keep sending us your recs for what romance adaptations we should discuss, and let us know what you’re reading to take care of yourselves these days. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and special guest host Jenn Northington (Co-host of Book Riot podcasts Get Booked and SFF Yeah! and all-around person of awesomeness) talk All Things Austen and Austen-related. They discuss Jenn’s participation in a Regency RPG, Drunk Austen’s VirtualJaneCon, share recs for Austen retellings, and talk about an Emma adaptation that people don’t talk enough about. This episode is sponsored by TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations; Book Riot Insiders; and Libro FM. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Book Riot has a story stream collecting all of our bookish COVID-19 coverage. Check out Good Society, the Regency Role Playing Game. See the rundown of VirtualJaneCon, which was held over the weekend of March 28-29. Many of the video presentations are linked there or on Drunk Austen’s Facebook page. See if there’s an event like Jane Austen Night at the Woodlands near you. Books Discussed Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Persuasion by Jane Austen Emma by Jane Austen Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Sanditon by Jane Austen Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (referenced) Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev If I Loved You Less by Tamsen Parker Sophia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin Longbourn by Jo Baker Well Played by Katrina Ramos Atienza And check out the 2009 adaptation of Emma starring Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller. There was also some Clueless discussion. Check out the interview with 2020 Emma director Autumn de Wilde on the Novel Gazing podcast. Watch that version of Emma.  Here’s the Great Emma-Off from Gail Carriger’s blog. Keep sending us your recs for what romance adaptations we should discuss, and let us know what you’re reading to take care of yourselves these days. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha (and Jenn!) at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @jennIRL), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @iamjennIRL).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha know that things are super weird and rough right now, but they’ve got some ideas and book recs for romance fans. They also discuss the annual Ripped Bodice report on the State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing. This episode is sponsored by TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations; The Honey-Don’t List from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners, Christina Lauren; and My Way To You by Catherine Bybee. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Book Riot has a story stream collecting all of our bookish COVID-19 coverage. If you want to support authors who have new releases out, the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index can help you find them. And if you want to (and can!) support local bookstores, lots are delivering and/or shipping. We mentioned The Haunted Book Shop and The Ripped Bodice, but there are others! Speaking of The Ripped Bodice, the annual racial diversity and inclusion report has been released, and Jess offered some reflections on it. Virgin River on Netflix may be the romance adaptation you need right now. And these are the adaptations you may need ASAP. Books Discussed Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller Rafe, Xeni, A Cowboy to Remember, So Sweet, and Treasure by Rebekah Weatherspoon Team Phison by Chace Verity Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert And feel free to check out this episode of WIR with Rebekah Weatherspoon for more fluffy reads. Keep sending us your recs for what romance adaptations we should discuss, and let us know what you’re reading to take care of yourselves these days. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha talk about some maybe promising RWA news and a literacy fundraiser, romances about people overcoming obstacles, and stories that grab you right from the start. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community, and Flatiron Books, publisher of Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore and Anna K by Jenny Lee. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News Here’s a list of those running for RWA positions courtesy of Melanie Greene. Donate or spread the word about Romance for Literacy! Books Discussed Damaged Goods by Talia Hibbert Think of England by KJ Charles Thirsty and Trashed by Mia Hopkins Fit by Rebekah Weatherspoon Idol,  Managed, and Fall by Kristen Callihan Something About You by Julie James Bear With Me and Blind Date With a Book Boyfriend by Lucy Eden Mr. and Mr. Smith by HelenKay Dimon Proper English by KJ Charles White Whiskey Bargain by Jodie Slaughter Send us your recs for what romance adaptations we should discuss! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha discuss the way the RWA debacle somehow keeps getting worse, celebrate the Ripped Bodice Awards, offer you some short reads for this short month, and toss out a couple of romances that fit the 2020 Read Harder Challenge. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot’s Read Harder 2020 Challenge, The Handsell, and Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News The entire RWA board resigned. You can read the RWA audit report for yourself, but you should definitely read some of the reactions to it as well. Here’s a thread from the CIMRWA chapter (And quick clarification – as of our recording, the board of that chapter had voted to bring a vote of dissolution to their membership and the results of that vote aren’t public yet, so we don’t know yet whether they’ve voted to dissolve.) The Ripped Bodice awards for Excellence in Romantic Fiction have been announced! Books Discussed House Rules by Ruby Lang Team Phison by Chace Verity Baggage Claimed by Alexandra Warren Unsolicited Duke Pic by Nico Russo Taken by Charlotte Stein The Heart is a Universe by Sherry Thomas White Whiskey Bargain by Jodie Slaughter A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon The Good, The Bad, and the Dad by Jaxon Knight Send us your favorite short romances and the romances you’re Reading Harder in 2020! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess and Trisha match romances to conversation heart sayings and recommend romances for all of your Valentine’s/Galentine’s/Palentine’s Day needs. This episode is sponsored by The Handsell; Never Kiss a Duke by Megan Frampton, published by Avon Books; and Book Riot Insiders. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! NEWS None! We took the week off from news – it’s our “Alentine’s” Day gift to you. BOOKS DISCUSSED Take the Lead by Alexis Daria His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert Royally Matched by Emma Chase A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole My Boyfriend is a Bear by Pamela Ribon and Cat Farris The Undoing by Shelly Laurenston Just One More by Jodie Slaughter The Twisted Wishes series by Ana Zabo (first book is Syncopation) The Governess Game by Tessa Dare The Fixer, The Enforcer, and The Negotiator by HelenKay Dimon Candy Hearts by Erin McLellan A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day by Jackie Lau Send us your favorite Val/Gal/Palentine’s Day picks! And let us know the romance titles you’d match with candy hearts (or feel free to just concur with Trisha about which candies are gross). As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.