Shows
Romance RecsThe Best of 2025 with Special Guests Paperback PleasuresJordan and Devonnie are joined by the always witty stars of Paperback Pleasures Podcast, Romy and Annabel. With a combined total of 481 new books read this year there was a lot to unpack and recommend. This episode covers not only their favorite book of the year (yes peer pressure did ensure choices were made), but also favorite scenes, new authors, hottest reads, biggest plot twists, and more! It's a lengthy episode so buckle in because it's well worth the ride. And don't forget those chapter markers if you're looking for something specific. "Paperback Pleasures is an award-winning p...
2025-12-161h 52Romance RecsAudiobook RecsIf you love listening to your romance books or you've been interested in trying out audiobooks and don't know where to start this is the episode for you! Jordan and Devonnie share their favorite listens and discuss their favorite voice actors. *There were some technical difficulties while recording so our audio in this episode sounds a bit different than all our others. We apologize for the lower quality and will be back to our clear sounding selves soon. Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@ro...
2025-12-0249 minRomance RecsInterview with author Rachel Van DykenJordan and Devonnie interview with the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author, Rachel Van Dyken. Rachel has almost two HUNDRED books published already. From regency to thrillers she has an extensive catalog to choose from.Her latest release, Fallen Gods, comes out December 2nd! Fallen Gods is dark academia meets Norse mythology all set in our current world. Listen to learn how Rachel took these legends and put her own unique twist on them.More about Rachel Van Dyken: https://rachelvandykenauthor.com/Pre-order Fallen Gods...
2025-11-1837 minRomance RecsMarriage of ConvenienceThis week's episode is full of tension, forced proximity, and secret pining. Jordan and Devonnie have their top 5 marriage of convenience romance recommendations for you, plus bonus recs if you still haven't had enough! Marriage of convenience in romance is when two characters (usually two who can't stand each other) agree to get married for a previously agreed upon amount of time to fulfill some kind of requirement. These can range from keeping citizenship, meeting a stipulation to receive an inheritance, or improving their public image. The agreements create forced proximity and a whole lot of sexual t...
2025-11-0443 minRomance RecsDeep Dive: The Throne of Broken GodsThis one is for fans of Amber V. Nicole's Gods and Monsters series. In part two of a three part deep dive, Jordan and Devonnie recap the entirety of "The Thorne of Broken Gods" in preparation for the latest installment- The Wrath of the Fallen (out October 28th, 2025). *This episode is FULL of spoilers for The Throne of Broken Gods and some spoilers through book 3. **Part 1 is already out and be sure to subscribe to the substack for access to part 3.Send us a textSupport the show...
2025-10-2444 minRomance RecsDeep Dive: The Book of AzraelFor fans of Amber V. Nicole's Gods and Monsters series. In part one of a three part deep dive, Jordan and Devonnie recap the entire The Book of Azrael in preparation for the latest installment- The Wrath of the Fallen (out October 28th, 2025). *This episode is FULL of spoilers for The Book of Azrael and some spoilers through book 3. **Part 2 will be out later this week and be sure to subscribe to the substack for access to part 3.Send us a textSupport the showhttps://su...
2025-10-2141 minRomance RecsShadow DaddiesJordan and Devonnie are back to bring you their most anticipated trope: Shadow Daddies. These are morally grey, brooding, possesive, weidlers of shadow magic who usually are only soft for the women they love. You've probably heard the term "shadow daddy" when readers describe popular characters like Xaden from Fourth Wing, Dorian Havilliard from Throne of Glass and Azriel from ACOTAR. But these MMC's are only the beginning to what a fictional man can do with their shadows. Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.i...
2025-10-0734 minRomance RecsDark AcademiaGrab a cozy blanket, light your candles, pour yourself some tea, and get ready for these recs! Devonnie and Jordan give your their top dark academia romance. Full of mysteries, broody MMCs, in the most moody atmospheric settings. From traditionally published titles to new indie releases you're sure to add something new to your TBR.To stay up to date and get bonus content make sure to subsribe to our substack.Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com...
2025-09-1641 minRomance RecsA Re-IntroductionWelcome back to Romance Recs for season three! Devonnie and Jordan are here to re-introduce themselves and what to expect for season three. Full of romance book recommendations broken down by genre and tropes, deep dives, and even author interviews, this season is sure to be the best yet! So whether you've been here from the beginning or are just discovering the highly entertaining bookish banter that is Romance Recs, buckle up!Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com/romancerecspod/https://www...
2025-09-0217 minRomance RecsInterview with author Chelsey Ann TompkinsJordan sits down with indie author Chelsey Ann Tompkins. They discuss Chelsey's latest title- Straw and Gold, unique female main characters, grumpy male leads, their love for the bookish community, and her journey thus far as an indie author. There's a lot of laughing and bonding over all things romantasy.Straw and Gold is out August 15th! It's spicy reimagined Rumpelstiltskin novella! You'll find it full of tension, a strong willed FMC, chemistry, and one grumpy Fae King! While it is a stand alone, it is connected to the first in the series- Curse & Spindle (out now...
2025-08-1257 minRomance RecsInterview with author Hannah Nicole MaehrerDevonnie and Jordan chat with the infamous, the hilarious, the incredibly talented, the absolute bombshell, New York Times Bestselling Author of Assistant to the Villain- Hannah Nicole Maehrer! Hannah shares her current reading obsession, the whirlwind of becoming a trad author, and shares as much as she can about Accomplice to the Villain (out August 5th). Jordan shares a favorite quote from the new title and shares reactions to Hannah's latest master class in romantasy comedy.You can find Hannah at:https://beacons.ai/hannahnicole?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaePkCi5VrQmqjDGY9...
2025-07-2957 minRomance RecsInterview w/Author Laura WoodJordan sits down with bestselling author of Under Your Spell Laura Wood. They discuss Laura's latest title- Let's Make a Scene, a mutual love for tension in romance, iconic moments from pop culture that found their way into her book, her 10 year journey as an author, and a couple Vampire Diaries tangents. Let's Make a Scene is out now! It's a rivals to lovers rom-com that follows two costars at the start of their career and again 13 years later when they reunite. They're forced to pretend to be dating to gain publicity for their movie, all while n...
2025-07-011h 01Romance RecsFriends to LoversJoin Jordan, Devonnie, and Christina as they close out season two. They feature TEN friends to lovers romance books by trad and indie authors. If you love your romance full of heavy pining, years of suppressed feelings, and involve a healthy amount of jealousy you're sure to find your next read here!Although this is the end of the formal season, we'll be bringing you more interviews and events this summer before coming back with exciting changes next fall! So make sure you're subscribed and follow us over on IG and Threads. Send us a t...
2025-05-271h 14Romance RecsPregnancy TropeDevonnie leads Jordan and Christina through an episode featuring her favorite romance trope: pregnancy. The pregnancy trope is where one of the main characters is pregnant at some point during the book. This hotly debated trope is often divisive in the romance book community. Whether you love or hate this trope we encourage you to give it a chance. From part dragon babies, omegaverse births, surprise pregnancy in a throuple, to sweet contemporary love stories there are a wide range of books discussed this week. You won't want to miss the conversations that come from these recs. S...
2025-05-1356 minRomance RecsHistorical RomanceDearest Listener, Your presence is formally requested while Jordan and Devonnie explore the classic and popular genre of Historical Romance. You've surely heard of titles such as Pride & Predjudice by Jane Austen, The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. And while classics for a reason, the romance novels explored in this spicy podcast are sure to have you clutching your pearls and deviate from traditional stereotypes. If you're looking for magic, queer love, and greater representation in your historical reads, this is the episode for you!Send us a text
2025-04-2932 minRomance RecsBillionaire RomanceWe prefer our billionaires fictional and written by women. Devonnie and Jordan discuss the most extravagant of tropes; billionaire romance. There are marraige contracts, high end male escorts, lavish gifts, and even some ancienct paranormal money being thrown around in these recs. No matter your tax bracet, you're sure to find your next read. Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com/romancerecspod/https://www.threads.net/@romancerecspod
2025-04-1554 minRomance RecsInterview w/author Lizzie B. BrownDevonnie and Jordan chat with indie author Lizzie B. Brown. They chat Lizzie's latest reads, her tops romance recs, and all her unruly characters. Lizzie writes romance that features highly entertaining characters and all the smut you could hope for! Her latest title, Obedience Vol. 2 comes out April 5th, 2025. Until then check out Friendsgiving With Benefits, Coming For Christmas, and Obedience Vol.1. If that's not enough check out her Patreon for exclusives and whole new stories. https://www.lizziebbrown.com/https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_b_brown/https://ww...
2025-04-0350 minRomance RecsFake DatingDevonnie, Christina, and Jordan are all here for this episode to give you 13 romance recommendations featuring the "Fake Dating" trope! The "Fake Dating" trope is when two characters start out by pretending to be in a relationship to achieve certain goals; like cleaning up one's reputation or making an ex jealous. This trope is full of denial, secret pining, chaos, drama, and lots of romantic tension! There's something for every romance reader in this chaotic episode full of book banter and romance recs.Send us a textSupport the showhttps://s...
2025-04-0155 minRomance RecsInterview with author N. CaceresDevonnie and Christina chat with author N. Caceres. Hear all about her latest release, A Debt of Shattered Hope. A dark fantasy romance where the fae are depraved and the female main character can't keep her mouth shut to save her life. Learn all about Caceres's experience writing erotic horror, hear her latest romance recommendations, and all the awe-inspiring future projects yet to come. https://www.instagram.com/authorncaceres/https://authorncaceres.com/https://authorncaceres.carrd.co/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZp_dAFj1_qljJVPcpUft6WFzEbcGsB_xwpQXksMgK_vg6sB80HOLnBuvA_aem_lTmH1nsYgIvWUuoccJ1EH...
2025-03-251h 03Romance RecsSmall Town RomanceThis week Devonnie and Jordan discuss small town romance recommendations. Small town is a subgenre of romance where the town plays a significant role in the story. Think nosy neighbors, town gossips, and local wildlife that terrorize the locals. You'll find everything from sweet connections to bully romance in these recs. Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com/romancerecspod/https://www.threads.net/@romancerecspod
2025-03-1827 minRomance RecsRomantasy part2Romantasy (or romantic fantasy) is such a big genre that we had to do a part two! Devonnie, Christina, and Jordan bring you their latest fantasy heavy reads. You'll find fae, shifters, and magic of all kinds staring in these recommendations. Maybe you're feeling the book hangover from books like Onyx Storm or Heat Of The Everflame? We're here to help!Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com/romancerecspod/https://www.threads.net/@romancerecspod
2025-03-041h 08Romance RecsMafia & Organized Crime RomanceJordan, Devonnie, & Christina share their favorite romance recommendations centered around characters that lead a life of crime. These heroines often find themselves in tricky situations with dangerous men who will do anything for them. You'll find love in the Mafia, Yakuza, Motorcycle Clubs, the Bratva, and more! If you like reading about morally grey bad boys who burn the world for their love, then we've got your next read! Because in these stories, crime really does pay.Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram...
2025-02-1854 minRomance RecsInterview with author Penn ColeDevonnie and Jordan chat with New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of The Kindred's Curse Saga, Penn Cole. Penn shares her journey of landing her dream trad deal, being a fantasy romance fan, attempts to convert us to team Henri (iykyk), and she shares an EXCLUSIVE QUOTE FROM BURN 😱. It’s definitely one that will send you into a theory spiral!If you haven’t caught up on her series yet, you can still listen. Just skip the chapters marked *spoilers* to avoid any major spoilers.You can find Penn Col...
2025-02-0458 minRomance RecsDeep Dive: Onyx StormJoin Jordan, Devonnie, and Christina as they discuss the latest installment in Rebecca Yarros' Empyrian Series, Onyx Storm. If you've finished the book, we invite you along to celebrate, react, and rant with us. We discuss everything from the dragons, the gods, young love, our theories, and more. This won't be a chapter by chapter breakdown but will be full of our honest reactions and discussions. Whether you loved it or hated it, this deep dive is for you.Unlike our usual episodes, this one will feature only one book title. If you're looking for...
2025-01-3157 minRomance RecsAway MessageThank you for listening in 2024. We'll back back with new content in 2025. Stay tuned, and see you soon.Send us a textSupport the show
2024-12-1701 minRomance RecsHoliday RomanceCelebrate the holiday season with some books that would make Santa call out "Ho-Ho-Ho!" Christina and Jordan discuss their favorite holiday romance books so far this year. From "Hallmark" vibes to books that will land you on the naughty list, there's a rec for everyone to get into the spirit of the season. Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com/romancerecspod/https://www.threads.net/@romancerecspod
2024-12-1737 minRomance RecsAll Things AO3This week Christina schools us in all things AO3 (Archive Of Our Own). AO3 is a fan created non-profit for fanfic and anyone to put their writing out into the world. While you can find just about any topic on their site, Christina shares her favorite topics to search, teaches us uninitiated how to search, and reveals some of her favorite fanfic recs. Send us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com/romancerecspod/https://www.threads.net/@romancerecspod
2024-12-0333 minRomance RecsUnhinged RomanceWarning: If you are looking for a sweet romance, please listen to any of our other episodes. Unhinged romance books are full of "wtf" and "why?!" moments. But if you're looking for highly entertaining short reads this one is for you. Main characters include:Balloon Animal ShiftersThe Corona VirusSentient UtensilsA Were-TurkeyA DoorDinosaursPillowsSend us a textSupport the showhttps://substack.com/@romancerecspodcast https://www.instagram.com/romancerecspod/https://www.threads.net/@romancerecspod
2024-11-1957 min