Shows
Reading For PleasureNew Year Recap!Wowza, you made our first year one for the books. In this episode, we look back at what we loved, what we fought about, and what we learned about ourselves.
Thank you to our dozens of listeners for your love and support 2025-01-021h 00
Reading For PleasureMake the Season Bright by Ashley Herring BlakeWe're joined this week by a special guest, Vannah: a real lesbian!!
Do soulmates exist? Do we put too much emphasis on romantic relationships in life? What does it mean to be aromantic?
Trigger/content warnings: alcohol use, mentions of parental neglect, abandonment, explicit sex
Tropes: BFFs-to-lovers, second chance, snowed-in, left at the altar, angst, Christmas, grumpy x sunshine, one bed
Master Kim’s Corner:
Queer women have been killed on television for decades. Now The 100’s fans are fighting back. - Caroline Framke
Add...2024-12-271h 16
Reading For PleasureThe Gift Rarely Given by Ambar CordovaWhat makes a Christmas romance novel? Are there Christmasy tropes we should expect (ie. Christmas markets, Santa, snowed-in)? How does someone overcome the parental pressures to get married and/or have children? And, are there any merits to car sex?
Trigger Warnings/Content Warnings: profanity, death of children (off-page), hospital setting, children in hospice, diet culture toxicity, fatphobia, football injury (off-page), mental health struggles, explicit sex
Tropes: fake dating, one night stand, small town romance, Christmas, instalust, Ex NFL Player, grumpy x sunshine, miscommunication
...2024-12-2048 minReading For PleasureTinsel and Tentacles by Kate McDarrisWhat is it about tentacles that gets us all hot and bothered? Is there a difference in (female) pleasure based on whether or not a guy is circumsized? And will Kim ever stop choosing books based on their cover??
Trigger/Content warnings: depression, group play, tentacle play, anal, explicit language
Tropes: MMF, tentacles, novella, monster romance, Christmas, unrequited love, snowed in
Master Kim’s Corner:
The Straight Dope - What’s the deal with Japanese Tentacle Porn - Cecil Adams
2024-12-111h 04
Reading For PleasureAxes and O's by Kayla GrosseDo we NEED to define our sexuality with one label? How does that help folks feel seen and affirmed, and what are the pitfalls? Why was the female main character doing so much emotional labor?
Trigger/content warnings:
Polyamory, fisting, toy play, oral, BDSM, anal, double penetration, primal play, rough sex, mentions of the foster care system, discussions of sexuality, mentions of parent death, and mentions of PTSD from one character's time in the military, humiliation, degradation, strong language.
Tropes:
MMF, grumpy sunshine, Christmas, gay...2024-12-061h 12
Reading For PleasureCleat Cute by Meryl WilsnerFirst and foremost, free Palestine.
Why do so many romance novels (and Disney movies) have a dead or absent parent? Does anyone use dental dams? What IS sex?!?!
Trigger/content warnings: Ableism, Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional Abuse, Injury, Mental Health diagnoses, Panic Attacks, Sexually Explicit Scenes, Toxic relationship (not Main Characters), Vomit
Tropes: sapphic, workplace romance/sports romance, rivals to lovers, grumpy sunshine
Master Kim's Corner:
-https://prismreports.org/2024/01/18/bipoc-book-creators-boycott-st-martins-press/
Join us in...2024-11-291h 27
Reading For PleasureDirty Deals Over Decaf by Eden CroweWhy are people willing to stay in unhappy relationships? Bc they're used to it? Bc it's comfortable? Why do hetero women want to date taller men? Why do we want to feel small?
Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of religious topics, cheating (off-page), divorce, self-isolation, a family member going through terminal illness, feelings of anxiety, loneliness and not belonging, graphic sexual content is between consenting adults, monstrous anatomy, tail play, horn play, praise kink, stretching, spanking, rimming, and double penetration.
Tropes: small town romance, female main character over 30, age gap...2024-11-221h 19
Reading For PleasureElevator Pitch by Evelyn LeighIs kink becoming pop culture? Do we create dating profiles to be ABOUT us, or to ATTRACT? In the world of interracial romance novels, why is a Black female main character so frequently paired with an Asian male main character?
Trigger/Content warnings: panic attacks (past, mentioned), anxiety, depression, PTSD, infertility and miscarriages (mentioned), domestic violence (past, mentioned, includes emotional, verbal, physical), alcohol consumption, death of a parent (mentioned), therapy sessions, marijuana use (edibles, smoking), nightmares, divorce (past), DUI, absent parent (past, mentioned), sexually explicit content, spanking, edging, toys, “daddy,” public play
2024-11-141h 02
Reading For PleasureForged by Magic by Jenna WolfhartPour one out for the last episode of Orctober :(
Why can't Kim and Sarah ever like the same book? Do limitations on the magic of a fantasy world enhance the plot or detract from it? Can an orc give a blow job through their tusks?
Trigger warnings: Captivity, moderate violence, death of family recounted, sex on page, attempted murder, house fire, harassment, mentions of blood, brief violence
Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, found family, fantasy, slow burn, cozy vibes, monster romance, orc romance, forced proximity2024-10-311h 02
Reading For PleasureThe Orc Prince by Qua HudsonDo you need indicators (ex. hair) when a main character is Black or a person of color? Is Black representation held to a different standard in paranormal vs. contemporary romance? Why do the social identities of the villains matter?
TW/CW: emotional abuse, assault (off-page), torture, decapitation, homophobia, murder, physical abuse, poisoning, pregnancy, profanity, violence, threats to harm a fetus, sexually explicit content
Tropes: orc romance, monster romance, hurt/comfort, cute banter, paranormal, size difference
Master Kim’s Corner:
Subject(ed) to...2024-10-231h 04
Reading For PleasureThe Lady and the Orc by Finley FennDoes modern language in "historical" books add context, or take you out of it? How does the inclusion of differing cultures increase miscommunication? Is there such a thing as too much cum?!?
TW/CW: Includes: abduction; betrayal; unequal power dynamics; cruel and manipulative behavior from main male character toward main female character; humiliation of female main character before others; voyeurism; weapons and violence; on-page deaths; strong language; discussion and depiction of spousal abuse; extensive discussion and consideration of abortion; infidelity (not between main characters); copious fluids; pregnancy.
Tropes: monster...2024-10-181h 16
Reading For PleasureThe Orc Boss by Lark GreenHow do you date men when you hate men? How does a character's self esteem impact their likability? If a dick is stretching your mouth to the LIMIT, wouldn't your teeth get in the way first?!?!
TW/CW: violence, discrimination, classism, racism, death, drug addiction (off-page), mention of a fictional illegal drug
Tropes: forced proximity, one bed, mafia/organized crime, size difference, the slowest burn ever, enemies to lovers?
Master Kim's Corner:
Taming the Perfect Beast: the Monster as Romantic Hero in Contemporary Fiction - Lara Klaber
The evolution of the monster in...2024-10-111h 03
Reading For PleasureRe-Release: Games with the Orc by (queen) Kathryn MoonWelcome to ORCTOBER! For week one, we had to take it back to our favorite, the one that started it all, Games with the Orc!
"So it's like a shake weight?!?"
Why are orcs hot? How does romance/smut give us room to explore new kinks in a safe manner? And finally, a statement: sex work is WORK!
Content warnings: Dominant/submissive role-play, sex work, primal play, light consensual/non consensual, chasing, wrestling, oral sex, anal sex, spanking, sleep deprivation, forced orgasm, use of toys for DP, restraints, paddling, biting.2024-10-0259 min
Reading For PleasureWelcome to ORCTOBER!All month long we're celebrating one of our favorite smutty sub-genres: ORCS! In this mini episode, we explain WHY we are doing this, what to expect, and a sneak peek of the books we'll be covering this month...2024-10-0212 min
Reading For PleasureBonus Episode - Trent by Zoey ChantSarah had Covid last week, so we're giving you one of the episodes we recorded during our testing phase! Zoey Chant (the Zoeys) also wrote Kim's favorite book ever, Firefighter Seadragon, so we hope you enjoy this erotic tale of a sexy man who shifts into a giant prehistoric kangaroo. G'Day Mate, indeed.
TW: violence, blood, drugs, "beastiality"
Capitalism?
Master Kim’s Corner:
Zaidi, L. (2019). “Worldbuilding in Science Fiction, Foresight and Design”. Journal of Futures Studies. 23(4), 15-26.
2024-09-261h 16
Reading For PleasureThe Truth According to Ember by Danica NavaWhat's the difference between anxiety and angst? Why do we know so little about the modern experiences of American Indians? Is it more or less satisfying when the hero can't use money to save the damsel in distress?
TW/CW: racism, cultural appropriation, racial slurs, sexism, misogyny, classism, alcohol, bullying, abandonment by a parent (off-page), death of a parent (off-page), strained familial relationships, lying, sexually explicit content
Tropes: workplace romance, forbidden romance, third act breakup, romcom, one bed
Master Kim’s Corner:
Is There Hope For The Missing Murdered Indigenous Wo...2024-09-181h 24
Reading For PleasureDesire in His Blood by Zoey DravenWhy aren't there more drugs in romance novels? What is it about vampires that we just can't get enough of? Can you "belong" to someone in a polyamorous relationship?
TW/CW: war (off-page), violence, murder, suicide, death, gambling, alcoholism, addiction, confinement, emotional abuse, death of a family member recounted (off-page), grief, drugs, knotting, biting, blood drinking, light degradation, sexually explicit content
Tropes: monster romance, the rare haters to lovers, slow burn, arranged marriage, fated mates, angst, vampire, alien, secret fated mates
Master Kim’s Co...2024-09-121h 27
Reading For PleasureCandy by Torrance SeneWe went out on a limb this week to see if being a female dominant would turn us on. Spoiler alert, it did not.
Why is "good girl" so hot while "good boy" makes us want to throw up in our mouths? Are dominant women in the streets more likely to be submissive girls in the sheets? Do people "superlike" on purpose?
TW/CW: dom/sub (femdom), sex work, strained familial relationships, parental guilt, shitty husband, foot play, social anxiety rep, mild degradation
Tropes: high school reconnection (second chance...2024-09-041h 18
Reading For PleasureNicky and the Night Owls by Sierra CassidyWe're joined this week by Molly from "In My Omegaverse Era!"
Instagram: inmyomegaverseera
TikTok: inmyomegaverseera
Facebook group: In My Omegaverse Era
Red hair in romance... why so much of it, and why does it matter? What kind of cultural indicators do we expect for BIPOC characters? Why so much of the hurt/comfort trope in the "why choose" genre?
TW/CW: slut shaming, stalking, non-fatal harm to an animal, break-and-enter of multiple homes, threat with a deadly weapon, physical violence, brief scene at...2024-08-291h 51
Reading For PleasureThe Alpha's Arrangement by Tea RavineDoes it even count as a billionaire romance if they never buy anything? What makes an alpha an alpha? Why is everyone so afraid to say ABORTION?!?
Content/trigger warnings:
Stalking, violence on page, swearing, sexual assault off page, PTSD, Coercion, sexually explicit content
Tropes: omegaverse, why choose, hurt/comfort, forbidden romance, blast from the past, billionaire romance, surprise pregnancy, step-bro, angst
Master Kim’s Corner:
What is an omega? Rewriting sex and gender in the omegaverse. - Marianne Gunderson2024-08-211h 12
Reading For PleasureLola and the Millionaires by (our Queen) Kathryn MoonHi, welcome to the leading podcast among Kathryn Moon fanatics probably.
Is there a pick-me girl beta in all of us? When a character is described as "tan," what race does that indicate to you? What constitutes a good "scent" in the omegaverse?
Trigger/content warnings:
Rape (in the past, alluded to)
Sexual assault
Abusive relationship recounted
Alcohol consumption
Drugging recounted
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety & panic attacks
Nightmares
Death of...2024-08-141h 40
Reading For PleasureThe Scent of Us by Eliana LeeWelcome to week one of Aug-Megaverse!
Why are so many Omegaverse books also "why choose"? What do you want your boyfriend to smell like? and the kicker... is it incest for two brothers to have a threesome with the same woman?!?!?
Trigger Warnings: Abusive relationship. Physical abuse (hair-pulling, hitting). Sexual assault (implied, fade-to-black). Bad/non-existent parental relationship. FMC traded to settle a gambling debt. Reference to non-consensual filming of sex acts. References to murder (knifing) with on-page description of shared sensations (via bond). Expressing intention to impregnate without consent...2024-08-071h 33
Reading For PleasureBonus Episode: It Ends With Us by Colleen HooverIs this a romance novel? (NO) Why do people keep saying it is? Is this book a "good" representation of domestic violence? What does that even mean?!?
Trigger/Content Warnings:
Domestic violence.
Abuse.
Death of a family member.
Sexual assault.
Attempted rape.
PTSD/depression/anxiety related themes.
Tropes: “I don’t date but you are the exception”
teenage boyfriend re enters your life but he’s rich
Master Kim’s Corner:
RWA’s Definition of Romance - different from my...2024-07-311h 30Reading For PleasureFangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (Season 1 Finale)How can a romantic partner best support someone with a chronic illness/disability? Why aren't there more boys with bubble butts in romance? If you met your #1 celebrity super crush, how would you react?
Trigger/Content warnings: chronic illness, parental abandonment
Tropes: grumpy sunshine, workplace/sports romance, he falls first
Master Kim’s Corner:
-Fandom Went Mainstream in the 2010s – for better and worse by Aja Romano
We'll be back in July!2024-05-301h 45Reading For PleasureYou, Again by Kate GoldbeckIs NYC the ultimate city background for a novel? Why are women so frequently the villain in a romance novel, and why does it matter? Why is there so much smutty Star Wars fanfiction?!?!
Tropes: enemies to lovers, he falls first
Trigger/Content warning: parental abandonment recounted, divorce, recreational drug use, death of a parent recounted, depression, sexually explicit content
Master Kim's Corner:
I love Reylo fanfiction – and so does publishing - Belen Edwards
Adam Driver Centaur Commercial
2024-05-221h 55Reading For PleasureRomancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia QuinnIs it sexy to have a man slowly realize you're actually like, really pretty? Is it better or worse to have actors to picture while reading? Why couldn't Penelope have stayed fat??
Tropes: Friends to lovers, wallflower, fats, ugly duckling turned beautiful swan, unrequited love, best friends brother.
Content/Trigger warnings: fatphobia, bullying, emotional abuse, manipulation, blackmail, sexually explicit content.
Master Kim's Corner:
-The Friends-to-Lovers Pathway to Romance: Prevalent, Preferred, and Overlooked by Science - Danu Anthony Stinson, Jessica J. Cameron, Lisa...2024-05-161h 09Reading For PleasureObsidian Feathers by N. CaceresADHD, a good or bad thing? Cannibalism, bad, right? What the hell is purple prose?
Tropes: Blast from the past, Sassy and Grump, Alphahole, Hate to Love, Multiple POV, Dark Fantasy Romance, Fated (?) Mates, Unreliable Narrator, Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Dominant Alpha Hero, First Love, Kidnapped, Secrets, Shared Past, Trauma Healing, Emotional Scars, Dark Romance, Plus Size FMC, He Falls First, Monster Fudging
TW/CW: JFC - General Content Warnings: graphic depictions of cannibalism, mild discussion of self-harm, ritualized self-harm, murder, graphic language, panic attacks, child abuse, mentions of...2024-05-091h 26Reading For PleasurePride and Protest by Nikki PayneIs there such thing as a good billionaire? Have you ever cried after sex? How has Sarah never read Pride and Prejudice???
TW/CW: Racism, prejudice, microaggressions, mentions of jail, scams, MLMs, mentions of death, car accident, grief, abandonment,
Who might feel repped? People from DC, interracial relationships
Tropes: enemies to lovers
Master Kim's Corner:
‘Least Desirable’? How Racial Discrimination plays Out In Online Dating - Ashley Brown
Washington Was an icon of Black Political Power. Then Came...2024-05-011h 55Reading For PleasureFrom Bad to Cursed by Lana Popovic HarperWe've got another guest this week, Brit!
Is "y'all" strictly a word used by Southerners, or has it also entered African American Vernacular English? Is there a strained familial relationship in every family? And of course, what makes a Black Character Black?
Trigger/Content Warnings: Panic Attacks/Mental Illness, referred war/battle, magical violence, attempted murder, generational trauma/prejudice/racism, and, as always, sexually explicit content
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, romeo & juliet-esque (battling families), forced proximity, opposites attract
Master...2024-04-241h 08Reading For PleasureIron Flame by Rebecca YarrosDoes it live up to the hype of Fourth Wing? Is enemies to lovers the ultimate trope? What else is there to know?!?
TW/CW: war, psychological & physical torture, imprisonment, intense violence, severe injuries, blood, dismemberment, burning, murder, death, animal death, graphic language, loss of life, grief, and, as always, sexual explicit content, men who lie
Who might feel repped? People that aren’t in a relationship, but basically are, people with Ehlers Danlos syndrome
Master Kim’s Corner:
-How Rebecca Yarros’ Novels...2024-04-171h 02Reading For PleasureFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosWhy do so many characters in romance have purple eyes? How do authors indicate a character's race without stating it, and does it matter? How does disability representation in romance change the way we see people with disabilities?
Content warnings: war, battle, perilous situations, intense violence, brutal injuries, death, poisoning, graphic language, bullying, ableism, chronic illness, death of a loved one, injury, murder, and sexually explicit content
Tropes: enemies to lovers, underdog/overcoming adversity, NA fantasy, forbidden romance2024-04-101h 17Reading For PleasureFeed and Insatiably Yours by Aveda ViceIt's Trans Rights Readathon week! We encourage you to read books by and about trans folks frequently, but we decided to bump this episode up the release list to celebrate.
Depictions of alcohol use are frequent in romance, but drug use is rare, particularly in books that feature white characters exclusively. Is cannabis use black-coded? How can reading about characters with neo-pronouns help us be better allies in real life? Can I please get access to this tinder app for monsters???
Content warnings: Sex work, drug use, heights, prejudice (external and internalized...2024-03-271h 22Reading For Pleasure"Take a Hint, Dani Brown," by Talia HibbertFind us on threads?
What's an "Alpha Male," and is Zaf one? Doesn't everyone who goes viral get called fat? Why aren't there more stories with mixed race couples where neither is white?
Content warnings: Car crash, death, mentioned/discussed death of close family members, grief, general anxiety disorder, panic attack, over developed gag reflex, and, as always, explicit sex
Tropes: Fake Dating
Who might feel represented? Fats/mid-size people, people in interracial relationships
...2024-03-131h 31Reading For PleasureBride by Ali Hazelwood*this is an official Comcast HATE account*
Are vampires always white, and are shifters/werewolves usually people of color? Are vampires the ultimate colonizers? What is the omegaverse and is this book in it?
Content warnings: death of several people within the context of a war between different species (vampires, werewolves, and humans), several mentions of blood, kidnapping, mild violence, poisoning and attempted murder, attempted kidnapping/harming of a child (she is unharmed), death of a parent (off page in the past and off page in the present), explicit and graphic sexual...2024-03-061h 17Reading For PleasureElectric Idol by Katee Robert"Haters to lovers"
Our first episode with a guest: Welcome, Emily!
Why can't she be fat AND the most beautiful woman anyone has ever laid eyes on? How much do character descriptions matter? Is his only kink wanting to f%$# a fattie?1?
Content warnings: Abuse (emotional, financial), body shaming, murder (off-page), guns, explicit sex
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Fake Relationship, Morality Chain
Who might feel represented? Fats, people who feel they aren't good enough for their partner...2024-02-281h 06Reading For PleasureGames with the Orc by Kathryn Moon"So it's like a shake weight?!?"
Why are orcs hot? How does romance/smut give us room to explore new kinks in a safe manner? And finally, a statement: sex work is WORK!
Content warnings: Dominant/submissive role-play, sex work, primal play, light consensual/non consensual, chasing, wrestling, oral sex, anal sex, spanking, sleep deprivation, forced orgasm, use of toys for DP, restraints, paddling, biting.
Tropes: mating, self discovery post breakup
Who might feel represented? Fatties, people who want to explore kinks...2024-02-2159 minReading For PleasureMile High by Liz TomfordeIs it ok for a white woman to write a story almost exclusively about Black people? How do authors show fatness besides just telling us the character is fat? There are straight men in therapy?!?!!
Content Warnings: Anxiety, Fatphobia, Strained Parental Relationships
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Forbidden Romance, Reformed Playboy
Articles referenced:
Godin, M., Kishan, J., David, M., & Newhouse, L. (2006). “The Medium of Testimony: Testimony as Re-Presentation”. Working Paper Series. (37).
Malek, A. (2018, November 2). “Does Lena Dunham know more about Syrian refugees than a...2024-02-141h 12Reading For PleasureR4P TrailerWe're so excited to finally be launching the pod! In this episode, we give a brief explainer on who we are and what we'll be discussing this season.2024-02-1412 min