Send us a text Does a bad boy or villain hero give you a bit of a thrill? A little tingle? Dark romance unsettles me, but there's something reassuring and protective in the gentle villain/noble demon, who chooses any means to the end of protecting you from hurt and harm. They'll burn down the world for you when needed--and what's not to love about that? https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com More on the Morality Pet and Morality Chain tropes at tvtropes.org . Every aspect of these story tr...
Oct 21, 2021•32 min
Send us a text These funny, sharp TV shows written by women knock fat- and mental illness shaming on its behind, and tell stories of hard-won self-acceptance instead. It's about embracing our deepest desires and the person we are, not who They say we should be. It's about romancing yourself. CW : mentions of body shaming, anti-fat bias, mental illness, and briefly, abortion, weight loss and suicide ideation. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com I paraphrased the gorgeous Mary Oliver poem...
Oct 07, 2021•27 min
Send us a text It's the first anniversary of this podcast! Turns out, I'm even more in love with romantic TV shows, movies and books one year on. And still feel no shame--mostly--crushing on romance. So in support and love for the genre, let's revisit some of the lushest, most romantic, and rom com funny movie scenes evah. Cue the gushing. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies/TV Shows The scenes featured in this episode are from just a few of my all-time favorite romantic movies &...
Sep 23, 2021•25 min
Send us a text There's nothing more intimate than a letter, card, text or message written for your eyes only. The epistolary novel has been popular for centuries, and romantic stories using this device can feel like the best kind of eavesdropping. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies/TV Shows The script for Love & Friendship takes Jane Austen's epistolary novel Lady Susan to new heights. I always call this director "Will Stillman" but it's Whit. 84 Charing Cross Road will alwa...
Sep 09, 2021•29 min
Send us a text The sweet, sexy romantic cinnamon roll: there's no better hero in all of Romancelandia. Let's explore this gooey hearted, tender fictional confection and why this character brings all the feels. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com The Onion article that inspired the whole thing. Movies/TV Shows Ashton Kutcher was a sweet doofus in That 70s Show and he grew up to be the hot cinnamon roll of No Strings Attached . The opposites-attract romance of Long Shot only works because...
Aug 26, 2021•24 min
Send us a text Intimacy and love can be found in the most unexpected places. In sci-fi and fantasy-tinged romance, that means online, offline, synthetic or organic, from a lab, with creatures on earth or heaven above. Open hearts find love everywhere. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies/TV Show Her inspires so many questions: what is true intimacy? Is love chemistry, an accident of fate or a created experience? It's visually interesting, the sound design is stunning, the acting i...
Aug 12, 2021•29 min
Send us a text Sometimes all I want in this world is strong arms around me, someone who has my back, and a soft place to fall. That's when I pull out a good bodyguard romance. Nothing in the world makes me feel safer than these stories. They've got me dreaming of an avenger, a 24/7 personal protection officer of my very own. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movie The Bodyguard (1992) is one of the first things that comes to mind when you think "bodyguard romance." It looks a bit clun...
Jul 29, 2021•32 min
Send us a text There's nothing like the bubbly fun, clever banter and twisty plots of a romantic caper movie*. It's just the thing when you crave romance and sexy flirting in beautiful settings, plus a dash of gentle mystery and mild suspense. *Episode contains spoilers. Lots. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies: The Lady Vanishes is a comfort re-watch for me, even though I know whodunit. The central romance is so charming. The Thin Man and its sequels are delightful from start t...
Jul 15, 2021•24 min
Send us a text Many contemporary romances are based on, or inspired by, rom-com movies. Turns out recycling romance is good for the narrative arc--and heart as well. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com The Vulture roundup that inspired it all. Movies Groundhog Day is classic for a reason. 10 moments from When Harry Met Sally . I said that Harry and Sally don't marry anyone else during the movie, but always forget Harry's ex-wife. About Time is a lushly romantic story with a gorgeous HEA...
Jul 01, 2021•32 min
Send us a text Music romances and seduces listeners, sometimes gently and sometimes with a rough, dirty, driving, relentless hot beat. That kind of romance rocks, and its rockstars are sex on legs. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Music "Energy" by Scott Holmes Music & "Unashamed Ballad" by Learning Music, used with a Creative Commons license from freemusicarchive.org Pink is one of the biggest badasses in rock. Her video for So What is classic. The concert documentary Pink: All ...
Jun 17, 2021•31 min
Send us a text I crave more sex- and age-positivity, a wider range of human sexuality and relationship, in the romantic TV shows and movies that I watch now. Romance novels have always done a great job at representing shame-free sexuality, desire, and fantasy. But the Netflix series Easy and the movie The Overnight also get it right. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Salt-n-Pepa Let's Talk About Sex . The late 80s-early 90s style in this video! It dates from 1991 and wow, things were ...
Jun 03, 2021•26 min
Send us a text Romances about people at the height of their physical prowess in pro sports finding love with a partner who matches their wit and talents is a bit unfair to us mere mortals. But I'll live vicariously through these stories all day long. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Eileen Brennan and Goldie Hawn are comic gold in Private Benjamin . The incredible haka from Rugby World Cup 2011. That serving contest in Wimbledon. The plot is charming and the performances and chemistr...
May 20, 2021•34 min
Send us a text Found family, partners, true-blue friends: it's all about the groups of people who claim us, warm our hearts, and have our backs no matter what, who help us feel that we belong. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Remember the TV show Queer as Folk ? It originated in the UK, and there was a US version too. Its group of friends fits this trope so well. My high school crush/date came out to me on prom night so I felt a bit like Daphne in this clip: happy and proud for him, ...
May 06, 2021•29 min
Send us a text Banter is the best kind of romantic conversation, full of wit and emotional tension, leaving clues for us about how the couple really feels about each other. The best banter strip teases for our brain. It's verbal foreplay for the hot action to come. It's all about the juicy, sexy romantic banter in this episode. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com After I said the word aloud, something didn't sound right, so I looked it up and it's pronounced Yah-KUZ-ah. Sigh. Apologies ...
Apr 22, 2021•29 min
Send us a text Human beings exist on a spectrum of diversity and differences, and romances that reflect that are touching my heart lately. The widest range of life experiences represented in stories can only be a good thing. Being seen and accepted, not treated as an exception, is inspiring. It's all part of the flow of life. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com April 2 was World Autism Awareness Day, and April is National Autism Awareness Month in the US. Audible has a fantastic roundup...
Apr 08, 2021•24 min
Send us a text Some of my favorite romantic stories create intimate worlds where true, vulnerable, heartfelt things can be said--and done. Sometimes it takes half the story to get there, sometimes it takes most of the story, but it's always worth the wait for that magic moment when characters finally bare their hearts. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Original vintage trailer for The Shop Around the Corner. Oh, the charm. Nora Ephron followed the original first date scene very closel...
Mar 25, 2021•23 min
Send us a text Unrequited love, "the timing's wrong" coupling, enemies to friends, friends to lovers, and then sometimes back to friends. What are these relationships about? Does chemistry even need a category? Some unforgettable romantic movies pin down that bittersweet, undeniable connection. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Change the World and Change Your Mind are the soundtrack to this episode. Yep, I'm an idealist. F eatured in order: 500 Days of Summer When Harry Met Sally The...
Mar 11, 2021•21 min
Send us a text Most romance makes me feel warm, optimistic and hopeful. But sometimes hot and kinky is what you need. A touch of BDSM. Sex with an alien. The wild fantasies of some contemporary romances practically catch fire on the page. And sometimes non-fancy hot sex with good communication and a considerate fictional character who appeals to you does the trick. It's risk-free, shame-free pretend in this episode, in any flavor you want. Vanilla? I'm here to support it all. Confessions of a Cl...
Feb 25, 2021•24 min
Send us a text I've been having fun reading a ton of contemporary romances featuring buff young things getting it on. But it's time to get real: which means ageless love, with plenty of imperfection, wisdom and fun thrown in. It's romance full of humor, honesty, acceptance and kindness. The sexiest combo I know. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com The Heaving Bosoms podcast features different romance novels that best friends Erin and Melody have enjoyed--or just have opinions about. Hys...
Feb 11, 2021•27 min
Send us a text It's all about the alpha male today. Because he likes it that way, and dammit, makes me like it too. Plus, nobody ties a sexier Windsor knot than Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Is it hot in here? The official, and super steamy, Fifty Shades of Grey trailer. And then, it gets Fifty Shades Darker. Crazy Rich Asians trailer. The Romcomathon podcast episode on Crazy Rich Asians. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please click sh...
Jan 28, 2021•25 min
Send us a text Who knew that Empire-waist dresses, waistcoats, cravats and women discovering their own power could be so sexy? Well, fans of Regency romance know. It's all about the debs and the Dukes in this episode. These two shows are the place to start your new, fresh, modern costume drama love affair. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Fascinating interview with Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen. He talks about adapting the books, the mostly female writers' room, the female ga...
Jan 14, 2021•28 min
Send us a text Nothing wrong with indulging in slightly corny and comforting romantic movies. I talk about a bunch of my favorites in this episode, chock full of cheese (the tasty romantic kind). https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies mentioned: The screwball comedy I featured is His Girl Friday (1940) starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. What a chemistry set! The Holiday The Lake House Message in a Bottle Leap Year The Proposal Grease 2 Blue Lagoon Bridges of Madison County On...
Dec 31, 2020•24 min
Send us a text The March and Stone families give us the cozy, faithful and often funny holiday we all need this year. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Trailers: Little Women (1933) Little Women (1949) Little Women (1994) Little Women (2019) The Family Stone Download the Little Women ebook at Project Gutenberg Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!...
Dec 17, 2020•19 min
Send us a text This episode is about one of my favorite romantic tropes of all time: the grand--or small but meaningful--romantic gesture. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Stream NBC's Lipstick Jungle here The Age of Innocence trailer Elizabeth's thank you to Darcy and the second proposal scene from the 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice The breathtaking glider scene from Fifty Shades of Grey. One Last Night by Vaults is on constant repeat lately, and I can picture every moment of this s...
Dec 03, 2020•18 min
Send us a text In this episode I talk about one of the best filmed versions of the classic novel Jane Eyre: the 2011 romantic movie with Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska. In my humble opinion, ahem. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com <p> Project Gutenberg, a library of more than 60,000 free e-books!</p> <p>The Mr. Rochester book. </p> <p>The second fireside conversation between Mr. Rochester and Jane.</p> <p> The proposal scene. Passion pl...
Nov 19, 2020•25 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk about the classic romantic suspense novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and the sexy 2020 Netflix adaptation. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com <p>The full Alfred Hitchcock version of Rebecca from 1940.</p> <p>The 2020 Netflix Rebecca trailer.</p> <p>The Rebecca episode from A Novel Adaptation.</p> Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks ...
Nov 05, 2020•14 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk about the hilarious, often crude new Netflix rom-com series The Duchess starring comedian/actress/writer Katherine Ryan. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com <p>A lot of the material for The Duchess seems to have been inspired by this Katherine Ryan Netflix special .</p> Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!...
Oct 30, 2020•10 min
Send us a text https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Death Comes to Pemberley trailer . Anna Maxwell Martin is one of my favorite Elizabeths, too. It's based on a book by P.D. James The Scapegoat trailer The Scapegoat book by Daphne du Maurier The foreplay to the train make-out clip from North by Northwest Notorious, full movie . That Scene comes right at the end. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listeni...
Oct 29, 2020•22 min
Send us a text In this episode I talk about the visually stunning 2018 miniseries The Woman in White, a creepy romantic mystery perfect for Halloween. http://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Where to stream The Woman in White 2018 WiW miniseries trailer and fantastic " sizzle reel " 1948 WiW movie trailer Trailer for the dark and sometimes humorous Sleepy Hollow Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!...
Oct 22, 2020•14 min
Send us a text In this episode I talk about my latest binges and obsessive romance rewinds, Outlander and A Discovery of Witches, and try to answer the question: am I going nuts? http://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Outlander S1 trailer A Discovery of Witches S1 trailer . That Kiss comes right at the end. All Souls Trilogy books . The article I mention. Another fun article on the topic. Music mentioned in the Confessional: Lissie's amazing cover of Go Your Own Way I Found by Amber Run Nev...
Oct 15, 2020•24 min
