Impale yourself on your fate: marrying the Devil can be heaven. Semilore Sobande shares her all-time favorite romance, "Devil's Bride" by Stephanie Laurens. This book has it all: Honoria Prudence Anstruther-Weatherby, a heroine who balances strength and vulnerability, and a hero who might just be Batman in disguise and has a similarly ridiculous name. Discover how this historical romance stands out with its compelling characters, feudal fantasies, and unexpectedly humorous plot twists, all while...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 168
Morgan and Isabeau from the Whoa!mance podcast join to discuss the 2024 film “Your Monster.” We discuss how the movie explores female rage and personal discovery, drawing parallels with romance novel conventions. We are divided in our opinions: did the film succeed in merging romance and horror? The conversation highlights how individual experiences and tastes shape reception of the film, making for an engaging discussion on the intersection of romance, rage, and narrative structure. - Guests: W...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 167
Alice Murphy, a historical romance author, joins to recommend and discuss under-appreciated non-Regency historical romance. The discussion touches on Alice's upcoming book, "A Showgirl's Rules for Falling in Love," and a rich variety of historical romance novels set in diverse time periods and locations. We travel through Ancient Egypt, medieval Wales, 19th century Japan, the Gilded Age, the Civil Rights Movement in the US in the 1960s, and more. This episode is jam-packed with book recommendati...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 166
Why do we read Jane Austen but not the authors Jane Austen read and loved? The answer is a BIT more complicated than just "sexism." Guest: Rebecca Romney, rare book dealer and author of the new book, Jane Austen's Bookshelf. Guest: Rebecca Romney Jane Austen's Bookshelf | Type Punch Matrix - Do you have a romance collection, or do you just love looking at other people's collections? Learn more about Romance Novel Collection, a new section of the Shelf Love Substack where I'll be sharing YOUR rom...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 165
Can horror and romance coexist? Friend and author Laura J. Mayo joins me to discuss “Land of the Beautiful Dead” by R. Lee Smith. We explore the complexities of combining horror elements (zombies, staking, the apocalypse) with romantic themes, how this book makes us feel, and unlikable and defiant characters who are forged by context. Is it all a metaphor?! (Yes, of course it is!) Discussed: Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee Smith Guest: Laura J. Mayo Website | Bluesky | Instagram - Romancela...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 164
I join The Historical Romance Sampler podcast with Katherine Grant to sample a scene from Lisa Kleypas's Secrets of a Summer Night. We discuss how historical romance has changed since the 1970s and talk about bestsellers and airport books. Also, learn more about Romancelandia Holiday Fairies 2024! Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a mutual aid effort for the romance novel reader community to support anyone in the community who could use a little material help with purchasing gifts for themselves,...
Dec 06, 2024•42 min•Ep. 163
Year of the Unicorn by Andre Norton is a 1965 fantasy novel with subtle romantic elements. How does this vintage novel featuring outsider characters compare with today’s romantasy? Romance reader Kassi joins Shelf Love to discuss Gillan’s journey of identity, empowerment, and agency as she embarks on an adventure: arranged marriage with a were Rider. Would you give up your power for a beautiful fantasy? It’s very demure, very mindful — this oldie is a goodie, although there are no unicorns. Disc...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 162
Ever wondered why Regencies became all the rage? Or how historical romances shape and sanitize our perceptions of history? This episode delves into how Regency romances displace inconvenient historical truths. A critical look at older 'problematic' romances like Jennifer Blake's 'Fierce Eden' reveals the complexities of characters and settings, challenging the current sanitized romantic fantasies. This audio essay touches upon how modern Regency romance often overlooks deeper societal issues for...
Jul 23, 2024•31 min•Ep. 161
Some call it Romantasy, some call it Dragon Corn (except replace the C with a P). Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is hotter than dragon’s breath, and so of course we have to see if we can figure out why it’s so popular. Sarah Skilton joins me to discuss “love triangles,” indescribable pain that we would actually like described, War College, and how…hot…Xaden…is. Also, is Fourth Wing enjoyable for people with romance or fantasy genre competence? Listen…or die. Discussed: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarr...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 160
Ever wondered how "The Hating Game" fares in a classroom setting? Dr. Diana Filar is back to discuss her experiences teaching The Hating Game book and film in a class about popular genre fiction. We discuss the challenges of translating romance novels into films, how stereotypes of genres are formed and challenged, and what it's like introducing non-genre readers to romance. Learn about Dr. Filar's approach to incorporating popular genre fiction like romance, horror, and suspense into her curric...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 159
Do you love scent marking, some healthy jealousy, and a beautiful and believable mix of internal and external romance in your paranormal werewolf romance? Get your parka and bundle up for "Cold Hearted" by Heather Guerre, the first book in the Tooth and Claw series, in discussion with foremost vampire defender, Dame Jodie Slaughter. We explore werewolves, vampires, Alaska as a transporting setting, depression, Andrea’s soft vulnerable belly, and found family and community, highlighting the book’...
Jun 10, 2024•50 min•Ep. 158
“What is a greater expression of love than eating someone else or wanting to consume and have that person in a way that no one else can have?” Dr. Nicola Welsh-Burke joins to delve into the intriguing topic of cannibalism in romance novels. We explore the intersection of food, eating, and sexuality, discuss the metaphorical use of cannibalism in literature, and examine the societal taboos and fascinations with the concept. The conversation touches upon various themes such as erotic vampirism, we...
Jun 03, 2024•50 min•Ep. 157
If you’ve always wanted to hear about a romance that takes place within a traveling circus and features a telepathic tiger, hang onto your trapeze bar: Emma from the Substack Restorative Romance and the Reformed Rakes podcast is here to talk about Susan Elizabeth Phillips' “Kiss an Angel,” a contemporary romance that feels like a historical and features an arranged marriage that leads to circus life. In a highly contentious conversation between rival podcasters, the one thing we can agree on the...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 156
Guest: Sarah Rutherford, a romance reader and Associate Professor of Design at Cleveland State University @sarahatschool on Instagram Highlights: The evolution of romance novel covers from the 1980s to the contemporary post-digital age. The significant role of design elements such as typography, color, and imagery in conveying the genre and themes of romance novels. The impact of digital publishing on cover designs, including the preference for stock photography and simplified imagery. How cover...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 155
I was a guest on The Categorically Romance Podcast to discuss my category romance collecting addiction, reading some books from Kiss a short-lived Harlequin line from the early 20 teens, and how not being allowed to read romance as a teen actually made me more obsessed with reading romance. Hope you enjoy this episode and I definitely recommend that you check out the Categorically Romance Podcast if you're not already listening. We read The One that Got Away by Kelly Hunter (Kiss #1) and If You ...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 154
In this episode, host Andrea Martucci embarks on a journey with Dame Jodie Slaughter to the Covering Romance exhibition. The event showcases romance novel cover art by award-winning artist, John Ennis. Interviews with John Ennis and other attendees, including author Nisha Sharma, romance fan Mary Lynne Nielsen, and Fin, owner of Wolf and Kron books, a genre bookstore. Andrea purchases several pieces of cover art and reflects with Jodie on the cultural significance of fandom and passion for the g...
Feb 12, 2024•40 min•Ep. 153
An exploration of prison planet romances with Megan Erickson. We discuss Guardian by Emmy Chandler and how it explores issues of consent, agency, and morality through an extreme version of the forced proximity trope. Are these brutal dystopians actually hopeful explorations of humanity and love? Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com...
Jan 16, 2024•39 min•Ep. 152
Romancelandia Holiday Fairies 2023! Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a mutual aid effort for the romance novel reader community to support anyone in the community who could use a little material help with purchasing gifts for themselves, or loved ones this holiday season. Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fairies Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com...
Dec 13, 2023•3 min
Is shame productive? This question guides part 2 of a Whoa!mance/Shelf Love convo about A Lady of the West by Linda Howard as we discuss the paradox of enjoying highly problematic books. We interrogate our feelings of shame, enjoyment, and the importance of critically dissecting the pleasures derived from reading, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel. Look at your society, look at your life! Along with me and Whoa!mance, in this crossover episode. Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writin...
Nov 16, 2023•49 min•Ep. 151
I humbly asked Morgan and Isabeau to help me understand why A Lady of the West by Linda Howard had a chokehold on my young romance-reading imagination, and they delivered. We discuss how this book has rules for good (white) women, and explores Manifest Destiny, settler colonialism, sexuality, violence, violent sexuality, and being a desirable (white) woman. Button up your white high-necked blouse and gallop on a virile stallion into the wild west with Whoa!mance, in this crossover episode. Shelf...
Nov 09, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 150
The difference between erotic romance and romance is all about feelings, in particular, where you feel them. Shelf Love’s Kink Correspondent, Dame Jodie Slaughter, joins the podcast to discuss A Gentleman in the Streets by Alisha Rai. Only enter if you consensually dare. Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com Guest: Dame Jodie Slaughter, Shelf Love’s Kink Correspondent Website | Twitter | Instagram She...
Oct 17, 2023•52 min•Ep. 149
Bisexuality in romance with writer and reviewer Ellie Mae MacGregor (@bisexual_booknerd). When it comes to romance, a genre that explores romantic and sexual desires, what does “good” bisexual representation look like? How can books with or without bisexual representation create worlds that feel safe for bisexual readers? Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com Guest: Ellie Mae MacGregor Instagram @bise...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 148
I own 91 Candlelight Ecstasy Romances, so it was high time I read one... then I read another 13 for good measure. In December, 1980, Vivian Stephens launched a new line of contemporary category romance at Dell called Candlelight Ecstasy. The line pushed the envelope when it came to sex and sensuality on the page. But how sexy are they and how do these books hold up in 2023? Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Email: Andrea@shelflovep...
Oct 03, 2023•52 min•Ep. 147
Mistress of Mellyn by Virginia Holt is often hailed as responsible for kicking off a boom of modern gothics in the mid-20th century. In this crossover with Reformed Rakes, we ask: is this a gothic first and a romance second? Is our plucky main character in love with the man of the house, or just the house? How does Mistress explore transgression of boundaries, gender, eight-year-olds, and heroines “ahead of their time”? Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter...
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 146
What makes a heroine in romance, a genre invested in exploring how can women be happy in culture? Is the genre a place where heroines create integrated identities that reject binaries of what society tells them to be? Dr. Jayashree Kamble discusses her latest book on romance scholarship, Creating Identity: The Popular Romance Heroine's Journey to Selfhood and Self-Presentation. Shelf Love listeners can use “UShelfLove” to get 35% off the book at Indiana University Press, from now until November ...
Sep 18, 2023•59 min•Ep. 145
Four romance reading friends embark on a romance history reading project, based on a BookRiot list, and in this episode, two of them — Leigh Kramer and Hannah Hearts romance — have Flames on the Sides of their Face when talking about the Flame and The Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. To keep things interesting, we talk less about the book itself and more about questions of reader reception and the relationship between the 1972 text and the romance texts that followed. Have we come a long way, ba...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 144
What happens when 35 romance scholars walk into a bar, after hours at the IASPR 2023 Romance Revitalised conference? They share their favorite romance scholarship, and why! Shelf Love: NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com Thanks to all of the contributors to this episode! Full list of romance scholarship mentioned on Substack: https://shelflovepodcast.substack.com/ Romance Reader Stereotype research: https://www...
Jul 20, 2023•21 min•Ep. 143
The fabulous foursome (Morgan & Isabeau from Whoa!mance, Dame Jodie Slaughter, Andrea Martucci from Shelf Love) get meta textual as we reflect on our meta podcasting project on Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. What’s this episode about? Take a guess from this collection of possible episode titles: Panopticon Alert: Meta Reflections on Dreaming of You The Internet Killed Romance Whoa! That’s Some Weird Romance Our Current Romance Panopticon Alienating Persons in Romance Love Us or Hate Us Her...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 142
This week, yr grls at long last encounter Derek Craven in "DREAMING OF YOU" by Miss Massachu herself LISA KLEYPAS. It is time for Morgan and Isabeau from Whoa!mance to wade into this collaboration with Shelf Love. You probably already know this - but Sarah is a regency country mouse who is secretly a best-selling novelist. Facing the dreaded sophomore slump, she seeks out a real Gambling Hell to research her next novel and instead finds Derek Craven. Derek's a gutter baby cum Cockney made good b...
May 25, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 141
Let’s talk about Joyce Ashby from Lisa Kleypas's novel Dreaming of You . We delve into the dichotomous portrayal of Joyce as an irredeemable villainess alongside her foil, the redeemable “hero” Derek Craven. We explore the parallel themes of violence, possessiveness, and animalistic sexuality resulting in problematically differing fates and treatment by the text. Belched from the underworld, Defender of Bisexual Villainesses Dame Jodie Slaughter joins Shelf Love in this special cross-over projec...
May 18, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 140
