Episode 24 – It’s Almost Worse Hearing Them: Detailing Three Holiday Romance Movies

Rachel and Jen are back just in time for the holiday season! Listen to Jen, a genuine fan of the genre, recount three holiday romance movies she’s watched this year (A Christmas Inheritance, The Holiday Calendar, and Christmas in the Smokies). While Rachel remains in a constant state of horror, they discuss alternative plot points, (un)satisfying romance dynamics, predictable tropes, and Jen’s breakdown over a handsome man.

Episode 17 – It is a Romance, But…

Unwind from Valentine’s Day with Rachel and Jen as they discuss fictional pairings they find unromantic, and why they feel that way. In doing so, they jump to and from topics including underdeveloped relationships, unlikable heroes, realizing a pairing is toxic, and identical vampire jaws.

Episode 16 – It’s Not a Romance, But…

February is here, and love is in the air! Jen and Rachel celebrate this most romantic of seasons by discussing things that aren’t intended to be romantic, (whether due to the genre, writers’ intentions, or fact that the characters have never met!) and share their favorite non-canonical, non-romance-genre, and sometimes completely ridiculous ships.

 

 

Episode 13 – He’s A Dragon!: A Conversation About I Am Dragon

Rachel and Jen round out this holiday season with their last episode of the year. While sharing their love for this diamond in the rough, they delve into topics such as handsome Igor, “strong” female heroines, the patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and handsome dragons. Plus, a special surprise for Rachel at the end.

Caution: Here be spoilers… As always, a spoiler warning is included part-way through.

Happy New Year!

Episode 12 – Some Other Fun Anatomy: A Discussion About Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixion

Jen and Rachel prepare for winter by reading an icy sci-fi alien romance novel that they both genuinely love. As they summarize the story, they focus on some of the things that make the book so great such as heroic heroines, respectful heroes, audiobook sex scenes, and of course… blue alien anatomy.

Extra nsfw warning for this episode because of previously mentioned alien anatomy.

Episode 11 – First Sexing: A Conversation About Champion by Fabio

Rachel and Jen venture once more into the world of romance, and discuss a book by Fabio, the pinnacle of all romance heroes. They get distracted by the purpose of fantasy elements, misogynist alpha-hole heroes, Jen’s love of gnomes, the decay of heroine characterization, lust over love, and the classic romance novel formula before circling back around to the most important topic of all… Fabio.

Extra NSFW warning, because romance novel.

Read our Rant: Make a Date With Harlequin

Harlequin has a reputation for being melodramatic and instilling women with unrealistic expectations about relationships. However you might feel about this romance novel publishing company, you can’t say that they don’t know how to laugh at themselves.

They’ve recently come out with two new online commercials for their subscription service entitled, “Make a Date With Harlequin.” They feature regular women going on dates with archetypal romance novel heroes, like Vikings and cowboys.

 And they’re hilarious.

Continue reading “Read our Rant: Make a Date With Harlequin”