001. Lisa Kleypas Wallflowers Quartet with Amanda Diehl

Amanda Diehl (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; NPR Books) and Andrea duke it out to select their favorite Wallflower from Lisa Kleypas’s memorable Wallflower quartet series.During the Wallflower Rumble, we share crowdsourced contributions from readers about their favorite characters and books.In Trope Town, we recommend Girl Squad romance novels. (Mostly Amanda recommends, since she is the queen of book recs.) Amanda also shares the premise for a sexy spy heroine in Write This Book.In the course of casting each book we talk about, Andrea discovers a surprising connection to her favorite GLOW actor. We also discuss the meaning of “maladjusted narcissist” and Lisa Kleypas’s amazing, long-lived career as a romance novelist.-Thank you to the contributors of this episode: KB, Sue D., Jane Galen, Morgan, Robyn, Claire A., Malin, Jess, Erica, Jayne Hendry, Maida MalbyChit ChatAmanda Diehl:TwitterInstagramMentioned:The Blacksmith Queen: Review on SBTBPodcast Amanda + Sarah Wendell about The Blacksmith QueenInterview on Smart Podcast, Trashy Books with Shelly LaurenstonStorylandLisa Kleypas IntroPeople article title, 1987: “...Lisa Kleypas, New Wellesley Grad, Beauty Queen (Gasp!) and Successful Romance Novelist”Origin of “All out of Spoons” aka Spoon TheoryInformation on all Lisa Kleypas’s books/seriesThe Wallflowers SeriesThe Bechdel TestSecrets of a Summer Night (2004)It Happened One Autumn (2005)Devil in Winter (2006)Content warning in this book: kidnapping and threat of sexual assaultDollar Princesses: https://www.history.com/news/american-heiress-marry-british-aristocratScandal in Spring (2006)The ThrowdownHighly scientific research shows Devil in Winter is a fan favorite:56% Devil in Winter22% Secrets of a Summer Night22% It Happened one AutumnEvery time Andrea says “holding a torch” she means “carrying a torch.”Trope Town - Book RecommendationsGirl squad romances:Amanda’s recommendations:Kresley Cole’s: Immortals after Dark (paranormal romance)Hudson Valley series by Alice Clayton (contemporary)Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole (contemporary)Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare (historical) - A Week to Be Wicked is one of Amanda’s favorite all-time romances.Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (historical) - Suffragettes! Debut novel!Married Women’s Property Act (1882)Women gained the right to vote in the UK between 1918 and 1928Recommendations from listeners:Jayne Hendry:Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick seriesCall of Crows Series Shelly LaurenstonSPTB podcast episode: “We talk about writing badass sisterhoods in romance” Ep 198Maida Malby on Twitter:Nora Roberts’ The Bride QuartetGirls Night out series by Eva MooreWrite This Book(PS: when Andrea says “forced intimacy” she means “forced proximity”.If this sounds like a book you’ve read, email us at [email protected] Social media/contact:Twitter: @shelflovepodInstagram: @ShelflovepodcastWebsite: https://shelflovepodcast.com/Email me at: [email protected] - I’d love to hear from you! My child thinks we went to Disney World, but we actually went to Storyland.  Shelf Love:NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeEmail: [email protected]