Reading For Pleasure

We're joined this week by special guest and REAL gay person, Hank!Are there meaningful differences between MM books written by real gay men vs women/AFAB folks? Why do gay men like outside sex so much? How does body positivity differ in the gay male community?Trigger/Content warnings: cursing, sexual content, homophobia, lack of realism around safety, explicit language, consensual sexual degradation, bondage and domination.Who might feel repped? Gays (men), fats, sluts, (the tri fecta)Tropes: GAY, vow of celibacy, body positivity, career vs personal fulfillment, strangers to lovers, the lure of the wilderness, deception from omission Master Kim’s Corner:Why aren’t more gay male bestsellers written by gay men? (And does it matter?) - Taylor HendersonPopular gay slang inspired by the animal kingdom explained - Pride Editor*SARAH WOULD NOT BE A PIG!!!!*

Should Cis Women be writing MM romance? Does our digital footprint even mean anything anymore? What's the relationship between sex work as WORK and people who do it for the love of it (or...for the fans)? Trigger/Content Warnings: mention of childhood sexual assault (not detailed on page), mention of sensitive religious topics, detailed trauma recovery & healing, mention of death & grief, death of a parent (off-page), homophobia (mild), filming of sexual acts for money (online sex work), negligent parents, divorce (mentioned), sexual explicit contentTropes: enemies to lovers, hate to love, grumpy x sunshine, stepbrothers, forbidden romance, secret romance, sports romanceWho might feel repped? College kids in the closet, football players, blended families, sex workers, step brothers Master Kim’s Corner:Why is step-incest so sexy right now? We asked actual step siblings to find out? - Abby Amoakuh (Screenshot)The Disturbing Underbelly of the ‘step’ porn trend - Anna Iovine (Mashable)

We're joined by the one and only Producer Livia this week to discuss the book behind the latest season of Bridgerton!What are the differences between and book and the show, and why? Does Benedict care about Sophie at all? How does the show continue to challenge the white utopia that the book series created?Trigger/Content Warnings: child abuse, emotional abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, death of parent (off-page), attempted rape, fatphobia, pregnancy, classism, bullying, abandonment, slavery, grief, sexual explicit contentTropes: cinderella retelling, upstairs/downstairs, forbidden romance, secret identity, insta-love, love at first sight?Who might feel repped? Orphans, rich whites, poor people, the working class, children born out of wedlockMaster Kim's Corner:Empty this week :(

What is it about this story that women love so much? Why is it so special to see secondary female characters portrayed so well? Does part of the allure of MM romance come from the closeted aspect?Trigger/Content warnings: homophobia (on-page), death of a parent, mentions of off-page suicide, dementia, injury (on-page), alcohol consumption, grief, strained familial relationships, sexually explicit contentTropes: sports romance, contemporary, enemies (rivals) to lovers (ig), hockey romance, angst, closeted, secret relationshipWho might feel repped? Immigrants, people afraid to come out of the closet, gay men, professional athletes, closeted professional athletes, neurodivergent peopleMaster Kim’s Corner:Are Men “So Back?”: Notes on Masculinity’s Return to Gay TV - Ira Madison IIIWomen are Feral for Heated Rivalry. What does that say about men? - Julia Carrie Wong

What’s all the fuss about arranged marriages, anyway? And why are people so obsessed with getting married overall? How can we honor our deceased loved ones while also honoring ourselves?Trigger/Content Warnings: strained familial ties, death of a parent (off-page), mentions of dead family members, discussion of arranged marriage, grief, misogyny, mentions of medical racism Tropes: Shakespeare Retelling (Taming of the Shrew), fake dating, enemies to lovers, romcom, contemporary romance, 3rd personWho might feel repped? Hopeless romantics, love deniers, children of immigrants, Indian Americans, Punjabi Americans, eldest daughters, people with dead momsMaster Kim’s Corner:Sick of swiping, some South Asian Americans consider arranged marriage - Sakshi Venkatraman

What's the difference between angst and yearning? Why are vampires so frequently the good guys (but bad boys)? What’re the implications of posing white people as indigenous in the USA?Trigger/Content Warnings: Death of several people within the context of a war between different species (vampires, werewolves, and humans) is mentionedFrequent mentions of bloodAbductionsDescriptions of suicideThreats of assault, including sexual, and of violencePoisoning and attempted murderAttempted kidnapping/harming of a child (she is unharmed)Death of parentsExplicit and graphic sexual contentKnottingCursing and vulgar languageCults/brainwashingMating cyclesChild neglect (in the past)Discussions of terminal illnessDrugsDiscussions of infertilityTropes: paranormal romance, fated mates, shifter romance, orphan, Help her through her heat, slow burn, touch and her dieMaster Kim's corner:AVAB - all vampires are bad

Why don't we see more diversity in body shapes/sizes from male main characters? Do you picks books based on "hot" sports, or sports YOU played? Sex work is work!Trigger/Content Warnings: Cuckholding, threesomes, degradation, physical assault to a stranger, light stalking, unaliving of a parent (off page), injury (off-page), body shamingWho might feel repped? Ruggers, polyamorous people, rich people, strained familial relationships, bisexuals, demisexuals, professional athletesTropes: friends to lovers, sports romance, why choose, workplace romance, blast from the pastMaster Kim's Corner:https://www.instagram.com/ilonamaher/ - Ilona Maher

Why isn't abortion discussed more in a sex positive genre like romance? How do we view strong women in relation to their need for softness? What is the actual definition of being "dickmatized?"Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, misogyny, prejudice, classism, medical injury (on-page), death of a parent (off-page), violence (on-page), medical procedure (on-page & off-page), abortion, sexual explicit content, aftercareTropes: dislike to friends with benefits to lovers, rake, he falls first, touch her and dieMaster Kim's Corner:How Factors like 1800’s Gender Expectations, Misconceptions, and Moral Traditions Shaped US Women’s Reproductive Medical Care - Rainey HorwitzIG Post via @laadriana_herrera | created by @unsuccessfulbookclub & @the_naptime_reader : https://www.instagram.com/p/DIT1DmPRirY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Roundup of important figures, laws, and historical moments mentioned in the bookInteractive Map: US Abortion Policies and Access After Roe - Guttmacher Institute (leading research and policy org committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide)OH - Issue 1 in Nov 2023 - codified repro rightsOverturned the heartbeat bill in court - Oct 2024Brittany Watts has filed a federal lawsuit after being charged with abuse of a corpse in September 2023 after suffering a miscarriage in her home - Ohio Capital Journal | Susan TebbenAbortion Forward, Preterm, Faith Choice, New VoicesWhat is Mutual Aid, And How Can It Transform Our World? - Victoria MéndezFated Mates S07.22 - Adriana Herrera on the Power of Historical Romance: When We’re Up Against a Corner, Baby, Let’s FightSubmit a Book for the Abortion + Reproductive Rights/Justice Romance Novel Repository

Would Reading for Pleasure Pod exist if 9/11 didn't happen?? Whyyy did this book create such a cultural phenomenon? Is there any better feeling than having a crush on someone?Trigger/Content warnings:Racism & anti-Native languageAttempted suicide mentionedBlood depiction & blood-drinkingHospitalisation for illness & injuries (broken bones, blood loss)Mentions of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemicDeath of a child recountedMinor car accidentAttempted murderStalking & kidnappingTropes: “dangerous” lover/bad boy, love triangle, fated mates, wallflower, paranormal, vampire romance, young adult romance, small town/new girl in townMaster Kim's Corner:Is Edward Cullen a “good” boyfriend? Young men talk about Twilight, masculinity and the rules of (hetero) romance - Christina Vogels

How important is it to have a safe word? What is so sexy about masks all of the sudden? Why does it still feel so taboo to engage in kink play?Trigger/Content warnings: sexually explicit discussion and scenes (including anal play), alcohol consumption, mention of rape (off-page), child abuse (remembered), medical content, blood and gore (in a hospital setting), discussion of mental health, mention of serial killers and their crimes, limited description of a mass shooting, stalking, invasion of privacy, home invasion, hidden cameras, hacking, theft, unintentional cannibalism (remembered), death, car accident (remembered), description of a violent death (remembered), death of aparent, breath play, knife play, gun play, fear play, primal play, mask play, consensual dubious consentTropes: dark romance, touch her and die, masked man, secret identity, golden retriever mmc, stalker romance, mafia lightMaster Kim’s Corner:Why is the internet so horny for masked men? - Elizabeth de Luna

How important is sexual compatibility in a relationship; important enough to break up over? What does "good" kink look like when so many people practice it differently? Is it sanitary to not wear shoes at a public pool?!?Trigger/Content Warnings: Exploration of kink and some aspects of BDSM (always consensual and always negotiated); the sexual relationship between the MMC and the FMC includes several power exchange scenarios/situations, mentions of sports injuries and orthopedic surgeries, mentions of an abusive relationship (coercive control) between the FMC and her father (off-page; in the past; no physical violence ever occurs), death of a parent (off-page; in the past), terminal illness (off-page; in the past), bullying (off-page; in the past), explicit and graphic sexual content, cursing and vulgar language.Master Kim’s Corner:Gender and Sex Stereotypes in Sports Romance Fiction - Alexandra Hazel Mulvey

Welcome back to the number one Kathryn Moon fan club podcast, assumedly. Is it West Virginia cryptid cultural appropriation to have A mothman who isn't THE Mothman? Is there anything sexier than a (moth)man with a plan? If sex work was legal (as it SHOULD BE), what kind of tax status would the men of Monster Smash Agency have?Trigger/content warnings: voyeurism, exhibitionism, struggling to orgasm, role play with power dynamics (teacher/student, sex work, boss/employee), somnophilia, light degradation, forced orgasm, past infidelity, non-monogamous happily ever afterTropes: monster romance, sex worker, age gap, billionaire romanceMaster Kim's Corner: The Mothman of West Virginia: A case study in Legendary Storytelling

We're back (for now)! We're better than ever (probably)! We're Reading for Pleasure (for SURE)!Get a sneak peek at what we're up to this season, and hear us complain about how difficult it is to create a podcast in these conditions (trump's america).

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 <3 We promise to be just as unhinged next year. See you in March!

We'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 Adding insult to fatal injury is the fact that many lesbian character deaths seem to happen for no other reason than to further a show’s plot. This might mean a show focuses on how a gay woman’s death affects her straight co-stars instead of focusing on the dead woman herself, or it might mean a show uses a gay woman’s death to give the partner she left behind an extra boost of motivation.

What 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 Master Kim's Corner The History of Hallmark Christmas Movies - Anne Taylor You’re not fat, you’re beautiful - Jenny Zigrino

What 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

Do 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/bi awakening, snowed in/forced proximity Master Kim's corner: Bisexual Stories from IRL women on how they figured out their sexuality - Paisley Gilmour and Lois Shearing

First 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 donating! https://gofund.me/cf8d4230

Why 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, praise, special peen, deal with a demon, love after divorce Master Kim's Corner: Why So Much Cozy? Thoughts on Jam, Cheese, and the Rise of Cozy Fantasy - Sarah Beth Durst

Is 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 Tropes: found family, black cat x golden retriever, neighbors with benefits to lovers, opposites attract, he falls first Master Kim’s Corner: What Is a Pleasure Dom? Develop a ‘Cum’-manding Presence - Grindr Editorial Team What is a Pleasure Dom? - Evie Lupine

Pour 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 proximity Master Kim's Corner: Fantasizing Reality: Wetware, Social Imaginaries, and Signs of Change - Jennifer Cross

Do 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 Recognition - Herman Gray

Does 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 fucking, miscommunication x 1000, i need you to help me repopulate my dying culture, breeding Master Kim’s Corner: It’s Orctober! Time For A Rec List of ORC Books - Tara MangoesandMayhem.com

How 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 media (fiction, film, tv) starting in 1700ish Talks about how monster represent the Other, especially in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (the book) and how Dracula represented foreigners during the crippling of Britain’s empire Analysis of Twilight

Welcome 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. Tropes: mating, self discovery post breakup Who might feel represented? Fatties, people who want to explore kinks, people who think orcs are hot.

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...

Sarah 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.

What'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 Women? - Rachel Monroe American Indian and Alaska Native women had the second-highest rates of death by homicide in the U.S. (Black women were killed at the highest rates.) https://native-land.ca/ Ilona Verley - trans First Nation drag queen Joey Clift - comedian @notoriouscree - hoop dancer + creator on TikTok

Why 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 Corner: Are Vampires Officially back? A Retrospective on Vampire Media in the 2010s - Aditya Devsharma The Biggest 2024 Romance Novel Trends - Alison Doherty

We 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 ish), secret sex worker, reluctant family business participant Master Kim’s Corner: We Are Not Born Submissive: How Patriarchy Shapes Women’s Lives - Manon Garcia

We'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 a hospital, knotting, masturbation, voyeurism, light bondage, overstimulation, fellatio, cunnilingus, P in V intercourse, P in A intercourse, pegging, fingering, group sex/orgy, wax play, ice play, sensation play, primal play, breeding Tropes: omegaverse, polyamory, queer, BDSM, stalker ex boyfriend, the overbearing mom Master Kim’s Corner: ⁠Should Good Girls Like Bad Sex: Depictions of Kink in Cosmo⁠ - Kiersten Kummerow Brown

Does 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 Gunderson

Hi, 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 a mother recounted Home invasion Sexually explicit content Tropes: billionaire boyfriends, omegaverse, workplace romance, polyamory, hurt/comfort, age gap

Welcome 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. PTSD gets triggered on-page. Homophobia and racism directed at main and side characters - not explicit or heavy-handed, could be considered micro-aggressions. Tropes: omegaverse, scent matching, found family, hurt/comfort, family trauma, pack courting, grumpy/sunshine, golden retriever bf, fast burn, femdom Master Kim’s Corner: The Distinctiveness of Polyamory - Luke Bruning Polyamory – Intimate Practice, Identity or Sexual Orientation? - Christian Klesse

Is 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 diss ⁠Guardian Article⁠ - rundown of Colleen and how she got into writing ⁠Stop Praising Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us’⁠

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!

Is 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

Is 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 B. Hoplock

ADHD, 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 needle-based drug use, parental abuse, guns, murder, depictions of indigenous rites in a fictionalized universe, discussion of sexual assault (including coercion based rape), death of an adolescent, partial loss of mental autonomy, and suicide. Social: ableism, fatphobia, racism, prejudice, discussion of historical genocide/civil war, body shaming, discussion of deportation, trivializing mental illness, self-destructive coping mechanisms, emotional self-harm, self-sabotage, and confrontation of an abuserRomance: dubious consent, breeding, masochism, graphic sex acts, choking, large objects, sexualized violence, intense language, graphic sex, masturbation, stalking, kidnapping, forced captivity, brat taming, somnophilia, praise kink, orgasm denial, domination/submission, anal, spanking, knotting, cum worship, primal play, breath play, and D/s dynamics Master Kim’s Corner: -We are raising our voices: The use of TikTok for the public self-representation of indigenous identity in Latin America Camila Figeroa-Zepeda

Is 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 Gentrification. - Politico Staff Once Burgeoning With Black Talent, D.C. Residents Grapple With Gentrification - Dee Dwyer -The Sha*n K*ng Episode w/ Ashley Ray-Harris - Scam Goddess

We'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 Kim’s Corner: Spellbound: why ‘witch lit’ is the hottest new genre on our bookshelves

Does 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 Became a Romantasy Booktok Phenomenon - Moises Mendez II -Amazon Prime - Michael B. Jordan’s production company Romance and Fantasy spawned this year’s biggest breakout genre - Mel Burke

Why 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 romance

It'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), slut-shaming (not by MC's), drug use, safewording, autistic meltdown (intrusive thoughts, mention of self harm), mentions of parent death, monsterfucking, BDSM (especially bondage, domination, submission), dirty talk, breathplay/choking, begging, restraints, raw sex, sex toys/strap-on, fingering, spit play, wet and messy (paint), oral sex/cunnilingus, PIV, humiliation/degradation, teasing, daddy kink, threesome, partner sharing/voyeurism, crying during sex, flying sex, extra/special appendages, light slapping, anal play, bloodplay, intercrural/thigh job, collar, restraints, flying sex, magic during sex, extra/special appendages, spanking, exhibitionism, edging/orgasm denial Tropes: workplace romance, rivals to lovers, accidental encounter, "f*ck the stress out" Master Kim’s Corner: Blog Post: The Rise of Gender-Inclusive Pronouns and Language in Literature - Maya Sungold on We Need Diverse Books.org

Find 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 Articles referenced: https://www.rwa.org/Online/Romance_Genre/About_Romance_Genre.aspx

*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 content, knotting (the MMC’s apparatus is not quite human?), cursing and vulgar language Tropes: arranged marriage, fated mates, vampires vs werewolves Who might feel represented? Skinny people, people who hate their parents, sarcastic people, women in STEM Articles referenced: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=EV8VCp-xCKcC&oi=fnd&pg=PA55&dq=vampires+and+werewolves&ots=HKt2_1nyi6&sig=LUimXy4IK4S2_QCqRhffiLFeFqo#v=onepage&q=vampires%20and%20werewolves&f=false

"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, strained familial relationships, strong sibling bonds, demisexuals

"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, people who think orcs are hot.

Is 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 Syrian writer?”. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/02/lena-dunham-syrian- refugees-hollywood