Alice and Allison are thrilled to have friend of the pod, author, narrator, and founder of Audiobrary, Julia Whelan, back on Now That We Think About It to talk about romance! We discuss the difference between romance in real life, romance in novels, and romance in the movies. Julia gives listeners a breathtakingly brilliant rundown of the historical context of romance novels, and explains how current events shape how women write love stories. We talk about the craft of writing romance novels, and the way e-books and audiobooks have changed how readers consume romance. Plus, Julia shares some romance recommendations for readers new to the genre.
Let us know what you think about romance! Do you read romance novels? Tell us about your relationship with romance novels, and let us know your favorite romance titles or sub-genres. Or, if you’ve held the the perception of romance novels as “trash,” where do you think that belief came from? Why do you think joy and pleasure might be considered less valuable than darker themes? Email us at nowthatwethinkaboutit@gmail.com to share your thoughts!
Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
xo Alice & Allie
Links
Julia Whelan’s website
Julia on Instagram
Julia’s Books on Audiobrary
Julia’s recommendations for new romance readers
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A Romance Reading List by Julia Whelan
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The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (not a romance! But omg)
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The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory (how a simple conflict – long distance – can sustain an entire book)
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Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (great neural divergence rep)
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You Make a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (a bold opening AND premise that breaks romance rules and yet completely pulls it off; alos, beautifully written)
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The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn (perfectly believable characters)
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Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas (perfection)
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Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (great rep)
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Reel by Kennedy Ryan (Kennedy is a master at totally unique stories)
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Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman (great for dual timeline)
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Nora Goes Off-Script by Annabel Monaghan (a totally original midpoint; how to write a book where the hero is absent for most of it)
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Priest: A Love Story by Sierra Simone (a one-page prologue that has everything you need for a hook – this is how to steal the best parts of genre Romance for commercial)
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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (midpoint sex scene that still saves the mystery of what happened between them two years ago for later in the book)
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Book Lovers by Emily Henry (for 3rd act breakup that is about two people doing their best not to hurt each other)
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The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare. (Possibly the greatest comedic opening that is also a meet cute that is also the hook all rolled into one)
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Literally any Loretta Chase (especially for her openings and how to establish character with 3rd person POV; Lord of Scoundrels might be the best writing, on a prose level, in the genre)
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Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (for the 3rd act breakup; so many things conspiring against them, not just one)
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Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis (earned love triangle, how to shift allegiance [and hero!] over the course of a book)
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The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (an anti-meet cute. We never see them meet, but the meetcute beat is when she has a sex dream about him because that’s when things get COMPLICATED).
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Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (literary crossover; how to slow burn)
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Birds of California by Katie Cotugno (ditto, but with a high concept hook; good example of sex scene that navigates triggering past trauma)
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