“ROMANCE RE-SET”
Happy New Year! In this episode the entire RomBkPod team gathers for a special bonus chat as we discuss our favorite romance reads from 2020 and our most anticipated romance reads for 2021
BONUS EP HOSTS
> ANA COQUI (she/her) A lifelong genre reader, Ana grew up reading fantasy, sci-fi & mystery novels in Puerto Rico, before finally wandering into the romance section of the library in search of HEA’s after bawling through one too many dystopian novels. When she is not reading, knitting, writing about romance for Love in Panels or running #RomBkLove on Twitter as @anacoqui, Ana is a school librarian
> DANIELLE (she/her) is the voice behind LoveReadListen.com where she writes about her adventures in reading romance, YA, and audiobooks. Danie has a passion for promoting Black Romance and can’t wait to share her favorites with you. When she’s not reading, Danie enjoys anime, cartoons, and hip-hop. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @DanieReads
> MEKA (she/her) is the voice behind BookAbility.me where she writes about her adventures in reading romance and being visually impaired. Meka loves pushing books and can’t wait to share her favorites with you. When she’s not reading, Meka also enjoys singing and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her guide dog, Treble. You can follow her on Twitter @Mektastic
> MELINDA (she/her) was that child reading Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High books with a flashlight until 2 a.m. and checking out stacks of books from the library every week. After getting sick of ‘important’ books in her English degree classes, she turned to romance and HEAs and hasn’t looked back since. Melinda spends her time doing puzzles, listening to podcasts, and helping as admin for @RomanceSparksJoy. When she’s not busy with all of that, she’s a freelance editor or talking about books as @MelindaEdits
> SARAH JEAN (she/her) From the woods of Massachusetts, Sarah Jean has been reading queer romance for 12 years. She runs a queer book club called Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/rainbowreadersmass/) that celebrates queer lives, joy, and empowerment through genre fiction. When not reading or listening to books Sarah is plotting her queer historical romances, cuddling with her cats, and planning her next adventure. Follow Sarah on Twitter @queer_reader
> SARAH JOHNSON (she/her) is a life-long reader with a passion for historical fiction and non-fiction. After having her first child, Sarah turned her attention to historical romance and has nearly completed her collection of Beverly Jenkins historicals. Sarah is the producer of RomBkPod, and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @LustFoundReads
BONUS EP DISCUSSION
NOTE: We have not included content warnings this week. If you’d like content warnings for a book we’ve read, please contact us @RomBkPod on Twitter or Instagram. Thank you!
NOTE: These notes include affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon.com to support the RBP transcript project
NOTE: This episode was recorded in mid-December during the Covid pandemic of 2020
2020 FAVORITES
MELINDA’S 2020 FAVORITE
> Melinda highly recommends Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3jUbu5b
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53410266-spoiler-alert
NOTE: Olivia Dade was a guest on RBP #130
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-130/
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #209
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-209/
DANIELLE’S 2020 FAVORITE
> Danie highly recommends Go Deep by Rilzy Adams
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2Rpwrcl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54290559-go-deep
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #203
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-203/
SARAH JEAN’S 2020 FAVORITE
> Sarah Jean highly recommends The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-sarah-jean-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3na3MVX
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45047384-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in the Pride episode featuring author ‘Nathan Burgione
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-ep-pride-burgoine/
> Sarah Jean also recommends the audio narrated by Daniel Henning
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53271469-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea
> There is no shame in re-setting your Goodreads annual goal!
MEKA’S 2020 FAVORITE
> Meka highly recommends Witchmark by CL Polk (first published in 2018)
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3hxleCV
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36187110-witchmark
> The second book in The Kingston Cycle, Stormsong, was published in 2020, and the third book, Soulstar, is due in Feb 2021
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3hCE8s6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41473380-stormsong
ANA’S 2020 FAVORITE
> Ana highly recommends Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3cAOuGg
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48568248-take-a-hint-dani-brown
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #204
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-204/
> Ana also recommends the audio for Take a Hint, Dani Brown, narrated by Ione Butler
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51793322-take-a-hint-dani-brown
> Did you read any favorite audiobooks this year?
> Meka & Melinda recommend Slay by Brittney Morris on audio, narrated by Kiersey Clemons
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44675886-slay
> Ana recommends Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall on audio, narrated by Joe Jameson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54364691-boyfriend-material
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #205 and #216
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-205/
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-216/
> Melinda recommends Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas on audio, narrated by Avi Roque
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55250881-cemetery-boys
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #206
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-206/
> Danie recommends Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia on audio, narrated by Frankie Corzo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52739975-mexican-gothic
NOTE: This is mystery/horror, and not a romance
> Danie recommends Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo on audio, narrated by the author along with Melania-Luisa Marte
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49116920-clap-when-you-land
NOTE: This is YA, and not a romance
> Danie recommends We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez on audio, narrated by Marisa Blake
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54356388-we-are-not-from-here
NOTE: This is YA, and not a romance
> Sarah Jean recommends Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse on audio, narrated by Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, Kaipo Schwab, & Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50898230-black-sun
NOTE: This is SFF, and not a romance
> Ana also recommends American Sweethearts by Adriana Herrera, another 2020 favorite
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2EYFC0L
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50775142-american-sweethearts
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #201
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-201/
> Sarah Jean also recommends Candy Hearts by Erin McLellan, another 2020 favorite
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-sarah-jean-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3pMvM41
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50170971-candy-hearts
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #124
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-124/
> Sarah Jean also recommends Sword Dance by AJ Demas, another favorite read in 2020 but published in 2019
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-sarah-jean-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2JBL63X
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51856712-sword-dance
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in the Pride episode featuring author May Peterson
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-ep-pride-peterson/
> Sarah Jean also recommends Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian, another 2020 favorite
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-sarah-jean-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3cAOENS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52737554-two-rogues-make-a-right
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #204 & #216
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-204/
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-216/
> Ana also recommends Deal With the Devil by Kit Rocha, another 2020 favorite
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2U3yFj7
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45157148-deal-with-the-devil
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #209 with the author team Kit Rocha
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-209/
> Ana also recommends A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Charlie Adhara, another 2020 favorite
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2U9ifWq
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50818771-wolf-in-sheep-s-clothing
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #210
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-210/
> Ana, Melinda & Meka also recommend everything by Nalini Singh, including her 2020 new releases, Alpha Night and Archangel’s Sun
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs/
Kindle (Alpha Night): https://amzn.to/3hxYT82
Kindle (Archangel’s Sun): https://amzn.to/38RiSux
Goodreads (Alpha Night): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49074639-alpha-night
Goodreads (Archangel’s Sun): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53513395-archangel-s-sun
NOTE: These books were also mentioned in our special interview with Nalini Singh
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-nalini-singh/
> Melinda also recommends Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay, another 2020 favorite
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2Ro245V
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52167727-like-lovers-do
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #202
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-202/
> Melinda also recommends Strange Love by Ann Aguirre, another 2020 favorite
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3b1AQxk
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48915429-strange-love
2020 NEW TO ME
> Meka read her first Courtney Milan books, The Governess Affair and The Duchess War
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle (The Governess Affair): https://amzn.to/38YKhLk
Kindle (The Duchess War): https://amzn.to/3pEmzdQ
Goodreads (The Governess Affair): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18492277-the-governess-affair
Goodreads (The Duchess War): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16300660-the-duchess-war
> Meka also read The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2MpM4Bo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38495896-the-weight-of-the-stars
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #126
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-126/
> Sarah Jean read the Los Nefilim series by T. Frohock
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-sarah-jean-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2KWGZzX
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40613619-where-oblivion-lives
NOTE: This book was also mentioned in RBP #212
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-212/
> Danie read Heatwaves by Kema B.
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3rOvjQn
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54426344-heatwaves
> Danie also read Love & War by Shae Sanders
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3pGemFV
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54515377-love-and-war
> Danie also read You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-danielle-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3o6hj29
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50027029-you-deserve-each-other
> Melinda read Work Song by Danielle Allen
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2WZkJYI
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26228446-work-song
> Ana read The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3o5LYNi
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44294576-the-widow-of-rose-house
> Did you re-read any favorites this year? If so, which ones?
> Ana read Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3o6FygX
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13255416-indigo
NOTE: This book was mentioned in our special interview with Ms. Bev
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-ep-jenkinsjuly-ms-bev/
> Sarah Jean read Heir’s Game, a webtune comic by suspu
Link: https://www.webtoons.com/en/drama/heirs-game/
> Sarah Jean also read Muted, a webtune comic by Miranda Mundt
Link: https://www.webtoons.com/en/supernatural/muted/
> Sarah Jean also read the Sons of Britain series by Mia West
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3o1MYSt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35015621-marked-by-fire
2021 ANTICIPATED READS
> Meka is looking forward to Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins, due Feb 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3hydIYp
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48904945-wild-rain
NOTE: This book was mentioned in our special interview with Ms. Bev
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-ep-jenkinsjuly-ms-bev/
> Meka is also looking forward to Sweet Tea by Piper Huguley, due July 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/351VZ6J
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55948557-sweet-tea
> Danie is looking forward to Sweet Hand by N.G. Peltier, due March 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/34Yh9lR
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55237206-sweethand
> Don’t miss the Sweethand cover, it’s so gorgeous!
> Danie is also looking forward to The Jaguar Knight by Ann Aguirre, due April 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3pA2jKi
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56257182-the-jaguar-knight
> Ana is looking forward to The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha, due August 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3b0ci7R
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53424624-the-devil-you-know
> Ana is also looking forward to Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews, due Jan 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3o8WfYP
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54561555-blood-heir
> Sarah Jean is looking forward to Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell, due Feb 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3pHDcoZ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53320169-winter-s-orbit
> Sarah Jean is also looking forward to The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles, due Feb 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3o8TvL0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56393369-the-gentle-art-of-fortune-hunting
> Sarah Jean is also looking forward to The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian, due June 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3hyqA0y
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55529818-the-queer-principles-of-kit-webb
> Sarah Jean is also looking forward to Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, due June 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2KWIE8C
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54435003-the-jasmine-throne
> Melinda is looking forward to Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder, due Jan 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3pEMyBV
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53965645-big-bad-wolf
> Melinda is also looking forward to Nalini Singh’s next books, including her new suspense novel Quiet in Her Bones, due Feb 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3hwIscg
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55400330-quiet-in-her-bones
> Melinda is also looking forward to How to Be Good by Chace Verity, due Feb 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2X2rzN8
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52590807-how-to-be-good
> That’s all, folks! What are your 2020 romance favorites? Which new releases are you anticipating in 2021?
Join @RomBkPod in January for a month of Sci-Fi & Fantasy romance!
Happy Reading!
BONUS EP MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0
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