Ep #109 – LUST & FOUND

This week Ana hosts the podcast with guest, Kini of SmexyBooks, as they introduce our November theme and debate the merits of political romance

EP 109 HOST

> 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

EP 109 GUEST

> KINI (she/her) is a lifelong reader who has always enjoyed getting lost in books. She started reading romance about ten years ago and discovered the joy of a HEA and hasn’t looked back since. She’s a knitter and is ruled by her cat, Kitty Scarlett. She’s an active participant of romance Twitter and reviews and operates Smexybooks.com. You can find Kini on Twitter @kinilei1 and Instagram @1kinilei

EP 109 DISCUSSION

> Title: American Love Story (Dreamers #3)
Author: Adriana Herrera
Relation to theme: Economic professor/political activist MC, assistant district attorney MC
Representation: Dominican author, bi author, Haitian-born MC, white MC, queer MCs
Content Warnings: Racism, racially motivated traffic stops, police harassment, homophobia, Past trauma: parental shunning, abandonment
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46038658-american-love-story

> The entire Dreamers series by Adriana Herrera is wonderful and chock full of political nuance and thoughtfulness
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/252809-dreamers

> Title: Flow (Grip #0.5)
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Relation to theme: extensive conversations about race
Representation: Black author, black/biracial MC
Content Warnings: Racism
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34383953-flow

> Title: Grip (Grip #1)
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Relation to theme: extensive conversations about race
Representation: Black author, black/biracial MC
Content Warnings: Racism, sexual assault
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34388807-grip

> Title: Forbidden (Old West #1)
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Relation to theme: politically active MC, discussions about race
Representation: Black author, black/biracial MC, black MC
Content Warnings: past slavery, racism, colorism, robbery, assault, kidnapping
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25760151-forbidden

> Title: Party Lines (The Easy Part #3)
Author: Emma Barry
Relation to theme: presidential campaign aide MCs
Representation: White author, Latina MC, white MC
Content Warnings: Racism, sexism
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23010019-party-lines

> As Ana and Kini point out, The Easy Part series by Emma Barry was written and published prior to the 2016 election and therefore can feel dated, but still enjoyable
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/130227-the-easy-part

> The Boys of Bishop is the Molly O’Keefe series Ana and Kini refer to as having politics embedded in the background
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/114956-boys-of-bishop

> The Rogue Anthologies were a joint project between authors Tamsen Parker, A.J. Cousins, Zoe York, and Emma Barry inspired by a Twitter dialogue to produce politically inspiring romance shorts in the wake of the 2016 election. Ultimately seven anthologies were published over the course of two years and all are still available for purchase
Link: https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/rogue-ever-after-cover-reveal
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/211787-rogue

> Title: Cover Me (Rogue Acts, Rogue Anthology #3)
Author: Olivia Dade
Relation to theme: Health insurance access, political expression at town hall
Representation: White author, white cis het MCs, fat rep
Content Warnings: cancer, medical procedures.
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38089435-rogue-acts

> Title: Deep Throat (Rogue Desire, Rogue Anthology #1)
Author: Dakota Gray
Relation to theme: FBI investigation of a politician
Representation: Black author, black MC, white MC
Content Warnings: Sex worker
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35654211-rogue-desire

> Title: Truth, Love, and Sushi (Rogue Desire, Rogue Anthology #1)
Author: Stacey Agdern
Relation to theme: Presidential daughter MC, social justice warrior MC
Representation: Jewish author, white cis het MCs
Content Warnings: Anti-Semitism
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35654211-rogue-desire

> Title: Sweet Disorder (Lively St. Lemeston #1)
Author: Rose Lerner
Relation to theme: Election campaign setting
Representation: Jewish author, ace author, white cis het MCs, fat rep (heroine is bi I believe)
Content Warnings: Past sexual assault (secondary character)
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35478693-sweet-disorder

> Title: Red, White, and Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Relation to theme: Presidential son MC, prince MC, diplomatic affairs
Representation: Bi author, non-binary author, queer MCs, latinx/white MC, white MC
Content Warnings: Racism, forced out-ing
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150487-red-white-royal-blue

> Title: Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals #2.5)
Author: Alyssa Cole
Relation to theme: Immigration issues
Representation: Black author, black Hatitian MC, black African MC, bi/lesbian MCs
Content Warnings: Threats of deportation
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42128976-once-ghosted-twice-shy

> As Ana mentions, the entire Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole is great and multiple books touch on politics
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/212083-reluctant-royals

> Title: Once Upon a Bad Boy (Sometimes in Love #3)
Author: Melonie Johnson
Relation to theme: MC had a past abortion, class differences
Representation: White author, white cis het MCs
Content Warnings: Abortion, classism
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150456-once-upon-a-bad-boy

> #RomanceForRoe is an upcoming romance anthology due in January 2020 spearheaded by author Jackie Barbosa
Link: https://twitter.com/jackiebarbosa/status/1128691127047974912?s=20
Link: https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2019/05/15/romanceforroe-anthology/

> Title: A Conspiracy of Whispers (Whisper #1)
Author: Ada Harper
Relation to theme: Political upheaval
Representation: Queer author, queer found family
Content Warnings: Threats of sexual violence, war violence
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36511080-a-conspiracy-of-whispers

> Title: A Treason of Truths (Whisper #2)
Author: Ada Harper
Relation to theme: Political upheaval
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs
Content Warnings: Guns, torture, abduction
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40533906-a-treason-of-truths

> Title: In Her Service (Rogue Hearts, Rogue Anthology #4)
Author: Suleikha Snyder
Relation to theme: U.S. vice president MC, secret service agent MC
Representation: South Asian author, South Asian muslim MC, black MC
Content Warnings: none
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39848290-rogue-hearts

> What favorites of yours did we miss? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram @RomBkPod

Happy Reading!

EP 109 MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0