Ep #129

“MORE CINNAMON ROLL DOMS, PLEASE”

This week Ana hosts the podcast with guest Corey Alexander as we discuss neurodivergent representation in romance

EP 129 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 129 GUEST

> COREY ALEXANDER (they/them/their) is an autistic fat queer white Jewish genderqueer writer and book blogger with multiple disabilities who spends too much time on Twitter. They run a book blog, Corey’s Book Corner, and write kinky queer romance as Xan West. You can visit Corey’s blog at https://coreysbookcorner.wordpress.com/. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram @TGStoneButch


EP 129 DISCUSSION

> NOTE: This discussion was recorded in late March during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic

> NOTE: April is Autism Pride Month or Autism Acceptance Month

Link: https://www.autismacceptancemonth.com/

> Corey refers to the Ravenswood series by Talia Hibbert which we’ll discuss in more detail later in the episode

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/228710-ravenswood

> Corey refers to An Unseen Attraction by K.J Charles, a RomBkPod favorite

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30517107-an-unseen-attraction

> Ana mentions Whiteout by Adriana Anders

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42366204-whiteout

> Title: Whip, Stir and Serve

Author: Caitlyn Frost and Henry Drake

Relation to theme: Autism rep, anxiety rep

Representation: Autistic authors, autistic MC, queer MCs, anxiety rep, fat rep

Content Warnings: BDSM, kink

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38616965-whip-stir-and-serve

>> Corey’s interview with the authors

Link: https://coreysbookcorner.wordpress.com/2018/03/12/interview-with-caitlyn-frost-and-henry-drake/

>>> MORE CINNAMON ROLL DOMS PLEASE

> Title: A Duke By Default (Reluctant Royals #2)

Author: Alyssa Cole

Relation to theme: ADHD rep

Representation: Author with ADHD, Black author, Black MC, Chilean-Scottish biracial MC, MC with ADHD

Content Warnings: internalized ableism, toxic family

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36912332-a-duke-by-default

>> Corey’s interview with the author

Link: https://coreysbookcorner.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/interview-with-alyssa-cole/

> Corey mentions the book Connection Error by Annabeth Albert

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28807263-connection-error

> Title: Untouchable (Ravenswood #2)

Author: Talia Hibbert

Relation to theme: Autism rep, depression rep

Representation: Autistic author, Black author, queer author, disabled author, autistic MC, Black MC, queer MC, white MC, MCs with depression, fat rep

Content Warnings: depression, terminal illness, chronic illness

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44569988-untouchable

>> Corey’s interview with the author

Link: https://coreysbookcorner.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/interview-with-talia-hibbert/

> Title: Hate to Want You (Forbidden Hearts #1)

Author: Alisha Rai

Relation to theme: Depression rep

Representation: Desi author, Japanese American & Native Hawaiian biracial MC, MC with depression, white MC, MC with PTSD

Content Warnings: depression, grief, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, past car accident (off-page), past arson (off-page), toxic family, brief reference to Japanese internment

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33395539-hate-to-want-you

>> We can’t talk about the Forbidden Hearts series without mentioning our beloved Jackson from book two, Wrong to Need You!

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34217566-wrong-to-need-you

> Title: Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Author: Roan Parrish

Relation to theme: Depression rep, possible autism rep

Representation: White author, Jewish author, queer MCs, white MC, Black MC, MC with depression, PTSD, and sensory sensitivity

Content Warnings: depression, suicidal thoughts, internalized ableism, past abusive relationship, confrontation with past abuser

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38510053-invitation-to-the-blues

> For a complete list of Corey’s autism rep in romance recommendations please visit their website

Link: https://coreysbookcorner.wordpress.com/2019/04/25/recs-for-autistic-representation-in-books-and-stories/

> NOTE: Unfortunately the very end of our conversation with Corey was cut off due to connection issues, but we are so happy they were able to join us to discuss neurodivergent representation in romance. Thank you, Corey!


> Which favorite neurodivergent romances did we miss? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram @RomBkPod

Happy Reading!

EP 129 MUSIC CREDIT

Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar

From the Free Music Archive

CC BY-SA 3.0