“COMFORT FOOD”
This week host Melinda continues our Food in Romance theme with guest host Geri and special guest author and #RomanceClass creator Mina V. Esguerra
EP 214 HOSTS
> MELINDA UTENDORF (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
EP 214 GUEST HOST
> GERI (she/her) Geri started reading romance at 12 years old when she found a trove of Harlequin Presents under her aunt’s bed and hasn’t looked back since! She loves her books sweet and sexy with a little bit of angst thrown in. Read Geri’s blog at www.gerireads.com, or you can follow Geri on Twitter @GeriReads and on Instagram @geri_reads
EP 214 GUEST
MINA V. ESGUERRA (she/her) Mina V. Esguerra writes contemporary romance novels. Visit minavesguerra.com to learn more about her writing, publishing experiments, events, and advocacies. When not writing romance, she is president of communications firm Bronze Age Media, development communication consultant, publisher, and publishing mentor. She created the workshop series “Author at Once” for writers and publishers, and #romanceclass for aspiring romance writers. You can follow Mina on Twitter and Instagram @MinaVEsguerra. You can also learn more about #RomanceClass at romanceclassbooks.com, or follow them on Twitter and Instagram @romanceclassbks
EP 214 DISCUSSION
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
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-November during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020
> Meka was not able to join us this month, but she sends her love! Love you, Meka!
> Visit the #romanceclass website
Link: romanceclassbooks.com
> You can find the entire Hello, Ever After series on YouTube
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_Xrbqj-PNRLkjd0f37hdTuUqCT_t64gX
> Title: The Kitchen When It Sizzles
Author: Chrissie Peria
Relation to theme: Chef MC, learning to cook
Representation: Filipina author, Filipino MCs
Content Warnings: none identified
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/37tMKOg
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22847230-the-kitchen-when-it-sizzles
> Title: Mango Summer
Author: Agay Llanera
Relation to theme: Female farmer MC
Representation: Filipina author, Filipino MCs
Content Warnings: broken engagement
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2WsqfD4
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42335492-mango-summer
> Mango Summer is being adapted for the screen!
Link: https://www.romanceclassbooks.com/news/whats-next-mango-summer-series/
> Title: Sweet on You
Author: Carla de Guzman
Relation to theme: Cafe owner MC, Baker MC
Representation: Filipina author, Filipino MCs
Content Warnings: none identified
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/37vOCWO
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54224801-sweet-on-you
> The smelly fish dish Mina mentions is Tuyo and here’s a cute video about eating it for breakfast. Do you have a food or drink that you tested/would test your partner with?
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ-JbMVLrzI
> Title: Kiss & Cry (Six 32 Central #2)
Author: Mina V. Esguerra
Relation to theme: Comfort food
Representation: Filipina author, Filipina MC, Filipino-American MC
Content Warnings: none identified
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3mtC5r3
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43839355-kiss-and-cry
> Title: What Kind of Day (Six 32 Central #1)
Author: Mina V. Esguerra
Relation to theme: Food as courtship/seduction
Representation: Filipina author, Filipina MCs
Content Warnings: none identified
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3muEQbA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40058181-what-kind-of-day
> Geri, Mina, & Melinda all recommend Jackie Lau’s Baldwin Village series
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/250946-baldwin-village
NOTE: Ana spoke about Food in Romance with Jackie Lau in RBP #213
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-213/
> Title: A Taste of Heaven
Author: Penny Watson
Relation to theme: Reality cooking competition, comfort food
Representation: White cis het author, white cis het MCs, over 40 MCs
Content Warnings: grief (recent death of a partner), creepy co-contestant
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/38bmWWk
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26247682-a-taste-of-heaven
> Do you have recs for Geri? Which of your favorite romance authors write seasoned (over 40) characters?
> Title: Afternoon Delight
Author: Anne Calhoun
Relation to theme: Food truck owner, food as seduction
Representation: White cis het author, white cis het MCs
Content Warnings: grief (recent death of family member)
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2LDqd90
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23207386-afternoon-delight
> Title: Check, Please! (Book #1 & Book #2)
Author: Ngozi Ukazu
Relation to theme: Baker MC
Representation: Black author, white, queer MCs
Content Warnings: hazing, alcohol use, injuries from playing hockey, coming out
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3mxLSfA (Book 1)
Kindle: https://amzn.to/34nDHfK (Book 2)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/223727-check-please
NOTE: You need to read both books to get the HEA
NOTE: Check, Please! Was previously recommended on RBP #104
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-104/
>> Title: Cream of the Crop
Author: Alice Clayton
Relation to theme: Farmer MC, food marketing
Representation: White author, white cis het MC, Latinx cis het MC, fat rep
Content Warnings: discussion of fatphobia
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3p2KBip
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25560437-cream-of-the-crop
>> Title: As Good As the First Time (Sugar Lake #1)
Author: K.M. Jackson
Relation to theme: Family bakery
Representation: Black author, Black MCs
Content Warnings: career stress, sick family member, single parent
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ap8KLU
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38363598-as-good-as-the-first-time
>> Melinda recommends With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo which is YA with romantic elements
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42357635-with-the-fire-on-high
>> Melinda shares with Mina that Iris After the Incident is her favorite book (no food theme)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31353634-iris-after-the-incident
>> Yes, more #RomanceClass on audio, please!
>> Checkout Mina on Scribd
Link: https://www.scribd.com/ga/38qf0k
> What are your Food in Romance #InclusiveRomance favorites? Tag us @RomBkPod or share with us in the comments
Happy Reading!
EP 214 MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0
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