“POCKET FRIENDS”
This week Ana hosts the podcast with guest author Alyssa Cole as they introduce our March Theme: Platonic Friendship in Romance
EP 225 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 225 GUEST
> ALYSSA COLE (she/her) Alyssa Cole is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of romance (historical, contemporary, and sci-fi) and thrillers. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime with her husband or wrangling her pets. You can visit Alyssa’s website at www.alyssacole.com, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @alyssacolelit
EP 225 DISCUSSION
NOTE: These notes include affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon.com to support the RBP transcript project
NOTE: This episode was recorded in late-February during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-21
> Ana mentions Alyssa’s NYT BESTSELLING thriller When No One Is Watching
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51202607-when-no-one-is-watching
> Title: The A.I. Who Loved Me
Author: Alyssa Cole
Relation to theme: Supportive friends
Representation: Black, queer, neuro-divergent author; Black, disabled MC, Asian MC
Content Warnings (from reader Fadwa): trauma, panic attack, chronic pain, talk of past accident, stroke, memory suppression
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3dCbG7Q
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53467163-the-a-i-who-loved-me
NOTE: The A.I. Who Loved Me originated as an Audible Original and features an all-star cast lead by actress Regina Hall–not to be missed!
> Title: Duke By Default (Reluctant Royals #2)
Author: Alyssa Cole
Relation to theme: Supportive friends
Representation: Black, queer, neuro-divergent author; Black, neuro-divergent MC, Scottish-Chilean MC
Content Warnings: internalized ableism, toxic family, anti-immigrant sentiment, employer-apprentice relationship
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2PxKIq5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36912332-a-duke-by-default
NOTE: This book was also discussed in RBP ep #129 with reader/blogger Corey Alexander
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-129/
> Title: Love Lettering
Author: Kate Clayborn
Relation to theme: Broken friendship
Representation: White, author; white MCs
Content Warnings: toxic friend/roommate, broken engagement, past parental infidelity
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/39Il0pM
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48667034-love-lettering
> Title: The Boyfriend Project
Author: Farrah Rochon
Relation to theme: New friends
Representation: Black author; Black MCs
Content Warnings: infidelity, racist microagressions
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2PztBUP
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52776397-the-boyfriend-project
> Ana also recommends Farrah Rochon’s Maplesville series for dynamic friendship
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/124723-moments-in-maplesville
> Title: Tempest (Old West #3)
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Relation to theme: Found Family, also good rep for male friendship
Representation: Black author; Black MCs
Content Warnings: accidental shooting, grief, death of a spouse, family tension, racism, sexism, references to the 1885 Rock Springs Massacre
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2RaDZmB
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35097002-tempest
NOTE: This book has been discussed many times on RBP including our #MyFirstJenkins special
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-ep-myfirstjenkins/
NOTE: We also chatted with Queen Bev herself
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-ep-jenkinsjuly-ms-bev/
> Title: Dreaming of You (Gamblers #2)
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Relation to theme: Male friendship
Representation: White author; white MCs
Content Warnings: gambling, evil ex
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2PWczA2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6659136-dreaming-of-you
> See the Mated Fates podcast for more on Derek Craven
Link: https://fatedmates.net/
> Ana recommends the Beyond series by Kit Rocha for dynamic friendships
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/87051-beyond
NOTE: Kit Rocha chatted with RBP in ep #209
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-209/
> See the Beyond the Sectors podcast, hosted by Ana, for more on the Beyond series
Link: https://beyondthesectors.com/
> Title: Deal With the Devil (Mercenary Librarians #1)
Author: Kit Rocha
Relation to theme: Found Family
Representation: White authors; white MCs
Content Warnings: post-apocalypse, genetic tampering, violence, assault, death (both on page and off)
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3wnbaDz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45157148-deal-with-the-devil
> Alyssa mentions The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams as being on her TBR
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44019067-the-bromance-book-club
> Alyssa recommends the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh for dynamic friendships
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/41454-psy-changeling
NOTE: We also chatted with Nalini Singh last year
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-nalini-singh/
> Title: Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3)
Author: Nalini Singh
Relation to theme: New friendship
Representation: South Asian author
Content Warnings: life-threatening injury to 2nd characters, murder & past trauma
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3fHyjdW
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42374078-wolf-rain
> Title: Alpha Night (Psy-Changeling Trinity #4)
Author: Nalini Singh
Relation to theme: New friendship
Representation: South Asian author
Content Warnings: past trauma
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3rRoc8P
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49074639-alpha-night
> Ana & Alyssa discuss two of Nalini’s recent thrillers: A Madness of Sunshine and Quiet in Her Bones
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44490713-a-madness-of-sunshine
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55400330-quiet-in-her-bones
> Title: Layover
Author: Katrina Jackson
Relation to theme: Friendship as tough love
Representation: Black, queer author; Black MCs
Content Warnings (from reader Leigh Kramer): death of parent (heart attack), grief, side character announces pregnancy
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3cPRUa0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39792079-layover
NOTE: Stay tuned–Katrina Jackson is our guest next week!
> Ana recommends Rebekah Weatherspoon’s entire catalog for dynamic friendships
NOTE: We chatted with Rebekah Weatherspoon last year in RBP #205
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-205/
> The Weatherspoon Effect! <3 <3 <3
> Title: Rafe (Loose Ends #1)
Author: Rebekah Weatherspoon
Relation to theme: Supportive friends
Representation: Black, queer author; Black MC, white MC
Content Warnings: divorce, employer/employee relationship
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3cPRUa0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39792079-layover
> Title: So Sweet (Sugar Baby #1)
Author: Rebekah Weatherspoon
Relation to theme: Bad friend
Representation: Black, queer author
Content Warnings: toxic friend
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3rSfqr3
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26209241-so-sweet
> Title: Xeni (Loose Ends #2)
Author: Rebekah Weatherspoon
Relation to theme: Supportive friends
Representation: Black, queer author; Black MC, white, queer MC
Content Warnings: family secrets, toxic family, homophobia
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-ana-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3cPRUa0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39792079-layover
> Title: The Duke Who Didn’t (Wedgeford Trials #1)
Author: Courtney Milan
Relation to theme: Friendship as invisible support
Representation: Chinese-American, neuro-divergent author; Chinese-English MCs
Content Warnings: secret identity, racism
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/host-ana-s-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3dOez7g
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55012301-the-duke-who-didn-t
NOTE: This book has been discussed several times including RBP #221 & #213
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-213/
> What are your Platonic Friendship #InclusiveRomance favorites? Tag us @RomBkPod or share with us in the comments
Happy Reading!
EP 225 MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0
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