Ep #225

“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

TRANSCRIPT FORTHCOMING