The Best Romance Novels of the Century So Far

The Bonkers Vibes

Jess and Trisha discuss the end of Harlequin’s category romance line and offer some category romance recs (some of which are delightfully bananas). Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (episode goes live March 30)! Get a bit of category romance background from Love In Panels and author Therese Beharrie. Books Discussed: Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik The Brightest Blaze by Kelly Farmer Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish  Compromised into a Scandalous Marriage by Lydia San Andres Bane (and others!) by Brenda Jackson Daring to Fall For the Prince by Heba Helmy Backcountry Cover-Up by Denise N. Wheatley Pregnesia by Carla Cassidy Road Trip Rivalry by Mona Shroff Her Fake Wedding Date in Sicily by Jenny Lane The Duke’s Sister and I by Emma-Claire Sunday This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My Most Gandalfy Friend

Jess and Trisha talk about a new option for indie authors and talk about some of their favorite independently-published romances. News Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (ep goes live March 30)! Learn more about the Draft2Digital and Bookshop.org partnership. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed 10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace by Jahquel J What If…I Love You by Yvonne Marie The Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa Written on Ice by Smardline S. Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker Now You See Him by Nina Saxena Meegan by Rebekah Weatherspoon Expanded Roster by Aimee Rivkin The Probability of Us by Elizabeth-Jade Taylor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Best Romance Novels of the Century So Far

Jess and Trisha talk (very enthusiastically) about Book Riot’s list of the best romance novels of the century so far. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News: Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (episode goes live March 30)! Find Sarah Wendell’s discussion with Julia Quinn on the SBTB podcast here. And of course, please enjoy Book Riot’s list of The Best Romance Books of the Century So Far as much as Jess and Trisha do. Books Discussed: Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh Two’s Better by Viano Oniomoh The Long Game by Rachel Reid Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa And all of the other books discussed can be found in one convenient place! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tier Ranking: Judging Books by Their Cover

We’re judging books by their covers with no shame. From covers we think belong in the Louvre to ones that made us say “burn it.” No plots, no spoilers, just vibes. Which covers made you buy instantly? Which ones lied? Drop YOUR hot takes. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠! Our February 2026 pick is This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fake Fated Mates

Jess and Trisha talk a LOT about adaptations - including their dream adaptations - and a little bit about other news and updates in romanceland. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News: Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (ep goes live March 30)! Find a loooooong sample (if you’d like) of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. Julia Quinn is curating a romance box - check out the Kickstarter here. Books Discussed: A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez Restore Me by J.L. Seegars Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh Game Changer by Rachel Reid Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun Dating Dr. Dil and the whole If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series by Nisha Sharma Bring on the Blessings and the whole Blessings series by Beverly Jenkins Better Than People and the Garnet Run series by Roan Parrish It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram Sherry Thomas’s Heart of Blade duology, starting with The Hidden Blade The Christina C. Jones Cinematic Universe, starting with Getting Schooled The Unleashing and the Call of Crows series by Shelly Laurenston We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian Unwritten Rules - and the whole series - by K.D. Casey Kit Rocha’s Bound to Fire and Steel series, starting with Consort of Fire This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices