Heat Factor: She’s a virgin, he hasn’t been with anyone for ages (because of her, obvi), completely OTT Character Chemistry: “I love you so much, I won’t say anything for fear of upsetting you! But also, I’m kind of upset about it!” Plot: Two dumdums succumb to their mutual lust while trapped in the wilderness for a night, avoid each other for four months, then continue to avoid talking when a surprise pregnancy makes physical avoidance less desirable. Overall: It wasn’t as fun as the other two books I’ve read by this author, but it was still ridiculous and fun.

Looking for a new author to try? Here's everything you need to know about Rachel Reid, whose books included Heated Rivalry (and the rest of the Game Changers series!), Time to Shine, and The Shots You Take. What She Writes: High heat M/M romance novels, almost entirely centered on Canadian protagonists (Game Changer and Common Goal being the exceptions), and always (so far) featuring active or retired hockey players. Writing Style: Reid writes in a semi-close 3rd person, past tense, with great suggestion. Because of this, the reader has numerous opportunities to observe the protagonist lying to himself, or to catch the little hints of emotional investment that are unclear to the protagonist in the midst of his own emotional turmoil, so it packs that emotional punch that frequently results in stomach flutters.

This month was Holly's pick, and the team read The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn. There's discussion of on-the-nose metaphors, how we feel about *Paris*, and the moments that are really great. Note: There are a few big reveals in this book that happen about 3/4 of the way through, and we discuss them, so here's your SPOILERS note. Heat Factor: There’s a lot going on Character Chemistry: It’s like lightning and in those lighting flashes they are revealed to each other Plot: Damaged people overly invest themselves in other people’s unraveling wedding, and find their own impetus to change…

Swordheart, Book #2 Holly's Review of Swordheart, Book #1 | The Whole Team's Convo about Swordheart, Book #1 Holly's Take Heat Factor: A high ratio of innuendo to shagging Character Chemistry: Mutual admiration society Plot: Learned Edmund is bringing a dagger and some books to the big city but *surprise!* the dagger is a person Overall: This hits all the Kingfisher checkboxes Ingrid's Take Heat Factor: There’s heavy flirting and blushing but it’s not what I’d consider high heat.  Character Chemistry: I think meant to be opposites attract but they’re both ultimately serving as the cheerleader to each other’s humility/wounds…

Love & Spite, Book #1 Heat Factor: A solid chunk in the middle is them having allllll the sex Character Chemistry: She asks him to do activities with her and he discovers that having fun is a good thing Plot: Zoe gets revenge on her cheating ex by fake-dating his older brother. With exclamation marks! Overall: This was a fun read with surprising depth.

Our conversation this week was inspired by this piece by Rien Grey on "if only" eroticism. We do talk about sex a bit more than we normally do, so please proceed accordingly.

For several months now, I’ve been fighting the impulse to write a rant about the appalling callousness on display on social media towards people with disability, especially people notionally …

Secret of the Syphon, Book #2 Review of Secret of the Syphon, Book #1 Heat Factor: It’s mostly a lot of angry yearning, but it does have some heat Character Chemistry: They’re mates but they haven’t bonded yet and it apparently can be broken, but they don’t really want it to be… Plot: Ever flees Aeson and the Wing after killing the witch responsible for blocking the Syphons’ powers, he chases her, she re-establishes a tenuous connection with Aeson and the Wing after shattering that trust and then she pulls more shady moves because she can’t seem to help herself.

My First Smut is a recurring feature where we talk about our formative smut experiences. These short confessionals may include such details as: What book did you read? How old were you? Were there other people involved? What made the experience special? What role does smut play in your life? This week, Jessica Siskin talks about emerging from her literary fiction bubble (we're so happy to have her here!) First romance novel you read I''d read plenty of books with romance before, but the first time I realized I was reading a ~romance~ it was People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.

September’s theme prompt for Super Wendy’s #TBRChallenge 2026 was “Lush Life.” Here are the books we chose to tackle our TBRs this month. Holly Read: Something about Emmaline by Elizabeth Boyle Bachelor Chronicles, Book #1 Why was this book on your TBR? Well, this might not be in the spirit of the challenge, but Erin suggested it (very recently) for a recommendation list we were putting together, and I was like, “Oh, I definitely gotta read that one.” Why did you choose this book for this month’s challenge? Emmaline is a con artist who has finagled her way into the aristocracy.

Bottom line: Do you like the Medieval setting? Holly: OMG YES. I don’t even know why but it hits every single part of my id. Erin: It’s so stressful. And for years I really couldn’t get over how filthy everyone had to be all the time. It got better, but it’s not fully in the realm of total suspension of disbelief for me. Ingrid: I don’t? But I also think it’s half because of what Erin said and half because most of the Medieval romances I’ve read were real old and real…morally questionable.

One thing that’s come up quite a bit over the past year, especially in our podcast discussions, is our frustration with authors who spoon feed every bit of information to readers. I admit, usually it’s Ingrid saying this (maybe because more people are guilty of this in her preferred subgenres than mine?), but I read an absolutely infuriating example of this exact phenomenon over the weekend, so I feel like some yelling is in order. The book: Bride by Ali Hazelwood. Before everyone starts yelling at me about how Ali Hazelwood is a writing phenomenon and…

Ingrid loves a craft theme, so this week, we're talking about how authors ruin meet cutes.

Guides to Villainy and Love, Book #2 Review of Guides to Villainy and Love, Book #1 Heat Factor: It’s steamy in a few parts, but there’s a lot going on so they don’t have a ton of time for hanky panky. Character Chemistry: The main characters are clearly in love and can’t figure out how to say it. Plot: Kaz and Arabella are proceeding with their villainous plans for domination but also have to figure out how to regain lost memories, prevent the ley lines from being completely corrupted, fight off being overthrown by a crappy, evil council, and tell each other they’re in love with the other person.

My First Smut is a recurring feature where we talk about our formative smut experiences. These short confessionals may include such details as: What book did you read? How old were you? Were there other people involved? What made the experience special? What role does smut play in your life? This week, author Rose Prendeville shares her path to romance via Star Trek. First romance novel you read: Imzadi by Peter David How old were you? 13 How'd you get your hands on the book? I was a big Star Trek fan, so I was reading a lot of Star Trek novelizations at the time, and my parents thought nothing of me buying this one in the store.

Heat Factor: They’re mostly too busy until things come to a head (literally) in a bathhouse Character Chemistry: There’s a lot of mistrust they have to work through Plot: Laurie is sent to investigate Chary and everything seems like a nothing burger…until the bodies start stacking up Overall: This is a meaty romance

Happy Labor Day weekend! In honor of the holiday, we’ve pulled together a list of six romances featuring labor organizers. Books are listed in chronological order by setting. Highland Jewel b…

This week on Tumblereads, Erin wanted to talk about book series, which is a very large topic, so we kinda went all over the place.

Crowns of Nyaxia, Book #5 Heat Factor: It’s a delayed heat—much resistance to yearning until very near the end. Character Chemistry: They’re both arrogant, hyper-independent control freaks with a very hopeless outlook on the future and intimacy issues, so it’s…good. Plot: This is the point in the Crowns of Nyaxia series where we finally get the villain’s side of the story, and everything goes completely into chaos, as it should. Overall: I’m so excited for the next book that it’s almost painful.

My First Smut is a recurring feature where we talk about our formative smut experiences. These short confessionals may include such details as: What book did you read? How old were you? Were there other people involved? What made the experience special? What role does smut play in your life? This week, author Melissa R. Collings talks about realizing that desire wasn't shameful. My first smut was less a particular book and more a very slow rebellion. I started reading romance when I was young, but my version of romance was Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters: longing, restraint, accidental brushes, and glances carrying the emotional weight of an entire relationship.

Heat Factor: Oooo, they do the arguing sexual tension crash into each other thing! Character Chemistry: I finally see all your soft parts, and I’m going to protect them Plot: Mo’s parents only care about image, and Mo chafes under their thumbs, so when he finds himself in trouble again, this time with the squeaky clean team captain, he covers by faking a relationship and is shocked when captain Adam agrees Overall: It really doesn’t stray from the beats, but that’s probably what made the *moments* swoop

Fence Book One by C.S. Pascat and Johanna the Mad Fence, #1 Releases September 1 Queer sports romance meets elite private school stakes in the first of three young adult graphic novels from the hit series! Scrappy fencer Nicholas Cox has big dreams of following in the footsteps of the father he’s never known, but when he’s accepted into the elite Kings Row private school, he’s thrust into a world of cutthroat competition. Facing down privileged rivals, grueling tryouts, and the seemingly unbeatable Seiji Katayama, Nicholas discovers that it will take more than determination to prove himself worthy of a place on the team.

Is it fall where you are? We're all looking forward to cozy reading weather (and having school be back in session!). Our Favorite Reads Ingrid's Pick: Immortal Game by Allison Saft (Ingrid's full review.) Holly's Pick: A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant Holly loves a prickly heroine, and there is no heroine more prickly than Lydia Slaughter. (Holly's full review.) Erin's Pick: A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske Look, there's a reason this historical fantasy mystery adventure is constantly recommended. (Get on Amazon.) More from the Blog…

Ministry of Supernatural Affairs, Book #1 Heat Factor: They get a bit frisky Character Chemistry: “You are the most attractive man I have ever met and even though I don’t love your lack of morals, I don’t think I can help myself.” Plot: The Devil comes to London, and Cora is the party’s human liaison. Overall: I could appreciate what the author was doing here, but it wasn’t for me

This month was Ingrid's pick, and Ingrid wanted something fun and silly, so we read Not Another Vampire Book by Cassandra Gannon. Mostly, we’re talking about the line between laughing at something or laughing with something. Heat Factor: It’s got heat, but the mayhem kind of masks it Character Chemistry: Does a pretty exceptional job of them seeing each other better than everyone else Plot: Book editor is sucked into what she describes as the “stupidest romance novel,” allies herself with the villain, and runs around trying to escape back to reality.

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books