Getting Lit

By Simone St. James. This month, Ilana and Wendy go to the Roaring Twenties in this murder mystery-romance with psychics, seances, and cloche hats. We didn’t get the horror we were looking for, but we did get a psychic investigator with street smarts, a work-a-day accent and well built shoulders, so it’s a trade-off.

By Rainbow Rowell. Ilana’s kid sister Naomi joins us to read the first YA Romance of the podcast. Naomi and Wendy start the Youngest Sister Support Group, where we bemoan weird nicknames and getting punched for various reasons. Family dynamics are hilarious! We talk about fatness, adolescence and how we are all really glad we […]

By Lorraine Heath. Wendy and Ilana take a pilgrimage to sort-of-historical post-Civil War Texas in this novel published in the 90’s, but first Ilana tells us about her apple adventure with a truck driver that may or may not be a witch. Also, this book is 100% inspired by the Oregon Trail computer game. Yes, […]

Getting Lit goes Bollywood with this contemporary romance, a bacchanal of food, weddings, babies, and strangely enough, Michigan countryside. Still adjusting to COVID-19, Ilana makes two different drinks for the podcast.

This episode, Wendy and Ilana give our best and worst recommendations for the romance novels we have read on this podcast. Also we read a book with some of Ilana’s favorite things: descriptions of food, puns, and nerdery.

Wendy and Ilana read 19th Century nerd love in This Rake of Mine by Eva Leigh. But first, we review the latest adaptation of Emma, and give book reports. Ilana also uncovers the Great Purple Skittles Conspiracy. 

Wendy and Ilana dive into (get it?) Mermaid Romance with The Selkie Bride by Melanie Jackson. Bonus subgenres: Highlander and Secret Prince! We discuss the high and low points of when an American human woman and a sexy Selkie Scottish Laird traverse the treacherous tides of love, inter-species pregnancy, and bad guys being bad. Included: […]

By May Sage. This month, Ilana’s husband Matt joins us for a second time and wows us with his knowledge of remembering snowfall statistics. Wendy forgets that kidnapping is a crime, and Ilana comes up with the next big holiday: You’re Everything You Need Bagel Day.

by Pippa Grant. For season 2’s finale, Wendy and Ilana discuss “high” versus “low” literature, the outsider’s perception of the romance genre, as well as the real purpose and benefit of romance novels. We also laugh over the words “insertion” and “pink taco.”

by Melody Anne. This month, our paperback romance adventure is a two-fer, billionaire AND secret baby! We drag our friend Rosie through the romance novel world, and find out her secret love of Goodwill bargain Harlequin novels.

By Harland Sanders. Special guest star: Matt, Ilana’s husband!   Highlights: “Aw, you guys are like The Notebook for nerds.” “You go from dating guys named Glen to dating in glens.” “Never say ‘fleshy tubules’ again.” Ilana’s Drink Getting Lit time! In honor of our reading of the infamous Tender Wing of Desire: A Colonel Sanders Novella, […]

By Ilona Andrews. SOUND MUCH IMPROVED! Oh man, I’m so excited about that.   Highlights of this episode: “I’ll just single fist for now, thanks.” “Should I make a threesome joke? The answer is always yes.” “Fairies and elves can go fuck themselves.” “Please quote me to myself.”   Ilana’s Drink: Silver Fizz Ilana takes […]

By Kerry Nietz. Special guest host: Justin Roberts from the podcast All Out of Ideas! Bonus rant is Vampires vs Werewolves! Which would you choose?   What Ilana’s drinking… The Scraddlebox 2 shots gin 1 shot lemon juice 1/2 cup Calypso Ocean Blue Lemonade 1/4 cup Ginger Ale 1 Maraschino Cherry A sprig of Rosemary […]

In this episode, Wendy and Ilana meet IRL in St. Louis, Mo. to talk about the Iron Duke by Meljean Brook, realize they have the perfect professions for romance novel protagonists, and define VILF. The drink this time is 3 Buck Chuck (a bottle each) because we are out of town and for once in […]

By Emigh Cannaday. Side rant: women being friends. Special guest star, Wendy’s mom!   In this episode, we talk about the book The Flame and the Arrow, a categorically awful romance fantasy by Emigh Cannaday.     Also I made album art for the podcast! This is in preparation for me finally figuring out iTunes podcasts. […]

By Jennifer Ashley. Hashtag DukeProblems. In this episode of Gettin’ Lit, Ilana and I talk about a favorite in the bodice ripper genre: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Have you read The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie? Do you have something to say in response to this episode? Comment below! Wendy’s Drink: Nebulous Victorian […]

By Mary Robinette Kowel. Now with better-ish sound! Side rant: it’s not creepy if he’s sexy. A big blotch of Bronte in the middle of my Jane Austen.   Highlights: “Melody seems unbelievable in the way that she was such a bitch.” “Respect the queue!” “I have this terrible disease where I only love you, […]