Plot Trysts

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Meg and Laine talk about books

Laine


    • Jun 20, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 598 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Plot Trysts podcast is a delightful exploration of historical romance novels. For someone like me who usually dislikes listening to podcasts, I found myself thoroughly enjoying this one. The hosts, Meg and Laine, create an atmosphere that feels like chatting with your close friends about adult fairy tales. Their discussions are engaging and informative, making it a perfect choice for those interested in both history and shared interest in books.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the chemistry between Meg and Laine. Their conversations are filled with catty remarks and brutally honest assessments, which adds a fun and entertaining element to the show. They have a knack for breaking down storytelling techniques, tropes, and plots, providing valuable insights into the world of historical romance novels. Furthermore, their frank assessments of various elements such as sex, offensiveness, quality, and more give listeners an authentic perspective on the books they review.

    Another great aspect of Plot Trysts is its style. While there are several good podcasts on historical romances out there, very few have hosts who speak with the same level of style as Meg and Laine. It's clear that these two share a deep passion for language and ideas. Their editing skills also deserve praise as each episode is well-structured and engaging from start to finish.

    On the downside, it would be helpful if Meg and Laine provided some information about themselves in an "about us" section. While it's merely speculation on my part, I imagine they must have majored in English literature or possess a profound love for literature based on their insightful analysis of books. Additionally, at times their synopses during their random number readings can be difficult to catch in its entirety due to their fast pace.

    In conclusion, stumbling upon The Plot Trysts podcast has been a stroke of luck for me as it has opened up a new world of escapism during these trying times. The candid breakdowns of various books provided by Meg and Laine are both thoughtful and entertaining. They manage to strike the perfect balance between humor and insight, creating a conversationally-driven book review podcast that is enjoyable to listen to. If you're in search of a podcast that offers structured, thoughtful, and humorous reviews of historical romance novels, then look no further than Plot Trysts.



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    Latest episodes from Plot Trysts

    Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 45:24


    Not even going to pretend that this episode isn't mostly a comparison with the original and a discussion of rewrites.

    Savannah Royals by Lindsay Barrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 33:05


    This books gets an A+ for vibes, and is very unconventional. YMMV on if that works.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: Uncertain Magic with Kate Bateman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025 60:57


    Alex and Meg are joined by Kate Batemen to discuss the final book in Laura Kinsale's backlist.

    Going Solo by D.P. Clarence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 45:53


    D.P. Clarence is fun and funny but the BTS on reality TV is depressing.

    Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 36:13


    This book really leans in to the "manic pixie" in such a fun way.

    When the Marquess Needed Me by Lydia Lloyd

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 40:54


    Who knew we'd be so into a book about a man with insecurities about his penis?

    Worldly and Temporal Things: The Dream Hunter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 56:24


    Meg and Alex are joined by Harper St. George to discuss The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale.

    The Lady Makes her Mark by Susanna Craig

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 30:14


    Look, this series is totally adorable and this book in particular is really fun. It's one of those that comes close enough to great that the parts that fall short are more frustrating than they shold probably be because you're so mad it isn't perfect. I was too harsh in this episode, but only because it was sooo close to ideal.

    A Delightful Deceit by Alexa Santi

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2025 18:25


    I'd be lying if I said this episode was anything other than Laine fangirling over Amelia Peabody and squealing about how much fun this novella is. Sethos-coded lost all meaning because it was said too many times.

    Behooved by M. Stevenson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 30:06


    Meg and Laine disagree about the amount of world building we want in a Romantasy, but agree that this book is super cute. Please uncancel My Lady Jane, someone.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: Seize the Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 72:10


    Alex and Meg are joined by Candy Tan to discuss this book, which sounds completely insane TBH.

    The Legionary Seduction by Jenna Bigelow

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 38:09


    We remain enamored with Jenna. That is all.

    Hardly a Gentleman by Eloisa James

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2025 38:52


    This book is a fucking delight.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: Flowers from the Storm

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 69:38


    Meg and Alex are joined by Cat Sebastian to discuss Alex's favorite book of all time.

    A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 29:54


    We were both very charmed by this mystery novel and can't help speculating on the future romantic turns. What does "cozy" mean to you?

    Trope Talk: Spies with Emily Sullivan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 40:38


    Laine and Meg ostensibly talk with Emily Sullivan about spies. Come for the spies, stay for the tax questions.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: Misdsummer Moon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 61:18


    Meg and Alex are joined by Colleen Kelley to discuss this fairytale-adjacent book.

    Fan Service by Rosie Danan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 30:49


    This book is for anyone who was ever an embarrasing teenager.

    fan service rosie danan
    Worldly and Temporal Things: My Sweet Folly

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 54:13


    Meg and Alex are joined by Eloisa James to discuss My Sweet Folly by Laura Kinsale. Having not read any of these books, this hero really needs therapy.

    The Tribune Temptation by Jenna Bigelow

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 42:34


    This book provided a moment of light in a dark world. We will be immediately consuming everything that Jenna Bigelow puts out immediately for the forseeable future.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: Shadowheart

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 56:26


    Meg and Alex are joined by Tasha Suri to discuss Shadowheart. I concur that nothing in this book inspired the character in BG3.

    Trope Talk: Amnesia with Olivia Waite

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2025 52:05


    Meg and Laine are joined by Olivia Waite to discuss the use of amnesia in romance.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: For My Lady's Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 72:14


    Meg and Alex are joined by Olivia Waite to discuss For My Lady's Heart, and all I could think of was "a little sincerity is a dangerous thing, a great deal of it is absolutely fatal."

    The Devil's Charm by Megan Frampton

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 19:03


    Don't you miss the days before museums had things like security or glass cases?

    The Merchant Match by Jenna Bigelow

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 27:49


    This is now a Roman Empire/Republic romance fan account.

    The Merchant Match by Jenna Bigelow

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 30:36


    We are now a Roman Republic/Empire Romance fan account.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: Lessons in French

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 60:07


    Meg and Alex are joined by Adriana Herrera to discuss Laura Kinsale's most conventional book. (That is not a diss.)

    Losing Sight by Tati Richardson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 26:57


    We ADORED this book and it managed to be fun while dealing with some serious topics.

    Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 25:03


    This book is adorable and so much fun to read and I really enjoyed the balance of romance and world building and I wanted it to be smut and it wasn't. If you go in knowing what to expect it's a romp.

    Enemy of My Dreams by Jenny Williamson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 33:12


    We were both so charmed by the road trip romance between a brutal Visigoth and a Roman princess. We were not charmed by the asshole king letting his people starve, oh wait, it was the same dude.

    dreams enemy visigoths jenny williamson
    Worldly and Temporal Things: The Prince of Midnight

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 63:05


    Alix E. Harrow joins Meg and Alex to discuss The Prince of Midnight, by Laura Kinsale, a book that is both bonkers and heartbreaking.

    A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 33:12


    The concept of this series is very cool, and this book is very effective, but it was also hard to read at this moment in time.

    The Arrangement by Mary Balogh

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 28:31


    Do I get what is objectively good about Mary Balogh's writing? Yes. Is a low-stakes, low-conflict, low-steam story what I need right now? Not really.

    My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 31:58


    Loretta is BACK. Is this the marriage in crisis as we expected? No. But once you set aside the expectation that something horrible is about to happen this book is a FANTASTIC brother's best friend romance.

    Worldly and Temporal Things: The Shadow and the Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 67:12


    Meg and Alex resume their read of all Laura Kinsale's books. Today they are joined by Angelina M. Lopez to discuss the Shadow and the Star.

    Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 21:12


    This book is exactly what we expect from this series, rompy and very very sexy. Please give me a book about Jasper, I am such a sucker for a real spy.

    As You Desire by Connie Brockway

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 32:59


    We read this because we will read pretty much anything set in Egypt. There were parts that were really fun, but you can really tell it was written in 1997.

    Freed by the Marquess by Stevie Sparks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 30:49


    We were both a bit scared of this book and were pleasantly suprised, but were left wondering who the target audience was. Also, we now return to our regular posting schedule.

    Scandalous Lord Dere by Stephanie Laurens

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 23:31


    Stephanie Laurens NYE novella? Sign us up forthe batshittery.

    lord scandalous dere stephanie laurens
    Worldy and Temporal Things: The Hidden Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 66:20


    Meg and Alex are joined by Charis Michaels to discuss Laura Kinsale's first book. If I learned anything from editing this episode, you should definitely listen to the audio book.

    The Silly Season by D.P. Clarence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 18:03


    This is the perfect Christmas novella to end our season with. Yes, I know it's January 9th.

    His Mistletoe Wager by Virginia Heath

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 25:18


    Everything about this book charmed us, even the things that shouldn't have. It's a Christmas miracle!

    When the Lord Adored Me by Lydia Lloyd

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 19:01


    A sex cabin 12 days of Christmas book? Well ok, if we must, we must.

    A Halifax Holiday by Alexandra Vasti

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2024 20:14


    The Halifaxes are all home for the holidays, and it's exactly what you expect (that is a good thing).

    No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 24:27


    Elizabeth Hoyt is back, baby!

    His Christmas Rose by Jane Maguire

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 25:54


    This is super Christmasy and super sexy but we do have to hate on the heroine at the beginning of the book. She improves very much over the course of the story! And Christmas!

    A Waltz with Isabelle by Nina Jarrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 19:09


    It's really fun to see the convention of introductions in the regency taken to a rom-com extreme. We liked it, even if the ties to Christmas feel tenuous.

    A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 30:48


    The end of the Christmas Notch series returns with plenty of Christmas cheer and gingerbread lube.

    Mrs. Milner Gets a Kitchen by Jane Hadley

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 33:56


    This sexy newsletter novella was the perfect transition from fall to Christmas aka Thanksgiving.

    The Proposal by Mary Balogh

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 33:11


    We both like low-stress couples, but this book took it to an extreme. It had its moments, but we needed more.

    Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 26:14


    Sometimes what you need is a well written and sexy good time.

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