It’s Book Club week! Jess and Trisha discuss The Siren of Sussex and similar historical romance books they recommend.

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Keep up to date with the world of books and reading with Today in Books, Book Riot's daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. Our editors offer commentary, context, and the occasional clap-back to keep you informed and entertained. Visit bookriot.com/todayinbooks to subscribe for free, or become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year and get unlimited access to members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies knowing you are supporting independent media.

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Send us your requests for recommendations AND your favorites of 2024 - you can send both to [email protected]

Books Discussed

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles

The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan

Ana Maria and the Fox by Liana de la Rosa

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

The Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas (first book is Secrets of  Summer Night)

The Brothers Sinister Series by Courtney Milan (first book is The Duchess War)

The Girl Meets Duke series by Tessa Dare (first book is The Duchess Deal)

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@JessIsReading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @TrishaHaleyBrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha get ready to announce dates for the next WIR Book Club and recommendations episodes and then dive into a discussion about age gap romances.

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This October, Tailored Book Recommendations is giving away a pair of Beats Fit Pro headphones! TBR is the perfect way to take the guesswork out of finding your next favorite read. To get started with TBR, just fill out a quick survey about your reading likes and dislikes, and we’ll pair you with a professional book nerd— aka bibliologist— who uses their bookish knowledge to match you with three books they think you’ll dig. You can sign up to receive your recommendations via email or have your bibliologist’s picks delivered right to your door as either hardcovers or paperbacks.

And if you sign up or gift TBR in the month of October, you’ll be automatically entered to win a pair of Beats Fit Pro headphones! Current TBR subscribers also have a chance to win by purchasing a drop-in round of recommendations in October. Sign up today at mytbr.co

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It's time to start reading The Siren of Sussex!

Have you watched A Family Affair or Lonely Planet?

Books Discussed

The Fall that Saved Us by Tamara Jerée

The Talk of Coyote Canyon by Brenda Novak

Stepdaddy Season by Natisha Raynor

Ella Gets the D by Tanvier Peart

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black

Everything For You by Chloe Liese

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

So Sweet by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! And of course, send us your holiday recommendation requests! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha talk updates and seasonal reading and then offer some magical/paranormal/supernatural recs.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

This October, Tailored Book Recommendations is giving away a pair of Beats Fit Pro headphones! TBR is the perfect way to take the guesswork out of finding your next favorite read. To get started with TBR, just fill out a quick survey about your reading likes and dislikes, and we’ll pair you with a professional book nerd— aka bibliologist— who uses their bookish knowledge to match you with three books they think you’ll dig. You can sign up to receive your recommendations via email or have your bibliologist’s picks delivered right to your door as either hardcovers or paperbacks.

And if you sign up or gift TBR in the month of October, you’ll be automatically entered to win a pair of Beats Fit Pro headphones! Current TBR subscribers also have a chance to win by purchasing a drop-in round of recommendations in October. Sign up today at mytbr.co

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We have a new book club book! Get ready to read The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews with us later this year.

As we mentioned, there are ways to support those dealing with hurricane recovery - you can preorder anthologies Loving Carolina and Of Storms and Stardust now!

Books Discussed

The Palace of Eros by Caro de Robertis

Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath

Lips Like Sugar by Jess K. Hardy

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

Unwritten Runes by KD Casey

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

Splinter by Jasper Hyde

Magic in the Air by Adrianna Schuh

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha announce a new WIR Book Club book and then talk about the impact of book bans on romance authors and readers before offering some recs for Bisexual Awareness Week.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

This October, Tailored Book Recommendations is giving away a pair of Beats Fit Pro headphones! TBR is the perfect way to take the guesswork out of finding your next favorite read. To get started with TBR, just fill out a quick survey about your reading likes and dislikes, and we’ll pair you with a professional book nerd— aka bibliologist— who uses their bookish knowledge to match you with three books they think you’ll dig. You can sign up to receive your recommendations via email or have your bibliologist’s picks delivered right to your door as either hardcovers or paperbacks.

And if you sign up or gift TBR in the month of October, you’ll be automatically entered to win a pair of Beats Fit Pro headphones! Current TBR subscribers also have a chance to win by purchasing a drop-in round of recommendations in October. Sign up today at mytbr.co

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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We have a new book club book! Get ready to read The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews with us later this year. 

Jess mentioned the great work Book Riot’s Kelly Jensen has done related to book bans and censorship, and there’s a TON of her writing out there, but to start, you can find her pieces on how to fight and explain book bans on bookriot.com.

Books Discussed

Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen

Demon’s Dream by Elle Kayson

The Love Study by Kris Ripper

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Even If We’re Broken by A.M. Weald

Neighborly by Katrina Jackson

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha get caught up on all of the news that's been happening and all of the books they’ve been reading while they’ve been away.

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Join Book Riot's editorial staff and expert guest writers at The Deep Dive, your destination for deep thoughts on all things reading, behind-the-scenes insights, informed takes, and so much more. Whether we're analyzing book deal trends, whittling down the best books of the century, or letting you in on the best book club book of the summer, you'll find something to nerd out over and enrich your reading life. With decades of experience in books and publishing between us, we have a wealth of knowledge, thoughts, and curated goodness we can't wait to share with you. Go ahead and take the plunge.

Visit bookriot.com/deepdive to subscribe for free, or become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year and get unlimited access to members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies knowing you are supporting independent media.

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Trisha was delighted to hang out with Kendra on Read or Dead last month.

Time Magazine did a whole romance thing (and we approve)! [Time]

NaNoWriMo did a whole AI thing (and we do not approve). [By Laura Wheatman Hill for Slate]

Books Discussed

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Demon’s Dream by Elle Kayson

Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee

Cubs and Campfires by Dylan Drake

Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The Oath by T M Richardson

The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha

A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha are off this week, so we're sharing an episode that went live on the Book Riot Podcast about the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni — notably not a romance novel, though as we've lamented on When in Romance, it often gets characterized as such.

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For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter!

Join us on Patreon for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content.

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Jess is joined by All The Books co-host Emily Martin! They talk news around adaptations and recommend some reality TV romances worth checking out.

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To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!

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Benedict Bridgerton, it's your time!

Amazon's Fourth Wing adaptation has a showrunner.

Did you know there were TikTok Book Awards?

Books Discussed

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle

The Earl Who Isn't by Courtney Milan

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hilbert

Looking for a Sign by Susie Dumond

Funny Story by Emily Henry

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Here for the Wrong Reasons by Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales

Natural Disaster by Erin McLellan

D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

Sight Unseen by Kasha Thompson

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). Find Emily on instagram @emandhercat.

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Jess and Trisha talk briefly about the possible romance world implications of Project 2025 and then discuss their many — MANY — feelings about The Idea of You (both the book and film).

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To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!

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News

People and Wikipedia both have Project 2025 information that you might find informative. 

Here’s an interview with Robinne Lee that discusses the process of getting her book published. [Ty Cole for BET]

Don’t forget to check out the new Black Romance has a History podcast!

Books Discussed

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop

Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

Consort of Fire and Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha discuss their favorite romance reads — frontlist and backlist — of the year 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!

Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!

News

Our adaptation discussion of The Idea of You is coming in our next episode (yes, we know about the book HEA questions - we want to talk about them!), so send your thoughts by July 18.

And check out the new Black Romance Has a History podcast!

Books Discussed

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

Guava Flavored Lies by JJ Arias

A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell

I’ll Conjure For You by Charish Reid

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

Even If We’re Broken by A. M. Weald 

Meegan by Rebekah Weatherspoon

The Sitcom Star and The Reluctant Heartthrob by Jackie Lau

The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Thank You For Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz

Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death by Maria Vale

Love in Color by Bolu Babalola

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha discuss the marketability of historical romance and then jump into our When In Romance book club pick, Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha.

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To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

Learn something new, sharpen your skills, and expand your horizons with our Better Living Through Books newsletter. Better Living Through Books is your resource for reading material that helps you live the life you want. From self-help to cookbooks to parenting to personal finance, relationships, and more, Better Living Through Books has got you covered. If it’s part of life, it can be part of your reading life. That's what Better Living Through Books is all about. Visit bookriot.com/betterliving to subscribe for free, or become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year and get unlimited access to members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies knowing you are supporting independent media.

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We’re talking best of 2024 so far in our next episode, so send us your thoughts!

And our adaptation discussion of The Idea of You is coming July 22 (yes, we know about the book HEA questions - we want to talk about them!), so send your thoughts by mid-July.

Books Discussed

Heartwaves by Anita Kelly 

Road to Ruin by Hana Lee

One and Done by Frederick Smith

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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Jess and Trisha talk about what are — and are NOT — the reasons RWA filed for bankruptcy and then recommend some romances with good mental health rep.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

Learn something new, sharpen your skills, and expand your horizons with our Better Living Through Books newsletter. Better Living Through Books is your resource for reading material that helps you live the life you want. From self-help to cookbooks to parenting to personal finance, relationships, and more, Better Living Through Books has got you covered. If it’s part of life, it can be part of your reading life. That's what Better Living Through Books is all about. Visit bookriot.com/betterliving to subscribe for free, or become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year and get unlimited access to members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies knowing you are supporting independent media.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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WIR Book Club is back! Read Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha with us and send us your thoughts for our June 24 show. 

Our next adaptation discussion is The Idea of You (yes, we know about the book HEA questions - we want to talk about them!), so get ready for that episode in July.

Jess joined Vanessa to talk about Bridgerton, and it's delightful.

Join Jess and the Someplace Generous team at their virtual book launch on June 13!

RWA files for bankruptcy [The Guardian], and our friend Sarah Wendell puts a voice to the frustration we all have (or should have) with the coverage of the story.

Books Discussed

A Liaison with her Leading Lady by Lotte R. James

Someplace Generous, edited by Elaina Ellis and Amber Flame

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings

Even If We’re Broken by A.M. Weald

Getting His Game Back by Gia de Cadenet

Trade Me by Courtney Milan

Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading).

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