Episode 92: We Need Inclusive Romance!

In this episode, jumping off our presentation at the Massachusetts Library Association conference in May, we discuss inclusive romance novels we’ve read and are looking forward to reading. The official genre of Bellwether Friends is Historical Romance. This episode is brought to you by Fake Dating with a side of Getting It Out Of Our System.

Links
LA Review of Books: Romance, Compassion, and Inclusivity (Or: How Romance Will Save the World)
Why We Need Asexual Romances
Reading romance as an asexual & aromantic person

Courtney Milan Cyclone series
Sherry Thomas
Jeannie Lin
Alyssa Cole An Extraordinary Union, A Princess in Theory, A Duke by Default
Jasmine Guillory The Wedding Date, The Proposal

Helen Hoang The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test
Jackie Lau Grumpy Fake Boyfriend (May 2018), Mr. Hotshot CEO
Alisha Rai Forbidden Hearts series
Camille Perri When Katie Met Cassidy (June 2018)

[LESBIAN ROMANCE SIDEBAR]
Bold Strokes Books, Bella Books

BookRiot: Native American Romance Novels by Native Authors
V. S. Nelson
Evangeline Parsons Yazzie
Laura Brown Signs of Attraction
Margaret Locke The Demon Duke
Amanda Quick Deception
Julia Quinn To Sir Phillip, With Love
Karin Kallmaker
Claire O’Dell A Study in Honor

Jamie Wesley Slamdunked by Love
Cathy Yardley Level Up, One True Pairing
Sonali Dev A Bollywood Affair, The Bollywood Bride, A Change of Heart
Alexis Hall How to Bang a Billionaire, How to Blow it With a Billionaire, Glitterland, Looking for Group
Mia Sosa Acting on Impulse
Ruby Lang Acute Reactions
The Ripped Bodice: The State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing Report
Jeevani Charika A Royal Wedding
Alexis Daria Take the Lead
Pema Donyo Revolutionary Hearts
Talia Hibbert A Girl Like Her
Priscilla Oliveras His Perfect Partner
Cat Sebastian
KJ Charles

E. E. Ottoman
J. K. Pendragon
Damon Suede
Yolanda Wallace Tailor Made
Rebekah Weatherspoon So Sweet

K. M. Jackson Insert Groom Here
Beverly Jenkins (we totally forgot to talk about her but she should be on this list)

WOC in Romance
Read Harder: Romance Novels By or About a Person of Color
Romance Novels in Color
A List of the Best Contemporary Romance Books Featuring Women of Color
Diverse Romance
The New York Times: In Love With Romance Novels, But Not Their Lack of Diversity
The New York Times: The Changing Face of Romance Novels

Obsessions
Alene and Anna: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before; Crazy Rich Asians

Musical Obsessions
Alene: “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Cheryl K feat. Awkwafina from the Crazy Rich Asians soundtrack
“Material Girl (200 du)” by Sally Yeh from the Crazy Rich Asians soundtrack
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Kina Grannis from the Crazy Rich Asians soundtrack
(Bustle article)
Anna: “Yellow” by Katherine Ho from the Crazy Rich Asians soundtrack (LA Times story)

 

Episode 53: Movie Advisory and Best of 2016

 

In this episode, we talk about movies we’ve seen since our last movie advisory (episode 35), share our picks for best of 2016, and squeal over what we’re looking forward to in 2017.

Links

Movie Advisory
Love and Friendship
Finding Dory
From The Washington Post: How Finding Dory and Finding Nemo Deal Beautifully With Disabilities
The Secret Life of Pets
Trolls
Kubo and the Two Strings

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
From Slate: J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts Flirts With Gay Allegory. Its Sequels Should Go All the Way.
Witch, Please: Roaring Anachronisms and Where To Find Them

Moana
From Bustle: Moana Kicking The Love Interest Storyline To The Curb May Not Be Something To Celebrate

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
Bridget Jones’s Baby
Queen of Katwe

Rogue One
Moonlight
From The Atlantic: Moonlight Is a Film of Uncommon Grace
Fences

Best of 2016

Movies
Deadpool, Finding Dory, Love and Friendship, Moana, Moonlight, Trolls, Ghostbusters

Books
#libfaves16
American Housewife by Helen Ellis
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Behind the Throne/After the Crown by KB Wagers
Hold Me by Courtney Milan
A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson

Television
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, Conviction, The Crown, Steven Universe, Supergirl Pending: Stranger Things, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Music
Soundtracks: Moana, Trolls, Hamilton, Hamilton Mixtape
Love You To Death by Tegan and Sara
Musical Obsessions Playlist

Other
Tater Tot Casserole (or this recipe)
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel
Styling/Volumizing Powder

In Memoriam

Looking Forward to in 2017

Movies
Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Ghost in the Shell, Murder on the Orient Express, Hidden Figures, Fate of the Furious, Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Despicable Me 3, Pitch Perfect 3, Beauty and the Beast, It, Baywatch, Power Rangers, Wonder Woman, Fifty Shades Darker, Before I Fall, Annihilation, Star Wars Episode 8
From E!: Movie Preview 2017: 84 Films You Should Know About in the New Year

Music
Spirit from Depeche Mode
Katy Perry, Michelle Branch, Kelly Clarkson, Fergie, Icona Pop, Lorde, Taylor Swift
From Billboard: 2017 Music Preview: 40 Most Anticipated Albums

Books
Illuminae Files #3 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch
Buried Heart by Kate Elliott (Court of Fives #3)
Martians Abroad by Carrie Vaughn
#fridayreads
Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
Avon romance authors: Sarah Maclean, Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Tessa Dare
From The Millions: Most Anticipated: The Great 2017 Book Preview

Television
Star Trek Discovery, Emerald City, American Gods, Twin Peaks, Riverdale
From A.V. Club: The A.V. Club Tells You What to Watch in 2017

Musical Obsessions
Alene: Club Tropicana by Wham! UK (La Isla Bonita by Madonna)
Anna: Careless Whisper by Wham!, Freedom! ’90 by George Michael

Obsessions
Alene: Pusheen
Anna: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Episode 51: Gilmore Girls “A Year In The Life” with @Nerdista

 

We have a lot of thoughts about the Gilmore Girls! Paula (@Nerdista) joined us to complain lovingly about the most recent episodes.

Links

Mental Floss: 22 Things You Might Not Know About Gilmore Girls
20 Future Stars Who Appeared On Gilmore Girls
Washington Post: Rory Gilmore Is A Monster

It’s a lie.

Autostraddle: ‘Gilmore Girls’ Doubles Down On Heteronormativity
Daily Dot: 7 Ways ‘Gilmore Girls’ Got Women Right
Theme Song

Huffington Post: 10 Stories You’ve Never Heard About ‘Gilmore Girls’ Band Hep Alien
Wild
REI
This Is Us
Alex Kingston

Bunheads
Glögg
Luke
Jess
Dean
Pat Kiernan

 

Musical Obsessions

Paula: “Wait For It” by Leslie Odom, Jr from Hamilton
Anna: “Where You Are” by Christopher Jackson from Moana
Alene: “We Know The Way” by Opetaia Foa’i and Lin-Manuel Miranda from Moana (Translation)

Obsessions

Paula: Ice cream
Anna: Hold Me by Courtney Milan
Alene: Bold Moves (Oprah’s Favorite Things)