Transcript Announcement
The Transcript for Episode 733 Has Arrived!
Featured
SBTB 2026 Summer Romance Bingo
Grab your TBRs and get ready for Summer Solstice on June 21!
Books On Sale
Scots, Historical Fiction, & More
RECOMMENDED: The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is $1.99! Carrie reviewed this one and gave it a B+:
Overall I loved reading this book. I literally gasped and clapped my hands over my mouth periodically, like a silent movie star. It’s so gripping, so beautifully written, and such a powerful homage to women’s voices and the need to unify against a common enemy.
Book Review
The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau
This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviewed at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at _@thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next … Continue reading The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau
Cover Snark: Nose to Nip
Welcome back to Cover Snark! Elyse: Is the house full of hangry ghosts? Sarah: I’d read a series set at Hangry Hill. Sometimes I live there, too. Amanda: I’m a permanent resident of Hanger Hill. Sneezy: I think I understand what the intent is with the colours and the compositions, but something about the font and colour of the author’s name is really distracting. And the silhouettes of the bushes on either side clogs up … Continue reading Cover Snark: Nose to Nip
Get Rec’d with Amanda – Volume 122
Welcome back, everyone! Big shocker – it’s an all fiction edition! Three out of the four titles also feature queer romances. The final rec is a horror novella that is designed to really mess you up. What recommendations do you want to pass along? Drop them in the comments!
Sunday Sale Digest!
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading Sunday Sale Digest!
The Problem with AI, and Isabella’s Rake
Recently, guest reviewer Lisa submitted a review for Isabella’s Rake, a 1997 Signet Regency by June Calvin that has been rereleased from Histria Press. Lisa didn’t see the cover, nor did I, until I looked it up after editing and formatting the review for publication. The new cover is most likely generated by AI. We refuse to host or promote generative AI content at SBTB. We all hate Gen AI. Hate it a lot. Speaking personally, … Continue reading The Problem with AI, and Isabella’s Rake
Books On Sale
Fantasy Romance, Tennis, & More
RECOMMENDED: A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant is $1.99! This book is often recommended in terms a sex-positive heroine. However, other readers found the heroine’s view of sex to be rather unromantic. I feel like this is one of the more divisive romances; people either seem to love it or hate it.
Podcast
733. RT Rewind: July 1992 Ads & Features – The 100th Issue Special!
We are back in the early 90s, when the mullets were epic and the covers were sumptuous. Come on back to July 1992 with us as we explore the ads & features of the 100th issue of Romantic Times Magazine! This issue contains some FASCINATING retrospective looks at romance, cover art, and more, and I think it is one of the primary sources cited for some of the more common stories I’ve heard about romance. … Continue reading 733. RT Rewind: July 1992 Ads & Features – The 100th Issue Special!
Friday Videos are Really Sad This Week
I remember when George Harrison died, I thought about his song, “My Sweet Lord,” about how much he wanted to meet God. And I wondered if he did. I hope it made him happy. Likewise, when I heard Dolly Parton had died (that will be a “where were you when you heard” story for people, I think. So many of us were rocked) I immediately thought of two songs. Both might make you cry! I mean, … Continue reading Friday Videos are Really Sad This Week
Books On Sale
M/M Romance, a Mystery, & More
RECOMMENDED: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin is $1.99! Carrie, who will read any and all Pride and Prejudice retellings, gave this one a B+:
Now THIS is how it’s done! Ayesha At Last is a lovely loose retelling of Pride and Prejudice, with a perfect mix of humor, heartbreak, misunderstandings, and humor. It’s a contemporary set in Canada and the characters are described with empathy and with plenty of surprises.
