Featured

Twilight is 20, and I’m Recommending Books in The New York Times

Twilight and SBTB were born in the same year, so now we're both 20! Let's make some recs about it.

Cover Awe: Romantic Pink Shades, Comic Styles, & More

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel. A soft peach cover with a blue, multi-storied house in the center. The borders contain illustrations of flowers in pink and yellow and blue leaves. There are silhouettes of a man and woman on each side of the house.

Welcome back to Cover Awe! This is where we discuss coves that we like or think are interesting. Cover design by Andrew Davis Sarah: I think this cover is so cute. The color scheme really works for me. I know from Lara’s review that the vibes of the cover do not match the story, but I still love the artwork. Amanda: It’s a very romantic color palette. Sneezy: I agree! I really enjoy this illustrative … Continue reading Cover Awe: Romantic Pink Shades, Comic Styles, & More

Other Media Review

Queen of Tears (Netflix)

A close up of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won in an embrace. he is smiling a little while she looks very sad and has a sparkly tear on her cheek that matches the sparkly diamond on her finger

This guest review is from Jeevani Charika! Jeevani (also known as Rhoda Baxter) writes award nominated romantic women’s fiction and romcoms. She has a YouTube channel teaching authors how to use Canva to make fun graphics. She is a ‘resting’ microbiologist. She lives in Yorkshire in the UK, where she enjoys eating cake, playing with Lego and, when she’s run out of excuses, writing. You can find out more about her (and get a free book) … Continue reading Queen of Tears (Netflix)

Podcast

621. RT Rewind: September 2002 Ads & Features

We’re going back in time to look at the ads and features of the September 2002 issue of Romantic Times! This issue left us with many questions, such as: What the hell is Tart Noir? Are reviewers elsewhere too mean? (Not us – we weren’t online yet!) How much lore is there about pesto? Should you jump into a pile of leaves? Should you soak crawfish tails in milk? Why is an author defending polygamy? … Continue reading 621. RT Rewind: September 2002 Ads & Features

Romantic Times Rewind: September 2002 Ads & Features

Smart Podcast Trashy Books Romantic Times Rewind

In this week’s podcast episode, we’re looking at the incredible ads and features for the September 2002 issue of RT Magazine. Thank you to Mari for this issue! You can also find all the RTRW content at our category page for Romantic Times Rewind.  And, most importantly, if you want to listen and follow along with this entry, we have more detail in the audio, but you can click play and listen and read and … Continue reading Romantic Times Rewind: September 2002 Ads & Features

The Rec League: Bi and Pan Couples

The Rec League - heart shaped chocolate resting on the edge of a very old book

This Rec League request comes from Sunrayravine in our SBTB Patreon Discord: I’m looking for recs for m/f romances where both MCs are bi or pan. I’ve read and enjoyed: Caroline’s Heart by Austin Chant You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon and I have the following on my tbr: The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian Trouble by Lex Croucher Radiant Sin by … Continue reading The Rec League: Bi and Pan Couples

Links: Monster Romance, Crochet, & More

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.

Happy Wednesday! Thank you to everyone who shared their summer recipes. I’ve put a few of them in the grocery queue. In a personal news, we adopted a third cat! We got her from the same shelter where I adopted old man Linus seven years ago. They even showed me Linus’s old intake photo. He was definitely much plumper then. There were so many wonderful cats, including a beefy black cat named Alcott who had … Continue reading Links: Monster Romance, Crochet, & More

Books On Sale

Mostly Contemporary Romances

Books on Sale: Out of Character by Annabeth Albert & More

Out of Character by Annabeth Albert is $1.99! This is part of the True Colors series and features all sorts of nerdery and fandom culture, if you like that in your romances. I’ve heard this series skews a little more toward New Adult. Thoughts?

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Lightning Review

Letters to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

A Letter to the Luminous Deep

What is the opposite of Dark Academia? Bright Academia? Radiant Academia? Whatever it is, Letters to the Luminous Deep certainly qualifies. This cozy, epistolary fantasy features a slow blooming romance and an intriguing mystery. The world in this novel is predominantly aquatic with only a small landmass being available to humans. People either live on ships, in buildings underwater or on man made islands. Our heroine E (her full name isn’t revealed until the end) … Continue reading Letters to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

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