Update: January 13 The JQ Editions Kickstarter page has arrived, and there are pictures of the first three books. The Last Lady B by Eloisa James An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase There are custom covers, spredges (drink!), plus endpaper illustrations for each book: You can see the end paper illustrations and detailed images of the spredges (cheers!) at Kickstarter. The campaign hasn’t launched yet, but you can follow to … Continue reading Updated – Julia Quinn Launches JQ Editions, Kickstarter Subscription of Special Edition Historical Romances →
We’re recapping all kinds of stuff this week, and today: our top five podcast episodes from 2025! Looking at the year overall, these are the top five most listened to Smart Podcast, Trashy Books episodes of the year – and thank you to everyone who listened, recommended, shared, and posted about the show. Special thanks to all our Patreon community members, who helped shape this season and keep the show going each week! Honorable Mentions … Continue reading Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: Best of 2025 →
This week we are talking with Jenna Grinstead, Stephanie Violet, Lisa, and Bull! Yup, we’re visiting Norway this week. Bring a hat. As always we have book recs, including one from the 1500s, wishes, and terrible jokes. Please note: during my conversation with Lisa, we discuss true crime and historical murders. Important Notes I Want to Keep Shouting About! Thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all … Continue reading 698. Holiday Wishes VI with Jenna Grinstead, Stephanie Violet, Lisa, and Bull →
So we can all agree that nobody was okay after episode 4, right? Like. All of us underwent a complete mental breakdown. Emails went unanswered, meals went uncooked, people with kids achieved Hayden Pike-levels of benign child neglect as “All the Things We Said” played on a loop in our heads. And then episode 5 dropped. To Tierney’s credit, it absolutely healed me of episode 4 trauma. To his discredit, he did it by inventing … Continue reading Heated Rivalry Season 1, Episode 5 Recap: We’ve All Been Very Brave →
Since around 2016, I’ve developed a fascination with horror, particularly feminist horror. I’m intrigued by its similarity to romance – it has a million subgenres, it lacks respect, it involves exploration of fantasies and desires, and above all, when it works, it works on a personal and emotional level. Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980) is a nonfiction book that analyzes the way that the domestic horror films of … Continue reading Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism by Eleanor Johnson →
NB: This week, we’re taking a look back at 2025. We’ve got a week of best-of posts to share, with reviews, cover snark, sales, and more. We hope you enjoy revisiting our archives, and most of all, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy new year – with all the very best of reading. … We’re counting down the best of our 2025 reviews, which I’m sure you’re all curious about. … Continue reading Best of Reviews 2025, Part Two →
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 What are Your Predictions for Romance in 2026? →
NB: This week, we’re taking a look back at 2025. We’ve got a week of best-of posts to share, with reviews, cover snark, sales, and more. We hope you enjoy revisiting our archives, and most of all, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy new year – with all the very best of reading. … We’re counting down the best of our 2025 reviews, which I’m sure you’re all curious about. … Continue reading Best of Reviews 2025, Part One →
NB: This week, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite and our most popular pieces of writing this year. We’ve got a week of best-of posts to share, with reviews, cover snark, and more. We hope you enjoy revisiting our archives, and most of all, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy new year – with all the very best of reading. … Since we feature other things … Continue reading Best of Posts 2025 →
NB: This week, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite and our most popular pieces of writing this year. We’ve got a week of best-of posts to share, with reviews, cover snark, and more. We hope you enjoy revisiting our archives, and most of all, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy new year – with all the very best of reading. … Say hello to the top … Continue reading Cover Snark: Best of 2025 →
We’re trying something new! And a little unhinged. Over the course of the year, Sarah and I would suggest silly categories based on trends we’ve seen this year, gripes in the comments, or just general nonsense that came into our brains. Thus the unhinged bingo card was born. The 2025 Unhinged Romance Bingo begins today and will conclude on March 20, 2026. Please save the image to use on your own or click on it for … Continue reading SBTB 2025 Unhinged Romance Bingo →
