What webs we weave, indeed! This episode we attempt to unknot that cross-over of the century - the NINETEENTH century that is - PRIDE AND PROMETHEUS by JOHN KESSEL.Mary Bennet decides to take one last crack at life before resigning herself to spinsterhood and two people wind up dead. That's what happens when you pin your hopes to the saddest Swiss …

We're back, and we're going totally medieval on THE FALCON AND THE SWORD by PATRICIA WERNER for the final act of this Ice Wine season.Judith, the most normally named character in this whole book, abandons a convent to find herself in the kingdom of Neustria amongst a bunch of Franks who will never get her as a Visigoth. Along comes handsome-in-a-di…

A Re!mance for an extremely special ocassion. Plus an update on Ice Wine Deux.<3We did it y'all. Yr girls have arrived at the final stop on this Entrop[e]y tour with one last trope: the secret baby. This week on Whoa!mance, Morgan and Isabeau tackle the culture wars relic, Nobody’s Baby But Mine, Book 3 in the Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabet…

Naturopathic Practicioner Raven is thrown back into the measured embrace of regular, degular Dr. Jeff when she is accused of poisoning her clients. Because he loves her so darn much, and because it is obviously not her fault, and because it is 1997 and these things just happen, the McSteamy and Holistic Hottie team up to uncover the cause of this m…

Wherein Darcy and Elizabeth have one conversation and Darcy makes all men, and romance heroes look like fools for the next two hundred odd years. #ThanksJaneAustenBy Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

One last time to Nantucket before the cold winds blow!Free-spirited, head-strong Lizzie trades her youthful exuberance for matronly measure and stead-fastness in exchange for the love of one Tavis Mackinoon in 19th Century Nantuckey. Or...maybe "trades" has too much agency?What was America's perspective on history in the halcyon, Laura-Ashley-strew…

Mr Bennet receives a letter he can't wait to share with his favorite kid. Spiraling ensuesBy Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Ice Wine Deux launches LIVE and in style from Love's Sweet Arrow (in Tinley Park, IL) with a real bi-coastal bitch - A DANGEROUS MAN by ROSEMARY ROGERS.Tory doesn't care what her dad thinks, or her uncle, or even Sexy, Dark and mysterious "Texas Ranger" Nick Kincade. But she is forced to rely on the latter as she tries to escape her own Manifest De…

When the dog days of summer start barking, the cubes start clinking. Yr grls are revisiting their ICE WINE project, a time to interrogate texts published by and for a previous generation. This round, we're pouring (over ice, of course):A DANGEROUS MAN by ROSEMARY ROGERSHEAVEN KNOWS by ELAINE COFFMANFEVER RISING by MAGGIE FERGUSONBut Whoa!mance need…

Knock knock! Who's there? Why! It is Catherine De Burgh! Here to rip Lizzie a new one while Jane and Bingley canoodle in the shrubbery. The worst part is? No one even visits the hermitage. That was here the whole time????A split decision on this chapter folks, with a scathing rating of three out of five stars from one of our readers. Metadrama and …

Monty is all set up for one sexy summer when he embarks on his Grad Tour with hot friend he's falling for, Percy. But this would-be teen sex comedy get real weird as Monty and Percy face a vengeful duke, a sinking crypt, a dead alchemists lonely adult children, their own marginalized identities, and falling in puppy love! What does it look like to …

In chapter 55 Bingley stops by Longbourne, again. And again. And again. What is he UP to?By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

We did it. We watched Bridgerton Season 3. And it hurt our feelings. Join us as we excavate the societal wounds that have led to this latest outing in the Bridgerton universe.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Elizabeth and Darcy are finally in a room together at another party and then...Well and then Morgan threatens to quit the project.Tune in to find out why!By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Entrepreneur? I hardly know her! This week your girls are discussing whether or not THE DUKE GETS DESPERATE by DIANA QUINN can stand on business.Raya just wanted to meet a penpal. Strick just wanted to own his Ducal castle. Instead, they end up in bed together - business-style! And also the other way. While Raya tries to get over the betrayal of he…

We did it. We figured it out--in a far reaching conversation which starts when Mrs. Bennet comes out as a surprising mama bear for Lizzie, and Lizzie hates...every...second of it...we discover a few things. This book doesn't have enough affection for other women, and it's not wet enough. Come probe the spongy depths of our thinking as we tackle Bin…

In this public access read a long Lizzie receives a letter from her favorite aunt explaining all the important deets about Mr Darcy and the mystery surrounding Lydia's big day. As beloved Mrs. Gardiner reveals Mr. D's real problem isn't all the things we've talked about--it's obstinance. Do we agree? Do you?Listen and let us know!…

In this episode Morgan and Isabeau dive into the deep end of what makes a romance a romance. Sure it's the beats, the structure and that all important HEA but...but...is there something more?Feyi is a young widow trying to bring herself back to life. She meets a handsome consultant whose dad is big in the art world, helping Feyi land an exciting ex…

Knock knock! Who's there? A whole ass wife in the form of Lydia, of course. In chapter 51 Lydia and Wickham return to make everything awkward over the course of a short ten days. Just enough time for Lydia to drop a bombshell at the very end of the chapter.Does the text like Lydia, or is it just us giggling and kicking our feet in the air every tim…

In Chapter 50, Jane Austen creaks open a window in Mr. Bennet's pysche. And it sends your readers into a discussion of family, community, growing, and - of course - love. It also recalls Jane Eyre.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

This episode, yr grls feel the earth move under their feet thanks to SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE 1906 by KATHLEEN DUEY.Sierra, she of the old-fashioned braids and humble dreams, works as maid in the grand Palace Hotel of San Francisco. Joseph Harlan, he of the ranch inheritance and general decency, is staying in The Palace Hotel. Joe is completely smi…

Taking your back to a criminally underrated book and episode:Saddle up the Equimare or fuel up the Autoduck - in "HART AND MERCY" by MEGAN BANNEN, Marshall Hart's desperate plea for companionship transcends realms, landing in the hands of his nemesis, the super hot and sassy Undertaker Mercy. Amidst a backdrop of longing and rivalry reminiscent of …

Do you love books? Do you love the vicarious thrill of blind dates? How about we combine those two? And you listen to us unwrap some delicious stranger novels, and delight each other with the contents.Support your local bookstores!By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Well, well, well. Guess who got discovered. Mmhm. And guess who continues to be overly optimistic? You got it. And guess who is kind of a classist jerk to their domestic workers? BINGO. You know what, maybe just sit this chapter out. You already know what's up.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

We had a blast talking with Megan Mackie, Samara Breger, Melanie Moschella, Tamara Jerée at the first ever Romantasy Fest at Otherworld Theatre. We dished about Romantasy history both public and personal, influences, Romantasy vs. supernatural, comparing fantasy and romance, and the unique process of authoring a romance novel.A note on sound - we r…

Uhhhh, so who was going to remind us that Mr. Collins truly blows? Must run in the family…looking straight at you Mr. Bennet.After the Bennett receive a really mean letter from their current cousin/former paramour, their dear father returns home to say he’s taking responsibility for his family. Papa then goes on to earn that letter and top spot as …

You're going to want to double KNOT your Easter Bonnet for this one - because BRIDE by ALI HAZELWOOD is likely to blow it clean off.Vampyre, Misery, enters an arranged marriage with Alpha Werewolf, Lowe to protect a tentative truce between their cultures. And then...well, guess. We bet you can guess what happens next. Go ahead. What do you think? C…

There seems to be nothing to do except return home after Lydia goes missing. But sometimes, as Lizzie is about to discover, family can be cold comfort in a crisis.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

When you call, Whoa!mance answers! A special listener recommended THE SECRET HEART by ERIN SATIE when we asked for weird books. So you KNOW we had to pick it up and lay it down.I guess you could say we felt similarly to Adam, Earl of Bexley, when he first sees Caro Small in her ballet smalls - intrigued and horny! Caro decides to take advantage and…

Baby sisters ruin everything. Or in this case Lydia's antics seriously harsh the vibe of Pemberly and the folks enjoying the views of the woods, and the views of Darcy's adorable face.Is all hope now as lost as Lydia's virtue? Only time and a few more chapters will tellBy Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Quick Q - How whimsical are the jars you store your herbs in? Doesn't matter. Either way, Isabeau and Morgan are chatting IN CHARMS WAY by LANA HARPER.In the halcyon days of a Great Lakes region summer, Delilah's magically-caused memory loss (read: desperate circumstances) call for turning to blood magic and the help of sexy, gladiator-sandal-sport…

Well Lizzie is back at Pemberly and this time she's joined by a former frenemy: Caroline Bingley. Caroline attempts some pretty petty quips and only hurts herself. We also learn that Darcy thinks Lizzie is one of the handsomest women of his aquaintance! Thank you so much Caroline.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Time to get cuffed - winter is upon us.Wynter of the Craig is the King of Wintercraig, and also a Weather Mage (guess what kind of weather he controls). Thamsin, a.k.a. Storm is a princess of Summerlea, and also a Weather Mage. They end up together for political reasons, but stay together for both-being-sexy reasons. But when the winds of magical e…

The soil of A Court of Thorns and Roses is rich, and from it bountiful fan theories bloom. At the dusk of reading the most recent installment, A Court of Silver Flames, for the podcast, and at the dawn of Cresecent City 3's release, yr erstwhile grls met to inhale the fragrance of and admire the colorful bloom from just such flowers. Moonbeams, owl…

SARAH J. MAAS may have tried with A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES, but hasn't written one too long for us yet!Political wunderkind and human-turned-fae-by-mystical-creation-myth-cauldron Nesta is running from her problems in self-destructive ways. So her sister, her sister's mate, and her sister's mate's B-Fri's seclude her a mountain mansion until she ca…

You know that feeling when your crush shows up and you want everything to go just right, and you want everyone in the room to think you're smart and funny? But you can't stop worrying that you're gonna put you're foot in your mouth so you spend the whole time like a ball of anxiety saying not that much at all and feeling really hot and bothered but…

We did it y'all. Lizzie and Darcy meet back up at his place. It's so embarrassing. It was an accident. He was sweaty. She was nervous. His housekeeper is really into giving him compliments. Big feels. Big fiz.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

We're adjusting a rearview to take in a (disappointing) spreadsheet and share our objective data and subjective views on the texts and discussions from the Whoa!mance feed in 2023.What are our In/Outs and Resos for the year ahead? How did we live up to our own hopes for 2023? Glenn Howell????By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

In this chapter Lydia is gone, relative calm returns to Longbourne house and the narrator gets contemplative on the conjugal felicity of Mr and Mrs Bennet or rather the horrific lack apparently. IS this a romance or a buildings roman? You decide, dear reader.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

In this chapter Lizzie confronts her dad about Lydia's reckless flirtations and too frivolous behavior. She really tries to get dear ole dadio not to let Lydia go to Brighton. But Pops does not see it Lizzie's way and Lizzie refuses to be more honest about her fears and concerns.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Over the hills and through the woods, to Velaris we go!Feyre and Rhysand are getting ready for their first C̶h̶r̶i̶s̶t̶m̶a̶s̶ WINTER SOLSTICE together. All while reconciling the recent trauma of the War (see episodes 157, 158). What makes a Holiday Special special? How has the messaging around the true meaning of Christmas morphed in our current th…

Ho! ho! ho no. This eppy, yr grls go whatever the opposite of carolling is about - Christmas Masquerade: A Pride & Prejudice Intimate Variation by Vivien NorvilleLizzie and Darcy (who you know...) are spending their first Christmas together and Darcy is BLOWING it. Or wait, Lizzie is blowing it? Honestly, no one is getting blown. When did the publi…

Jane and Lizzie finally get a chance alone to go over everything that has happened. Namely 1) Mr Darcy proposed like and ass but maybe isn't one? and 2) Wickham is the worst person on planet earth.Jane tries to have it both ways and Lizzie has none of it.And is Mrs Bennet a secret proto feminist?By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

In this stunner of a chapter we again find ourselves in a carriage, but this time it's with the sisters fully reunited and on their way to Longborne. There's a hat box, a question of who paid for lunch and a lot of charm oozing from that youngest and potentially worst/best Bennet sister: Lydia.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Full of the unsought advice of relatives? Ready to be at home with your actual favs and your comfy pants? Lizzie Bennet is too, y'all. Join this female main character on one more annoying carriage ride as she escapes her cousin Mr. Collins' tender and slightly belligerent farewells. Ready to hear us dish on writers and commenters--desperate goobers…

You traveling this holiday? Lizzie Bennet too. Got relatives telling you which highways and byways and coaching inns are best? Yr girl Liz is in the same spot. Turns out time is a flat circle, and some chickens come home to roost sooner than others.Or in this case blindspots about dads.Enjoy your holidays!…

In the thrilling conclusion to our Western Civ I, we tackle shame. Shameless or shameful, shame has a utility. Is it worth examining in the context of romance? You betcha buckaroo. Saddle up while we unpack this particular pair of chaps.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Why, it's Andrea Martucci of Shelf Love stopping by the Whoa!mance desk to talk about darling of her childhood, weird uncle of her adulthood - A LADY OF THE WEST by LINDA HOWARD. Victoria leaves Reconstruction behind for The American West, and, its representative, The Major (with her kid sister and cool cousin in tow). The Major got his ranch the o…

Join us for the what lies the wake of Darcy's thrilling bombshells. While Jane Austen doesn't invent headhopping she does a bang up job of walking us through Lizzie's reaction to Darcy's screed of a letter.Is this what growing up feels like? Who can say? Us. Us can say.By Whoa!mance: Romance, Feminism, and Ourselves

Saddle up the Equimare and/or gas up the Autoduck - this week yr grls pass through the veil of HART AND MERCY by MEGAN BANNEN.Marshall Hart sends a letter looking for a friend into the aether (which is not the strangest thing to do in the strange land of this book) and it lands on the desk of his nemesis - Undertaker Mercy. She also needs an anonym…