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Episode Description:
Pop the cork with us as we open season three and get real about how a half-joking idea turned into a ritual that changed our reading lives. We trace our path from sneaking dog-eared paperbacks to championing today’s expansive romance universe. And we talk about what happened when we let romance back in — more joy at home, a revived writing habit, and a community that feels like a warm, rowdy book club.
We swap origin stories and gateway reads, then dive into tastes that reveal who we are: forced proximity for pressure-cooker growth, friends to lovers for rock-solid foundations, enemies to lovers when the heat needs a sharp edge. Spice gets its own spotlight as we map jalapeño slow burns to habanero thrills and draw the line at Carolina Reaper chaos. Along the way, we shout out our insta-buy and comfort authors — Lisa Kleypas, Emma Hamm, Heatherly Bell, Ashley Herring Blake, B.K. Borison, Katie Robert, Fallon Ballard — and the singular books we’d be buried with, because some stories become part of your DNA.
You’ll also hear how this show actually gets made: racing two-week cycles, editing transcripts that mistake our voices, migrating a website without losing our minds, and keeping the marketing engine humming. Through it all, the laughs steady us. We’re building something welcoming and interactive, where your recs flood our DMs and your niche tropes find a home. On the desired horizon: playful staged reenactments with actor friends, reader retreats, maybe even a romance cruise if we can convince Meghan to board.
If you love smart, spirited talk about romance novels, from historical comfort reads to dark fantasy detours, you’re in the right place. Hit follow, share this with your bookish bestie, and tell us your ride-or-die trope and your latest auto-buy author. Your rec might be our next favorite read.
The Ripped Bodice
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Libro.fm
Libro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you support local bookstores & businesses.
Love & Spice
Interactive romance app: take a quiz, then shape your own spicy, personalized love stories.
Books & Beverages for this Episode:
Episode Beverage: Korbel Brut
Support the Podcast:
Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)
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Podcast Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait
Drink Along with Us:
Want to drink along with us? We’ve got our special episode drinking game posted above. But we also have our all-episode Romance on the Rocks Podcast Drinking Game. It’s yours free when you subscribe to our email list! Just fill out this form and we’ll email you the PDF!
