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Season three of Romance on the Rocks kicked off the only way we know how: with a clink of glasses and some honest reflection. What started as a half-joking idea between friends — what if we read romance novels, drank cocktails and talked about it? — became a ritual that reshapes how we read, create and connect.
We’re revisiting why we pressed record in the first place and how the podcast nudged both of us back into reading for pleasure after long breaks. That return changes more than our TBR piles. Reading bleeds into everything — writing projects, date nights, weekly rhythms and a renewed curiosity about genres we once dismissed. We talk bubbly (yes, that bubbly) and the banter that keeps our rhythm, and how a two-week release schedule feels like sprinting through a funhouse: joyful, messy and absolutely worth it.
Community Changes Everything
At the heart of this conversation is community. We trace the path from sneaking romance classics in middle school to today’s vibrant, inclusive romance landscape. Rediscovering romance means rediscovering people — writers lifting writers, readers trading late-night recommendations and creators unapologetically geeking out about tropes.
That support reshapes how we talk about books. Honesty matters but so does kindness. Every book is someone’s heart on the page. We talk about moments when we feel we go a little too hard, how we course-correct and why we aim to celebrate effort even when a plot or trope is not for us. The short version: taste is personal; enthusiasm is contagious.
Tropes, Tastes and Why We Love Them
We dig into our current romance tastes with receipts. Forced proximity sparks character growth under pressure. Friends to lovers feels like a relationship blueprint. Enemies to lovers can be filthy fun — when the emotional logic lands.
Historical romance still feels like home for those of us who grow up on it, while dark fantasy scratches the itch for rule-breaking worlds and nontraditional heroes. Our spice preferences evolve too. One of us stays a proud jalapeño girl who loves a slow burn. (It’s Meghan.) The other wanders happily toward habanero heat and learns — through experience — where “too far” lives after a Carolina Reaper misadventure. Spice is not a personality test. It is a dial, a mood and part of the thrill.
Books, Authors and Origin Stories
Books and authors get their flowers, naturally. We shout out auto-buys like Lisa Kleypas, Emma Hamm, Heatherly Bell, Ashley Herring Blake, Katee Robert and Fallon Ballard, plus a few more that live permanently on our shelves.
We also share the one book we would want buried with us — choices that reveal nostalgia, origin stories and inner oceans. We examine the messy legacy of early romance trailblazers too. Some stories push boundaries and crack doors open while still feeling dated or problematic by today’s standards. That duality matters. Gateways into romance are not just titles. They are subgenres and vibes that quietly usher us into love stories we do not expect to love.
Behind the Scenes of the Podcast
Running a romance book podcast is not just reading and drinking — though that part helps. It’s deadlines, transcript edits that confuse our voices, website migrations, SEO headaches and chasing content across every social platform imaginable. (Nicole is still trying to figure out the tik-tacks.)
Somehow, we still laugh through it. That is what keeps the show human. The work is real, the learning curve is steep and the joy comes from showing up anyway.
What We Hope This Grows Into
Looking ahead, we want Romance on the Rocks to grow into a truly interactive community. The dream is asking for recommendations and getting flooded with them. Live segments with actor friends reenacting scenes like a romance-forward Drunk History. Book retreats. Cozy cabin weekends. Cruises remain a debate.
Until then, we keep pouring the drinks, reading the books and showing up — because romance, at its best, is a shared practice of hope.
Are you a fan of Romance on the Rocks Podcast? Comment below! We’d love to hear from you. Want to listen to the podcast episode? We’re available on pretty much all your favorite podcast streaming services. Or you can visit our podcast player page here.
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