My guest this week is Shirlene Obuobi. She is a general cardiologist, an artist, and the author of several novels. Her latest is the outstanding paranormal romance Die For Me, published this summer by Penguin Books. We talked about how we are socialized by patriarchy to desire what is most dangerous to us. Is it possible to find true, healthy love with your apex predator? Spoiler alert: white supremacist hetero-patriarchy is the true monster this episode. Plus: "reverse" age gap romances, writing power imbalances, and a lot of feminism.

Content warning: This episode contains non-specific conversation about gaslighting, domestic violence and gun violence.

Follow Shirlene on Instagram @shirlywhirlmd, and purchase Die For Me from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks

Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com

The best way to support the show is now to subscribe on Bindery, a home for booklovers and the (hopefully!) future Rebel Ever After romance publishing imprint. We are 49% of the way to reaching our goal of 100 subscribers! Join at rebeleverafter.binderybooks.com

Theme music created by Dalton Deschain.

Media mentioned this episode:

• The Tragedy of Heterosexuality by Jane Ward

• The Will to Change by bell hooks

• The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center by Rhaina Cohen

• The work of Nikki Payne

• The work of N. K. Jemisin

Upcoming Events:

9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

10/5: I'm hosting another Romance Read-In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans at Book Club Bar in Manhattan on October 5th at 7:30pm! Tickets just went on sale here.

This week's guest is Sophia Benoit, author of the historical romance The Very Definition of Love and the essay collection Well, This is Exhausting. I asked her about putting her own spin on the "rake accidentally compromises a bluestocking" historical romance trope. We talked about our favorite historically accurate dirty slang terms and why there are so many euphemisms for sex workers. Plus, how she thinks about responsible depictions of relationships and intimacy as a sex writer and a romance author, and why we both have strong feelings about choking and breath play.

Follow Sophia on Instagram @sgbenoit, and purchase The Very Definition of Love from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks

Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com

The best way to support the show is now to subscribe on Bindery, a home for booklovers and the (hopefully!) future Rebel Ever After romance publishing imprint. We are 49% of the way to reaching our goal of 100 subscribers! Join at rebeleverafter.binderybooks.com

Theme music created by Dalton Deschain.

Media mentioned this episode:

• A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grouse
• The works of Jane Austen
• The works of Nora Ephron

Upcoming Events:

9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

JUST ADDED 10/5: I'm hosting another Romance Read-In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans at Book Club Bar in Manhattan on October 5th at 7:30pm! Tickets just went on sale here.

This week my guest is Alicia Thompson, the author of five adult romance novels including With Love, From Cold World and Never Been Shipped. We talked about balancing magical realism with grounded characterization in her new book In Every Possible Way. Plus: Alicia's amazing newsletter about music, our hatred of the "reverse" trope, and how she writes men worth falling for.

Follow Alicia on Instagram @aliciabooks and on Substack at aliciabooks.substack.com. Purchase Alicia's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks

Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com

The best way to support the show is now to subscribe on Bindery, a home for booklovers and the (hopefully!) future Rebel Ever After romance publishing imprint. We are 40% of the way to reaching our goal of 100 subscribers! Join at rebeleverafter.binderybooks.com

Don't forget to rate and review on your favorite podcast app, too!

Theme music created by Dalton Deschain.

Media mentioned this episode:

• Hype & Type marketing newsletter: bethearchetype.substack.com
• Ulysses by James Joyce
• Groundhog Day (1993)
• Chernobyl (2019, HBO)
• The Cranberries
• Tom Petty
• Kelly Clarkson

Upcoming events:

8/12: Celebrating Sea of Charms with Sarah Beth Durst at Northport Books in Northport, Long Island. Tickets here.

8/26: Rebel Ever After Bindery virtual launch party with special guests Adib Khorram, Laura Piper Lee, and Erin Baldwin. Join for free on Bindery to attend.

9/3: Launching Love Me Like a Rock Song with Shelly Jay Shore at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.