When In Romance
Episodes
The Bonkers Vibes
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha discuss the end of Harlequin’s category romance line and offer some category romance recs (some of which are delightfully bananas). ...
My Most Gandalfy Friend
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about a new option for indie authors and talk about some of their favorite independently-published romances. News Hooray for B...
The Best Romance Novels of the Century So Far
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk (very enthusiastically) about Book Riot’s list of the best romance novels of the century so far. Follow the podcast via RSS, A...
Fake Fated Mates
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk a LOT about adaptations - including their dream adaptations - and a little bit about other news and updates in romanceland. Foll...
Duels That Are Also Flirting
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha finally get around to closing out some recommendations and backlist favorites from 2025 (it’s still January, so it’s fine!). Foll...
More Than One Kind of Heated Rivalry
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about why Heated Rivalry is so much more successful than other Harlequin adaptations released at the same time and then share som...
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from Zero to Well-Read
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When in Romance is taking a short holiday break, so we thought we'd share an episode from our newest Book Riot Podcast, Zero to Well-Read, in which Je...
Jess and Trisha’s Faves of 2025
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about some of their favorite romance reads of 2025, including books that are light and fun, books that pack an emotional punch, b...
2025 Recommendations Requests: Part 2!
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha offer romance recommendations for characters with diabetes, characters who are immigrants, characters who are dinosaurs (or dinosaur a...
2025 Recommendations Requests: Part 1!
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
'Tis the season! Jess and Trisha offer recommendations for paranormal romances that aren’t toxic, queernorm romance, epistolary romances, and more! ...
Still No Beverly Jenkins Cinematic Universe…
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha share adaptation news, highlight books by Native and Indigenous romance authors, and remind listeners to send in their recommendation ...
Suspending Disbelief: When In Romance Fall Book Club
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about fall, The Enchanted Hacienda, and some magicky romance appropriate for this (or any) season. Follow the podcast via RSS, A...
Grumpy to Happy Ratio: Recommendations for New Romance Readers
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about your recommendations for first time romance readers before digging into theirs - from historical to contemporary, dramatic ...
A Trifecta of Kellys
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about the success of the Kickstarter model for book publishing and celebrate Sapphic September with some recs. Follow the podcas...
Inserting Joy Into Your Day
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk through some updates (book club is back!!) and then turn the conversation to vacation/getaway-themed romances. Follow the podcas...
Breaking the Podcast Timing Rules
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about a TON of adaptations (or possible adaptations) and then get into the books they’re excited about for the second half of 2...
Lowercase “N” Nemesis
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha do a tiny bit of fun news and then get into the Dramione of it all before talking about favorite 2025 romance releases so far. Follow...
A Bibliotherapy Session
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha do a little self-examination of their reading habits and then talk about their favorite backlist romance reads of the year so far. Fo...
Jane Austen June Part 2: The Protagonist is Also the Antagonist
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about Jane Austen feelings - yours and theirs! - and then get into Kamila Knows Best for book club. Follow the podcast via RSS, ...
Jane Austen June Part 1: Landed Gentry with More Land
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk through updates and news before diving into part 1 of Jane Austen June, featuring adaptations and retellings (video and book vers...
Spaceships Absolutely Count
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk through updates, the “Fyre Festival of Book Cons”, and - as promised - recommend some transportation-related romances. Follo...
Someone With Binoculars
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about WIR book club, why/if point of view matters in romance, and they have some recs for reverse adaptations. Follow the podcas...
Interesting Things, Including Bears
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess is back, and she and Trisha catch up on news and books — specifically, outdoorsy romance. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spoti...
A Podcast Most Actual with Special Guest Liberty Hardy
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trisha is joined by special guest Liberty Hardy to chat a bit about news and a lot about romance mysteries and mystery romances. Follow the podcast v...
International Space Crisis
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk through some romance news and then dive into our first book club book of the year. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or...
The Regency Version of a Stripper
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about romance graphic novels, short stories, and novellas — just in case you’re already feeling behind on your 2025 reading g...
A Crime He’s Satisfied to Commit
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about what they read when the real world is difficult and recommend some Black romance authors who might be new to you. Follow th...
May Justice Prevail
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha do a news roundup and recommend some great books with trans characters and trans authors. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, ...
Easter Bunny or Playboy Bunny?
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha discuss what might be coming in 2025, including book club, trends, and romances they can’t wait to read. Follow the podcast via RSS,...
2025: Still Astonished
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about lists and roundups that closed out 2024, as well as their favorite backlist reads of the last year. Follow the podcast via ...
(Still) Excited by the Shenanigans
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're on break for the holiday week, so we're rerunning an episode from earlier this year in which we reflect on the 2023 books we still want to get t...
Discovering Each Other: Favorites of 2024
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha offer a few more gifting recommendations and then talk about some of their favorite new books of 2024. Follow the podcast via RSS, App...
2024’s Recommendation Request Show!
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha respond to requests for recommendations for everything from romances with older couples to gentle reads to romcoms. Follow the podcast...
Cared for in a Way Your Horse Deserves
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Book Club week! Jess and Trisha discuss The Siren of Sussex and similar historical romance books they recommend. Follow the podcast via RSS, A...
A whole lotta drama no matter what
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha get ready to announce dates for the next WIR Book Club and recommendations episodes and then dive into a discussion about age gap roma...
We Call Shenanigans
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk updates and seasonal reading and then offer some magical/paranormal/supernatural recs. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcast...
Could Stand Alone But Shouldn’t
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha announce a new WIR Book Club book and then talk about the impact of book bans on romance authors and readers before offering some recs...
Sweet and Murdery
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha get caught up on all of the news that's been happening and all of the books they’ve been reading while they’ve been away. Follow ...
Guest Post: We Saw IT ENDS WITH US So You Don't Have To
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha are off this week, so we're sharing an episode that went live on the Book Riot Podcast about the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's It End...
Was [Redacted] The Original Bachelor? With Guest Emily Martin
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess is joined by All The Books co-host Emily Martin! They talk news around adaptations and recommend some reality TV romances worth checking out. Fo...
The Good, the Bad, and the Adaptations
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk briefly about the possible romance world implications of Project 2025 and then discuss their many — MANY — feelings about The...
Favorites of 2024 So Far
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha discuss their favorite romance reads — frontlist and backlist — of the year so far. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, o...
A Nice Fun Thing
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha discuss the marketability of historical romance and then jump into our When In Romance book club pick, Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha. F...
Most Frequently Recurring Dumpster Fire
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about what are — and are NOT — the reasons RWA filed for bankruptcy and then recommend some romances with good mental health ...
Needing the Beach to Cool Down
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha belatedly share listener emails and talk (again) about what makes a romance a romance. Plus! Romances to get you ready for the summer....
Come for the Puns
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about author identities and pen names, bookish events gone wrong, and road trip romances. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podca...
Consent to Tell Me the Story
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Trisha is joined by special guest Vanessa Diaz, Managing Editor for Book Riot, and they talk about reading habits, books they love, and why third pers...
Low Stakes Bookish Pet Peeves
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha cover a few potpourri topics and updates before talking about romances that are worth the hype. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podc...
Be the Jack Rourke of Your Book World
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about the impact of AI and machine learning on books and then take a virtual visit to the Tucson Festival of Books. Follow the po...
Immersed In That Angst
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate February 29, Jess and Trisha go all in on books they love that were published in Leap Years. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, ...
She Can’t Plot
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha reflect on the major theme of Valentine’s romance coverage and then recommend some romance short stories and novellas. Follow the po...
Read Harder in…Every Year
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about romance covers, genre data (or lack thereof), and romance books that fit the 2024 Read Harder Challenge. Follow the podcast...
Darling But Dangerous
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha kick off 2024 WIR Book Club by discussing The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich and then discuss other books with mistaken iden...
Excited by the Shenanigans
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about 2023 books they still want to get to and the books they’re most excited about coming out in 2024. Follow the podcast via ...
We Love a Lady Blacksmith — Favorites of 2023
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about their favorite romance reads of 2023. Prepare your TBR for many, many books — front list AND back list. Follow the podcas...
Having Affairs and Running a Hotel
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s part two of our 2023 recommendation request episodes! Jess and Trisha talk about romances with tough female heroines, queer fantasy romance, im...
Scathing Dislike, Scorching Chemistry
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s part one of our 2023 recommendation request episodes! Jess and Trisha talk about diverse paranormal romances, romances with ace representation,...
Continuing the Podcast Magic
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about the current “steaminess” discourse in romance and new books with some of their favorite tropes. Follow the podcast via ...
Having a Moment in Costumes in the Library
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about the popular practice of republishing previously self-published romances and offer a few of their recs for Bang in the Night...
Song Fails on a Book Podcast
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha dive deep into The Perfect Find, talking about both the novel and the Netflix adaptation. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, ...
Great Movie, Weird Faces
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha are reunited(!) and get caught up on romance news, adaptations, and their reading over the last couple of months. Follow the podcast v...
There’s Only One Dog
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Special guest Jenn Northington joins Trisha to talk about anthologies and books to help you break a reading slump. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple P...
The One With All The Witches with Liberty Hardy
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess is joined by Book Riot's resident velocireader, Liberty Hardy, who listens patiently while Jess discusses news and then actually gets the chance ...
Our Favorite Romances of 2023 So Far
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha check in on the current state of romance publishing and then talk about some of their favorite romances of 2023 so far. Follow the pod...
Romances with Real People on Earth
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about Regency romance and why so many romances are set in that 9 year(!) period and then share what romances they’re excited ab...
The Second Half of the Last Page
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha jump back into book club and then take a minute to pay tribute to Julie Garwood and the legacy and place of older romance books. Follo...
A Benign Stalker
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha discuss how racism impacts sports romance publishing and talk about some basketball romances they love. Follow the podcast via RSS, Ap...
Ranking the Most Impactful Romance of the Last Decade
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha do something a little different and spend the show ranking the most influential romance novels that have come out in the last decade (...
Not As Much Eye Reading
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha announce a new book club book and get into why contemporary romance isn’t always the same as a romcom (which is different from a rom...
Normal People with Quirky Friends
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha do a bit of follow-up from last time, talk about why romance book adaptation news so often goes nowhere, and recommend some favorite r...
Somewhere In Between
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about the jobs and activities we do and don’t see in romance (and what it means) and discuss and recommend second chance romanc...
The Body Falls for the Guard
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about the trans rights readathon (starting March 20!) and then discuss comfort reads. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts,...
Trading Off Words
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha discuss a social media situation impacting romance authors and why it matters more broadly and then dive into After Hours on Milagro ...
All of the Unfurling
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about positive Valentine’s Day romance coverage, happy Harper Collins strike news, and romance mysteries. Follow the podcast vi...
Lying with Each Other
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about some news and listener emails before getting real about fake relationships: why the trope works, why they like it, and some...
Reality Through Fiction
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Trisha and special guest Liberty Hardy talk about reality show competition romance: what we like about it, why it works, and some of our fa...
The Year of the Cowboy
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha cover some recent romancelandia news, look back on favorites of 2022, and look ahead to possible future favorites for 2023. Follow the...
Pine, Pine, Pine...Pine, Pine
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha close out the year by recommending queer friends-to-lovers books, romances with a criminal element, and more in part two of our annual...
Roll the Dice with Me
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s that time again!! Jess and Trisha recommend steamy sci-fi, romance with characters over 40 (and sometimes 50!), and more in part one of our ann...
Best of Our 2022 Backlist!
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha start talking about 2022 recommendations, including No-Shirt November and their favorite backlist romance reads of 2022. Follow the po...
All The Holidays with Special Guest Jenn Northington
31 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Jenn discuss the increasing number of romances in best-of lists (even if they are coming way too early) and the massive phenomenon that is ho...
This Might Be My WIDOW OF ROSE HOUSE
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and special guest Vanessa Diaz talk about what they’re reading, discuss some upcoming Good News in romance and offer season-appropriate romance...
Back on the Book Train
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk through some news and updates and then discuss Witchmark – including whether it can be classified as a romance. Follow the po...
Time for a Different Form
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about unreasonable expectations of authors and then offer a few “if you like this, try that” romance recs. Follow the podcast...
Giving Up on Calendars
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about baby epilogues and revisit a classic romance trope: fake dating stories. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotif...
The Ghost and the Ghostwriter
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha cover a grab bag of topics before talking about backlist romances they’re glad to have found this year. Follow the podcast via RSS, ...
But No Poles
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about Fire Island and the essence of a good retelling/adaptation, and offer up some recommendations for Disability Pride Month. F...
Annoyance to Love
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about the appeal (or not) of the enemies to lovers trope and then offer some picks for their best romances of 2022 so far. Follow...
The Disney Crime Lord Universe
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Book club is back as Jess and Trisha discuss The Beast by Katee Robert and then dive into the distinctions between steamy romance, erotic romance, and...
A Wig Doing a Lot of Work
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha do a few updates, dive into a recent film that lives in the romance world (in more ways than one), and talk about some of the books th...
A Proxy Husband On a Boat
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about weddings in romance: why there are so many, their ties to different tropes, why all the weddings can be a problem, and some...
Finger, Pulse, Etc.
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about their current reads, romance novel cover history, and backlist books to add to – or move up on – your TBR. Follow the p...
It’s Probably Something Adorable
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha share some listener recommendations and other updates, announce a new book club book, and talk about authors who are new to them. Fo...
Especially The Library – With Special Guest Liberty Hardy
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess is joined by special guest Liberty Hardy, Book Riot’s resident velocireader. Important questions are asked and answered, and they wander into t...
Take It to the Group Chat
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha talk about recent romance (bad) news stories and recommend romances with main characters above the age of 40. Follow the podcast via...
An Elevator with Only One Bed
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha dive into Written in the Stars for WIR book club and then talk through some of the other romance retellings they love. Follow the podc...
Episode 100 and the Return of the When In Romance Quiz
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha celebrate episode 100 with a new quiz, look back (and forward!) at changes in the romance world, and share recommendations that come f...
Some Other Exploration Together
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha have some exciting news about episode 100(!), talk about the pros and cons of Twitter discussions, and recommend books that sat on the...
While We’re Ahead
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha discuss romance news updates, offer recs for the 2022 Read Harder Challenge, and chat about sports romance and what makes it unique. ...
A New Earth Year
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Trisha share some follow-up from the recommendation request episodes, talk New Year’s resolutions, and get excited about the next six month...