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In this ultimate (final) episode of When in Romance, Jess and Trisha reminisce about the last 198 episodes, Trisha subjects Jess to one last WIR quiz, and they close with some final book recs and a little gratitude. News The podcast may be ending, but the backlog of When In Romance will be here for you on the Book Riot site! (And Jess and Trisha will be there too, just in different ways.) This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books: Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman The Missed Connection by Tia Williams Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai Burn of Summer by Rebecca Zanetti Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon Thirsty by Mia Hopikins A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert Even If We’re Broken by A.M. Weald Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death by Maria Vale The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian Rookie Mistake and Scoreless Game by Anna Zabo Stay in touch with Jess and Trisha to keep the conversation going and find out what they’re doing next! You can find Jess by email at [email protected] and on Instagram and Threads @jess_is_reading. And Trisha is on email at [email protected] and at Instagram and Threads (and even occasionally Bluesky) @trishahaleybrown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha share some When In Romance news, reflect on the last eight years in romance, and talk about what they’ve read - and want to read - this year. News Check out all the great work Jane is doing at Romancing the Data This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown Check, Please! Book 2 by Ngozi Ukazu A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai Cleat Chaser by Aimee Rivkin Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez How to Fake it In Society by KJ Charles Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee By the Bootstraps by Alexa Martin I Punched an Alien and Now We’re in Couples Therapy by Kimberly Lemming Sunflower Season by Danica Nava Fire Power by Mir Benitz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha talk about continuing the story with long series, interlocking series, and series that feature the same couple in multiple books. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Cleat Chaser by Aimee Rivkin Speak Now by Ash Perez ( Father Material by Alexis Hall The Psy-Changling series by Nalini Singh (starting with Slave to Sensation) The Play by Play series by Jaci Burton (starting with The Perfect Play) The Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole (starting with A Hunger like No Other) Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer The Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert (starting with Neon Gods) The Wallflowers and Ravenels series by Lisa Kleypas (starting with Secrets of a Summer Night) The Irons and Works series by EM Lindsey (starting with Free Hand) The Reluctant Royals and Runaway Royals series by Alyssa Cole (starting with A Princess in Theory) The Decades romance series The Baes of Juneteenth romance series The Clover Hill Romance series The Blessings series by Beverly Jenkins (starting with Bring on the Blessings) The Rebekah Weatherspoon and Christina C Jones extended universes The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger (starting with Soulless) And for those wondering, Jess’s Tiffany Reisz (aka Meg Shaffer) recs are The Rose and The Night Mark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha talk about Harlequin and AI and then do a dive deep into fan fiction, discussing the who/what/where/why and some of the current discourse in the romance fanfic world. News Here’s the “Why is Harlequin making weird AI movies?” piece by Maris Kreizman we talked about [Literary Hub] This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed The Catch by Leonor Soliz Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai The Idea of You by Robinne Lee Enemies to Lovers by Aster Glenn Gray The Winston Brothers series (starting with Truth or Beard) by Penny Reid Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade Plus! Some bonus HR fic recs from Jess and Trisha: Jess:  "Please Leave a Message" by Ravenesta "It’s Too Close for Comfort" by theoneiam2277 "Influential" by 409_conflict "The heart is hard to translate" by catknives Trisha: The Secret Society of Stick Handlers collection by gurlsrool "Hoya" by GingerBaggins "Mistakes Have Been Made" by Ugly Green Jacket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha talk about what they’ve been reading and then get into Book Club with Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa and sports romance broadly. News No news this week because it’s a Book Club week! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa Back and Forth From New York by alphalupi Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa Please Don’t Go by E. Salvador Out On the Ice series by Kelly Farmer His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington Summer Official by Rebekah Weatherspoon The Playbook series (starting with Intercepted) by Alexa Martin Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown Flagrant by Alexandria House The Long Game by Elena Armas Rookie Mistake by Anna Zabo and LA Witt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha discuss the end of Harlequin’s category romance line and offer some category romance recs (some of which are delightfully bananas). Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (episode goes live March 30)! Get a bit of category romance background from Love In Panels and author Therese Beharrie. Books Discussed: Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik The Brightest Blaze by Kelly Farmer Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish  Compromised into a Scandalous Marriage by Lydia San Andres Bane (and others!) by Brenda Jackson Daring to Fall For the Prince by Heba Helmy Backcountry Cover-Up by Denise N. Wheatley Pregnesia by Carla Cassidy Road Trip Rivalry by Mona Shroff Her Fake Wedding Date in Sicily by Jenny Lane The Duke’s Sister and I by Emma-Claire Sunday This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha talk about a new option for indie authors and talk about some of their favorite independently-published romances. News Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (ep goes live March 30)! Learn more about the Draft2Digital and Bookshop.org partnership. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed 10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace by Jahquel J What If…I Love You by Yvonne Marie The Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa Written on Ice by Smardline S. Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker Now You See Him by Nina Saxena Meegan by Rebekah Weatherspoon Expanded Roster by Aimee Rivkin The Probability of Us by Elizabeth-Jade Taylor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News: Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (episode goes live March 30)! Find Sarah Wendell’s discussion with Julia Quinn on the SBTB podcast here. And of course, please enjoy Book Riot’s list of The Best Romance Books of the Century So Far as much as Jess and Trisha do. Books Discussed: Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh Two’s Better by Viano Oniomoh The Long Game by Rachel Reid Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa And all of the other books discussed can be found in one convenient place! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha talk a LOT about adaptations - including their dream adaptations - and a little bit about other news and updates in romanceland. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News: Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us - send us your thoughts before we record on March 25 (ep goes live March 30)! Find a loooooong sample (if you’d like) of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. Julia Quinn is curating a romance box - check out the Kickstarter here. Books Discussed: A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez Restore Me by J.L. Seegars Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh Game Changer by Rachel Reid Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun Dating Dr. Dil and the whole If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series by Nisha Sharma Bring on the Blessings and the whole Blessings series by Beverly Jenkins Better Than People and the Garnet Run series by Roan Parrish It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram Sherry Thomas’s Heart of Blade duology, starting with The Hidden Blade The Christina C. Jones Cinematic Universe, starting with Getting Schooled The Unleashing and the Call of Crows series by Shelly Laurenston We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian Unwritten Rules - and the whole series - by K.D. Casey Kit Rocha’s Bound to Fire and Steel series, starting with Consort of Fire This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha finally get around to closing out some recommendations and backlist favorites from 2025 (it’s still January, so it’s fine!). Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News: Hooray for Book Club in 2026! Read Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa with us! Books Discussed: The Wren in the Holly Library by KA Linde  Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian Game Changer by Rachel Reid This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews Love is a War Song by Danica Nava The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann The Bodyguard by Katherine Center Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins Role Playing by Cathy Yardley The Uptown Girls series by Joanna Shupe (start with The Rogue of Fifth Avenue) The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton  After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope The Redemption of Philip Thane By Lisa Berne Luca by Grey Huffington Just Right by Shon Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake Janine: His True Alpha by Chencia C Higgins Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron Cash Delgado is Living the Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia Murder Most Actual by Alexis Hall A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic by J. Penner The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston Cross the Line by Simone Soltani Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 some of their most anticipated titles of 2026. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! News: Send us your most anticipated romances of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!! Some background on Heated Rivalry [Vanity Fair] And a reminder of those Harlequin adaptations airing on the CW [Variety] Books Discussed: Every New Year by Katrina Jackson  Deception by Amanda Quick The Packing List (anthology) Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid Restore Me by JL Seegars (1/6/26) Father Material by Alexis Hall (6/2/26) By the Bootstraps by Alexa Martin (5/26/26) It’s All In Your Head by Sabina Nordqvist (2/10/26) The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez (3/31/26) Only Friends by Lydia San Andres (2/10/26) Last First Kiss by Julian Winters (1/27/26) Like In Love With You by Emma R. Alban (1/13/26) A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander (3/10/26) The Baby Dragon Bookshop by A.T. Qureshi (2/12/26) This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Jeff and Rebecca revisit Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, a story so familiar it’s often mistaken for simple. They consider its moral stakes, its enduring influence on readers and society, and why Scrooge's redemption still resonates. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: [email protected] This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, books with mysteries, books with sports…and more! Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started. News: Send us your most anticipated romances of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!! Check out Book Riot’s amazing list of the Best Books of 2025! Jess recommended the adaptation Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell - check it out! Books Discussed: Mr Collins in Love by Lee Welch 10 Dance by Satoh Inoue I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Romcom by Kimberly Lemming A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram Secret Spark by Kelly Farmer How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin Fan Service by Rosie Danan Homemaker by Ruthie Knox Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa Breakout Year by KD Casey Love Letters from the Trail by Tif Marcelo A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess and Trisha offer romance recommendations for characters with diabetes, characters who are immigrants, characters who are dinosaurs (or dinosaur adjacent) and more! Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started. News: Send us your favorite romances of 2025, your most anticipated of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!! Check out Book Riot’s amazing list of the Best Books of 2025! Trisha mentioned the podcast Maintenance Phase and also the book What We Don’t Talk about When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon - check them both out.  Trisha also mentioned Book Riot’s Grumpy/Grumpy romance list pulled together by R. Nassor. Books Discussed: Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne  The Companion by EE Ottoman  They Ain’t Proper by M.B. Guel Any romance written by Diana Quincy The Heart of the Blade duology by Sherry Thomas A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall Give Me A Reason by Stephanie Nicole Norris Pulling Doubles by Christina C. Jones Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden Loving Queen by Saffron Brooks Captured by Siren Crow The Bride Test by Helen Hoang His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa The Broposal by Sonora Reyes Trade Me by Courtney Milan When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley Romance Class authors, including Carla de Guzman, Tara Frejas, and Mina V. Esguerra The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish by Xue Shan Fei Hu The Anatomy of Magic by J.C. Cervantes Anything by Therese Beharrie (one option is Single Dads Club) Nalini Singh’s contemporary romances (one series starts with Rock Addiction) Love in Color by Bobu Babalola Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon Something About You by Julie James The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan Office Hours by Katrina Jackson White Whiskey Bargain by Jodie Slaughter Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg Anger Bang by Avery Flynn A Sharp Endless Need by Marisa Crane Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings The Long Game by Elena Armas The Hate Project by Kris Ripper After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'Tis the season! Jess and Trisha offer recommendations for paranormal romances that aren’t toxic, queernorm romance, epistolary romances, and more! Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started. News: Send us your favorite romances of 2025, your most anticipated of 2026, and/or your book club suggestions!! Books Discussed: When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley Seasons of Love by Helena Greer His True Alpha by Chencia C. Higgins Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder The Psy/Changling series (Book 1 is Slave to Sensation) by Nalini Singh Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray Witch You Would by Lia Amador Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport The Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee Hot and Badgered and other titles by Shelley Laurenston/ G.A. Aiken Deadly Ever After by Brittany Johnson Paranormal romances by Viano Oniomoh, Rebel Carter, and Holley Trent Iris Kelley Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree Worst Soulmate Ever by Haruta  Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest The Flatshare by Beth O Leary Isn’t It Obvious by Rachel Runya Katz Follow My Voice by Ariana Godoy Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Let us know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices