Advertise on podcast: Genre’d: A Book Podcast

A washed-up bestselling author, seven years of writer's block, and a Grindr download that leads to one of the most deeply uncomfortable literary relationships we've ever encountered. This week, we're reviewing Fruit Fly by Josh Silver, a darkly hilarious novel about privilege, exploitation, obsession, and the very questionable things people will do for a bestseller. We're talking morally complicated characters, an absolutely insufferable husband, one of the best audiobooks we've listened to this year, and the age-old question of where inspiration ends and stealing someone else's story begins. Plus, an ending that had us both absolutely floored. Spoiler-free for the first 20 minutes, then we're getting into everything. And yes, we both gave this one five stars.

What happens when Taylor Swift's "The Prophecy" meets Practical Magic and Charmed? Author Amy True joins us to talk about her new novel, Clearly Charmed, the magic of sisterhood, and how one song inspired an entire romance trilogy. We also get into Amy's journey from historical fiction to romance, why historical fiction is anything but boring, and the books she'd recommend to anyone looking to explore the genre. Plus, childhood reading habits, the great car-light conspiracy, and the embarrassing reality of accidentally trying to swipe the pages of a physical book. Yes, really.

What happens when you stop reading the same genre over and over? You might just discover your next favorite book. This week on Genre'd Off Book, we're joined by Adi of @adiinthelife, whose motto is “No genre left behind.” We're talking about reading outside your comfort zone, grumpy book boyfriends, gateway horror, and why romance deserves a little more respect. Plus, we debate whether men should be required to read romance, confess our love of skipping lengthy fantasy battle scenes, and share plenty of book recommendations along the way. Listen now, and follow Genre'd on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @genredpodcast.

Five years of waiting, one day of reading, and approximately a thousand opinions. A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas is finally here, and we couldn't possibly wait to talk about it. We're back in Prythian for an emergency episode covering the divided Inner Circle, complicated relationships, questionable decisions, and the very real possibility that ACOTAR 6 is just the world's most dramatic Halloween special. Did we love being back? Absolutely. Do we agree on Azriel? Not even a little. Consider this your warning: spoilers start immediately. We're discussing A Court of Splintered Harmony and the larger Maasverse, including Crescent City and Throne of Glass. You've been warned. Follow Genre'd for more book reviews, author interviews, and strong opinions about fictional people. And remember, no genre shaming unless it's funny.

A hockey romance where she’s the fan, answering machines making the slow burn even slower, and a surprisingly passionate Grease 2 discussion. This week on Genre’d Off Book, Katy and Elyse are joined by author Jacquelyn Middleton to talk about Love Wants Us to Win, her romance set in early ’90s Toronto, and why she writes for hopeful romantics. We’re talking women in sports fandom, her path to indie publishing, migraine representation, and why romance deserves more credit. Jacquelyn shares her favorite reads and her pick for a romance beginner, while we discuss second chances, friends to lovers, and Katy’s enduring devotion to a bad boy with a heart of gold. Yes, Pacey Witter comes up. Of course he does. Find Jacquelyn: @jaxmiddleton_author | Website and books Follow @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Find more show notes and book recommendations at genredpodcast.com.

What happens when you take the dystopian romances of the 2010s and add Tessa Bailey-level spice? You get Broken Rival, a time-travel romance featuring a morally gray military man, a very inconvenient love triangle, and our least favorite trope: brother lovers. This week, Elyse and Katy are talking about Tessa Bailey's first dystopian romance, why it feels like The Hunger Games meets The Vampire Diaries, and whether we really needed a YA-style love story with this much spice. Plus, we're discussing the Fourth Wing casting news, our Halloween costumes, and Katy officially hitting her Goodreads goal. The first 20-ish minutes are spoiler-free! We'll sound the spoiler alarm before getting into the twists, romance, and ending. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast for more bookish opinions, recommendations, and everything we're reading next. Read widely. Judge freely.

What does it actually take to sell a book? And more importantly, can men in billowy shirts be considered their own literary genre? This week on Genre'd Off Book, Elyse and Katy are joined by Meredith and Erin, founders of The Book Launch Club, to talk about the business of book marketing, why BookTok followers don't always translate into book sales, and why romance deserves a little more respect. Plus, we're talking favorite tropes, the female gaze, Heated Rivalry, and enough book recommendations to completely derail our TBRs. Find our guests at thebooklaunchclub.com and on Instagram @thebooklaunchclub. Follow Genre'd on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast. New episodes every Thursday!

What if Groundhog Day took place at a wedding, except every reset dropped you into a completely different horror movie? This week, Elyse and Katy are talking Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison, a time-loop horror comedy with masked killers, supernatural creatures, wedding drama, one very questionable rebound, and a surprisingly emotional story about starting over in your thirties. We’re also discussing why “bubblegum horror” may be our new favorite genre, whether Katy has officially become a Rachel Harrison reader, and why sometimes the only way out really is through. Listen now, then come tell us which horror loop you think you’d survive. Follow Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast.

This week on Off Book, Elyse and Katy are joined by author Elizabeth Richardson, creator of Trad, a serialized novel about a woman who pretends to be a tradwife online, goes viral, and takes things way too far. Elizabeth gets into why Trad found a second life on Substack after dying on submission, the very blurry line between lifestyle and performance online, and the question we can’t stop thinking about: when does the scam actually become a scam? Plus, Elizabeth introduces us to her favorite genre, pop fiction, books that pull directly from internet culture, celebrity, reality TV, and whatever the zeitgeist is obsessing over right now. Naturally, we leave with a much longer TBR. Find Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @genredpodcast. Read widely. Judge freely.

What if another version of you became exactly the person you always thought you’d be? This week, Elyse and Katy are talking Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel, a literary speculative novel about a collapsed America, parallel universes, mysterious disappearances, and one very morally gray woman who is exceptionally good at surviving. We’re talking nature vs. nurture, freedom vs. safety, whether we actually believe in multiverses, and the most important question of all: if you had to choose between the lawless A side and the highly controlled B side, where would you live? Spoiler-free to start, then we sound the alarm. Follow @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and visit genredpodcast.com for more. Read widely. Judge freely.

We’re going Off Book with debut romance author Katie Jung, author of You’re the One That I Haunt, a paranormal romance she describes as Gossip Girl meets My Best Friend’s Wedding with a hot ghost love interest. Katie joins Elyse and Katy to talk about her road to publishing, bringing her Polish heritage into the book, why romance deserves more credit, and the art of writing yearning, slow burns, and sex scenes that actually sound like the characters involved. Plus, we get into fanfiction, second-chance romance, the books that made Katie fall back in love with reading, and a truly unavoidable conversation about why nobody would ever casually say “my folds” to a friend. You’re the One That I Haunt is out September 22. Follow Genre’d at @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Read widely. Judge freely.

This week on Genre’d, Elyse and Katy are talking about Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan, a fake dating romance set against a very dreamy New England summer. Dolly is thirty-nine, a single mom, and the kind of woman who can solve basically any problem herself. Stuart Whitfield is a wealthy New England heir who needs to prove he has a life outside of work. She needs $50,000 for a new roof. He needs a girlfriend. Naturally, they fake date. We’re talking coastal Rhode Island vibes, old-money family drama, sailboats, eldest daughter syndrome, the world’s loosest NDA, and why Dolly might be one of our favorite contemporary romance heroines in a while. And then we get to the third-act breakup. Let’s just say we both came into the episode at four stars and somehow talked ourselves down. Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ from both hosts Spoiler-free first, then the spoiler alarm goes off and we get into everything. Follow Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast. Read widely. Judge freely.

This week on Off Book, we’re joined by debut author Michelle Eileen to talk about A Real Paige Turner, her cowboy romance with a mystery, bookstore vibes, strong female friendship, and one very qualified book boyfriend. We also get into Michelle’s unusual publishing journey, the fantasy books that shaped us, romance as a comfort genre, books we definitely read too young, adaptation anxiety, and her “seven-layer dip” approach to reading every genre imaginable.

This week, we’re talking about Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry, a funny mystery about a struggling comedian, a dead man in her trunk, and a beginner pole dancing class that somehow turns into an amateur detective squad. We get into Tilly’s very questionable decision not to call the police, the found family that completely won us over, the romantic subplot with one very helpful ATF agent, and why this worked so well as a fast, cozy-ish palate cleanser. Spoiler-free first, then we sound the alarm and get into the twists, the mansicle, and how exactly one man ended up having the worst night imaginable. Follow @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more book reviews, recommendations, and strong opinions.

We’re going Off Book with romance author Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love, Prime Time Romance, Kitty St. Clair's Last Dance and the upcoming Solar Eclipse of the Heart. We talk magical realism, the comfort of 90s rom-coms, why romance deserves way more respect, the books Kate would recommend to new romance readers, and the very specific joy of knowing everyone will be out of the basement and happily in love by the final page. Plus: Crown Duel nostalgia, Hallmark movie opinions, book trophies, mood-reading problems, and why Kate may or may not be trying to locate several Canadian romance authors. Follow Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast.