Friends to Lovers

Latest Episodes:

S3 E4: What Actually Is a “Beach Read”? Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

How the heck did "beach reads" come to be, and why is the domain often ruled by rich white ladies? Mackenzie and Lily unpack it all. Plus, Lily teases an upcoming release that she says perfectly incapsulates what the romance genre is all about.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (2:11), Introduction to Main Topic (3:16), Criteria for Beach Reads (12:51), Discussion of Beach Read Books (19:04), What Else We’re Reading (35:46), Conclusion (47:53).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.
Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.
Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

S3 E3: Who Are the Straight Men Reading Romance? (Feat. Jason Rogers and Jake Gronsky) Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

After a brief unexpected (and now resolved!) hiatus, we're BACK and ready to continue on the odyssey that is season three! This week is one of F2L's most anticipated episodes of all time: We talked to Jason Rogers and Jake Gronsky, two straight men who are avid romance readers and advocates for the genre, about all things romance.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (2:09), Introduction to Main Topic (2:56), Jason Rodgers and Jake Gronsky Introductions (12:49), Question About How They Started Reading Romance Novels (16:44), Question About Their Favorite Recent Romances (33:28), Question About Their Book Boyfriends or Girlfriends or Favorite Couples (45:25), Question About What They’ve Learned From Reading Romance (49:04), Question About If They Find Portrayals of Men in Romance Realistic (1:01:11), Question About How to Talk to Men About Reading Romance (1:08:00), Question About Jake’s Romance Novel (1:17:24), What We’re Reading (1:21:50), Conclusion (1:30:09).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

S3 E2: A Contemporary Romance Starter Pack May 24, 2021

Show notes

This week on the pod, Mackenzie and Lily talk about recent contemporary romance releases that should be in readers' starter packs as well as other contemporary romances they adore. As always, Mackenzie enjoys a good age-gap romance, and Lily can't stop talking about love stories where people hate each other at first.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (2:32), Introduction to Main Topic (3:41), Main Contemporary Romance Starter Pack List (9:01), Mackenzie and Lily’s Five Personal Contemporary Romance Picks (34:07), What Else We’re Reading (48:34), Conclusion (54:45).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

S3 E1: How Do Romance Novelists Even Write Sex Scenes? (Feat. Adriana Herrera) May 17, 2021

Show notes

F2L is baaaaaack! On this first episode of season three, Mackenzie and Lily dive into one of the most requested topics from listeners: What does it actually look like for a romance novelist to write a sex scene? They're joined by beloved author Adriana Herrera to get down to business.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (19:08), Introduction to Main Topic (20:18), Introduction to Adriana Herrera (21:15), How Adriana Got Into Writing Romance (25:05), Adriana’s Favorite Tropes, Subgenres, and Book Significant Others (30:09), What Drew Adriana to Writing Explicit Sex Scenes (32:12), Coming Up With Romance and Sexual Acts (33:25), If Adriana Gets Banxiety From Her Own Books (36:12), Logistics of Writing Sex Scenes (37.24), Writing Every Book’s Sex Scenes Differently (39:33), Sex Words and Phrases She Does and Doesn’t Use (42:37), Writing About Sexual Acts She Doesn’t Have Experience With (45:58) Working With Sensitivity Readers (49:23), Romance/Erotica Authors She Admires (50:39), Steamy Romance Recommendations (55:35), What’s Next for Her (58:05), What Else We’re Reading (1:02:04), Conclusion (1:09:08).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

Season 3 Trailer: Men Who Read Romance, Writing Steamy Sex Scenes, and More May 16, 2021

Show notes

Welcome back to season 3 of Friends to Lovers, a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Our 10-episode third season launches on May 17th, so get ready for a lot more chaos.
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

S2 E10: The 7 Romances We're Reading This Spring Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

It's romance challenge time! In the final episode of season two, Mackenzie and Lily talk about Bad Bitch Book Club's 2nd Annual Spring Romance Challenge, which kicks off on April 15th. Enjoy all of the picks that book club members are reading seven weeks in a row from mid-April to the end of May, and join BBBC to learn more about the challenge and participate in these Zoom calls.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (3:11), Introduction to Topic (4:26), Spring Romance Challenge Selections (13:32), Honorable Mentions (39:30), What Else We’re Reading (49:40), Conclusion (53:46).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569.

S2 E9: Smart People Books™ That Are Just Good Reads Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

In the penultimate episode of season two, Mackenzie and Lily tackle a few of their favorite non-romance Smart People Books™ that'll not only give you plenty of food for thought but are also just delightful reads.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (3:33), Introduction to Main Topic (4:58), Discussion of Infinite Country by Patricia Engel (6:16), Discussion of A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell (8:15), Discussion of What Doesn’t Kill You by Tessa Miller (11:58), Discussion of A Measure of Belonging edited by Cinelle Barnes (15:41), Discussion of Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo (17:30), Ace by Angela Chen (21: 28), What Else We’re Reading (27:15), Conclusion (32:00).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569.

S2 E8: An Official Jasmine Guillory Novel Ranking Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

The Classified series is back! For this season's installment, Mackenzie and Lily are diving into popular contemporary romance author Jasmine Guillory's five published novels and unpacking what makes a quintessential JG book.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (3:57), Introduction to Main Topic (5:22), What Makes a Quintessential Jasmine Guillory Book (8:28), Discussion of Media and Publisher Reaction to Jasmine Guillory’s Books (13:35), Discussion of Ranking Criteria (24:00), Discussion of Overall Thoughts on Jasmine Guillory’s Books (25:00), Ranking of Jasmine Guillory’s Books (31:53), What Else We’re Reading (58:15), Conclusion (1:03:38).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569.

S2 E7: The 5 Most Polarizing Popular Romance Novels Feb 21, 2021

Show notes

This week, Mackenzie and Lily go into controversial territory and unpack five of the most polarizing popular romance and love story-adjacent novels to come out in the past couple of years. Get ready for hot takes on hot takes.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (1:23), Introduction to Main Topic (2:17), Discussion of In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (3:54), Discussion of The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo (10:10), Discussion of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver (24:20), Discussion of The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai (29:42), Discussion of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (38:31), Honorable Mentions (45:42), What Else We’re Reading (48:34), Conclusion (51:24).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569.

S2 E6: Over-Hyped Books and Romances Made for Sobbing (A Midseason Q&A) Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

It's midway through the second season of Friends to Lovers, and you know what that means: It's Q&A time! In this episode, Mackenzie and Lily give romance recommendations for a number of listener questions, including the books that encapsulate them as romance readers, books that'll make you need to call your therapist, and more.
Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (1:29), Introduction to Main Topic (2:43), Romances That Talk About Mental Health (3:53), Romances With Independent Women Who Don’t Change for a Man (8:22), Romances You Loved That Featured a Trope You Weren’t a Fan Of (13:48), Top Three Recommendations for Favorite Romance Trope (18:45), Romance Recommendations Similar to Over-Recommended Books (28:03), Romances That Left Us Sobbing (33:12), Three Romance Novels Perfectly Encapsulate Us as Romance Readers (38:54), Romances That Had No Business Being as Good as They Were (43:52), Other Romances We Haven’t Gotten to Talk About on the Podcast Yet (49:18), What Else We’re Reading (54:26), Conclusion (58:01).
You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.
Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569.

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