“EXTENDED STAY”
This week Sarah Jean concludes our Grumpy/Sunshine theme with special guest author Roan Parrish and a focus on queer romance
EP 224 HOST
> SARAH JEAN (she/her) From the woods of Massachusetts, Sarah Jean has been reading queer romance for 12 years. She runs a queer book club called Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/rainbowreadersmass/) that celebrates queer lives, joy, and empowerment through genre fiction. When not reading or listening to books Sarah is plotting her queer historical romances, cuddling with her cats, and planning her next adventure. Follow Sarah on Twitter @queer_reader
EP 224 GUEST
> ROAN PARRISH (she/her) Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre. When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique. You can visit Roan’s website at www.roanparrish.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @RoanParrish
EP 224 DISCUSSION
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
NOTE: These notes include affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon.com to support the RBP transcript project
NOTE: This episode was recorded in late-January during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-21
> Sarah Jean mentions The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish which has been recommended on the podcast many times including RBP eps #116 & #216
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-116/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3aUegGI
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39481486-the-remaking-of-corbin-wale
> Title: Small Change (Small Change #1)
Author: Roan Parrish
Relation to theme: Grumpy MC, sunshine MC
Representation: White, Jewish, queer author; white, queer MCs
Content Warnings: mentions of sibling’s suicide attempt, misogynist microaggressions, sexual harrassment, emotional abuse from family, drug use & overdose (past)
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2WVM0LA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35109768-small-change
NOTE: This book has been previously discussed in RBP eps #116 & #216
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-216/
> Sarah Jean mentions Thrall co-written by Roan and Avon Gale
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41570429-thrall
> Ooh! Roan has a horror-romance Audible Original due out summer 2021!
> And also a secret project she can’t tell us about yet!
> Title: Best Laid Plans (Garnet Run #2)
Author: Roan Parrish
Relation to theme:
Representation: White, Jewish, queer author; white, queer MCs
Content Warnings: death of parents (past), raising younger sibling, virgin MC, kink
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3w8KhTs
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55529819-best-laid-plans
> Sarah Jean mentions Better Than People (Garnet Run #1) by Roan Parrish
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53038198-better-than-people
> Title: Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels)
Author: Anne Bishop
Relation to theme: Sunshine MC, grumpy MC
Representation: White author; white, cishet MCs
Content Warnings: witchcraft, gaslighting
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3rx3OcH
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/42209-the-black-jewels
NOTE: This is a YA fantasy series with romantic elements
> Title: Fruits Basket
Author: Natsuki Takaya
Relation to theme: Sunshine MC, grumpy MC
Representation: Japanese author, Japanese MCs
Content Warnings: orphan, curse, toxic family
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2O2BNfw
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27862882-fruits-basket
> Sarah Jean recommends Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert which was has been discussed in many RBP episodes including #204, #216, & #221 with the author herself
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-221/
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3cAOuGg
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48568248-take-a-hint-dani-brown
> Title: A Girl Like Her (Ravenswood #1)
Author: Talia Hibbert
Relation to theme: Grumpy MC
Representation: Black, queer, autistic author; Black, autistic MC; white MC
Content Warnings (from reader Corey Alexander): MC’s mom passed from cancer. Internalized ableism. Ableist harassment, including a lot of sexual harassment. Casual ableism. Abusive relationship in the past, including stalking, coerced dating, sexual coercion and sexual assault. Ex is stalking her within the timeline of the story.
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3wcFTDg
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44569978-a-girl-like-her
> Title: Work for It (Just for Him #4)
Author: Talia Hibbert
Relation to theme: Grumpy MCs
Representation: Black, queer, autistic author; queer MCs
Content Warnings (from the author): this book includes depression, anxiety, references to past sexual trauma and forced outing, references to a parent who died by suicide
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2PKq1ak
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52054712-work-for-it
> Elderflower liqueur: yay or nay?
> Title: In Other Lands
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Relation to theme: Grumpy MC
Representation: Bisexual rep
Content Warnings: war, child abuse from parental neglect/abandonment, brief biphobia/homophobia in human world, reverse gender stereotype and mysgonistic elves (men the weaker sex to be protected) child soldiers, death, violence
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3rH3urT
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38058478-in-other-lands
NOTE: This book was previously discussed on RBP ep #104, #116, & the 2019 Faves ep
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-best-of-2019/
> Team Grumpy or Team Grouchy?
> Sarah Jean recommends Misfits by Garrett Leigh for Grumpy-Grumpy
Kindle: https://amzn.to/382DQr9
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39663411-misfits
> Title: Boyfriend Material
Author: Alexis Hall
Relation to theme: Grumpy MCs
Representation: White, queer author; white, queer MCs
Content Warnings: parental abandonment, gaslighting, toxic exes, homophobia, mention of disordered eating, lapsed vegetarianism
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3jHau4Z
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48994908-boyfriend-material
NOTE: This book has previously been discussed in RBP eps #205, #216, & 2020 Faves
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/best-of-2020/
> Title: Glitterland (Spires #1)
Author: Alexis Hall
Relation to theme: Grumpy MC, sunshine MC
Representation: White, queer author; white, queer MCs
Content Warnings: depression, anxiety, past suicide attempts
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3fwk1g2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39332293-glitterland
> Title: Candy Hearts (So Over the Holidays #2)
Author: Erin McLellan
Relation to theme: Grumpy MCs
Representation: Queer MCs
Content Warnings: past manipulative relationships
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ufw0Tr
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50170971-candy-hearts
NOTE: This book was previously discussed in RBP ep #124
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-124/
> Title: Tournament of Losers
Author: Megan Derr
Relation to theme: Grumpy MCs
Representation: Queer MCs
Content Warnings: debt
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3doRoPi
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29011502-tournament-of-losers
> Title: It Takes Two to Tumble (Sedgwicks #1)
Author: Cat Sebastian
Relation to theme: Grumpy MC, sunshine MC
Representation: White, queer author; white, queer MCs
Content Warnings: grief, homophobia, virgin MC, broken engagement, mentions of sexual abuse of a secondary character
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3wdLyJ9
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35285117-it-takes-two-to-tumble
NOTE: This book was previously discussed in RBP #113 & #108 with the author herself
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-108/
> Don’t miss Thirst Aid Kit’s episode on James Norton and Grantchester
Web: https://thirstaidkitpodcast.tumblr.com/post/188256348930/thirst-aid-kit-s4e03-forgive-us-father
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3747572/
PBS: https://www.pbs.org/show/grantchester/
NOTE: Cat Sebastian was inspired by the original James Norton character
> Roan’s TBR
>> Watching The Crown on Netflix
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/
Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678
>> Watching the final season of Schitt’s Creek
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3526078/
Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80036165
> Sarah Jean’s TBR
>> Saffron Alley by A.J. Demas
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56632501-saffron-alley
>> The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56393369-the-gentle-art-of-fortune-hunting
> Checkout Roan’s podcast Dear Romance Writer
Web: https://www.dearromancewriter.com
> What are your Grumpy/Sunshine or Grumpy/Grumpy #QueerRomance favorites? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram @RomBkPod
Happy Reading!
EP 224 MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0
FULL TRANSCRIPT FORTHCOMING
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