Welcome to PRIDE, y’all!! This week’s guest is Joanna Lowell, the author of historical romances including A Shore Thing, The Duke Undone, and A Rare Find, which comes out on June 10th. She is also a Professor in the English Department at Wake Forest University. We talked about her experience teaching modern romance novels alongside classics like Ja…

Buckle up for the first ever Rebel Ever After quarterly romance discourse round-up. This month I analyzed the bad vibes of 2025: Why is the Chicago Sun Times recommending books that don't exist? Has publishing abandoned diverse voices? Why are popular books by black authors so hard to find in bookstores lately? Is Silver Elite a worthy successor to…

This week's guest is Harper St. George, the author of many historical romances including The Heiress Gets A Duke, The Stranger I Wed, and Eliza and The Duke (out on June 24th). We talked about writing relationships between equals across different time periods, from Vikings to the Victorian Era to the Wild West. Plus: Is indie publishing the future …

This week’s guest is Betty Cayouette, author of TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL and ONE LAST SHOT. We talked about writing a romance that starts with a third act breakup, if the miscommunication trope deserves the hate it gets, and why a second-chance needs an excellent apology. Then Betty and I talked about sneaking the wage gap into a rom-com, and ro…

This week’s guest is Myah Ariel, the author of two contemporary romance novels that take place in the entertainment industry. First we discussed how her mother’s real life experience integrating an all-white school in the 1960s inspired her debut novel WHEN I THINK OF YOU. Then we dove into her new book NO ORDINARY LOVE, a deliciously sexy romance …

My guest this week is Leanne Schwartz! She is the author of several YA fantasy novels and the adult contemporary rom-com My Kind of Trouble, a brilliant homage to The Music Man. We talked about bringing a mid-century musical into the modern day with a stern librarian battling book bans in his community and a smoke show con artist who targets corrup…

Send us a text But has it really been 20 years since THE Pride and Prejudice movie?? Join us for an extra long episode talking about every glance, every hand hold, and all the yearning! Not only can Coni recite this movie by heart, but she her British accent is so good, you wouldn't even know she was doing a British accent. And Marie makes it very …

My guest this week is New York Times best-selling author Allison Raskin, whose first rom-com Save The Date was published this April by Canary Street Press. You may know Allison from her podcast Just Between Us with Gabe Dunn, her mental health newsletter Emotional Support Lady, or her previous life as a BuzzFeed star. In this episode Allison shares…

As traditional publishers adapt to Trump Era Part II, there is concern in Romancelandia that books are about to get a lot whiter, straighter, and more conventional. Luckily, indie authors don't have to deal with gatekeepers. Is self-publishing the future for diverse, queer, progressive romance novels? What should you know before you decide to go in…

Send us a text No, this isn't an April Fools trick. We really are here for Mr. Big O himself! Join us as we talk about this age gap romance filled with exotic scenery and predictable backstory. And if you've never seen this movie before, please note that it is not a sci-fi love story that Marie thought it was. She was very disappointed. And with th…

My guest this week is Joanna Shupe, best-selling historical romance author whose books take place during the Gilded Age. Her latest book The Gilded Heiress publishes this August with Avon. Joanna’s books have always been political, but apparently some of her readers didn’t exactly pick up on the undertones of her work. When she wrote a newsletter r…

My guest this week is Amy Spalding, author of many YA novels and the adult sapphic Out In Hollywood series. The latest installment, ON HER TERMS, was published in February by Kensington Books. Topics tackled include: How much queer representation in the YA genre has improved in the last decade, and coming out as bisexual “later in life.” Is “adulth…

This week's guest is Adriana Herrera, author of many contemporary and historical romances including a A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke. Adriana leads the pack when it comes to writing love stories that are bold, sexy and unwavering in their values. We talked about what it means to write brave romance novels, where the happily-ever-after includes a be…

Send us a text Shoutout to every assistant who ever had to do a weird, way-too-personal task for their boss! We've been there, and we see you. Join us as we continue our age gap series and dive into none other than A Family Affair. If there's anything you take away from this episode, it's that Coni REALLY wants to walk around the Universal Studios …

This week's guest is TJ Alexander, author of several queer contemporary romances including Chef’s Choice and Second Chances In New Port Steven. TJ shared what readers can expect from their first historical romance, A Gentleman’s Gentleman, publishing on March 11th. We talked about writing queer and trans identity back into history, and the many for…

Send us a text Even though we're strong lovers of boy bands and VIP experiences, we are absolutely not fans of outdoor, multi-day festivals. We refuse. We won't do it. Well, maybe if it's free. . . AND if there's a very strong chance a famous singer falls in love with us after we use their trailer restroom. Because that's what this movie is all abo…

My guest is Andie J. Christopher, the author of many contemporary romances including Unrealistic Expectations, Thank You Next, and Hot Under His Collar. She is also the creator of Stern Brunch Daddy, both the concept and the Substack. Together we dissected the never-ending “smut” discourse. Why do we keep having the same circular conversations abou…

My guest this week is Elizabeth Everett, the author of The Secret Scientists of London series and The Damsels of Discovery series. We discussed her book The Love Remedy, about a female apothecary in Victorian England who provides reproductive healthcare to women, and The Lady Sparks a Flame, which comes out in March. As a content warning, this epis…

Send us a text Oh hey there DORCs, it's been literally years! But Marie & Coni are back at it with romantic comedies. And what better way to kick off Season 3 than with something adorably romantic like THE Valentine's Day movie? We're suckers for a star-filled cast of intertwined stories, but throw in some cheesy love and grand gestures - *chefs ki…

Put on your cryptid-hunting gear! My guest this week is Mallory Marlowe, author of the contemporary romance Love and Other Conspiracies. Her 2024 debut was one of my favorite books of last year and features a heroine healing from an emotional abusive relationship. We talked about leaving behind toxic partners and workplaces, and how Mallory wrote a…

[As a head's up I apologize for the low volume in this episode. I edited myself into a corner and cannot fix it. Normal volume episodes will return next week!] My guest this episode is Liana De la Rosa, the author of fantastic historical romances — most recently the Luna Sisters series, which takes place in England during the second Franco-Mexican …

In this week’s episode I interview my friends Lydia Wang and Annabel Paulsen, the writing duo behind the sapphic Bachelor-inspired rom-com HERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS. We talked about reality television romance novels, the toxic polyamory of dating competition shows, and how compulsory heterosexuality hurts us all. Then we had a gossip about GoodRea…

My guest this week is Laura Piper Lee, the author of Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair and Zoe Brennan First Crush, which comes out Tuesday January 21. We talked about putting the comedy back in romantic comedy, the intense power of your first crush, why we need more casually queer characters, and the subversiveness of the single mom as a romantic hero. F…

My guest this week on Rebel Ever After is Jessica P. Pryde! She is a contributing editor at Book Riot and the co-host of their biweekly romance podcast, When In Romance. In 2022, Jessica edited the essay anthology Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters. Most recently, her short story “Why Won’t you Die?” was p…

My guest this week is Nellie Wilson, a teacher and historian who is the author of romance novels including Curated, Corporate Mandated Holiday Romance, and Steel My Heart: An Appalachian Romance. Her fiction is proudly anti-capitalist, and we talked about the need for romance novels about folks who don't live in Stars Hollow or Hollywood. If you ha…

It turns out I owe Blake Lively, and all of you, an apology. In this quick episode, I go over the allegations against Justin Baldoni and the smear campaign he orchestrated of his It Ends With Us co-star. You can read my essay about how I fell for the smear campaign and the specific allegations against Baldoni and his co-producer Jamey Heath here: h…

My guest this week is the effervescently funny Danica Nava, author of The Truth According to Ember, and the forthcoming Love Is a War Song, hitting bookstores in July 2025. Ember and Danuwoa's story is the first traditionally published romance novel by a Native author! We talked about the woeful history of Native representation in pop culture and h…

This week my guest is Jenny L. Howe, the author of The Makeup Test, On The Plus Side, and How to Get a Life In Ten Dates, which comes out this Tuesday December 10th. She’s also the author of the forthcoming YA romance, Love at Full Tilt. Topics discussed in this episode include: why every man in romance has the body of Chris Hemsworth, how romance …

My guest this week is Shelly Jay Shore, the author of the best-selling novel Rules For Ghosting. We talked about writing escapism versus resistance in romance, and the role of authors and artists in fighting the Trump administration. We also discussed how romance creates a safe way for readers to engage in hard emotional topics like mourning and de…

In this episode, I interview Erin Baldwin about her debut novel Wish You Weren't Here, a sapphic YA romance about two girls who can't stand each other but are forced to share a cabin at beloved summer camp Fogridge. We talk about writing the enemies-to-lovers trope for a young audience, accurately representing Gen Z teenagehood, and what Erin wishe…

During the innocent week before the 2024 election, I chatted with Becca Grischow about her debut novel I’LL GET BACK TO YOU, a sapphic Thanksgiving rom-com published by Penguin Books. We discussed Becca’s career as a ghostwriter and what it’s like to finally claim authorship of a book she wrote, including the downsides of being a queer author on Ti…

As we face down a second Trump Presidency, we need the escapism of a good romance novel more than ever. But romance isn't a fluffy distraction from politics — from its first transgressive pages, the romance genre centered the needs, desires and ambitions of women. Now more than ever, we need romances that envision a world where everyone can live th…

Send us a text It's finally here! Season 2 finale is here and we're putting you in the holiday spirit with the one and only movie that you need a pen and paper to take notes on. Like if we gave you a quiz to name ALL the characters, right now, could you do it??? Because we definitely can't. If you haven't seen Love Actually. . . . It's like they to…

Send us a text Y'all! We are one more episode away from our season 2 finale! GASP. Carrying on with family ties, we're now bringing in Coni's sister Javi to join us for one of the greatest wedding romantic comedies to exist - My Big Fat Greek Wedding. You're going to learn so much about Javi and Coni's childhood in an immigrant household and how th…

Send us a text Only a few more episodes left before our Season 2 finale and we're spending some quality time with family. But not just any relative - Marie's mom is so graciously joining us for a family DORC episode! Fun fact! Marie's dad actually loves this movie and asked us to do it. However, he refused to actually talk about it with us. So Momm…

Send us a text As we wrap up our Rom-Coms 'Round The World, we're finishing up with an all time classic, Bridget Jones's Diary. On this episode we're talking with our favorite blokes and the only people we'll ever go to for Hugh news - Oscar and Diggory from Taking Hugh For Granted. Just so everyone knows, Renée Zellweger should've won an Oscar for…

Send us a text It's a new episode today and that means Drunk On Rom-Coms is going full on Bollywood!!! We have the lovely babes from Bollywood Besharams with us to talk about 2013's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. And if you're a newb to Bollywood movies like Marie & Coni, then you should definitely start with this one. TBH, this is like a really long mus…

Send us a text If you love The Beatles and stories that don't make sense, then you're going to enjoy the journey that we go on with Bel and Fi from Flick Talk Podcast. Sometimes the best parts of the movie are the meet cutes or grand gestures. Some of ours include the main character getting hit by the bus or when the movie was actually over. Also, …

Send us a text Did you know that romantic comedies and BDSM could exist in the same universe?? We didn't until the fabulous hosts Jessie and Helen of Asian Bitches Down Under introduced us to the 2022 Netflix film, Love and Leashes. The lighthearted story of a submissive man and his dominant mistress comes to life in this quirky, Korean rom-com. We…

Send us a text (LIVE and Uncut!) Did you get a chance to check out our Instagram Live episode of Something's Gotta Give? Just in case you missed it, here's the uncut and unhinged version. Marie & Coni just wanted to send another big THANK YOU to all the new followers. DORC reached its 1,000 Instagram follower goal and that means out of all the subm…

Send us a text We're continuing our journey around the world and today we're bringing you an amazing breakup movie from Peru called How To Get Over A Breakup. Technically, the correct title is Soltera Codiciada and that means Coveted Single. We don't understand why this is the way it is. Nosotras no sabemos! This is definitely on our top movies to …

Send us a text Y'all don't even KNOW how excited we are for this next round of movies! We're going around the world to review some popular rom-coms from different countries. And today we're going to Spain and kicking things off with In Family I Trust (US Title). But the actual name of this movie is Gente Que Viene Y Bah (which actually translates t…

Send us a text It's officially our 50th episode y'all!!! Where did the time go??? Today's episode is exciting because we get to dive into Coni's love for Pride and Prejudice with a movie that gives it a modern, gay twist - Fire Island (currently available on Hulu). When this episode was originally recorded, Joel Kim Booster's Netflix comedy special…

Send us a text Why fix something that isn't broken? Or should we say, why make a new movie plot when you have almost the same one? This time, Marie & Coni talk about First Daughter. Another president's daughter movie about the struggles with independence and a good looking stranger (secretly body guard) to fall in love with. While we do enjoy Micha…

Send us a text We're getting a little patriotic and jumping into a movie about the hard life of being a president's daughter. WOE IS ME. Our leading lady Samantha is your classic spoiled teenager living a tough life of constant security guards cramping her lifestyle. We have zero sympathy to be honest. But here we are supporting this character who'…

Send us a text In our final JLo love series, we're talking about none other than 2022's Marry Me. There were so many songs in this movie, we don't know how this wasn't just considered a musical. We all know this was a just an exclusive JLo concert, and we're not mad about it. Join us while we talk about Coni's Maluma, sexy nuns, and of course, Dadd…

Send us a text The best way to describe The Back-Up Plan is that it's not bad, but it's also not really good. Join Marie & Coni as they bear down the highs and lows of Zoe and Stan's relationship. And let's all be honest, JLo looks amazingly hot in this movie and we don't blame Bland Stan for trying to get busy with her. BUT Marie will never forgiv…

Send us a text Let's continue our JLo series with another classic, Maid In Manhattan. This is the movie where JLo and Lord Voldemort fall in love and bond over their passions for bettering the community. We believe this love story 100% and are trying to figure out how to write their sequel. Marie & Coni gush over some swoon-worthy one liners and tr…

Send us a text Now it's time for us to show our appreciation for the Puerto Rican Rom-Com Queen that is Jennifer Lopez. Oh wait, she's playing an Italian in this movie for some reason. You know we're gonna talk about THAT. Join Marie & Coni as they review The Wedding Planner and discuss the love/hate relationship they have for Dr. Steve/Eddie or wh…

Send us a text Can we all just agree that having your grandma and all the local neighbor kids at your bachelorette party is a terrible idea? Yes? Ok, great. Marie & Coni go back and forth on the love triangle Mia gets herself into and can't get over how much a of mess Mia has become after 5 years and college. Do we think she went to wild parties an…