Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Bringing you the famous and cheeky SBTB blog for romance enthusiasts. If you're into the romance genre, this is where you want to be. If you're not, avoid at all costs to preserve your sanity. Ha ha. We're just kidding. There are some good things happening in the genre. Stay Golden, Horny Girl!
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A | BN | K | AB Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty is the first in the Midsolar Murders series, and is out this week! Amanda and I both really liked Station Eternity, so we were very excited to ask a bunch of questions! We talk about the absence of grief in the aftermath of murder in some mystery series, how aliens in Lafferty’s world perceive humans (spoiler: wet) and how a sentient ship is both creepy and comforting. Worry not, this is a spoiler-free conversation, and I hope it makes you curious about this book, too. So. Would you want to be kidnapped or escorted off the planet by aliens? … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podca…
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This is a weird one – enjoy! Amanda and I have brought zany questions to answer, and we’re going to cover insults, ghosts, pets, and more. But we want to hear YOUR answers, too! Especially the one involving Grimace. … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Lady Katie the new cat made an appearance in our Stuff We Like column, but if you missed seeing her, please meet Lady Katie Megatron, Princess of Tails. http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/WP/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-20-at-10.42.04-AM-e1663684985821.pngHello! I’m Katie, aka Lady Katie Megatron http://smartbitchestrashyb…
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A | BN | K | AB One weekend, Alisha Rai got married. Then, two weeks later, her new book came out. So let’s talk about all the things! We cover her wedding, the parties, and how part of her wedding was at a celebrity’s mansion (but we had no idea until the end). And of course, we talk about her newest book, Partners in Crime. We discuss portraying mental health struggles and coping mechanisms, as well as sequel bait, and writing a great caper romance. Come party, reminisce, and celebrate with us! … Music: Purple-Planet.com … Coupons! Get 20% OFF @honeylove + Free Shipping with promo code SARAH at https://www.honeylove.com! #honeylovepod Better nights rest with CBD …
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Amanda and I are back for cover mayhem! We’ve got crimes against Tom Hardy, questionable titles, and lots of visual silliness. There’s background barking of support from Zeb, inquiries as to the union terms of the shifter cover wolves, and questions about the futility of truly ever knowing who it was that let the dogs out. Thanks to David T. Cole for helping me figure out how to add images. You should be able to see the covers on your screen when we talk about them. … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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A | BN | K | AB I didn’t know this, but author Freya Marske has been so eager to be a guest on my show, and today, it’s happening! Her latest book, A Restless Truth, is out this week, and if you like queer magical historical mysteries with murder, this series is for you. We talk about magic having a physical cost, and how she highlights the classism and sexism of a magical system controlled and maintained mostly by men. We also talk about her favorite magical systems in fiction, magical spells, and we end with Many, Many recommendations. Grab a cauldron and join us! What about you? What magical spells would you want mastery over? … Music: purple-planet.com …
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Becca Title is my guest this week as we celebrate the grand opening of Meet Cute, a romance bookshop in San Diego! We talk about the process of opening a bookstore, the lawyer-to-romance pipeline, and the establishment of one of the greatest murals I’ve ever seen. Then we squee at each other about books. Obviously. … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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Ready, set: CLICHÉ. Amanda and I are facing off in a romance cliché battle! What does that even mean? I know, my brain is a very silly place. Can you out-cliché the two of us? The Heat will be on! What’s your favorite or least favorite romance cliché? Tell us all about it! … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: We also mentioned: Flamecraft! The game! Conspiracy theories in the online wellness community (PBS News Hour) Hot D…
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A | BN | K | AB My guest today is Nikki Payne, debut author of Pride and Protest, a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in DC between an activist DJ and a CEO developer. Nikki is also a tech anthropologist, so this conversation hits on some major current events like what’s happening at Twitter, and how Jane Austen was an anthropologist (and shade queen) as well. … Connect with your partner every day using Paired. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/SARAH Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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It’s time for the first of several end of the year episodes! This year I’ve invited the staff reviewers at SBTB and our podcast Patreon community to tell me their holiday wishes for everyone, a book that made their year better, and their big win for 2022. This week: Sue, JFHobbit, Maria Vale and Lilisonna share their picks – and of course, no one brings just one best of book! Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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More holiday fun! I hope you’re enjoying these year-end recaps as much as we are! This week, Carrie and Sneezy from the SBTB review team join me to talk holiday wishes, year-end wins, and their favorite books of 2022. We also hear from Claudia, Darlene Marshall, Sandra and Katherine with their picks, too, so hold on to your holiday TBR. … Sleep better with Blissy and use SARAH to get an additional 30% off at blissy.com/SARAH Music: Purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → In this episode we mentioned: Y’allFest Find Your Joy Greg on TikTok Alok V Menon on Instagram The Friday books on sale newsletter! Hear…
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Tara and AJ and I connected to talk about books, wins, and wishes, and took a great side trip into why the term “quiet quitting” is hot garbage, and how to achieve contentment and peace by being as mediocre as possible. If you’re feeling burnt out, you might find a lot to love in this conversation. We also discuss AJ’s new favorite genre: gay longing in spooky landscapes. … Visit LifeMD.com/SARAH today to experience healthcare the way it should be! #lifemdpod … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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A | BN | K Shana and Maya join me to talk about the books that absolutely rocked their world this year, and because Shana was reading Seressia Glass’ The Love Con, we take a nice detour into “what we would do if we were in charge of reality television shows.” From GBBO to Project Runway, we have some thoughts! Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: We also mentioned: The Big Brunch Ladies in London Project R…
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Happy Almost New Year’s Eve! Today Martin joins me from Norway to talk about his wins and wishes for you this year, and the books that made his year better, and why. Then Cara joins us to share what author got her out of a massive reading slump. Settle in for a nice global holiday visit that will definitely lift your spirits. Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: We also mentioned Cecilia Blomdahl’s YouTube channel from Longyearbyen. If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us…
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Nobody brings just one book to the recommendation party! Our first podcast of 2023 features Amanda and me talking about her favorite books of 2022, and a new 2023 title, too! Plus, we discuss her discovery of the unique joys of cozy horror. Plus, Melonie Johnson also shares her wishes, books, and wins. Thank you for being part of our year end episodes! Happy New Year! … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: We also mentioned Amanda…
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A | BN | KMarjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy are the authors of a new, dishy, and fascinating book, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies. We’re going to talk about public apologies, celebrity mishaps, and the psychology of what creates a good apology. If you’ve been thinking of making amends, or are writing a good grovel, this is a perfect episode for you. … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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A | BN | K Ali Hazelwood has a new anthology in print, Loathe to Love You, and she joins me to talk about becoming a full-time writer and the development of the novellas in this anthology. And then I hit her with a series of silly questions. Woo hoo! Bring on the mayhem. Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: You can find Ali Hazelwood on her website, AliHazelwood.com, and on Instagram at AliHazelwood. If you’re wonder…
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This episode was recorded on Monday 23 January 2023. On Thursday, 26 January, the HarperCollins Union announced that HarperCollins has agreed to enter mediation. In this interview, I speak with UAW2110 President Olga Brudastova, and we go over the breakdown in negotiations that led to the HarperCollins Union strike, along with the demands of the union. Thank you to Barb, Bransler, Clay, Agnes, and Susan for the questions and to the Patreon community for the enthusiastic support and encouragement for this interview. Music: Purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast…
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Emily Nagoski has a new podcast, Come As You Are! If you’ve read her books, you know what this is about. We dive right into questions of consent and enthusiasm, the way the ace/aro community has developed conversations about sexuality within the field of sex education, and how the pandemic has affected sexuality. So much of her show and this conversation center on how to address sexual satisfaction in your own life. We also talk about her next book, which is about how couples sustain sexual attraction over the long term. Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this po…
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A | BN | K Melissa Blue tweeted that she wanted to talk about Spare. So did I! So, we did! We talk about the book itself, but we also look at the book from our perspective as romance readers and writers, and also as a larger narrative about dismantling propaganda. As Melissa points out, narratives constructed around Meghan and Harry echo narratives we’ve seen about other people, especially women, in public life who are subjected to propaganda to undermine them. I talk a lot about how dismissing romance ignores a lot of what romance says and does, and what it represents about people, about sexuality, and about relationships. I think the same is true about celebrity narra…
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A | BN | K | AB Welcome to Part II of our Heaving Bosoms Crossover! Some of our most popular episodes in our archive are our crossovers with Heaving Bosoms, and we have a new one for you! If you tuned in to the Heaving Bosoms episode this week for Part I, you’ll know that we are discussing and recapping The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. Originally published in 2009, this book inspired So Much Discussion when it was first published. You can find part one of our conversation at Heaving Bosoms, and let’s get started with Part II! … Music: purple-planet.com … Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get over 40% off your starter pack with pr…
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A | BN | K | AB I connected with author Helena Greer, who wrote Season of Love, which you might have heard me talk about, because I liked it a LOT. And I also connected with Sam Brody, the acquiring editor at Hachette who worked on the book with Helena! So we talk about behind the scenes details of writing and editing, and how this book came to be. There are a few audio skips or what I think of as sound bubbles, and my apologies for that. … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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A | BN | K Not all contemporary romances are romcoms, but many are, and Melonie Johnson joins me this week to talk about both, and about her new romcom, Too Wrong to Be Right. She too wrote a character who works in the funeral industry, so we talk a bit about that, too! The talk about different burial options and discussion of the funeral industry starts at 14 minutes in. We also touch on burnout in the publishing industry, and grieving the professional relationships that are lost. Stay tuned for a future episode, because Melonie is going to join me to take a deep dive into a book we coincidentally were both reading, a nonfiction called All the Living and the Dead by Ha…
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A | BN | K Kelly Farmer is the author of the Out on the Ice series of hockey romances, and a former improvisational actor. We talk about cover artist magic, her series, and identify a few reason why hockey is such a popular setting for romances. Then we talk about how improvisational theatre exercises and techniques influence and improve writing. So if you’re stuck in your writing, maybe this will help. I also finally learn to say Megan Rapino’s name correctly. WIN! … This is one of the episodes I didn’t run due to the HarperCollins Union strike. Kelly Farmer and I recorded this episode in October 2022 in anticipation of her book Calling the Shots. I want to thank Ke…
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In February, Tor announced their new romance imprint, Bramble, and we had some questions about it! Fortunately, VP and Executive Editor Monique Patterson sat down with me on her first day in her new position at Bramble to tell us all the things. We also discuss how romance has changed and evolved over her career as an editor, and about being a nerd about many things including sword collecting and baking. My favorite part of this conversation: How James Baldwin and Zora Neale Hurston influenced Monique’s acquisitions as a romance editor. … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books …
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Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks, also known as The Fug Girls, have been blogging since 2004, and, like me, have seen a lot of changes in the business world online. We talk about how it seems like there’s yet another media contraction happening, and how that affects us, and about their new Substack, Drinks with Broads. But of course, we also talk about fashion, stylists, and current trends, too. If you’re still looking at pictures from the Oscars, this episode will be a treat. … Music: purple-planet.com Listen to the podcast → Read the transcript → Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: …
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