“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

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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

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> 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

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FULL TRANSCRIPT FORTHCOMING