Shelf Love Podcast
@shelflove.bsky.social
A podcast & Substack about romance novels, and how they reflect, explore, challenge, and shape desire. Host: Andrea Martucci (she/her) #romancebks #romancereader
https://linktr.ee/shelflovepodcast
https://linktr.ee/shelflovepodcast
Just gave up on two advanced reader copies of romance a few pages in because both displayed a galling and breathlessly incorrect understanding of how W2 salaried jobs work & current norms in the labor market.
It’s called verisimilitude! I’m willing to suspend my disbelief to an extent, but come on…
It’s called verisimilitude! I’m willing to suspend my disbelief to an extent, but come on…
January 12, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Just gave up on two advanced reader copies of romance a few pages in because both displayed a galling and breathlessly incorrect understanding of how W2 salaried jobs work & current norms in the labor market.
It’s called verisimilitude! I’m willing to suspend my disbelief to an extent, but come on…
It’s called verisimilitude! I’m willing to suspend my disbelief to an extent, but come on…
"Romance novels aren’t meant to explore a utopia — they’re a fantasy of succeeding in a world with the same challenges, power imbalances, and constraints as the one we live in." #romancelandia
shelflovepodcast.substack.com/p/i-want-you...
shelflovepodcast.substack.com/p/i-want-you...
I Want You (to Want Me) So Badly
Why do we fantasize about being desirable to the powerful rather than fantasizing about a utopia of equality?
shelflovepodcast.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:16 PM
"Romance novels aren’t meant to explore a utopia — they’re a fantasy of succeeding in a world with the same challenges, power imbalances, and constraints as the one we live in." #romancelandia
shelflovepodcast.substack.com/p/i-want-you...
shelflovepodcast.substack.com/p/i-want-you...
Why is being desired by someone with power the ultimate fantasy?
In today’s Shelf Love post I unpack how desire + power shape our stories, and why we don't fantasize about utopia. #romancelandia
Read now
open.substack.com/pub/shelflov...
In today’s Shelf Love post I unpack how desire + power shape our stories, and why we don't fantasize about utopia. #romancelandia
Read now
open.substack.com/pub/shelflov...
I Want You (to Want Me) So Badly
Why do we fantasize about being desirable to the powerful rather than fantasizing about a utopia of equality?
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Why is being desired by someone with power the ultimate fantasy?
In today’s Shelf Love post I unpack how desire + power shape our stories, and why we don't fantasize about utopia. #romancelandia
Read now
open.substack.com/pub/shelflov...
In today’s Shelf Love post I unpack how desire + power shape our stories, and why we don't fantasize about utopia. #romancelandia
Read now
open.substack.com/pub/shelflov...
They’re so tough. The toughest. The best. The bestest. Big strong macho men command: they do not express anything about themselves. What they want shall be and is.
December 27, 2025 at 12:00 AM
They’re so tough. The toughest. The best. The bestest. Big strong macho men command: they do not express anything about themselves. What they want shall be and is.
These are rich texts, baby. Compelling, horrifying, cringey, joyous and unselfish conscious. Camp, baby. Camp, Honey.
December 26, 2025 at 2:54 AM
These are rich texts, baby. Compelling, horrifying, cringey, joyous and unselfish conscious. Camp, baby. Camp, Honey.
She have the heroine think something then repeat the exact same thing aloud a second later. She will come up with problematic cultural “reasons” to explain all sorts of horrific behavior and demonize non-MCs for the same behavior. She will do all of this bravely and without a second’s hesitation.
December 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
She have the heroine think something then repeat the exact same thing aloud a second later. She will come up with problematic cultural “reasons” to explain all sorts of horrific behavior and demonize non-MCs for the same behavior. She will do all of this bravely and without a second’s hesitation.
What you have to understand about Kristen Ashley is she will write Daenerys/Khal Drogo GoT fanfic, she will create a new language, and she will also describe in great detail the fabulous outfit, makeup, and hairstyle the heroine wears to an execution. #romancelandia
December 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
What you have to understand about Kristen Ashley is she will write Daenerys/Khal Drogo GoT fanfic, she will create a new language, and she will also describe in great detail the fabulous outfit, makeup, and hairstyle the heroine wears to an execution. #romancelandia
So glad to hear that the holiday fairies came through to provide some holiday cheer!
December 26, 2025 at 2:32 AM
So glad to hear that the holiday fairies came through to provide some holiday cheer!
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
December 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Sprinkle the fairy dust, babes! It’s #Romancelandia Holiday Fairies season! 🧚♀️🎁
Share the link, grant a wish, or just hype up the magic.
RHF is a mutual aid effort for the romance reader community to support anyone who needs help with gifts this season.
Join us: bit.ly/holidayfairies
Share the link, grant a wish, or just hype up the magic.
RHF is a mutual aid effort for the romance reader community to support anyone who needs help with gifts this season.
Join us: bit.ly/holidayfairies
December 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Sprinkle the fairy dust, babes! It’s #Romancelandia Holiday Fairies season! 🧚♀️🎁
Share the link, grant a wish, or just hype up the magic.
RHF is a mutual aid effort for the romance reader community to support anyone who needs help with gifts this season.
Join us: bit.ly/holidayfairies
Share the link, grant a wish, or just hype up the magic.
RHF is a mutual aid effort for the romance reader community to support anyone who needs help with gifts this season.
Join us: bit.ly/holidayfairies
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
thank you to the @shelflove.bsky.social holiday fairies!
December 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM
thank you to the @shelflove.bsky.social holiday fairies!
Meet the Fairies behind #Romancelandia Holiday Fairies, a gifting initiative for our Romance loving community! 🧚♀️✨
Andrea & Gretchen are here to sprinkle some fairy dust on your festive season along with all of you! 📚🎁
Learn more and get involved:
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
Andrea & Gretchen are here to sprinkle some fairy dust on your festive season along with all of you! 📚🎁
Learn more and get involved:
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
December 9, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Meet the Fairies behind #Romancelandia Holiday Fairies, a gifting initiative for our Romance loving community! 🧚♀️✨
Andrea & Gretchen are here to sprinkle some fairy dust on your festive season along with all of you! 📚🎁
Learn more and get involved:
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
Andrea & Gretchen are here to sprinkle some fairy dust on your festive season along with all of you! 📚🎁
Learn more and get involved:
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
Did you hear?? ✨
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a simple, community-driven initiative, back for its 6th year:
→ Friends in need share a wishlist
→ Fairies swoop in to buy what they can
Every gift matters.
All the info & wishlists can be found at bit.ly/holidayfairies
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a simple, community-driven initiative, back for its 6th year:
→ Friends in need share a wishlist
→ Fairies swoop in to buy what they can
Every gift matters.
All the info & wishlists can be found at bit.ly/holidayfairies
December 7, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Did you hear?? ✨
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a simple, community-driven initiative, back for its 6th year:
→ Friends in need share a wishlist
→ Fairies swoop in to buy what they can
Every gift matters.
All the info & wishlists can be found at bit.ly/holidayfairies
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a simple, community-driven initiative, back for its 6th year:
→ Friends in need share a wishlist
→ Fairies swoop in to buy what they can
Every gift matters.
All the info & wishlists can be found at bit.ly/holidayfairies
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
It would be amazing if #Romancelandia came together to buy these wishlists out.
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is BACK for our 6th year! 🎁✨
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
December 4, 2025 at 11:40 PM
It would be amazing if #Romancelandia came together to buy these wishlists out.
No worries, but if you want to update, send the info to holidayfairy@shelflovepodcast.com and we will update it!
December 2, 2025 at 11:31 PM
No worries, but if you want to update, send the info to holidayfairy@shelflovepodcast.com and we will update it!
Should be fixed now. Thanks for flagging.
🫶
🫶
December 2, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Should be fixed now. Thanks for flagging.
🫶
🫶
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
Giving directly to humans on giving Tuesday, 10 stars.
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is BACK for our 6th year! 🎁✨
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
December 2, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Giving directly to humans on giving Tuesday, 10 stars.
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
I try to buy one item off at least one wishlist every year, and even though I don’t have a lot, it feels good to make someone’s holiday a little better.
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is BACK for our 6th year! 🎁✨
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
December 1, 2025 at 4:17 AM
I try to buy one item off at least one wishlist every year, and even though I don’t have a lot, it feels good to make someone’s holiday a little better.
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
With all the Black Friday sales, it’s a good time to check some of these out if you would like to make someone’s holiday a little better this year.
#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is BACK for our 6th year! 🎁✨
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season.
Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet!
Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
November 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
With all the Black Friday sales, it’s a good time to check some of these out if you would like to make someone’s holiday a little better this year.
The Romancelandia Holiday Fairies wishlist form is officially open!
Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a no-gatekeeping, community-led gifting initiative for anyone in Romancelandia who wants support.✨
Submit / learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
#romancelandia #romancebks
Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a no-gatekeeping, community-led gifting initiative for anyone in Romancelandia who wants support.✨
Submit / learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
#romancelandia #romancebks
November 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The Romancelandia Holiday Fairies wishlist form is officially open!
Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a no-gatekeeping, community-led gifting initiative for anyone in Romancelandia who wants support.✨
Submit / learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
#romancelandia #romancebks
Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is a no-gatekeeping, community-led gifting initiative for anyone in Romancelandia who wants support.✨
Submit / learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies
#romancelandia #romancebks
Awesome! Wishlist recipients are instructed to set their lists up so that items remove from the list once purchased, so hopefully yes!
November 28, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Awesome! Wishlist recipients are instructed to set their lists up so that items remove from the list once purchased, so hopefully yes!
Thanks for letting me know! It’s possible the wishlist hasn’t been set up right. Can you dm me the wishlist name?
November 28, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Thanks for letting me know! It’s possible the wishlist hasn’t been set up right. Can you dm me the wishlist name?