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...
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
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.
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
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
Can you help? Please share if you would. Thx!
Many years ago, I was feeling stressed by the state of the world and I started a Holiday Fairies thing where people sent me their wishlists and I publicized them to try to get everyone gifts for the holidays.
@shelflove.bsky.social skillfully took it over and made it An Actual Thing!
Like SRSLY!
@shelflove.bsky.social skillfully took it over and made it An Actual Thing!
Like SRSLY!
Holiday Fairies
Romancelandia holiday fairies is a mutual aid effort for the romance novel reader community.
shelflovepodcast.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Can you help? Please share if you would. Thx!
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
A note from one recipient. With @shelflove.bsky.social's stewardship this has grown beyond what I ever imagined, and has touched hundreds of people.
And Romancelandia is vast & welcoming. Even if you don't usually go here, romance readers will invite you in & work for your HEA.
It's our thing.
And Romancelandia is vast & welcoming. Even if you don't usually go here, romance readers will invite you in & work for your HEA.
It's our thing.
November 28, 2025 at 1:44 AM
A note from one recipient. With @shelflove.bsky.social's stewardship this has grown beyond what I ever imagined, and has touched hundreds of people.
And Romancelandia is vast & welcoming. Even if you don't usually go here, romance readers will invite you in & work for your HEA.
It's our thing.
And Romancelandia is vast & welcoming. Even if you don't usually go here, romance readers will invite you in & work for your HEA.
It's our thing.
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
If you are having a rough year and are worried you can't get gifts for the people in your life, you can sign up here and submit your wishlist.
If you are someone who has a little bit extra and wants to give someone else joy? Find one & buy them something!
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
If you are someone who has a little bit extra and wants to give someone else joy? Find one & buy them something!
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
Holiday Fairies
Romancelandia holiday fairies is a mutual aid effort for the romance novel reader community.
shelflovepodcast.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:41 AM
If you are having a rough year and are worried you can't get gifts for the people in your life, you can sign up here and submit your wishlist.
If you are someone who has a little bit extra and wants to give someone else joy? Find one & buy them something!
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
If you are someone who has a little bit extra and wants to give someone else joy? Find one & buy them something!
shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
Many years ago, I was feeling stressed by the state of the world and I started a Holiday Fairies thing where people sent me their wishlists and I publicized them to try to get everyone gifts for the holidays.
@shelflove.bsky.social skillfully took it over and made it An Actual Thing!
Like SRSLY!
@shelflove.bsky.social skillfully took it over and made it An Actual Thing!
Like SRSLY!
Holiday Fairies
Romancelandia holiday fairies is a mutual aid effort for the romance novel reader community.
shelflovepodcast.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Many years ago, I was feeling stressed by the state of the world and I started a Holiday Fairies thing where people sent me their wishlists and I publicized them to try to get everyone gifts for the holidays.
@shelflove.bsky.social skillfully took it over and made it An Actual Thing!
Like SRSLY!
@shelflove.bsky.social skillfully took it over and made it An Actual Thing!
Like SRSLY!
#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 12:51 AM
#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
The benefit of not being by financially tied to the romance industry is that I will absolutely say something when I see something. #romancelandia
This is about the 831 Stories puff piece in the NYT. (I should have known better.) Several romance scholars were interviewed (myself included)…not that you could tell, given the complete lack of substance.
Hrm, wonder why this was left out? Maybe because it doesn’t align with 831’s narrative?
Hrm, wonder why this was left out? Maybe because it doesn’t align with 831’s narrative?
November 13, 2025 at 11:54 PM
The benefit of not being by financially tied to the romance industry is that I will absolutely say something when I see something. #romancelandia
I don’t think I’ll do interviews about romance with “journalists” anymore.
The same boring shit about romance gets published over and over because any viewpoint that doesn’t validate the romance stereotype or “romance is different now and bigger than ever!” narrative is excluded. #romancelandia
The same boring shit about romance gets published over and over because any viewpoint that doesn’t validate the romance stereotype or “romance is different now and bigger than ever!” narrative is excluded. #romancelandia
November 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I don’t think I’ll do interviews about romance with “journalists” anymore.
The same boring shit about romance gets published over and over because any viewpoint that doesn’t validate the romance stereotype or “romance is different now and bigger than ever!” narrative is excluded. #romancelandia
The same boring shit about romance gets published over and over because any viewpoint that doesn’t validate the romance stereotype or “romance is different now and bigger than ever!” narrative is excluded. #romancelandia
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
This call may be of interest to our readers!
Come and study with me! Call for doctoral proposals in the field of Romance and/or Erotica at Falmouth University: www.falmouth.ac.uk/research/phd...
Romance and/or Erotica
This Research & Knowledge Exchange Doctoral Project brief summarises our priority areas of research interest under the heading of: Romance and/or Erotica
www.falmouth.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This call may be of interest to our readers!
Sooo fanfic phenomenon "Manacled" by SenLinYu was transformed into a trad pub book: "Alchemised." Join @fangirljeanne.bsky.social & I for a critical discussion on the ramifications of turning #fanfic into published romantasy.
shelflovepodcast.com/episodes/sea...
#romancelandia #romancebks
shelflovepodcast.com/episodes/sea...
#romancelandia #romancebks
Alchemised: Capitalizing Fanfic | Shelf Love Podcast
Fangirl Jeanne, fanfic elder, is back to revisit the fan fiction formerly known as “Manacled,” now traditionally published as “Alchemised” by SenLinYu. Three years after our initial discussion about M...
shelflovepodcast.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Sooo fanfic phenomenon "Manacled" by SenLinYu was transformed into a trad pub book: "Alchemised." Join @fangirljeanne.bsky.social & I for a critical discussion on the ramifications of turning #fanfic into published romantasy.
shelflovepodcast.com/episodes/sea...
#romancelandia #romancebks
shelflovepodcast.com/episodes/sea...
#romancelandia #romancebks
Reposted by Shelf Love Podcast
Well that’s a nice wake up surprise! This piece I wrote for @zocalopublicsquare.bsky.social is a finalist for a Los Angeles Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award! www.zocalopublicsquare.org/romance-genr...
Happily Ever After Is for Everyone | Essay
The romance genre has a single set-in-stone rule: The main characters of the story will end up happily in a relationship. The HEA (Happily Ever After) or the HFN (Happy for Now) is the expectation of ...
www.zocalopublicsquare.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Well that’s a nice wake up surprise! This piece I wrote for @zocalopublicsquare.bsky.social is a finalist for a Los Angeles Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award! www.zocalopublicsquare.org/romance-genr...
Oh no, now @smutreport.com put zombies removing appendages to facilitate creative intimate moments into my brain…. And the only part I hate is that I WILL be thinking about it.
overcast.fm/+ABBEh76UzvA
overcast.fm/+ABBEh76UzvA
Monster Mash Redux — The Smut Report Podcast
We’re revisiting Monster Romance (read about the first time we did so here [https://smutreport.com/monster-mash-smashdown/])! Buddy reads: Maneater by Emily Antoinette [https://amzn.to/4oPD6Kx] Ready ...
overcast.fm
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Oh no, now @smutreport.com put zombies removing appendages to facilitate creative intimate moments into my brain…. And the only part I hate is that I WILL be thinking about it.
overcast.fm/+ABBEh76UzvA
overcast.fm/+ABBEh76UzvA