Sexy Books Podcast

10. The Deal by Elle Kennedy

In this episode, we talk about Elle Kennedy’s M/F new adult romance, The Deal: "Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she's carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush's attention, she'll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice... even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he's worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he's all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn't going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.”

We also discuss the double-edged sword of pregnancy romances, how foreplay really never goes out of style, and the power of the changing seasons. We also give a shoutout to Treesong’s Cauldron and the transformative power of tea in general.

(CW: This episode has a fairly brief discussion about sexual assault, as it is brought up in the book.)

Join us next month for our episode on The Mistake by Elle Kennedy. We also have a special episode about Hulu’s wonderful show, Pen15, dropping sometime in December, so we hope you'll join us for that as well!

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9. Nymph by Francesca Lia Block

In this episode, we talk about Francesca Lia Block’s magical erotic short story collection, Nymph: “As in her other works, Block weaves together themes of subtle magic, youthful hopes, modern urban decay, and deep emotion, told with lyrical storybook language. The stories in NYMPH bear all the hallmarks of classic Francesca Lia Block—punk spirited characters who celebrate love, life, and art—with one important different: this time the author carries her vision through the full range of emotion and erotic interaction that her mature audience appreciates.

An interconnected series of stories, NYMPH is a special journey through the lives and loves of characters like Plum, a Crayon-haired girl who has a gift: if she makes love with a person, that person will then meet their true love, or Tom, a burned out surfer whose luck changes when he is rescued by a mysterious, wheelchair-bound woman, or Sylvie, a chronically depressed poet who finds beauty in unexpected places. Block's erotic explorations of these smoky, kaleidoscopic fables are anything but conventional; these are stories of love, loss, and life, about the healing power of sex and bonding.”

This episode definitely became something of an FLB lovefest, and a retrospective of her influence on both of us over the years. We talk about growing up wanting to be a “Weetzie Bat Girl,” how FLB’s books are the real reason we both live in California, and our enduring love for Venice Beach. And of course, we delve into what makes all FLB books so sexy, who the hottest FLB characters are, and much more!

(CW: This episode also contains a frank discussion about incest.)

Other FLB books mentioned in this episode (so you can continue your education):

• I Was a Teenage Fairy
• Weetzie Bat series
• Witch Baby
• Echo
• The Hanged Man
• Violet & Claire
• The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold
• Wasteland

Join us next month when we talk about The Deal by Elle Kennedy.

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8. Roller Girl by Vanessa North

In this episode, we talk about Vanessa North’s F/F romance, Roller Girl: “Recently divorced Tina Durham is trying to be self-sufficient, but her personal-training career is floundering, her closest friends are swept up in new relationships, and her washing machine has just flooded her kitchen. It’s enough to make a girl cry. Instead, she calls a plumbing service, and Joanne “Joe Mama” Delario comes to the rescue. Joe is sweet, funny, and good at fixing things. She also sees something special in Tina and invites her to try out for the roller derby team she coaches.

Derby offers Tina an outlet for her frustrations, a chance to excel, and the female friendships she’s never had before. And as Tina starts to thrive at derby, the tension between her and Joe cranks up. Despite their player/coach relationship, they give in to their mutual attraction. Sex in secret is hot, but Tina can’t help but want more. With work still on the rocks and her relationship in the closet, Tina is forced to reevaluate her life. Can she be content with a secret lover? Or with being dependent on someone else again? It’s time for Tina to tackle her fears, both on and off the track.”

You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out what roller derby names we chose for ourselves! We also get deep on the benefits of dirty talk, the comforting qualities of boobs, and why communication is a vital sexual skill.

Join us next month when we talk about Nymph by Francesca Lia Block.

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7. Starting From Scratch by Jay Northcote

In this episode, we talk about Jay Northcote’s M/M new adult romance, Starting From Scratch: “Ben is transgender and back at university after hormone treatment and chest surgery. His new housemates have no idea about his history and Ben would prefer to keep it that way. He’s starting from scratch and his life is finally on track, except in the romance department. The idea of dating guys as a guy is exhilarating but terrifying, because if Ben wants a boyfriend he’ll have to disclose his secret.

Sid is drawn to Ben from the moment they meet. He normally gets what he wants—in the short term at least. Ben’s guarded at first, and Sid’s not used to guys rejecting his advances. He eventually charms his way through Ben’s defenses and helps Ben on his journey of sexual awakening. It doesn’t matter to Sid that Ben is trans. He’s attracted to the whole person, and isn’t worried about what is—or isn’t—in Ben’s pants. They’re good together, and both of them are falling hard and fast, but Ben’s insecurities keep getting in the way. If Sid can convince Ben he's committed, will Ben finally be able to put his heart on the line?”

We get into our own early experiences exploring sex and dealing with insecurities, how everyone has “baggage,” and how every person should have an “array of dicks” on hand (it makes sense, I swear)!

We also mention Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski and our discussion about that book from Episode 5.

Join us next month when we talk about Roller Girl by Vanessa North!

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6. Practice Makes Perfect by Jay Northcote

In this episode, we talk about Jay Northcote’s M/M new adult romance, Practice Makes Perfect: “Getting experience with the guy next door seems like a great idea-until the lines blur. Dev, a geeky first year physics student, has zero sexual experience and he's determined to change that ASAP. After a bad time in halls of residence, he's starting the summer term with different housemates and a new plan of action. Ewan lives in the house next door to Dev. He's young, free and single, and isn't looking to change that anytime soon. When awkward circumstances throw them together, Ewan offers to help Dev out in the bedroom in return for maths tutoring, and Dev jumps at the chance. They work their way through Dev's sex-to-do list, but what starts as a perfect no-strings arrangement gets more complicated as their feelings for each other begin to grow. If they're going to turn their lessons in lovemaking into something more permanent, they need to work out how they feel about each other-before they get to the end of Dev's list.”

A.K.A. “The Butt Stuff Episode,” wherein we discuss all things anal, reflect on our sexual histories, and more.

Join us next month when we talk about Starting From Scratch by Jay Northcote!

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5. Special - Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski

In this special episode, we discuss Emily Nagoski's groundbreaking book on female sexuality, Come As You Are: "Researchers have spent the last decade trying to develop a 'pink pill' for women to function like Viagra does for men. So where is it? Well, for reasons this book makes crystal clear, that pill will never be the answer—but as a result of the research that’s gone into it, scientists in the last few years have learned more about how women’s sexuality works than we ever thought possible, and Come as You Are explains it all.

The first lesson in this essential, transformative book by Dr. Emily Nagoski is that every woman has her own unique sexuality, like a fingerprint, and that women vary more than men in our anatomy, our sexual response mechanisms, and the way our bodies respond to the sexual world. So we never need to judge ourselves based on others’ experiences. Because women vary, and that’s normal.

Second lesson: sex happens in a context. And all the complications of everyday life influence the context surrounding a woman’s arousal, desire, and orgasm. Cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines tells us that the most important factor for women in creating and sustaining a fulfilling sex life, is not what you do in bed or how you do it, but how you feel about it. Which means that stress, mood, trust, and body image are not peripheral factors in a woman’s sexual wellbeing; they are central to it. Once you understand these factors, and how to influence them, you can create for yourself better sex and more profound pleasure than you ever thought possible. And Emily Nagoski can prove it."

The worksheets and quizzes for Come As You Are can be accessed here if you'd like to take them yourself: https://www.emilynagoski.com/come-as-you-are-worksheets

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4. Like a Lover by Jay Northcote

In this episode, we talk about Jay Northcote’s M/M new adult romance, Like a Lover: “Josh has a plan: get through uni with a good degree and no debts. Focused on his goals, he’s working as an escort to pay his way. He enjoys the no-strings sex and doesn’t have the time or inclination for a relationship. Falling in love definitely isn’t part of the deal—especially not with a client. When Rupert meets Josh in a bar, he’s smitten on sight. He’s never paid for sex before, but when Josh propositions him, he can’t resist. He should have known one night would never be enough. Luckily for him, he has an inheritance to support his addiction to Josh, because his job in IT wouldn’t cover the cost. With each appointment the lines get increasingly blurred. Something is developing between them that feels more like a relationship than a business transaction, but they come from different worlds and to go from client-and-escort to lovers seems impossible. If they want a future together, Josh and Rupert have a lot to overcome.”

We also get deep into our early adolescent attraction to Edward Norton, contemporary attitudes about sex work (sex work is real work!), and much more.

Other books (and movies) mentioned in this episode:

• Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
• The Housemates series by Jay Northcote (specifically: Helping Hand, Watching and Wanting, and Pretty in Pink)
• CAM (2018), available on Netflix; written by Isa Mazzei, a former camgirl
• The entire Edward Norton oeuvre: Down in the Valley, The 25^th Hour, Birdman

Join us next month when we talk about Practice Makes Perfect by Jay Northcote! We also have a special, non-romance-novel episode coming out later this month where we discuss Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski. We hope you’ll join us for this fun, informative discussion about female sex drives and sexuality.

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3. The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen

In this episode, we talk about Sarina Bowen's M/F new adult romance, The Shameless Hour: "For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second guess herself. Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright sinister fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces. Bella doesn’t want Rafe's help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can't be extinguished."

This episode opens with a frank discussion about masturbation, so it's definitely NSFW (though it is safe for WFH!). The vibrator we gush about is the Womanizer Starlet (and the waterproof version that I'm less enamored with is the Womanizer Starlet 2).

Other books mentioned in this episode:

• The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen
• The Year We Hid Away by Sarina Bowen
• Him by Sarina Bowen
• Extra Credit by Sarina Bowen

Join us next month when we talk about Like a Lover by Jay Northcote!

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2. The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen

In this episode, we talk about Sarina Bowen's M/M new adult romance, The Understatement of the Year: "Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexuality from everyone. Including himself. So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it. Meanwhile, John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused, and one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room. Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham, but the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another."

We also talk about romance novel shame, teenage crushes, and sad boy bjs! We shouted out our favorite local romance bookstore, The Ripped Bodice in Culver City (which is still operating by mail during the COVID-19 closures if you would like to support them by ordering a romance novel!). Other books mentioned in this episode:

• Brooklynaire by Sarina Bowen
• Him by Sarina Bowen
• Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Extra Credit by Sarina Bowen
• Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski

Join us next month when we talk about The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen!

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1. The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

In this episode, we talk about Sarina Bowen's M/F new adult romance, The Year We Fell Down: "She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead. Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He's way out of Corey's league. Also, he's taken. Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the "gimp ghetto" of McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands. They're just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she's falling. Hard. But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won't, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness -- one which does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play, or the brown-eyed boy who's afraid to love her back."

We also talk about why men should consider giving romance a shot, how asking for consent can be hot as hell, and much, much more!

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