Episodes
Hi Smooches! On this episode, we recap a gorgeous YA sapphic romance told partially through poetry, Just Another Epic Love Poem by Parisa Akhbari. It’s about two friends who have passed notebooks back and forth for their entire friendship, writing poems to each other, and how everything changes when they acknowledge their deeper feelings. Spoilers ahead. Find us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/makeoutalreadypod/?hl=en Preorder Liz’s next book, IN ON THE ACTION:...
Published 04/30/24
Published 04/30/24
What makes monsters so erotic? On today’s episode, we talk to writer and researcher Ella Gallego about her Monstrous Desire study. We talk about the increasingly vocalized attraction many of us feel for monsters, our first monster crushes, and how Stephenie Meyer just loves a cuckolding fantasy. Find us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/makeoutalreadypod/?hl=en Preorder Liz’s next book, IN ON THE ACTION: https://a.co/d/87RjuZC Schedule copy editing and tarot brainstorming...
Published 04/09/24
Smooches, get your headphones and your wallets. This episode is about to load up your TBR with heroines who are not to be messed with. We’re talking about heroines who serve the most see-you-next-Tuesday with Courtney Clark Michaels and Eve Dangerfield. Liz is offering copy editing services and tarot brainstorming sessions for romance authors! Go to ellediazromance.com to learn more. Find us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/makeoutalreadypod/?hl=en Preorder Liz’s next book, IN...
Published 03/26/24
Hi Smooches! On this episode, we're recapping I'm Engaged to Mothman, the second book in Paige Lavoie's Mothman in Love series. We previously recapped the first book with our friend and Mothman groupie Molly, so go listen to that episode if you haven't already. Some future episode announcements. Sometime in April, we're going to recap Just Another Epic Love Poem by Parisa Akhhari. That book is out today when this episode drops, so you can go get it right now! And over on Fable, we're going...
Published 03/12/24
Hi Smooches! On this episode, we’re chatting with boundary coach Kami Orange, author of the new book Say the Thing: Boundary-Setting Scripts and Phrases to Communicate Directly and Speak Up with Kindness. Meg and I have both separately followed Kami’s work and when we reached out to her for an interview were delighted to find out she’s a romance reader! So we talked a lot about how reading romance is fantastic for exploring boundary setting. We hope you have fun listening to this...
Published 02/27/24
Hi Smooches! We’re talking about sooo many books today with Anne, also known as andrearaereads on TikTok. She is such a wealth of knowledge about incredible books across multiple genres, and she’s writing a vampire romance that sounds scrumptious. We talk about what Lizzie Bennet was really doing on those long walks, which monsters we most love, and so much more. Follow Anne on TikTok @andrearaereads: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrearaereads?_t=8jpw5XS3RCI&_r=1 Find us on Instagram at:...
Published 02/27/24
Hi Smooches! Today we have a really fun, dishy episode with debut author Tanvier Peart. We’re playing Would You Rather? in honor of her second-chance forced proximity romance, The Seven Month Itch. It’s about a couple that’s been separated and runs into each other at a singles retreat. Other unexpected guests turn up, and shenanigans ensue. Stuff we mentioned “The Seven Month Itch” by Tanvier Peart https://tanvierpeart.com/books-3/ Tanvier on Instagram:...
Published 01/30/24
Happy New Year, Smooches! Today, we’re talking All Things Austen with author Melodie Edwards, who has written a beautiful contemporary reimagining of Persuasion. It’s got Stars Hollow vibes with its setting of Niagara-on-the-Lake and riotous cast of characters, a hyper-competent Anne, and a swoon worthy Wentworth. You can preorder the book, which comes out in February, and you will absolutely want to after listening to this episode. Stuff we mentioned Melodie Edwards on Instagram:...
Published 01/16/24
Hi Smooches! On today’s episode, which we recorded way back in September, we talked with author Annie Rains about her wonderful book Through the Snow Globe. It’s women’s fiction (because the hero is in a coma for most of it) described as It’s a Wonderful Life meets Groundhog Day. So we discussed our top three most rewatchable holiday movies. Enjoy! Stuff we mentioned How many days was the time loop in Groundhog Day?...
Published 12/19/23
Hi Smooches! This year’s holiday gift guide isn’t going to be business as usual. We’re discussing ways to spend less money and consume more ethically this holiday season if you choose to give gifts. We talk about how even if there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism, it’s our responsibility to do as little harm as possible in a society that makes doing no harm impossible. Along with ideas for where and how to shop, we recommend books we loved this year for people on your list. And it...
Published 12/05/23
Hi Smooches! On this episode, we're recapping some recent reads: a sci-fi/dystopian romance; a paranormal romance; a lit fic title that's actually a romance; and a sports romance by one of our besties. Spoilers ahead! Books recapped: The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha Off His Game by Courtney Clark Michaels Birds of California by Katie Cotugno Books mentioned in brief: Palestine by Joe Sacco The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by...
Published 11/21/23
Hi Smooches! Today we’re doing something a little different. In honor of NaNoWriMo, I’m going to read the first chapter of my work in progress. This is from my draft of In On the Action, which is Book 2 in the Seducing Steel City series. If I were better at marketing or planning, I’d have preorder links for you, maybe a Goodreads page where you could add the title, but I’m just kind of winging this. I’m also winging narration, as I have no training in this. So enjoy this subject-to-change...
Published 11/07/23
Hi Smooches! We couldn’t close out spooky season without some monsterfucking. So we brought our senior cryptid correspondent Molly on to recap “I’m In Love With Mothman” by Paige Lavoie. What happens when a burnt out lifestyle influencer moves to the middle of nowhere to live out her cottagecore fantasy, then ends up having to nurse a sexy bug/bird person back to health? What happens is Molly gets a lawyer for possible life rights claims. Also, we have a fun quiz you can take at home. You...
Published 10/24/23
Hi, friends! We are embarking upon spooky season with the 2019 indie horror/romance After Midnight. It's eerie, it's funny, it's cute, and it's just the right amount of scary. Stay tuned for a mimosa-fueled review of the movie with our horror specialist, Deanna. Where to find...
Published 10/10/23
Hi Smooches! On this episode, I am risking it all by going Gaylor on main more than I ever have. I tell Meg, not for the first time but for the first time in this much detail, all about the maybe love affair between Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss.  We’ll discuss timelines, lyrical clues, and recent events. If you’re a skeptic, this episode is for you. I ask that if you listen, you do so with an open mind and with every assumption of positive intent. Let’s get into it.  The presentation...
Published 09/26/23
Hi Smooches! We hope you had a lovely Labor Day off last week and that you’re staying healthy, supporting striking workers and drinking whatever seasonally inappropriate pumpkin beverage your heart desires. On this episode, Meg and I talk about what we’ve been reading recently. There is contemporary romance, romantasy, YA, bleak speculative fiction, joyful speculative fiction, investigative financial journalism, and essays about video games and gay girls.  Where to find us Website:...
Published 09/12/23
Hi Smooches! This is Liz, and you’re listening to Make Out Already. On today’s episode, we’re recapping “Funny Guy” by Emma Barry. It is a delicious slow burn contemporary about a famous comedian hiding out at his lifelong best friend’s apartment after his pop star ex writes an unflattering song about him. What he doesn’t know is his bestie has been in love with him for years, and has recently been scheming how to get away from New York and her unrequited love. Friends to lovers can be a...
Published 08/22/23
Hi Smooches! This episode we were thrilled to welcome back Shantel to the podcast! Chantel won the bidding for the second year in a row to be a guest on this pod in the Romance for Reproductive Justice Auction. It's a damn shame that we need such an auction, but we're grateful to Meet Cute Romance Bookshop for creating the fundraising opportunity, which raised in the neighborhood of $15,000. Shantel came to us with a great idea for this episode, which was to hash out what exactly makes a...
Published 08/08/23
Hi, Smooches! Liz is back, baby! And so is our author bestie, Courtney Clark Michaels! This episode we are giving our top recommendations for retellings of classic stories, from Greek mythology to Arthurian legend to Jane Austen to Disney classics. Meg also learns the term "Why Choose" and that Courtney has 1,202 unread books on her Kindle. And that's just the tip of the unhinged iceberg. Stay tuned! Where to find...
Published 07/25/23
Hi Smooches! It's the return of Liz! But this is more like a time-capsule-Liz. We recorded this episode very shortly before she went into labor a few months ago, so some of our topical references are already a bit dated and there's a tiktok we mention that I simply could not find. Mea culpa. In this episode, we revisit a couple of our favorite books from when we were very young adults: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, the 1999 young adult novel by English author Louise Rennison; and...
Published 07/11/23
Hi Smooches! I'm Meg and this is Make Out Already. While my co-host Liz is out of office taking care of brand new Baby Liz, I invited our friend Bryson on to talk about a trio of rom-coms: You People, Your Place or Mine, and Ghosted. All three came out this year and are streaming now. Bryson, in addition to watching just about every movie that comes out, also hosted Liz and I for an episode about the Romance genre on his very own podcast, The Pretty Good Podcast by Crabicurious.com. Stay...
Published 06/27/23
Hi Smooches! This is Make Out Already and I'm Meg, here to take you on a mimosa-fueled journey through Emily Henry's latest release, Happy Place, which came out in April of this year. I invited my bff and fellow Emily Henry lover, Leslie, onto the podcast to talk about this friends-to-lovers-to-second-chance-romance story that's, frankly, pretty heartwrenching! So pour yourself a mimosa, and enjoy this unhinged ride.  Where to find...
Published 06/13/23
Hi Smooches, this is Meg and you're listening to Make Out Already. While Liz is out, tending to her wee babe, I've invited two new friends onto the podcast--co-authors Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding. Their new book is Emma of 83rd Street, a retelling of the classic Jane Austen tale, but set in modern times on the upper East Side of Manhattan. Trust me, you are going to LOVE this contemporary romance version of Emma's story, which has the spice level that we've all been dying for. Audrey,...
Published 05/30/23
Hi Smooches! This is Meg, and I am continuing my solo hosting stint while Liz is on maternity leave with a special guest-visit from Deanna, our spooky season correspondent and horror wh*re! We chat about Hell Followed With Us, the debut novel from Andrew Joseph White. It's a dystopian horror romance, and its rife with religious trauma. If that happens to be a trigger for you, you may want to skip this episode. Spoilers ahead! Where to find...
Published 05/16/23