Listen, it's romance - it's not that deep. Sometimes it's about sharing the love and the appreciation rather than tearing down academics with their knickers in a twist. So we're taking a breather break to talk about some of our favourites: books, authors, tropes, and even couples. Let us know if we share any favourites - or if we've convinced you to try something new.

Like what you heard? Why not support us with more than just your time? We promise not to spend it on books!

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All art courtesy of @aga.futa.art.
All music courtesy of Stephen James Rowlatt.

Tale as old as time... quite literaslly. Were people always talking down on romance novels? Has anything changed between the publication of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in 1813, the establishment of Harlequin Enterprises ULC in 1949, and now? There's a lot to unpack here and we're giving it an honest go.

Articles and books referenced in this episode:

* Pamela Regis, "A Natural History of the Romance Novel", University of Pennsylvania Press, 2003.
* Maya Rodale, "Dangerous Books for Girls: the Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained", 2015.
* B.C. Southam, "Jane Austen,". 1st ed. London; Routledge, 1979.
* Greg William Rathbone, "The False Morality of Lady Novelists"; from Andrew King (ed.), John Plunkett (ed.), "Victorian Print Media: A Reader", 1859.
* Nathaniel Hawthorne, letter, 1855; from Caroline Ticknor "Hawthorne and his Publisher", 1913.
* Jayne Ann Krentz (ed.), "Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance", University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992.
* Tania Modleski "Loving with a Vengeance: Mass Produced Fantasies for Women", Routledge, 1982.
* Pamela Regis, "What Do Critics Owe the Romance? Keynote Address at the Second Annual Conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance", Journal of Popular Romance Studies vol 2 issue 2.1, Oct 12 2011
* Maleah Fekete, "Confluent Love and the Evolution of Ideal Intimacy: Romance Reading in 1980 and 2016", Journal of Popular Romance Studies, vol 11, May 18th 2022.

Like what you heard? Why not support us with more than just your time? We promise not to spend it on books!

Patreon for bloopers and behind the scenes

Ko-Fi for one-off tips to brighten our days

For more Make Romance Great content, follow us on social media:

Instagram

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BlueSky

Want to get in touch? Email us on MakeRomanceGreat.Pod@gmail.com!

All art courtesy of @aga.futa.art.
All music courtesy of Stephen James Rowlatt.

Welcome to Make Romance Great. Not again, we're not there yet. And that's why this podcast is here!

In the first episode you'll get to know your hosts: Monika and Paulina, and hear why they embarked on the podcasting journey. Listen on for raunchy laughs, scaldingly hot takes (and so early on - scandalous!), and glimpses into what you can expect from the pod going forward.

Maybe, just maybe, at the end of all this, we will get to the point where the romance novel is great instead of "just" a romance.

Articles referenced in the episode is:

Pamela Regis, "What Do Critics Owe the Romance? Keynote Address at the Second Annual Conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance", Journal of Popular Romance Studies vol 2 issue 2.1, Oct 12 2011.

Like what you heard? Why not support us with more than just your time? We promise not to spend it on books!

Patreon for bloopers and behind the scenes

Ko-Fi for one-off tips to brighten our days

For more Make Romance Great content, follow us on social media:

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

Want to get in touch? Email us on MakeRomanceGreat.Pod@gmail.com!

All art courtesy of @aga.futa.art.
All music courtesy of Stephen James Rowlatt.