Book Club for Masochists: a Readers’ Advisory Podcast: Episode 225

Episode 225 - Queer Romance

Feb 3, 2026

It’s episode 225 and just in time for Valentine’s Day we talk about Queer Romance! We discuss what counts and doesn’t count as romance, ice hockey, regency, spies, demons, and more! Plus: Matthew reads a book he actually likes, Jam reads a book they dislike, and a fairly large chunk of the episode wasn’t recorded and had to be edited around! Guess what parts were re-recorded!

You can download the podcast directly, find it on Libsyn, or get it through Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast delivery system.

In this episode

Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray 🦇 | Jam Edwards

Things We Read (or tried to…)

Betrothed to the Emperor by Kai Butler (2025)
Emperor’s Wrath by Kai Butler (2025)
If I Told You, I’d Have To Kiss You by Mae Marvel (2025)
The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur (2025)
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer (2021)
With Stars In Her Eyes by Andie Burke (2025)
- Jam’s review
Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei (2022)
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall (2022)
A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander (2025)
Not discussed
- Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey (2025)
- The Unexpected Heiress by Cassidy Cane (2025)
- One Love by Matt Cain (2025)
- Swordcrossed by Freya Marske (2024)
- First Time for Everything by Henry Fry (2022) - Not actually romance

Other Media We Mentioned

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake (2022)
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (2019)
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (2019)
Bedazzled (2000 film)
Bedazzled (1967 film)

Links, Articles, and Things

25 Queer Romance Books by BIPOC Authors:

Every month Book Club for Masochists: A Readers’ Advisory Podcast chooses a genre at random and we read and discuss books from that genre. We also put together book lists for each episode/genre that feature works by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Colour) authors. All of the lists can be found here.

Can't Let Her Go by Kianna Alexander
Fire From the Sky by Moa Backe Åstot, translated by Eva Apelqvist
Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole
Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez
Friday I'm in Love by Camryn Garrett
Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa
Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins
A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
I'll Have What He's Having by Adib Khorram
The Secret Crush Book Club by Karmen Lee
Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao
Love Points to You by Alice Lin
Ready When You Are by Gary Lonesborough
Just Like This by Cole McCade
Cash Delgado is Living the Dream by Tehlor Mejia
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter
Chocolate Chip City by Be Steadwell
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters

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Join us again on Tuesday, February 17th when we’ll be discussing our 2026 Reading Resolutions (or non resolutions).

Then on Tuesday, March 3rd we’ll be talking about Computer Science books (as suggested by Lea).