Confessions of a Closet Romantic

Send us Fan Mail My current fantasy bedroom is full of steam & kink. I'm in the mood, people, so let's read-aloud from some of the hottest, kinkiest romances I've ever read! It's hard to find this level of heat, consent, care AND happy-ever-after on screen, but romance writers have got you covered. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com The Psychology of Sexual Kink a...

Send us Fan Mail Does a bad boy or villain hero give you a bit of a thrill? A little tingle? Dark romance unsettles me, but there's something reassuring and  protective in the gentle villain/noble demon, who chooses any means to the end of protecting you from hurt and harm. They'll burn down the world for you when needed--and what's not to love about that? https://www.confessionsofa...

Send us Fan Mail These funny, sharp TV shows written by women knock fat- and mental illness shaming on its behind, and tell stories of hard-won self-acceptance instead. It's about embracing our deepest desires and the person we are, not who They say we should be. It's about romancing yourself. CW : mentions of body shaming, anti-fat bias, mental illness, and briefly, abortion, weight los...

Send us Fan Mail It's the first anniversary of this podcast! Turns out, I'm even more in love with romantic TV shows, movies and books one year on. And still feel no shame--mostly--crushing on romance. So in support and love for the genre, let's revisit some of the lushest, most romantic, and rom com funny movie scenes evah. Cue the gushing. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic....

Send us Fan Mail There's nothing more intimate than a letter, card, text or message written for your eyes only. The epistolary novel has been popular for centuries, and romantic stories using this device can feel like the best kind of eavesdropping. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies/TV Shows The script for Love & Friendship takes Jane Austen's epistolary novel Lady...

Send us Fan Mail The sweet, sexy romantic cinnamon roll: there's no better hero in all of Romancelandia. Let's explore this gooey hearted, tender fictional confection and why this character brings all the feels. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com The Onion article that inspired the whole thing. Movies/TV Shows Ashton Kutcher was a sweet doofus in That 70s Show and he grew up to...

Send us Fan Mail Intimacy and love can be found in the most unexpected places. In sci-fi and fantasy-tinged romance, that means online, offline, synthetic or organic, from a lab, with creatures on earth or heaven above. Open hearts find love everywhere. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies/TV Show Her inspires so many questions: what is true intimacy? Is love chemistry, an accident...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes all I want in this world is strong arms around me, someone who has my back, and a soft place to fall. That's when I pull out a good bodyguard romance. Nothing in the world makes me feel safer than these stories. They've got me dreaming of an avenger, a 24/7 personal protection officer of my very own. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movie The Bodygu...

Send us Fan Mail There's nothing like the bubbly fun, clever banter and twisty plots of a romantic caper movie*. It's just the thing when you crave romance and sexy flirting in beautiful settings, plus a dash of gentle mystery and mild suspense. *Episode contains spoilers. Lots. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies: The Lady Vanishes is a comfort re-watch for me, even thou...

Send us Fan Mail Many contemporary romances are based on, or inspired by, rom-com movies. Turns out recycling romance is good for the narrative arc--and heart as well. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com The Vulture roundup that inspired it all. Movies Groundhog Day is classic for a reason. 10 moments from When Harry Met Sally . I said that Harry and Sally don't marry anyone else dur...

Send us Fan Mail Music romances and seduces listeners, sometimes gently and sometimes with a rough, dirty, driving, relentless hot beat. That kind of romance rocks, and its rockstars are sex on legs. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Music "Energy" by Scott Holmes Music & "Unashamed Ballad" by Learning Music, used with a Creative Commons license from freemusicarc...

Send us Fan Mail I crave more sex- and age-positivity, a wider range of human sexuality and relationship, in the romantic TV shows and movies that I watch now. Romance novels have always done a great job at representing shame-free sexuality, desire, and fantasy. But the Netflix series Easy and the movie The Overnight also get it right. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Salt-n-Pepa Let&a...

Send us Fan Mail Romances about people at the height of their physical prowess in pro sports finding love with a partner who matches their wit and talents is a bit unfair to us mere mortals. But I'll live vicariously through these stories all day long. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Eileen Brennan and Goldie Hawn are comic gold in Private Benjamin .  The incredible haka from Rug...

Send us Fan Mail Found family, partners, true-blue friends: it's all about the groups of people who claim us, warm our hearts, and have our backs no matter what, who help us feel that we belong. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Remember the TV show Queer as Folk ? It originated in the UK, and there was a US version too. Its group of friends fits this trope so well. My high school...

Send us Fan Mail Banter is the best kind of romantic conversation, full of wit and emotional tension, leaving clues for us about how the couple really feels about each other. The best banter strip teases for our brain. It's verbal foreplay for the hot action to come. It's all about the juicy, sexy romantic banter in this episode. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com After I said...

Send us Fan Mail Human beings exist on a spectrum of diversity and differences, and romances that reflect that are touching my heart lately. The widest range of life experiences represented in stories can only be a good thing.  Being seen and accepted, not treated as an exception, is inspiring. It's all part of the flow of life. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com April 2 was World A...

Send us Fan Mail Some of my favorite romantic stories create intimate worlds where true, vulnerable, heartfelt things can be said--and done. Sometimes it takes half the story to get there, sometimes it takes most of the story, but it's always worth the wait for that magic moment when characters finally bare their hearts. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Original vintage trailer fo...

Send us Fan Mail Unrequited love, "the timing's wrong" coupling, enemies to friends, friends to lovers, and then sometimes back to friends. What are these relationships about? Does chemistry even need a category? Some unforgettable romantic movies pin down that bittersweet, undeniable connection. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Change the World   and Change Your Mind ar...

Send us Fan Mail Most romance makes me feel warm, optimistic and hopeful. But sometimes hot and kinky is what you need. A touch of BDSM. Sex with an alien. The wild fantasies of some contemporary romances practically catch fire on the page. And sometimes non-fancy hot sex with good communication and a considerate fictional character who appeals to you does the trick. It's risk-free,  shame-fr...

Send us Fan Mail I've been having fun reading a ton of contemporary romances featuring buff young things getting it on. But it's time to get real: which means ageless love, with plenty of imperfection, wisdom and fun thrown in. It's romance full of humor, honesty, acceptance and kindness. The sexiest combo I know. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com The Heaving Bosoms podca...

Send us Fan Mail It's all about the alpha male today. Because he likes it that way, and dammit, makes me like it too. Plus, nobody ties a sexier Windsor knot than Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Is it hot in here? The official, and super steamy, Fifty Shades of Grey trailer. And then, it gets Fifty Shades Darker. Crazy Rich Asians trailer. The Romc...

Send us Fan Mail Who knew that Empire-waist dresses, waistcoats,  cravats and women discovering their own power could be so sexy? Well, fans of Regency romance know. It's all about the debs and the Dukes in this episode. These two shows are the place to start your new, fresh, modern costume drama love affair. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Fascinating interview with Bridgerton s...

Send us Fan Mail Nothing wrong with indulging in slightly corny and comforting romantic movies. I talk about a bunch of my favorites in this episode, chock full of cheese (the tasty romantic kind). https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Movies mentioned: The screwball comedy I featured is His Girl Friday (1940) starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. What a chemistry set! The Holiday The L...

Send us Fan Mail The March and Stone families give us the cozy, faithful and often funny holiday we all need this year. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Trailers: Little Women (1933) Little Women (1949) Little Women (1994) Little Women (2019) The Family Stone Download the Little Women ebook at Project Gutenberg Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your po...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about one of my favorite romantic tropes of all time: the grand--or small but meaningful--romantic gesture. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com Stream NBC's Lipstick Jungle here The Age of Innocence trailer Elizabeth's thank you to Darcy and the second proposal scene from the 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice The breathtaking glider scene from Fifty...