The Historical Romance Review

In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah start a new miniseries on the unconventional and ungovernable world of fanfiction. What is fanfiction and how does it differ from just another adaptation? Why do people write fanfiction and where do they publish it? Can fanfiction ever go mainstream? And how do authors feel about it: a contributor to canon, free publicity, or a copyright nuisance?...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah are back in the Regency-era but with Julia Quinn's The Duke and I , things are a whole lot steamier. If you loved the Netflix series or are generally a fan of more dialogue than plot, then this is the fake-dating romance for you: it's got duels at dawn, hot gossip, more siblings than you can count, and very questionable sex education. Grab a cuppa (or a snifter of br...

In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss the sudden increase in book-to-screen romance adaptations. The rom-com might be dead, but the 2020s are full of filmic fancasts of your favourite romance fiction. How can you judge a good adaptation from a bad one? How similar to the original should a movie or tv version be? Is it fair for fans to cry when they have their hearts broken? And...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah step back in time to another historic romance, Jane Austen's debut novel, Sense and Sensibility. Published in 1811, this masterpiece of character has everything the modern romance reader could dream of: a sudden change in fortune, an auspicious ankle sprain, at least one hefty age gap, and enough main character energy to put you in an early grave. Grab a cuppa (or so...

In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss and rank the MMCs from the books they've reviewed to date. Could you actually date Ilya Rozanov in real life, or is he just a one-night fantasy? Can the sweet sensitivity of Bo Durand beat the oyster-shucking sensation that is Felix Clark? Does Emily Henry just write contemporary versions of Mr Darcy? And who will win out as the ultimate bo...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah travel to the idyllic Prince Edward Island for some forbidden romance in Carley Fortune's beloved This Summer Will Be Different . If you've ever dreamed of being Anne of Green Gables, eating your body weight in oysters, meeting a very well-read MMC, or secretly sleeping with your best friend's brother, then this is the steamy summer romance for you. Grab a cuppa (or...

In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss TROPES: the good, the bad and the ugly. And this time, they're joined by long-time friend-of-the-pod Shania Bowa. Why is romance fiction always marketed with tropes? Where did they come from? Have publishers gone too far? Are we being trope-i-fied out of our minds? And do we think tropes will ever not be relevant to romance fiction? #romanc...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah encounter their first surprise pregnancy trope in Hannah Bonam-Young's Out On A Limb . Don't let this controversial narrative-device put you off. If you like witty banter, disability representation, pirate costumes and some Peeta-Katniss vibes, then this tender and wholesome lovers-to-friends-to-lovers is the book for you. Grab a cuppa (or a virgin cocktail of your c...

In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss the sub-genre-phenomenon that is sports romance. Why do so many readers get their kicks from sports' romance? Is it just an easy formula to create MMCs that are rich, fit and famous? Where are all the female athletes?! And why does reading (or watching) a heated sports romance often translate into real-world fandom? #romancebooks #romance #...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah skate through the cultural phenomenon that is Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry . If you like a sports romance with minimal sporting details, occasional side characters, and explicit sex in EVERY chapter, then this queer rivals-to-lovers is the book for you. Grab a cuppa (or a glass of vodka) and get comfy, we have much to discuss. #romancebooks #romance #fiction #rachelr...

In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss the rise and popularity of romance fiction. Why is it so popular with female readers and authors? Why now? What are audiences getting from this genre that they don't get elsewhere? How has it become so successful? And is romance fiction the solution to the increasingly-divisive discourse of contemporary gender politics? #romancebooks #roman...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah celebrate Valentine's Day with their first novella, Ali Hazelwood's Hot For Slayer . A vampire in New York, a slayer with amnesia, and utterly ridiculous character names, this book and its 500 years of heated rivalry is an enemies-to-lovers for the ages. Grab a cuppa (or a glass of red) and get comfy, we have much to discuss. #romancebooks #romance #fiction #alihazel...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah introduce a new format, the State of the Field! Instead of a deep-dive book review, these episodes are a chance to discuss broader, genre-based questions and issues. Why has romance fiction become so popular in the 2020s? What's the line between romance and smut? Is it a 'true' romance plot if there's no Happily Ever After? Which trope are you breaking up with, and w...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah celebrate the release of Emily Henry's first film adaptation by reviewing her beloved second novel, People We Meet On Vacation . An annual summer travel tradition, horrendous air conditioning, a major weather event (because of course, it's EmHen), and flashbacks to fantastical holidays around the globe, this book has ten years of chemistry hot enough to change all yo...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah promenade into perhaps the most historic romance of all time, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. First published in 1813, this beloved story has it all: embarrassing family members, a grumpy billionaire, witty banter, class consciousness, terrible first impressions, and the most insulting marriage proposal on record. Grab a cuppa (or some excellent boiled potatoes)...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah promenade into perhaps the most historic romance of all time, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. First published in 1813, this beloved story has it all: embarrassing family members, a grumpy billionaire, witty banter, class consciousness, terrible first impressions, and the most insulting marriage proposal on record. Grab a cuppa (or some excellent boiled potatoes)...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah continue to get Christmassy with B.K. Borison's brand new release, Good Spirits . A cutesy antique shop, a curly-haired FMC and an (allegedly) Irish MMC might sound like your average romance, but this one also has time travel, magic mistletoe and a VERY unconventional pairing. Amy and Sarah found this haunting holiday romance...interesting to say the least. Grab a cu...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah kick off the festive season with a trip to the snowy town of Inglewild in B.K. Borison's Lovelight Farms. A struggling Christmas tree farm, a cast of (extremely attractive) small-town characters, and a fake-dating plot built on NINE YEARS of foreplay, this seasonal romance will warm you like a chestnut on an open fire. Grab a cuppa (or a peppermint mocha latte) and g...

In this episode, Amy and Sarah take a trip to picturesque Little Crescent Island with Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life . Journalistic rivalry, a reclusive celebrity, and decades of family drama, there's more than just livelihoods at stake in this steamy romance-turned-mystery. Grab a cuppa (or iced green tea + croissant) and get comfy, we have much to discuss. #romancebooks #romance #fiction...

In this first episode of their new podcast, Amy and Sarah dive into the world of romance fiction with Elsie Silver’s Flawless. Hot cowboys, bull riding, and pissing off the dairy industry, there's something for everyone on this wild ride. Grab a cuppa (or a milk based drink of your choice) and get comfy, we have much to discuss. Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview Credits: The Historic...