Book Riot - The Podcast: Everything Romance with Jessica Pryde

Release Date: February 12, 2025

Introduction to Romantasy

Hosts: Jeff O'Neill & Rebecca Schinsky
Guest: Jess Pride

In this engaging episode of Book Riot - The Podcast, hosts Jeff O'Neill and Rebecca Schinsky delve deep into the intricate world of romance, specifically exploring the burgeoning subgenre of romantasy with their guest, Jess Pride. As Valentine's Day approaches, the trio examines current trends, challenges, and the evolving landscape of romantic literature.

The Current State of Romance Literature

Timestamp: 02:33

Jess Pride opens the discussion by highlighting the significant surge in romance readership since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. She notes that romance has consistently been a top-selling genre, but recent social shifts, particularly the influence of platforms like TikTok, have made the genre more mainstream and openly discussed.

"Romance... has since doubled in public readership and, like, sales because it's always been one of the most popular selling genres."
— Jess Pride [02:33]

Pride also touches upon the controversial term "smut," traditionally viewed negatively within long-time romance readers' circles. However, its reclamation in recent times indicates a broader acceptance and enthusiasm for more explicit romantic content.

Reclamation and Evolution of "Smut"

Timestamp: 04:27

Rebecca Schinsky probes into the resurgence and positive rebranding of "smut" within the romance community. She wonders whether this shift stems from a cultural movement towards greater openness about sexual content or if publishers have recognized a demand for more explicit romantic storytelling.

"Are we just a more sex POS culture, but I don't think that's the case... Maybe it's just that publishers discovered that people want to read, like, the dirty details of a moment, and they're like, let's call it smut."
— Rebecca Schinsky [04:27]

Jess Pride attributes the reclamation of "smut" primarily to social media influencers and promoters rather than publishers, emphasizing that while producers are embracing more sexually explicit content, not all romance novels fall into this category.

"I don't think it was in the publisher's hands. I think it was in the big social media promoters' hands."
— Jess Pride [04:44]

Romantasy: Blending Romance with Fantasy

Timestamp: 06:17

The conversation shifts to romantasy—a fusion of romance and fantasy elements. Rebecca expresses her initial confusion regarding the balance between romantic and fantasy elements in novels like Fourth Wing, questioning whether the genre emphasizes romance or fantasy more heavily.

Jess explains that romantasy encompasses a spectrum, pulling from both fantasy and romance traditions. She distinguishes it from earlier labels like "romantic fantasy" and "fantasy romance," highlighting how the portmanteau "romantasy" brings together diverse expectations from both communities.

"Romantasy is sort of pulling those two sides because there are people who come from the fantasy side and don't are like, what do you mean? It has to have an HEA."
— Jess Pride [15:58]

Impact of Societal Climate on Genre Popularity

Timestamp: 13:20

Rebecca posits that the rise of romantasy coincided with the sociopolitical climate, particularly the early years of the Trump presidency. She suggests that the need for escapism during tumultuous times fueled the popularity of genres that offer both magical escapes and the comfort of predictable romantic resolutions.

"The combination of escapism that Fantasy and romance both offer, and the reliable tropes of both of them... we were deep into that first round of the Trump presidency and folks needed escape."
— Rebecca Schinsky [13:20]

Jess agrees, citing examples like Red, White & Royal as romantic narratives that offer alternate realities blending political scenarios with fairy-tale romance.

Navigating Cover Art and Genre Identification

Timestamp: 34:12

A significant portion of the discussion addresses the challenge readers face in identifying subgenres based solely on cover art. Rebecca laments the homogenization of romance novel covers, making it difficult to distinguish between different types of romantic stories at a glance.

"How do I look... figure out which ones I'm going to be into. Like, we have... there's no visual way to distinguish one from the other at this point."
— Rebecca Schinsky [35:33]

Jess suggests that following recommendations from trusted sources and paying attention to genre-specific cues within publisher lines can aid readers in making informed choices amidst visually similar covers.

"Sometimes it's just kind of luck of the draw. You look like a cover is worth a thousand words sometimes."
— Jess Pride [37:06]

Category Romance vs. Contemporary Romance

Timestamp: 40:05

The hosts explore the distinctions between category romance (e.g., Harlequin titles) and contemporary or commercial romance. Jess emphasizes that category romances are tightly written with specific beats and tropes, making them a reliable entry point for new readers seeking predictable and satisfying romantic narratives.

"When you're writing a category romance, it's like heavily edited, very tightly written, but the people who write them are some of the best at the craft because of that."
— Jess Pride [41:21]

Rebecca recalls her time as a bookseller marveling at the multitude of romance subcategories, noting that this specialization helps readers find exactly the type of romance they prefer.

Recommendations and Surprising Finds

Timestamp: 20:23 & 28:57

Throughout the episode, Jess shares several book recommendations catering to various romantic tastes. Notably, she highlights That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Wilson as an irreverent and spicy fantasy romance that breaks traditional romantic norms.

"It's hilarious, irreverent fantasy... it is literally spicy, literally spicy."
— Jess Pride [21:32]

Additionally, Jess introduces listeners to Lights Out by Nevesa Allen, an unexpected dive into dark romantic comedy that blends intense themes with humor, showcasing the versatility within the romance genre.

"There's banter involved... because it's just so cleverly written and, like, fun."
— Jess Pride [28:35]

Concluding Thoughts and Final Recommendations

Timestamp: 42:56

As the episode wraps up, Jess passionately advocates for the continued appreciation and exploration of mass-market romances, urging listeners to support and discover diverse voices within the genre. She underscores the importance of category romances and romantasy in providing varied and enriching reading experiences.

"Mass market romances still exist. They are still a thing. They have great people who are writing them. Please check out a mass market romance."
— Jess Pride [42:56]

Jeff and Rebecca express their gratitude to Jess for her insightful contributions, encouraging listeners to explore the recommended titles and engage further with the romance community through upcoming events like the Tucson Book Festival.

Key Takeaways

• Romance's Resilience: The romance genre continues to thrive, bolstered by increased visibility and evolving societal attitudes towards love and relationships.

• Reclaiming "Smut": The term "smut" has been positively reclaimed within the community, reflecting a growing acceptance of explicit romantic content.

• Romantasy's Growth: The blending of romance and fantasy elements has created a dynamic subgenre that caters to diverse reader preferences, balancing magical escapism with heartfelt narratives.

• Navigating Genre Challenges: Readers face challenges in identifying desired subgenres due to uniform cover designs, but following trusted recommendations and understanding category distinctions can mitigate confusion.

• Diverse Recommendations: The episode offers a range of book recommendations, from irreverent fantasies to dark romantic comedies, highlighting the genre's versatility.

Notable Quotes

• Jess Pride:
  "Romance... has since doubled in public readership and, like, sales because it's always been one of the most popular selling genres." [02:33]

• Rebecca Schinsky:
  "How do I look... figure out which ones I'm going to be into." [35:33]

• Jess Pride:
  "Mass market romances still exist. They are still a thing. They have great people who are writing them. Please check out a mass market romance." [42:56]

Additional Resources

• Jess Pride's Work:

  • Byline on Book Riot
  • Co-host of the Women Romance Podcast
  • Social Media: Blue Sky at Jess's Reading, Instagram, Threads (@ss_reading)

• Upcoming Events:

  • Tucson Book Festival: Jess Pride is part of the romance committee.

For more in-depth discussions and further insights into the world of romance and romantasy, visit Book Riot's website and stay tuned to their podcast series.