Fated Mates S08.04 – “We Love You Chicago, DC, and LA”

Air Date: October 8, 2025
Hosts: Sarah MacLean & Jen Prokop

Episode Overview

This week’s episode of Fated Mates is a heartfelt hybrid of personal catch-ups, serious discussion of current U.S. political/immigration crises in major U.S. cities, and, of course, heaps of romance book recommendations. Sarah and Jen center Chicago, DC, and LA—cities currently in crisis due to National Guard and ICE actions—as both places of romance fiction and lived experience. The episode pairs political urgency and calls to activism with joyful book talk. Listeners are encouraged to care for themselves through romance and to take real-life action to support vulnerable communities.

Primary Themes and Purpose

• Discuss political unrest and activism in major U.S. cities: Focus on ICE activity, National Guard deployments, and the feeling of living “under siege.”
• Highlighting the role of romance fiction: Romance as both comfort and inspiration to act, not a substitute for activism but a way to fortify and revitalize.
• Showcasing books/authors in Chicago, DC, and LA: Recs for novels that capture the spirit, diversity, and urgency of these places, plus highlighting ways to support local communities, organizations, and businesses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Updates & Humor

• Medical anxieties and funny stories: Sarah shares her bout of “stress hypochondria” and an old “bicycle diabetes” anecdote from NYC ([00:28]; [01:45]).

• Jen narrates a White Sox game mishap where her husband broke his hand catching a foul ball ([02:20])—"he didn't think he had a tumor. Exactly."

• Both recount recent travels and colds, with Sarah musing on the cleanliness and literacy of Scandinavia after visiting the Gothenburg Book Festival ([05:28]).

  "Scandinavia is like too clean to give you a cold, you know?" – Sarah ([05:16])

2. Book Festival in Sweden

• Sarah describes the scale and literary engagement of the Gothenburg Book Festival.

• Romance’s debut as an official festival category; meeting Swedish trailblazer Simona Arnstadt and crime novelists ([07:06]-[12:44]).

  “1% of the population of Sweden descends on the town of Yottabori…Imagine where we would be if 1% of the U.S. came for a book festival!” – Sarah ([06:19])

• Playful comparison of mystery and romance tropes: "lights out, dead body" vs. “only one bed.” ([12:16])

3. Political Reality in Chicago/LA/DC

• Why these cities now: Recent deployment of National Guard, ICE raids, and intensified federal interventions in these places.

• Personal on-the-ground accounts from Jen:

  • Recounts ICE violence, helicopter raids, zip-tying of children, and chemical weapons in Chicago neighborhoods ([21:23]-[24:42]).
  • Describes city atmosphere: "The city itself feels under siege is maybe the way to say it." ([24:12])

  "It is almost impossible for me to believe...anyone who reads the articles...would think anything but, 'we are now fully under fascist control and it’s fucking terrifying.'" – Jen ([24:28])

4. Calls to Action

• Emphasize that observing from the sidelines is not enough—urge listeners not to assume “it won’t come for you.”

• Encourage direct action, joining protests, volunteering for local organizations, running for office, phone banking, and supporting independent/local journalism and community resource groups ([24:42]-[28:09], [108:53]-[116:11]).

• List concrete examples: Mobilize Us, food banks, Brave Space Alliance (Chicago), Block Club Chicago, TheTRiiBE, LA Taco, CHEERLA, and more ([28:09]-[34:28]; [83:30]).

  "Hope is not a static noun. It is an act." – Sarah quoting Amanda's Mild Takes ([27:34])

  “We are not lost. Hope is not lost." – Sarah ([24:42])

5. Community Bookstores and Journalism

• Support independent, BIPOC-owned bookstores. Set your Bookshop.org store to support marginalized businesses ([33:28]).
• Follow and fund grassroots journalism for reliable local information ([31:58]-[32:06]).

Romance Books: By City

Chicago

Authors/Series Highlights:

• Nicole Falls—Noelle the First (Holiday Sisters). Sweet homecoming holiday novella, Chicago suburbs & bar crawls. “Her nickname is Nono in her family, and he calls her Yes, yes. And I'm just...it's adorable.” – Jen ([45:10])

• Becca Grischow—I’ll Get Back to You. FF holiday romance with fake dating, dealing with insecurity and holiday loneliness in Geneva, IL ([45:16]-[50:05]).

• Priscilla Oliveras—Her Perfect Affair (Match to Perfection series). Three Latina sisters, family, accidental pregnancy. Strong "Chicago community" vibes ([50:05]-[52:15]).

• Natalie Caña—A Proposal They Can’t Refuse. Puerto Rican/Irish fake-dating contemporary with meddling grandfathers, gentrification ([52:15]-[56:32]).

• Shirelle Green—Crown Legacy series. Dark romance with found family/organized crime in Chicago ([56:32]).

• Sonali Dev—Bollywood Bride, Change of Heart. Explores immigrant experience; partly Chicago-set ([57:31]).

• Veronica Roth—Curse Bearer series (When Among Crows). Polish immigrant folklore/fantasy romance set in Chicago ([58:43]).

• Naima Simone—Blackout Billionaires. Sexy, quick Chicago-set romance ([107:13]).

• Plus: shout-outs to many local authors (Pamela Knight, Shannon Schroeder, Kelly Farmer), romance conferences, and Chicago North Romance Writers ([35:58]-[39:32]).

  “Community bookstores can be a place where you can find and support the communities in your town.” – Jen ([33:28])

Los Angeles

Standouts:

• Kacen Callender—Stars in Your Eyes. M/M fake-dating Hollywood romance; “emotionally just really the emotions here just felt like broiling, seized” ([63:12]-[68:01]).
• Mia Hopkins—Eastside Brewery series. Gritty, warm contemporary about Latinx brothers running a brewery, pandemic backdrop, heavy sense of community ([68:01]-[74:17]).
  • Book 3: Tanked spotlights social work, Covid, and loving amidst isolation.
• Maurene Goo—The Way You Make Me Feel (YA). Summery LA on a Korean-Brazilian food truck, friendship redemption arc ([74:17]-[78:01]).
  • Forthcoming adult debut: One & Only.
• Amanda Quick—The Girl Who Knew Too Much. 1930s Hollywood historical romantic suspense with a runaway heroine turned gossip columnist ([78:01]-[83:12]).
• Maureen Lee Lenker—His Girl Hollywood. Old Hollywood, second-chance, mob involvement ([82:20]-[83:12]).
• Chris Rice—Soapy, “over the top fun” Southern California-set romances ([83:12]).
• Resources: Latino bookstore lists, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) ([83:30]).

Washington, D.C.

Essential Reads:

• Tracey Livesay—Love Will Always Remember. Bananas (in the best way!) amnesia romance, twins, deep DC setting ([85:33]-[91:46]).
• Tim Kim Lam—Something Cheeky. Sex-positive, plus-size lingerie business owner, Asian American cast, second chance with musical theater vibes ([92:03]-[95:58]).
• Rebecca Kincaid—Streams and Schemes. Explosively sexy danger-bangs-next-door-neighbor romance, OnlyFans heroine, real D.C. energy ([96:09]-[101:14]).
  • “Right out into this book...there is an alert that goes off on their phones...there’s a nuclear weapon coming for D.C....so what else would you do than walk in...and there’s your hot neighbor. I’m gonna climb that like a tree.” – Sarah ([98:21])
  • “I just read the most insane thing. I'm going to need you right now to get this book.” – Jen ([97:00])
• Pamela Palmer—Feral Warriors series. Paranormal, fate-bonded “animal soul” warriors, often in D.C. iconic locations ([101:43]-[105:18]).
• Nikki Payne—Pride and Protest. Pride & Prejudice retelling focused on radio host, gentrification, housing justice ([105:21]).
• Mia Sosa—The Worst Best Man & Wedding Crasher. D.C.-area, humorous contemporary ([106:18]).
• Plus: Strong focus on grassroots activism, town halls, and reasons to get involved locally ([108:53]-[116:11]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Hope is not a static noun. It is an act.” – Sarah ([27:34])
• “It is almost impossible for me to believe...anyone who reads the articles...would think anything but, 'we are now fully under fascist control and it’s fucking terrifying.'” – Jen ([24:28])
• "If you need a person to tell you to run for office again, Jen and I are doing that right now." – Sarah ([111:41])
• On book beginnings: "I am a fucking sucker for chapter one 'we're going to die, we better bang.'" – Sarah ([96:35])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00]-[05:28] – Opening banter, health anxieties, travels
• [05:28]-[12:44] – Gothenburg Book Festival, Sweden’s romance scene, genre comparisons
• [16:42]-[24:42] – Setting up the episode’s purpose, political urgency, impact of ICE in Chicago
• [24:42]-[34:28] – Local activism, news orgs, grassroots groups, bookstore shout-outs
• [35:32]-[62:05] – Extensive Chicago author/book recs + local community context
• [63:12]-[83:30] – LA-centric book/author recs, local orgs, adventures in historical/old Hollywood romance
• [85:33]-[107:13] – DC-centric book/author recs, with deep-dives on powerful, wild, sexy, and paranormal picks
• [108:53]-[116:11] – Practical activism: voting, running for office, phone banking, supporting local candidates, “No Kings” protest
• [116:11]-[119:51] – Hope, collective action, community, and episode wrap-up

How to Use This Episode If You Haven’t Listened

• Feel less alone: First-hand accounts of what life feels like in cities under literal siege, and that romance can be a comfort as we take action.
• Get inspired – then act: The energy is urgent but hopeful—this isn’t a doomsday podcast. Both hosts believe in resistance, community, and the unique power of collective small actions.
• Curate your TBR: Find contemporary, queer, dark, historical, and fantastical romance titles that capture the soul of major American cities.
• Take action: Direct links to organizations, scripts for calling reps, and encouragement to run for office or join a protest, especially if you’re not personally threatened (see show notes on their site at FatedMates.net).

Resources & Support

• Show notes: Full lists of books, indie bookstores, mutual aid orgs, and activism toolkits at fatedmates.net
• Find real-life community: Use Mobilize Us, local Discord, and org links to take action beyond social media.
• Book recommendations: Use episode recs to find both joy and stories that reflect and inspire the struggle for justice.

Final Words:
“Hope is how we get through this. Resisting is how we do this…find a community. There are people in your town who want to stand up...and we love you.” – Sarah ([116:11])