The Stacks, Ep. 410: "Romance Is Helpful When Times Are Scary" with Jasmine Guillory
Date: February 4, 2026
Host: Traci Thomas
Guest: Jasmine Guillory
Episode Overview
This episode of The Stacks—hosted by Traci Thomas—features acclaimed romance novelist Jasmine Guillory. The conversation unfolds around Guillory's path from high-powered attorney to bestselling author, the vital role romance fiction plays in difficult times, the dynamics of representation in romance publishing, and practical bookish recommendations, including a discussion of favorite (and least favorite) romance tropes. The episode also highlights the February book club pick: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Jasmine’s Background and Relationship with Books
[03:30–06:09]
- Jasmine and Traci bond over shared Oakland roots and the same high school.
- Jasmine describes a childhood steeped in reading, with both parents in academia and a house full of books:
- "I learned to read when I was like three years old, which apparently infuriated some members of my family because...I would correct them." [03:47, Jasmine]
- Her mom’s book choices influenced young Jasmine—Toni Morrison, cookbooks, and shared reading experiences as an informal family book club.
Letting Kids Read Freely
[06:09–07:53]
- Jasmine supports letting kids explore "older" books, believing children self-regulate:
- "I read a lot of books, way too old for me at a young age, and I just didn't understand what they were talking about." [06:30, Jasmine]
Education and Career Before Writing Fiction
[08:06–10:05]
- Jasmine studied history (almost double-majoring in political science) before working on Capitol Hill and then as a lawyer.
- The transition toward writing began only after establishing her legal career and seeking something new in her newfound free evenings.
Journey to Writing Romance
[10:45–12:46]
-
Her early writing attempts focused on young adult fiction—seeking stories she hadn’t seen as a Black teen.
-
A personal health crisis drew her into reading (and eventually writing) romance, providing comfort during anxious times:
- "Romance is so helpful when times are scary. You go in knowing it's going to be a happy ending." [10:53, Jasmine]
-
Historical romance was a favorite to read but "didn't feel" like her writing voice; discovering contemporary romance led to The Wedding Date.
The Wedding Date’s Success and Industry Impact
[12:54–16:18]
- Traci recalls The Wedding Date as a breakout, culture-shifting moment for Black romance authors.
- Jasmine expresses surprise at the book’s broad embrace, citing the lack of publishing support for romance by and about people of color at the time:
- "It has really been kind of the little book that could." [13:38, Jasmine]
- Discusses the steep learning curve in publishing, industry jargon, and how her prior professional experience helped in handling publicity.
Romance as Comfort During Hard Times
[16:18–17:48]
- The pandemic brought a surge of readers looking for escape and reassurance, many of whom turned to Jasmine’s books as comfort reads:
- "I started reading your book during the pandemic. And then I read them all...It really got me through the hard times." [16:51, Jasmine]
- She draws a parallel to the cultural craving for joyful, uplifting entertainment during distressing eras.
Book Recommendations for Comfort
[18:09–19:14]
- Mystery novels, especially the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, became a lifeline for Jasmine and her friends during lockdown.
Why Do High-Powered Black Women Write Romance?
[19:42–21:32]
- Traci notes how several high-achieving Black women (including Tia Williams and Stacey Abrams) have channeled creative energy into romance writing.
- Jasmine reflects on the joy and complexity Black women deserve in literature:
- "So often...media that is for and about black women...is about, like, the struggle...but also, there is so much more in our lives: love and family and joy." [20:00, Jasmine]
On Favorite and Least Favorite Romance Tropes
[21:32–26:28]
-
Jasmine loves "fake dating" and delights in "marriage of convenience" in historical settings but not contemporary due to realism constraints.
-
Dislikes the "secret baby" trope:
- "I do not like secret baby books...No matter what happens, one of the main characters seems like a real asshole." [22:29, Jasmine]
-
Also dislikes the "bet" trope ("She’s All That" style) due to inherent character unlikeability.
Trope Mechanics and Crafting Stories
- Jasmine found that even attempting to write a disliked trope (the "bet") helped her clarify her character arcs, even if the trope didn’t make it into the finished book.
Book Club Pick: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
[27:08–28:48]
- Jasmine is excited to read Indigo because it's the perennial recommendation for Jenkins newcomers and she hasn’t yet read it.
On Quantity and Career in Romance
[28:27–28:48]
- "Mid-career" in romance means a larger oeuvre compared to literary fiction; Jasmine’s next book will be her tenth.
Book Recommendations Segment: Ask the Stacks
[31:51–37:00]
- Listener asks for light reading post-rehearsal; Jasmine and Traci provide recommendations:
- Traci’s recs:
- Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff (celeb-normie romance) [32:55]
- Anna K by Jenny Lee (YA retelling of Anna Karenina)
- Fight of the Century ed. Ayelet Waldman & Michael Chabon (ACLU nonfiction anthology)
- Jasmine’s recs:
- Amy Spalding’s Out in Hollywood series, esp. the forthcoming In Her Spotlight [34:32]
- A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (fantasy romance)
- Boom Town by Sam Anderson (narrative nonfiction about Oklahoma City)
- Traci’s recs:
Speed Round: Book Loves, Hates, & Habits
[37:30–58:49]
Two Books You Love, One You Hate
- Love: Whidbey by T. Kira Madden (upcoming, about the aftermath of abuse by a child molester) [38:13]
- Hate: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- "Yes, yes, blah blah blah, the green light, whatever. Nothing about it does anything for me." [39:07, Jasmine]
- Love: Intercepted by Alexa Martin (NFL romance with strong female friendships) [40:05]
Navigating Reading for Pleasure and Work
- Jasmine struggles with blending her personal joy in reading with professional obligations as an author, often reading books for endorsement ("blurbing") or to keep up with peers.
- Vacation time provides mental space to manage "work reading."
- Re-reading old favorites (like Agatha Christie) helps maintain the joy.
Audiobooks, Reading Formats, and Habits
- Audiobooks: Prefers nonfiction—especially memoirs—for listening, typically while walking her dog. Only very "voicey" novels (e.g., Yellowface) work for her in audio.
- Kindle/ereader: Ideal for bathtub reading and nighttime reading; appreciates the lack of backlight and ample adjustable font size.
Book Storage & Organization
- Describes her home as "very poorly" organized, with books loosely clustered by category (children's, cookbooks, fiction, etc.) but often stacked rather than shelved.
Recommended Titles
- Often recommends The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson to teach the Great Migration’s impact on Black families.
- "I mean, it taught me so much about, like, as a history major, I love just learning all of the things that I never really learned in school, but also it just taught me, like, about myself." [45:53, Jasmine]
Ideal Reading Setup
- Vacation: Beach or poolside, fruity drink, salty snacks, frequent dips in water.
- At Home: Bathtub, water bottle, Kindle for dim lighting.
Quickfire Round
- Last book that made you laugh: Kin by Tayari Jones [53:01]
- Last book that made you angry: Same as above
- Last book you learned from: Whidbey (fiction) or nonfiction picks
- Book you’re embarrassed not to have read: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
- Book more people should know about: The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
- Problematic favorite: Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas ("...in the first book of the series, the hero...threatened to rape someone...But I love him in this book so much.") [55:19, Jasmine]
- Book to assign high school students: The Girls Who Grew Big by Another Daughter (on authentic portrayal of teenage girls)
- Book to assign the president: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- "I also think more people should be open to the possibility of changing their minds." [57:59]
Bookstore Shoutout
- Favorite local bookstore: East Bay Booksellers, Oakland [51:35]
- Values independent bookstores and their role in her reading and writing journey.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
"Romance is so helpful when times are scary. You go in knowing it's going to be a happy ending, and that was very soothing to me."
— Jasmine Guillory, [00:15] -
"So often...media that is for and about black women...is about, like, the struggle, you know? And, yeah, there's struggle...But also, there is so much more in our lives: love and family and joy."
— Jasmine Guillory, [20:00] -
"One of the hardest things about this job is having reading, which has always been my relaxing time, also be work now."
— Jasmine Guillory, [41:41] -
"I do not like secret baby books...No matter what happens, one of the main characters seems like a real asshole."
— Jasmine Guillory, [22:29]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Intro & Jasmine’s Biography: [02:27–06:09]
- On Reading Beyond Age as a Child: [06:09–07:53]
- Early Career & Law: [08:06–10:05]
- Entry to Writing & Romance: [10:45–12:46]
- Publishing Journey & Breakout Success: [12:54–16:18]
- Readers’ Relationship With Her Work (Pandemic): [16:51–17:49]
- Representation & Black Joy in Romance: [19:42–21:32]
- Tropes: Faves and Not-So-Faves: [21:32–26:28]
- Book Club Pick Discussion (Indigo): [27:08–28:48]
- Ask the Stacks Rec Segment: [31:51–37:00]
- Rapid Fires: Book Habits, Recs, and Guilty Pleasures: [37:30–59:36]
Concluding Resources & Next Steps
- February Book Club: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins—episode with Jasmine returns Feb 25.
- Further Engagement: Join The Stacks community on Patreon or Substack; explore show notes for linked recommendations.
The Stacks: Conversations at the intersection of books and lived experience—engaging, honest, and full of reading inspiration for every genre lover.