Friends to Lovers

What does Mackenzie actually think of Reese's Book Club? Is Lily really reading 400 books this year? What were some of the worst reads in 2020? In their first-ever midseason Q&A, Mackenzie and Lily keep the goss piping hot.

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (1:19), Introduction to Q&A Episode (2:50), Question About Where Mackenzie Sees Bad Bitch Book Club Going (3:43), Question About Why Mackenzie Thinks BBBC Caught On (7:01), Question About What Mackenzie and Lily Do Professionally (12:44), Question About How Significant Others Support Mackenzie and Lily's Love of Books (17:59), Question About Best Career Advice (21:14), Question About How Mackenzie and Lily Organize Their TBRs (24:37), Mention of Next Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton (26:39), Question About How Mackenzie and Lily Read Over 50 and 400 Books, Respectively, in a Year (31:38), Question About Book Boyfriends and Favorite Romance Tropes (40:09), Mention of The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (40:31), Mention of One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (41:10), Mention of Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas (42:43), Mention of Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan (43:15), Mention of Beach Read by Emily Henry (44:07), Mention of Beard Science by Penny Reid (44:32), Question About the Most Disappointing Reads of the Year (46:00), Mention of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver (46:23), Mention of Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin (48:06), Mention of Untamed by Glennon Doyle (49:58), Mention of Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting (51:12), Mention of How to Walk Away by Katherine Center (52:05), Mention of Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park (53:09), Conclusion (54:35).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

Why does Mackenzie get heart emoji eyes every time she sees a book with love at first sight in it while Lily wants to gouge her eyes out? In the inaugural Trope Talk episode, insta-love books are front and center, and the hot takes are abound. This episode does have a few short places with spoilers, so be sure to check out the timestamps below.

Spoiler timestamps: This episode contains spoilers of The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory (29:44-32:00), November 9 by Colleen Hoover (35:16-37:55), and The Happily Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez (47:16-52:19).

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (1:24), Introduction to Trope Talk Topic (2:23), Choosing Insta-Love as the First Trope (5:50), Discussion of Insta-Love In Real Life (10:09), Discussion of Amatonormativity (17:49), Explanation of Ze/Zir Pronouns (20:29), Return to Discussion of Amatonormativity (22:30), Introduction to Insta-Love Tropes in Book (27:33), LIGHT SPOILERS (First 20% of the Book): Discussion of Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date (29:44), SPOILERS: Discussion of November 9 by Colleen Hoover (33:58), Discussion of 28 Summers by Elin Hildebrand (37:55), Brief Mention of The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (43:34), Brief Mention of It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (44:07), SPOILERS: Discussion of The Happily Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez (45:09), Discussion of One Day in December by Josie Silver (52:19), Discussion of Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center (55:47), Conclusion (58:58).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

What does it take to write one of the most exquisite blow job scenes in historical romance history (according to F2L's co-hosts, of course)? Mackenzie and Lily continue their conversation with bestselling author Sarah MacLean, discuss which romance writer always has a wall fucking moment, give BBBC member recommendations for books with Empowering Blow Jobs™, and offer a brief glimpse into what else they're reading.

This is the second part of a two-part episode. The first segment was published on October 5th, and you should definitely listen to that episode before diving into this one.

Spoiler timestamp: This episode contains spoilers from 15:03-24:50.

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00) Questions About How Sarah Creates Her Series (1:35), Question About How Sarah Create Her Couples (5:16), Question About How Sarah Write Scenes of Intimacy in Her Books (11:37), SPOILER: Question About How Sarah Wrote the Blow Job Scene in Brazen and the Beast (15:03), The Difference Between Sarah MacLean and Tessa Dare (24:50), Sarah's Recommendations for New Historical Romance Readers (28:38), Discussion of Tessa Dare Books (29:04), Discussion of The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan (29:23), Discussion of Uptown Girls series by Joanna Shupe (33:47), Discussion of Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas (34:28), Teaser for Sarah MacLean's Upcoming Series Hell's Belles (37:14), Teaser for Sarah's Upcoming Short Story in Anthology Naughty Bits (41:23), Introduction to Bad Bitch Book Club Member Recommendations (43:13), Discussion of The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan (44:55), Discussion of The Player Next Door by KA Tucker (45:55), Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory (46:53), Introduction to What Else We've Been Reading (48:21), Discussion of Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz (48:29), Discussion of Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon (50:26), Conclusion (53:24).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

Can blow jobs ever be empowering for women? In part one of this episode, Mackenzie and Lily give an abbreviated world history of blow jobs and begin their discussion with award-winning and bestselling historical romance novelist Sarah MacLean about what the romance genre tells us about women over the last 50 years, how Christian Grey became a recession-era daddy, and which romance author she thinks writes the best dirty talk.

Part two of this episode (including a discussion about a very nautical blow job) will be available on Wednesday, October 7th.

Content warning: Brief discussions of rape, sexual assault, and non-consensual acts in a historical context.

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (1:18), Introduction to Episode Topic (2:24), An Abbreviated History of Blow Jobs (5:18), Introduction to Sarah MacLean (20:46), Sarah MacLean Bio (28:20), Question About How Sarah Got Into Romance Writing (30:55), Discussion About the Twilight Franchise's Influence in the Romance Genre (33:08), Question About What the Romance Genre Tells Us About Women in General Through the Decades (37:44), Discussion of the Rise of Consent in Romances (47:48), Conclusion (51:05).

Content warning timestamps: Discussions of Sexual Assault in a Historical Context (13:15-13:53), Discussion of Rape in Kathleen Woodiwiss' The Flame and the Flower (42:07-43:41), Romances with #MeToo Themes (48:09-48:58).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292095932008569/.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

In this special additional episode (y'all are spoiled!), Mackenzie and Lily continue their conversation with couples therapist and sexuality educator Jennifer Litner all about interpolitical dating and romantic partnerships. Mack and Lil also provide ample politically-minded romance novel recommendations and a peek into what else they're reading.

This is the second part of a two-part episode. The first segment was published on September 28th, and you should definitely listen to that episode before diving into this one.

You can learn more about F2L guest Jennifer Litner at https://www.embracesexualwellness.com/ and on Instagram at @embracesexualwellness. F2L listeners also get 20% off her e-course Building Ease Talking About the Birds and the Bees™ with the promo code F2LPODCAST, which is valid now through October 31, 2020: https://builidingease.mykajabi.com/offers/HV43zLAn/checkout?coupon_code=F2LPODCAST

It's a digital course for parents, guardians, and caregivers who want to learn how to communicate developmentally appropriate sex-ed information with their children. Lesson material is based on the standards for comprehensive sexuality education, has been peer-reviewed, and is designed to be inclusive, shame-free, anti-oppressive, and scientifically accurate.

Parents can also download her free guide to developmentally appropriate conversations with youth here: https://builidingease.mykajabi.com/conversationsguide

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Question About How to Handle a Partner's Unsavory Political Opinions (1:56), Question About Why Our Society Loves the Idea of "Opposites Attract" (7:12), Question About If You Should Try to Change a Partner's Political Affiliation or Views (14:20), Question About Supporting a Loved One in a Mixed Partisan Relationship (22:24), Question About What to Do If This Podcast Has Caused a Relationship Crisis (27:08), Post-Jennifer Litner Conversation Debrief, (32:07), Introduction to Member-Generated Politically Minded Romance Recommendations (36:39), Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (37:07), Running by Natalia Sylvester (37:20), The Kingmaker and The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan (38:28), Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (39:18), The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert (40:46), Introduction to What Else We're Reading (41:18), Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid (41:26), Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls by Nina Renata Aron (43:46), Conclusion (46:48).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Why are there suddenly romance novels coming out about Democrats and Republicans falling in love? How many interpolitcal couples really exist in actuality? And can they thrive without massive amounts of compartmentalization and avoidance? Mackenzie and Lily are joined in the first of a two-part episode by couples therapist and sexuality educator Jennifer Litner to discuss what's really at the heart of mixed partisan partnerships and if there's something to be said for "opposites attract"—or are you royally fucked?

Part two of this episode will be available on Wednesday, September 30th.

You can learn more about F2L guest Jennifer Litner at https://www.embracesexualwellness.com/ and on Instagram at @embracesexualwellness. F2L listeners also get 20% off her e-course Building Ease Talking About the Birds and the Bees™ with the promo code F2LPODCAST, which is valid now through October 31, 2020: https://builidingease.mykajabi.com/offers/HV43zLAn/checkout?coupon_code=F2LPODCAST

It's a digital course for parents, guardians, and caregivers who want to learn how to communicate developmentally appropriate sex-ed information with their children. Lesson material is based on the standards for comprehensive sexuality education, has been peer-reviewed, and is designed to be inclusive, shame-free, anti-oppressive, and scientifically accurate.

Parents can also download her free guide to developmentally appropriate conversations with youth here: https://builidingease.mykajabi.com/conversationsguide

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (1:25), Introduction to Episode Topic (2:21), Introduction to Interpolitical Romance Novels (3:25), Introduction to The State of Us by Shaun David Hutchinson (6:21), Introduction to Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels (9:02), Discussion of Mackenzie and Lily's Political Views (13:27), Discussion of Interpolitical Relationships Research (15:43), Discussion of Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels (27:04), Introduction to Jennifer Litner (40:29), Question About Differences and Similarities Between Core Values and Political Views (42:02), Questions About Opposing Values and Views That Mixed Partisan Couples Have (46:37), Pros and Cons of Mixed Partisan Romance Relationships (49:35), Conclusion (51:36).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

In this week's episode of Friends to Lovers, Mackenzie and Lily discuss why Sally Rooney's novel Normal People is so hyped, what makes a true Angsty Youth™ book, why Old Navy's men's section has the best graphic T-shirts, and which "groundbreakingly terrible" piece of fiction they both threw across the room while reading.

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (1:26), Introduction to Main Discussion (4:11), Introduction to Normal People (5:15), Introduction to Angsty Youth™ Definition (16:22), The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (20:14), The Mothers by Brit Bennett (23:43), Trust Exercise by Susan Choi (27:12), All My Mother's Lovers by Ilana Masad (36:01), Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales (39:13), Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (42:37), Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls (47:02), Bad Bitch Book Club Member Recommendations (47:29), Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (47:45), Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan (48:48), Emergency Contact and Permanent Record by Mary HK Choi (49:06), Conclusion (49:41).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

Welcome to Friends to Lovers! On the inaugural episode of the first season, Mackenzie and Lily dive into romances that won't make your pearl-clutching grandma break out in hives from the utter steaminess and sexual tension.

Major episode timestamps: Introduction (0:00), Housekeeping (2:00), Introduction to Main Discussion (11:22), Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin (13:44), Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (15:47), The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali (18:36), Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton (22:04), You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac (24:55), Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center (29:18), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (31:42), Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (31:42), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (31:42), After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid (31:42), Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid (31:42), One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (31:42), What Else We're Reading (34:19), Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall (34:19), and Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier (34:19).

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Buy all books mentioned on Friends to Lovers: https://bookshop.org/lists/friends-to-lovers-podcast.

Friends to Lovers is a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).

Welcome to Friends to Lovers, a Bad Bitch Book Club podcast hosted by BBBC founder Mackenzie Newcomb and writer, editor, and bestie Lily Herman. Each week, they use books as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, love, romance, and more.

Friends to Lovers launches its first 10-episode season on September 14, 2020. Give us a five-star rating wherever you get your podcasts, and say hi to us at @F2LPodcast on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join the private F2L Facebook group.

You can get full show notes and episode transcriptions on the Bad Bitch Book Club website: http://badbitchbookclub.com/podcast.

If you want to support Bad Bitch Book Club's initiatives (including this podcast), become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/badbitchbookclub.

Podcast logo by MKW Creative Co. (https://mkwcreative.co/) and music by Eliza Rose Vera (http://www.elizarosevera.com).