Whoa!mance

As we wrap up FanFicuary Morgan and Isabeau we couldn't leave Harry Potter behind. While JKRowling and her world view continue to be a dangerous dumpster fire, we ask where does the author end and the fanfic author begin? We also tackle the Everest of our times: The most fraught subject in all the world--PDA. Where's the pleasure in wrapping yourself in the coat of another adult human while they are wearing it--in public? How public is too public for deep throating your crush? Grab a butterbeer and your house colors as we meander through the warm fuzzies of the post Hogwarts ennui of 20 somethings trying to fledge. Its the headcanon of a lot people's dreams: Harry

We're back and we're ready to get down to the business of weirdest, sexiest, and whoa/no of THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by ALI HAZELWOOD. This fic turned barn burner of a romance novel (you can buy it Target!) uses characters from the Star Wars universe to tell the story of a third year PhD candidate catching real feelings in a fake relationship with a tenured faculty in her department. What is the line between real person fic and character fic? What about fic demands delicious cringe? Are there breasts so small and mouths so big? In the words of Jar Jar Binks - Dissen ganna be bery messy!

This ep, we're staying space together (continuing FanFicUary) for the space kids (you, faithful listeners) by discussing THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood. Olive (Stanford University Biology PhD Candidate AU Rey from Star Wars) and Adam (AU Kylo Ren) should not be together - he is tenured faculty in the department she's working on a PhD in. Thank goodness they are not together for real. But as often happens, fake relationships can lead to real consequences. Especially when that consequence is true love and sex at a conference. Why does the zeitgeist choose fascists? Is the real HEA just being treated as another worthy being? Will "Woodiwissification" be the 2024 word of the year? This is part 1 of a two-part stand-off between fanfiction, publishing, Isabeau, and the Star Wars franchise. Please don't sue us, Mickey. Also, we have some technical issues start at approximately the 23 minute mark, thanks for sticking with us. Whoa!mance is a part of Frolic Media.

We're officially kicking off FANFIC-UARY here at Whoa!mance--We're dissecting an Isabeau fav fic in the Castlevania canon. Want to have sex on your period AND fight demons? Fanfic can get you there baby! Want to wander Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages killing Dracula's nigh creatures while watching two characters fall in love? Join us as we follow the winding questions of who's fanfiction written for? What is the earnest/sexy equation that creates the fanfic magic? Why do we love interacting with texts we already love? Why does fanfic love romance so much? Is it more than watching characters you love love up on each other? Yr grlz are pulling the threads that yoke romance and fanfic and their fans together in a beautiful and now lucrative tapestry. Whoa!mance is part of the Frolic Podcast Network

As we pass into the ultimate HURT / COMFORT month, we feel called to speak on a subject near and dear. The kissin' cousin of our beloved Romance Genre - FAN FICTION. How does cultural context inform fic and romance? Do you need to be a fan to enjoy fic? Why has this taken us so long? We will interrogate the boundaries of fic and romance via a beloved object- one of Isabeau's fave fics - "Rough Magic" by gondalsqueen on Archive of Our Own. We will compare the (slightly) alternate universes of fan fiction and romance, or should we say the fic to 'mance pipeline, via "The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood. And lastly, we will consume and critique a fic recommended by YOU, the listener. This is sure to be as fluffy as it is angsty, Whoa!mantics. Please DM us your fic recs on Twitter, @mance_whoa, or IG @whoamance. You can also email your recomendations to whoamancemail@gmail.com Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

In which Mr. Collins shows his whole a$$ and Morgan and Isabeau discuss what makes a whole a$$.

Sometimes it gets cold enough in winter that you want to wear a hat on a hat. Times like that call for cozy romps like A ROSE IN WINTER by KATHLEEN WOODIWISS. Erienne is the prettiest gal in town, so her father - The Self-Same Mayor of Mawbry - has no problem auctioning her off to the mysterious and masked Lord Saxton. Problem is, she's still got butterflies over her family's sworn nemesis and noted American Christopher Seton. Also Seton and Saxton are cousins. Also the town is full of highwaymen. Also Saxton's home keeps getting burned down. Also, Seton's a ship captain. Also... Why is it always Beauty and the Beast (even when it isn't)? How can we reconcile the perpetuating sins of our canon? Why is it, in spite of all that, SO GOOD? File down the pointy edges and crack those knuckles, this hand stuff is serious. Whoa!mance is a part of Frolic Media.

In which Lizzie has a really good time at a ball until she has a really, really bad time and yr grls Morgan and Isabeau ponder why Austen doesn't have more "Economy of Language" cred that Hemingway.

Don't know about you, but we're feeling '2̶2̶ '23. It is that time of year, when we reflect on the past and don shades to look into our bright, bright future. Is a year-in-review cliche? YES! But it isn't like we're doing a clip show or anything. These are FRESH and HOT takes, not just on the books, but romance culture and our own backlog. Join us as we get heated, remorseful, baffled, joyful while dishing on... Hardest and softest Whoa! / No of 2022 Sexiest part and weirdest parts we read this year Most surprising book Favoritest MCs What we want more of in 2023, and what we could use a lot less of in 2022 ...AND SO MUCH MORE! Those who forget history are doomed, positively doomed to repeat it. So join us as we take out doom insurance. Whoa!mance is a part of Frolic Media.

In which Lizzie becomes aware of Mr. Collins's plans for her cousin hands, but doesn't mind because there's a cool ball coming up, and Jane plants herself firmly on the fence about Darcy.

This week Morgan and Isabeau agree that in the War on Christmas, Xmas is the agitator and has already won. This decades old conflict can be viewed from the year 1995, with the romance compendium "A Gift of Joy" when the culture wars teamed up with Xmas to burn the yule logs of feminism in the great cookie backlash. Take a stroll down the byways of 'when men were men' in Virginia Henley's "Christmas Eve" and dawn your 40 shades of green for the loosely Christmas related "Miracle" by Brenda Joyce. Each short story has been seasoned heavily, enjoy responsibly. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Media Network

Happy Howdy-days, this eppy yr grls are staring hard at the tight jeans of Westmoreland Number 24 - ONE WINTER’S NIGHT by BRENDA JACKSON. Alpha ditches Florida (plus an ex-fiancée, and parents who can’t accept her sister’s adult media past) to plan parties in Denver. But not just any parties in Denver! Riley Westmoreland drew the short straw managing the company Christmas party, but he ends up getting more than addendums pinned to the timeline—he starts at 6 week affair with Alpha. But guess what? They like each other for more than their mutual taste in themes and sex! Why can’t Millennials conceptualize adulthood? What’s cozier conceptually than soap opera dialog? Why is women’s work so gendered in romance (even when it isn’t??) Shut your oak porn cabinet door and tug down your sweater dress—this one is coming in hot.

In which Wickham is dishy and dishing, leading Morgan and Isabeau to ponder - what is the appeal here? Do hotties get lost in the translation of time? Whatever the answer, it makes Mr. Collins seem marginally less ick.

In which the gals bring their weird cousing, Mr. Collins, along on a walk to Meryton and we the readers end up feeling bad for Mr. Collins. And Isabeau and Morgan ponder - What did Denny know? What is Denny's culpability?

Novella November wraps (in a very diaphanous, sheer sort of way) with GODDESS ABDUCTED by SCARLETT PECKHAM. Lydia Houghton is the titular Goddess Abducted when a highwayman picks her up in her Diana getup from a costume ball. But Lydia isn’t totally unwilling, and ends up on a very cozy hostage situation. What did Bodice Rippers leave us? What do trigger warnings give us? Did we disclaim enough? Keep your wits, this eppy sneaks up on you. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network

In which Mr. Bennet gets tickled and Mr. Collins gets ticked and then Morgan and Isabeau get sad because why do these losers get to have such an okay time? #JusticeForMrsBennet.

Light a fire, wrap a quilt around your shoulders, and hold that mug with two hands - this episode yr grls get in their comfies with THE CRAFT OF LOVE BY E.E. OTTOMAN. Benjamin is a silversmith in need of a quilt. Remembrance is a quilter in need of a tea service. Can I make it any more obvious (in the style of Avril Lavigne). Also, Benjamin is trans and Remembrance's ex is a woman and it is 1830. What makes a work of fiction cozy? How can authors talk about marginalized identities and the working class in historical romance without talking down about them? Why does romance produce more angst than cozies?

In which Mr. Bennet reads a letter from the relative who may turn out all the Bennet ladies on their ear and Isabeau gives Morgan a rather disappointing update on British politics.

Ghosts exist yearround, but they are most welcome at Halloween Time. Thus Mo and Isa are discussing THE DEAD ROMANTICS by ASHLEY POSTON. Professional ghost writer and hobby ghost talker-to'er Florence accidentally gets the tingles for her new editor, Kylo--EXCUSE ME--Benji, just as she loses tingles for her genre, romance. These problems get thrown into perspective when her father dies, followed shortly by the aforementioned editor. Don't worry though! Because Benji is a ghost now, so.... Are references overwhelming contemporary romance? Why aren't there Hallmark Halloween movies? And - we return to that deep question - what makes a Romance? Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

In which Darcy does a lot more thinking than finger flexing, causing Morgan to re-think that he's such a projector screen after all. Maybe we've made him that way ourselves?