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Fated Mates - Romance Books for Novel People

Fated Mates
Romance Novels
Historical Romance
Romance
Contemporary Romance
Christmas
Feminism
Holiday Romance
Romance Genre
Tropes
Romantic Suspense
Fated Mates Live
Romance Literature
Book Recommendations
Lisa Kleypas
Character Development
Second Chance Romance
WNBA
Chicago
Community Support
Independent Bookstores

The most listened to romance novel podcast, Fated Mates is co-hosted by bestselling author Sarah MacLean and romance critic Jen Prokop. Weekly episodes include romance novel read-alongs and lively discussions of the work of the genre, highlighting the romance novel as a powerful tool in fighting the patriarchy…with absolutely no kink shaming.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes400Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksSociety & CultureDocumentary

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Artwork for Fated Mates

Latest Episodes

We’re deep diving into one of our favorite historicals from the 00s today — Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. It’s a great follow up to our Paris episode last week, but we also talk about how Ashley really wrote the heck out of thi... more

We Love Paris in the Springtime and we love Paris in The Paris Match by our very favorite, Kate Clayborn. Today, we’re talking about the City of Love itself, with Kate! We talk about the magic of the City of Lights, about the weight it has in romance... more

This season, we’re expanding our traditional Trailblazer series to include the romance writers who are trailblazing today. Our first guest on this branch of the legend tree is Ruby Dixon, author of the Ice Planet Barbarians series. Ruby joins us to t... more

YouTube

By request, we’re talking about the characters who have been exiled from family, from community, and from themselves—the irredeemable characters in romance. This is Morality Chain all over again. We’re talking about characters that have done terrible... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ruby Dixon
Author of Ice Planet Barbarians
Self-published author, later with Penguin Random House
Episode: S08.31: Trailblazer Ruby Dixon
Jayne Ann Krentz
Bestselling author known for her romance novels that incorporate elements of suspense and the supernatural.
Episode: S08.18: Shotgun Weddings with Jayne Ann Krentz
Christina Lauren
Writing duo focused on romance
Christina Lauren
Episode: S08.15: Jen & Sarah's New Year's Milkin' Eve!
Louisa Darling
Romance author with a focus on historical romances
Independent Author
Episode: S08.05: Governesses with Louisa Darling
Kate Clayborn
Author and guest at Fated Mates Live Midwest
Episode: Between Seasons Palate Cleanser: Fated Mates Live St. Louis!
Joanna Shupe
Historical romance author known for her engaging characters and intricate plots.
Episode: S07.48: Con Artists & Criminals With Joanna Shupe
Jessica Luther
Sports expert, investigative journalist, and author
Episode: RERUN: S06.09: Sports Romance with Jessica Luther
Pamela Sanderson
A pioneer of urban Indian romance and author of the Crooked Rock series.
Episode: 07.43: Trailblazer Pamela Sanderson
Julia Whelan
Acclaimed audiobook narrator and author
Audiobrary
Episode: S07.41: Audiobooks with Julia Whelan

Hosts

Sarah MacLean
Co-host of Fated Mates; bestselling romance author
Jennifer Prokop
Co-host of Fated Mates; romance critic and reader

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Delightful

    This podcast is a mood boost every week. I am constantly delighted by Sarah and Jen, and feel better about society for having them in it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    S.W.S.W.
    United States2 months ago
  • Gleeful Joy

    Listening to Sarah MacLean and Jen Prokop freaking love on the Romance genre, prop it up, critique it, dissect it, cackle about it… it’s the perfect combination of brilliant nerdiness and gleeful joy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Giselle AB
    United States3 months ago
  • Thankful

    I just want to say, the way that I almost burst into tears when I saw Lisa Kleypas’ name as this week’s guest proves everything Jen and Sarah have ever tried to say on Fated Mates: that romance and the work it does in our lives is so very important and that it matters. I have been incredibly emotional about the state of our world - ICE raids and the ongoing Epstein files releases (I feel like I’m living in a matrix, going CRAZY, what’s even real anymore??) - and seeing Lisa’s name here made me f... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dahllybfromhouston
    United States3 months ago
  • Fantastic for readers and writers!

    From a craft perspective, I love their roundup episodes that highlight what makes romance so compelling.

    The trailblazer author interviews give me chills! You two could write a nonfiction on the early days of romance.

    For readers, get ready to add to your TBR! I’ve been reading voraciously for 25 years and they surprise me in every episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kotto2009
    United States3 months ago
  • Love this podcast!

    I discovered Fated Mates somewhat recently and am so glad I did. Sarah and Jen are the best hosts - they have such a depth of knowledge on romance books, and I appreciate how much they have to share. They’re also hilarious. Thank you and keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alli35
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and interviews are cited as a major draw for book discovery and industry insight.
Some critical reviews mention tensions around politics engaging with romance content.
Community feel and banter are frequently highlighted as strengths.
Listeners appreciate the balance of critique, humor, and inclusivity.
Hosts are praised for nerdy, joyful passion and deep knowledge of romance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#41
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#130
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#58
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#164
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#194
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#171
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S08.31: Trailblazer Ruby Dixon
Q: How did Ice Planet Barbarians start as a serial and evolve into a full book series?
It began as a six-part serial with cliffhanger endings, published in parts to build momentum; reader demand led to completing the story as full books, and the approach helped sustain ongoing sales and engagement.
S08.20: Trailblazer Lisa Kleypas
Q: What influenced the creation of Derek Craven as a character?
Kleypas discusses her desire to create a hero who was different, specifically a working-class character with depth and complexity.
S08.20: Trailblazer Lisa Kleypas
Q: Was there a pivotal moment that you realized you could do this professionally?
Kleypas explains attending a writing conference in high school that motivated her to pursue a career as a romance novelist.
S08.20: Trailblazer Lisa Kleypas
Q: How did you come here? Were you a reader? Who did you read?
Kleypas shares that she always loved reading and grew up influenced by classics such as 'Little Women' and other authors around her.
S07.26: Romance Novels With a Ticking Clock
Q: What do they do? What's the first step?
Visit the Run for Something website to learn about available offices, get information on how to file, and receive support from their team.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Fated Mates

What is Fated Mates about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers romance novels and the craft of storytelling, featuring lively discussions, author interviews, and thoughtful playlists of recommendations. Hosts bring deep industry knowledge and a love for the genre, often exploring how romance both reflects and challenges societal norms, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and feminist perspectives. Episodes mix critical analysis, author insights, and bright banter, making it a go-to for both readers seeking nuanced conversations and newcomers looking for engaging book recommendations.

Where can I find podcast stats for Fated Mates?

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How many listeners does Fated Mates get?

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What are the audience demographics for Fated Mates?

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How many subscribers and views does Fated Mates have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Fated Mates has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Fated Mates?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fated Mates:

1. Reading Glasses
2. Culture Study Podcast
3. Reading Smut
4. Pop Culture Happy Hour
5. Maintenance Phase

How many episodes of Fated Mates are there?

Fated Mates launched 8 years ago and published 400 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Fated Mates?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Fated Mates?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Fated Mates from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Fated Mates?

Recent guests on Fated Mates include:

1. Ruby Dixon
2. Jayne Ann Krentz
3. Christina Lauren
4. Louisa Darling
5. Kate Clayborn
6. Joanna Shupe
7. Jessica Luther
8. Pamela Sanderson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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