Rephonic
Artwork for Paperback Pleasures
Romance
Nora Goes Off Script
Infinite Fates
Spell Shop
The Ritual
Just For the Summer
Druadan Legacy
A Rivalry Of Hearts
Fae Lore
Romance Literature
Seattle United States
Dark Romance
Minnesota
Trauma
Annabel Monaghan
Reverse Harem
Paperback Pleasures
Minotaur
Enemies To Lovers
Smut

Paperback Pleasures is a podcast dedicated to de-stigmatizing romance literature and female sexuality. In each episode, lifelong best friends Romy and Annabel take turns highlighting romance novels, unpacking a genre historically underestimated due mainly to its link with female pleasure. We're here to de-stigmatize one of the most underrated genres in literature. Let's talk romance! --- This podc... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes107Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Artwork for Paperback Pleasures

Latest Episodes

Romy reviews The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Annabel gets a lesson in 2000's heartthrobs.

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Send your answer to this week's listener question to PaperbackPleasuresBooks@gmail.com, or find our weekly prompts on our socia... more

The girls unpack the Druadan Legacy romantasy series with author Amelia Cole - from genre blending to the why-choose relationship at the center of the books.

This book was requested by today's guest author Amelia Cole who donated to our fundraiser f... more

Annabel reviews Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan. Romy decides everything is a romance novel.

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Send your answer to this week's listener question to PaperbackPleasuresBooks@gmail.com, or find our weekly prompts on our social media and/or ... more

Romy reviews Morning Glory Milking Farm. Annabel milks every Minotaur pun she can think of (with both hands).

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Send your answer to this week's listener question to PaperbackPleasuresBooks@gmail.com, or find our weekly prompts on our social media... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Daily
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Recent Guests

Amelia Cole
Romanticy author discussing Druadan Legacy and why-choose romance
Amelia Cole (author)
Episode: E94 - The Art of Why-Choose Romance with Amelia Cole
Kirsten Bohling
Author of The Devil's Backbone
Author
Episode: E90 - Babes & Bounties with Kirsten Bohling & Megan Carver
Megan Carver
Editor, audiobook narrator, intimacy coordinator
Thorns and Roses (thornsandroses.co)
Episode: E90 - Babes & Bounties with Kirsten Bohling & Megan Carver
James L. Sutter
Author, Darkhearts and The Ghost of Us
Self-employed / Author
Episode: E86 - From RPGs to Romance with James L. Sutter
Katherine Parsons
Author of Capture My Flag (adult summer camp rom-com)
Indie author, KL Parsons Books
Episode: E84 - Summer Romps & Redemption Arcs with KL Parsons
Kayle Parsons
Adventure Romance author
Camp Clandestine / Stranded in Leavenworth
Episode: E83 - A Rivalry of Hearts
Ben Alderson
Best-selling romance author; horror/fantasy writer
Independent author; various publishers
Episode: E82 - Hauntings & Horny Books with Ben Alderson

Hosts

Annabel
Host of Paperback Pleasures; long-running co-host with focus on romance, worldbuilding, and indie publishing discussions.
Romy
Co-host with a passion for genre-bending romance, community-building, and candid author/editor discussions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 71 ratings
  • Fated Trope

    Adore these women, adore their chemistry. They’re like fated mates where their friendship bond is so believable, I’m sure they’ve been besties in past lives, too. I can’t wait for them to cover Jane Eyre (hopefully in 2026 🤞)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chels06bn
    United States7 months ago
  • Paperback Pleasures is the best book podcast!

    I wish I could listen to a Paperback Pleasures episode for every book I read. Romy and Annabel are such a delight to listen to! Smart, thoughtful, clever, giggly- all the best things!

    If you’ve had strong lifelong female friendships, I think you’ll especially appreciate their bond! This podcast should have a zillion listeners!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarlyCarly
    United States7 months ago
  • In love with this podcast!

    Love a genre deep dive, and Romy & Annabel do such a great job of sharing their pure enthusiasm about romance lit. I’m a big fan of the listener question responses each episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doopliss77
    United States9 months ago
  • So fun!

    Loving the banter between the hosts!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Juliaayee
    United Statesa year ago
  • Outlander Ep is great!

    Love the concept of this pod and especially the Outlander episode!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bookfairy13
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the hosts' warm chemistry and engaging banter.
Fans highlight deep dives into romance tropes and genre versatility.
Audience values inclusive, sex-positive discussions and insightful author perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#89
Denmark/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#249
Denmark/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

E86 - From RPGs to Romance with James L. Sutter
Q: What landed you in not only romance, but specifically queer YA romance?
The guest explains how pandemic-era reading of queer YA romance inspired him to write his own work, blending his earlier SF/fantasy background with intimate, character-driven romance to reflect teen experiences authentically.
E82 - Hauntings & Horny Books with Ben Alderson
Q: What are your thoughts on queer representation in publishing and media?
He discusses the excitement and challenges of queer representation, the importance of authentic voices, and the shift toward more inclusive shelves in bookstores, along with personal experiences with online comments and fan art.
E82 - Hauntings & Horny Books with Ben Alderson
Q: How do you approach spice and sex scenes in your stories?
Ben says spice tends to appear organically as he writes; scenes are motivated by character needs and emotional stakes, not just sex for sex's sake. He aims to make sex scenes integral to plot and character growth while keeping them accessible for readers who may be uncomfortable.
E82 - Hauntings & Horny Books with Ben Alderson
Q: What inspired The Haunting of William Thorne and its dual timelines?
Ben explains that his own family history and uncle William inspired the book, using the haunted manor and the 1930s to present-day relationship dynamics to explore gay love and adversity. The dual timelines let him reflect on different eras and the resilience of queer relationships.
E87 - Behind The Mics: A Crossover Episode with Booked & Balanced
Q: How did you two meet and become such close collaborators?
Romy and Annabel recount their first-grade meeting and a shared history that evolved into a professional partnership, describing how their complementary strengths (planning vs. improvising) keep the show cohesive.

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 Paperback Pleasures

What is Paperback Pleasures about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively duo explores romance literature with warmth, humor, and thoughtful analysis, often spotlighting indie authors, boundary-pushing themes, and the crossover between romance and fantasy, mystery, or sci-fi. Episodes typically feature author guests or editors who discuss craft, publishing journeys, worldbuilding, and relationship dynamics, while the hosts share personal anecdotes and reader feedback. The format blends playful banter with insightful critiques, making it accessible for romance readers and curious newcomers alike. A notable strength is the strong emphasis on consent, representation, and community-building around romance genres, indie publishing, and book culture.

Noteworthy strengths include enthusiastic, book-nerdy conve... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Paperback Pleasures?

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How many listeners does Paperback Pleasures get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Paperback Pleasures 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 Paperback Pleasures?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Paperback Pleasures:

1. The Daily

How many episodes of Paperback Pleasures are there?

Paperback Pleasures launched 2 years ago and published 107 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 Paperback Pleasures?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Paperback Pleasures?

Recent guests on Paperback Pleasures include:

1. Amelia Cole
2. Kirsten Bohling
3. Megan Carver
4. James L. Sutter
5. Katherine Parsons
6. Kayle Parsons
7. Ben Alderson

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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