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Artwork for We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers

We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers

We Read Smut
Autism
Diversity In Romance
Indie Publishing
Autistic Representation In Romance
Fat Girl Smut
Roaming Holiday
Disability Representation
Romance Genre
Rivals To Lovers
Cozy Latina Billionaire Series
Birding With Benefits
Honey Bee Mine
Productivity
Sapphic Romance
Enemies To Lovers
Second Chance Romance
Publishing Industry
Storygraph
Found Family
Coming Early

Finally, a home for the spice you love and the representation you deserve. We Read Smut, hosted by Alesia, builds a judgment-free zone for readers who crave spicy plots and substance. We celebrate high-heat stories and inclusive casts. If you want open-door romance that features every body, you found the right show.

What to expect:

Trope Breakdowns: We dissect the best (and hottest) tropes in th... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes83Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsHobbiesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers

Latest Episodes

Why should speculative fiction and monster romance rely on tired, reductive stereotypes when whole universes exist to be imagined? Today, for a special Birthday Bash release, I sit down with speculative romance author Nikki Clarke to discuss world-bu... more

Why are we still measuring the value and desirability of women against the benchmark of youth? Today, I am joined by celebrated author and writing coach Cathy Yardley to pull back the curtain on more than twenty-five years of navigating the publishin... more

YouTube

What happens when you look at live professional wrestling, see the electric tension between two fierce athletes in the ring, and wonder: what if they kissed? Today, I am joined by romance author Tamara Lemus to discuss her path into indie publishing ... more

YouTube

Enemies to lovers is easily one of the most beloved tropes in romance, but the tag gets slapped on everything from gentle workplace competition to full-blown murderous vendettas. Today, I sit down with fellow reader and creator Chalon from Bookmarked... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Tamara Lemus
Indie romance author of the Wrestling With Love series and Runaway Fae
Episode: Tamara Lemus on Sapphic Wrestling Romance, Latinx Representation, and Indie Publishing
Melissa Simone
Independent romance author, U.S. Army veteran, nurse, and book event host
Episode: Melissa Simone on Flipping Vampire Lore, Indie Craft, and Book Cons
Sade Rena
Romance author and literary agent who advocates for marginalized authors.
Beck Literary
Episode: S. Rena on Navigating Author Burnout, Co-Writing, and Going Trad
Jessica P. Pryde
Former public librarian, Book Riot contributing editor, essay anthology editor, and pop-up bookstore founder.
Why Choose
Episode: Jessica P. Pryde on Running a Pop-Up Bookshop, Intentional Reading, and Systemically Excluded Romance
Monique Fisher
Los Angeles-based author of contemporary Black romance and romantic comedy
Episode: Monique Fisher on Black Rom-Coms, Theater Directing, and Subverting Tropes
Adrienne Thurman
Debut romance author
Episode: Adrienne Thurman on Finding Yourself at Every Phase of Life and Don’t Tell Me How It Ends
Swati Hegde
Author
Penguin Random House (publisher mentioned in interview)
Episode: Swati Hegde on Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt and Second Chance Romance
Marina Hill
Romance author known for Roaming Holiday and Royal Pain
Episode: Marina Hill on Subverting the Billionaire Trope in Romance
Charish Reid
Author of Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Monster Romance
Episode: Charish Reid on The Realities of Academia & Writing Across Genres

Host

Alesia
Host of the show, leads interviews and episode discussions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • I learned so much from this episode.

    I loved the episode with Sarah in Wanderland. I am bisexual and love that you addressed the misconceptions people have about that. I also learned so new terminology. It was interesting, educational and fun to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MH Warrior & Neurospicy Mama
    United States2 years ago
  • Interesting conversations

    I started listening when I saw they had an interview with my favorite author Elizabeth Stephens. And then I was hooked. Great guests topics and conversations. I really appreciate a podcast that talk smut in an intelligent and fascinating way.

    Now if you could interview Theodora Taylor or Regine Abel that would be awesome. Or Tessa Stone or Dreia Wells or (I’ll stop now)

    Thanks for a great podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trouble&Strife
    United States2 years ago
  • We Read Smut = everything we want in a book podcast

    Alesia is bringing the topics we crave from the book world to podcasting. Listen in as she dives deeper into the harder topics like trauma in storylines and how it reflects our own lived lives. I cannot wait for more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    saunders_says
    United States2 years ago
  • Diverse Smut Reader

    If your bookstagram account is any indication of what is in store for listeners… I’d say we are in for a treat! Sounds like I might have to swap some audiobook time out for this podcast.

    Can’t wait for this season!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Babeinlibrary
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Book Content!

    I can’t wait for this show to launch more episodes! Alesia is a great source of reading inspiration and her show is sure to be the same!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jillian416
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Accessible discussions that celebrate diverse voices in romance.
Politically aware and thoughtful conversations around romance and representation.
Inclusive, insightful, and fun—great for book lovers and authors alike.
Smart, warm host with engaging guests and fresh takes on tropes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#202
Canada/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Monique Fisher on Black Rom-Coms, Theater Directing, and Subverting Tropes
Q: How do you flex that muscle to not be so self-involved in the work as you're creating it, and be able to release it if it's not working?
Fisher trusts her judgment of whether a joke or scene feels forced, considers feedback from beta readers, and removes material when it does not serve the story.
Monique Fisher on Black Rom-Coms, Theater Directing, and Subverting Tropes
Q: What got you into theater in the first place?
Fisher says she was quiet and introverted but decided she wanted to act, began studying theater, and found it to be the right choice for her.
Tamara Lemus on Sapphic Wrestling Romance, Latinx Representation, and Indie Publishing
Q: Why From the Top Rope and having a sapphic representation, and then what can people expect in it?
Lemus was inspired by the wrestlers' chemistry and wanted a sapphic romance. She describes Raven questioning her feelings for Amaya while also seeing her as an enemy, alongside themes of wrestling, family legacy, and ambition.
Tamara Lemus on Sapphic Wrestling Romance, Latinx Representation, and Indie Publishing
Q: What was your author journey? What did that journey look like as you were kind of exploring this idea of writing? Or were you always a writer?
Lemus says she loved reading and writing from childhood, later wrote Harry Styles fan fiction on Tumblr, and began indie publishing Runaway Fae after traditional publishing efforts did not work out.
Jessica P. Pryde on Running a Pop-Up Bookshop, Intentional Reading, and Systemically Excluded Romance
Q: What sparked the idea for your pop-up bookshop, and what kinds of books do you curate for it?
Pryde wanted Tucson to have a stronger romance presence and used her inheritance to start a bookstore focused on historically and systemically excluded creators. Why Choose stocks romance by BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent, and disabled authors, along with some local authors, and sells through pop-ups and online.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers spicy romantic fiction with a strong emphasis on representation and inclusion. Across episodes, listeners get trope breakdowns, author interviews, and practical guidance for navigating romance publishing and discovery—especially for plus-size, disabled, and women of color leads. The host drives thoughtful conversations about craft, publishing, and reader experience, while guests span debut authors to established voices exploring identity, trauma, and diversity in contemporary romance. A standout is the consistent pairing of practical reading strategies with candid, inclusive discussions that invite a broad, engaged community of readers and creators to participate in meaningful dialogue around representation and emotion in ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Buzzing about Romance
2. Fated Mates - Romance Books for Novel People
3. Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast
4. No Write Way with V. E. Schwab
5. Sounds Like A Cult

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 83 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Tamara Lemus
2. Melissa Simone
3. Sade Rena
4. Jessica P. Pryde
5. Monique Fisher
6. Adrienne Thurman
7. Swati Hegde
8. Marina Hill

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