We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers
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 the genre.
- Author Interviews: Hear the story behind the spice from your favorite creators.
- Shelf Help: Expert guidance to help you conquer your TBR pile.
- Inclusive Stories: We prioritize representative leads and diverse voices.
Whether you're a seasoned smut reader or just dipping your toes into the genre, this podcast is for you. We leave the shame at the door and celebrate the power of a well-written romance.
Join the Circle: Want personalized book picks and a private chat with Alesia? Join the After Dark Circle on Substack. Supporters get full access to every post and our private community of romance fans.
Connect with us: Follow @WeReadSmut on Instagram and use the hashtag #WeReadSmut to share your current read.
Episodes
78 episodes
S. Rena on Navigating Author Burnout, Co-Writing, and Going Trad
With over a decade in the publishing industry, romance author and literary agent Sade Rena has navigated nearly every corner of the business. Today, I sit down with Sade to discuss the reality of author burnout after publishing 20 books in thre...
Jessica P. Pryde on Running a Pop-Up Bookshop, Intentional Reading, and Systemically Excluded Romance
Connecting with long-time romance readers brings such a deep understanding of genre conventions to the podcast. This week, I am sitting down with Jessica P. Pryde to discuss her transition from public librarian and Book Riot editor to founder o...
Monique Fisher on Black Rom-Coms, Theater Directing, and Subverting Tropes
What does it take to direct a play, write television sitcom specs, and transition into creating vibrant Black rom-com universes? Today, I am sitting down with Los Angeles-based romance author Monique Fisher to discuss her artistic journey, her ...
Frederick Smith on Black Queer M/M Romance, Higher Ed, and Authentic Representation
Today on the podcast, we have a very special treat: our first man on the show, and someone who writes deeply authentic, Black queer M/M romance! I am sitting down with author and higher education administrator Frederick Smith to discuss his sev...
Curvy Girls Read Romance on The Best He Falls First, Down-Bad Heroes, and Plus-Size Rep
There is something so delicious about the "he falls first" romance trope. This week, I am sitting down with my friend Aimee from Curvy Girls Read Romance for a trope deep dive into down-bad heroes, pining, and why this trope shines so ...
Laura Chinn on Screenwriting vs. Novel Writing, Reproductive Timelines, and Adult Sisterhood
What happens when a Hollywood screenwriter and director steps out of the writer's room to write her very first fiction novel? Today, I am sitting down with screenwriter, director, and author Laura Chinn to talk about her debut novel, Counti...
Samantha Saldivar on Sapphic Sports Romance, Latina Representation, and Traditional Publishing
If you've been listening to this podcast for any length of time, you know how much I love showcasing queer authors, queer stories, and sapphic romance. Today, we get a special bonus as I sit down with Sam Saldivar (Samantha Saldivar), a queer L...
Aya Winter on How Trend Readership Is Ruining Character Arcs and Reader Expectations
Trend readership is a fascinating topic, especially when readers enter a new genre without understanding the underlying character arcs or structural conventions. This week, I am sitting down with multi-genre indie author Aya Winter to break dow...
Gabriella Gamez on Librarians in Love, Brother’s Best Friend, and Latinx Character Dynamics
Let's talk about the absolute chaos demon that these librarians' love lives are. This week, I am sitting down with Gabriella Gamez to talk all about her Librarians in Love series. We dive into her books The Next Best Fling,
Melanated Reader on Mobilizing One Million Readers for Black Literature and Fighting Post-Literacy
What started as a simple vision to mobilize the bookish community has turned into an entire movement aiming to pull one million people together to read books by Black authors. In this special bonus episode, I am sitting down with Crystal, the f...
Katie Duggan on Giving Marginalized Characters the Spicy Happily-Ever-Afters They Deserve
Who says that romance is only for able-bodied or thin characters? In this episode, Northern Virginia romance author Katie Duggan joins the microphone to look at how we can take regular contemporary romance tropes and subvert them to center fat,...
Alyssa on Stories & Spoilers, Sapphic Romance, and Book Reviews
If you read across genres and love picking apart the deeper mechanics of a story, this conversation is for you. This week, I am sitting down with Alyssa, the brilliant host of the Stories & Spoilers podcast. As a self-proclaimed mo...
Regina Black on Soap Opera Romance Tropes and Writing Authentic Character Choices
How much do your childhood experiences or the way you were raised dictate the choices you make as an adult? This week, I am sitting down with the incredible Regina Black, author of The Art of Scandal and her latest paperback release, <...
How to Find Bookish Friends and Romance Community Outside Social Media
Making new friends as an adult is notoriously difficult, and when your primary hobby is reading high-heat romance novels, it can feel even harder to find your people. As an introvert who gets overstimulated quickly, the thought of trying to bui...
Organizing My Physical & Digital Library as a Mood Reader
Organizing your bookshelves or Kindle starting to feel chaotic? In this Season 3 finale, I’m taking you behind the scenes of how I organize my physical and digital romance library without making it a full-time job.We’re talking sapphic s...
Adrienne Thurman on Finding Yourself at Every Phase of Life and Don’t Tell Me How It Ends
Reconnecting with your creative identity after a massive life shift is challenging, especially when that shift is motherhood. Today, I am talking with debut author Adrienne Thurman about her new contemporary rom-com, Don't Tell Me How It En...
Swati Hegde on Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt and Second Chance Romance
Second chance romance has been testing my boundaries lately. After years of avoiding the trope, I am finally seeing the appeal of a hard-earned reunion. Today, I sit down with Swati Hegde to discuss her new book, Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt. W...
Marina Hill on Subverting the Billionaire Trope in Romance
The billionaire trope is a staple in romance, but what happens when the hero decides he doesn't actually want the money? Today, I’m talking with Marina Hill about her journey from writing fanfiction to crafting intricate stories that challenge ...
Fat Girl Smut on Early Release (IYKYK) and Fat Positive Romance
Everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in every single trope and microtrope. Today, I am joined by Meg of Fat Girl Smut to examine the radical joy of seeing larger bodies in romance and the specific humor of the coming early microtrope. ...
Charish Reid on The Realities of Academia & Writing Across Genres
I am always curious about how authors take their real-world expertise and use it to craft stories that make us feel seen. This week, I chat with Charish Reid, an author who navigated the world of academia as an adjunct instructor before making ...
Babe in Library on Second Chance Recs You’ll Actually Love
Second Chance Romance usually gets a meh from me. I am a fool me once, shame on you type of reader, so reruns in romance rarely make my list. But today, Lisa from Babe in Library joins the podcast to flip the script on its head. She shares why ...
10+ Autistic Rep Romance Recommendations: Shifting the Narrative on Neurodivergence
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, I am sharing a curated list of books that feature authentic autistic representation. This episode is deeply personal. I share the story of my son’s diagnosis and how that journey led to my own realization th...
L.M. Bennett on Flipping the Script on Earned Happily Ever Afters
I am always curious about how my favorite authors take tropes I sometimes struggle with and make them absolutely delicious. In this episode, I chatted with L.M. Bennett, the author behind some of the most soulful and beautifully complicated Bla...
Danielle Allen on The Shift From Indie to Traditional Book Deals
Does the romance industry still fear fat Black women on book covers? USA Today Bestselling author Danielle Allen joins the podcast to discuss her transition from a prolific indie career to traditional publishing with Bramble. She explains why h...
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The Curvy Literary on Curating Your Algorithm to Find Plus-Size Romance
What happens when you realize the romance novels you love don’t feature characters who look like you? Keshia, the creator behind The Curvy Literary, joins the podcast to share how she reclaimed her reading life by centering plus-size heroines. ...
