Sanjana airs a pet peeve—the "didn't feel realistic" critique—and she and Tyler make the case that exaggeration is one of romance's best tools. Then Adrie Rose, a former sex worker and editor of the book of essays I Hate My Job, joins to talk about how the genre handles sex workers (not well) despite being kind of obsessed with writing them. And: Sanj completes her Tyler-assigned homework and comes back thrilled by The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, and especially by the line "the Kierkegaard of cock."
Adrie Rose edited and contributed to I Hate My Job and cohosts the Pages and Prejudice podcast. Her recs: the TV show Harlots, Kathryn Moon's Monster Smash Agency series, and Charlie Amen's Hawk & March.
Sanjana's homework: The Pairing by Casey McQuiston.
From Sanj: For more on “realism” vs. “truth” vs. “performance” vs. “artifice,” here’s an interesting bit of writing from Vicky of the Chicky Substack from a more film-crit angle.

Sanjana airs a pet peeve&mdash;the "didn't feel realistic" critique&mdash;and she and Tyler make the case that exaggeration is one of romance's best tools. Then Adrie Rose, a former sex worker and editor of the book of essays I Hate My Job, joins to talk about how the genre handles sex workers (not well) despite being kind of obsessed with writing them. And: Sanj completes her Tyler-assigned homework and comes back thrilled by The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, and especially by the line "the Kierkegaard of cock."
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.adrierose.link/">Adrie Rose</a> edited and contributed to <a href="https://www.workinggirlspress.com/store/p/mo78l0k3jipo4h6dtqmg8tt2zrhv6t">I Hate My Job</a> and cohosts the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/lk/podcast/pages-and-prejudice/id1741262953">Pages and Prejudice</a> podcast. Her recs: the TV show <a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/harlots-18edbd1f-3e9f-46a0-8dc4-02ff7b1eef63">Harlots</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/games-with-the-orc-kathryn-moon/7c62cf168ce84a24?ean=9781959571179&amp;bkshp-astro=t">Kathryn Moon's Monster Smash Agency series</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/hawk-march-mm-fantasy-romance-charlie-amen/840fc6f0953c72d6?ean=9798275129700&amp;bkshp-astro=t">Charlie Amen's Hawk &amp; March</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sanjana's homework: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-pairing-casey-mcquiston/0297e50a76e35f83?ean=9781250862747&amp;bkshp-astro=t">The Pairing by Casey McQuiston</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">From Sanj: For more on &ldquo;realism&rdquo; vs. &ldquo;truth&rdquo; vs. &ldquo;performance&rdquo; vs. &ldquo;artifice,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://chickyven.substack.com/p/performance-and-artifice">here&rsquo;s an interesting bit of writing</a> from Vicky of the Chicky Substack from a more film-crit angle.</li>
</ul>

A weekly discussion of everything romance—from the novels and the tropes to the book-to-screen adaptations and, of course, the drama of it all—with hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall. Brought to you by the romance publisher 831 Stories.

A weekly discussion of everything romance&mdash;from the novels and the tropes to the book-to-screen adaptations and, of course, the drama of it all&mdash;with hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall. Brought to you by the romance publisher 831 Stories.

Radio 831: A Romance Podcast

"Realistic" Is the Wrong Word, Adrie Rose on Sex Workers in Romance, and The Pairing Homework

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/071a779c-3bd6-4580-97b8-b4a5004020d3/transcript