For years I had historical romance filed under "mom's romance novels." Then in May 2011 I read Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas, and historical romance became the genre I reach for when I need comfort.
In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I'm telling you how one book (and my blog co-founders, who would not stop recommending Lisa Kleypas) turned me from a historical romance skeptic into a lifelong fan. We're chatting about the Wallflowers series, why historical romance is where it's at if you're craving yearning, the clinch covers I used to judge and now collect, and Lisa Kleypas's first new book in five years, The Queen of Lombard Street.
Grab a drink and come sit for a bookish brunch with me. Then tell me in the comments: what was your gateway historical romance?
📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas (Wallflowers #1)
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas (Wallflowers #2)
Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (Wallflowers #4)
The Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas
Love Come to Me by Lisa Kleypas
The Luna Sisters series by Liana De La Rosa
🎧 I listened to Secrets of a Summer Night on audio, narrated by Rosalyn Landor, and she did a fabulous job.
🔗 LINKS
My Queen of Lombard Street review: coming soon
Why we hid our romance covers (the cover shame video): https://youtu.be/yLhUnGTa0Fg
Ripped & Ravished book club discussion of Love Come to Me: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/bodice-ripper-book-club/
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Why I thought historical romance wasn't for me
04:38 The book that changed everything
06:25 Secrets of a Summer Night (spoiler-free)
11:01 Why historical romance became my comfort genre
14:37 From judging clinch covers to collecting them
16:30 Lisa Kleypas's new release
17:32 Where I'd tell you to start
17:54 What was your gateway historical romance?
👀 WATCH NEXT:
- What to Read After Bridgerton Season 4: https://youtu.be/os_IuXcpe0Q
- What would Jane Austen Read? Her Modern TBR: https://youtu.be/IWAhj0aLhpo
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