Boobies & Noobies: A Romance Review Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

The Novel:
Santa's Coming (High Five Series #1)

The Author:
Serena Pier

The Guest:
Bree, host of The Categorically Romance podcast

The Synopsis:
I sat on Santa’s lap, and now he wants to see me again.

Single mother Emily is resigned to yet another stressful holiday season alone. That is, until she meets a charismatic man playing Santa in a local bar. Their chance meeting leads to a playful and flirtatious text exchange throughout the holiday season until Santa is on her doorstep, ready to give Emily her Christmas wishes.

Show Notes:
- The 7th annual 12 Days of Boobsmas
- Some recent booktok tea about category romance
- From reading to writing erotica...
- What comes after Tiktok?
- A few brief thoughts on Hot Frosty, because we just can't help ourselves (00:17:59)
- Entering our feral, unhinged era in 2025
- Introducing today's book pick, Santa's Coming (00:22:34)
- A brief synopsis for Santa's Coming (00:24:26)
- Why we love novellas
- Looking ahead to the rest of the High Five series
- #Unhinged2025
- Supplemental Reading suggestions (00:35:45)
- The 9th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin


Supplemental Reading/Watching/Listening Suggestions:
- Kelly's picks: Santa Monica Baby by me, Kelly Reynolds (for more spicy Santa content), Naughty or Nice by Sophie Snow - listen to our 7th Day of Boobsmas episode, the Momcoms series (for more single mother romance)
- Bree's picks: Naughty or Nice: Christmas Erotica (anthology from Cleiss Press), The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
- Best Women's Erotica of the Year: Volume 6 (featuring Naima Simone)
- How to Write Erotica by Rachel Kramer Bussel


Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!

Purchase my Holidays in L.A. series: Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually, and Santa Monica Baby

Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. 

👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈

The Novel: 
Gifted to His Dad

The Author:
J. Wilder

The Guest:
Jared Goode, creator of Midnight Musicals

The Synopsis:
When my boyfriend Cole invited me to celebrate Christmas at his step-dad’s cabin. Nothing could have prepared for what would happen next.

Griffin’s nothin g like I pictured. Instead of a typical middle-aged man. I’m faced with broad shoulders, a muscular chest and a jawline sharp enough to kill.

Spine tingling grazes, and heated glances that last too long have me feeling guilty about how my body’s reacting.

That is until my boyfriend asks to share me with his step-dad

After the steamiest Christmas holiday of my life, everything feels perfect.

Show Notes:
- The 7th annual 12 Days of Boobsmas
- The horror musical erotica collaboration nobody asked for, but just wait...
- Introducing today's book pick, Gifted to His Dad (00:11:14)
- We love a new-to-us author
- A brief synopsis for Gifted to His Dad (00:12:39)
- TWO spicy, polyamorous romances this Boobsmas season
- "Step" family romances open up the... possibilities
- Supplemental Reading suggestions (00:28:18)
- The 8th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin

Supplemental Reading/Watching/Listening Suggestions:
- Kelly's picks: Listen to our 6th Day of Boobsmas episode on The Perfect Gift for more spicy, poly love; One Winter's Night by Kiley Dunbar, another previous Boobsmas pick

- Jared's picks: You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince (listen to our previous 2nd Day of Boobsmas episode about it), Ho Ho Homicidal Maniac by K.A. Merikan, the FULL Dolly Parton Christmas experience: "Christmas on the Square", "Smoky Mountain Christmas", and "Dolly & Kenny: a Christmas to Remember"

Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!

Purchase my Holidays in L.A. series: Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually, and Santa Monica Baby

Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. 

👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈

Episode Summary: We're kicking off the eighth season of Boobies & Noobies with Kristen Alicia, whose debut romance, You've Been Served, is available now! Along with Kristen's new book, we also discuss the legacy of Legally Blonde, magic eight balls, and dismantling "milestone" expectations for women.

Guest: Kristen Alicia, author of You've Been Served

Book Summary: It’s the Magic 8 Ball’s fault. All of it. One teeny little question, and suddenly Simone Alexander is chucking her whole life out the window. So long, being a chef in California–it’s time for law school. In Michigan. Where there’s actual winter . And law school’s nothing like the romantic comedies said it was.

Simone is tragically underprepared. Hell, she’s already behind before classes have even begun, and her hard-as-nails Contracts professor is giving her no mercy. Then there’s Silas Whitman, her tall and annoyingly cute neighbor. Off campus, Silas is incredible. Kissable, even . In class, he is one thousand percent the obnoxious kiss-ass.

But Simone’s given up everything to be a lawyer. The competition is fierce and she has a hateful professor gunning for her to fail, but she’s not about to let little things like sleep, or love, stop her from kicking law school ass…

Show Notes:
- Welcome to Season 8 of the podcast!
- Legally Blonde... in all its iterations
- Bay Area babes unite!
- Kristen's relationship with romance books (00:10:25)
- First romance reads and airport bookstores
- A quick synopsis for You've Been Served (00:16:24)
- Women in high-powered careers... in romance and in real life
- No shade to the Magic 8 ball
- Writing Black joy without trauma (00:24:26)
- If you can read about monsters, you can read about Black characters falling in love. Period.
- What's up next for Kristen?

Books & Other Media Mentioned:
- Brandy's Cinderella
- Legally Blonde: The Musical

Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈

Summary:
The Charm Offensive (available September 7th, 2021) marks Alison Cochrun's debut romance novel and judging by Kelly's strong emotional response to this book, it's only the beginning for this author. Topics discussed include the best (and worst) of reality TV dating shows, the complexities of labels (are they empowering or limiting?), and unlearning "work as worth" for the sake of our mental health.

Guest:
Alison Cochrun
IG: @alisoncochrun

*Content Warnings* Within The Charm Offensive, you will find on-page anxiety, panic attacks, and experiences with depression as well as conversations about mental health stigmas and workplace discrimination. During this episode, we discuss some of these topics (beginning at 00:20:00)

Show Notes:
- Introducing Alison Cochrun and her debut romance that had Kelly bawling
- Reading The Charm Offensive coupled with watching "Inside" by Bo Burnham
- Alison's relationship with writing and romance (00:03:25)
- A few favorite tropes
- Reality TV talk and how these shows inspired The Charm Offensive (00:09:23)
- "The Bachelor"... but make it gay!
- A brief synopsis for The Charm Offensive (00:19:54)
- Unlearning productivity/work as your worth
- Romance as a forum for discussing heavier topics like mental health (00:24:17)
- Can you have a full-fledged escape in a contemporary romance?
- A complex relationship with labels - empowering or limiting?
- A therapeutic writing experience
- Alison's next book: Kiss Her Once for Me, a second-chance, Sapphic Christmas romcom (Fall 2022) - #TheHoligays in 2022
- Taking LGBTQ+ romances mainstream
- A 12 Days of Boobsmas fave: A Very Witchy Yuletide by D. Lieber
- The story you're dying to tell... (00:48:43)
- Grab your copy of The Charm Offensive today!

Books Mentioned:
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky (Coming May 2022)
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
The One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
A Very Witchy Yuletide by D. Lieber

Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*

The Novel:
Baking with a Rockstar (Mitchell Brothers #1)

The Author:
Jasmin Miller

The Noobies:
Chris Sturdy
Laurie Hahn Ganser

The Synopsis:
When a rockstar and a single mom become roommates, delicious sparks are bound to fly.

Rockstar Hudson Mitchell is over the glitz and spotlight of the music industry. Desperate for a break from the fast-paced life of fame, he retreats to the one place that has always been home.

Brooksville, California.

It's the same place where Charlie has taken refuge, trying to build a life for herself and her young daughter. The quiet, small-town atmosphere and her new bakery venture are exactly what she needs to pick up the pieces of her shattered past.

As they spend more time together, neither of them is prepared for the effect Charlie has on Hudson, and how important she would become for his career.

Show Notes:
- Introducing Chris (the romance-convert) and Laurie (the romance-enabler)
- Listen to Chris in our previous review of The Ones Who Got Away
- Discussing and incorporating romance into a literature curriculum (00:06:23)
- Finding your place in romance novels
- Read Chris' published work in Emerge Literary Journal and Press Pause Press and look out for Laurie's podcast, #TheoryBabes (coming soon)
- Education is sexy. Period.
- Introducing today's small town, rockstar romance, Baking with a Rockstar (00:19:26)
- A brief synopsis for the book
- Overall impressions: a hero with top-notch emotional intellect, the "all-knowing" granny, and a cast of character to love
- Being a mother vs. the act of mothering
- Not enough baking, not enough rocking (00:35:14)
- Lyrics or no?
- Specific character descriptions: helpful or hindering? (00:39:58)
- Introducing the "penis funnel"
- Her "salty gumbo" and other non-sexy, food-related euphemisms
- Intimacy vs. sex (00:56:53)
- A few steamy sexcerpts + some missed opportunities (01:00:10)
- Spontaneous combustion... and cardigan sweaters
- Heart, Humor, & Heat Ratings (01:11:57)
- The next book in the series...
- One more penis funnel

Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*

The Novel:
Built to Fall

The Author:
Julia Wolf

The Not-so-Noobie:
Liz, Co-host of Nerdy Bitches Podcast
IG: @nerdybitches
Twitter: @nerdybitchespod

The Synopsis:
“You’re perfect for this job, Claire. He won’t want to sleep with you. You’re not his...type.”
Dominic Cantrell has been famous almost as long as I’ve been alive, but he remains a dark, volatile mystery. I know why I was hired to handle Dominic’s PR while he’s on tour. It’s not because of my experience—I have next to none. It’s because I’m safe. Plain, quiet, shy, with more-than-ample curves, I won’t distract him.
What I didn’t count on was Dominic distracting me instead. I shouldn’t be so drawn to him. He’s too old for me, too closed-off, and definitely too angry, but I’ve been a good girl for far too long. Why can’t I be just a little bit bad, especially when my rock star fantasy is so willing to corrupt me?
Our fling has an expiration date at the end of the tour. No strings, no feelings, no heartbreak when it’s over.
I tell myself I won’t fall. But I don’t know if I’m built that way.

*Content Warnings* One scene of physical abuse, memories of off-the-page physical and emotional abuse, drug and alcohol use.

Show Notes:
** Patreon Updates!
- Introducing Liz Serna, author and co-host of Nerdy Bitches
- Redefining "nerds" and looking at when "nerds" become "gatekeepers"
- An aside about narcissistic personalities (that isn't really an aside)
- Healing through humor and how that relates to today's reading, Built to Fall (00:17:01)
- Check out the Romance Happy Hour Book Box
- 26 year age gap or 400 years?
- Put a pin in the biting... A brief synopsis first (00:26:33)
- Finding inspiration on TikTok during 2020
- And now, back to the biting
- A few cringeworthy (and slightly cannibalistic) excerpts
- Books Mentioned: Anything by Melissa Foster, the Soul Serenade series by Kaylee Ryan
- The questionable power dynamic within boss/employee romance
- Some differences from the "typical" rock star romance (00:51:37)
- A few steamy sexcerpts (00:55:22)
- Good vs. Bad
- Remembering our previous Julia Wolf review, Eight Cozy Books (from the 12 Days of Boobsmas)
- Heat, Humor, & Heat Ratings
- A possible redemption story and series?
- Romance written by men
- Coming Soon to Nerdy Bitches: Gutember (Steve Gutenberg September)


Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*

*This episode is brought to you by Kensington’s newest title from Minerva Spencer, Outrageous.

The Novel:
Shot Through the Heart (North Star #2)

The Author:
Nicole Helm

The Not-so-Noobie:
Becky, Co-host of Buzzing About Romance
IG: @buzzingaboutromance

The Synopsis:
She’s spent her life concealing her identity. Now she must trust an undercover agent to survive.

Willa Zimmerman grew up as the daughter of spies, so she’s always known her life could be in danger. That’s why, when North Star undercover operative Holden Parker follows her to her home, seeking a lead on a hit man, she captures him. But soon they learn they’re actually on the same side—and they’re being pursued by the same relentless foe. Together, can they stop a deadly hunter before they end up as the next victims?

Show Notes:
*Sponsored ad for Outrageous by Minerva Spencer (00:00:05 - 00:01:36)
- Introducing Becky, co-host of Buzzing About Romance and lifelong reader of romance
- Growing up on historical romance from Jude Deveraux to Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught to Fern Michaels
- Some connections between romance and teachers/professors (including Jennifer Crusie)
- Shoutout to Olivia Dade and Jennifer Crusie, for their "real" bodied, sassy heroines
- Books Mentioned: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade, Faking It, Welcome to Temptation, and Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, and Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
- Reliving our childhood library experiences with the Buzzing About Romance Summer Reading Challenge (00:11:12)
- A few (less talked about) hockey romance recs: Gina Azzi's Boston Hawks series, Kate Meader's Chicago Rebels series, and Lorelei James' Need You series
- Happy 1st Anniversary to Buzzing About Romance AND 3rd Anniversary to Boobies & Noobies
- Reading outside of our comfort zones with Shot Through the Heart (00:25:46)
- Procedural suspense with a hint of romance (plus, some dangerous cosmetics)
- Creating intimacy without explicit sex (see our Accidentally Engaged episode)
- A network of badass women
- Holden, Hunter, Hudson: an atypical suspense hero (00:53:22)
- Cinnadoms and Stern brunch Daddies
- A few words on book rating systems - check out Kelly on Buzzing About Romance for more (01:03:20)
- Heart, Humor, & Heat Ratings
- Wrapping up with Becky - don't forget to listen to Kelly on Buzzing About Romance

Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*

The Novel:
You've Got Plaid (Prince Charlie's Angels #3)

The Author:
Eliza Knight

The Not-so-Noobie:
Liz Donatelli, Host of Reader Seeks Romance
IG: @readerseeksromance
Twitter: @romancebookshow

The Synopsis:
This Highlander is determined to return the daughter of his enemy to the safety of her home, even if it means helping her...

Brogan Grant, a Jacobite soldier and bastard son of the Chief, fought savagely on the battlefield, and barely escaped capture. On the run for his life, Brogan comes across what he thinks is a spy—a very bonny lass disguised as a lad, who happens to be the daughter of his clan's enemy. He admires her bravery, but he knows what can happen to a woman alone in a war-ravaged land.

Lady Fiona MacBean is determined to do her part to ensure there is a Scottish king. Disguised as a healer, she delivers coded messages to rebels throughout the Highlands. There's only one thing impeding her mission—a striking Highlander who's determined to send her home.

Unfortunately, Fiona will not be deterred. Left with little choice, Brogan agrees to join her mission if she agrees to return home after. Now the two must work together and risk everything to save the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself. If only their hearts weren't at risk as well...

Show Notes:
- Introducing Liz and schooling Kelly on "The Boogie Down"
- Reader Seeks Romance: a romance novel YouTube show (*watch my episode with Liz and author, Suzanne Park now)
- Shoutout to Robin Bielman and Leonie Mack for putting us in their books!!
- Ode to Robin Bielman's American Royalty series - listen to us review all three books on Boobies & Noobies (Heartthrob is Book #1)
- Bring Hotmail back
- Thank you Casablanca Books for the advanced copy!
- Historical romance talk plus a few Victorian romance recommendations: A Lady's Formula for Love (*as reviewed on the podcast) and The Duke Undone
- A brief synopsis for You've got Plaid... and a few words about the Scottish accents (00:20:00)
- A super unsexy book, full of war and grit... and probably UTIs
- A romance novel for fans of history, ready to dip their toes in the romance pond
- A tough ending to swallow, but considering the source...
- The pressure of including popular tropes and "staying in your lane" (00:42:29)
- A historical heroine with sexual agency
- How long have women really been rolling their eyes?
- A few new terms to add to your dictionary
- A few "key" search words and a few more Steamy Sexcerpts (00:56:48)
- "No folds, just pussy" swag coming soon
- Cave talk (see our Hot Fudge & a Heartthrob) & potential cavemen erotica
- Heart, Humor, & Heat Ratings (01:06:35)
- Check out our Patreon for lots of bonus content from this episode!

Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*

Summary:
New York Times bestselling author of romantic fiction, Lauren Layne, joins Kelly to discuss her recent release, To Sir with Love, everything we love about Nora Ephron, the almighty queen of romcom writing, and the magnetic appeal of a "high school kinda love". *Please note, this episode was recorded back in May 2021, well before the release of To Sir with Love. Hopefully, by this point, Lauren has fully-binged both "The Circle" and "Love is Blind"...

Guest:
Lauren Layne
IG: @laurenlaynewriter (she's back on Instagram now!)

Show Notes:
- Introducing Lauren Layne, author of To Sir with Love
- Take a shot every time you hear the word "boobies"
- Worshipping at the heels of Nora Ephron, the romcom queen
- The many nuances of "You've Got Mail" and redefining the concept of "the one"
- A story about hope, not technology (00:09:33)
- You call it a "high school kinda love", I call it the "zsa zsa zsu" - the universality of personal connection
- Lauren's relationship with romance reading and writing (00:15:03)
- Some early influences: Nora Roberts (The Bride Quartet, The Reef), Julia Quinn (The Duke and I), and Judith McNaught
- A brief synopsis of To Sir with Love (00:21:27)
- Writing a love triangle/square between two characters... and their online personas
- A round up of reality shows, from "The Circle" to "Love is Blind"
- "Researching" champagne and wine (00:35:16)
- Creating characters as "shadows" so the reader can insert themselves into the story
- A New Yorker vs. someone who lives in New York (00:45:34)
- City talk - the best and worst places to set a romance novel (*cough* not LA *cough*)
- What's up next for Lauren: Made in Manhattan (00:53:00)
- Lauren's writing idea bucket list and another book to read by Lauren: Runaway Groom

Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*

*This episode is brought to you by Kensington’s newest title from Minerva Spencer, OUTRAGEOUS*

Summary:
Julia Jarrett, author of the recently released Always and Forever, joins Kelly to discuss the best fictional small towns, dogs with human names, and of course, her romance writing career that began as a dare. Grab your copy of Always and Forever before the second book in the Dogwood Cove series, Rumours and Romance, drops in September.

Guest:
Julia Jarrett
IG: @juliajarrettauthor
Julia's Linktree

*Content Warnings* Family abandonment and estrangement, the aftermath of the death of a parent.

Show Notes:
- Sponsored ad for OUTRAGEOUS, by Minerva Spencer
- Introducing Julia Jarrett, author of Always and Forever (Dogwood Cover #1)
- The best fictional small towns: Stars Hollow and Cabot Cove
- A few "Gilmore Girls" celeb anecdotes (00:02:54)
- Animals with human names
- Julia's romance reading & writing journey (00:07:34)
- Books recommended: Claire Kingsley & Lucy Score's Bootleg Springs and Chelle Bliss' Men of Inked series
- Shoutout to Zoe York (who also writes as Ainsley Booth) for pushing for Canadian romance
- "Like a Hallmark movie... but with sex."
- A brief summary of Always and Forever (00:14:24)
- Dogwood Cove: a fictional fave (inspired by real locales)
- A romance novel title generator?
- Shoutout to Claire Hastings for naming The Nutty Muffin
- Axe-throwing for the win!!
- Having conversations about romance within romance novels
- More differently-abled and disabled characters (00:32:01)
- Up next in the Dogwood Cove series
- Grab your FREE copy of the Hot As F*cK Romance Club's anthology, Free Sultry Summer Nights Collection for a Dogwood Cove novella
- Single Dad romance, Hot Dudes Reading, and DILFs of Disneyland

Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.

*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*