Hot and Bothered (Not Sorry Productions)

Vanessa and Julia have read the first chapter of Eclipse and are very interested to learn that Bella's favorite book is Wuthering Heights. They dive into the book-within-a-book relationship with some essential questions: Is Eclipse going to draw its themes from Wuthering Heights? Will Bella gets to become a ghost instead of a vampire? And, most importantly, why does Bella like the wrong Bronte book?

Because we're switching our release schedule to once a week (on Wednesdays!) we're trying to make our episodes longer. To that end, we have a new rotating segment called Reality TV. In today's episode, we try out our 'Bachelor' edition for the first time, in which Vanessa and Julia both come up with dates for the characters in Eclipse.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!

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Here is an Anti-Valentine from Vanessa and Ariana.

All 20 episodes of Hot & Bothered will be launching weekly, on Tuesdays, starting July 16th. In the meantime, we wanted to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day. Really! Happy Valentine’s Day! Or at least, happy Emma’s birthday.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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We're taking one more week off before we're back to Eclipse. While you wait, here's a peak at what we've been up to over on Patreon!

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 12 and they continue to find Edward's outfits better than his behavior.

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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!

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CW: We discuss sexual assault when summarizing the events of this chapter. You can fast forward about 5 minutes to skip.

Vanessa and Julia have read chapter thirteen of Eclipse, but they honestly can’t bear to talk about it. So Julia has used her one and only Uno Skip Card to save us from having to re-live Bella’s sexual assault. Instead, we turn our dial to see what’s happening at Forks High School. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s prom season! What hijinks do our favorite high schoolers get up to at prom? Eclipse doesn’t tell us. But fortunately Vanessa and Julia are here to fill in the details.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!

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Vanessa and Julia have watched the Twilight movie and give a thorough review of all the most important parts: the weather, the fashion, and our favorite minor characters.

Please Note: We've decided to not talk about Charlie Swan in this episode. We've given Charlie a lot of love throughout this first season of Twilight in Quarantine, but in this political moment we're thinking a lot about how police narratives are centered and celebrated in popular media.

We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 13 and they're already planning their Edward/Bella Halloween costumes.

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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 20 of Eclipse and do their best Richard Dawson impersonation in our Twilight version of Family Feud.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 22 and feel greatly betrayed when it turns out that Bella is not actually from Phoenix.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter four of Eclipse and it's an episode full of harsh truths and crushed dreams for the characters this week.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!

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We were hoping to release a regular episode today, but unfortunately we ran into some technical difficulties! It was probably Werewolf Jacob using our wires as a chew toy again.

While you wait for next week's episode, please enjoy this blooper reel from our Chapter 18 episode!

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Vanessa and Julia have read the Epilogue, and they're organizing the After-Prom party for Bella and Edward.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 7 of New Moon, and they have some notes for Sam Uley on how to be a good cult leader. Pro tip: try to be less scary.

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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.

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Vanessa and Lauren enter Jane’s school room in Morton, in Chapters 31 through 33 of Jane Eyre. They continue to debate whether Jane should have left Rochester, and discuss St. John’s missionary aspirations and Rosamund’s beauty.

As you’ll hear in this week’s episode, we’re starting to think about the end of Jane Eyre! We’d very much like to read Pride and Prejudice next. If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 2 and they have some questions about the weather patterns in Forks, Washington. 

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Unfortunately we've run into some technical difficulties with the final episode of On Eyre! (Is this fate telling us that the season should never end?) While you wait, we have for you a short sermon Vanessa wrote about Jane Eyre.

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As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.

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 Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 17 of Eclipse and have come to the conclusion that tough love is maybe the truest love of all. #TeamBalice anyone?

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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If for some reason you haven't heard (have you been living under a rock?), Vanessa wrote a book all about Jane Eyre! It's the inspiration for this podcast. After reading Chapter 10 last week, we realized there were some strong resonances between our conversation and the chapter of Vanessa's book on the theme of Destiny. We thought we'd take a week to share it with you and dig even deeper into chapter 10.

And if for some reason you haven't purchased Vanessa's book yet (have you been trapped in someone's attic?) you can do so here.

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This episode, Vanessa is joined by our friend Meredith Goldstein of the Love Letters podcast. Meredith is an actual advice columnist and an actual fan of Twilight, so it's a real treat to have her on. Vanessa and Meredith discuss chapter 9 and recommend some moral philosophy to Edward.

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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 23, and are joined by Maren of the Remember Twilight podcast. Together, they discover that there's a gap in the market for Vampire Therapy and that maybe there's hope for true love after all.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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That’s right! You work on your writing, we’ll work on other people’s love lives! 

This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy offer their support and unsolicited advice to an especially distraught Redditor wondering what to do with a husband who claims he’s no longer sexually attracted to her because of her past trauma.

In addition to the obvious answer (divorce him!), Vanessa turns to sex educator and NYT best-selling author Emily Nagoski to better understand the nuances around attraction, sexual connection, and how to live confidently and joyfully in our bodies.

Don’t forget to check out Emily’s new book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle https://www.amazon.com/Come-You-Are-Surprising-Transform/dp/1476762090 

Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice

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This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy fight over the appropriate unsolicited advice to give a Redditor who just discovered his girlfriend lied to him about her virginity.

To make sense of their conflict, Vanessa turns to feminist and religious scholar Amy Hollywood. Together, they explore the religious history and origins of virginity, and the implications of how virginity is portrayed today. 

Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice

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This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy marvel over their favorite Reddit dating advice question yet: a girlfriend curious about her boyfriend’s LOCKED DRAWER containing a secret object he refuses to divulge. 

For insight into the most mysterious relational secrets, Vanessa turns to advice columnist, entertainment reporter, and paranormal romance novel reader Meredith Goldstein. Together, they explore the boundaries of privacy, paranormal intimacy, and what we keep in drawers. 

Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice

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This week, Vanessa is joined by Katie Mingle from 99% Invisible. They explore this week’s Reddit question written by a woman in a 10 year relationship who’s experiencing feelings for another man. 

To find an answer, Vanessa and Katie call Katie’s mother, romance novelist Pam Mingle. Together, they revisit a question from earlier in this season: whether love at first sight exists. Pam, Katie and Vanessa consider the difference between romantic love and motherly love, the failures of monogamy, and whether Pam will write another romance novel.

Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice 

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This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy tackle one of the most intense Reddit questions yet: a girlfriend considering leaving her boyfriend -- a serial drunk driver. 

With the stakes high, Vanessa and Julia struggle with how to give the best advice. For advice on advice giving, Julia turns to advice columnist, podcaster, and writer, Steve Almond. Together, they discuss the patriarchal problem of male rage, and what lies between the lines of love advice questions. 

Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice

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This week Vanessa and Julia discuss a boyfriend’s jealousy of his girlfriend’s dream man. Can someone’s fantasy life be threatening to their relationship? 

To get answers, Vanessa talks with popular Romance advocate and critic Jen Prokop, of @JenReadsRomance on Twitter, about romance novel covers and why they should (or shouldn’t) change. We also hear a clip from Vanessa’s interview with Nichole Perkins who talks about representation in romance covers, and how they could improve. 

Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice 

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Vanessa and Julia deal with a Reddit question from a woman whose boyfriend has recently found religion. Should his attempts to convert her end their relationship?

To explore this question, Vanessa talks with journalist Lauren Sandler about her research on Christian Romance Novels and their writers. At the heart of their discussion lies the question: how religion can affect romance? They discuss how religion can bring some people closer, and can tear others apart.

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter five of Eclipse and they are obsessed with Sam Uley's love life. Can someone say drama?

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter eighteen of Eclipse and they're ready to hit the runway and Make It Work.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!

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We're following our interview with Julie Anne Long last week with someone else who Vanessa is obsessed with: Justine Eyre, the woman who reads Julie Anne Long's books.

Justine Eyre is a classically trained, multilingual actress who has narrated well over 400 audiobooks and received an Audie Award and multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards. We talked to her about her process of preparing to record a book, the joys of romance, and whether listening to an audiobook counts as 'reading.'

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Vanessa and Julia have read ALL of the first book of the Twilight series! Before they move on to New Moon, they take a look back at the whole book and give their final impressions and advice.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 21 and are amused by the quaint technologies of the early 2000s like 'drawing' and 'writing.' Bella's gonna have her mind blown by photoshop and snapchat.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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Haven't finished the first writing assignment? No problem! We know writing takes time, so you'll have two weeks for each of Julia Quinn's assignments. In the meantime, Vanessa and her friend Julia Argy will buy you some time and turn to Reddit romance questions to offer their unsolicited (but solid) dating advice. This week’s advice? Dump Him.

As Vanessa and Julia consider how power and money work negatively in real dating relationships, Vanessa turns to award-winning romance novelist Alyssa Cole to explore why it is she likes the power imbalances in Cole’s love stories - as well as feminism, bailing on dates, and the restorative pleasure of masseuses on planes.  

Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 22 of New Moon and they want to celebrate Edward for his self-control in several categories. Blood-thirst for Bella? Completely under control. Public displays of affection? Generous, yet tasteful. We can honestly say for once: Good job Edward.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 15 and are blowing the whistle on creepy rocking chair dynamics. If you see something, say something.

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 5 of New Moon, and give Bella some much needed financial advice about saving for college.

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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter nineteen of Eclipse and are continuing to explore the rich thematic questions that thread through these books: whether Bella is a cat vs. dog person, if Charlie is capable of any kind of parenting, and why nobody has acknowledged that Jasper being a confederate solider is super problematic.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!

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It’s no secret Olivia and Molly would love to have a baby. Vanessa thinks she might want a baby, but isn’t so sure. 

This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope of “Secret Baby.” Olivia and Molly have been patiently hoping and working to bring a baby into their life. In the meantime, they craft their own vicarious happy ending, baby and all. Vanessa considers her ambivalence about having a baby, and invites a chorus of loved ones to weigh the pros and cons of her bringing a child into the world.

Additionally, we get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.

Next week: More love advice and a conversation with one of Vanessa’s favorite novelists, romance superstar Beverly Jenkins.

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Vanessa and her sister-in-law Suzanne agree: love-at-first-sight is questionable at best. Even still, Suzanne wants to explore a love-at-first-sight romance novel while anticipating the birth of her first child. 

This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Love at First Sight.” Suzanne considers how a parent’s “supposed” to feel upon first sight of their newborn child, and how love grows and evolves over time. Vanessa considers the limitations of love-at-first-sight stories in a world full of bad men. 

Along the way, Vanessa’s friend Sasha weighs-in with her own high-risk, high-reward experience with love at first sight, and we get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.

Next week: More love advice and a conversation with feminist and religious scholar Amy Hollywood. 

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Vanessa and Brigid share everything with each other - their thoughts, their feelings, even their endometriosis diagnosis.

This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Friends to Lovers.” In her writing, Brigid reckons with the way love changes in the transition from friendship to partnership. Together, Vanessa and Brigid wrestle with what they share with friends, what they share with their partners, and the intimacy born from shared pain. 

Along the way, Rev. Dr. Matthew Potts returns to shed light on how we ask for care from our partners, and we get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.

Next week: More love advice and a conversation with advice columnist and entertainment reporter Meredith Goldstein. 

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Marissa Martinelli is writing a real sex scene. Vanessa is READY. 

This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Mistaken Identity.” As Marissa tries to write a good sex scene for her mistaken characters, she and Vanessa explore the vulnerability of explicit sexuality, and wrestle with the freedom and the oppression of coded sexual language.

Vanessa turns to writer, romance-novel reader, and co-host of Thirst Aid Kit Nichole Perkins to understand what we talk about when we talk about throbbing members. 

We also get our next (steamy!) writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.

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Elizabeth and Vanessa’s parents both got married fast, and fell in love after. 

This week on Hot & Bothered, Elizabeth writes about the trope “Marriage of Convenience.” She’s taking this opportunity re-write her parents failing marriage with a happy ending. But the more Elizabeth writes, the more Vanessa wonders if Elizabeth is carrying some of the worst parts of the trope into her own life. She and Vanessa explore: how parents can inform our own idea of love, what it means to settle versus what it means to compromise, and what exactly is a happy marriage? 

We also get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn. 

Next week: More love advice and a conversation with writer and columnist, Steve Almond.

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Jen wants to write a romance with her daughter as the main character. Vanessa just doesn’t understand why it has to be so...creepy.

This week on Hot & Bothered, Jen uses the trope “Fake Relationship to True Love” to explore what her daughter’s future relationship might look like as a powerful, self-actualized woman in the modern world. When it takes a creepy turn, Vanessa wonders what sort of message Jen is hoping her daughter will hear. With the help of The New York Times’ romance columnist Jamie Green, they explore the line between pretending and lying in the dating world, and how growing up under society’s gaze affects our quest for a happy ending.

We also get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn. 

Next week: More love advice and a conversation with Jen Prokop, @JenReadsRomance on Twitter and cohost of the Fated Mates podcast.

This episode uses Good Bones with permission from Tupelo Press.

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This week, Vanessa’s friend, Liz, writes on the “Widowed Virgin” trope, telling the story of a Jewish widow who finds sexual awakening after her husband’s death. Vanessa reflects on her own Jewish upbringing, and confronts the familial urge to marry within the religion. 

Vanessa, whose partner is non-Jewish and German, examines what it means to love someone outside of the community she was raised in. She turns to her brother, who married a wonderful Jewish woman, to discuss how important it really is to marry within your own religion. Vanessa comes to terms with her own happy ending as Liz writes an HEA for the widowed virgin of her story. 

We also get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn. 

Next week: More love advice and a conversation with Lauren Sandler.

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This week Vanessa talks about how the Friends-to-Lovers trope reflects the love she has for her real life partner, and how writing her own romance novel has allowed her to discover the importance of trust in her relationships. 

Meanwhile, Ariana interviews Vanessa about the importance of happy endings, how romance novels have helped her through her own life, and why she and Ariana started this podcast anyway. 

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Vanessa and Lauren get cozy with Jane and Rochester in chapter 13 of Jane Eyre. The two lovebirds have their first real conversation in this chapter and it is steamy... well at least to them it is. Vanessa and Lauren aren't as sure that Rochester's brand of flirtation is the healthiest for our dear heroine.

Special thanks this week to Dr. Rachel Teukolsky, who was interviewed twice for this episode. Check out her latest book Picture World: Image, Aesthetics, and Victorian New Media.

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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 14 and they applaud Bella for living her best quarantine life.

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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!

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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 12 of New Moon, and are having flashbacks to book one. We know that Jacob is the middle of a transformative time - we just didn't realize he was transforming into Edward.

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If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!

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We’ve been sitting on this lovely interview with Jasmine Guillory for a while, and we thought we’d share it with you as a special holiday treat! We discuss the personal and political as they relate to romance novels, and her latest book While We Were Dating. 

We hope you’re taking care of yourself this season! To quote Jasmine in this episode “thinking of yourself as a person worthy of care is one of the hardest things.”

We'll be back in the new year with some episodes exploring adaptations of Jane Eyre, and we hope to launch or season on Pride and Prejudice on March 25th. If you'd like to help that season come to life, please consider supporting us on Patreon!

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Even though we've technically finished up our reading of Jane Eyre, we feel like the season isn't quite complete without a look at the many adaptations of the text. Over the next few months, we'll be looking a few examples and asking the question 'what do these teach us about the original text?'

The first episode of this short series is all about The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey, and we were lucky enough to get Margot Livesey herself to speak with us about the book. Vanessa and Margot discuss 'why do people keep coming back to this text?' and 'what are the hardest things in this text to modernize?'

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We hope to launch or season on Pride and Prejudice on March 25th, but we need your help to do it! We're hoping to raise $4k by February 14th and we're almost at our goal. If you want Hot and Bothered to continue, please consider supporting us on Patreon!

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When Jean Rhys published Wide Sargasso Sea in 1966, she took on a question we’ve been asking a lot throughout this podcast: what about Bertha?

This episode, we are lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Erica L. Johnson, co-editor of Wide Sargasso Sea at 50 and Jean Rhys: Twenty-First Century Perspectives to discuss the book. From Dr. Johnson, we learn about Rhy’s life, how to categorize and think about her work, and what it shows us about Jane Eyre.

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When the wonderful women of the Heaving Bosoms podcast invited Vanessa on their show, we couldn't resist roping them in to our Jane Eyre adaptation project! This week, in a crossover episode, Vanessa, Erin, and Melody watch the 2011 film adaptation of Jane Eyre.

P.S. There's a lot of talk about Vanessa's book, Praying with Jane Eyre, in this episode. If you have yet to purchase your copy, just a reminder that we are selling signed and personalized versions on our website!

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Throughout our season of On Eyre, we've given you some small glimpses into the life of Charlotte Brontë. You probably know that she came from a literary family, that she attended a school very like Lowood, and that she died young. But before we put Jane Eyre back on the shelf, we wanted to spend some more time with dear Charlotte and her life in Haworth.

This episode we're joined by the incredible Brontë biographer, Dr. Juliet Barker. Juliet shares with us more about how the Brontë children grew up, their joys and tragedies, and what the success of Jane Eyre meant to Charlotte.

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Pride and Prejudice is one of the most famous and beloved novels of all time. It’s also, in many ways, the foundational text of the Romance genre.

In our quest to unravel the gifts, mysteries, and inner workings of romance literature, it seemed only right that we turn to Lizzy and Darcy next.

But before we jump into the first chapters, a few questions need to be answered. Questions like: Who is Jane Austen, and why does everyone care so much about this book? 

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If you plan to read along with us, we have a small book club you can join on our Patreon!

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Vanessa and Lauren dive into Pride and Prejudice, starting with a close look at Chapters 1 and 2. They discuss the famous first line of the book, the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and the brief glimpse of Lizzie we get in this chapter.  

Our next episode is on April 22nd and we'll get our first glimpse of Mr. Darcy in chapters 3+4.

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It’s time for the Assembly Ball and Bingley and Darcy are on the scene in Chapters 3 and 4 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s famously bad first impression on Lizzy as well as the socio-political dynamics of a ball in the 19th century and today.

Our next episode is out on May 6th and we'll spend some time with Charlotte Lucas in chapters 5+6!

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Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!

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The Lucases take center stage in Chapters 5+6 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the friendship between Charlotte and Lizzy and the way that historical and cultural ideas around masculinity might affect how we read Darcy. 

Thanks to Dr. Kate Fullagar for speaking to us this week about notions of savagery in 18th century England. Our next episode is on May 20th and we'll travel to Netherfield in Chapters 7 and 8.

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If you plan to read along with us, we have a monthly zoom book club you can join on our Patreon!

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Poor Jane Bennet has caught a cold in the rain in Chapters 7 + 8 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s moral compass, the value of reading, and the prototypical ‘mean girl' – Caroline Bingley. 

Thanks to Dr. Tim Fulford for speaking to us this week about the military context of Austen’s England. Our next episode is on May 27th and we'll hunker down in the Netherfield parlor in Chapters 9 through 12.

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With Jane sick upstairs, Elizabeth is stuck navigating the drawing room at Netherfield in chapters 9 through 12 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the influence of The Enlightenment on Austen, continue their discussion about Caroline Bingley, and evaluate the budding chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Nell Stevens joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the ‘mean girl’ trope. You can pre-order her upcoming book here. Our next episode is on June 17th and we'll meet the wonderfully silly Mr. Collins!

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Mr. Collins, the Bennets’ horrible cousin, has arrived at Longbourn in Chapters 13 and 14 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren dig into Collins as a religious figure and the impact of his sermonizing on the Bennet daughters.

Dr. Sandra Macpherson joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the entail and British land law. Our next episode is on July 1st and we'll meet another exciting character - Mr. Wickham!

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We're cross-posting this special episode of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, which we've released today. This year in commemoration of Juneteenth, Not Sorry is spotlighting The Final 5 Campaign, a coalition working to close the final five youth prisons in Illinois. Vanessa is joined in conversation by one of their leaders, Alicia Brown, who tells us about what it means to be a prison abolitionist and her work with the campaign. 

Please join us by making a donation, learning more about the failures of youth prisons, contacting your legislators about prisons in your state, and listening to their new podcast, Free The Youth.

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A new love interest has hit the scene in Chapters 15 and 16 of Pride and Prejudice. The handsome Mr. Wickham has caught Lizzy’s eye, and he has quite the story to tell about Darcy. Vanessa and Lauren discuss their first impressions of Wickham and what it means to trust a stranger. 

Dr. Mary Jean Corbett joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the British marriage law and customs that surround Collins’ plan to marry his cousin. Our next episode is on July 15th, when we’ll attend the Netherfield Ball. (But look out for a little bonus episode on July 8th!) 

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It’s time for the Netherfield Ball in Chapters 17 and 18 of Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy finally asks Lizzy to dance and the whole Bennet family seems to be on a mission to embarrass themselves in front of everyone. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the undercurrent of class privilege that surrounds balls in general and Lizzy’s prejudice around Darcy specifically.

Dr. Amanda Calhoun joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the enemies to lovers trope from a psychological perspective. Our next episode is on July 29th, when we’ll squirm through Collin’s proposal. 

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We're taking a quick break from reading Pride and Prejudice to watch the 2005 movie adaptation with one of our favorite podcasts, Veronica Mars Investigations.

Vanessa is joined by Helen Zaltzman and Jenny Owen Youngs to dig through the movie, comparing it along the way to the BBC mini-series and, of course, the original text. They ask important questions like: How does Elizabeth hear Darcy's insult at the Meryton Ball? Is Mr. Bennet the true villain of Pride and Prejudice? And is Matthew McFadden wearing a wig in this movie?

Next episode, we're returning to our original format with chapters 19 + 20 - the Collins proposal!

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Mr. Collins finally makes his move in Chapters 19 and 20 of of Pride and Prejudice. He pulls Lizzy aside for his grand proposal… and can’t seem to understand it when Lizzy flatly refuses. Vanessa and Lauren explore different readings of Collins in this scene and discuss the ways that Pride and Prejudice offers a mirror for modern feminist readers. 

Dr. Talia Schaffer joins us at the end of the episode to discuss historical perspectives on Collins as a potential romantic partner. Our next episode is on August 26th, when we’ll get a shock from Charlotte Lucas! 

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After Elizabeth’s refusal, Mr. Collins quickly turns his attention to Charlotte Lucas in Chapters 21 through 23 of Pride and Prejudice. And Lizzy isn’t the only Bennet sister who is suddenly lacking a suitor – Mr. Bingley an his party have left for London with no promise of returning. In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren explore Charlotte’s approach to marriage and poor Jane’s broken heart.

Dr. Briallen Hopper joins us at the end of the episode to discuss spinsterhood in Austen’s age and our own. Our next episode is on September 9th, when we’ll start volume two! 

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Jane and Elizabeth have a heart to heart about Bingley in Chapters 24 and 25 of Pride and Prejudice. Caroline has written Jane a letter saying that her party won’t be returning to Netherfield. But you know who is in town? Everyone’s favorite Aunt and Uncle: Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren continue their conversations about class, love, and marriage and look closely at Jane’s optimistic philosophy of life.

Dr. Amy Hollywood joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Mrs. Bennet’s nerves and the history of hysteria. Our next episode is on September 23rd, when we’ll be reading chapters 26-28! 

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We're in the middle of a Patreon drive here on Hot and Bothered, trying to increase our membership to 1000 patrons. One of the wonderful things you can find on our Patreon is extended interviews with experts! We're making this conversation with the brilliant Claudia Johnson public so you get a sense of what that perk sounds like.

Claudia Johnson is the Murray Professor of English Literature at Princeton University. Her many brilliant publications on Austen include Jane Austen's Cult and Cultures, the Blackwell Companion to Jane Austen, and 30 Great Myths About Jane Austen.

You can get access to our 'extended interview' perk for $5/month at our Kitty tier. Head over to our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod

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Lizzy Bennet hits the road in Chapters 26 and 28 of Pride and Prejudice. Change is in the air in Hertfordshire – Wickham is pursuing something new, Jane is with her aunt and uncle in London, and Lizzy heads to Hunsford to see “the happy couple” (that is to say, Charlotte and Collins). In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren explore the difference between Charlotte and Wickham and role of ‘love’ in matrimony.

Dr. Natalie Hanley-Smith joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Wickham’s fortune hunting. Our next episode is on October 7th, when we’ll be reading chapter 29! 

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The Hunsford party is invited to Rosings in Chapter 29 of Pride and Prejudice. Lizzy finally has the chance to meet the much-discussed Lady Catherine de Bourgh and must answer all of her impertinent questions. Vanessa and Lauren discuss whether to read Lady Catherine generously and what she reflects about the power of the rich.

Dr. Hannah McGregor joins us at the end of the episode to discuss sentimentality in the novel. Her book, A Sentimental Education, is available now! Our next episode is on October 21th, when we’ll be reading chapter 30-32.

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We're taking a brief break from Pride and Prejudice, to read one of the most popular romance books of our current moment: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. Vanessa is joined by former co-host of Twilight in Quarantine, Julia Argy, to dive into the novel. Together they discuss the abuse narrative in the text, the love story at the heart of it, and why they think this book is having a moment.

This episode does contain spoilers, but we do our best to explain the book for those who haven't read it. And please be advised that the novel itself contains the topics of suicide, gun violence, sexual assault, physical assault, and domestic abuse – all of which we touch on in the episode.

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Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam have arrived at Rosings, bringing a little fun and intrigue to the Collins party. Colonel Fitzwilliam proves to be a charming new acquaintance while Darcy continues to be his awkward self. Vanessa and Lauren discuss whether Darcy and Lizzy are flirting yet and Lady Catherine’s narcissism. 

Margaret H. Willison joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the famous piano scene in chapter 31. Our next episode is on November 18th, when we’ll be reading Ch 33 + 34.

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Mr. Darcy is banging down the door to declare his love to Lizzie in Chapter 33 and 34 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the ‘civility’ of Darcy’s declaration and why it doesn’t work out with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lizzie. 

Claudia L. Johnson joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Jane Austen’s politics. Our next episode is on December 2nd, when we’ll be reading Chapters 35 and 36.

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CW: In this episode we discuss sexual assault and read an explicit scene of assault and emotional abuse from Eclipse.

Still reeling from the Jacob/Bella plot line, Vanessa turns to sex educator and author Emily Nagoski for some help in making sense of Eclipse. They discuss the history of women's sexualization, how Jacob's storyline plays upon real and toxic gender norms, and what to do with Romance novels that uphold the patriarchy.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out Emily's amazing books! She's the author Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, and two romance novels of her very own: How Not to Fall and How Not to Let Go.

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Mr. Darcy finds Lizzy and hands her a letter in Chapters 35 and 36 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the ‘romance’ of Darcy’s letter and the way in which it triggers a change in Lizzy.

Joanna Rakoff joins us at the end of the episode to discuss coming-of-age novels and the history of letters in literature. Our next episode is on December 16th, when we’ll be reading Chapters 37 through 39.

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We’re finally headed back to Hertfordshire in Chapter 37, 38 and 39 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the way Darcy’s letter has changed Lizzy and Lydia’s vulgarity.

Kristin Samuelian joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the parallels between Lydia and Princess Caroline of Wales. Our next episode is on December 30th, when we’ll be reading Chapters 40 – 42. 

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Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet butt heads about Lydia in Chapters 40, 41 and 42 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Mr. Bennet’s parenting, the original sin of the Bennet marriage, and the power of secrets in these chapters.

Joanne Begiato joins us at the end of the episode to discuss regency ideas of parenting and family. Our next episode is on January 13th, when we’ll be joined by a special guest to discuss the life and legacy of Mary Wollstonecraft.

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Beloved co-host of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Matt Potts, released his book Forgiveness: An Alternative Account a few weeks ago and it is so! good!! We're very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book - read by Matt himself.

You can find the book wherever books are sold, or snag a signed copy from our website!

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We're taking a quick pause in reading Pride and Prejudice to deep dive into the life and ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft. We've been bringing up Wollstonecraft a lot throughout this series, wondering how Pride and Prejudice reflects (or rejects) the feminist ideas of the era. This week, Lauren talks to Dr. Charlotte Gordon, author of Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley. Lauren and Dr. Gordon discuss Wollstonecraft's life and radicalization, her influence on Austen, and why Wollstonecraft didn't become an enduring celebrity like Austen.

In two weeks, we return to Pride and Prejudice with Chapter 43, when Elizabeth's arrival to Pemberley.

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Elizabeth and the Gardiners arrive at Pemberley House in Chapter 43 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the picture of benevolent aristocracy painted by Darcy's housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds. They also discuss Elizabeth’s reaction to Pemberley and to seeing Darcy again. 

Darrick Borowski joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the architecture and aesthetics of Pemberley. Our next episode is February 10th, covering Chapters 44 + 45. 

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We finally meet Georgiana Darcy in Chapters 44 and 45 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the awkwardness of the Darcy family and Austen's emerging definition of love as Lizzy begins to fall for Darcy at Pemberley.

Dr. Chloe Angyal joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the invention of the enemies to lovers trope and its imprint on more modern romcoms. Be sure to check out her upcoming romance novel, Pas De Don't! Our next episode is February 24th, covering Chapter 46. 

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Darcy and Lizzy’s budding friendship (or is it more?) comes to an abrupt end when Lizzy gets a letter from Jane in Chapter 46 of Pride and Prejudice. Lydia and Wickham have run away together and so Lizzy and the Gardiner’s must leave immediately for Longbourn. Vanessa and Lauren discuss whether this plot point counts as a ‘kidnapping’ and whether marriage to Wickham is the best ending for Lydia. 

Dr. Ellen Stockstill joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the trope of the ‘fallen woman’ in literature and how it maps onto real historical anxieties. Our next episode is March 10, covering chapters 47 + 48. 

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We're in the middle of a Patreon drive here on Hot and Bothered, trying to increase our membership by 200 patrons. One of the wonderful things you can find on our Patreon is bonus interviews and extended interviews with experts! We're making this conversation with the brilliant Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre public so you get a sense of what that perk sounds like.

Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre is a historian of modern Britain, Ireland, and British imperialism at Trinity College. She's the author of the wonderful book Imperial Wine: The British Empire and the Making of Wine's New World.

If you're interested in hearing other fun perks like this, head over to our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod

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Lizzy and the Gardiners return to Longbourn in Chapters 47 and 48 of Pride and Prejudice. There is no news of Lydia and Wickham yet, but we are reunited with the rest of the Bennets and their theories and stress about the whole situation. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Mr. Bennet’s self-deprecating humor and Mrs. Bennet’s obsession with clothes.

Dr. Kimberly A. Hamlin joins us at the end of the episode to teach us about age of consent laws in England and the US. Check out her wonderful book, Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and The Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardiner. Our next episode is March 24, covering chapters 49 + 50. 

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There is finally news of Lydia and Wickham in Chapters 49 and 50 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss and debate everyone’s reactions to the news. They tackle again a few favorite topics: Mrs. Bennet’s silliness, Mr. Bennet’s wry detachment, and Jane’s naiveté.

Dr. Alexander Wakelam joins us at the end of the episode to teach us about gambling and debt in 18th century England. Our next episode is April 7th, covering chapters 51 + 52. 

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