We return from our break with tales of GCLS and family trips, before diving into our deep backlog and emerging with fresh recommendations to get you through the end of summer.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Crash Into You by E. J. Noyes

Kris's official recommendation this week is Crash Into You by E. J. Noyes. This powerful book is about a twin overcoming the loss of her sister and her struggle to rebuild her life in the aftermath of that loss. Kris was absolutely wowed by this one, considering it less of a romance and more of a deep character study with romantic elements. It's a heavy book, so check the tags and trigger warnings before you dive in. If and when you do? Kris is confident that you'll find something powerful to get lost in.

From Tara: Never Date a Celebrity by Claire Forsythe

Tara's official recommendation this week is Never Date a Celebrity by Claire Forsythe. Imogen is brutally dumped by her influencer girlfriend online, causing her to withdraw from social media and get talked into taking over a pub in a small Irish town with her two closest friends. Celebrities are everywhere these days, though, and an increasingly famous actor can't help but be charmed by the way Imogen has no idea who she is. Tara loves the chemistry in this book and the smalltown setting.

Works/People Discussed

• Josh Johnson
• Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert: A Novel by Bob The Drag Queen
• Conan the Barbarian (1982)
• The Other Bennet Sister (BBC One)
• Welcome to Ero-TEA-Ca by Alyson Root
• Those Who Wait by Haley Cass

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This week, Kris and Tara talk pets and compare parenting styles across species. Kris shares her 28-hour look into a life with young kids and says, "No thanks!", while Tara has started seeing a chiropractor after a life of being suspicious of them and…maybe it's working?

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Crush (2022)

Kris's official recommendation this week is Crush. It's a teenage romantic comedy about a high school girl who joins the track team to pursue her crush, only to fall for someone she doesn't expect. Kris applauded this low-stress, amazingly cast, clever and sex-positive movie, and thinks you should check it out too.

From Tara: The Guest Book by Mae Marvel

Tara's official recommendation this week is The Guest Book by Mae Marvel, a sapphic romance about two very different American women who find themselves (and each other!) in Europe on a romantic treasure hunt. Tara found this to be a very special book, with a beautiful and unique voice and great characters.

Works/People Discussed

• The Pitt (HBO Max)
• Alone (History Channel)
• House of the Dragon (HBO)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (Paramount+)
• The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
• Ice Princesses by Maria Rigou

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This week, Tara and Kris talk kittens, killer hounds and Cameo.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Riley (2023)

Kris's official recommendation this week is the film Riley (2023), a coming out story of a young closeted football player struggling to accept his identity. Kris loves these stories and how Riley shows a distinct contrast between how much more young queer people are accepted now compared to when she was growing up.

From Tara: Caroline's Courtesan by Jess Michaels

Tara's official recommendation is Caroline's Courtesan by Jess Michaels. It wasn't until after she'd finished the book that Tara realized that this is book four in a series, and it turns out it doesn't matter that much. Tara describes this book as a gentle, perfect book for Regency romance lovers who always wanted them to be sapphic. Check it out.

Works/People Discussed

• The Sheep Detectives (2026)
• Alone (History Channel)
• House of the Dragon (HBO)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (Paramount+)
• Dimension 20: A Court of Fey and Flowers (Dropout.tv)
• Losing Control by JJ Arias

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We're back for Pride, Part Two! Kris talks about the delightful romance bookshop she discovered in her city (shout out to Smitten Booktique). While comparing the relative merits and discomforts of different medical procedures, Tara and Kris provide their irregularly timed reminder to get your boobs squished, you know, professionally.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Shrill (Hulu/Netflix)

Kris's official recommendation this week is the TV series Shrill (originally released on Hulu, now available on Netflix). Kris loved this show, especially Aidy Bryant as the lead, and praised the queer representation in the show's side characters.

From Tara: The Whole Truth by Haley Cass

Tara's official recommendations this week is The Whole Truth by Haley Cass, an enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance set in the world of country music. Tara adored the chemistry between these two characters as they go from enemies with benefits to their happily ever after, and thinks you will too.

Works/People Discussed

• Smitten Booktique, Kansas City
• Maternal Instinct (2026)
• Outlast: The Jungle (Netflix)
• Siren: Survive the Island (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (Paramount+)
• The Birdcage (1996)
• Madame Hyde by Thea Belmont
• At Your Most Beautiful by Harper Bliss

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It's that most wonderful time of the year (Pride! And it's beach reads time!).

Old Lady Tara rears her ancient head this episode, talking about respecting bedtimes and being excited for the rain to loosen up the soil for weeding flowerbeds. We also return to one of our favourite topics of conversation: book covers.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith

Kris's official recommendation this week is the gay romance novel Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith. You may remember Smith from previous episodes where we've officially recommended his book One and Done and had the opportunity to sit down with him for a conversation. This second chance romance includes aspects of relationships we don't often see on page, like therapy and safe sex practices. Kris loved this one.

From Tara: For the Bride by Becca Grischow

Tara's official recommendation this week is For the Bride by Becca Grischow, an enemies to lovers sapphic romance that Tara couldn't put down. She may have quibbles about the cover's colour scheme, but only because it suggests the book is a cozy, rom-com kind of affair, which it is not (and that's a very good thing). The main character, Alice, is a mess and Tara hasn't seen this kind of character work in a long time. 2026 has been a great year for books and For the Bride is right up there.

Works/People Discussed

• The Matrix (1999)
• The Four Seasons (Netflix)
• The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (Paramount+)
• Project Hail Mary (2026)
• Madame Hyde by Thea Belmont

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Kris is writing again, and in a way she never thought she'd do it. Tara returns from surviving the plague with a list of books they read during all that horizontal time (her pain is your gain). We also get some deep Tara reading lore about how they read in high school and university, before Kris and Tara expand the definition of the second chance romance.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Running Point (Netflix)

Kris's official recommendation this week is Running Point, a sports comedy about a wealthy and highly dysfunctional family trying to make it all work in the NBA. Kris loved it and found the character development over the two seasons worth the journey. Check it out!

From Tara: Girlfriend Goals by Clare Lydon

Tara's official recommendation this week is Girlfriend Goals by Clare Lydon. Tara describes this romance as a best friends to ghosting to rivals to lovers and the experience of reading it challenged and expanded their understanding of the second chance romance trope.

Works/People Discussed

• Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith
• Jeopardy! (NBC)
• The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026)
• Death Becomes Her (1992)
• The Fall Guy (2024)
• Miss Woodhouse and Miss Fairfax by Maisie Jardelle
• At Her Service by Anna Stone
• Hers to Keep by Anna Stone
• The Princess Match by Clare Lydon

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It's Kris's birthday today! Happy Birthday, Kris. (How old is she? She'll never tell.) This birthday episode is special in more ways than one. Our hosts compare war stories over driver's license photos and Kris discovers Tara's "sexy angry" face from the distant past.

Then it's time for the *check notes* ONE official recommendation? That's right, folks, there's only one official recommendation today and it's The Devil Wears Prada 2. The original film still has a thriving fanfic community, which is very important personally to Tara. Dive in with them as they discuss the original film's legacy, the new movie, and all the fun they had.

Works/People Discussed

• Million Dollar Secret (Netflix)
• Survivor (CBS)
• Project Hail Mary (2026)
• Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith
• Summer Official by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• The Long Con by Jenna Voris
• The Duke by Anna Cowan

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Things have been mostly quiet here at the old QR HQ, but the only news is good news! Kris's book Scandalous is up for a Goldie in the contemporary romance: mid-length novels category. In place of any new developments, Tara brings an extra official recommendation to the party.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Pillion (2025)

Kris's official recommendation this week is the movie Pillion. It's the story of a dreary wallflower of a young man who meets a biker and is carried into the world of BDSM. Kris learned a lot from this movie and enjoyed it thoroughly.

From Tara: The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz McLeod and The Second Draft by Carrie Byrd

This week, Tara's first recommendation isThe Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz McLeod. It's the second story in her Ausentatious series, which asks "what if?" about sapphic partnerships among the side characters of Pride and Prejudice. Tara recommended the previous book, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, waaaaay back in episode 104 and came away from this one liking it more. In this story, Caroline Bingley asks Georgiana Darcy to teach her how to be a good person, and they find love along the way. The writing nails the balance between sounding period appropriate and remaining compelling for a modern audience (plus it has all the sex scenes that Austen didn't put in, but probably wanted to).

The second recommendation is The Second Draft by Carrie Byrd. Tara adored this one. The only problem is, all the reasons she loved it most are spoilers! What she can tell you is that it's a later-in-life coming out story bundled with a sweet and emotional friends-to-lovers arc. The writing moved her and she thinks it'll move you too.

Works/People Discussed

• Shrinking (Apple TV+)
• Paradise, Season Two (Hulu)
• Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
• The Red Duet (Chasing Red & Catching Red) by Alix Marren

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