Genre’d: A Book Podcast

Genre'd

Genre’d is the book podcast for readers with opinions, feelings, and too many pop culture references. Hosted by sisters Elyse and Katy, we read widely and judge freely across romance, romantasy, thrillers, and the books taking over the group chat. Expect full book breakdowns, spicy takes, trope deep-dives, dramatic plot unpacking, and spoiler-labeled opinions.

Plus, Off Book brings author interviews, reader conversations, and bookish tangents that rarely stay on script.

New episodes weekly, spoilers always labeled.

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30 episodes
weekly
Avg 50 min
English

Episodes 30

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Monday · 44 min
Off Book with Jacquelyn Middleton on Hockey Romance, ’90s Nostalgia & Hopeful Romantics
A hockey romance where she’s the fan, answering machines making the slow burn even slower, and a surprisingly passionate Grease 2 discussion. This week on Genre’d Off Book, Katy and Elyse are joined by author Jacquelyn Middleton to talk about Love Wants Us to Win, her romance set in early ’90s Toronto, and why she writes for hopeful romantics. We’re talking women in sports fandom, her path to indie publishing, migraine representation, and why romance deserves more credit. Jacquelyn shares her favorite reads and her pick for a romance beginner, while we discuss second chances, friends to lovers, and Katy’s enduring devotion to a bad boy with a heart of gold. Yes, Pacey Witter comes up. Of course he does. Find Jacquelyn: @jaxmiddleton_author | Website and books Follow @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Find more show notes and book recommendations at genredpodcast.com.
S1 · E17
Thursday · 51 min
35 - Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey: Brother Lovers & The Return of Dystopian Romance
What happens when you take the dystopian romances of the 2010s and add Tessa Bailey-level spice? You get Broken Rival, a time-travel romance featuring a morally gray military man, a very inconvenient love triangle, and our least favorite trope: brother lovers. This week, Elyse and Katy are talking about Tessa Bailey's first dystopian romance, why it feels like The Hunger Games meets The Vampire Diaries, and whether we really needed a YA-style love story with this much spice. Plus, we're discussing the Fourth Wing casting news, our Halloween costumes, and Katy officially hitting her Goodreads goal. The first 20-ish minutes are spoiler-free! We'll sound the spoiler alarm before getting into the twists, romance, and ending. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast for more bookish opinions, recommendations, and everything we're reading next. Read widely. Judge freely.
October 15 · 54 min
Off Book with The Book Launch Club on BookTok, Romance & Men in Billowy Shirts
What does it actually take to sell a book? And more importantly, can men in billowy shirts be considered their own literary genre? This week on Genre'd Off Book, Elyse and Katy are joined by Meredith and Erin, founders of The Book Launch Club, to talk about the business of book marketing, why BookTok followers don't always translate into book sales, and why romance deserves a little more respect. Plus, we're talking favorite tropes, the female gaze, Heated Rivalry, and enough book recommendations to completely derail our TBRs. Find our guests at thebooklaunchclub.com and on Instagram @thebooklaunchclub. Follow Genre'd on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast. New episodes every Thursday!
S1 · E34
October 8 · 48 min
34 - Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison: Welcome to Bubblegum Horror
What if Groundhog Day took place at a wedding, except every reset dropped you into a completely different horror movie? This week, Elyse and Katy are talking Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison, a time-loop horror comedy with masked killers, supernatural creatures, wedding drama, one very questionable rebound, and a surprisingly emotional story about starting over in your thirties. We’re also discussing why “bubblegum horror” may be our new favorite genre, whether Katy has officially become a Rachel Harrison reader, and why sometimes the only way out really is through. Listen now, then come tell us which horror loop you think you’d survive. Follow Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast.
October 1 · 49 min
Off Book with Elizabeth Richardson: Tradwives, Scammers, and Pop Fiction
This week on Off Book, Elyse and Katy are joined by author Elizabeth Richardson, creator of Trad, a serialized novel about a woman who pretends to be a tradwife online, goes viral, and takes things way too far. Elizabeth gets into why Trad found a second life on Substack after dying on submission, the very blurry line between lifestyle and performance online, and the question we can’t stop thinking about: when does the scam actually become a scam? Plus, Elizabeth introduces us to her favorite genre, pop fiction, books that pull directly from internet culture, celebrity, reality TV, and whatever the zeitgeist is obsessing over right now. Naturally, we leave with a much longer TBR. Find Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @genredpodcast. Read widely. Judge freely.
S1 · E33
September 24 · 59 min
33 - Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel: What If the Other Version of You Got It Right?
What if another version of you became exactly the person you always thought you’d be? This week, Elyse and Katy are talking Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel, a literary speculative novel about a collapsed America, parallel universes, mysterious disappearances, and one very morally gray woman who is exceptionally good at surviving. We’re talking nature vs. nurture, freedom vs. safety, whether we actually believe in multiverses, and the most important question of all: if you had to choose between the lawless A side and the highly controlled B side, where would you live? Spoiler-free to start, then we sound the alarm. Follow @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and visit genredpodcast.com for more. Read widely. Judge freely.
September 17 · 49 min
Off Book with Katie Jung: Ghosts, Romance Misconceptions & You’re the One That I Haunt
We’re going Off Book with debut romance author Katie Jung, author of You’re the One That I Haunt, a paranormal romance she describes as Gossip Girl meets My Best Friend’s Wedding with a hot ghost love interest. Katie joins Elyse and Katy to talk about her road to publishing, bringing her Polish heritage into the book, why romance deserves more credit, and the art of writing yearning, slow burns, and sex scenes that actually sound like the characters involved. Plus, we get into fanfiction, second-chance romance, the books that made Katie fall back in love with reading, and a truly unavoidable conversation about why nobody would ever casually say “my folds” to a friend. You’re the One That I Haunt is out September 22. Follow Genre’d at @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Read widely. Judge freely.
S1 · E32
September 10 · 47 min
32 - Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan: Fake Dating, Sailboats, and a Man Who Really Tested Our Patience
This week on Genre’d, Elyse and Katy are talking about Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan, a fake dating romance set against a very dreamy New England summer. Dolly is thirty-nine, a single mom, and the kind of woman who can solve basically any problem herself. Stuart Whitfield is a wealthy New England heir who needs to prove he has a life outside of work. She needs $50,000 for a new roof. He needs a girlfriend. Naturally, they fake date. We’re talking coastal Rhode Island vibes, old-money family drama, sailboats, eldest daughter syndrome, the world’s loosest NDA, and why Dolly might be one of our favorite contemporary romance heroines in a while. And then we get to the third-act breakup. Let’s just say we both came into the episode at four stars and somehow talked ourselves down. Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ from both hosts Spoiler-free first, then the spoiler alarm goes off and we get into everything. Follow Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast. Read widely. Judge freely.
September 3 · 52 min
Off Book with Michelle Eileen: Cowboy Romance and the Seven-Layer Dip of Reading
This week on Off Book, we’re joined by debut author Michelle Eileen to talk about A Real Paige Turner, her cowboy romance with a mystery, bookstore vibes, strong female friendship, and one very qualified book boyfriend. We also get into Michelle’s unusual publishing journey, the fantasy books that shaped us, romance as a comfort genre, books we definitely read too young, adaptation anxiety, and her “seven-layer dip” approach to reading every genre imaginable.
S1 · E31
August 27 · 48 min
31 - Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry: Dead Bodies, Pole Dancing, and the World’s Most Helpful Friend Group
This week, we’re talking about Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry, a funny mystery about a struggling comedian, a dead man in her trunk, and a beginner pole dancing class that somehow turns into an amateur detective squad. We get into Tilly’s very questionable decision not to call the police, the found family that completely won us over, the romantic subplot with one very helpful ATF agent, and why this worked so well as a fast, cozy-ish palate cleanser. Spoiler-free first, then we sound the alarm and get into the twists, the mansicle, and how exactly one man ended up having the worst night imaginable. Follow @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more book reviews, recommendations, and strong opinions.
August 20 · 44 min
Off Book with Kate Robb: Magical Realism, Romance Books, and the Comfort of a Guaranteed Happy Ending
We’re going Off Book with romance author Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love, Prime Time Romance, Kitty St. Clair's Last Dance and the upcoming Solar Eclipse of the Heart. We talk magical realism, the comfort of 90s rom-coms, why romance deserves way more respect, the books Kate would recommend to new romance readers, and the very specific joy of knowing everyone will be out of the basement and happily in love by the final page. Plus: Crown Duel nostalgia, Hallmark movie opinions, book trophies, mood-reading problems, and why Kate may or may not be trying to locate several Canadian romance authors. Follow Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast.
S1 · E30
August 13 · 48 min
30 - In the Wake of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy: Yearning, Blood Magic, and One Very Large Boat
We’re wrapping up Kalie Cassidy’s Siren Mage duology with In the Wake of the Ruined, and while we still love the gothic siren world, this one left us a little more mixed. We’re talking Theo’s aggressively devoted POV, Imogen stepping fully into her power, a political marriage nobody seems especially concerned about, and enough lore to make us lose the family tree several names ago. Then we get into spoilers, including Eusia’s deeply strange master plan, the ending, and why the epilogue ultimately worked for both of us. Follow Genre’d on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @genredpodcast.
August 6 · 30 min
Off Book with Amanda: MM Romance for Beginners
Our little sister Amanda finally gets her own Off Book episode, and she has a lot to say about MM romance. We talk about how Heated Rivalry turned someone who claimed books put her to sleep into a full-fledged reader, plus forced proximity, stepbrothers, hockey romance, gentleman witches, Omegaverse, and the books she recommends for beginners. Also discussed: why men take so long to talk about their feelings, accidental TikTok messages, missing lip gloss, and several unofficial sponsorship pitches made after multiple glasses of wine. Books mentioned include Heated Rivalry, The Kennedy Rule, Don’t You Dare, For the Fans, The Mercenary and the Mortician, God of Fury, Kiss the Villain, Hunt the Villain, and Malum Discordiae.
S1 · E29
July 30 · 51 min
29 - Thornbird by E. Kennedy: Serial Killers, Small-Town Secrets, and the Return of the Bad Boy With a Heart of Gold
This week, we’re talking about Thornbird by E. Kennedy, a dark YA thriller about a serial killer’s daughter returning to the small town her family destroyed. We get into the love triangle, the true crime obsession, the deeply suspicious bird imagery, and the return of the bad boy with a heart of gold. We also debate where BBWHG ends and morally gray begins, because apparently murder is an important line. The first part of the episode is spoiler-free. After the spoiler alarm, we break down the missing bodies, the final twist, and why this ended up being a five-star read for both of us. Listen and follow @genredpodcast on TikTok, Instagram & YouTube.
July 23 · 52 min
Off Book: Brooklyn Rose on Sex Ed, Smut & Self-Publishing
This week on Genre’d Off Book, we’re joined by author Brooklyn Rose to talk about her debut romance, Sex Positive, out August 4th. We get into the book’s college romance setup, Charlie’s mission to take on abstinence-only sex ed, and why stories about pleasure, purity culture, and agency feel especially relevant right now. Brooklyn also walks us through her publishing journey, from querying and revise-and-resubmits to choosing self-publishing and building a professional indie release. Plus, we talk writing smut, romance misconceptions, Dramione, fanfiction as accidental sex ed, hockey romance, literary romance, and why fictional men continue to raise the bar for everyone. Find Brooklyn at @brooklynrosewrites and preorder Sex Positive wherever you get your books.
S1 · E28
July 16 · 49 min
28 - It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell: A Missing Dog, a Creepy House, and One Very Chic Amateur PI.
A missing dog. A creepy London mansion. One very chic amateur PI. This week, we’re talking about It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell, a psychological thriller about Jane Trevally, a missing girl, a deeply suspicious family, and the secrets buried inside Thornwood. Katy loved Jane, the audiobook, and the slow unraveling of the mystery. Elyse had more questions, especially about the many POVs and whether the twists were actually twisting. We also discuss I Will Find You on Netflix, the ongoing mystery of the next Sarah J. Maas book, generational trauma, emotional abuse, creepy clown children, and why Olivia Colman should obviously play Jane Trevally. Listen now, and follow @genredpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
July 9 · 56 min
Off Book: Our Mid-Year Reading Recap
It’s our 2026 mid-year reading check-in, which means we are taking a very official look at the books we loved, the books we regretted, the genres that surprised us, and the reading habits we are pretending to have under control. Katy and Elyse talk Goodreads goals, audiobook math, romantasy fatigue, dystopian awakenings, cozy fantasy surprises, horror rom-coms, memoirs, and why some sequels simply need to stop sending everyone on a quest. Plus, we rank our favorite books of the year so far, hand out mid-year superlatives, and discuss the books that felt like personal attacks. No genre shaming unless it’s funny.
S1 · E27
July 2 · 57 min
27 - Broken Dove by Dani Francis: New Moon Energy, Psychic War, and One Suspicious Pen Name
Bryanna is back for our one-year anniversary episode, and obviously we had to make it emotional, suspicious, and deeply unserious. This week, we’re talking Broken Dove by Dani Francis, the sequel to Silver Elite, aka the very first book we ever covered on Genre’d. This episode is not fully spoiler-free. Because Broken Dove is book two, we do spoil Silver Elite, and once the spoiler alarm goes off, we are very much in it. We’re talking Wren, Cross, Gray, the Dagger, the Hollow, hidden powers, rebellion politics, one extremely effective love triangle, and why this book is basically grown-up New Moon with psychic warfare. Plus, we spiral over the Dani Francis pen name mystery, debate whether the final 20 percent did too much or did exactly enough, and pick sides in the Wren/Cross/Gray situation. Team Cross, but Gray, we see you.
June 25 · 43 min
Off Book: Lanoi on Emma M. Lion, Historical Fiction & Mood Reading
This week on Genre’d Off Book, Katy and Elyse are joined by Elyse’s college friend Lanoi for a conversation about mood reading, historical fiction, literary fiction, comfort books, and the book recommendations that tell you everything you need to know about a person. We get into Lanoi’s love of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower, why Colonel Brandon might be the original book boyfriend, smutty Jane Austen fan fiction, Anne Rice vampires, audiobook icks, true crime palette cleansers, and the books that find you exactly when you need them. Plus: Books and Beers, Libby hold list drama, A Wrinkle in Time, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and why sometimes reading works when nothing else does. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @genredpodcastVisit us at genredpodcast.com
S1 · E26
June 18 · 57 min
26 - Rumors & Whiskey by Victoria Wilder: Romantic Suspense With Gators
This week on Genre’d, Katy and Elyse are talking about Rumors and Whiskey by Victoria Wilder, a romantic suspense full of small-town rumors, whiskey, family secrets, a dead body, and women who absolutely know how to handle a problem. We get into why this book gave us Practical Magic without the magic, how it connects to Victoria Wilder’s Bourbon Boys world, and why Katy may have found her ideal romance formula: make it romantic, but also make it crime. In spoiler-free thoughts, we talk about Wyn Crowne, Julian Colton, The Whispering Fool, the Crowne women, and why Rumor, Tennessee has one of the loudest small-town group chats we’ve ever encountered. Plus: Katy’s Knicks-related reading delay, Elyse’s giant-book problem, Stevie’s true crime whiskey podcast, and what we’re reading next: Broken Dove by Dani Francis, the sequel to Silver Elite, our very first episode. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @genredpodcast. And remember: no genre shaming unless it’s funny.

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