romance Archives

‘Penelope’ Is an Underrated Gem Perfect for Fall Viewing

October 15, 2021 Jamie Whitebread features, movies

Summit Entertainment’s 2008 film, Penelope is rarely on fall watch lists, but it’s the perfect kind of underrated gem that deserves to be.

‘Northanger Abbey’ Is Austen’s Most Spooky, Fall Film

October 6, 2021 Gissane Sophia features, movies

Northanger Abbey is Austen’s most spooky, fall film and while it’s always an appropriate time to watch it, October is truly the best time.

Scene Breakdown: John Thornton’s “Look Back At Me” in ‘North and South’ (BBC)

September 7, 2021 Alice Sarkisyan scene breakdown, tv

John Thornton’s look back at me in North and South is widely respected as a period drama moment and deserving of a breakdown. Set in the 1850s, BBC’s North and South series follows the story of Margaret Hale, whose family is uprooted from Helstone in the south to the northern industrial town of Milton. A vicar’s daughter used to the dull and prosperous life and society of the south, Margaret struggles adjusting to poverty and the fast pace of the industrial Milton. She meets local cotton mill, John Thornton, and the two immediately clash as Margaret is critical of his

Bombshell by Sarah Maclean as a Romance novel similar to Miss Scarlet and the Duke

Sarah MacLean’s ‘Bombshell’ is Appropriately Titled and Smashes

August 26, 2021 Gissane Sophia book reviews

Some minor spoilers from Bombshell; read only after you’ve finished the novel. Sarah Maclean’s Bombshell, is in fact, very appropriately titled. So much so, that towards the end, I completely lost track of the plot and had no idea what was happening. A whirlwind of chaos, mystery, and a whole lot of bombshells after another, but nevertheless, in the words of MacLean herself, it smashes. MacLean writes friendship just as gorgeously as she does romance, but Bombshell’s strength is the love story. (In some stories, I might argue it’s the friendships.) The love story however, is memorable and moving and

Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers and Hathaways Series Should be Adapted Into a TV Show Next

August 25, 2021 Gissane Sophia features, tv

We know we’re not the only ones hoping that the now Emmy nominated Bridgerton based off of the novels by Julia Quinn paves the road for more romance adaptations, and we’re hoping Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers and Hathaways series are next. One or the either, but preferably both—we’re not picky. We’ll keep these as spoiler free as possible in case someone hasn’t read them yet, but if you’re going to start reading, start with the Wallflowers. Comprised of four books (and an extra special): Secrets of a Summer Night, It Happened One Autumn, Devil in Winter, and Scandal in Spring follows

‘Set it Up’ and the Beauty Behind “And Yet…”

July 29, 2021 Gissane Sophia features, movies

Good news, Netflix’s Set it Up still holds up. You know how sometimes you obsessively watch a movie for a period of time and then abandon it for a while only to revisit and realize that it’s just not that good anymore? That’s not the case with Set it Up. It’s just as glorious as I remember, and maybe even more because this time around, I have a lot more feelings about the “and yet…” of it all. (On top of the pizza scene, which basically owns me.) While the idea is explored through almost every character’s point of view,

Fact: “The Love Triangle” is the Worst Romance Trope

July 28, 2021 Gissane Sophia features

I seldom speak so boldly on behalf of others, but it is with complete confidence that I can say that most of us are in agreement that “the love triangle” is the absolute worst romance trope to exist. I have an incredibly difficult time believing that someone out there actually gawks at “love triangles” the way I do with “enemies to lovers.” And if I’ve just insulted you by saying this, please, for the love of all things write a counter article to this explaining why on earth you love this trope. Jean-Ralphio voice: it’s the wooooooooorst. Period. I could

Ships, Shippers, FanFiction and the Colossal Power of Romance Shouldn’t Be Shamed

May 25, 2021 Gissane Sophia features, tv

It’s 2021 and I’m tired of defending romance, ships, and shippers at this point. But don’t fret, so long as there are incompetent nincompoops that insist on raining on our parade, I’ll be here to shut those voices down. Today’s issue? We’re back to meaningless hot takes from men (and a writer at that) claiming that “shippers” don’t deserve respect. What? In a world where we have terrible racist, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic, ableist, people living amongst us, it’s shippers who don’t deserve respect? Excuse me, I ask this again, but what? Imagine thinking that’s a hot take worthy of being