MAPping the Tropes
By Mapping the Tropes
MAPping the TropesMay 05, 2022
Episode 19 - The Marriage Game
Have you recently received a mysterious inheritance with a strange stipulation in the will? Perhaps you've run into an obstacle with the law and need a specific person there to help move things along? If the answer to these questions is "yes," then: congratulations, you've most likely fallen into the Marriage of Convenience trope! The hosts delve into the subtleties of this trope and the fertile ground a marriage of convenience provides. Plus: A NEW VARIETY GAME CORNER!
Books discussed: Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon, Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee, The Tycoon's Socialite Bride by Tracey Livesay.
Other media mentioned: Life as We Know It, The Proposal, all of Talia Hibbert's catalogue, Courtney Milan's and Rebekah Weatherspoon's books.
Episode 18 - X Marks the Scam
We're talking liar, liar pants on fire, because this week we tackled the Hidden Identity/Scammer trope! From secret bodyguards to actual serial killers, from Forrest Whittaker cameos to Miami art scenes, we run the gamut of secret identities.
Books discussed: Cheeky Royal by Nana Malone, The Mindfuck series by S.T. Abby, and What Happens in Miami... by Nadine Gonzalez
Other media mentioned: Hold Me by Courtney Milan, the movie First Daughter, My Date with the President's Daughter, Cheeky King by Nana Malone, Forrest Whittaker (???), Scandal in the VIP Suite by Nadine Gonzalez
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Tropical House by John_Sib. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 17 - Of Beards and Shifters
Hey, Siri! Play She-Wolf by Shakira! We're back with an episode fully dedicated to shifter romances. Adriana was held hostage and told to talk about shifters, but Marianne and Paola were ecstatic about it. There are wolf/wolf stories, recluse bear shifters, and the return of a legend. Also: new game to test Marianne and Paola's knowledge of mythological hybrids. Warning: we have a right to bear puns.
Books discussed: Lobizona by Romina Garber, Bear With Me by Lucy Eden, and The Firebear Brides series by Anya Nowlan.
Media mentioned: Teen Wolf (a lot), Twilight, A/B/O in fanfics, Beauty and the Beast, the hurt/comfort tag of it all, Smokey the Bear, The Cheetah Girls.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Tropical House by John_Sib. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 16 - Unbothered at the Brothel
WELCOME BACK! We've returned to our regular programming with a new year, new season, new theme song, new segments, and new theme. This episode, we discuss Sex Work in romance novels. From brothels to sex lessons, from secret babies to secret agents, there's a broad spectrum that encompasses the label of sex work. Also: bring back real hot models on romance book covers!!!
Books discussed: Destiny's Surrender by Beverly Jenkins, Private Eye by Katrina Jackson, and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Tropical House by John_Sib. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 15 - Holly Jolly (Roger) Holidays (Guest: Camila Rodríguez)
It's the most wonderful time of the year! We're talking holiday romances, why people enjoy Hallmark holiday movies (or not), what makes a holiday even in a fictional setting, and a segment only talking about Puerto Rican Christmas foods. Join us and our guest, Cam, for this special episode.
Books discussed: Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert, Ice Planet Holiday by Ruby Dixon, A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday, and Gifting Me to His Best Friend by Katee Robert
Other media mentioned: Animal Crossing, Hallmark movies, A Very Krampus Holiday by Katee Robert, There Arose Such a Clatter by C.M. Nascosta, Breaking Dawn, Duke Actually, Katee Robert's Touch of Taboo series, Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert, Harbor by Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Sizzle TV series by Whitley Green.
FOLLOW CAM ON TWITTER @camsensual_!
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com. We'll be taking a break from the show due to the holidays but we'll be back with season 2 in January 2022!
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 14 - Say Aye Do!
We're... going to the chapel and we're... gonna get married! We're saying I Do to the wedding tropes in romance, talking our favorite wedding movies, why the celebration makes people horny (for love) aka The Wedding Effect, and all the intricacies and drama that this party brings to both fictional and real people.
Books discussed: Better at Weddings Than You by Mina V. Esguerra, Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau, and Make a Scene by Mimi Grace.
Other media mentioned: all the wedding movies and musicals, SHINEE's Marry You, The Dixie Cups' Chapel of Love, The Professor Next Door by Jackie Lau, Accidentally in Love Book Club live show with Adriana and Paola
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 13 - WalKINK The Plank
Come into our dungeon as we explore BDSM in romance novels and we try not to expose ourselves too much in the process. We also pay tribute to a beloved member of the romance book community.
Books discussed: Neon Gods by Katee Robert, Syncopation by Anna Zabo, Sanctuary by Rebekah Weatherspoon.
Other media/people mentioned: 50 Shades of Grey, The BDSM Test, Corey Alexander/Xan West, Harbor by Rebekah Weatherspoon.
Episode 12 - Eating the Rich at Billionaire Cove
We're bringing out the guillotine as we talk about m/billionaire romance books. Join us as we talk about the ethics of the billionaire protagonist vs obnoxious luxuries, private planes, Patek Philippes, and tigers, oh my!
Books discussed: Taking on the Billionaire by Robin Covington, The Queen of Dauphine Street by Thea de Salle, and American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 11 - Vacation Romance Geography 101
We're going away to find love in this episode dedicated to Vacation Romances! We talk about semi-public sex, wanting rich people to send us on vacation, and the treasure trove that a cruise ship can be in terms of endless potential for romance.
Books discussed: Scandal in the VIP Suite by Nadine Gonzalez, Love Scammed by Rilzy Adams, and For Vacation Only by Mila Nicks.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 10 - The Epic Highs and Lows of YA Contemporary Romance (Guest: Nina Moreno)
Friends, let's play I Don't Want to Wait by Paula Cole, because we're talking exclusively about YA Contemporary Romance with our special guest NINA MORENO (Don't Date Rosa Santos, Our Way Back to Always)! We discuss the Riverdale by proxy curse, personal growth, eccentric families, blackmail to fall in love, and it's not something Nina-related if Dawson's Creek isn't mentioned.
Books discussed: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado; Like a Love Song by Gabriela Martins; Now That I've Found You by Kristina Forest; and, Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe.
Other media/people mentioned: Riverdale, Glee, Love, Simon, To All The Boys I've Loved Before book series and movie trilogy, The Resolutions by Mia Garcia, Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR album, Make a Scene by Mimi Grace, I Wanna Be Where You Are and Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest, Amparo Ortiz, Mean Girls, Dawnson's Creek
NINA'S NEWEST BOOK, OUR WAY BACK TO ALWAYS WILL BE OUT ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2021, AND IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!!!
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 9 - The Sexy Keyword Search
*Victoria Justice voice* "My best friend's brother is the one for me, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!" Ahoy! We're discussing the best friend's sibling/sibling's best friend trope in today's episode and it's a doozy of a show, especially as we talk about some romance classics. (Editor's note: at around the 7min mark there are some strange tapping sounds that last for about 2 minutes. They go away afterwards. We apologize if that's annoying!)
Books discussed: Guarding Temptation by Talia Hibbert, Pretending He's Mine by Mia Sosa, and Hold Me by Courtney Milan.
Media mentioned: Best Friend's Brother by Victoria Justice, Make a Scene by Mimi Grace, Acting On Cue by Mia Sosa, and Halsey's newest album.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 8 - The "Man Card" Expedition
As Stefani Germanotta once said, we're doing it for The Fame, because we're talking about celebrities in romance! (A note that Paola's audio sounds strange briefly at the beginning but it's fixed later.)
Books discussed: Flashed by Zoey Castile, Scoring the Player's Baby by Naima Simone, and You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria.
Other media mentioned: Happy Endings series by Zoey Castile, Luck on the Line by Zoraida Córdova, Magic Mike XXL, Jane the Virgin
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 7 - A Ballad of the Flawed Top and the Perfect Bottom
Our faithful sailors, Marianne, Adriana, and Paola, are tuning their instruments and singing along to a much needed shanty as they go towards Friends to Lovers island. We talk about pining/seemingly unrequited love, why this trope is so engaging for us, and, of course, what makes a flawed top (and a perfect bottom).
Books discussed: If the Dress Fits by Carla de Guzman, Caught Looking by Adriana Herrera, and There are Things I Can't Tell You by Edako Mofumofu.
Other media mentioned: Criminal Minds, Adriana Herrera's newsletter, I Don't Dance in High School Musical 2, the Legend of Zelda mangas.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 6 - Not Mariana's Trench but an Age Gap
The trio discusses the Age Gap trope in Adult Romance! Plus: sympathizing with Meredith from The Parent Trap, Hot Pieces of Ass, and MILFs, DILFs, & NBILFs.
Books discussed: That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert, So Sweet by Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Pink Slip by Katrina Jackson.
Other media mentioned: Rebekah Weatherspoon's everything, The Parent Trap, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Spy, and Private Eye by Katrina Jackson.
Check out the Virtual Indie Book Fest this Saturday, August 14th, 2021! Paola's one of the organizers and Marianne's hosting a panel.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 5 - Sinking into the Second Chance Romance Sea
Help! We're drowning in the yearning because we're discussing the second chance romance trope... But we have a friend to keep us afloat this time around, because SILVANA REYES aka Sil @THEBOOKVOYAGERS (Frolic, Book Riot) is our special guest for this episode! We talk why we're drawn to the trope, hate f*cks, falling in love all over again, and the aching domesticity in romance.
Books discussed: Only For You by Naima Simone, The Captain's Midwinter Bride by Liana de la Rosa, Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai, and House Rules by Ruby Lang.
Books/series mentioned: Liana de la Rosa's Once Upon a Scandal series, Naima Simone's WAGS series, Naima Simone's Only for Your Touch, Katrina Jackson's Every New Year.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 4 - Small Town Roads
Gonna take my horse to the small town roads, gonna: riiiide 'til we can't no more! Marianne, Adriana, and Paola talk Small Town Romances in this episode, the "pueblo chico, infierno grande" phenomenon, quirky town antics, US imperialism, and dragging abusers. We contain multitudes.
Books discussed: Sandcastle Beach by Jenny Holiday, From Scratch by Katrina Jackson, and A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert.
Other media/people mentioned: Schitt's Creek, Big Eden, Once Upon a Time, Silvana Reyes/thebookvoyagers, Her Christmas Cookie by Katrina Jackson, the Ravenswood series by Talia Hibbert, and Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 3 - Saucy Royal Deep End
Marianne, Adriana, and Paola dive into the deep end with Royalty Romances, discussing: Monarchies Shouldn't Exist, Hallmark Movie Vibes (in a good way), and The Best Royalty Romance Of All Time...
Books discussed: A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole, The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh, and Her Virgin Duke by Nicola Davidson.
Other books mentioned: The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot, Runaway Royals and Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole, The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham, Courtney Milan's Brothers Sinister series, Cat Sebastian's Regency Imposters series, Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted series, and Adriana Herrera's upcoming historical romance series.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Episode 2 - All Aboard the SS Peter Kavinsky!
Join Marianne, Adriana, and Paola as they dive into the Fake Relationship trope! Books discussed: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han; Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert; and, Learned Reactions by Jayce Ellis.
Movies mentioned: The Proposal, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Faking It, Leap Year, and the To All The Boys trilogy
Books mentioned: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han; Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert; Learned Reactions by Jayce Ellis; Talia Hibbert’s upcoming YA series; Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins
People mentioned: Jami of jamishelves
Follow us @mappingtropes on Twitter and @mappingthetropes on Instagram!
Port of Ethical Sluts
On our very first episode we tackle FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS! Books discussed: The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert, Dance With Me by Alexis Daria, and Go Deep by Rilzy Adams. We mention Silvana Reyes @thebookvoyager, who's the queen of trope lists.
Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.
Introductions
Welcome to MAPping the Tropes! In this intro episode, we talk about what exactly we'll be doing with our show and the types of books we enjoy.
Follow us on Twitter @MappingTropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email us at mappingthetropes@gmail.com for suggestions of tropes or comments.
Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut
Cover art: Luis Esteban @drawnesteban