First Dates & Soulmates

It’s awards season, romance-style. Nikki and Meg are back with the second annual Tingly Awards, where spreadsheets fear us and yearning reigns supreme.This episode is a full retrospective of everything that gave us tingles in 2025: books, series, tropes, authors, movies, TV, rereads, rabbit holes, and the unhinged emotional damage we willingly signed up for. Once you do something twice, it’s a tradition. Science.In This Episode:* Rereads, first-time reads, and “how did I end up here?” rabbit holes* Why emotional devastation is sometimes the goal* Romance as escapism, nervous-system regulation, and personal attack* Books we never would’ve read without this podcast (and survived anyway)* The joy of discovering new authors through interviews and themed episodesAnd Meg & Nikki’s picks for:* The Year of the Reread* Unexpected Plot Twists We Did Not See Coming* Most Bingeable Authors* Trilogies That Emotionally Wrecked Us (Affectionate)* Top Fantasy / Paranormal / “Why Is This Actually So Good?” Reads* Weird Stuff We Only Read Because of the Podcast* Favorite New-to-Us Authors* Romance TV & Movies of the Year* Best New Series* Book of the YearWant to check out our award winners? Note, these are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission on any purchases at no additional cost to you:The Fall by Tal Bauer: https://amzn.to/3ZlBg9uA Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams: https://amzn.to/49vROShPounded by Produce by GM Fairy https://amzn.to/49IR0IxMy Date with An Ampersand by Nicole Parker https://amzn.to/4sJBeWBSkyland by Kennedy Ryan: https://amzn.to/4qYQZXPFriendship by Kate Canterbary https://amzn.to/3LC5Cl2Las Leonas by Adriana Herrera https://amzn.to/49OmOf3The Atrous series by NR Walker https://amzn.to/3NStT6TTeachers in Love by MA Wardell https://amzn.to/45hINJXLove & Steel by Jessica Topper https://amzn.to/3LzghwPMatzo Ballers by Jessica Topper and Amanda Usen https://amzn.to/4jNAZ8NThe Playbook by Alexa Martin https://amzn.to/4jQiUqzBy the Bootstraps by Alexa Martin https://amzn.to/45g8hYbSoft Launch by Olivia Carter https://amzn.to/4sVftTRThe Wages of Sin series by Neve Wilder & Onley James https://amzn.to/3LzdJyLSecret Service by Tal Bauer: https://amzn.to/49F3fpnThe Luckless series by Cari Z: https://amzn.to/3ZltLzmThe Year of Us by EM Denning & Kate Hawthrone: https://amzn.to/4jQmz7NThe Jilted Exes’ Club series by Riley Hart https://amzn.to/3LqIjdUCharmed Away Temp Agency series by Amy Padilla https://amzn.to/4pIPADXLovers of the Damned series by Colette Rivera : https://amzn.to/49uTATJThe Brannon Boys series by Katherine McIntyre https://amzn.to/4sEPjEyLeather & Lattes series by Katherine McIntyre https://amzn.to/4pKSxUkDungeons & Dating series by Katherine McIntyre https://amzn.to/49OmHA9Raven of the Woods by Mary Calmes https://amzn.to/45F4J1ZA Matter of Time by Mary Calmes https://amzn.to/3Nu5GnpIce Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon https://amzn.to/460xhCSAtlantic City Most Wanted by Charity Parkerson https://amzn.to/49EsHLOSent to a Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me by Jaclyn Osborn: https://amzn.to/4qy3nhRAdopt a Vampire by AJ Sherwood https://amzn.to/49LvDX9Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez: https://amzn.to/49IMBoN10 ways to accidentally fall in love by Emmy Sanders: https://amzn.to/4pIktYXThe Edge of Fate by Sheena Jolie: https://amzn.to/45jWAjeHow You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Meg & Nikki are unpacking the latest Netflix romcom: Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation. In this episode, they dig into:* Why this story feels like the romance version of a beef trifle: enjoyable, chaotic, structurally confusing* Friends-to-lovers, long-term pining, and the danger of resetting the conflict instead of escalating it* The When Harry Met Sally comparisons and differences in payoff * The travel fantasy: gorgeous locations, fun moments, and being the best version of YOU while away from home They also talk adaptation choices, missing connective tissue from the book, and why adult conversations could have solved… basically everything.How You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Episodes 5 and 6 of Heated Rivalry deliver what can only be described as a masterclass in slow-burn payoff. We get hugs and cuddles, hard truths, loopy Shane declarations, the iconic cottage invitation, and finally (finally!!) two men who sit down and use their words like adults (growth!).In this third Heated Rivalry episode, Meg & Nikki are once again joined by Andréa Jones to break down:* Why Episodes 5 & 6 fully deserve being some of the highest rated TV episodes EVER * The injury → hospital → cottage pipeline and what finally changes between Shane and Ilya* That music drop, those callbacks, and the slow-burn payoff we were promised* The “I love you” moment(s) and why language matters here* What the show gets right that most romance adaptations don’t* Nikki’s thoughts on finally reading the books (and why she’s FURIOUS at Montreal). We wrap with big fandom questions, season-wide reflections, and what Heated Rivalry getting this right could mean for future romance adaptations (especially queer ones). How You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when the NFL decides it wants Hallmark’s audience and Hallmark decides it wants football money? You get Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, a G-rated Christmas movie stuffed with snow, Bills Mafia, stadium lore, and enough exposition to qualify as cardio.Nikki and Meg are joined by Buffalo native and Bills superfan Sara Frandina to break down Hallmark’s second NFL crossover, unpack why Buffalo was the obvious choice, and ask the real questions.Like:* Why is this doctor never at work?* Why does every mystery require a receipt from 50 years ago?* The “he falls first” trope being wasted on an oblivious heroine* East Aurora standing in for “small-town Buffalo” (lol)* Joe Pantoliano quietly acting circles around everyone* Why this movie could have been 45 minutes shorter and lost nothingIf you came for holiday cheer, you’ll stay for the Bills culture, Hallmark logic, and a surprisingly deep dive into fandom economics.How You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.comShare the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9ZShop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

It’s Christmas Eve, which means one thing in the FDSM universe: extremely specific holiday tropes, deeply unserious games, and a shocking number of dead bodies lurking just offstage.This week, Meg and Nikki dig into the microtropes that make holiday romances and Hallmark movies so bingeable. Then Meg unleashes not one but two games, including a rapid-fire “Love or Murder?” guessing round and a full-on fantasy-draft-style build-your-own holiday romance. Yes, ornaments have traumatic backstories. Yes, someone gets stranded on a bridge. Yes, we absolutely turn the romances into cozy murders at the end.It’s festive. It’s chaotic. It’s extremely on brand.If you’ve ever thought, “This movie exists solely to justify one kiss in falling snow,” this episode is for you.Want to play along? Grab the “Write Your Own Romance” guide here: https://linktr.ee/firstdatesandsoulmatesHow You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9ZShop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Meg and Nikki head back to small-town romance heaven with Norah Pritchard, author of “If You Were Mine”, the winter installment of her Northfield series. Think runaway bride, grumpy sheriff, snowed-in forced proximity, meddling aunts, and a Christmas tree lot that absolutely understands the assignment.They talk:* Grumpy/sunshine as an emotional ignition device* Forced proximity, snowstorms, and why winter beats hurricanes every time* Alpha heroes, protective instincts, and the fine art of emotional repression* Why tropes are not the enemy and why leaning into them works* Checkov’s Handcuffs (yes, really)Learn More About Our Guest:https://norahpritchard.com/https://www.instagram.com/norahpritchard/ How You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

This bonus episode exists because the fandom demanded it. And because Episodes 3 and 4 of Heated Rivalry emotionally drop-kicked us into the boards.Nikki, Meg, and Andrea are back to break down the tonal shift of Episode 3 (Hunter), the rise of Scott “Softest Boy Alive” Hunter, then spiral into Episode 4 (Rose), where the tuna melt scene detonates the emotional core of the show. First names are said. Panic ensues. Everyone suffers.Tune in for:* The difference between “can’t come out” and “won’t communicate”* Why the women of this series are the best people in the room and deserve everything* The bisexual green couch, frotting discourse, and why nobody gets Shane a ginger ale* How the show visually tells us these idiots are in love long before they admit it* Why the final club scene is cruel, perfect, and deeply personalThis episode contains yearning, pining, black sweatpants, and more emotional repression than a locker room in 2014.Listener discretion advised. Emotional damage guaranteed.How You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

In this holly-jolly chaos-fest, Nikki once again interviews Meg’s romance writer persona Bailey Seaborn to break down Making Spirits Bright, the 2.5 novella in the All or Nothing universe. Expect:* FULL SPOILERS from not only this novella, but also Peppermint Bark, All Twerk No Play, and early glimpses of Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Playwright* An exhausted COO with a fixer complex who desperately needs a nap* A burned-out whistleblower bartender rediscovering her confidence* A meet-cute that is 0% drunken hookup and 100% “why are you in my bed?”* Tinsel, feelings, unresolved grief, and Connor finally learning self-care (begrudgingly)* Background drama from Kate, Nick, Grace, Alex, and Victoria that tees up Book 3This episode is guaranteed to make your cinnamon-spiced holiday latte feel underdressed.What We Cover* How Connor went from “silent spreadsheet king” to full protagonist* Why Hannah’s backstory flips the small-town trope on its head* The ethics of caretaking when it becomes your entire personality* The emotional grenade that is Connor’s grief arc (bring tissues)* How Making Spirits Bright bridges Twerk No Play → Playwright* Easter eggs and timeline chaos from books 1–3* A sneak peek at early cover options and Bailey’s design choices* Why squishy men who know the five stages of grief are superiorMaking Spirits Bright Release DetailsRelease Date: December 5Price: $2.99Sale: 99¢ from December 11–13Where: Kindle Unlimited + Amazon purchaseMeg’s strategy corner: if you’re a KU reader, grab it there and then buy it so she gets both KU page reads and the sale. Iconic behavior.For the bonus epilogue from Peppermint Bark + the first three chapters of Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Playwright …Visit baileyseaborn.com (or here’s the direct download link)📣 Support the Podcast* Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Substack* Leave a rating & review to appease the algorithm deities* Follow us: @firstdatesandsoulmates on TikTok, Instagram & YouTube* Merch: TeePublic* Take our * Become a Substack supporter for bonus episodes & early drops💌 What We’re Shipping This WeekMeg: Her ARC readers — the real MVPs fueling the indie romance machine.Want to join the ARC list? Email baileyseabornauthor@gmail.com or sign up for the bonus episode at baileyseaborn.com and reply to that email to let me know!Nikki: The Thorn and the Spire by Catherine McIntyre — a dark, spicy, supernatural Beauty-and-the-Beast retelling with demons, casinos, curses, and a library scene worthy of feral screaming. Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Heated Rivalry has arrived, and the FDSM household is officially in its Hockey Butt Era! Andrea Jones joins Nikki & Meg to dive into the first two episodes of the MM hockey romance adaptation turning the internet into a collective thirst trap.They break down:* Why the timeline jumps feel like surprise math homework* Shane’s micro-expressions, panic spirals, and inability to say “dildo”* Ilya as a consent king (and whether he gets “soft” too early)* The All-Star bench flirting, room 1221, and the pec-grab heard round the world* The accidental cuck chair and the cursed water-balloon intimacy garmentsCome for the rivalry. Stay for the lighting crimes and the hockey butts.Learn More About Our Guest Andrea Jones (aka author Olivia Carter):https://authoroliviacarter.com/https://www.instagram.com/authoroliviacarter/How You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Here in the FDSM universe Thanksgiving means one thing: sentient food erotica.This year, Meg drags Nikki into Pounded by Produce: A Veggie Love Tale; a story about two hot Catholic priests, one trauma-baking heroine, and a harvest moon miracle that turns everyone into fruits and vegetables. There’s theology, there’s tomato juice, and there are questions no seminary could prepare you for.We break down:* Why Pounded by Produce might actually have too much plot* How hot priests became cucumbers and tomatoes (and why they were fine with it)* The dubious ethics of divine loopholes and vegetable consent* VeggieTales flashbacks, Catholic guilt, and unexpected yeast infections* The Sentient Object Romance rabbit hole: Ampersands, sweatpants, and Chuck Tingle’s entire cinematic universe* A very serious discussion about cucumber-based UTIs and confessional booth logisticsAlso featuring: Meg’s annual holiday erotica tradition, Nikki’s concern for Emily’s gynecologist, and the rise of sentient object romance as the weirdest subgenre in publishing.Stay for the theology. Leave with more questions than God intended.Featured in Discussion* Peppermint Bark, No Bite by Bailey Seaborn — free this weekend on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4a3sWSo* Pounded by Produce: A Veggie Love Tale by GM Fairy: https://amzn.to/4oeqf3H* Back for Seconds: A Hedonist Holiday Erotica by J.L. Logosz & Vera Valentine: https://amzn.to/3LM5iQq * Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone: https://amzn.to/3JPrusl* Heart2Heart Anthology Vol. 8 by Multiple Authors: https://amzn.to/44nvtDa* Sentient Object Holiday Series (multi-author collection): https://amzn.to/4pjB31w* Ampersand, Rock, Paper, Scissors, Caps Lock, Edible Book, Gray Sweatpants* Lesbian Cactus and My Water-Efficient Drought-Tolerant Landscaping by Chuck Tingle: https://amzn.to/43IRRqq* My Neighbor’s 12-Foot Skeleton Gets Me Off (Also She Is a Lesbian) by Chuck Tingle: https://amzn.to/43GWLV4* Pounded In The Butt By My Handsome Sentient Library Card Who Seems Otherworldly But In Reality Is Just A Natural Part Of The Priceless Resources Our Library System Provides by Chuck Tingle: https://amzn.to/3K3SLaw* Pounded in the Butt by My Own Butt by Chuck Tingle: https://amzn.to/4phW5NW* Bisexual Mothman Mailman Makes a Special Delivery in Our Butts by Chuck Tingle: https://amzn.to/43IW5hV* Taken by My TBR by Holly Wilde: https://amzn.to/4ip58KT* Pounded by a Pommel Horse by Sabrina Cross: https://amzn.to/4iclmXAHow You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

In this unhinged crossover episode, Meg & Nikki are joined by Onley James and Shannon Ezzell, hosts of the Feral Fandoms podcast to discuss psychopaths in romance, the parasocial relationships that fuel our favourite ships, and the appeal of morally gray characters who definitely need therapy (but we’d still risk it all for).Tune in for:* Why psychopaths in romance work only when they’re written with purpose* The ethics of loving villains and the gray area between fantasy and morality* Which conversations should happen in a Waffle House parking lot at 3am* When “romantic obsession” crosses into “I could fix him” territory* The psychology behind fan communities and what they reveal about human need for connectionIt’s messy, meta, and mildly incriminating. Just how we like it.Learn More About Our Guests:* The Feral Fandoms Podcast * Onley’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OnleyJames * Onley’s website: https://onleyjames.com* The Burned Out Muse on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheBurnedOutMuse Books & Media Mentioned* Necessary Evils series – Onley James* Time Served series – Onley James* Vitale Brothers series – Skyler Snow & Brea Alepou* Monster series – Lily Mayne* Vampire Chronicles – Anne Rice (Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned)* Fifty Shades of Grey – E.L. James* Morning Glory Milking Farm – C.M. Nascosta* A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR) – Sarah J. Maas* Cruel Intentions* Mads Mikkelsen’s Hannibal (NBC)* You (Netflix)* Killing Eve (BBC America)* Dexter (Showtime)* American Psycho* Basic Instinct* Fatal Attraction* Khemjira (Thai BL drama)* K-Pop Demon Hunters (animated film)* The Untamed (Chinese BL drama)* Life of a Showgirl (Taylor Swift Album)* Waffle House by Jonas Brothers * Elizabeth Taylor/Backstreet Boys mix by Lydia Getachew on SoundCloudHow You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Meg and Nikki continue their Friends to Lovers deep dive with a pop culture gem, Always Be My Maybe. They unpack why this Netflix hit (starring Ali Wong and Randall Park) captures what we love most about the trope: long history, missed timing, emotional safety, and that perfect balance between comedy and yearning. Plus, a Keanu Reeves cameo that is the ultimate rom-com chaos agent. Books & Media Mentioned:* Always Be My Maybe (Netflix)* When Harry Met Sally (film)* Set It Up (film)* Brooklyn Nine-Nine (TV)* New Girl (TV)* Friends (TV) * Mr. Blue Sky by Isla Olsen* Code Word by N.R. Walker* Firefly and Fool Hearts by Emmy Sanders* Love, Rosie (film)* A Holly Jolly Ever After Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone* Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3) by Colette RiveraHow You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Meg and Nikki kick off “Friendsgiving” by dissecting one of the most comforting and chaotic romance tropes of all time: Friends to Lovers. They explore:* Why it hits us right in the feelings: the safety, the yearning, the tension, the why did it take them this long?!* What makes this trope work in both books and TV (Monica and Chandler to When Harry Met Sally)* Why timing, not tension, often drives the conflict* The “best friend vs. partner” debate (and why your partner shouldn’t be your only best friend)Previous Friends to Lovers episodes discussed:Pop Culture + Book References:* Friends * Brooklyn 99* Bones* When Harry Met Sally* Parks & Rec* Cheers* New Girl* Love, Rosie* Set It Up* The Year of Us by Kate Hawthorne* The Deal by Elle Kennedy* Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren* Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn* Merciless (Park Avenue Kings Book 4) by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine* A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra SimoneNikki’s List of Book Recs:* Fool Heart by Emmy Sanders* To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders* Green Light by Lark Taylor* Mr Blue Sky by Isla Olsen* Charlie Sunshine by Lily Morton* Hot Head by Damon Suede* Wilde Love by Lucy Lennox* Hot as Heller by Lucy Lennox* The First & Last Adventures of Kit Sawyer by SE Harmon* Code Word by NR Walker* A totally platonic thing by Eliot Grayson* Romance Languages by AJ Truman* It’s Complicated by Willow Dixon* Merry Measure by Lily Morton* The Quirky Vet by Casey CoxHow You Can Support The ShowDiscover your romance trope and get a custom play list at https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/Follow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

In this flannel-wrapped fall special, Nikki and Meg celebrate cozy season with a “fun house” of games, quizzes, and chaos. Expect haunted hayrides, wraparound porches, ghost-hunting funeral directors, and the eternal sanctity of The Great British Bake Off.Want to know your romance archetype?Take our brand-new “What’s Your Romance Trope?” quiz at firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz! In true Cosmo girl fashion, we’ll tell you whether you’re a Fake Dating Fool, a Historical Scoundrel, a Paranormal Heartthrob, or one of our other 5 signature tropes.Your results come with a custom podcast playlist and romance recs so you can jump straight into the episodes and books that match your vibe. Live your BuzzFeed-quiz dreams at firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quizBooks & Media Mentioned:* Happy Place by Emily Henry: https://amzn.to/4qmUtUD* Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino: https://amzn.to/42Po0we* The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston: https://amzn.to/43ekeg7* Ghost (film, 1990)* The Great British Bake Off (TV)* Falling Inn Love (film, 2019 – Christina Milian)* Hocus Pocus (film, 1993)* Mean Girls (film, 2004)* Pride and Prejudice (film adaptations)* Icebreaker by Hannah Grace: https://amzn.to/47oNYYQ* Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: https://amzn.to/474IZO6* Mangos and Mistletoe by Adrianna Herrera: https://amzn.to/47ljDdK* Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly: https://amzn.to/48ICwJM* Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood: https://amzn.to/4oyE5Pb* The Partner Plot by Kristina Monique: https://amzn.to/42UZdXr* Twilight – Stephenie Meyer* Almost Famous (film, 2000)* Love Actually (film, 2003)* Romeo + Juliet (film, 1996)* Moulin Rouge! (film, 2001)* Novel Crafter software* Giggly Squad (podcast)How You Can Support The ShowFollow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.comShare the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9ZShop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Nikki and Meg sink their teeth into Scared Sexy, Amazon’s spooky Kindle Unlimited novella six-pack featuring some of the biggest names in romance. See the whole series here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4ow3WqWFeatured Authors:* Ali Hazelwood (Hot for Slayer): https://amzn.to/3L1aGyH* Christina Lauren (Falling): https://amzn.to/4hkBzK5* JT Geissinger (Spicy Little Curses): https://amzn.to/4qnw3ds* Ruby Dixon (Space Vampire): https://amzn.to/4ql35en* Katee Robert (Beautiful Nightmare): https://amzn.to/48GKt2c* Kimberly Lemming (My Boyfriends Are All Monsters): https://amzn.to/472lrcBBooks & Media Mentioned:* Ice Planet Barbarians & Risdaverse series – Ruby Dixon* Bride – Ali Hazelwood* Alien Mate for Christmas by Melody Beckett* Shape of Water (film)* Pacific Rim (film)* Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)* Practical Magic, Speed, Miss Congeniality, Leap Year (films)* Christmas Falls shared universe series* Breathless by Cat Wynn * Jacked by KM Neuhold * 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love by Emmy Sanders* Himbo Hitman by Saxon James* Amy Nicole Walker’s Savannah SeriesHow You Can Support The ShowFollow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

This week Nikki and Meg sink their teeth into monster romance with Lily Mayne’s Soul Eater. From morally questionable demons to why readers love inhuman partners, they break down the archetypes of monster romance and how non-human appendages make things… complicated. This is spooky-season romance at its finest: messy, dark, but surprisingly tender.This week they’re talking:* The appeal of monsters as love interests* Non-human logistics: wings, claws, and other appendages* Found family and survival in monster romance* Why readers want their monsters to be both terrifying and trustworthyBooks & Media Mentioned* Soul Eater (and the Monstrous series) by Lily Mayne* Goliaths of Wresting series by Lily Mayne* Herculeia series (The 12 Hunks of Herculeia and Herculeia the Hero) by C. Rochelle* Monstrous Matches series by Lillian Lark* Leviathan Fitness series by Ashley Bennett* Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nascosta* A Soul to Keep by Opal Rain* Instagram account @monsterlovers_bookclub* Smokescreen (Knight & Daywalker book 1) by Sam BurnsHow You Can Support The ShowFollow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Nikki and Meg slip into slouchy cardigans (and maybe a little gold lamé) to dive into Practical Magic (1998) to unpack whether this is a romance, a feminist vibes movie, or just a witchy autumn aesthetic. Spoiler: it’s definitely the vibes.Tune in for:* The curse that doesn’t really matter* Sisterhood vs. romance — what the movie gets right (and wrong)* Nicole Kidman as a secret comedic genius* Midnight margaritas, lime and tequila method acting* Why this movie is peak cozy fall aestheticBooks/Media Referenced:* Practical Magic (1995 novel) by Alice Hoffman* Hocus Pocus (film)* The Craft (film)* Frozen (film)* Moulin Rouge! (film)* Reservoir Dogs (film)* Just Go With It (film)* NPR article: What Practical Magic Taught Me About Life, Love, and the Importance of Sisterhood (Maria Sagara, 2022)* A Love Song for Ricky Wilde by Tia Williams* The Wrong Paris (Netflix rom-com)How You Can Support The ShowFollow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

October starts with a bite as Nikki and Meg dive fang-first into the many flavours of vampire romance. From broody immortals to leather-pants predators, they trace the evolution of the undead in pop culture and argue over who deserves to be booped on the nose.What you’ll hear:* Sparkly vampires that aged like milk (sorry, Edward)* Why Alexander Skarsgård should never own pants that aren’t leather* The four vampire archetypes: tragic baby, sexy predator, protective dad-vamp, and monster with a secret squishy center* Nikki’s theory of “booping the tiger” as peak vampire romance energy* Meg’s dream vampire power: orgasms on demand (yes, really)Nikki’s Vampire Book List:* Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward: https://amzn.to/4ocMd7Z* Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands: https://amzn.to/42Kbzl2* Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton: https://amzn.to/3ICKMQW* Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: https://amzn.to/42RsdiC* Dark series by Christine Feehan: https://amzn.to/4nPMZXY* A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: https://amzn.to/4pHl9in* Lords of Discord series (and Lords of Chaos spinoff) by Jocelynn Drake: https://amzn.to/46YWoXC* Lark Taylor's Reckless Damned Series: https://amzn.to/4myBdjP* Grae Bryan's Vampire's Mate series: https://amzn.to/3IM5ttH* First Blood by Eliot Grayson: https://amzn.to/4mApaT6* One Bite with a Vampire by Louisa Masters: https://amzn.to/485167w* The Necromancer’s Dance by Sheena Jolie: https://amzn.to/3IEGdW8* Bite me! You know I like it by Fae Quin: https://amzn.to/3VDEKCA* Cronin's Key by NR Walker: https://amzn.to/3IKvM3o* The Tribulations of Ross Young, Supernat PA by AJ Sherwood* Fated Mates series by AJ Sherwood: https://amzn.to/42cQbop* Bite Marks & Broken Hearts by TJ Rose: https://amzn.to/3IEGfNK* Immortal Assassins series by Mia Monroe: https://amzn.to/4nRsomk* Vampire Related Crimes Series by Alice Winters: https://amzn.to/474nMmfGet affiliate links to all these books in our Vampires in Love list on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mCZa9SBooks/Media Mentioned:* Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer* Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (book and film)* Queen of the Damned (film)* True Blood (HBO series) and Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris* Vampire Diaries (TV series)* Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)* Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (book and film)* Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole: https://amzn.to/42hkElb* Casual Felonies by Kelly Fox: https://amzn.to/4pQMEX9* Hot Blooded by Heather Guerre: https://amzn.to/46TGlKNHow You Can Support The ShowFollow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

Back-to-School September ends on the ice with Elle Kennedy’s The Deal and Him (co-written with Sarina Bowen). Nikki and Meg dig into why these two 2015 hockey romances are still topping charts nearly a decade later, comparing fake dating vs. best-friends-to-lovers, college vs. new adult vibes, and what made both books blueprint-level sports romances.Listen in for:* Garrett Graham: the original “he falls first, he falls hardest” hero?* Why hockey housing should come with a hazmat rating* The book that made everyone fake-date a little harder* Nikki’s ringette camp horror story: pine needles, lake baths, and trauma bondingBooks/Media Mentioned:* The Deal by Elle Kennedy, part of the Off-Campus series: https://amzn.to/4nH7Ahb* Him by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen: https://amzn.to/3ItT0L9* Us by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen: https://amzn.to/3ItT0L9* Boyfriend Material & Husband Material by Alexis Hall: https://amzn.to/47VOCPl* Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews: https://amzn.to/47PLCUF* Heated Rivalry & The Long Game by Rachel Reid: https://amzn.to/3KAAgtS* Puckboy series by Eden Finley & Saxon James: https://amzn.to/3VwR5s7* Savannah universe books by Aimee Nicole Walker: https://amzn.to/3Kgbr6u* In the Game by Sloane St James, book 3 in the Lakes Hockey series: https://amzn.to/4gBHRoeHow You Can Support The ShowFollow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when you take Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, add soccer, boarding school hijinks, and early-2000s Amanda Bynes? You get She’s the Man! In this episode, Nikki and Meg break down the comedy, chaos, and charm that make this rom-com still hold up nearly 20 years later (at least for Nikki!)Listen in for:* The Top 5 reasons Nikki thinks She’s the Man works as a Shakespeare retelling* Why the school setting makes the comedy sharper and the romance sweeter* Meg’s strong opinions on the vocal choices and gender rep in this early ‘00s flick* The rise of the 2000s teen rom-com as Shakespeare’s modern home* Why identity swaps never stop being messy (and fun)Books & Media We Mention* She’s the Man (2006)* Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996)* 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)* How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin* Focus Friend app How You Can Support The ShowFollow Us On Social:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmatesDownload your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingoEmail us at firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com Share the show with a friend or loved one!Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?Buy our official merch on TeePublic: http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAkGet Meg’s Latest Book: All Twerk No Play: https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreativeUpgrade to a paid tier on Substack Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates at firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe