Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse

014. Equivalent Exchange by Christina C. Jones with Funmi B.

Episode Summary

Funmi (romance reader, reviewer, aspiring writer), a fierce and passionate advocate for Black romance, shares her own story of becoming a romance reader, and we discuss who is worthy of a Happily Ever After. This week’s romance worth reading is Equivalent Exchange by Christina C. Jones. We discuss themes of therapy, health literacy, and what Black contemporary authors are doing to destigmatize mental health in their communities. We also talk about how books might not be for you...but why you should still read them.

Episode Notes

Guest: Funmi B.

Twitter: @FunmiReadsHEAs https://twitter.com/FunmiReadsHEAs

Instagram: @When_Funmi_Met_Romance https://www.instagram.com/when_funmi_met_romance/

We read:

Equivalent Exchange by Christina C. Jones
https://www.amazon.com/Equivalent-Exchange-Night-Shift-Christina-ebook/dp/B07YP1GHJT

(Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Content Warning: off-page domestic and sexual abuse

Books mentioned:

• Forever by Judy Blume
• Top 3 Beverly Jenkins Books:
  • Indigo
  • Breathless
  • Captured
• Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev

Other mentions:

• Funmi’s favorite sour beer: Raspberry Crush by Ten Barrel Brewing Company
• Where Should We Begin, podcast with couple’s therapy: https://www.estherperel.com/podcast
• Funmi’s guest post on Ana Coqui’s website about reading romance/Beverly Jenkins: https://www.anacoqui.com/2019/07/guest-post-thank-you-beverly-jenkins-by-funmi-baker.html
• Tasha L. Harrison response to Rebekah Weatherspoon Tweet: https://twitter.com/tashalharrison/status/1196934724524134401
• Stone Fox Meme (Adele Morse): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2291620/Meet-Stoned-Fox-The-badly-stuffed-creature-reborn-Russian-internet-celebrity.html
• Kate Clayborn - Frolic article: “Face Value: ‘Natural’ Beauty, Cosmetic Surgery, and the Woman You’re Not Supposed to Love in Romance Novels” https://frolic.media/face-value-natural-beauty-cosmetic-surgery-and-the-woman-youre-not-supposed-to-love-in-romance-novels/

Trope Town: Therapy/Healing/Growth

• Care for Me by Bria Felicien
• Determining Possession by Christina C. Jones
• Encore for Love by Alexandra Warren
• In His Corner by Alexandra Warren
• Someone Seeking Someone Else by Nicole Falls
• Beard in Mind by Penny Reid (Penny is a guest on an upcoming episode!)
• A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole
• Teach Me by Olivia Dade (upcoming episode book pick by Denise Williams!)
• Fall by Kristen Callihan
• Serving Pleasure by Alisha Rai
• Best of Luck from the Chance of a Lifetime Series by Kate Clayborn (Kate was the guest in episode 11!)
• Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones
• Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
• Work for It by Talia Hibbert
• Hero by Lauren Rowe

Contributors:

B.andherbooks, Spaamanda_4, HannahHeartsRomance