S06.28: HEA or GTFO

The cornerstone of the genre. The one thing that, when thrown into question, is guaranteed to enrage every corner of Romancelandia. We’re talking about Happily Ever After (HEA). Its promise, its importance, its relevance to us as readers, writers and people in the world. We talk about what really makes it hard won and deserved for us — which means yes, we’re talking about grovels and yes, we’re talking about third act break ups, and yes, we’re talking about patriarchy. Because of course we are. You’ve probably heard us talk about all the books we’re mentioning here…greatest hits are hits for a reason, y’all.

There are a handful of tickets left for Fated Mates LIVE in Brooklyn, NY, this Saturday, March 23, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel! Join us, along with Kate Clayborn, Lauren Billings (one-half of Christina Lauren), Nikki Payne, and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. Get Kate’s The Other Side of Disappearing three days early (and books from everyone else!) from The Ripped Bodice—links, tickets and more info are at fatedmates.net/live.

If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates.

Notes

• Ope! Jen’s mic wasn’t fully connected for the first 10 minutes of the episode, so that’s why it sounds terrible. User error on her part, Eric would never. Hang in there, she figures it out!
• Let John Green and the good folks at Crash Course teach you about European History and The Hundred Years’ War.
• The 2024 Audie Award winners included The True Love Experiment for best romance.
• Three more days until Fated Mates Live… a handful of tickets are left! Join us!
• Looking for all kinds of perfect HEA stickers, check out the Romancelandia Shop!
• UPDATE: The book Sarah was looking for when she was talking about Enemies to Lovers was Johanna Lindsey’s Prisoner of My Desire. All the content warnings, friends…but if you do wade in, don’t miss our chat with Joanna Shupe where we talk about it from Season 1.

Books

• Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
• The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath
• A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane
• The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian
• Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas
• Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James
• Midsummer Bride by Kati Wilde
• Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
• Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
• Forbidden by Beverley Jenkins
• Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
• Double Standards by Judith McNaught
• A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
• The Bride by Julie Garwood
• Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron
• A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Cana

The Rest

• For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/3/19/s0628-hea-or-gtfo
• If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates.
• Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough.
• If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

00:00 100 Years War Bantr

03:20 Fated Mates Live

06:46 These Summer Storms

10:32 The Journal of Happily Ever After Studies

17:03 Defining the Terms

21:09 AD: IN WANT OF A VISCOUNT

23:32 A Little Digression: Out Top 10

25:06 The Dead Women of Literature

32:08 Believing in the HEA

38:30 Scandal in Spring

42:36 AD: MOONLIT THORNS

45:05 The Duchess Hunt

52:24 A Heart of Blood and Ashes

56:44 The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes

1:00:26 AD: FALLING INTO FOREVER

1:01:48 Ravishing the Heiress

1:06:37 Pleasure for Pleasure

1:08:30 The Midsummer Bride

1:13:33 Kiss an Angel

1:15:49 Forbidden

1:19:54 Seven Days in June

1:24:04 Double Standards

1:28:52 The Bride

1:34:25 Believable & Meaningful

1:36:24 See you at Fated Mates Live!