May 6, 2026
S. 2, Ep. 3: Books & Hoes — The Bookish Partners We Crave (1st Birthday Edition)
<p><strong>🎧</strong><strong> Listener discretion is advised.</strong></p><p>You know the gist, but we’ll say it again: Welcome to the table — a safe, sexy, and unapologetic space where Black joy, creativity, community, and pleasure are always on the menu. The Unfriendly Black Hotties are here to educate & stimulate — and we love using our words to amplify Black voices through bold, unfiltered conversations.</p><p>Here at the lunch table, we keep it flavorful, colorful, and always authentic, diving deep into:</p><p>* Erotica</p><p>* Kink</p><p>* Love & Intimacy</p><p>* Romance</p><p><strong>We’re not here to compromise our truths — we’re here to get off. So, turn us on. Lunch is served!</strong></p><p><strong>👩🏾🦱 This Episode’s Hotties</strong></p><p>* <strong>Morticia Black</strong></p><p>* <strong>Regina Starr </strong></p><p>* <strong>Wips</strong></p><p>* <strong>“The Voice of the Voiceless” Trisha Cheeks (aka The Tizzle)</strong></p><p><strong>💭 Ep. 3 Summary</strong></p><p>From alphas, cinnamon rolls, and slutty golden retrievers and all that’s in between - we all have our faves. What fictional characters make up the “ideal” book bae? Why do we love (to hate) them the way we do?</p><p>🧆 The Hot Line </p><p>🤓 Sources </p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://anneliselestrange.wordpress.com/2017/04/08/a-mini-guide-for-sexual-terms-and-acronyms-in-erotic-books-for-clueless-pandas/"><strong>Mini guide for sexual terms and acronyms in Erotic Books for clueless pandas</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.shondaland.com/shondaland-series/bridgerton/a-deep-dive-into-our-favorite-romance-novel-tropes"><strong>A Deep Dive Into Our Favorite Romance Novel Tropes</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://briarblack.com/romance-tropes/"><strong>129 Romance Tropes We Love And Love To Hate</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/faq/what-is-with-all-these-acronyms-hea-stl-what-do-they-mean/"><strong>What is with all these acronyms? HEA? STL? What do they mean?</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.edenafterdark.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Eden-After-Dark-BDSM-_-Kink-Roles-And-Terms.pdf"><strong>BDSM & Kink Roles & Terms</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-romance-trope-definition/"><strong>What is a Romance Trope — A Guide to Romantic Storylines</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.writeforharlequin.com/hooks-vs-tropes-whats-the-difference/"><strong>Hooks vs Tropes: What’s the Difference?</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://bookriot.com/romance-tropes/"><strong>Your Complete Guide to Romance Tropes</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://briarblack.com/how-to-understand-dark-romance-trigger-warnings/"><strong>How To Understand Dark Romance Trigger Warnings</strong></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statsignificant.com/p/how-romance-romantasy-and-smut-took"><strong>How Romance, Romantasy, and “Smut” Took Over Publishing and Entertainment: A Statistical Analysis</strong></a></p><p>🤓 Research & <strong>Trend</strong>(s)</p><p>* TikTok(BookTok) and Instagram (Bookstagram) challenges, memes/gifs (Boyfriend “lean” challenge, Internet boyfriend —<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw-GJD5OOT7X2RYIzamvaMhrnDA24-F-F">James Tang</a>)</p><p>* Story scene re-enactments</p><p>* Fan made videos/skits</p><p>* BookTok rankings (using popular sound trends, ie., “Dancing/Dance(?) Moms”)</p><p>* James Tang - A TCK (Third Culture Kid) and actor who quickly became one of the most popular TikTok/Twitch content creators from this trend. Known for making popular/current BookTok videos as well as original “internet boyfriend” skits.</p><p>* Thirst trap trends blending reality from the escapism.</p><p><strong>🎓 Impact</strong></p><p>Consumer sales (articles on stats/demographics about book sales) and Cultural (cliches and clashes), Societal norms and challenges</p><p>* Heated rivalries (lol) arose between die hard readers and new readers</p><p>* Blatant privilege on display by a well-known publishing company (QUINN), offering massive deals to TikTokers (ie., receiving a six-figure book deal - without having a single word written, flying out “key” TikTok influencers to extravagant events with no clear plan/research being conducted - just coasting on the algorithm and “vibes” in hopes of drawing in readers)</p><p>* Influencers being called out for supporting problematic authors and thinly veiled biases toward marginalized groups (the “I can’t/couldn’t relate to this…” and “I didn’t understand why they were included…” bunch)</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statsignificant.com/p/how-romance-romantasy-and-smut-took">How Romance, Romantasy, and “Smut” Took Over Publishing and Entertainment: A Statistical Analysis</a></p><p><strong>💭 Idealizations (Expectations and Escapism)</strong></p><p>How they can lead to unhealthy thoughts, <a target="_blank" href="https://wbqc.substack.com/p/ep-6-parasocial-relationships-and">parasocial activity</a>, and toxicity within the communities</p><p>* Fawning over “perfect” book characters that sometimes causes readers to question and/or become unhappy in their own real-life relationships.</p><p>* Becoming obsessed with the fictional world that they’ve “escaped” into, going as far as to threaten the author(s) who wrote the story and/or other readers who may critique the story.</p><p>* <strong>Consumer safety</strong> (content/trigger warnings, spreading of gossip/misinformation. deepfakes/AI content/sources and that promote harmful/negative views/situations, unsafe environments (spaces that prey on unknowing readers to take advantage of them mentally/emotionally, financially, physically, etc.).</p><p>* <strong>Predatory behavior</strong> (how to spot/recognize/address this behavior and make others aware of it happening in a safe way).</p><p><strong>Spaces like this are also bad for business! And if they continue to spread, not only do readers lose access to good stories, authors are forced to choose between creating/writing or earning a living (which means less books are produced). - </strong>Wips</p><p><strong>We all share this space and have an ethical/moral obligation to protect it in order to continue to enjoy/connect with everyone in this reading space.</strong> - Wips</p><p><strong>The foolishness/fuckshit you allow in your space is exactly how you’ll lose it.</strong> - Wips</p><p><strong>Why are characters surprised when they get pregnant? Like, they be so surprised and nary a condom has been introduced. All sorts of fun locations and positions, tho. Perhaps the yearning is the condom. — Trisha Cheeks in a group chat. </strong></p><p><strong>(</strong><a target="_blank" href="https://benmercer.substack.com/p/how-annoying-is-luke-batemans-book"><strong>how annoying is Luke Bateman’s book deal?</strong></a><strong>, Ben Mercer, Jun 03, 2025)</strong></p><p>“Bateman started a TikTok account, quickly secured a book deal and his debut is meant to arrive in about 18 months time. It’s very fast as book release dates go, which is a feat given the machinery that needs to crank into gear, but it also suggests there may be some behind the scenes shenanigans and planning that we are not privy to. The fact that it feels so organised is in itself interesting and it’s this that’s resulted in a firestorm of negative publicity on the platform where Bateman’s audience exists.</p><p>The whole thing has almost gone too smoothly so along with a sense of unfairness, the audience have a lingering feeling, rightly or wrongly, that they’ve been manipulated. That’s not good.”</p><p>🗣️ Define Book Boy/Girlfriend/Theyfriend </p><p>A “book boyfriend” is a fictional male character from a romance novel or fantasy series who readers fall deeply in love with. (Maheshwari Raj. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.curationedit.com/post/dream-men-dog-eared-pages-why-we-re-obsessed-with-book-boyfriends">Love in the Margins</a>: Inside the Book Boyfriend Obsession, Jun 28, 2025)</p><p><strong>(</strong><a target="_blank" href="https://staging.her.ie/books/seven-reasons-why-boyfriends-in-book-are-just-better-599341"><strong>Seven reasons why book boyfriends are just better</strong></a><strong>, Anna Martin, Feb 2, 2024)</strong></p><p>* They’re Way More Calming</p><p>* You Don’t Have to Go Out to Date</p><p>🗣️ Boy/Girl/TheyFriend Checklist (Individual Results Will Vary, lol)</p><p>(<a target="_blank" href="https://bookcaseandcoffee.com/ep-50-book-boyfriend-check-list/">Bookcase and Coffee Podcast</a>, Ep. 50, Book Boyfriend Checklist with Duchess Katie & Lady Sadie)</p><p>☀️ When should you, as a reader, step away from the book bae fantasy?</p><p>(Romance Books: <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-170871431">Comfort Reads or Unrealistic Expectations</a>, OG’s Soapbox, Aug 13, 2025) “<strong>Are romance books giving me comfort, or are they making me have an unrealistic view of what love should look like?”</strong></p><p>📚 WBQC Booklist </p><p>Here is a list of books mentioned on this episode — and some others we wanted to talk about, but you know, hilarity ensues. Have any faves you want to share? Name them in the comments below ⬇️</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://kennedyryanwrites.com/reading-order/">Any and everything written by Kennedy Ryan</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiawilliamswrites.com/">Any and everything written by Tia Williams</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://lmjuniper.com/">This Ends Here</a><a target="_blank" href="https://lmjuniper.com/"> by LM Juniper</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://rep.club/products/outdrawn?srsltid=AfmBOorl0JUUR76lpML-gXtRpz9aU4xZ6_u1_O30EH19wJaOwp4Vlc28">Outdrawn</a><a target="_blank" href="https://rep.club/products/outdrawn?srsltid=AfmBOorl0JUUR76lpML-gXtRpz9aU4xZ6_u1_O30EH19wJaOwp4Vlc28"> by Deanna Grey</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/terms-and-conditions-collector-s-edition-lauren-asher/bb70fc1b1328db84?ean=9781464244636&next=t&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_term=aud-1721779758455:dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gbraid=0AAAAACfld43IKQBG9cHc3jz4zlkV7gfRa&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh-HPBhCIARIsAC0p3celxAtWh9-bhBS3IrXE1r-04HCOPXJ6UTfrVx9sTmQVhlM0iN5HjxgaAgKREALw_wcB">Terms and Conditions </a><a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/terms-and-conditions-collector-s-edition-lauren-asher/bb70fc1b1328db84?ean=9781464244636&next=t&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_term=aud-1721779758455:dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gbraid=0AAAAACfld43IKQBG9cHc3jz4zlkV7gfRa&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh-HPBhCIARIsAC0p3celxAtWh9-bhBS3IrXE1r-04HCOPXJ6UTfrVx9sTmQVhlM0iN5HjxgaAgKREALw_wcB">by Lauren Asher</a> (Dreamland Billionaires trilogy) </p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/the-brown-sisters/158547/?srsltid=AfmBOorlPtZaanwsnA6PMtuhLe2pHegLyambT-XKTUZVV2h_0UXequRR">The Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://leonorsoliz.com/series/cozy-latine-billionaires/">Cozy Latin Billionaires series Leonar Soliz</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.taliahibbert.com/a-girl-like-her">A Girl Like Her</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.taliahibbert.com/a-girl-like-her"> by Talia Hibbert</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/morning-glory-milking-farm-c-m-nascosta/0ddcc01af33e3700?ean=9781736546611&next=t&next=t&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_term=aud-1885352274184:dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gbraid=0AAAAACfld43IKQBG9cHc3jz4zlkV7gfRa&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh-HPBhCIARIsAC0p3cdPUJ5561hoo9JQaZgrvHBahfbjHPSR3QxZLQ5mkzsAY4KQRrj61KwaAtqKEALw_wcB">Morning Glory Milking Farm</a> by CM Nascosta</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://rubydixon.com/series/ice-planet-barbarians/">Ice Planet Barbarians series by Ruby Dixon</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jessicacage.com/books">Accidents Happen series by Jessica Cage</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/keta-kendric/">A Chaos series by Keta Kendrick</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://kerrimaniscalco.com/throne-of-the-fallen/">Princes of Sin series by Kerri Maniscalco</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/series/kimberly-lemming/mead-mishaps/">The Mead Mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://authorevelynleigh.com/collections/hapless-in-love-series">Elevator Pitch</a><a target="_blank" href="https://authorevelynleigh.com/collections/hapless-in-love-series"> by Evelyn Leigh</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739631/the-re-do-list-by-denise-williams/">The Re-Do List</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739631/the-re-do-list-by-denise-williams/"> by Denise Williams</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.denisewilliamswrites.com/justourluck.html">Just Our Luck</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.denisewilliamswrites.com/justourluck.html"> by Denise William</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://authorjessicalepe.com/flirty/">Flirty Little Secret</a><a target="_blank" href="https://authorjessicalepe.com/flirty/"> by Jessica Lepe</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rufithorpe.com/margo-s-got-money-troubles">Margo’s Got Money Troubles</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.rufithorpe.com/margo-s-got-money-troubles"> by Rufi Thorpe</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.traceylivesay.com/books/american-royalty-series/american-royalty/">American Royalty</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.traceylivesay.com/books/american-royalty-series/american-royalty/"> by Tracey Livesay</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.traceylivesay.com/books/american-royalty-series/the-duchess-effect/">The Duchess Effect</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.traceylivesay.com/books/american-royalty-series/the-duchess-effect/"> by Tracey Livesay</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.natashabishopwrites.com/copy-of-where-we-found-our-passion">Only for the Week</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.natashabishopwrites.com/copy-of-where-we-found-our-passion"> by Natasha Bishop</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://nisha-sharma.com/books/adult-books/tastes-like-shakkar/">Tastes Like Shakkar</a><a target="_blank" href="https://nisha-sharma.com/books/adult-books/tastes-like-shakkar/"> by Nisha Sharma</a> (<strong>If Shakespeare was an Auntie Trilogy)</strong></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://nisha-sharma.com/books/adult-books/dating-dr-dil/">Dating Dr. Dil</a><a target="_blank" href="https://nisha-sharma.com/books/adult-books/dating-dr-dil/"> by Nisha Sharma</a> (<strong>If Shakespeare was an Auntie Trilogy)</strong></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704711/pride-and-protest-by-nikki-payne/">Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne (</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704711/pride-and-protest-by-nikki-payne/">Jane Austen retelling)</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704712/sex-lies-and-sensibility-by-nikki-payne/">Sex, Lies, and Sensibility</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704712/sex-lies-and-sensibility-by-nikki-payne/"> by Nikki Payne</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704711/pride-and-protest-by-nikki-payne/">(</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704711/pride-and-protest-by-nikki-payne/">Jane Austen retelling)</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.authordanielleallen.com/">The Curve Series by Danielle Allen</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250331052/curvygirlsummer/">Curvy Girl Summer</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250331182/plussizeplayer/">Plus Size Player</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250331168/biggirlblitz/">Big Girl Blitz</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://seressia.com/?books=the-love-con">The Love Con</a><a target="_blank" href="https://seressia.com/?books=the-love-con"> by Seressia Glass</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.alexamartin.com/better-than-fiction">Better Than Fiction </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.alexamartin.com/better-than-fiction">by Alexa Martin</a></p><p>🗣️: Word of the Day</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/8576703359/posts/10157471422238360/"><strong>Áilleánach (Irish)</strong></a></p><p>* <strong>Definition:</strong> Described as an Irish term for an “attractive and yet useless man.”</p><p>* <strong>Pronunciation:</strong> Often described as phonetically similar to “Allenwrench.”</p><p>* <strong>Context:</strong> It is a noun, with the genitive form na n-áilleánach.</p><p>🎶 Ep. 3 Playlist </p><p>😈 NSFW Meme of the Week</p><p>📣 Be Good & Follow Us </p><p>Like what you’ve heard on this and previous episodes? Follow and subscribe to “Lunch at the Unfriendly Black Hotties Table” podcast below:</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://wbqc.substack.com/">Substack</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/wbqc_/">Instagram</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://bsky.app/profile/wbqcradio.bsky.social">Bluesky</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/@WBQCRadio">YouTube</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/49S3alxAfk8GgmRI2nxh7o?si=2df997116559453b">Spotify</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lunch-at-the-unfriendly-black-hotties-table-podcast/id1812675219">Apple Podcasts</a></p><p>#health #intimacy #relationships #love #couples #BlackWomen #podcast #podcasts #kinks #audios #audioerotica #parasocialrelationships #onlineculture #stanculture #fandom #fanatics #celebrity #fame</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://wbqc.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">wbqc.substack.com</a>
