Episodes

  • Romance authors Emily Henry, Beverly Jenkins, and others on the state of their genre

    Romance authors Emily Henry, Beverly Jenkins, and others on the state of their genre
    Jan 30 2026
    To wrap up our pre-Valentine’s Day week of reads, we revisit two roundtable discussions with contemporary romance authors. First, Here & Now’s Celeste Headlee speaks with Helen Hoang and Emily Henry about the state of the genre – and how the authors approach writing sex scenes. Then, Here & Now’s Kalyani Saxena moderates a conversation between Beverly Jenkins, Jasmine Guillory, and Ali Hazelwood in front of a crowd of romance fans at WBUR’s CitySpace.


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    22 mins
  • A meet-cute followed by real life: 'Party of Two' is about love in the real world

    A meet-cute followed by real life: 'Party of Two' is about love in the real world
    Jan 29 2026
    Romance writer Jasmine Guillory writes beautiful love stories – but that doesn't mean they aren't based in reality. Her novel Party of Two, from the summer of 2020, is about a Black woman and a white man who have a meet-cute and start a casual long-distance relationship. But race does have an impact on their connection because of the different ways the world has received them. Guillory told former NPR host Lulu Garcia-Navarro that real-life couples have these conversations, so her characters should too.


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    8 mins
  • Looking back at 'Normal People,' before Sally Rooney’s rise to fame

    Looking back at 'Normal People,' before Sally Rooney’s rise to fame
    Jan 28 2026
    In 2019, Sally Rooney was promoting Normal People, the novel that would become her breakout hit. The book inspired a popular Hulu adaptation and positioned the author as one of the leading literary voices of her generation. In today’s episode, we revisit an interview between Rooney and NPR’s Rachel Martin, in which they reflect on the shifting nature of the novel’s central relationship.


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    8 mins
  • 'Emergency Contact' explores love in the age of modern technology

    'Emergency Contact' explores love in the age of modern technology
    Jan 27 2026
    Content warning: this episode contains discussions of sexual assault.


    It’s not breaking news that technology has seeped into modern dating culture. Screens make it easier for us to meet people, but does this convenience trigger a loss of genuine connection? In Mary H.K. Choi’s Emergency Contact, two young lovers are put to the test when their devices become an unwanted third party in their relationship. In today’s episode, Choi joins NPR’s Lulu Navarro for a conversation about her debut novel, and how teenagers can seek meaningful connections with each other beyond a phone screen.


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    8 mins
  • Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan on 'Remain,' their supernatural romance novel

    Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan on 'Remain,' their supernatural romance novel
    Jan 26 2026
    Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan are authors known worldwide for their contributions to the genres of romance and horror. But in 2025, they brought these genres together for a collaborative book and movie project titled Remain. In today’s episode, we kick off Book of the Day’s 2026 romance week with a discussion between Sparks, Shyamalan, and NPR’s Leila Fadel. The two join Fadel at NPR’s New York Bureau to talk about their co-authored novel, its inspirations, and the heartfelt, supernatural roots of storytelling itself.


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    8 mins
  • New books argue that far-off goals and humor can help shift daily routines

    New books argue that far-off goals and humor can help shift daily routines
    Jan 23 2026
    January is the month for people to take stock of their habits and routines – and two new books offer unconventional approaches to shaking up our lives. First, Mark Medley’s Live to See the Day is about the pursuit of far-fetched goals. He spoke with NPR’s A Martínez about what we can learn from no-hope political candidates, amateur creature-hunters, and dreamers. Then, comedian Chris Duffy’s Humor Me asks readers to find the funny alongside the grim. In today’s episode, he tells NPR’s Sacha Pfeiffer about the inspiration for the book, which came from his experience as a teacher.

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    16 mins
  • Iranian pop star Googoosh on her new memoir and life in pre-revolution Iran

    Iranian pop star Googoosh on her new memoir and life in pre-revolution Iran
    Jan 22 2026
    The Iranian government has exerted forceful control over its citizens since the Islamic Republic seized power nearly 50 years ago. The pop star Googoosh has firsthand experience of opposition to the regime – and its consequences. In 1980, the singer was imprisoned and forced into a basement with other women after the government deemed her music sinful. Afterwards, she spent decades living in silence and exile. In today’s episode, she joins Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd for a conversation about her new memoir, Googoosh: A Sinful Voice, and her relationship with Iran, then and now.


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    12 mins
  • Sarah Harman’s debut novel is a lighthearted take on the 'missing kid' mystery genre

    Sarah Harman’s debut novel is a lighthearted take on the 'missing kid' mystery genre
    Jan 21 2026
    Is there anything you wouldn’t do for your favorite person? That question is at the center of Sarah Harman’s debut novel All the Other Mothers Hate Me. The book follows a single mom, Florence, who goes to extreme lengths to defend her son when he becomes a suspect in the disappearance of his school bully. In today’s episode, Harman tells NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe about her misfit protagonist and her observations of British culture from an outsider’s perspective.


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    8 mins