Nerdy Romantics Podcast

 Jen and host Y. M. Nelson recommend 7 holiday romances for 2025 that will keep you in the holly jolly spirit. Y. M. Nelson also has an announcement for a new mini-series in the new year! 

Books We Recommend:

• Single and Ready to Jingle by Piper Rayne
• Brown Sugar this Christmas by Lula White
• Not So Merry in Maldives by Mia Heintzelman
• Wrapped by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• A Man for Mrs. Claus by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• The Ex-mas Breakup by Zoe...

Y. M. Nelson hosts the second part of a review of the Fantastic Four: First Steps with guests Marcie and Perry. They talk an award-worthy performance of Sue Storm, the Richards' kid, Villains in the 828, and rate the movie with a star rating.

Topics We Discuss

• Sacrificing too much for the greater good
• Superhero movies and award worthy performances
• City comes together with Mr. Elder (that rhymed!) The Villains
• How to beat a vill...

Y. M. Nelson hosts a deep dive into the Marvel movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps. She and guests Perry and Marcie discuss the fantastic four characters, movie pacing, and why this is the best version of them all.

TOPICS:

• How did we discover /first watch the movie?
• What was with the "Jetsons" look?
• Character Portrayls: Mr. Fantastic and others
• The rest of the Fantastic Four: Ben, Johnny and Sue
• Fave characters
• Storyline i...

Y. M. Nelson hosts the continuing discussion of Thunderbolts. She and Jen, Perry and Marcie talk about female led Marvel movies, depression and grief, standout characters in a fun ensemble cast, and we give the movie a star rating.

TOPICS WE DISCUSS:

• Marketing Thunderbolts*
• A Greenlit surprise
• Standout characters in the Thunderbolts* ensemble
• The Thunderbolts v. Valentina
• Bob aka The Sentry/The Void and depression
• Perry clears up some...

Jen, Perry, Marcie and host Y. M. Nelson talk about why Thunderbolts* was a great character study in a superhero disguise.

TOPICS WE DISCUSS:

• Perry's Update
• First thoughts on Thunderbolts*/viewing experience
• Is this the connector movie we needed?
• The Reluctant Hero Trope
• The dramatic side of the movie
• Family relationships: Yelena and Alexi
• Marketing and reception of Thunderbolts*

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Host Y. M. Nelson and guests Staci, Perry, and Jen continue to review and then rate James Gunn’s version of Superman. In this episode, we talk about the “Justice Gang” – Mr. Terrific, Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl – Superman’s posse, and we talk about the Daily Planet gang – notably Lois, Perry, Jimmy and Steve – Clark Kent’s posse. We also give this one a star rating.

Topics We Discuss:

Secondary Characters: The Justice Gang
Peacema...

Host Y. M. Nelson and guests Staci, Perry, and Jen review James Gunn's version of Superman. We went political, we went comic book, we went totally nerdy with this review of the new DCU iteration. This was one lively discussion you can't miss.

Topics We Discuss:

• How excited were we about James Gunn's Superman?
• A Comic Book Feel - The James Gunn Effect
• The Origin Story Omission
• If you know the story, why are you upset t...

Staci and host Y. M. Nelson wrap up discussion of this YA fantasy with a little politics, world building, and look ahead to what the movie version of this book may entail. We finish our review with a Goodreads rating.

Topics we discuss:

0:47 When magic means power - The politics of the story

9:13 The politics of the book - The Author's Note

15:23 The World of Children of Blood and Bone

21:50 Musing on the movie version

30:24 Th...

Y. M. Nelson and guest Staci discuss the folklore, the appeal, and the plot of the best selling fantasy Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

Topics we discuss:

• First impressions of the book
• The lack of African folklore in American culture
• Zelie and the heroine's journey
• Racism and Colorism in Children of Blood and Bone
• Growing into a leader - The reluctant hero trope
• Coming of Age for other main characters and their arcs
• Ho...

Jen G and host Y. M. Nelson recommend books that will scare you, or if you prefer, that will make you feel cozy while drinking your pumpkin spice latte and cuddling in your sweater. We also pay tribute to two romance authors we lost this summer: Carla Luna, who was also a guest on the show, and Twyla Turner.

Books we Discuss:

1:05 A Personal Moment: In Memorium - Carla Luna and Twyla Turner

6:59 Jen's new podcast and Bootcamp

10:3...

Staci, Marcie, and host Y. M. Nelson talk the secondary characters of Ironheart, including a long-awaited surprise character, and give the show a Goodreads star rating.

Topics we discuss:

• The timing of Riri's story
• The Hood, aka Parker Robbins and his crew
• Magic in the Neighborhood - Zelma, Madeline, and ... Dr. Strange?
• The SURPRISE GUEST
• Joe, aka Ezekiel Stane, aka Iron Monger
• GoodReads rating

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Y. M. Nelson and guests Marcie and Staci talk about the Marvel TV series Ironheart. All of us had something to say about Riri Williams and her status as a legacy hero. And in light of the censorship and extortion of Jimmy Kimmel, what I say about a certain media company's IP is particularly relevant right now. 

Topics discussed:

• How we found the show and the controversy around that
• Rotten Tomatoes Review bombing
• Are we "M...

We wrap up our discussion of Superman and Lois with a chat about season 4, the final season of the series. We talk about the correlation between the Death of Superman comic and  the show, villains Lex Luthor and Doomsday, the last episode, and we give this one a GoodReads rating.

Topics We Discuss:

1:30 Lex Luthor

10:29 Doomsday v. Superman

12:12 A rushed ending

23:55 The Clark Kent reveal to the world

31:42 Kids with superpowers

35:28 Wh...

In this episode Y. M. Nelson and guest Perry C. discuss the reasons why season 3 of Superman and Lois was the most real of the CW Arrowverse.

Topics We Discuss:

01:55 The Death of Superman and the Doomsday character

05:29 Season 3 highlights

12:35 Superman and Lois in the comics

15:22 The new Johnathan Kent

24:23 The CW teen show dynamic

31:47 The Lois and Clark romance

47:36 Season 3 villain: Bruno Manheim

57:21 Pia Manheim and the family ...

 We give YOU, season 5 some of the lowest ratings we have ever given anything. Find out why we did that. Also hear what we had to say about the one bright spot in this season, Amanda Camp as Reagan and Maddie, and why she should get an Emmy nod. 

Topics we discuss:

• The Lockwoods and twins Reagan and Maddie
• Henry, Joe's son
• The final episode of YOU
• Goodreads star rating

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In part 1 of this review, Dana, Staci, Marcie, and host Y. M. Nelson rip apart season 5 of YOU, the final season of the Netflix thriller show based on the Carolina Kepnes series of books.

Topics we discuss:

• Our initial expectations
• Joe Goldberg, the impossible white man
• Too much unbelievable story
• Why S5 should have been shorter
• Episode 8, the return of Joe's past loves

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Y. M. Nelson, Staci, Perry and Marcie talk about the online controversy that surrounded Captain America: Brave New World (and why it's not worth talking about to real Marvel fans), characters we wanted to see more of, and we rate the movie with a Goodreads star rating.

Topics we discussed

01:21 The Captain America: Brave New World Controversy

14:25 Casting Controversy

18:28 Characters we wanted more of

20:27 Post-Credits scene revi...

Y. M. Nelson and guests Staci, Marcie, and Perry review Captain America: Brave New World. They talk story pacing, Eternals and Incredible Hulk, and they wonder why all of this is in a Captain America movie. Did you have questions, too? We get those answered on this episode!

Topics we discuss:

• 01:50 The Theater Experience
• 06:23 Story Pacing
• 15:05 Eternals, Red Hulk, and ... Wakanda?
• 25:11 The Tie-In movie feel
• 29:30 Tie-In versus more...

 Join Jen, Carla, and me Y. M. Nelson as we recommend romance books that are perfect for a beach vacation. These reads range from sweet to red hot and everything in between. Find your next book summer fling here. 

Some Books we recommend:

• Forrest for the Trees by Kilby Blades
• Only Mostly Dead by AlliTemple
• Jewel Me Twice by Charish Reid
• Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop

We even name drop Danielle Allen and shamlessly plug RRAW...