Episodes

I've been having fun reading a ton of contemporary romances featuring buff young things getting it on. But it's time to get real: which means ageless love, with plenty of imperfection, wisdom and fun thrown in. It's romance full of humor, honesty, acceptance and kindness. The sexiest combo I know.

It's all about the alpha male today. Because he likes it that way, and dammit, makes me like it too. Plus, nobody ties a sexier Windsor knot than Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

Is it hot in here? The official, and super steamy, Fifty Shades of Grey trailer.

And then, it gets Fifty Shades Darker.
Crazy Rich Asians trailer.

The Romcomathon podcast episode on Crazy Rich Asians.

Who knew that Empire-waist dresses, waistcoats, cravats and women discovering their own power could be so sexy? Well, fans of Regency romance know. It's all about the debs and the Dukes in this episode. These two shows are the place to start your new, fresh, modern costume drama love affair.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

Fascinating interview with Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen. He talks about adapting the books, the mostly female writers' room, the female gaze throughout...

Nothing wrong with indulging in slightly corny and comforting romantic movies. I talk about a bunch of my favorites in this episode, chock full of cheese (the tasty romantic kind).

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com
Movies mentioned:

The screwball comedy I featured is His Girl Friday (1940) starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. What a chemistry set!

The Holiday
The Lake House
Message in a Bottle
Leap Year
The Proposal
Grease 2
Blue Lagoon
Bridges of Madison County
Only You
Ever ...

The March and Stone families give us the cozy, faithful and often funny holiday we all need this year.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com
Trailers:

Little Women (1933)

Little Women (1949)

Little Women (1994)

Little Women (2019)

The Family Stone

Download the Little Women ebook at Project Gutenberg

This episode is about one of my favorite romantic tropes of all time: the grand--or small but meaningful--romantic gesture.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

Stream NBC's Lipstick Jungle here

The Age of Innocence trailer

Elizabeth's thank you to Darcy and the second proposal scene from the 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice

The breathtaking glider scene from Fifty Shades of Grey. One Last Night by Vaults is on constant repeat lately, and I can picture every moment of this scene when I he...

In this episode I talk about one of the best filmed versions of the classic novel Jane Eyre: the 2011 romantic movie with Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska. In my humble opinion, ahem.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

<p>Project Gutenberg, a library of more than 60,000 free e-books!</p>

<p>The Mr. Rochester book.</p>

<p>The second fireside conversation between Mr. Rochester and Jane.</p>

<p>The proposal scene. Passion played out in the woods and/or nature! Always a winner! S...

In this episode, I talk about the classic romantic suspense novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and the sexy 2020 Netflix adaptation.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

<p>The full Alfred Hitchcock version of Rebecca from 1940.</p>

<p>The 2020 Netflix Rebecca trailer.</p>

<p>The Rebecca episode from A Novel Adaptation.</p>

In this episode, I talk about the hilarious, often crude new Netflix rom-com series The Duchess starring comedian/actress/writer Katherine Ryan.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

<p>A lot of the material for The Duchess seems to have been inspired by this Katherine Ryan Netflix special.</p>

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

Death Comes to Pemberley trailer. Anna Maxwell Martin is one of my favorite Elizabeths, too.

It's based on a book by P.D. James

The Scapegoat trailer

The Scapegoat book by Daphne du Maurier

The foreplay to the train make-out clip from North by Northwest

Notorious, full movie. That Scene comes right at the end.

In this episode I talk about the visually stunning 2018 miniseries The Woman in White, a creepy romantic mystery perfect for Halloween.

http://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

Where to stream The Woman in White

2018 WiW miniseries trailer and fantastic "sizzle reel"

1948 WiW movie trailer

Trailer for the dark and sometimes humorous Sleepy Hollow

In this episode I talk about my latest binges and obsessive romance rewinds, Outlander and A Discovery of Witches, and try to answer the question: am I going nuts?

http://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com
Outlander S1 trailer

A Discovery of Witches S1 trailer. That Kiss comes right at the end.

All Souls Trilogy books.

The article I mention.

Another fun article on the topic.

Music mentioned in the Confessional:

Lissie's amazing cover of Go Your Own Way
I Found by Amber Run

Never Gonna ...

In this extra episode, I talk about one of my favorite tiny romantic moments in the clever detective drama Sherlock.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

The Christmas Scene (tag says "dearest Sherlock" not "Merry Christmas, Sherlock," even better): https://youtu.be/ulYsQ7-w4PU

A fun video compilation of some of the best Sherlock moments: https://youtu.be/OJ8eQZLcfXA

In this episode, I talk about some of the wordiest rom coms ever, and why I can't get enough of these romances.

Show notes at: http://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

This clip from Destination Wedding is the scene just prior to the one I discuss in this episode. You say puma, I say mountain lion, it's all hysterical: https://youtu.be/ICVNRU90Z-Q

The Q&A scene from Before Sunrise: https://youtu.be/sbwzV4cN90I

And the stop the car scene from Before Sunset: https://youtu.be/TUbgKkn9qFw

In this extra episode, I continue talking about the actor Matt Bomer, because I can't get enough of his performance in The Last Tycoon. Someone, rescue me…

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

The Last Tycoon trailer: https://youtu.be/KnRIv-QNtjg

Pure glamor: https://condenaststore.com/featured/norma-shearer-and-irving-thalberg-in-a-garden-edward-steichen.html?product=poster

Oh, this picture: https://artsmeme.com/2009/01/15/jewish-prince-of-hollywood/

More about F. Scott Fitzgerald ...

In this episode I talk about some of my favorite visual romantic tropes— like a grab and a kiss and passion in the woods, used so well in the movie Becoming Jane.

Becoming Jane movie trailer: https://youtu.be/qmd-ej9Hx20

That Dance: https://youtu.be/mXoa7RcYT8M

Emma proposal scene: https://youtu.be/LTgOLHxQ9mM

More about Jane Austen's early life: https://www.notablebiographies.com/An-Ba/Austen-Jane.html

I'm revisiting the romantic ups and downs of senior year on this episode with the help of a fantastic new movie called Chemical Hearts.

I'm finally saying goodbye to shame about loving romance, and talking about the book Mr. Malcolm's List.

Show notes at confessionsofaclosetromantic.com