The Tightrope: An Introduction

The Tightrope: An Introduction

Author: Katee Robert, Melody Carlisle, & Jenny Nordbak September 23, 2021 Duration: 41:25

Welcome to our introductory episode! Get to know a little bit about your hosts, Jenny Nordbak and Melody Carlisle, and learn what Bonkers Romance is all about!

We discuss what “bonkers” means to each of us since it’s something we’ve been asking guests.

  • Jenny: It’s the brave decisions authors have made when they chose not to play it safe.
  • Mel: It’s those books that make you wonder, “is this even allowed??” with absolute glee.

Why we started Bonkers Romance and what we hope to accomplish with it:

  • Celebrate those brave choices authors have made and pulled off
  • To choose joy
  • To encourage readers to come down the rabbit hole with us

The format of each episode:

  • We recap a bonkers book chosen by the guest to exemplify what they consider bonkers
  • One of the hosts in each episode hasn’t read the book to make it more accessible for readers who may not have read the book yet.
  • Along the way, we’ll have tangents, book recs, funny stories, and more!
  • The last episode of every month will only be for our Temple members, but a free preview will be available publicly!

We’re eager to build a community and are excited to hear input, suggestions, book recs, guest recs, and bonkers descriptions in books you stumble upon! You can find us on social media or use the form on our website. We’re particularly looking for bonkers book recs that are inclusive, with a focus on queer rep and books written by authors from marginalized groups.

What is The Temple of Defiant Joy?

We’ve created a members page that functions similarly to Patreon, but gives us more control and flexibility. On there, we have bonus episodes, temple-only episodes, video of our regular episodes, bonus author interviews, Bonkers Romance Book Club, and more! We want it to feel like your community, so if you have ideas, we’d love to hear them! You can check it out HERE!

What is Bonkers Romance Book Club?

All members of The Temple at the Joy Bringer tier or higher will be part of the BRBC, our monthly digital book box subscription. Each month, members will receive two ebooks we’ve handpicked for the community. They’ll usually be advanced copies before the books are even available to the public! Check it out HERE!

Our upcoming episode list is available now on our social platforms, so come follow us on Instagram or Twitter—or join our new Facebook group!

Episode 2: Spider Shibari with Sierra Simone is available now, so don’t miss it!

Support for this episode provided by:

THE TEMPLE OF DEFIANT JOY! Join us in The Temple for bonus episodes, video of our public episodes, access to the Bonkers Romance Book Club, and much more! Membership at the Joy Bringer Tier or higher includes advanced copies of our September BRBC books: Mama’s Boy by Avery Flynn and His Leading Lady by Jenny Nordbak!

Mentioned in


Every Thursday, Katee Robert, Melody Carlisle, and Jenny Nordbak gather to celebrate the wonderfully over-the-top side of the genre they love. Their Bonkers Romance podcast is a deep dive into a truly wild piece of romance media each week, from novels to films and beyond. The conversation isn't about critique, but about joyful analysis-they break down how the story’s tropes are cranked to the maximum and explore why those exaggerated elements work so effectively to deliver a satisfying, often cathartic, experience. Listening feels like pulling up a chair with insightful friends who also happen to be deeply embedded in Romancelandia. You’ll hear their unfiltered commentary, passionate hot takes, and genuinely hilarious personal stories sparked by the week’s selection. The hosts frequently welcome favorite authors and personalities, offering a unique peek into how creators think about the craft and fun of romance. Naturally, you’ll come away with a ton of book recommendations, but more than that, this podcast provides a refreshingly enthusiastic and thoughtful space that reminds you why these stories resonate so powerfully. It’s a weekly dose of analysis, laughter, and pure appreciation for the genre’s most delightfully extra offerings.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 58

Bonkers Romance
Podcast Episodes
Party Kraken with Katee Robert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:55
We're joined by Katee Robert to recap Stalked by the Kraken by Lillian Lark! We talk about why this book is the perfect soft introduction to tentacles because it gives you a taste of the possibilities without being anyth…
A F*cking Smoke Monster with Dani Lacey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:25
We're joined by Dani Lacey to recap Soul Eater by Lily Mayne! We discuss what it’s been like watching the Ice Planet TikTok craze when Dani hosts the Ice Planet podcast. Jenny throws a full blown tantrum because Melody k…
Sex for Protection with Abby Jimenez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:17
We're joined by Abby Jimenez to recap Hold by Claire Kent! Hold is set on a prison planet and opens with the lines: Find the strongest man there. Give yourself to him in return for protection. It's the only way you'll ev…
Sex Club Masquerade with Sarah MacLean [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:31
We're joined by Sarah MacLean to recap The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt! We discuss the many ways books can be bonkers (Sarah’s love of bananas books), sexy times in a sex club with a masquerade mask, how self indulgen…
Pull-Out Orc Fountain with Naima Simone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:19
We're joined by Naima Simone to recap The Lady and the Orc by Finley Fenn! We discuss Naima and Jenny’s mutual obsession with Lord of the Rings, that time Naima accidentally showed the guy at the phone case kiosk a descr…
Spider Shibari with Sierra Simone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:03
We’re joined by Sierra F*cking Simone to recap Ensnared by Tiffany Roberts! We discuss how bonkers books must fulfill the promise of the premise, how Jenny and Mel are consensual creeps, how Jenny is a spider kink hipste…
Bonkers Romance - Coming Soon! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:38
Coming September 23, 2021! Jenny Nordbak and Melody Carlisle are teaming up to bring you a brand new podcast that celebrates romance and the fearless creators who make the genre amazing. Every Thursday, we invite an auth…