Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast
In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we’re going down the full romance history rabbit hole and talking about the clinch cover: where it started, why it took over, why it disappeared, and why I think it’s making a comeback. From Fabio accidentally discovering he was on romance covers in a Miami club, to Avon, Playboy Press, Elaine Duillo, and the unapologetic visibility of desire, we’re diving into what these covers really meant. Because the clinch was never just a design trend. It was a signal of what publishing thought women were allowed to want out loud. And now? I think something is shifting bringing it back again.
Watch this episode on video: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rFKvDU6HRbJwS3qrTz14z?si=R02fwlVpT825zUhzEl-eWA
On the blog:
Watch the video about my personal journey with cover shame:
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:49 Why Clinch Matters
02:41 Candy Box Era
03:54 Avon Sparks Change
05:12 Playboy Invents Clinch
07:38 Clinch As Art
09:44 Naked Heroes Controversy
11:07 Fabio Takes Over
12:26 Mockery And Backlash
13:38 Stepback Covers Explained
15:15 Retreat To Safe Covers
17:08 Man Chest And Objects
19:17 Illustrated Cover Boom
20:34 Monster Romance Revival
22:49 Clinch As Cultural Barometer
24:30 Whose Desire Gets Seen
26:44 Final Thoughts
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