But first let’s be friends!

Rachel and Jessica introduce BDE, a podcast about books, dating, and life, then dive into “things that are embarrassing for no reason,” including small talk, paying with cash, nail salon chair massages, bowling walk-backs, parallel parking, checking mail with someone behind you, being ID’d, ordering under pressure, and awkward doctor-gown moments (plus a debate about what to put on first after a massage). They play a pet-name yes/no game (favorites include “good girl” and “baby,” while “baby girl” is a strong no) before discussing dark romance: how they started with Feather So Vicious/Shadow So Cruel, their reactions to Haunting/Hunting Adeline, and why Lights Out works as a funny gateway. They also mention Hitched, Dance with My Demon, God of Malice, and Under Your Scars, and explain dark romance as a controlled space to explore taboo desire, safety, power, and transformation. They end by requesting anonymous “Messy Mondays” dating stories via DM and asking for reviews and follows.

00:00 Welcome to BDE

00:44 Fake Spring Banter

01:42 Today’s Agenda

02:58 Embarrassed by Everything

04:22 Cash and Germs

05:49 Nail Salon Awkwardness

08:35 Bowling and Parking Panic

12:48 Doctor Gown Dilemmas

14:10 Massage Naked Debate

19:40 Pet Names in Romance

23:26 Yes No Pet Name Game

27:31 Cringey Pet Names

29:19 Dark Romance Confessions

31:20 Feathers and Shadows Deep Dive

35:43 Haunting Adeline Reactions

39:28 Lights Out Gateway Pick

40:55 Hitched and Other Recs

43:27 Why Dark Romance Works

52:57 No Shame Reading Tastes

55:38 Messy Mondays and Wrap