Welcome to Banter & Beyond!

A blog by Bookshop Babes

Hey, bookish babes! Welcome to Banter & Beyond, where I won’t just swoon over romance novels—I'll review them, celebrate them, and highlight content I love to see.

Romance is more than just happily-ever-afters—it’s a reflection of the world around us. The books we read shape our perceptions of love, identity, and belonging, and the authors who push for more representation, more nuance, and more diversity deserve to be celebrated.

That’s what Banter & Beyond is all about--to highlight, analyze, and applaud the authors brave enough to bring diversity to their pages—whether it’s through race, culture, queerness, body positivity, disability, neurodivergence, or all of the above. Because when authors make the choice to write stories that help marginalized readers feel seen, that choice deserves recognition.

What to Expect:

💋 Deep Dives & Hot Takes – Ever wondered why some tropes work better than others? Or why a certain book made you feel like it finally got you? We'll take a look at how they operate.
📖 Underrated Gems & Must-Reads – Because the best books aren’t always on the bestseller list. Let’s shine a light on the stories that deserve more love.
🎙️ Bookish Banter – Stay tuned for future recorded book club discussions with friends. Because talking about books is always better with a little chaos.
🔥 Spicy Takes on Tropes & Trends – Fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, second chance—how are these evolving, and where do we still need more representation?

At its heart, Banter & Beyond is about celebrating romance in all its swoony, messy, and groundbreaking glory—with a side of wit, sass, and (let’s be honest) some thirst.

✨ What’s a romance book that made you feel seen? Drop it in the comments!