It’s a new year, which means it’s time to look back on the past year. We were tired and found comfort in books. We were tired and struggled to read books. But no matter what, we reaffirmed how much we love to read and talk about books. So instead of a best-of list, we bring you without further ado: The Sixth Annual Smut Report Superlatives.

Superlatives in list form can be found at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/12/31/now-presentingthe-fifth-annual-smut-report-superlatives-2/]

6th Annual Smut Report Superlatives

Isn't it amazing how some people are good at making and analyzing art?!?

Full show notes at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/12/21/tumblereads-the-subtleties-of-artistry-and-expertise/]

Tumblereads 14: The Subtleties of Artistry and Expertise

We went serious this week and are talking COVID in contemporary romance.

(This is a slightly modified version of the previously-posted Tumblereads 13)

Show notes at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/12/14/tumblereads-covid-and-trauma-in-our-reading/]

Tumblereads 13: COVID and Trauma in our Reading

Erin squees about Heated Rivalry and Ingrid leads the Smut Report team in a game of This or That.

Show notes at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/12/07/tumblereads-heated-rivalry-and-hot-takes/]

Tumblereads 12: Heated Rivalry and Hot Takes

In honor of Thanksgiving, we're talking about family in romance book today: the families we leave behind, the families we reconcile with, and the families we make ourselves.

Full show notes (which this month is a long list of all the books we mentioned) at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/11/24/found-family-and-forced-family-in-romance-books/].

Found Family and Forced Family

Erin had a plan to talk about something serious and erudite but got distracted by *big television announcements* and spent the first half squeeing.

Show notes at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/11/23/tumblereads-heated-rivalry-is-coming-to-hbo-max-slash-bowdlerization/]

Tumblereads 11: HEATED RIVALRY IS COMING TO HBO MAX! Slash bowdlerization

We're talking about characters doing chores in romance books today: what purpose they might serve, and if we like reading about them. 

If you know if a romance book where characters clean the toilet, please tell us about it.

Full show notes at smutreport.com/podcast.

Tumblereads 10: Chores

In which the Smut Reporters talk about dark heroes, and the line between hotness and troubling. This conversation was inspired by Ingrid reading the Alliance series by S.J. Tilly [https://amzn.to/4oyQBi5].

Show notes at smutreport.com

Tumblereads 9: Dark Heroes

This week on Tumblereads, the Smut Report Team is talking about self-publishing powerhouses getting picked up by Big 5 Publishers.

Shownotes at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/11/02/tumblereads-publishing-vs-self-publishing/]

Tumblereads 8: Self-Publishing, Trad-Publishing, and Art in Society

We're revisiting Monster Romance (read about the first time we did so here [https://smutreport.com/monster-mash-smashdown/])!

Buddy reads:

Maneater by Emily Antoinette [https://amzn.to/4oPD6Kx]

Ready for Her Yeti by Neva Post [https://amzn.to/48Wyk9u]

Mail-Order Minotaur by Lilith Stone [https://amzn.to/4oEpMZe]

Full show notes at smutreport.com/podcast [https://smutreport.com/2025/10/31/monster-mash-redux/]

Monster Mash Redux

Call us Smut Enthusiasts.

Call us Smut Scholars.

Call us Smut Evangelists.

We are The Smut Report: Let’s talk dirty books.

Erin, Holly, and Ingrid have been reading romance novels together for 20 years—and we love talking about them.

Blog [https://smutreport.com/]  |  All show notes [https://smutreport.com/podcast/]

Connect with us!

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The Smut Report Podcast

Call us Smut Enthusiasts.

Call us Smut Scholars.

Call us Smut Evangelists.

We are The Smut Report: Let’s talk dirty books.

Erin, Holly, and Ingrid have been reading romance novels together for 20 years—and we love talking about them.

Blog | All show notes

Connect with us!

Facebook | Instagram | bsky