A Holiday Romance for People Who Hate Christmas | Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.A holiday romance for people who hate the holidays? Yes, please. In this episode, I’m hanging out with romance author Natasha Madison to talk messy Christmas travel, big-family chaos, and why a happily-ever-after matters—even in true crime.Natasha and I also get into how romance trends have shifted (alpha heroes, golden retrievers, dark romance, and the whole “tropes-everywhere” era), plus the comfort reads she’ll never stop recommending. If you’ve ever wanted a holiday book that doesn’t feel like a Hallmark script—or you’ve got thoughts about how romance marketing has changed—this one’s for you.📚 Books Mentioned Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison — Buy on Amazon | Holiday romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary romance (second chance vibes) | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary romance (alpha hero) | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps [00:00] Welcome + “wait… people read my books?!”[00:05] Romance covers then vs. now (Fabio era!)[00:06] True crime rules: it MUST be solved[00:06] Reality TV chat: TLC, Sister Wives, Love Island[00:13] Holiday Unscripted setup: stranded heroine + forced proximity[00:16] Writing Christmas in May (and hating every second)[00:17] Holiday expectations, big family logistics, and gift burnout[00:22] Natasha’s comfort read: Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley[00:24] Alpha heroes vs. golden retrievers vs. dark romance extremes[00:29] Trope-ification + writing ahead of trends[00:34] Where to find Natasha onlineJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode:🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners. Audible