This week on the Clean Romance Podcast, we’re joined by clean romance author Madelyn Smith for an honest and thoughtful conversation about explicit content in books and how it affects the brain.

Madelyn shares her personal story of overcoming a smut addiction and why she ultimately chose to write clean romance, all while sharing tips for readers with similar struggles. We also discussed the language we use—smut, spice, explicit content—and why the terminology matters.

As always, we wrap up the episode by sharing our latest five-star clean romance reads. Whether you’re navigating your own reading boundaries or simply curious about how books shape us, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

Follow Madelyn Smith on Instagram here @madelynsmithauthor

Here are affiliate links to all our five-star reads from this episode:

Madelyn's five-star reads:

The Heart of the Matter

A Dragon Outside

Tiffany's five-star read:

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

Sarah's five-star read:

Creatures of Chaos

Join the conversation on your favorite social channel!

Instagram

Youtube

TikTok

Check out our website: www.thecleanromancepodcast.com to learn more about Tiffany and Sarah and for links to all the five star reads!

To find out more about Tiffany and Sarah’s books, check them out here:

Tiffany’s books can be found here: Amazon

Sarah’s books can be found here: Amazon

Thank you to RCC Music for letting us use your song! If you love Christian music, you will LOVE RCC Music. Check them out on Spotify

Have you ever loved a book one week… and couldn’t stand something similar the next? You’re not crazy—your hormones might be in charge.

In this episode of the Clean Romance Podcast, we talk about how a woman’s hormonal cycle affects the way we read, feel, and review books. Tiffany walks us through the four stages of the cycle, what’s happening in our bodies, how we typically feel in each phase, and which kinds of romance stories we’re most likely to love at each stage.

We also share five-star clean romance reads that match every phase—from emotional and reflective to fun and flirty. If you’ve ever wondered why your reading tastes seem to change overnight, this episode might explain everything.

Here is the list of affiliate links to our five-star recs:

A Cross Country Christmas Courtney Walsh

Life After Julie Hall

Bounty Hunter Kaylee Jarvis

Reach O. McCarthy

Ambition Natalie Keller Reinert

Betting on the Boy Next Door Melanie Jacobson

The Lies of Vampires and Slayers K.M. Shea

Creatures of Chaos Julie Hall

{Insta}Kiss Jen Atkinson

Falling for Your Best Friend's Twin Emma St Clair

For links to other books we recommend, go to www.thecleanromancepodcast.com where Sarah may or may not have our reading lists updated.

Join the conversation on your favorite social channel!

Instagram

Youtube

TikTok

Check out our website: www.thecleanromancepodcast.com to learn more about Tiffany and Sarah and for links to all the five star reads!

To find out more about Tiffany and Sarah’s books, check them out here:

Tiffany’s books can be found here: Amazon

Sarah’s books can be found here: Amazon

Thank you to RCC Music for letting us use your song! If you love Christian music, you will LOVE RCC Music. Check them out on Spotify

Are Goodreads goals helping readers or hurting them?

In this episode, we kick off the new year by questioning reading goals, New Year’s resolutions, and the pressure to turn joy into a number. We talk about whether we set Goodreads goals (or rebel against them), what we want to see change in our reading lives this year, and how to read with more freedom and intention.
If you’ve ever felt behind, burned out, or boxed in by book goals, this conversation is for you.

Tiffany's Five Star Read: Dear Henry, Love Edith

Sarah's Five Star Read: Cole and Laila Are Just Friends

Join the conversation on your favorite social channel!

Instagram

Youtube

TikTok

Check out our website: www.thecleanromancepodcast.com to learn more about Tiffany and Sarah and for links to all the five star reads!

To find out more about Tiffany and Sarah’s books, check them out here:

Tiffany’s books can be found here: Amazon

Sarah’s books can be found here: Amazon

Thank you to RCC Music for letting us use your song! If you love Christian music, you will LOVE RCC Music. Check them out on Spotify