milena mckay

Are all cats ice queens? Are all ice queens cats? What if they’re British? Kris’s Alexa wants to weigh in on this very important conversation, too. 

We answer a listener question about debut authors that swept us off our feet, making this a recommendation-heavy episode. After this edifying topic, Kris and Tara belly up to a long conversation about the latest season of the trash can that is the latest season of Love is Blind.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Nurses (Global/NBC)
This week, Kris recommends the Canadian medical drama Nurses (Global/NBC), which follows a group of nurses in a busy downtown Toronto hospital. There’s a lot of death and dying in the show, so watch out for that if you’re squeamish. Otherwise, Kris describes it as a much less angsty Grey’s Anatomy.

From Tara: Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton
Tara recommends the contemporary sapphic romance Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton. An icy, perfectionist lawyer with a secret celebrity crush ends up representing that celebrity during her divorce and, well, you can kind of figure out the rest from there.

Tara praises the reality of how the relationship is handled, including how the power dynamics of their professional/client relationship are handled. Tara adored this book so much so that it’s now her favourite Clare Ashton book, toppling the reigning champ, Poppy Jenkins. Run, don't walk.

Works/People Discussed

• Vengeance Planning for Amateurs by Lee Winter
• The Delicate Things We Make by Milena McKay
• Compass Rose by Anna Burke
• Stick McLaughlin: The Prohibition Years by C.F. Frizzell
• Changing Majors by Ana Hartnett
• The Red Files by Lee Winter
• Jericho by Ann McMan
• The Music and the Mirror by Lola Keeley
• Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix)
• Survivor, Season 46 (CBS)
• The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC)
• Love is Blind, Season 6 (Netflix)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 16 (MTV)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World, Season 3 (BBC Three)
• Taylor Tomlinson: Have it All (Netflix)
• Lean in to Love by Catherine Lane

Support & follow the show

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After recounting their holidays and discussing the vomiting strategies of families with small children, Kris and Tara start with their new year updates. The first? Kris’s new book, Dreamer, is out. You can check it out here or wherever books are sold.

We’ve got some good recommendations this week, folks. Conversation starters, you might say.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Good Grief (Netflix)

This week, Kris recommends Dan Levy's directorial debut, Good Grief, which recently premiered on Netflix. In addition to directing, Dan Levy writes and acts in this compelling (and sometimes frustrating) film about a man and his friends struggling to come to terms with their grief after his husband dies tragically.

Watch this movie with someone because it may not be a perfect movie, but it’s a perfect movie to talk about. You'll thank us later.

From Tara: Magdalene Nox by Milena McKay

This week, Tara recommends Magdalene Nox by Milena McKay, the companion novel to one of Tara’s all-time favourite romances, The Headmistress. Tara praises its heightened language and how that contributes to creating the vibe of a beautiful fairy tale about two women surrounded by others while still very much alone, as they find companionship in each other.

While The Headmistress was written as a standalone novel, Madalene Nox references it without always reproducing the content, making it a little more difficult to read by its own. This is great for you because you get to read both!

Works/People Discussed

Survivor, Season 45 (CBS)

Fool Me Once (Netflix)

Canada’s Drag Race (Crave)

RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 16 (MTV)

Snack vs. Chef (Netflix)

Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

The Beat Of Her Heart by Steren_Heart

Support & follow the show

• Buy us a Ko-fi
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• Twitter: @queerlyrec
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• Blusky: @queerlyrec.bsky.social
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• Support local animal shelters by joining Kris's Patreon

It’s been a bit since Kris and Tara sat down together, so there’s a lot of catching up to do! Kris reports back on her experience at the annual GCLS conference, as well as what to expect if you’re a newbie. And Tara’s been on vacation! Well, sorta. Some of it was working. She brings to the podcast tales of her hometown pizza and spending time with some of her many, many cousins. You have a favourite cousin, right? With all the pleasantries done, they dive deep into the oceans of backlogs and recommendations. Release the Kraken…of content!

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Carol (2015)

This week, Kris recommends the 2015 film that got all the sapphics excited: Carol. Having seen it before, Kris’s recollection was that the movie was pretty boring. Thankfully she gave the movie a second chance (to settle a bet, as one does) and….yeah, it’s a completely different movie now. That said, she does have a take that she doesn’t think you’ll see coming. 

From Tara: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

This week, Tara recommends Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel Fun Home: A Family Tragicomedy. It’s a difficult, challenging, and beautiful book that dives into Bechdel's childhood and her relationship with her father. There are books you read and then there are experiences you have with books. For Tara, this book is an experience.

Works/People Discussed

• Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS)
• Storm Crow Manor
• Glad Day Bookshop
• Alone, Season 10 (History)
• Suits (USA Network)
• A Lesbian’s Guide to Women by Erica Lee
• The Delicate Things We Make by Milena McKay (Narrated by Abby Craden)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, Season Eight (Paramount+)
• Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus, Seasons 1 + 2 (Cinemax)
• Hack My Home (Netflix)
• Siren: Survive the Island (Netflix)
• The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas
• Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas
• Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
• Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran
• The Swashbuckler by Lee Lynch

Support & follow the show

• Buy us a Ko-fi
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• Twitter: @queerlyrec
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• Get all our links on Linktr.ee
• Support local animal shelters by joining Kris's Patreon