Love in the Afternoon, and EveningLove in the Afternoon, and Evening

Love in the Afternoon, and Evening, a drama-packed, format-busting tribute to the soap opera in all its messy, meaningful glory. It's part cultural analysis, part backstage tour--and all love letter to a misunderstood, often-dismissed genre that deserves its due. Like any great soap, this book is structured for surprise and emotional payoff, including: + Wide-ranging essays on everything from the genre's treatment of reproductive rights and queerness to the tropes and archetypes that define it. + Smart, dishy interviews with and profiles of notable soap world figures, from writer Irna Phillips, the godmother of the daytime soap and actress Mia Korf, the first Asian American lead on daytime TV, to the costume designers and lighting directors who made the stars shine. + Easter Eggs, including a tongue-in-cheek recipe for Sonny Corinthos's legendary General Hospital marinara sauce, a ridiculous but iconic plotline. Sen and Druckman don't shy away from wrestling with the paradox of soaps, and heavy themes (like sexual violence or racial erasure) sit next to nostalgic riffs or absurdist fashion deep-dives. The result? A pace that delights and devastates, without ever losing momentum. Readers won't just read--they'll binge.