Exclusive Interview
‘Fantasy Fangirls’ Podcast Hosts Lexi & Nicole on ‘ACOTAR’ Theories & Falling for Romantasy
Fairies, foot rub scenes, cultivating community, and Nobody Wants This jokes envelope this dynamic sister duo taking the romantasy community by storms, thorns, and roses. Sisters and Fantasy Fangirls podcast hosts Lexi Ayala and Nicole Holleman fell in love with romantasy novels only recently, in what they referred to as their “second stage” of life.
“We were very much into reading personal development because that felt very much like what we were supposed to be reading,” said Lexi, who grew up reading fantasy series like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.
It was only after Nicole happened upon A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas in the summer of 2023 that she quickly convinced (or “forced” in her own words) her sister to read it. A few hundred text exchanges later, the sisters decided to take their thoughts to a microphone.
And with that, Fantasy Fangirls was born—though Lexi and Nicole couldn’t have imagined the positive outpouring of support the podcast received as early as its first week of release. “We were not on BookTok at all,” said Nicole, who studied theater before running her own podcast. Lexi was working in corporate marketing.
The two first-time podcast hosts hoped to achieve 20 downloads after their first week. After their first day, they achieved 30. After their first week, it was 5,000.
(Left to right) Nicole Holleman and Lexi Alaya
With now over 90,000 weekly listeners and over five million downloads, the Fantasy Fangirls podcast is one of the leading audio platforms that breaks down some of the literary world’s biggest fandoms “line by line.” Lexi, referred to as the more “methodical” of the two, explains the magic systems and world-building rules of the series they cover. Nicole examines the romance and chemistry between the characters, offering listeners a fun balance between the different ways in which one can analyze their favorite books.
“It’s like one gigantic book club,” said Lexi. Since its launch in 2023, the podcast has aimed to cultivate a safe space for the romantasy community. “No theory shaming,” Lexi noted. “We do not talk badly about authors and their work. Every book has its purpose even if it’s not for everyone.”
Receiving messages from their thousands of listeners, Lexi and Nicole have come to realize that the themes in books such as A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing are helping people realize they can overcome their issues, too—real-life issues such as losing a loved one or lacking community post-pandemic.
Each episode amounts to about 60 pages of research, and each sister spends 15 to 20 hours to contribute. To Nicole and Lexi, these books are more than “fairy smut.”
“These books are so much bigger than that,” said Nicole. The sisters want their listeners to feel comfortable talking about things such as sexuality and to take these conversations even further “and be able to talk about it with your partner.”
“How can we look at sex scenes in an empowering way?” Lexi said the sisters ask of themselves.
Now one year into their full-time business of romantasy dissection, Lexi and Nicole have met their match: a fictional pair of podcasting sisters who have also entered the zeitgeist in the last year. Joanne and Morgan, as portrayed by Kristen Bell and Justine Lupe, in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This. Neither sister has watched the show yet.
“So many people have been like, ‘Oh my gosh, is Netflix watching you all?” Lexi admitted. “Our parents have started watching it—our mom especially—but we don’t want to watch it because we’re afraid it’s going to be like work.”
The Fantasy Fangirls hosts spoke with Swooon further to discuss their favorite fan theories, their romance recommendations of 2024, and what makes them swoon. Keep reading below. (Warning: The following interview contains spoilers.)
The following was edited for length.
What’s the wildest ACOTAR theory that you believe?
Nicole: I am a firm believe that the Archeron father and his ancestors who were also merchants were spice traders with Prythians, specifically Velaris, mainly because in Velaris there’s all these mentions of spice…And when Velaris stopped trading, the Archeron family fell into poverty…So I believe Papa Archeron was the mastermind of the spice trade in Prythian, and he was also trading with the Continent under Vassa’s reign because she was also who he rode into battle with.
Lexi: I’ll give two. One is the Archerons are also descendants of the Starborn Fae, and so that the Starborn Fae from Theia and Helion and Silene, they are also descendants of them. And, of course, Nesta will be the one to resurrect the Dusk Court.
Two, Tamlin and Amarantha are mates, and he rejected that bond. And that was one of the reasons why she was so gung-ho on him. I think that explains all of the weird tension there.
Whose POV do you think Book Six will be?
Nicole: I think we’re going to get Azriel, Elain, Gwyn, I don’t think Lucien is going to be a major character, but I think we’re going to get a little bit of his POV. I go back and forth on whether Nesta will be a part of it, but I don’t think we’re going to get Cassian’s POV.
Lexi: I believe the two primaries are going to be Elain and Azriel. But I don’t necessarily think they’re going to end up together…I know that Nesta’s story is not done either, and we need to get her POV as well. Maybe that is its own entirely different book, which I’m leaning towards, because it would be very crowded otherwise.
Are you guys Team Elain and Azriel? Or Team Azriel and Gwyn?
Nicole: We’re both very soft shippers of Azriel and Gwyn. However, we add a huge asterisk here. As long as everyone ends up happy and with a partner who makes sense for them within their character…
Lexi: As long as the storytelling truly feels in character for each of the respective characters…
Nicole: I will be thrilled with whoever ends up with who.
Lexi: Recently, we pulled out a lot of the Elain and Azriel evidence… I do think with the bonus chapter, with it first being with Elain and Azriel, there’s more of an ease and brightness than with Gwyn. However, I’m leaning more and more that Elain is going to be an independent woman who goes and finds a way to rule the Spring Court.
What is your favorite romance story of 2024?
Nicole: Variation by Rebecca Yarros. I had never read one of her contemporary romances, and I was floored. It was so well done. And Hudson is delicious.
Lexi: Ruhn and Lidia. I loved them in House of Flame and Shadow very much.
Favorite romantasy couple of all time?
Nicole: Luther Corbois and Diem Bellator of Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole. That is the slowest of burns, like three-book slow burn.
Lexi: Nesta and Cassian. Cassian is my number one book boyfriend. No one is touching him…except me.
What makes you swooon?
Lexi: My love language is physical touch, so it’s my partner coming up behind me and giving me a hug. Just a moment of time. It just makes my heart melt. When it comes to books, the banter. Any really good banter. Or when Luther Corbois says “good girl.” I didn’t think that would make me swoon as much as it does, but never has a foot massage scene given me so many feelings.
Nicole: My husband does this really cute thing where it’ll just be a cute little kiss, and he’ll hold the back of my neck and hold the kiss a little longer. And I’m like, “Good sir!” In books, “good girl” always does it for me. Or “eyes on me,” or any grab is always good.
What other influencers do you admire?
Nicole: Lauren from Book Huddle. She was one of our first big friends who was also a content creator who blew up around the same time we did. She does these book retreats where you go with 4o to 50 other people and read books for a weekend. She is fabulous. She is the definition of absolute grace and hilarity.
Lexi: Whimsy Gossip. They do ACOTAR fan films that are just top-quality. They are absolutely incredible. They did Chapter 54 that launched late last year. This year they did Chapter 70 from ACOWAR that was the big battle scene. They are so big in lifting up the cosplay community. I just love all of the positivity in that community, and they are really shining stars that bring that community together and lift them up.
What or who influences you?
Lexi: My sister. She really inspires me. She is so bubbly. She is one of my favorite people in the entire world. To be business partners with Nicole has been so unexpected but so incredible. People often ask us if we argue or if there are disagreements, and no. There are little things here and there, but it’s so wonderful how we’re able to come together. I’m so inspired by her work ethic and her viewpoints I’ve never even thought of. We were already very close as sisters, and now it’s one hundred levels up higher.
Nicole: That was also going to be my answer, like a cheeseball (laughs). People understand conceptively that Lexi is also a mom of two very young kids and also half-runs this crazy business that we’re in. But the amount of work that this woman puts in day-to-day is outstanding and never ceases to amaze me while simultaneously being the most rockstar parent, mother, and partner. I think of my favorite FMCs like Feyre and Violet, and none of them hold a candle to her.
