Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast , we are so excited because J.R. WARD IS HERE. And she finally answers the question I have been asking: Is Crown of War and Shadow secretly the BDB origin story? 👀 Watch the interview: https://youtu.be/tHIoFpn7LMs In this 56-minute deep dive, we're talking: ✨ Her brand new Kingdoms of the Compass series (slow-burn romantasy, de...

Romance is always at the center of publishing… and this week, it’s chaos . We’re unpacking the New York Times headline " The New Fabio Is Claude" and the growing wave of AI-generated romance, plus the real issue nobody wants to say out loud: authors publicly denouncing AI while secretly using it . Then we pivot into pop culture (Super Bowl + Winter Olympics reactions)… and finally get into what yo...

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we go back into our Ripped and Ravished Book Club discussion of The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. Today we dive into Chapter 5 & 6 of the book. If you missed the previous chapter discussions, go back and listen to those first. Catch up here (and watch the video of this episode): https://www.underthecoversboo...

I love my husband. He's great. But let's be real... if a certain river pirate or a scarred Duke showed up at my door? I would pack my bags so fast it would make his head spin. 💍💨 In today's episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I'm ranking the god tier of Regency Romance heroes. These aren't just good book boyfriends; these are the men who are so devastatingly charming th...

Welcome to Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, and our weekly live book talk show replay! 📚 Watch the video Today we’re doing two things: • talking about reports that Harlequin Historicals may be coming to an end, and what that means as mass market paperbacks fade out of bookstores • building my February TBR with cozy winter reads that fit my 2026 reading goals We’ll also chat abou...

Welcome to the second episode of Ripped & Ravished Book Club, your deep dive into vintage "bodice ripper" romances that helped shape the romance genre as we know it. In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, Francesca from Under the Covers Book Blog and Becky from Too Stupid to Live discuss Chapters 3 and 4 of The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, often...

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, it's time for our January wrap-up: what we read, what surprised us, and what totally missed. Then we go full detective mode on J.R. Ward’s Crown of War and Shadow with conspiracy theories we can’t unsee… including a possible Black Dagger Brotherhood tie-in and a “Scribe Virgin origin story” vibe that has us ready to highlight ev...

In this episode of Novel Hour Live Show, we are counting down the best (and not so great) reads of January 2026. Including a Romanceopoly reading update. Victoria's Mood Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/pgT5r8TkMEQ?si=cTq604lOoBv3Ud2i Victoria's Wrap-Up: https://youtu.be/lBvhsS8eTgg?si=iGvE2aUERWNnuZBl Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/vB24mcY_Svw Drop your thoughts in the chat - we want to...

Welcome to the very first episode of Ripped & Ravished Book Club, your deep dive into vintage "bodice ripper" romances that helped shape the romance genre as we know it. In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, Francesca from Under the Covers Book Blog and Becky from Too Stupid to Live discuss Chapters 1 and 2 of The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, o...

I asked 13 friends to choose my reading fate for 2026... and added 13 of my own backlist books to make the ultimate 26-book challenge spread. If I don't make it look pretty in my journal, I won't do it...so let's set this up! In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I'm building my "26 Books in 2026" spread. It's half "books I've been avoiding" and half "books my frien...

Novel Hour sits down for a chat with Virginia Kantra to discuss our January book club pick: Meg & Jo. Drop your thoughts in the chat - we want to hear from you! Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/x1822eXaxpg Books Mentioned: - Meg & Jo: https://rstyle.me/+OEUq7UC7pJNzblEwxB-6Rg - Beth & Amy: https://rstyle.me/+bUUuGeVkg-vL4IfdO1L9uQ - Anne of a Different Island: https://rstyle.m...

Let’s settle the "Romantasy" debate once and for all. (And yes, we need to talk about Bride by Ali Hazelwood). Does anyone else feel like book genres have gotten completely out of hand lately? We’re throwing around terms like they’re interchangeable (spoiler: they’re not), and don’t even get me started on the Bride discourse. Today on the Reading Under the Covers podcast, I’m breaking down the Gen...

Welcome to the Reading Under the Covers podcast. On today's replay of our Novel Hour live show, come for a chat about the latest books we've added to our shelves. Physical and digital. Tune in EVERY THURSDAY at 12 PM ET, join the chat, and share your thoughts! Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/24QtFN4WCYM Coming soon, new book announcements: Unrivaled: https://rstyle.me/+c4ajaycvIdKv8dhUkj...

Is it excessive? Probably. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. 😅 Welcome to the maximalist reading tracking setup of your dreams (or nightmares). In this video, I'm breaking down exactly how, and WHY, I use 8 different systems to track my reading in 2026. From my detailed Notion database to the only app I actually pay for and my physical journal, every single one of these has a specific job. If you’v...

We're back for 2026 with a January TBR stack, some spicy reading goals (or non-goals...we see you, mood readers), and a book club launch that kicks off with Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra. Plus, we react to the news that Harlequin France is testing AI-assisted translations. This month's TBRs are stacked with fantasy, gothic romance, historical mysteries, mythology, queer love stories. Watch the vid...

Tired of downloading the same 5 hyped Kindle Unlimited authors from BookTok? Today I’m ranking my Top 10 best new-to-me KU authors of 2025, the hidden gems I had to actually go looking for. We’re talking everything from cozy romantasy to dark paranormal romance and a full-on Dark/Edgy KU Corner (with BIG content warnings). If you want fresh romance book recommendations that feel addictive, bingeab...

Kicking Off 2026 with Exciting Romance Book Clubs and Read Alongs! In this first episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, in 2026, Francesca introduces an exciting lineup of romance book clubs and read alongs for the year. You can choose from community-driven projects like the Romanceopoly study sessions or the Novel Hour Book Club, as well as guided binge experiences like rea...

Is Amazon using authors' work to train AI without consent? We break down the controversy. Plus, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are producing 'The Wedding Date' for Netflix! In this episode of Novel Hour live show, we discuss the latest bookish news and share our definitive list of the best books of 2025. Grab a hot drink, your TBR list, and hang out live in the chat with us! Drop your thoughts in...

Finding good historical romances is weirdly hard right now, so in this video I’m RANKING the best historical romance books I read in 2025… from “this was fun” all the way up to “new all‑time favorite unlocked.” This is a true countdown style video: I’m starting with the ones I liked but wasn’t totally obsessed with and working my way up to my absolute favorite historical romance of the year. If a...

Pull up a chair, pour the coquito, and get ready for the ultimate cozy chat about how we really do the holidays . In this special archive episode from 2024, we're talking about our personal Christmas (and beyond) traditions, what we grew up with in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Italy, and the States, and how they've evolved over time. From grand markets and real pine trees to nativity set wars and...

If you loved Fourth Wing but you're tired of seeing the same book recommendations everywhere, today on Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we are sharing 3 underrated fantasy romance books will give you that addictive enemies-to-lovers, high-stakes magic energy WITHOUT being carbon copies. From dragon shifters to star-powered warriors, these hidden gems deliver everything you crave...

Tired of seeing the same 5 fantasy romance books recommended over and over? In this video I’m sharing 20 underrated fantasy romance books I read in 2025 and bringing you the hidden gems and romantasy favorites you need on your TBR. 🖤✨ These are for you if you love fantasy romance with strong vibes, great worldbuilding, emotional damage, and a decent amount of spice… but want something beyond the...

What would Jane Austen read if she were alive today? We are celebrating her 250th birthday by building her perfect modern TBR and asking the big question: would she DNF YOUR favorite book? In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, we're diving into: ✨ What romance books Jane would absolutely devour ✨ The non-romance picks that would blow her mind ✨ What Jane would write if she was an author...

Goodreads just dropped the 2025 Choice Awards winners, and we had… feelings. In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, we go category-by-category reacting to the wins, the vote blowouts, and the surprises (and yes, we rant a little about repeats in the romance lane). We also rapid-fire the books we think got robbed/snubbed and deserved nominations, then wrap with our most anticipated new releas...

I skipped the cozy, feel‑good Christmas romance books this year and went straight for the unhinged, unholy, and totally unhinged ones instead 🎄💀 From murderous Santas to deeply questionable MMCs to… a certain horned holiday menace at the end, this was a chaotic festive reading experiment. If you’re in your "I want vibes and bad decisions under the mistletoe" era, this one’s for you. Watch the vi...