Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I walk you through everything I read in May 2026: eleven books, two five-star reads, and a lot of summer-ready picks that go beyond what BookTok is talking about. There's dark Hollywood romcom with revenge, a Paris fake-dating soccer romance ahead of the World Cup, a Loch Ness Monster shifter, a cozy vampire murder mystery with Interview with the Vampire energy, and two amazin five star books I'll be preaching about: a witchy urban fantasy and a biker MC second chance that wrecked me. Then a quick look at three June releases already on the must-read TBR.Timestamps:00:00 May Wrap-Up Teaser00:53 Reading Stats Snapshot02:05 Dark Hollywood Revenge04:48 Paris Fake-Dating Soccer06:28 YA Ghost Rivals Mystery08:28 Hockey DM Meet-Cute11:33 Off Campus Reread Thoughts14:33 More Soccer College Vibes16:06 Sapphic Vineyard Book Club17:55 Loch Ness Shifter Buddy Read21:31 Cozy Vampire Mystery Getaway24:50 Five-Star Witchy Urban Fantasy28:56 Five-Star Biker Second Chance36:43 June Must-Read New Releases41:40 Final Recap & GoodbyeLinksMost Anticipated June Releases → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/june-2026-book-releases/Romanceopoly Reading Challenge → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/reading-challengeRomanceopoly Monthly Study Sessions → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/romanceopoly-2026-study-sessions/Off Campus TV show review → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/off-campus-season-1-review/Join the Discord → https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5UTell me what you read this month and how Romanceopoly's going. Comment on the blog or reply to the newsletter. Mid-year Romanceopoly review coming soon.✨ Loved the episode?Follow Reading Under the Covers wherever you listen and leave a quick review. It helps more romance readers find us (and lets me know what you’re loving). 💕💌 Talk to Me:Got a rec, trope request, or hot take? → Drop me a voice message.☕ Support the Show:Enjoyed hanging out? Leave us a tip. Even a dollar keeps the mics on and the coffee flowing.📚 Stay Connected:Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.Newsletter: join our insider for the latest updates.💖 This episode may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show!

If Interview with the Vampire broke you, these 6 books are what to read next before Season 3 (The Vampire Lestat) premieres June 7 on AMC+.Each book hits a different part of what makes ITV so consuming:- toxic immortal romance & gaslighting- sapphic gothic atmosphere, opulence, and the cost of survival- Victorian shadows, obsession, and the feeling of being watched- queer longing, vampire politics, slow burn ménage- Lestat rockstar energy, 1970s paranormal horror- camp, humor, cozy paranormal mysteryJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5U📚 Books in this episode:✦ A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson✦ House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson✦ The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia✦ Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco✦ The Devil's Metal by Karina Halle✦ Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning📚 Full list of 11 books coming soon on the blog⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Need More Lestat Vibes01:47 What Makes the Show Hit02:33 Dowry of Blood Pick03:54 House of Hunger05:04 The Poisoner06:45 Politics and Queer Longing07:50 Rockstar Devil Deal09:08 Vegetarian Vampire Mystery10:46 Wrap Up and Next Steps✨ Loved the episode?Follow Reading Under the Covers wherever you listen and leave a quick review. It helps more romance readers find us (and lets me know what you’re loving). 💕💌 Talk to Me:Got a rec, trope request, or hot take? → Drop me a voice message.☕ Support the Show:Enjoyed hanging out? Leave us a tip. Even a dollar keeps the mics on and the coffee flowing.📚 Stay Connected:Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.Newsletter: join our insider for the latest updates.💖 This episode may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show!

Paranormal romance, fantasy romance, romantasy, urban fantasy. What's actually the difference? In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I'm breaking down the four categories that cover all of speculative romance fiction and giving you the three questions that sort any book correctly every time. No more guessing. No more conflicting labels. Just a map that works.Is ACOTAR paranormal romance? Is Shadowhunters fantasy romance? Where does Romantasy actually live? We're settling all of it.📖 Full Paranormal Romance Guide: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/paranormal-romance-genre-guide/📖 Full Fantasy Romance Guide: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/fantasy-romance-guide/📖 Fantasy Subgenres on the blog: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/popular-fantasy-subgenres/👀 WATCH NEXT: Genre vs Trope vs Category video: https://youtu.be/oz7iyAjpi_cJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5U⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction00:57 Three Question Sorting Method01:16 Question One Setting Matters02:14 Made Up Worlds Romance Test03:23 Romantasy Marketing Myth04:45 Our World Creatures Check05:50 Paranormal Romance Essentials07:37 Urban Fantasy Versus PNR10:39 Creature Types Tropes Not Genres12:21 Cheat Sheet Recap13:40 Q&A Wrap Up And Next VideoBOOKS MENTIONED:A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosKushiel's Dart by Jacqueline CareyDark Lover by J.R. WardSlave to Sensation by Nalini SinghA Hunger Like No Other by Kresley ColeCity of Bones by Cassandra ClareKate Daniels series by Ilona AndrewsMercy Thompson series by Patricia BriggsNight Huntress series by Jeaniene FrostHaven Ever After series by Hazel MackThe Dresden Files by Jim ButcherThe Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne✨ Loved the episode?Follow Reading Under the Covers wherever you listen and leave a quick review. It helps more romance readers find us (and lets me know what you’re loving). 💕💌 Talk to Me:Got a rec, trope request, or hot take? → Drop me a voice message.☕ Support the Show:Enjoyed hanging out? Leave us a tip. Even a dollar keeps the mics on and the coffee flowing.📚 Stay Connected:Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.Newsletter: join our insider for the latest updates.💖 This episode may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show!

I binged all 8 episodes of Off Campus on Amazon Prime in one sitting and I have a lot to say about it. I didn't re-read the book first on purpose and I think you shouldn't either. Today on Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I'm talking about the Off Campus and Heated Rivalry comparison that needs to die, the chemistry hierarchy (Dean and Allie are running away with this thing, sorry not sorry), the spice level reality check, how the show handles the heavy stuff without being heavy, the random locker room penises (yes really), and whether this show captures the same addictive crack energy that made the books impossible to put down.Also: casting feelings, a confession about Belmont vs. Ella, and the sex scene conversation that's more about narrative purpose than body count.Come discuss the show with us over on DiscordJoin Discord: https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5UOff Campus Chat Thread: https://discord.gg/GX4FUZH37t📺 Off Campus Series Reading Order: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/off-campus-series-reading-order/📝 Blog post comparing the book vs. show changes coming soon!🎁 Signed Off Campus Bundle Giveaway:Comment on the Youtube video for this and then fill out the form below. Giveaway closes May 23, 2026. Additional chances to enter at the links at the top of the form. https://airtable.com/appBLTJOpGtECUf2m/pagsNM6fIQaQFWCa6/form⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Season One Setup 00:55 Book Background 02:06 Heated Rivalry Debate 03:56 Vibe And Worldbuilding 05:17 Casting Breakdown 08:45 Justin Plot Issues 11:28 Chemistry Standouts 12:51 Future Season Worries 14:50 Spice And Sex Scenes 18:38 Bingeable Energy 19:57 Season Two Tease 21:53 Wrap Up And Questions✨ Loved the episode?Follow Reading Under the Covers wherever you listen and leave a quick review. It helps more romance readers find us (and lets me know what you’re loving). 💕💌 Talk to Me:Got a rec, trope request, or hot take? → Drop me a voice message.☕ Support the Show:Enjoyed hanging out? Leave us a tip. Even a dollar keeps the mics on and the coffee flowing.📚 Stay Connected:Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.Newsletter: join our insider for the latest updates.💖 This episode may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show!

We’re going back to Briar, and yes, Garrett Graham is still a problem.In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I’m ranking the books in Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus universe from my least favorite to my absolute favorite. That includes the original Off-Campus series, the Briar U spinoff, and the next generation books connected to the original couples.I first read The Deal before it came out in 2015, and watching that book explode before BookTok even existed was wild. Now that Off Campus is coming to Amazon Prime, it felt like the perfect time to revisit the whole universe and see which books still hold up, which ones surprised me, and which ones I would personally defend with my whole chest.This is a ranking episode, not a reading order, so if you’re new to the series and want to know where to start, I’ve linked the full reading order and individual reviews below.Links Mentioned📚 Full Series Reading Order + Individual Reviews:https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/off-campus-series-reading-order/🎁 Signed Off-Campus Bundle Giveaway:I’m giving away a signed bundle of the original four Off-Campus books and the first two Briar U books with the original covers.Podcast note: you can’t enter through the podcast app. To enter, comment on the YouTube video, Facebook post, Instagram post, or blog post, then fill out the giveaway form below. All linked through form below.Giveaway closes May 23, 2026.https://airtable.com/appBLTJOpGtECUf2m/pagsNM6fIQaQFWCa6/formTimestamps00:00 How The Deal Went Viral01:10 Ranking Rules And Giveaway02:02 Next Gen Worst To Best10:07 Briar U Ranking19:52 Off-Campus Ranking30:34 Recap And How To Enter✨ Loved the episode?Follow Reading Under the Covers wherever you listen and leave a quick review. It helps more romance readers find us (and lets me know what you’re loving). 💕💌 Talk to Me:Got a rec, trope request, or hot take? → Drop me a voice message.☕ Support the Show:Enjoyed hanging out? Leave us a tip. Even a dollar keeps the mics on and the coffee flowing.📚 Stay Connected:Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.Newsletter: join our insider for the latest updates.💖 This episode may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show!