Beat Your Summer Reading Slump: The Heatwave Cup Reading Challenge

Beat Your Summer Reading Slump: The Heatwave Cup Reading Challenge

Author: Under the Covers Book Blog July 7, 2026 Duration: 8:52

There's a book on your nightstand right now with a bookmark stuck about forty pages in. You already know you're not going to finish it and you feel a little guilty about it. That's the summer reading slump. And the way out isn't waiting for the mood to come back. It's a challenge... the fun, low-pressure kind.

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I break down the Heatwave Cup: the summer edition of Under the Covers' year-long Romanceopoly reading challenge, built for exactly the reader who's stuck. Four books, three months, no spreadsheet, no bingo board. A challenge you can technically win by reading less.

I walk through all four prompts with picks straight from the Discord community plus my own summer TBR for it. The complete rec lists for every prompt, the free printable challenge cards, and the StoryGraph tracker all live on the blog.

Whether you're playing the full Romanceopoly challenge or you just want your bookmark unstuck, this is your mid-year reading reset for your reading life. Come tell us which prompt you're starting with.

Chapters:

  • 00:00 The Summer Reading Slump
  • 00:55 Heatwave Cup: What It Is
  • 01:51 Rules, Dates & Tracking
  • 02:52 Prompt 1: Rift Run
  • 04:19 Prompt 2: Cursebreaker Clash
  • 05:23 Prompt 3: Double Faulted Desires
  • 06:41 Prompt 4: Enchanted Rally
  • 07:32 Wrap-Up & How to Join

Links:


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If you've ever stayed up far too late, utterly lost in the world of a romance novel, you're in the right place. Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast is that feeling, turned into a conversation. Hosted by the two friends behind the Under the Covers Book Blog, this podcast feels like pulling up a chair in your favorite bookstore café. Each episode is a deep, often hilarious, and always heartfelt dive into the books they can't stop thinking about. You'll hear genuine, spoiler-filled discussions that dissect everything from beloved tropes and character chemistry to the sheer craft of storytelling. It's a celebration of the genre in all its forms-historical, contemporary, fantasy, and everything in between. More than just reviews, it's about the shared experience of reading: the anticipation of a new release, the comfort of a re-read, and the joy of finding a perfect book boyfriend. This is a space for fellow enthusiasts who understand that a great romance novel isn't just a story; it's an escape, a comfort, and a source of genuine delight. Tune in for passionate recommendations, thoughtful analysis, and the kind of enthusiastic fangirling that only true friends and book lovers can share.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast
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