Mental Health Rep, New Romance Releases, and Bookish Drama

Mental Health Rep, New Romance Releases, and Bookish Drama

Author: Under the Covers Book Blog May 30, 2025 Duration: 1:02:00

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we are sharing our Novel Hour live show replay for this week.

This week on Novel Hour, Francesca and Victoria are back with a packed episode:

  • Book recommendations with anxiety and mental health representation across genres
  • The week’s hottest new romance releases (from superhero fake dating to cozy mysteries and fantasy finales)
  • Bookish news + a whole lot of gossip 👀 including a spicy convo on that BookToker who showed up 30 days ago and already has a 2-book fantasy deal with Atria Books AU (and yes, we have theories)

🧠 Mental Health & Anxiety Representation Books

Romance Picks:


Literary Picks:


🔥 New Releases – May 26 to June 1, 2025


👀 Bookish News & Gossip

We unpack the indie-to-traditional publishing pipeline, the rise of fantasy academy stories, and whether publishers are chasing trends or manufacturing them (hint: maybe both).

Featured titles and authors mentioned:


📺 What We’re Watching

  • Clown in the Cornfield (YA horror adaptation)
  • Friendship (aka don’t watch it 🙃)
  • The Final Destination reboot (coming soon)
  • Fear Street: Prom Queen on Netflix
  • Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (reality TV chaos)

💌 Don’t Miss

→ Download the 2025 Summer Reading Guide

→ Browse over 200 new monthly romance releases in our exclusive Book Vault

→ Catch Novel Hour live every Thursday at 12 PM EST on YouTube and Substack!

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:

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Support the Show:

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📚 Stay Connected:

  1. Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.
  2. YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.
  3. 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 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: 100

Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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