Our February TBR | Cozy Winter Reads, Harlequin Historical Ending

Our February TBR | Cozy Winter Reads, Harlequin Historical Ending

Author: Under the Covers Book Blog February 11, 2026 Duration: 43:27

Welcome to Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, and our weekly live book talk show replay! 📚

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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 about:

• the “Last Call for Mass Market Paperbacks” report and what’s really happening with the format

• why mass market romances, especially Harlequin Historicals, mattered to so many readers

• how these changes might affect how we buy and read books going forward

• the new releases and backlist titles on my February TBR

Join us live on Youtube Thursdays at 12pm Eastern for cozy Book Talk, bookish news.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Today's Agenda

00:13 Harlequin Historical Line Closure

01:15 Impact on Readers and Authors

04:19 Mass Market Paperbacks Distribution Issues

07:32 Discussion on Publishing Trends

13:35 February TBR: Exciting Reads

27:31 Live Book Club Announcements

29:02 Current TV Obsessions: Traitors

33:32 Turkish Drama and Queen of Flow

37:59 Real Housewives of Potomac

42:00 Upcoming Book Club Events

43:05 Wrapping Up and Farewell

Books Mentioned:

→ How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson: https://rstyle.me/+_kNzpApr03TNIEXXokSFtw

→ Wicked Onyx by Debbie Cassidy: https://rstyle.me/+JoGcxGS2hG8HlZQA40h1MQ

→ Vanguard by Karina Halle: https://rstyle.me/+Ql5P9d8QU2bQOXHP0S74OA

→ Half City by Kate Golden: https://rstyle.me/+qAow2JgvK3MNl7YEissGcw

→ Only Friends by Lydia San Andres: https://rstyle.me/+_Kzg7kKY69vR5uEkuvGYrA

→ Savage Lands by Stacey Marie Brown: https://rstyle.me/+D8WFgEGfQI2_iyqZ9wNhng

→ Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams: https://rstyle.me/+EP-erKulRXkDOdDXZ_8HFA

→ Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead: https://rstyle.me/+89qmTPEqUXRS3vWiSI_jhg

→ Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune: https://rstyle.me/+PWRfcVmKhTOFynAIeuCbGw

→ The Author Weekend by Laura Zigman: https://rstyle.me/+NYFJHuQDc3tnU8B__sL6aQ

→ The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro: https://rstyle.me/+dHZqcDK2YCjaXI-W3io1ZQ

→ Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith: https://rstyle.me/+8GSvkY6uRZbr3Ud8okSmqg

→ Jane's Career by H. G. de Lisser: https://rstyle.me/+1svqH8xAOnuTd75CKTo-3w

LINKS:

→ Victoria's Full TBR: https://youtu.be/a04zI86Qgho

→ Francesca's Favorite Historical Romances: https://youtu.be/NfmYMR3yaIU

→ Why Mass Market Paperbacks Are Disappearing: https://youtu.be/8Vpif8hE76k

→ More February Releases I'm excited to read: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/february-2026-book-releases/

→ All the book clubs and readalongs you can do with us: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/romance-book-club/

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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 cafĂŠ. 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
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