Reality TV Romance, Viral Love Stories & My Reading Reset | Bookish Brunch

Reality TV Romance, Viral Love Stories & My Reading Reset | Bookish Brunch

Author: Under the Covers Book Blog May 18, 2025 Duration: 11:08

Welcome to this week’s Bookish Brunch! If you’ve ever felt like your TBR needs a vibe check, same. This week I spiraled into some messy reality TV romance reads and shared a little bookish mail—including a DIY book nook I’m building soon 👀

Plus, I chat about why contemporary romance isn’t hitting for me lately, and what I’m doing to reset my reading mood. It involves a hot professor fanfic, cowboys, post-apocalyptic bodyguards, and a regency love triangle. So grab your coffee and let’s get into it.

✨ This Week’s Blog + Video Themes

Reality TV Romance Books

Cooking Competition Romance Books

Dating Show Romance Books

Books Like Love Island

Romance Books About Going Viral

Time Travel Romance Books

Time Travel Mysteries

Books Set in France

Flower Shop Romance Books

🧠 Read the Substack Essay:

Reading for Yourself (Not the Algorithm)

📚 Books Mentioned in This Video

Reality TV Romance Books:

Take the Lead – Alexis Daria

Mr. Fixer Upper – Lucy Score

Thank You, Next – Kathryn Freeman

Battle Royal – Lucy Parker

Going Viral Romances:

Just Our Luck – Denise Williams

First Time Caller – B.K. Borison

What I Read This Week:

Much Ado About Hating You – Sarah Echavarre Smith

Rein Me In – Kayla Grosse

Upcoming Reads:

Heart of the Sun – Mia Sheridan

To Catch a Lord – Emma Orchard

📦 Bookish Mail:

Tower 28 Magic Hour Multi-Use Cream

CuteBee Owl Book Nook Kit

✨ Related Content:

Taurus Reading Reset Guide

⏳ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:56 Reality TV romance books

01:51 Romance books about going viral

02:55 Unboxing

04:52 Currently Reading

08:27 Reading Next

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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: 100

Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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April was… a month. I only managed to read 11 books, but when I did pick something up, I flew through it so we’re calling that a win.In this April reading wrap up, I’m chatting through my StoryGraph stats, the genres I a…
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Duration: 57:57
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The Rise, Fall, and Return of the Clinch Cover in Romance Books [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:27
In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we’re going down the full romance history rabbit hole and talking about the clinch cover: where it started, why it took over, why it disappeared, and…
I Cheated on My Kindle with a Kobo (Here's What Happened) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
I've been a Kindle girl for years. But then I spent three months sneaking around with a Kobo Libra Color and honestly? I'm not going back.This is my full, honest breakdown of what it's actually like to switch from Kindle…