The Goodreads Choice Awards 2025 Nominees Are WILD This Year

The Goodreads Choice Awards 2025 Nominees Are WILD This Year

Author: Under the Covers Book Blog November 18, 2025 Duration: 1:02:25

In this episode of the Reading Under the Covers Podcast, we are diving into the Goodreads Choice Awards 2025, aka the Super Bowl of book drama. We’re breaking down the nominees, sharing our knee-jerk reactions, casting our votes, and making very confident predictions about who’s going to take home the crown in each category. And are we ready to go full conspiracy theory over the voting process? (Always.)

Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/XEzRbKRj-9Q

Plus we’re also spotlighting some buzzy new releases worth adding to your TBR immediately.

💬 Let us know in the comments: What are your thoughts on the GoodReads Choice Awards this year? Predictions, reactions, your votes. Let us know in the comments.

You may be interested in:

→ Brynne Weaver's comments about her nominations: https://www.threads.com/@brynne_weaver/post/DQ98OonCR3O

→ Support Nia Davenport's GoFund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-nia-and-her-children-after-tragic-loss

→ or Pick up and read Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport: https://rstyle.me/+jOd3Zz7DSKmlZXbAEnWUWQ

→ Sylvia Mercedes stops by the blog to share her favorite slow burn romantasy books:

https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/slow-burn-romantasy/

⏰ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards

00:41 Fiction Category: My Votes and Predictions

01:46 Historical Fiction: Who Will Win?

03:12 Mysteries and Thrillers: The Top Contenders

05:05 Live Interaction and Viewer Comments

08:04 Romance Category: Disappointments and Predictions

15:27 Fantasy Category: Popular Picks

18:38 Science Fiction: Passionate Picks

20:37 Horror Category: Gothic vs. Traditional

22:39 Debut Novels: Fresh Faces

24:14 Audiobooks: Production Value and Predictions

29:04 Young Adult Fantasy: Disappointments and Predictions

29:56 Young Adult Fiction Nominees

30:58 Nonfiction Predictions

32:19 Memoir Category Highlights

34:05 History and Biography Picks

38:41 New Book Releases This Week

47:41 Current Reads and Recommendations

51:44 What We're Watching

01:01:24 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Tune in EVERY THURSDAY at 12 PM ET, join the chat, and share your thoughts!

📖 BOOKS MENTIONED:

→ The Seventh Champion by Sylvia Mercedes: https://rstyle.me/+9h6m0ck83D6TRXxGnAp_UA

→ Your Knife, Your Heart by K.M. Moronova: https://rstyle.me/+zzGdmoHGdetVXw9EGP5lsw

→ Indulge by Luna Mason: https://rstyle.me/+bttvTDtuz1Azp-tJnZt_og

→ The King’s Ransom by Janet Evanovich: https://rstyle.me/+yld4NVYtExexd7VDZzn7IQ

→ A Matter of Murder by Tirzah Price: https://rstyle.me/+gLWvc-zBb9MxujY4oDf1sA

→ So My Ex-Boyfriend is a Serial Killer by Kylie Scott: https://rstyle.me/+ue5KOp6KaJ6UEZhd0Yk2Zw

→ Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister: https://rstyle.me/+MnSUTh5DE0GlMzMIWPUkqA

→ The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu, trans. by Matt Treyvaud: https://rstyle.me/+HEoXPEkyKxk39EqWxadLxg

→ Not You Again by Erin La Rosa: https://rstyle.me/+JMPX68avHVJPet_H9l4KFQ

→ The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex: https://rstyle.me/+SzaOSqp_pe3qKG2I5G5DjA

→ Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto: https://rstyle.me/+KL-wUFTUT_DROnpyrxU4Jg

→ Secrets and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver: https://rstyle.me/+MosiKXw-OD5mT8m9DqXl0A

→ Coldwire by Chloe Gong: https://rstyle.me/+DwI8BK2LCwV5wWIF-0zXBA

🧁 Mentioned While Discussing Shows

The Great British Baking Show

Rulers of Fortune

Amsterdam Empire

Hit play, grab a snack, and let’s scream into the Goodreads void together.

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:

  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
Did Elyse Myers Cross the Line? Author vs Reader Drama Explained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:02
Did Elyse Myers actually break the #1 rule of author etiquette… or is BookTok being dramatic? 👀 This week on Reading Under the Covers, Novel Hour chat, we’re talking about the Elyse Myers book drama, what really went dow…
I Broke Up With Goodreads After 13 Years (Here's What I Use Now) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:08
After 13 years on Goodreads, I finally quit 3 years ago. Here's what happened when I tested every major alternative and found the one that actually works for tracking my reading life.In this episode of the Reading Under…
5 Paranormal Romance Recs on Kindle Unlimited (Old School Vibes) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:13
If you miss the paranormal romance era of vampires, witches, and fae that actually felt dangerous and romantic, these 5 new releases I read have that old school PNR energy we've been craving, and they're ALL on Kindle Un…
30 Years Reading Paranormal Romance Taught Me This Pattern [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:30
In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I share my 30 year reading experience with the paranormal alpha and my thesis on a connection I noticed about their popularity and decline. They explo…