Reading Under the Covers: A Romance Novel Podcast

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I walk you through everything I read in May 2026: eleven books, two five-star reads, and a lot of summer-ready picks that go beyond what BookTok is talking about. There's dark Hollywood romcom with revenge, a Paris fake-dating soccer romance ahead of the World Cup, a Loch Ness Monster shifter, a cozy vampire murder mystery with Interview with the Vampire energy, and two amazin five star books I'll be preaching about: a witchy urban fantasy and a biker MC second chance that wrecked me. Then a quick look at three June releases already on the must-read TBR.
Timestamps:
00:00 May Wrap-Up Teaser
00:53 Reading Stats Snapshot
02:05 Dark Hollywood Revenge
04:48 Paris Fake-Dating Soccer
06:28 YA Ghost Rivals Mystery
08:28 Hockey DM Meet-Cute
11:33 Off Campus Reread Thoughts
14:33 More Soccer College Vibes
16:06 Sapphic Vineyard Book Club
17:55 Loch Ness Shifter Buddy Read
21:31 Cozy Vampire Mystery Getaway
24:50 Five-Star Witchy Urban Fantasy
28:56 Five-Star Biker Second Chance
36:43 June Must-Read New Releases
41:40 Final Recap & Goodbye
Links
Most Anticipated June Releases → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/june-2026-book-releases/
Romanceopoly Reading Challenge → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/reading-challenge
Romanceopoly Monthly Study Sessions → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/romanceopoly-2026-study-sessions/
Off Campus TV show review → https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/off-campus-season-1-review/
Join the Discord → https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5U

Tell me what you read this month and how Romanceopoly's going. Comment on the blog or reply to the newsletter. Mid-year Romanceopoly review coming soon.
✨ 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:
Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.
YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.
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 Interview with the Vampire broke you, these 6 books are what to read next before Season 3 (The Vampire Lestat) premieres June 7 on AMC+.
Each book hits a different part of what makes ITV so consuming:
- toxic immortal romance & gaslighting
- sapphic gothic atmosphere, opulence, and the cost of survival
- Victorian shadows, obsession, and the feeling of being watched
- queer longing, vampire politics, slow burn ménage
- Lestat rockstar energy, 1970s paranormal horror
- camp, humor, cozy paranormal mystery
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5U
📚 Books in this episode:
✦ A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
✦ House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
✦ The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia
✦ Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
✦ The Devil's Metal by Karina Halle
✦ Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning
📚 Full list of 11 books coming soon on the blog
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Need More Lestat Vibes
01:47 What Makes the Show Hit
02:33 Dowry of Blood Pick
03:54 House of Hunger
05:04 The Poisoner
06:45 Politics and Queer Longing
07:50 Rockstar Devil Deal
09:08 Vegetarian Vampire Mystery
10:46 Wrap Up and Next Steps
✨ 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:
Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.
YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.
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!

Paranormal romance, fantasy romance, romantasy, urban fantasy. What's actually the difference? In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I'm breaking down the four categories that cover all of speculative romance fiction and giving you the three questions that sort any book correctly every time. No more guessing. No more conflicting labels. Just a map that works.
Is ACOTAR paranormal romance? Is Shadowhunters fantasy romance? Where does Romantasy actually live? We're settling all of it.
📖 Full Paranormal Romance Guide: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/paranormal-romance-genre-guide/
📖 Full Fantasy Romance Guide: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/fantasy-romance-guide/
📖 Fantasy Subgenres on the blog: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/popular-fantasy-subgenres/
👀 WATCH NEXT:
Genre vs Trope vs Category video: https://youtu.be/oz7iyAjpi_c
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5U
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:57 Three Question Sorting Method
01:16 Question One Setting Matters
02:14 Made Up Worlds Romance Test
03:23 Romantasy Marketing Myth
04:45 Our World Creatures Check
05:50 Paranormal Romance Essentials
07:37 Urban Fantasy Versus PNR
10:39 Creature Types Tropes Not Genres
12:21 Cheat Sheet Recap
13:40 Q&A Wrap Up And Next Video
BOOKS MENTIONED:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
Haven Ever After series by Hazel Mack
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
✨ 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:
Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.
YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.
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!

I binged all 8 episodes of Off Campus on Amazon Prime in one sitting and I have a lot to say about it. I didn't re-read the book first on purpose and I think you shouldn't either. Today on Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I'm talking about the Off Campus and Heated Rivalry comparison that needs to die, the chemistry hierarchy (Dean and Allie are running away with this thing, sorry not sorry), the spice level reality check, how the show handles the heavy stuff without being heavy, the random locker room penises (yes really), and whether this show captures the same addictive crack energy that made the books impossible to put down.
Also: casting feelings, a confession about Belmont vs. Ella, and the sex scene conversation that's more about narrative purpose than body count.
Come discuss the show with us over on Discord
Join Discord: https://discord.gg/JfHWVdYz5U
Off Campus Chat Thread: https://discord.gg/GX4FUZH37t
📺 Off Campus Series Reading Order: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/off-campus-series-reading-order/
📝 Blog post comparing the book vs. show changes coming soon!
🎁 Signed Off Campus Bundle Giveaway:
Comment on the Youtube video for this and then fill out the form below. Giveaway closes May 23, 2026. Additional chances to enter at the links at the top of the form. https://airtable.com/appBLTJOpGtECUf2m/pagsNM6fIQaQFWCa6/form
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Season One Setup
00:55 Book Background
02:06 Heated Rivalry Debate
03:56 Vibe And Worldbuilding
05:17 Casting Breakdown
08:45 Justin Plot Issues
11:28 Chemistry Standouts
12:51 Future Season Worries
14:50 Spice And Sex Scenes
18:38 Bingeable Energy
19:57 Season Two Tease
21:53 Wrap Up And Questions
✨ 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:
Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.
YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.
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!

We’re going back to Briar, and yes, Garrett Graham is still a problem.
In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I’m ranking the books in Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus universe from my least favorite to my absolute favorite. That includes the original Off-Campus series, the Briar U spinoff, and the next generation books connected to the original couples.
I first read The Deal before it came out in 2015, and watching that book explode before BookTok even existed was wild. Now that Off Campus is coming to Amazon Prime, it felt like the perfect time to revisit the whole universe and see which books still hold up, which ones surprised me, and which ones I would personally defend with my whole chest.
This is a ranking episode, not a reading order, so if you’re new to the series and want to know where to start, I’ve linked the full reading order and individual reviews below.
Links Mentioned
📚 Full Series Reading Order + Individual Reviews:
https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/off-campus-series-reading-order/
🎁 Signed Off-Campus Bundle Giveaway:
I’m giving away a signed bundle of the original four Off-Campus books and the first two Briar U books with the original covers.
Podcast note: you can’t enter through the podcast app. To enter, comment on the YouTube video, Facebook post, Instagram post, or blog post, then fill out the giveaway form below. All linked through form below.
Giveaway closes May 23, 2026.
https://airtable.com/appBLTJOpGtECUf2m/pagsNM6fIQaQFWCa6/form
Timestamps
00:00 How The Deal Went Viral
01:10 Ranking Rules And Giveaway
02:02 Next Gen Worst To Best
10:07 Briar U Ranking
19:52 Off-Campus Ranking
30:34 Recap And How To Enter
✨ 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:
Blog: reviews, book lists, and seasonal reading inspo.
YouTube: book chats, reading lifestyle and recs.
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!