Welcome back to the Reading Under the Covers Podcast!

Today’s episode is a replay of our Novel Hour live show from YouTube, where Francesca and Victoria celebrated Father’s Day with literary dad recs, single dad historical romances, and a roundup of this week’s new book releases. We also chatted about what we’re watching and gave our thoughts on some big upcoming book-to-screen adaptations (Heated Rivalry, anyone?).

Whether you’re here for the romance, the thrillers, or the pop culture news—this episode has a little of everything.

⏱ Time Stamps:

00:00 – Intro

01:08 – Books to Gift Dad & Single Dad Historical Romances

11:17 – What We're Watching (Animal Kingdom chat)

15:30 – New June 2025 Book Releases

25:36 – Adaptation News: Heated Rivalry & Divine Rivals

📚 Mentioned Blog Posts & Links:

– Full list of June 2025 Book Releases: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/june-2025-book-releases/

– KU Romance Picks for June 2025: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/june-2025-kindle-unlimited-romance/

– Mystery Releases: https://www.mysterylandia.com/june-2025-mystery-book-releases/

– Chat about Realm of Thieves: https://youtu.be/4ORTJGUJlas

💡 Want more curated release picks?

→ Get access to the Book Vault: https://www.underthecoverscommunity.com/p/book-vault

✨ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! It helps more romance readers find us, and I always love hearing what books you’re excited about. See you next time! 💕

These notes contain affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

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In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, I’m bringing you a replay of our Novel Hour live show all about summer reading vibes—complete with romance book recs, cozy mysteries, juicy thrillers, and even a multiverse salon love story. We also unpack some major bookish drama, from Sophie Lark’s mafia romances getting canceled in Ukraine to the controversy around James Frey’s new release and AI in publishing.

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

Summer Romance Recs from the 2025 Summer Reading Guide

Enemies to Lovers in Belize, Fake Husbands at Marriage Camp, Christmas in July Sapphic Rom-Coms

Cozy Mysteries, Multiverse Hair Salons & Emotional Literary Reads

What We’re Watching: From Netflix’s Sirens to Bravo’s Nepo Baby Chaos

New Romance, Mystery, Thriller, & YA Book Releases

Bookish News: Sophie Lark’s Brutal Prince banned + the James Frey & AI scandal

Plus: The ongoing debate on AI narration & what it means for authors and readers

Books Mentioned:

– Kakigori Summer by Emily Itami

– A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry

– A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant

– Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn

– Destination Weddings and Other Disasters by M.C. Vaughan

– Holly Jolly July by Lindsay Maple

– Bargains with Benefits by Jillian Witt

– Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

– I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan

– Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone

– A Most Unlikely Lady by Darcy McGuire

– Flashlight by Susan Choi

– Cat Fight by Kit Conway

– The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone

– The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle

– Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

02:16 – Victoria’s Summer Read Picks

07:02 – Francesca’s Summer Kindle Unlimited Picks

12:53 – What We’re Watching (Netflix’s Sirens, Final Destination, Bravo’s NYC Next Gen)

23:39 – New Book Releases (Romance, Mystery, YA, Fantasy)

34:43 – Sophie Lark Mafia Romance Canceled in Ukraine

40:29 – James Frey BOTM Scandal & AI in Publishing

Sources Referenced:

– RT:

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we’re back with a stacked lineup of June 2025 new releases across romance, fantasy, cozy mystery, and thrillers. If you’re a mood reader, there’s definitely something here for you—whether it’s a cozy Fae inn, a sexy second chance on a cruise ship, or a couple hiding literal dead bodies in their marriage.

Books featured in this episode include:

• Friends to lovers + cruise ship forced proximity
• A chaotic dark romance with masked voyeur vibes
• A cinnamon roll alien at Space Con
• Jane Austen sleuths solving murder
• And a thriller where a psychiatrist and a homicide detective are lying… a lot

👇 Books Mentioned

• Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson
• Caught Up by Navessa Allen
• Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong
• The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao
• Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath
• I Think I'm In Love With an Alien by Ann Aguirre
• Release Me by K.A. Tucker
• Bargains With Benefits by Jillian Witt
• The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray
• Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams
• A Happy Marriage by A.R. Torre

📚 Want more curated release lists?

• June 2025 Mystery Book Releases
• June 2025 Romance & Fantasy Releases
• June 2025 Kindle Unlimited Romance

✨ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! It helps more romance readers find us, and I always love hearing what books you’re excited about. See you next time! 💕

These notes contain affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

Visit the Blog: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/

Stay Connected:

• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/utcbookblog.bsky.social
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/underthecoversbookblog
• Facebook:...