This week on the Reading Under the Covers Podcast, we’re serving up a mix of bookish news, controversy, and dark page-turners. From Colleen Hoover’s bombshell new thriller to the alarming rise in book bans, plus our favorite psychological thrillers (including Kindle Unlimited gems), this episode is packed with discussion and recs you don’t want to miss.

Originally recorded on Novel Hour Live (come join us live every Thursday on YouTube), this conversation takes you from spicy industry gossip to fall TBR must-haves in one lively ride.

✨ In this episode you’ll hear:

• 🖤 Colleen Hoover’s big announcement — her “darkest book yet,” publishing through Amazon, and why it’s sparking controversy.
• 📚 Psychological thriller escapes — chilling recs from Carter Wilson, Niecy Coke, Katherine Faulkner, Alessandra Torre, Rachel Caine, Shanora Williams, and Tarryn Fisher.
• 🚫 Banned Books Week — record-breaking censorship stats, what they mean, and how to support libraries.
• 🆕 New Book Releases (Sept 28–Oct 4) — from Lionel Richie’s memoir and Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club #5 to reimaginings, retellings, and paranormal romance debuts.
• 🎬 Book-to-screen news — new romance imprints, adaptations of Carly Fortune and Lucy Score, and our hot takes on why some stories work better as series vs. movies.
• 📺 What we’re watching — Great British Bake Off for cozy comfort vs. Locked Up (Vis-a-Vis) for dark thrills.

📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode (Highlights):

• Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson: https://rstyle.me/+GXrcGMmmjFjWreWRjRrEuw
• Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke: https://rstyle.me/+1F9QBPtqHxzS1TBM1BHz6g
• The Break In by Katherine Faulkner: https://rstyle.me/+W6HvpiTdksg6dWInb8q6Cg
• The Ghostwriter by A.R. Torre: https://rstyle.me/+UfOhW5fO-UAdP9KOcT3CUw
• Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine: https://rstyle.me/+JTC2L7aFZmrq4vdvFIQUAQ
• The Wife Before by Shanora Williams: https://rstyle.me/+bGo1TSYqeiusAr6W77errw
• Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher: https://rstyle.me/+1fCaczH158xpYkGobknfxA
• The Librarians by Sherry Thomas: https://rstyle.me/+PrHU5i1oTWTyKIeVOlS99A
• Soul Searching by Lyla Sage: https://rstyle.me/+npzVldpKP2yQjQ126QkOGA
• The Earl That Got Away by Diana Quincy: https://rstyle.me/+asKDZqEY7c5mzO9lYDP7YQ
• Burning Daylight by Emily McIntire: https://rstyle.me/+7tJgbzaOykyP5s_rj5AKVg
• The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill: https://rstyle.me/+hT2S7TgHhDwMWoyfNYaUsg
• What a Time to Be Alive by Jade Chang: https://rstyle.me/+MkxyQ4yiakybCgqAmxNG2A

🎥 Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Exciting New Psychological Thrillers

06:17 Kindle Unlimited Psychological Thrillers

14:17 What We're Watching

18:05 This Week's New Book Releases

25:50 Colleen Hoover's Darkest Book Yet

35:00 Banned Books Week and Censorship

38:57 New Crossover Romance Imprint by Simon & Schuster

42:18 Adaptation News: Carly Fortune's Book

45:13 Adaptation News: Lucy Score's Novel

49:44 Final Thoughts

Sources:

https://www.today.com/popculture/books/colleen-hoover-new-book-woman-down-rcna230119

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/98737-u-s-faces-expanded-and-escalated-book-censorship-pen-america-reports.html

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98734-s-s-launches-crossover-romance-imprint.html

https://deadline.com/feature/every-year-after-tv-show-news-updates-1236565533/

https://deadline.com/2025/09/lucy-score-novel-things-we-never-got-over-tv-series-amazon-1236556726/

✨ 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! 💕

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