Episode Description
Welcome to Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, and our weekly live book talk show replay! 📚
Today we’re doing two things:
• talking about reports that Harlequin Historicals may be coming to an end, and what that means as mass market paperbacks fade out of bookstores
• building my February TBR with cozy winter reads that fit my 2026 reading goals
We’ll also chat about:
• the “Last Call for Mass Market Paperbacks” report and what’s really happening with the format
• why mass market romances, especially Harlequin Historicals, mattered to so many readers
• how these changes might affect how we buy and read books going forward
• the new releases and backlist titles on my February TBR
Join us live on Youtube Thursdays at 12pm Eastern for cozy Book Talk, bookish news.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Today's Agenda
00:13 Harlequin Historical Line Closure
01:15 Impact on Readers and Authors
04:19 Mass Market Paperbacks Distribution Issues
07:32 Discussion on Publishing Trends
13:35 February TBR: Exciting Reads
27:31 Live Book Club Announcements
29:02 Current TV Obsessions: Traitors
33:32 Turkish Drama and Queen of Flow
37:59 Real Housewives of Potomac
42:00 Upcoming Book Club Events
43:05 Wrapping Up and Farewell
Books Mentioned:
→ How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson: https://rstyle.me/+_kNzpApr03TNIEXXokSFtw
→ Wicked Onyx by Debbie Cassidy: https://rstyle.me/+JoGcxGS2hG8HlZQA40h1MQ
→ Vanguard by Karina Halle: https://rstyle.me/+Ql5P9d8QU2bQOXHP0S74OA
→ Half City by Kate Golden: https://rstyle.me/+qAow2JgvK3MNl7YEissGcw
→ Only Friends by Lydia San Andres: https://rstyle.me/+_Kzg7kKY69vR5uEkuvGYrA
→ Savage Lands by Stacey Marie Brown: https://rstyle.me/+D8WFgEGfQI2_iyqZ9wNhng
→ Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams: https://rstyle.me/+EP-erKulRXkDOdDXZ_8HFA
→ Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead: https://rstyle.me/+89qmTPEqUXRS3vWiSI_jhg
→ Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune: https://rstyle.me/+PWRfcVmKhTOFynAIeuCbGw
→ The Author Weekend by Laura Zigman: https://rstyle.me/+NYFJHuQDc3tnU8B__sL6aQ
→ The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro: https://rstyle.me/+dHZqcDK2YCjaXI-W3io1ZQ
→ Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith: https://rstyle.me/+8GSvkY6uRZbr3Ud8okSmqg
→ Jane's Career by H. G. de Lisser: https://rstyle.me/+1svqH8xAOnuTd75CKTo-3w
LINKS:
→ Victoria's Full TBR: https://youtu.be/a04zI86Qgho
→ Francesca's Favorite Historical Romances: https://youtu.be/NfmYMR3yaIU
→ Why Mass Market Paperbacks Are Disappearing: https://youtu.be/8Vpif8hE76k
→ More February Releases I'm excited to read: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/february-2026-book-releases/
→ All the book clubs and readalongs you can do with us: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/romance-book-club/
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