Welcome back to Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast! In today’s episode, we’re celebrating Black joy in books—featuring romance, cozy mysteries, and fantasy reads written by Black authors and starring Black main characters.

This episode is packed with incredible recommendations from our Novel Hour live show, where I, along with Victoria from Bibliolifestyle and Laura from What to Read Next Podcast, share books that bring joy across multiple genres!

• Romance & Friendship Books – Heartwarming stories filled with love, growth, and Black joy.
• Cozy Mystery Books – Amateur sleuths, small-town charm, and Black-led whodunits.
• Fantasy & Paranormal Romance – Magic, shenanigans, fated mates, and monster romances.

• A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams
• Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi
• The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

• A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
• The Plot Is Murder by V.M. Burns
• It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant

• That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
• Vicious Bonds by Shanora Williams
• I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend by Jessica Cage

Want Even More Black Joy Book Recs?

READ MORE HERE – Find hidden gem 2025 book releases by Black authors, plus links to all our blog posts with even more recommendations! You can also watch the replay of our Substack After Show Live, where we shared even more book recs beyond this episode.

🎥 Watch Novel Hour on YouTube live every Thursday at 12 PM EST!

Next Week: Locked Room Mysteries!

Upcoming: Spring Reading Guide

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Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to share your favorite books that celebrate Black joy in the comments!

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