Messy engagements, surprise babies, dark academia obsession, and an alien bounty hunter who was supposed to eliminate the heroine but decided to protect her instead—this week’s romance releases are full of tension, chaos, and unexpected love.

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we’re breaking down five must-read romances releasing this week, covering dark academia, an 80s-inspired rom-com, historical mistaken identity, and more.

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Books Featured in This EpisodeKiss the Villain by Rina Kent – Dark MM Romance, Professor/Student, Enemies to Lovers

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A law student with a dangerous secret finds himself in a power struggle when his new professor turns out to be the villain from his past.

Tropes: Dark academia, forbidden romance, obsession, morally gray characters, psychological warfare.

A Gentleman’s Offer by Emma Orchard – Regency Romance, Mistaken Identity, Fake Engagement

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A respectable gentleman gets engaged to the wrong twin, and now they must track down the real bride before scandal erupts.

Tropes: Historical romance, forced proximity, slow burn, opposites attract, hidden feelings.

One in a Million by Beverley Kendall – Celebrity Rom-Com, Surprise Baby, Forced Co-Parenting

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A superstar with a perfectly planned life gets thrown into chaos when a fertility clinic mix-up gives her a daughter—and an unexpected co-parent.

Tropes: Accidental baby, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, celebrity drama, opposites attract.

Airhead by Avery Flynn – 1980s Rom-Com, Road Trip, Grumpy/Sunshine

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After trashing the wrong car, a rebellious heroine is forced to chauffeur a grumpy six-foot-six ex-football player around town all night.

Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, road trip romance, mistaken identity, forced proximity, nostalgic rom-com.

Alien Huntsman by Honey Phillips – Sci-Fi Romance, Alien Bounty Hunter, Fated Mates

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A bounty hunter hired to kill a human woman decides to protect her instead, hiding her away in the wilderness—while also caring for seven orphaned alien wolf pups.

Tropes: Fated mates, found family, slow burn, broody hero, sci-fi Cinderella retelling.

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