🌻 Insider #16: Mid and Overhyped, and Why I’m Choosing Hidden Gems
Skipping the hype, chasing the magic.
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🌻 Insider #16: Mid and Overhyped, and Why I’m Choosing Hidden Gems
Hey friends!
This week has been a mix of cozy little joys and big bookish feelings. My husband brought home my favorite flowers — sunflowers! 🌻 (Major husband points unlocked.)
Before we jump into this week's content roundup, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I’m choosing to read lately — and why I’m finding more joy in chasing hidden gems over the latest hype.
Why I’m (Mostly) Breaking Up with Book Hype
You ever finish a buzzy, mega-hyped romance novel and sit there thinking, "That was fine, I guess?" Like ordering a dessert everyone swears will change your life, and realizing it mostly just tastes... sweet. Not bad. Just, you know — fine.
If you're nodding, you're in good company.
I’ve always been a little bit of a book hipster. Not in the ironic glasses, “I liked it before it was cool” kind of way — more like someone who genuinely gets more excited finding a hidden gem than ticking off the top 10 on a bestseller list. It’s not even a new thing for me. But somewhere along the way, the romance community’s constant hype cycle — and my own reaction to it — became way louder.
These days, I'm making a point of it: I’m choosing not to chase the hype.
If everyone’s screaming about the same author or the same five titles, that’s usually my cue to quietly wander off into a dusty back shelf and see what’s hiding there.
And honestly? It’s a lot more fun.
Why the Hype Feels So Loud Right Now?
BookTok, Bookstagram, YouTube — everywhere you look, there’s a new "must-read" every five minutes. And with that comes this unspoken pressure: if you’re not reading the book, are you even keeping up?
I used to feel a little guilty when a hyped book didn’t work for me. I'd think, Maybe I’m just in the wrong mood? Maybe it’s me, not the book.
Spoiler alert: it was the book.
Now? I just shrug and move on. Life’s too short to gaslight yourself over a three-star read.
Why I Love Finding Hidden Gems?
There’s nothing better than finding a book that's perfect for you — not because it’s trending, but because it quietly fits your heart like it was waiting for you.
A backlist gem you stumble across at the library.
An indie romance with 78 reviews but enough heart to punch you in the feelings.
A book recommendation from a friend who just knows your taste.
It feels more magical that way.
Like you found treasure — not just a thing everyone’s already picked over.
A Little Reminder for You
You don’t have to keep up with the latest releases.
You don’t have to love a book just because it's everywhere.
You don’t have to read what everyone else is reading to be part of the community.
Your reading life is yours. Make it messy. Make it joyful. Chase those hidden gems. ✨
Your April Reading Guide Is Here!
Need a seasonal reading reset? This spring reading guide is packed with trope-based recs to match your April mood.
📣 This Week on the Blog & Substack
Here’s what went up this week:
On Substack
On the Blog
On YouTube & the Podcast
🎥 Also, come play Romance Tropes Smash or Pass:
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On Novel Hour Live Show
Join us every Thursday at 12PM EST for our regular Novel Hour show on Youtube. Every other Monday at 12PM EST for the Bookish Tea edition on Youtube. And after every show, come over to Substack live for the after show. The after show live is free for all Substack members.
Did you miss last week’s Insider? Check it out here:
🐺 Romance News
Ali Hazelwood’s new book is officially releasing in May and we just got the cover reveal. A brother’s best friend. An off-limits crush. One very complicated week in Sicily.
Problematic Summer Romance brings all the forbidden tension and messy emotions as Maya and Conor get stuck together at a wedding — and realize clichés aren’t so easy to resist when real feelings get involved. Pre-order it here and get ready for May 27, 2025.
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Romantasy fans, heads up! Shanora Williams is dropping Mayhem and the Mortal on October 7, 2025 — and it sounds incredible: Dungeons & Dragons meets The Wizard of Oz in this darkly hilarious romantasy adventure in which a young woman hires a ruthless assassin to save her sister from a sorcerer's curse...Preorder the deluxe edition here!
New Releases This Week: Apr 21 - Apr 27
A fresh stack of books just dropped! No matter what you’re craving, here's what hit the shelves this week.
🖤 = Recommended Read
Featured New Releases (Apr 21 - Apr 27):
A Wallflower’s Guide to Viscounts and Vice by Manda Collins
A wallflower and a grumpy viscount fake an engagement while solving a murder—and accidentally fall for each other along the way.
👉 Grab A Wallflower’s Guide to Viscounts and Vice on Amazon
Fiona and the Fixer by Vanessa Vale
An overworked fixer meets a badass FBI agent in a small town full of chaos, heat, and dangerous secrets. Opposites attract—and combust.
👉 Grab Fiona and the Fixer on Amazon
The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde
Three generations of women head to a mysterious island retreat where magic, crafting, and second chances help them heal and rediscover family bonds.
👉 Grab The Summer That Shaped Us on Amazon
Crescent Kingdom by Tessa Hale
A girl with deadly secrets finds unexpected sanctuary—and dangerous love—with a ruthless wolf shifter pack hiding secrets of their own.
👉 Grab Crescent Kingdom on Amazon
Love, Camera, Action by Noel Stark
An up-and-coming TV director and a broody director of photography clash—and spark—in this enemies to lovers Hollywood workplace rom-com.
👉 Grab Love, Camera, Action on Amazon
Author Spotlight: This week we featured debut author Noel Stark on the podcast talking about her romcom and the behind the scenes reality of the Hollywood movie industry.
💡 Looking for More? New book releases always added to the book database. The Book Vault is a paid member feature.
Recommendation of the Week:
If you love:
Heroine in STEM
Content creators
Sweet, slow-burn friends-to-lovers vibes
Lower steam, new adult feel
Adorable autistic hero who's always loved her
...You'll want to grab this!
Coming Tomorrow!
Don't miss tomorrow's podcast and YouTube episode on Monday, April 28, 2025 —I’ll be chatting with Eloisa James about her new book Hardly a Gentleman! (And trust me, it’s a conversation you’ll want to hear.)
Final Little Note
If you found a hidden gem recently — a book you loved but no one's really talking about — come tell me! I’m always looking for secret favorites to add to my never-ending TBR. 📚✨
Wishing you a cozy Sunday full of sunflowers and stories!
Talk soon,
Francesca
Sharing our love for books as Under the Covers Book Blog since 2011, running the Romanceopoly yearly reading challenge since 2019 and hosting the Reading Under the Covers podcast since 2020. Launched Mysterylandia in 2025.