Bring Your Own: A Bookish Podcast for Romance Readers

Midyear check-in time! We're officially halfway through 2026, so we're looking back at the books that completely blew us away... and the ones we wish we could unread. From new favorites to biggest disappointments, we're sharing our best and worst reads of the year (so far), plus all the other media we've been obsessed with lately, from TV and movies to documentaries and more. Come see if your favorites made the list, add a few more titles to your TBR, and let us know in the comments: What's been your best (and worst) book of 2026 so far? Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baby, don't you know that you're my golden hour? 🦋 This week, Kayla is hosting a solo episode where she pairs every track from Golden Hour to a book that captures the same feeling, the same emotional beat, the same message. From the quiet dignity of letting someone go, to the giddy disorientation of falling in love, to the radical act of finally letting yourself be okay. There's a book for every moment on this record. Whether you're a longtime Kacey Musgraves devotee or just discovering it for the first time, this episode is for anyone who has ever finished a song or a book and thought: that's exactly it. That's exactly how it feels. If you'd like to avoid spoilers for a particular book recommendation or skip to a specific song, use the timestamps below: Slow Burn: 5:34 Lonely Weekend: 9:50 Butterflies: 13:33 Oh, What a World: 17:35 Mother: 21:46 Love Is a Wild Thing: 23:59 Space Cowboy: 28:40 Happy & Sad: 35:50 Velvet Elvis: 39:42 Wonder Woman: 43:28 High Horse: 47:07 Golden Hour: 50:37 Rainbow: 53:40 Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🚨 Welcome to the Bookish Khia Asylum 🚨 We're following the iconic "7 Levels of…" trend, but make it bookish. From Level 1 to Level 5 in our case, we're deciding which authors, bookish things, concepts, opinions, ANYTHING- deserve each floor. Who's getting early release, and who's never seeing daylight again? Expect hot takes, and some ten-toes-down defending. Check yourself in and tell us: who are you sentencing to the Khia Asylum? Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if every song on Taylor Swift's folklore had the perfect book to match? This week, Brandi is hosting a solo episode where she pairs every track from folklore with a book recommendation that captures the song's atmosphere, themes, and emotional depth. From heartbreaking love stories to nostalgic coming-of-age tales, each recommendation is inspired by the world Taylor created on this iconic album. Whether you're a longtime Swiftie, a passionate reader, or just searching for your next great read, this episode has something for you. If you'd like to avoid spoilers for a particular book recommendation, use the timestamps below to skip ahead: 2:59 – the 16:11 – cardigan13:12 – the last great american dynasty16:41 – exile17:36 – my tears ricochet24:50 – mirrorball28:13 – seven32:17 – august35:55 – this is me trying40:01 – illicit affairs41:35 – invisible string45:00 – mad woman48:12 – epiphany51:20 – betty53:41 – peace56:15 – hoax Which folklore song would you pair with a book? Share your picks in the comments! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Bachelorette and bestselling author Hannah Brown joins BYO to discuss her new book, Reasons to Be Loved By You. In this candid conversation, Hannah opens up about the inspiration behind the book, the personal experiences that shaped her writing, and the lessons she's learned about resilience, growth, and finding her own voice. We talk about the journey from reality TV to authorhood, what readers can expect from her latest work, and the message she hopes they'll take away. Whether you've followed Hannah's story for years or are discovering her for the first time, this episode offers an honest and insightful look at what has brought Hannah to the romance writing community, and how everything up to now has played a role. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, self-discovery, and the power of embracing life's unexpected chapters. Check out Reasons to Be Loved by You here! Follow Hannah here! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You'll come for the spicy Hades retelling and stay for Chip's incredible energy. We had an absolute BLAST talking with Chip Pons about Dearly Departed, the queer Hades retelling that's stealing readers' hearts. From writing swoon-worthy romance and irresistible tension to balancing humor, emotion, and mythology, Chip brought the behind-the-scenes scoop. Watch us tear up with emotion, then almost immediately switch to tears of laughter in this interview! If you're into queer joy, Greek mythology, lovable disasters, book boyfriends, or just watching a genuinely fun author interview, this episode is for you. Chip recommends these authors in the episode: -Julian Winters -Lyla Lee -Steven Rowley -Ben Alderson Follow Chip on Instagram @booksovrbros Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So we watched Every Year After... and we have thoughts. In this BONUS episode, we're diving into one of the most anticipated book-to-screen adaptations of the year. As huge fans of the novel, we went in ready to relive all the heartbreak, chemistry, and emotional depth that made us fall in love with the story. Join us as we break down what the show got wrong, why the adaptation missed the mark for us, and the key moments from the book that deserved so much better. We'll compare the characters, relationships, pacing, and emotional impact, & explain why the book still reigns supreme. If you've watched the series, read the book, or are trying to decide whether either is worth your time, this episode is for you. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BYO Book Club is officially 1 year old! To celebrate, we ranked every book club pick... and some of these takes toward the end might end friendships! From instant classics to books we wish we could un-read, we're giving our brutally honest rankings with zero mercy for every book we read this year. Which book do you think got robbed, and where did we go right? Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we’re spotlighting the most anticipated romance, literary, and fantasy releases of the summer season. From heavy-hitting, big name romance releases, to debut authors we can’t wait to read, these are the books about to take over your TBR. Whether you’re here for romance, litfic, or romantasy recommendations, this Summer Book Release Radar has you covered. Get your calendar ready for authors like Olivie Blake, Sierra Simone, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Tarah DeWitt, Tia Williams, and more! Drop the title you’re most excited about in the comments, and let us know what we should read next! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brooke Averick joins Bring Your Own to discuss her debut novel Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It and why modern life feels like one long emotional emergency. From existential crises to dating disasters, Brooke dives into the balance of chaos and sincerity, and why that combination makes the best stories. Known also for her hit show Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast, Brooke is no stranger to conversations about social anxiety, embarrassing moments, and being deeply online. This episode gets into all the messy, funny, painfully relatable details while unpacking Phoebe’s journey through sex, shame, adulthood, and trying not to feel “behind” while figuring life out. SPOILERS FROM 24:22 - 27:34 Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Rainbow Rowell deliver with Cherry Baby? This week on Bring Your Own, Kayla, Kendra, and Brandi are doing a FULL deep dive into Cherry Baby. We talk about the relationships, the writing, the scenes that stuck with us, and why Cherry Baby feels a little different from some of her other books in the best way. We also get into our overall thoughts on Rainbow Rowell as one loyal longtime reader, a newer megafan, and a more casual reader, and how her stories hit so different for each of us. If you’ve read Cherry Baby, come hang out with us and tell us your thoughts because we have SO much to discuss. In this episode:• our honest Rainbow Rowell thoughts• favorite moments from Cherry Baby• what worked really well for us• the characters we got attached to immediately• why this book stayed on our minds after finishing it Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We couldn’t just NOT talk about Off Campus, so two episodes this week it is! We binged all of Off Campus, the brand-new TV adaptation inspired by the hockey romance book series that took BookTok by storm. Now, we’re breaking down our first impressions, favorite moments, casting choices, what worked (and what didn’t), and whether the show lives up to the hype of the original books. From iconic scenes to character chemistry, we’re discussing all the drama, romance, and adaptation choices fans are already talking about. Did Off Campus stay true to the books? Which characters stole the show? Are we officially obsessed? Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🚨 YOUR FAVORITE BOOK COUPLE IS BREAKING UP 🚨 Okay… maybe not literally… but we are tier ranking some of your favorite iconic romance book couples and making some VERY controversial decisions. From “together in every lifetime” to “not making it down the aisle,” we’re sorting your faves into tiers, defending our hot takes, and probably starting arguments along the way. Join us for chaos, romance discourse, and way too much emotional investment in fictional relationships on this week’s episode of BYO. Who’s S-tier and who’s getting dumped? Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year of reading, evolving, and growth! We’re celebrating Kendra the only way we know how: through love and stories. In this special episode, we look back on the reads and other media that defined Kendra’s past year, with books like Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Correspondent by Ann Patchett, Phoebe Beman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick, No Matter What by Cara Bastone, and more. We also revisit her old BookTok videos (RECEIPTS, PROOF, TIMELINES, etc., etc.), reflect on how her 27th year has shaped her, and look forward to more joy to come. Expect a mix of nostalgia, honest reactions, a little chaos, and plenty of book recommendations along the way. Come celebrate Kendra with us through the stories that shaped her year! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode Kayla, Kendra, and Brandi take a nostalgic dive back into the books that shaped us during our tween years, and the stories we once obsessed over. Now that we’re older (and allegedly wiser), we’re revisiting these favorites with fresh eyes. Do they still hold up? Were they as deep as we remembered, or just dramatic in that perfectly middle-school way? We found a mix of heartfelt reflection, some light roasting, and even some “wait… why did no one question this??” Let us know, what book defined your tween years, and are you brave enough to reread it now? Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re launching the first edition of Reader Rot, and things got interesting fast. We got into the weeds with the NYT and Amazon Kindle best seller's lists and dissected them down to the smallest of details like subgenre, publishing houses, and page counts. The results weren’t what we expected. Join Kendra, Kayla, and Brandi as we dig into what’s actually dominating the charts right now, where trad and indie are showing up, and what these lists might say about reading trends overall. Plus a few moments where we couldn’t help but laugh. If you’re curious about what’s really selling (and why), this one’s worth a listen. Check out Lady Jane’s (Romancing the Data) Substack HERE. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We decided to hurt our own feelings this week. We went straight to the Goodreads 1-star reviews on our favorite books (AKA Hell on Earth) and pulled the meanest, funniest, most ridiculous takes we could find, then tried to guess the book based only on those (very incorrect, in our humble opinion) reviews. See if you can guess them before we do. Play along while you listen! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three hosts, one book, and very different opinions. In this week’s episode of Bring Your Own, we break down The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez. What worked, what didn’t, and why we couldn’t agree - and don’t worry, we start spoiler free before we jump into the details! The conversation goes deeper than we expected, and the disagreements lead to great conversations. Whether you hate this book with a passion, feel meh, or liked The Night We Met, you’ll find an ally here! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we got REAL about our favorite romance authors. In this week’s episode, listeners called in to share their “roses and thorns,” the best and worst parts of authors they love. Some of these hot takes had us nodding our heads, others had us busting out laughing. Kendra, Kayla, and Brandi react LIVE to your submissions, share their own opinions, and dive into the highs, lows, and spicy debates happening in the romance book community right now. If you’ve ever loved an author but still had thoughts… this episode is for you. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all seen those “For fans of…” and “Perfect for readers who love…” blurbs on romance novels, but what happens when the comps make absolutely no sense together? This week, Brandi, Kendra, and Kayla are putting that idea to the test. In this episode the girls take two books with completely different vibes and mash them up to imagine a story that somehow works for fans of both. Will it be a chaotic mess or a surprisingly perfect match? Tune in, play along, or just sit back and enjoy the ride. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our March 2026 bookclub is No Matter What by Cara Bastone! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Bring Your Own, we take a look back at the Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde and the moments, characters, and stories that made the journey through Chicago so memorable.  We also take a deeper dive into the Windy City spinoff In Her Own League, talking about what we loved, what stood out to us, and a few things we found ourselves being a little more critical of along the way. Be sure to share YOUR rankings of the Windy City series and your thoughts on In Her Own League with us! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our March 2026 bookclub is No Matter What by Cara Bastone! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Bring Your Own, we put books head-to-head and ask the question every reader secretly argues about: which book actually did it better?  Kayla, Kendra and Brandi compare books with similar tropes, oddly specific details, and sometimes completely ridiculous overlaps to decide which book did it better. From big plot ideas to the most niche, random things readers notice, we’re here to make the call. Some debates are serious. Some are… deeply unserious. Either way, a winner must be chosen. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our March 2026 bookclub is No Matter What by Cara Bastone! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we’re spotlighting the most anticipated romance and fantasy releases of the spring season. From heavy-hitting, big name romance releases, to debut authors we can’t wait to read, these are the books about to take over your TBR. Whether you’re here for romance, fantasy, or romantasy recommendations, this Spring Book Release Radar has you covered. Drop the romance or fantasy title you’re most excited about in the comments, and let us know what we should read next! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our March 2026 bookclub is No Matter What by Cara Bastone! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bookish Game Night is BACK! In this week’s episode, Kayla, Kendra & Brandi put their reader brains to the test with: AU Meet-Cutes; the cutest alternate universe scenarios you never knew you needed Bookish Matchmaker; who ends up with which fictional characters? Name That Book; trying to name the book from just the first line. Can you guess before we do?! Grab your favorite drink, play along, and comment your results! Be sure to tell us which game was your favorite. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our February 2026 pick is This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author Stephanie Archer joins us to talk hockey romance and the conclusion of the Vancouver Storm series. We dive into how The Wild Card, Coach Ward, and Jordan came to life, behind-the-scenes series secrets, fan reactions, and the emotional journey of wrapping up a beloved series. Stick around and see Stephanie teases what’s coming next. Check out Stephanie's website here! Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our February 2026 pick is This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we break down the greatest fictional romances of all time across books, television, and film. From timeless classics to modern favorites that still have a grip on us, we’re covering it all! We share our personal picks and react live to voicemails from our listeners who called in with their own passionate takes. Which is YOUR favorite fictional love story? Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠! Our February 2026 pick is This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re judging books by their covers with no shame. From covers we think belong in the Louvre to ones that made us say “burn it.” No plots, no spoilers, just vibes. Which covers made you buy instantly? Which ones lied? Drop YOUR hot takes. Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠! Our February 2026 pick is This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page! Follow us on Instagram @⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, author Iman Hariri-Kia joins us to discuss the future of the romance genre and how contemporary romance is evolving. We talk about romance novels we love (including her own!), the wins and woes of modern romance publishing, and what today’s readers are looking for in romantic fiction. Follow Iman on Tiktok and Instagram Subscribe to Iman’s Newsletter! Join the BYO book club ⁠on Patreon⁠! Our January 2026 pick is Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi! Follow us on Instagram @⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠Brandos.Books⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠Kendra.Readz⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode we’re looking forward and discussing our goals for 2026, both bookish and beyond! Join Kayla, Kendra, and Brandi as we think intentionally about our reading in the coming year, what we hope to change from the last few year, and some personal hopes for 2026. Be sure to tell us your goals as well! Join the BYO book club ⁠on Patreon⁠! Our January 2026 pick is Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi! Follow us on Instagram @⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠Brandos.Books⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠Kendra.Readz⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re discussing the highly anticipated People We Meet on Vacation movie starring Tom Blythe and Emily Bader on Netflix! We share our initial reactions to the film, what we loved, what we hated, and what changed from book to screen. Have you watched yet? Be sure to tell us your thoughts on the movie! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our January 2026 pick is Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We asked our listeners to share their LEAST FAVORITE reads of 2025 and we are reacting live! Some submissions make us giggle, some break our hearts, and some make our inner defense attorneys come to life. Tune in now to find out which books made the list! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our January 2026 pick is Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi! Watch on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra  @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla  @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Kendra, Kayla, and Brandi kick off Season 6 of Bring Your Own by sharing their top ten reads of 2025, some honorable mentions, and their favorite shows and music thrown in to round it out! This is also BYO’s first full video episode - watch on Youtube now! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our January 2026 pick is Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra  @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla  @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we begin to round out 2025 we are handing out bookish superlatives to the best and the worst of 2025. Join us as we award books the title of Most Emotional Read, Worst of the Year, Best Audiobook, Worst Book Boyfriend, and more! Listen in to see if you faves made the list. Tell us who would win these categories in YOUR bookish award ceremony on Patreon, Instagram, or TikTok! Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! This December, we're reading The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow! Follow us on instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re joined by our friend Gracie (@grapiedeltaco on TikTok) to discuss her infamous BookTok Bingo Board and other notable drama that swept the bookish community by storm this year. As we know, the best kind of drama is the kind you’re not involved in, so kick up your feet and get ready to gossip! Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! This December, we're reading The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow! Follow us on instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're leaning into the holiday vibes and putting together our Bookish Naughty & Nice Lists. Anything and everything from the book community is fair game, from authors and books to our favorite bookish activities and more. Tune in to see who’s getting a candy cane and who’s getting a lump of coal. Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! This December, we're reading The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow! Follow us on instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winter is near and so are new book releases. We share the romance and fantasy books everyone will be picking up from December 2025 to February 2026! Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠! This December, we're reading The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow! Follow us on instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Thanksgiving! We’re celebrating by presenting you with various Thanksgiving tables filled with our favorite and least favorite book characters. Pick your table and enjoy the feast! Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠⁠! This November, we’re reading It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard! Follow us on instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with another Tier Ranking! We’ve gathered 21 of the most popular romance and fantasy books released this year and rank them on how good they actually are. Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠! This November, we’re reading It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard! Follow us on instagram @⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we reveal the books we refuse to read and why! These books include BookTok and Bookstagram favorites, and a few iconic classics. Think you can change our minds on any of these? Join our book club on Patreon⁠! This November, we’re reading It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard! Follow us on instagram @⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we discuss all things to do with Ali Hazelwood’s latest release Mate! We dive into our favorite (and least favorite) quotes, scenes, and spicy moments of the book and only fight a LITTLE bit. SPOILERS START AT 28:50 Follow us on instagram @⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠Brandos.Books⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠Kendra.Readz⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYT Best-selling author Lyla Sage returns to the pod to discuss her latest romance novel, Soul Searching. She also shares her top horror recommendations while playing fun Halloween-themed bookish games! Join our book club on Patreon! There you’ll find our exclusive book club episode on Soul Searching and the extra segment we recorded with Lyla this episode! This November, we’re reading It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard! Follow us on instagram @⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠Brandos.Books⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠Kendra.Readz⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re back with our third annual Monster Romance Roundtable. We each read an outrageous monster romance novella and take turns describing the plots in great detail. Books mentioned: Jack by Layla Fae, A Little Lick of Lust by Clio Evans, and Taking the Cursed Ghost Bride by Elliott Dailey Join our book club on Patreon! This month, we’re reading Soul Searching by Lyla Sage! 👻 Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we share which TV shows you should watch based on the romance and fantasy books you already love. Shows include The Pitt, Severance, Love Island, and more!  Follow us on instagram @⁠BringYourOwnPod⁠ Follow Brandi @⁠Brandos.Books⁠ Follow Kendra @⁠Kendra.Readz⁠ Follow Kayla @⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we list our picks for Overrated, Underrated, and Appropriately Rated Romance books that we’ve read this year!  Join our book club on Patreon! This month, we’re reading Soul Searching by Lyla Sage! 👻 Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re celebrating Kayla turning the big 3-0! We take a look back at 2008 in a “13 Going on 30” inspired segment, talk about what Little Kayla ABSOLUTELY thought she would have accomplished by 30, and play a mini game to discuss all the books that make us think of Kayla! Our birthday girl rounds out the episode with a list of books she thinks everyone should read before they turn 30. Join us on Patreon! Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fall is here, and so are our reading recommendations for the season. This week we each share books that are peak fall in terms of vibe, aesthetic, setting, and more! Fantasy, Romance, and Literary fiction recommendations included!  Join us on Patreon! Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We asked listeners to share things that make them swoon and fangirl in romance novels but would totally ick them out in real life! Join us on Patreon! Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, our lovely host Brandi is getting married! To celebrate, we share our favorite weddings from books, movies, and pop culture! Brandi also shares her excitement for the big day!  Join us on Patreon! Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re sharing upcoming Romance and Fantasy books releasing in Fall 2025! We’ll tell you which ones we’re dying to read and the ones we think you should skip. Join us on Patreon! Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrate Brandi’s 30th birthday with us! We talk all the feelings around turning 30, books that remind us of Brandi, and dole out recs with characters in their 30s. As Jennifer Garner would say - thirty, flirty, and thriving, baby! Join us on Patreon! Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices