Can I Bring My Book

Your book besties are back and this week we’re diving into dragons, moon shards, complicated fantasy politics… and one VERY spicy river scene. We’re talking theories, cliffhangers, emotional support dragons, confusing timelines, and why fantasy books apparently require a glossary, a map, and a support group. And because this book is approximately the size of a small weapon, we’re splitting this Buddy Read Chat into TWO parts. Buddy Read Chat The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker (Chapters 1–49) This week we’re talking: why rereading When the Moon Hatched might actually be necessary worldbuilding that hurts your brain a little dragon lore and moon shards our theories about “the Other”  and Kaan Vaegor becoming everyone’s favorite consent king Plus: emotional support dragons fantasy timelines that make absolutely no sense sparkle poop discourse and Amanda and Kat accidentally turning the episode into a spice analysis podcast 😅 ⚠️ This episode contains spoilers for chapters 1–49 of The Ballad of Falling Dragons What's On Our Shelf Dom-Com by Adriana Anders Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower New Releases We're Adding to our TBR The Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer The Last Book Club by Joanne Rock Bookish Conversations This week also includes: audiobook vs. physical fantasy reading why some books absolutely require a physical copy Kindle Unlimited discourse and whether fantasy glossaries are actually mandatory reading Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back and this week we’re diving into messy families, beach houses, sister dynamics, and one fictional mother that we absolutely could not stand. We’re talking time jumps, family trauma, pacing issues, and whether The May House really needed to be quite that long… plus book-to-screen adaptations, upcoming releases, and romance tropes we would absolutely not survive in real life. Buddy Read Chat The May House by Jillian Cantor This week we’re talking: sister dynamics and family dysfunction multiple timelines (and whether there were maybe too many) pacing issues and plot holes emotionally unavailable parents and characters we struggled to fully connect with Including: Ocean Avenue/Yellowcard discourse audiobook narration struggles and Amanda’s conspiracy theory about Veronica’s actual father Final ratings: ⭐️ Kat: 3.5 stars ⭐️ Amanda: 4 stars What's On Our Shelf Wreck by Catherine Newman Dom-Com by Adriana Anders On Looking by Alexandra Horowitz The Inn at Thistledown Hollow by Devon Yates Thinky Thoughts by Gwenda Bond Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah New Releases This Week Fever Dream by Elsie Silver Murder at the Hotel Orient by Alessandra Ranelli A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden Score by Kennedy Ryan The Shippers by Katherine Center The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker The Player’s Club by Rachel Mills The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff Safari Murder Party by Rachel Moore Bookish News & Adaptations This week we’re also talking about: Margot’s Got Money Troubles getting renewed for season two our thoughts on the Remarkably Bright Creatures adaptation Netflix vs theatrical releases and one adaptation that actually did the book justice A Fun Question For the Week Which romance trope would you absolutely not survive in real life? Because apparently: Kat would cry if grumpy/sunshine were her IRL and Amanda says “touch her and die” sounds significantly less romantic outside of fiction Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back and this week we’re talking about cryptid romance, queer representation, emotional sea monsters… and whatever the hell was happening with Skate God. So yeah... Things got weird. Buddy Read Chat Mothman Is My Boyfriend by McKayla Coyle Mothman Is My Daddy bonus novella This week we’re talking: cryptid romance as a genre (apparently this is our life now) our favorite and least favorite stories emotional support frog women and sea monsters why Skate God felt weirdly out of place and whether this entire collection is secretly an allegory Plus: Mothman logistics Flatwoods discourse “how would this relationship actually work?” and, we like our coffee with a side of what...?! What's On Our Shelf Credence by Penelope Douglas Honey by Imani Thompson The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah The Inn at Thistledown Hollow by Devon Yates Thinky Thoughts by Gwenda Bond New Releases This Week A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman Electric Shamans at the Festival of the Sun by Monica Ojeda Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter by Neil deGrasse Tyson The Anniversary by Alex Finlay Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez First and Forever by Lynn Painter The Last Page by Katie Holt The Forgotten Midwife by Laura Anthony Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth Femme Feral by Sam Backbessinger The May House by Jillian Cantor Bookish Conversations Audible's story house pop-up Hoopla love weird girl lit discourse And, whether or not book cons and events should have dedicated reading spaces and sensory relief zones (They should!) Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back and this week we’re talking about a book that wrecked us emotionally… but, like, in a meaningful way. This week’s Buddy Read Chat dives into We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune- a quieter, deeply emotional end-of-the-world story about love, grief, humanity, and what matters most when time is running out. And somehow… there are still hippies, flower crowns, and edible-fueled wedding ceremonies. Buddy Read Chat We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune This week we’re talking: black holes and the literal end of the world why TJ Klune keeps making us cry the difference between hopeful sadness and devastating sadness found family, grief, and surviving impossible things and all the strange people Don and Rodney meet on their final road trip Including: creepy apocalypse families hippies with edibles and flower crowns lightning balls (apparently real??) and one storyline that genuinely haunted us ⚠️ This episode contains discussion of grief, suicide, death, and end-of-life themes. What's On Our Shelf Credence by Penelope Douglas H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar The Inn at Thistledown Hollow by Devon Yates Thinky Thoughts by Gwenda Bond New Releases This Week Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel Honey. by Imani Thompson How the Story Goes by Andrew Forrester Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune Payback by Elizabeth Rose Quinn Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn The Author Weekend by Laura Zigman The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore Mothman Is My Boyfriend: Ten Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust by McKayla Coyle Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back and this week we’ve got a five-star buddy read that completely surprised us- plus cozy reads, new releases, and some very chaotic bookish news. Buddy Read Chat Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth This week we’re talking: a story that’s not what you think it is found family, second chances, and loneliness past vs. present timelines that actually work and a main character we fully supported… even when we maybe shouldn’t have Plus: plot twists we almost saw coming, imaginary friends theories, and an ending we loved. What's On Our Shelf Credence by Penelope Douglas The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston Thinky Thoughts by Gwenda Bond New Releases This Week Breakroom by Miye Lee Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto Death Meets Cute by J. Penner An Accident of Dragons by Cheri Radke The Duke by Anna Cowan The Story of Birds by Steve Brusatte We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune Bookish News & Conversations Rebecca Yarros dropping a surprise Fourth Wing novella 👀 Shield of Sparrows suddenly taking over everyone’s TBR Practical Magic 2 and our skepticism around sequels the very weird (and very concerning) Bookstagram trend you need to know about and the ongoing debate around DNF culture Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

We didn’t plan for this to be a Hump Day episode… but after this book, it kind of had to be. Your book besties are back… just a day late 😅 Kat was down for the count this week, but we’re back with a very special (and very fitting) Hump Day edition and, honestly... after this buddy read… it feels appropriate. Buddy Read Chat The Auction by Sadie Kincaid This week we’re talking: Beauty and the Beast vibes… but make it darker pacing issues and a story that maybe could’ve been shorter characters we liked (and ones we absolutely did not) and a cliffhanger that left us with thoughts Plus: age gap dynamics, character consistency, and whether this one really delivered on what it promised. What's On Our Shelf Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston Bookish News & Conversations the Goodreads DNF feature and how readers (and authors) feel about it when it’s okay to quit a book (and ask for your credit back?!) BookCon chaos- overcrowding, long lines, and whether it’s worth it Some self-publishing platforms are starting to charge just to upload your book, in an effort to cut down on AI content… and yeah, we’re here for it. Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back and this week we’re diving into a buddy read that had us… thinking, questioning, and maybe wanting just a little bit more. From cruise ship chaos and 90s boy band energy to character growth, pacing issues, and “is this a romance or not?” — we’re breaking down all our thoughts. And then… we get into it. New releases, bookish trends, and some real conversations about what’s happening in the reading community right now- from “biblical conviction” discourse to audiobook narrator controversy and where we draw the line as readers. What We’ve Been Reading Ryder by Jessica Peterson Can't Stop by Lauren Biel We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer The Astral Library by Kate Quinn So Happy Together by Olivia Worley Buddy Read Chat American Fantasy by Emma Straub This week’s BRC has us talking: multiple POVs (and when they don’t quite work) pacing that doesn’t always grab you character arcs vs. underdeveloped storylines and whether this was romance… or something else entirely New Releases This Week Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell Go Gentle by Maria Semple I Could Give You the Moon by Ann Liang Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West Wife Shaped Bodies by Laura Cranehill Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Nguyen Leave Your Mess At Home by Tolani Akinola Bookish Trends & Conversation This week we’re talking about: “Biblical conviction” posts and what they’re really saying religion, reading, and where people cross the line the role of politics in the book space audiobook narrator controversy and accountability Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back and this week we’ve got a little bit of everything- a spicy Buddy Read Chat, and some very strong opinions about plot vs. smut. What We’ve Been Reading Right Number, Wrong Man by I.M. Wraith Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson Nero by S.J. Tilly The Astral Library by Kate Quinn So Happy Together by Olivia Worley The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst Buddy Read Chat Game On by Navessa Allen This week’s BRC has us talking: audiobook vs. reading experience (and speed-running a book in one day 😅) steamy scenes vs. actual plot… and where the line is bonus chapters that maybe should’ve just been in the book and whether this one lives up to the rest of the series What We’re Still Thinking About Can a book be too focused on spice? When does a “bonus chapter” stop feeling like a bonus? And why do some books feel rushed? Plus: Kat gets called out for trying to pull a fast one on Amanda... AGAIN… and the chaos continues. Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the unfiltered opinions- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back and this week we’re diving into a buddy read that gave us feelings… and also sparked a full-blown texting game. What We’ve Been Reading The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson The Astral Library by Kate Quinn So Happy Together by Olivia Worley Women Living Deliciously by Florence Given Buddy Read Chat The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez This week’s BRC has us talking: audiobook vs. reading experience characters we love… and ones we’re not sure about emotionally messy relationships and the looming feeling that something bad is about to happen the entire time Plus: Amanda unknowingly participates in Kat's quote-texting game, and honestly… it might be our new favorite tradition, well not Amanda's, not that she'll remember. New Releases This Week How to be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself by Jenny Lawson The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst Son of Nobody by Yann Martel Nothing Tastes as Good: A Novel The Governess’s Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses by Amy Rose Bennet A Good Person by Kirsten King A Widow’s Charm by Caitlyn Paxson Mothers and Other Strangers by Corey Ann Haydu Game On by Navessa Allen What We’re Still Thinking About complicated friendships and loyalty mother/daughter dynamics how Abby Jimenez balances humor with heavy topics and what we think is coming next in the series Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the accidental games- we’re glad you’re here. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back, and this week we’ve got a little bit of everything for you! Current reads, a chaotic (and heartfelt) Buddy Read Chat, new releases, and some very strong opinions about what’s happening in the book world right now. What We’ve Been Reading We Need Your Art by Amee McNee Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson The Astral Library by Kate Quinn So Happy Together by Olivia Worley Buddy Read Chat Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Audiobook vs. physical book, science overload (or not?), our undying love for Rocky, and whether the movie actually did the book justice. New Releases This Week The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez Hunt the Villain by Rina Kent Beneath by Ariel Sullivan Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell This Will Be Interesting by E.B. Asher Seasons of Glass & Iron by Amal El Mohtar Robbie McNeil’s Hit List by Brianna Heath Book-to-Screen Adaptations We’re Watching Project Hail Mary (in theaters now) Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV+) The Devil Wears Prada 2 Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix) Off-Campus series adaptation (Prime Video) Bookish Trends & Controversy This week we’re diving into: The Shy Girl / Mia Ballard situation AI in publishing (and where we draw the line) Authors openly using AI vs. not disclosing it And the bigger question… what does this mean for readers? Whether you’re here for the books, the chaos, or the commentary- we’re glad you’re here. Have you watched Project Hail Mary? What did you think? Did you like it better than the book? We'd love to hear from you.  Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back this week with a brand new episode format (and, of course, plenty of opinions). This week, we’re sharing what we’ve been reading lately, diving into our first Buddy Read Chat (BRC) of the season, and catching up on new releases and bookish trends that have us feeling… some type of way. What We’ve Been Reading Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper Back to Me by Katie Duggan The Astro Library by Kate Quinn It's Not Her by Mary Kubica How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates by Shailee Thompson Sap and Secrets by Daphne Elliot Buddy Read Chat Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Princess Donut supremacy. That’s it. That’s the segment. (But also: conspiracy theories, boss battles, and… feet?) New Releases This Week (March 17) Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson Love Song by Elle Kennedy You Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews Innamorata by Ava Reid Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano Stakeouts and Strollers by Rob Phillips Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams  The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner A Latte Like Love by Michelle C. Harris Darling Daffodils Farm by Brittanee Nicole Bookish Trends We’re Talking About Target’s “blind date with a book” situation  Coach X Penguin Random House. Do we really need teeny tiny $100 book keychains??? ✨ If you’ve read Dungeon Crawler Carl (or the rest of the series), we want to hear your thoughts! Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back with a deep dive into God of the Woods by Liz Moore- a twisty mystery packed with old money drama, missing children, and a whole lot of questionable family dynamics. In this episode, Kat and Amanda break down the layered story set around a summer camp for the ultra-wealthy, where the daughter of the family who owns the land disappears… echoing the earlier disappearance of her brother years before. With multiple timelines, multiple narrators, and plenty of secrets hiding beneath the surface, this one definitely kept us thinking. We talk about the many POVs, the shifting timelines, and why this book feels like solving a puzzle while you read. We also discuss the characters we loved, the characters we loved to hate (looking at you, Van Laar family), and which storyline ended up being our favorite. And yes, we absolutely get into the messy family dynamics, the class divide between the camp owners and the town, and the themes around power, privilege, and who gets away with what. Along the way we also chat about: The joys of a Silent Book Club and how we stumbled across this book Audiobook vs. physical reading experiences Our current reading stats and why Kat has given zero five-star ratings this year Why multiple POV mysteries can either totally work… or totally lose readers If you enjoy character-driven mysteries with lots of moving pieces and a story that slowly reveals its secrets, this one might be worth adding to your TBR. We also mentioned a couple things in this episode, so be sure to check them out here: 📚 Silent Book Club Tampa: @silentbookclubtampa ⭐ Our episode about our star rating system: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cKYk4Ldoo2bPzFEFJmIKK?si=c53bfa6f8e45499b Have you read God of the Woods? Let us know your thoughts! Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

It’s time for another Bestie Book Swap Extravaganza- because apparently, four books in one episode is our personality now. If you’re new here, Kat and Amanda do "bestie book swaps" where we each assign one book per month for the other to read.  In this round, we break down: Why we chose the books we did Whether we understood the assignment What surprised us (good and bad) How well we actually know each other as readers And which picks felt like love… versus a mild attack There’s laughter, gentle dragging, honest reactions, and the kind of bookish chaos only long-term friendship allows. This format might be unhinged. But it’s our unhinged. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week, your book besties dive into Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy, and… whew. We have thoughts. Told from the perspective of 17-year-old Waldo, the novel follows her relationship with her much older, married teacher- and nothing about it is comfortable. Kat and Amanda unpack the audiobook experience (yes, we have narrator opinions), the pacing differences between audio and print, and whether this book feels “flowery” or sharply direct. We talk: Teacher/student dynamics and why that trope hits different when it’s not romanticized Whether the story glorifies the relationship, or intentionally makes it grotesque Waldo as a cry for help The role of neglectful parents and failed adults That closet scene (if you know, you know) And why Mr. Korgy being “Mr. Korgy” the entire time matters This one is uncomfortable. It’s messy. It’s layered. And it sparked a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about agency, power, trauma, and perspective. Final ratings? We didn’t fully agree, but we did have a lot to say. 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week on Can I Bring My Book, Kat and Amanda tackle a question that hits a little too close to home: do you actually owe a book your time once you’ve started it? What begins as advice for Amanda’s baby sister quickly turns into a full-on discussion about DNF shame, soft vs. hard DNFs, and the guilt that comes with quitting books- especially buddy reads, book club picks, and “you have to read this” recommendations. We unpack our very different star-rating baselines (five-star optimism vs. three-star realism), debate whether it’s fair to review books you didn’t finish, and confess to a few uncomfortable reading truths- including admitting that Wuthering Heights might just not be for us (But! We're totally still seeing the new movie!) If you’ve ever powered through a book out of obligation, quietly abandoned one without marking it anywhere, or questioned whether quitting makes you a “bad reader,” this episode is for you. Reading is supposed to be fun, and we’re here to remind you of that. 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week on Can I Bring My Book, Kat and Amanda lace up their skates (emotionally) and dive into Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid- the hockey romance that refuses to stay off all our feeds. With the book suddenly back in the spotlight thanks to the new HBO Max adaptation, we finally gave it a read… and then promptly spiraled.  Kat thought it was fine. Amanda had fun. But somewhere between locker rooms and very enthusiastic sex scenes, the conversation took a sharp turn into bigger questions: 👉 Should straight women be writing MM romance? 👉 Is this representation, fetishization, or something in between? 👉 And why did that specific word choice bother us so much? We talk hockey (kind of...?), Booksta hype, audiobook narration beef, the show vs. the book, and whether good intentions are enough when it comes to queer stories. It’s messy, opinionated, occasionally spicy, and exactly the kind of conversation besties have when a book is fun and complicated. Bring your book. Bring your hot takes. And maybe don’t Google things mid-episode like we did. 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

In this week’s episode, your book besties step slightly outside the pages and into the wider bookish discourse, unpacking two timely and complicated conversations happening right now. We start with a recent controversy in the Bookstagram world, where a well-known niche account misstepped with a post about “immigrants in romance” that quickly spiraled into backlash, deleted comments, deleted posts, and multiple apologies. Kat and Amanda talk about intent versus impact, what accountability should actually look like online, and where the line sits between peaceful discussion and piling on. We explore the idea of performative apologies, performative outrage, and the uncomfortable gray area in between- plus why deleting posts makes things worse, not better. From there, the conversation shifts to a bigger industry-wide issue: AI in books and libraries. We break down Libby’s recent statement on AI usage, the overwhelmingly negative response from readers and librarians, and the growing concern around transparency, filtering options, and the added burden being placed on librarians. We also talk about how AI-generated audiobooks and content could disproportionately hurt smaller authors, blur trust with readers, and quietly reshape publishing in ways we’re not fully prepared for yet. As always, things spiral (just a little) into broader questions about education, critical thinking, screen time, and whether relying too heavily on AI tools is eroding foundational skills- especially for younger generations. It’s a thoughtful, candid conversation about accountability, technology, and what it means to exist online as readers, creators, and humans trying to do the right thing in an increasingly loud space. 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

In this week’s episode, your book besties dive into The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig for a thoughtful, spoiler-filled buddy read discussion that goes way beyond first impressions. Note: this description and podcast episode both have spoilers! Kat and Amanda talk pacing struggles at the beginning, the moment the story finally clicks, and why this book ultimately won them over despite a slower start. We unpack the worldbuilding, the choice to keep knight lore intentionally light, and why that restraint actually works in the book’s favor. From there, the conversation turns spoiler-heavy as we break down character arcs, betrayals, and the emotional gut punches that land near the end. We talk Benji’s villain energy, Rory’s quiet depth, and the real star of the book: Bartholomew, the gargoyle companion who somehow steals every scene and breaks our hearts in the process. We also dig into one of the book’s central themes- the idea that stories shape truth, identity, and morality- and how repeated motifs around storytelling, names, and endings elevate the entire narrative. Plus: soft DNFs, knight-lore trend predictions, sequel speculation, favorite quotes, 4.5-star debates, Animal Crossing intermissions, and an unexpected cat-tastrophe. If you enjoy fantasy with strong themes, slow-burn romance that stays firmly in the backseat, morally gray characters, and books that reward patient readers, this episode is for you. 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

In this episode, your book besties kick off the new year by talking book trends, reading predictions, and goals for the year ahead- with Kat showing up prepared (notes and all). We start by breaking down the biggest reading trends from 2025, including reading becoming more habitual, the continued rise of ebooks and audiobooks, peer-driven recommendations over bestseller lists, and the ongoing dominance of romantasy. From there, we look ahead to 2026 predictions: shifts within romance subgenres, the rise of sports romance and cowboy romance, more genre-blending, more classic retellings, immersive audiobooks, cozy everything, fiction set in the 90s and early 2000s, translated fiction, and the growing interest in hopeful, “solar-punk” style storytelling. We also talk about the business side of books- why Barnes & Noble is expanding again, how retail stores like TJ Maxx and Five Below are entering the book space, the future of mall bookstores, and whether Goodreads is finally losing ground to other tracking apps. Then we get personal. Kat and Amanda share their reading goals for the year, including stepping away from rigid number targets, focusing on quality over quantity, writing more reviews, embracing DNFs, and reframing the TBR as a “wine cellar” rather than a to-do list. Kat also shares a goal to visit 12 independent bookstores in 12 months, while Amanda talks about slowing down, reading more intentionally, and leaning back into writing. We wrap up with a fun, reader-specific question: do you have authors you only read in certain formats? Audiobook vs physical vs ebook preferences, multitasking realities, and unexpected Lego crafting all make an appearance before things spiral delightfully off the rails. It’s a thoughtful, funny, and very us conversation about where reading has been- and where it might be headed next. 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Today, your book besties are diving headfirst into The Housemaid by Freida McFadden for an in-depth, spoiler-filled buddy read discussion. If you’ve read the book, seen the movie, or are just here for the opinions… buckle up. Kat and Amanda talk first impressions, rereading versus first-time reactions, and why The Housemaid works so well as a fast, entertaining thriller- even when some of the twists start to feel predictable. We unpack the book’s shock value, pacing, and what changes when you already know what’s coming, especially when comparing the reading experience to the film adaptation. The conversation quickly turns to book-to-movie translation issues, including inner monologue loss, perspective shifts, and why certain character motivations feel clearer on the page than on screen. We get into the moral gray areas of Nina’s choices, the question of whether Millie was truly “set up,” and why that interpretation matters more than it initially seems. Of course, we also spiral into character analysis- Cece’s behavior, Andrew’s deeply unsettling presence, Enzo’s suspicious language choices, and the lingering questions the book leaves behind. Then things get extra opinionated as we discuss casting and costuming decisions, what the movie gets wrong visually, and why “frumpy” does not mean what Hollywood thinks it means. If you enjoy thrillers, strong reactions, adaptation debates, and bestie-level overthinking, this episode is for you. 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook  

In today’s episode, your book besties are officially closing out their 2025 reading year with a full recap, a sportsballs-legit bookish bracket, and the ultimate question: what was our best read of the year? Kat goes first, walking through her favorite read from each month, explaining how her wild cards came into play, and narrowing everything down to one standout winner. Amanda follows with her own month-by-month picks, reflecting on romantasy binges, audiobook obsessions, and the book that ultimately stole her heart this year. Along the way, we talk about reading patterns, surprise favorites, tough eliminations, and why seeing your year laid out in a bracket can change how you think about what you’ve read. Below are our 2025 reads, separated by bestie...  Kat’s 2025 Reads Monthly Picks January: Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe February: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers March: Food for Thought by Alton Brown April: Heir by Sabaa Tahir May: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo June: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone July: The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown August: Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver September: Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen October: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab November: The Day Tripper by James Goodhand December: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow Wild Cards The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Kat’s overall favorite of 2025: The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown Amanda’s 2025 Reads Monthly Picks January: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros February: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros March: Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Given April: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson May: The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose June: Lights Out by Navessa Allen July: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid August: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid September: Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez October: Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver November: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez December: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden Wild Cards A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Amanda’s overall favorite of 2025: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 💙📚 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Join your besties as we dive deep into Brimstone by Callie Hart- the much-anticipated second book following Quicksilver-  Kat and Amanda unpack what worked, what didn’t, and why Brimstone feels both more enjoyable and more exhausting than its predecessor. We talk overhype, sequel expectations, and the growing trend of sprawling romantasy worlds that might be doing a little too much. Vampires, infected vampires, gods, the underworld, dragons, shifting identities, surprise villains, and unresolved plotlines all enter the chat- sometimes all at once. The conversation spirals into pacing issues, emotional fatigue, and whether reader demand (hello, BookTok) is pushing publishers to rush books out before they’re fully ready. We get candid about editing, publishing pressure, typos, ARC feedback, and what it means when a sequel feels like it needed more time to breathe. Of course, no buddy read episode would be complete without friendly arguments — including whether this series has ever been a slow burn, which characters deserve more page time, and why the emotional weight landed hardest… for a fox. If you love romantasy, have strong opinions about sequels, or have ever thought, “Maybe this book needed one less plot thread,” this episode is for you. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week’s episode is a full-on Bestie Book Swap chaos round, which means we’re attempting to discuss four different books, half-forgetting what we read, questioning past decisions, and absolutely spiraling along the way. You know… a normal episode. Kat and Amanda kick things off by revisiting their November swaps (or, was it October...?!): Cinder by Marissa Meyer and The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros. We talk fairy tale retellings, YA vs. adult reading preferences, overthrowing governments (as one does), and why Amanda has some beef with Cinderella. Then things take an emotional turn as we unpack The Last Letter—from early tears to multiple endings and the very strong opinion that maybe… just maybe… one ending would have been enough. Next up, December’s swaps bring Kiss of the Basilisk by Lindsay Straube (formerly Split or Swallow) and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt into the mix—two books that could not be more different if they tried. We debate excessive smut, questionable character choices, medieval Bachelor vibes, and whether a book can be both wildly popular and wildly exhausting. On the flip side, we gush about octopus POVs, found family, gentle magic, and the kind of story that makes you almost cry but in the best way possible. We wrap things up by assigning the next round of swaps- including one book chosen purely for selfish “I need to talk about this immediately” reasons- and tease what’s coming next in our ever-growing reading chaos. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week’s episode was supposed to be our buddy read chat for Wicked… but after attempting both the book and the movie, your book besties made a joint executive decision: we’re tapping OUT. 😂 In this episode, Kat and Amanda share their brutally honest (but still very us) thoughts on Wicked- from confusing worldbuilding to audiobook woes to the shock of discovering that the Broadway sensation is only loosely connected to its source material. We talk DNF guilt, hype that doesn’t land, and why sometimes sitting in silence is better than forcing yourself through a book you’re not vibing with. Then we pivot into a surprisingly thoughtful conversation sparked by a viral TikTok! In this episode, sprayed edges, Barnes & Noble avoidance strategies, holiday shopping trauma, and chaotic bestie problem-solving all make an appearance. It’s a candid, cozy, slightly unhinged chat- aka exactly what you expect from us. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

In today’s episode, your book besties go full chaos gremlin. Inspired by a random car conversation, we attempt the impossible: take the most popular romance tropes… and flip them. What starts as “simple enough” spirals quickly into: Grumpy/Sunshine becoming Hangry & Honey Forced proximity turning into a long-distance saga across continents Touch Her and Die… morphing into Touch Her and Live (??) One-night stands becoming Fast Fizzles Age gaps turning into same-day-birth hospital birthday parties Rich vs Poor → a world with no money Stalker obsession → “I forgot you exist” energy Miscommunication → talking literally all night And, an unexpected pivot into dog-run dystopias, dead bodies, bunk beds, and everything in between It’s messy. It’s unhinged. It’s creative chaos. And it’s exactly why you tune in. We may or may not have created the blueprint for a bestselling novel- or at least the world’s strangest writer’s room. Stick around for technical difficulties, accidental tangents, and the moment we realize we were definitely supposed to be taking notes. Thanks for joining us on this wild trope-flipping adventure. And if you end up writing a book using our ideas… just remember: you owe us money. (Kat said it. It’s legally binding now.) Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week, your book besties are diving straight into the world of book-to-movie adaptations- the good, the bad, the chaotic, and the ones we’ll absolutely watch even if we haven’t read the book (yet). From The Housemaid and The Running Man to Wicked, Frankenstein, People We Meet on Vacation, Project Hail Mary, and even The Odyssey (yes… Nolan’s doing The Odyssey), Kat and Amanda are talking upcoming releases, which ones they plan to read first, and which movies they’ll watch without a second thought. We’re covering: Whether you should read the book before the movie 2025–2026 adaptations we’re excited (or chaotic-neutral) about Tangents about childhood reads, reluctant TBR choices, and algorithm-driven destiny Bestie peer pressure, nostalgic thrillers, and why Kat is still trying to get Amanda to read The Hunger Games A mini meltdown over Wuthering Heights And, a whole lot of other unfiltered opinions And of course… we wrap up with Trope Talk, where the rules are questionable, the arguments are petty, and the tropes? Well, we might be recycling them at this point. Grab your popcorn (or your TBR cart). It’s adaptation season. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back- snacks, spoilers, and all- for a full-on debrief of Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver. In this episode, Amanda and Kat dive deep into Harper and Nolan’s morally gray romance, dissect the connections to the Butcher and Blackbird universe, and debate just how many serial killers one world really needs. Spoiler warning: If you haven’t read Tourist Season, go read it first — then come back and scream with us. From raven research and questionable nipple-piercing logistics to emotional moments with Arthur (cue the tears), they cover it all- the spice, the chaos, and the “take me now, murder daddy” energy that only Brynne Weaver can deliver. Expect laughs, tangents, trope talk, and a few serious questions- like, wait… was there even a hamburger scene? Grab your headphones and join the chaos as we unpack our latest buddy read! Tropes discussed: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, touch-her-and-die, revenge arc, moral ambiguity, and dark humor. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your Book Besties Talk Body Piercings It started with a random thought mid-read, and quickly spiraled into one of the most chaotic (and hilarious) tangents yet. This week, your book besties, Amanda and Kat, tackle a burning literary question: why do so many fictional men have body piercings… and is it actually realistic? From the logistics (and pain!) of piercings in unexpected places to the rise of “book-inspired” tattoos and the possibility of “book-inspired” piercings, nothing is off-limits in this chat. Your besties debate whether hockey players can safely sport piercings on the ice, dive into Reddit rabbit holes, and somehow end up designing their ideal book boyfriends- complete with tattoos, cooking skills, and the occasional pierced… well, you’ll have to listen. Come for the unfiltered laughs, stay for the book recs and the banter only Amanda and Kat can bring. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

In this episode, Amanda and Kat are talking Amazon's Scared Sexy collection of novellas. They can barely remember the details from one book... now six?! Yup! Cue the chaos!  Want to check out these reads yourself? Click here Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week’s episode is pure unfiltered book chaos! Kat brought the questions, Amanda brought the vibes, and neither of us brought a plan. We rapid-fire our way through a whirlwind of bookish Q&A: the books that broke us, the ones that shocked us, and the authors we wish would rewrite entire plots. From emotional blind dates with books to Kindle Unlimited rabbit holes and the heartbreak of overdue Libby loans… get in, bestie. We're going for a ride! Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are back, and this time… we’ve got thoughts. In this week’s episode, Amanda and Kat buddy read Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, a YA seasonal romance with big Barnes & Noble promo energy—and not a lot else. Is it cute? Maybe. Is it cozy? Sort of. Is it secretly a middle school book disguised as a fall-themed romcom? Absolutely. We talk about mismatched marketing, the "new kid in town" trope, and the ongoing epidemic of miscommunication in YA romance. We also get a little ranty about Gilmore Girls comparisons, sticker covers, and how many times one character can whine about a pumpkin spice latte. Plus: The truth about PSLs When covers lie What makes a real mother-daughter story Audiobook speeds that might actually break your brain And of course… Trope Talk is back! Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Your book besties are at it again! This week, we’re spiraling into our latest bookish obsessions and honestly? We’re not even pretending to feel bad about it. We’re talking blind date books we’re too nervous to unwrap, time travel stories that completely took over Kat’s reading life, and 2AM reading binges that we definitely regret in the morning (but also… not really). Also in this episode: Amanda packed six books for a two-night trip. Plus her Kindle. Obviously. Kat is in her wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to-read era. We debate the “Oops, They Were Roommates” trope and the joy of incompetent fictional police. And we shout out a few of our recent faves, including Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, The In-Between Bookstore, and Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Come hang out with us in the chaos. And maybe bring a book. Or five. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes can’t tell if we loved or just survived them. This week, Amanda and Kat dive into I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue. Did our FMC drive us up a wall? Absolutely! Did we love every cringey moment of it? You know we did! Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

She thought she had no triggers... then came this book. This week, we're talking unhinged books, a conversation prompted after Amanda read Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week, your book besties Amanda and Kat dive deep into their latest buddy read: House of Frank by Kay Synclaire. Selected via a whimsical trinket-based recommendation game (thank you, @emilysreadingera), this cozy fantasy read gave us adorable vibes, complex characters, and more than a few tears. We talk about grief, memory loss, found family, and the magical weirdness that is Ash Gardens. From chair brothers to ghostly dinner guests, there’s no shortage of heart in this story—and we have thoughts. Like: did Ollie’s behavior really have to give middle school boy energy? Why didn’t anyone notice Frank’s decline earlier? And should more of us plan to be turned into trees? Plus: Trope talk featuring haunted gothic mansions and cantankerous roommates A quick comparison to Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune And some emotional devastation that snuck up on us (yes, we cried) Also: Kat's Goodreads math skills are on full display, and Amanda may or may not be searching for fan art of two bickering cherubs. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

This week, your book besties try something new: letting an Insta reel decide their next buddy read. Amanda and Kat take on the “Pick a Trinket, Get a Book Rec” trend from @emilysreadingera — and it works (kind of). We also spiral into: Our favorite Kindle accessories (and shamefully naked e-readers) Our book merch wishlist A killer (literally) romance series one of us is binging And of course... trope talk!!! Books mentioned: House of Frank by Kay Synclaire The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Lights Out and Caught Up by Navessa Allen Butcher and Blackbird, Leather and Lark, and Scythe and Sparrow (Ruinous Love Trilogy) The Mindfck Series* by S.T. Abby Whether you’re a cozy Kindle girly, a glass-cup girlie, or a serial killer romance girlie (or all three?), there’s a little something for you in this chaotic episode. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes fall in love with monsters. Hey! We don't judge here!  What happens when your favorite book besties read a monster romance about a broke millennial with student loans and a very unconventional job? Apparently, a lot of screaming. And swooning. In this week’s episode, Kat and Amanda dive headfirst into Morning Glory Milking Farm — a smutty-but-surprisingly-sweet book that’s exactly what the cover suggests… and also so much more. We talk cinnamon roll love interests, interspecies acceptance, awkward audiobook moments on airplanes, tiny-hand tropes, and the surprisingly cozy vibes of Cambric Creek. Kat gives it 3 stars for being a little rushed, while Amanda bumps her rating up to 5 stars mid-episode. Bonus: we debate minotaur anatomy, read some of our favorite (unhinged) quotes, and explore the other books in the Cambric Creek universe. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

It’s our mid(ish)-year reading check-in, and your book besties are here to spiral through our top 10 books of the year (so far) — plus an honorable mentions we just couldn’t leave out. Along the way, we talk tropes (forbidden love! smut with plot!), tearjerkers, and why some books just hit even if we can't explain why. Our 2025 so-far standouts include: Amanda’s Picks: A Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht Are You Mad at Me? by Meg Josephson First Time Caller by B.K. Borison Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Lights Out by Navessa Allen Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Given Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Kat’s Picks: The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown This Is How You Win the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Heir by Sabaa Tahir Food for Thought by Alton Brown The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Honorable Mention (shared by both Amanda and Kat): The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes can’t tell if we loved or just survived them. This week, Amanda and Kat dive into Quicksilver by Callie Hart. Did we love it? No. Did we hate it? Also no. Do we have thoughts? You bet! Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes hit 2x speed just to get through the cringe. This week’s impromptu episode is a chaotic love letter to audiobook narrators—and a warning about graphic audio sound effects. Amanda and Kat discuss Lights Out and Caught Up by Navessa Allen, and why Jacob Morgan might just be the blueprint for romance narration. Also in this episode: Why Jacob Morgan is the standard and Teddy Hamilton just didn’t quite hit When sound effects in graphic audio go too far Amanda's love for Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez The joy of finding a perfect beach read The single dad trope and why it doesn’t always hit for us Quick trope talk: summer romances, accidental crushes, and Bridgerton tangents This one’s got chaos, crushes, and a little cringe. You’ve been warned. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can sign up here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes get emotionally derailed by magical realism. This week, Amanda and Kat dive deep into their bestie read of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown—and it’s anything but spoiler-free. NOTE: There are spoilers ahead. Proceed at your own caution.  We’re talking magical realism, time travel, secret libraries, mysterious mentors, and a plot twist that hit us harder than we expected (seriously, we’re still recovering). We cover: The Book of Doors and its time-bending powers Wild fan theories (Is Mr. Webber secretly Hugo? Could Cassie have become the Woman?) The emotional devastation of thinking Izzy was dead Loopy time loops, unlocked fears, and questionable time-travel ethics Favorite relationships (London + Izzy, Cassie + Drummond) Our favorite magical books (The Book of Pain, Health, Illusion, and more) A new scale: “More baby than Gandalf” This book broke Kat in the best way and gave Amanda some notes—and it made for one of our most passionate book chats yet. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and this week, we might need to explain ourselves. In one of our most unhinged episodes to date, Amanda and Kat spiral into the strange, sentient, and downright sizzling world of inanimate object romance. (Yes, it’s real. No, we don’t understand it either. But, do we love it? Absofuckinglutely!) Inspired by the absurd dating simulator Date Everything, this episode covers pretty much the entire catalog of Holly Wilde: The Deviled Egg Made Me Do SPF Me (sunscreen. It's sentient.) Taken by My TBR I Accidentally Got Engaged to Daylight Saving Time Laid by the Lint Trap Monster And, more! Then, we ground ourselves with some good old-fashioned trope talk, including: Nerds Falling in Love (Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood) Secret Identity Shenanigans (Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas) It’s weird. It’s funny. It’s probably going to make you Google something you’ll regret. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes get emotionally wrecked by slow-burn space heartbreak. This week, Amanda and Kat deep-dive into their July buddy read: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. (⚠️ Heads up—this episode contains spoilers from start to finish! Plus there's mention of suicide.) Set during NASA’s 1980s shuttle era, Atmosphere follows aspiring astronaut Joan Goodwin through training, trauma, queerness, and quiet acts of resistance. As she builds her future among the stars, she also wrestles with heartbreak, sisterhood, and a slow-burn romance that left both of us sobbing. In this episode, we unpack: That moment with Griff (yes, that moment—we are not okay) The opposites-attract magic of Joan and Vanessa The pressure of ambition vs. personal loss Barbara. Just… Barbara. Favorite quotes, least favorite characters, and the ending that broke us (in a good way) If you love space, sapphic stories, and soft, slow emotional unraveling—you’ll want to read Atmosphere. Just maybe not in public. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and ugly cry over them. This week, Amanda and Kat tackle the ultimate emotional damage: books that made them cry. Amanda brings the heartbreak with Sandwich and A Little Life, while Kat breaks down the emotional gut punch of At First Spite and the historical devastation of Salt to the Sea. It’s fine. We’re fine. (We are not fine.) Also in this episode: The books that broke us (and the ones we’re still recovering from) Bathtub rescues, emotionally supportive book boyfriends, and third-story windows Wartime tragedy, fake boyfriends, and devastating plot twists Tropes of the week: Damsel in Distress (Bella Swan, we’re looking at you) and Meet-Cringe (yes, that means Fifty Shades) Books mentioned: At First Spite, Sandwich, Salt to the Sea, A Little Life, Twilight, Cinder, Assistant to the Villain, and Fifty Shades of Grey Come for the chaos, stay for the tears—and maybe bring tissues. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and reveal way too much during bookish party games. This week, Amanda and Kat play a bookish round of Never Have I Ever — and things get personal. From dog-earing pages to borrowing books indefinitely, they confess it all (including some spicy inspiration). Then, they take a BuzzFeed quiz to find out their romance novel archetypes — turns out, they might both be the thoughtful observer type. Also in this episode: Their favorite book tropes of the week: Single Parent and Age Gap romances Cowboy romance recommendations (hello, Lost and Lassoed) Books mentioned: The Idea of You, Birthday Girl, Done and Dusted, Training the Heart, and several by TJ Klune Oh — and Kat may or may not have blocked a teenager for lurking on her Bookstagram. You’ll just have to listen. Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and confess our book crushes. This week, Amanda and Kat get personal about their literary love lives—aka, book boyfriends (and the occasional book breakup). Amanda swoons over her masked man Josh from Lights Out, while Kat... is book-boyfriend single. For now. In this episode, we dive into: Their favorite book boyfriends (and why morally gray is irresistible) The “I hurt you to protect you” breakup trope A breakdown of the masked man trope (yes, it’s a real thing and Amanda has research) A semi-rant about slow burn romances that take too long to spice up Whether hockey romance is worth the hype And the charm of fluffy beach reads like Better Than the Movies Books mentioned: Lights Out by Jodie Slaughter This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter Corrupt by Penelope Douglas God of Malice by Rina Kent Scream for Us by Molly Doyle One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Whether you're in a committed relationship with Rhysand or currently between fictional partners, this one's for you.   Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and bring zero plans. This week’s episode starts with birthday vibes and somehow unravels into hot takes, book haul logistics, and an existential debate about whether the "mentor dies" trope is a literary rite of passage. Amanda wants a birthday book spree. Kat wants rules. And neither of them agrees on how many books one person should be allowed to carry. They dive into: The chaos of viral book buying sprees (and whether they’re sustainable) Barnes & Noble vs. used bookshops (and Amanda’s inner struggle) Tropes of the week: The Mentor Dies and The Backstabbing Mentor Plot twists, overconsumption, and the unread blind dates with books sitting on Amanda’s shelf Also mentioned: The Poppy War, Circe, Water Moon, Pumpkin Spice Café, Ender’s Game, Shadow and Bone, and, of course, Harry Potter. Moral of the story? We should have had an agenda. But chaos is our brand.   📣 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here   Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and occasionally forget to plan ahead. This week’s episode is a full-on hot take tornado. Amanda and Kat may not have had an agenda, but they definitely had opinions. From mood reading denialists and Goodreads ethics to reading as “overconsumption,” nothing is safe. Along the way, they discuss: 📚 Why mood reading is real (and personal) 🎧 Accidentally re-reading the wrong story 🔥 Grady Hendrix’s unhinged author reviews of his own books 💬 The debate over reading 20+ books a month—and whether that’s somehow… bad? ☕️ Tropes of the week: Training sequences and The Instant Expert Also mentioned: Circe by Madeline Miller, Secret Window, Secret Garden by Stephen King, Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore, and Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. So, yeah… we really should’ve had an agenda. But where’s the fun in that? Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes black coffee reveals your reader soul. This week, Amanda and Kat spiral through chaotic quizzes, coffee orders, and the wild world of interspecies romance. (Yes, really.) First up? A deep dive into Novelist, a new tool offered by their local library that serves up book recs based on shows you love (like The Bear) or tropes you're obsessed with (like "found family" and "whimsy"). Then, things take a turn… What starts as a “What your coffee order says about you as a reader” quiz quickly devolves into debates about whether a deviled egg counts as a species, Amanda’s mom’s smutty reading preferences, and why Kat might need to switch siblings. They also share this week’s tropes: 🐾 Interspecies romance (we're looking at you, Signs of Cupidity) 🏡 Boy/girl next door ❤️ Enemies to lovers (with bonus fake dating) Books and shows mentioned: The Bear (TV) Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy Creature Cafe series by Cleo Evans Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter A Court of Thorns and Roses and Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas Come for the bookish banter, stay for the chaos.   Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here   Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes unhinged fantasy quizzes. This week, Amanda and Kat dive into a chaotic “Pack Your Bag” fantasy quiz—and discover that Amanda is a panicky pixie packing an anxious teddy bear and a goat named Bitey. Naturally. The episode spirals delightfully from there with a round of bookish “Would You Rather” (dog-eared pages or spoilers, anyone?) and a debate over naming pets—or children—after fictional characters. They also reveal their trope obsessions of the week: Dystopian societies (The Last Bookstore on Earth, 1984) Amateur sleuths (Nancy Drew, Thursday Murder Club, and more) And Amanda’s hot take? Everyone should read Finnegans Wake—but Kat’s firmly in the “absolutely not” camp. Mentioned in the episode: The Last Bookstore on Earth by Andrew T. Stone 1984 by George Orwell A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Finnegans Wake by James Joyce Tune in for the absurd, the cozy, and the unfiltered chaos that is Can I Bring My Book.   📣 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can signup here   Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook