Can I Bring My Book

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid: An In-Depth Chat with Your Book Besties

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.
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Your Book Besties Talk Cancel Culture, AI, and the Bookish World

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.
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The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig: An In-Depth Chat with Your Book Besties

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.
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Your Book Besties Talk 2025 Book Trends & 2026 Reading Predictions

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.
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The Housemaid by Freida McFadden: An In-Depth Chat with Your Book Besties

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.
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Our Best Reads of 2025: A Book Besties Recap

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
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Brimstone by Callie Hart: An In-Depth Chat with Your Book Besties

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.
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Bestie Book Swap Chaos: Four Books, Too Many Opinions

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.
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When the Hype Doesn’t Hit: Wicked, Returns, & Reader Guilt

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.
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Your Book Besties Attempt The Great Trope-Off

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.)
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