Can I Bring My Book

Bestie Book Swap & Precious Little Robots

Bestie Book Swap & Precious Little Robots
In this week’s episode, Amanda and Kat are back with another Bestie Book Swap! We each read a book picked by the other—and, as usual, we’ve got thoughts.
 
Kat reviews The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, a memoir (sort of) about minimalism, consumption, and self-discovery. Spoiler alert: someone’s feeling a little misled by the marketing.
 
Amanda shares her love for A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers and her introduction to the cozy, hopeful world of solarpunk. We talk mental health, comfort reads, and why this book truly feels like a hug in literary form.
Plus:
Why "precious" is the perfect word for this book (and Amanda never uses that word)
The robot character that stole our hearts
A mini deep-dive into the Enemies to Lovers and Mentor tropes
Mentions of Yoda, Dumbledore, and yes, even Draco/Harry fanfiction
It’s a fun one full of bookish rambling, gentle chaos, and cozy vibes. Come hang out with us!
 
📣 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_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

How to Break Out of a Reading Slump

How to Break Out of a Reading Slump
Reading slumps—every book lover’s worst nightmare. Whether it’s burnout, life getting in the way, or a book so good that nothing else compares, we’ve all been there. In this episode, Kat and Amanda break down what causes reading slumps and share practical tips to help you rediscover your reading groove.
We discuss: 📚 The different types of reading slumps and what causes them 📚 How long Kat’s last reading slump lasted (spoiler: it was years) 📚 Whether reading challenges help or hurt motivation 📚 Easy, fun ways to get back into the habit (including quick reads, buddy reading, and switching genres) 📚 How audiobooks can be the ultimate slump-buster 📚 Plus, our latest trope talk—morally gray heroes and grumpy/sunshine dynamics
 
If you’re struggling with your TBR pile or need a little bookish motivation, this episode is for you!
 
Let us know: What’s the longest reading slump you’ve ever had? And what’s your go-to way to break out of one?
 
📣 Want to join our book club? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can sing up here
 
Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Bookish Hot Takes & Controversial Opinions

Bookish Hot Takes & Controversial Opinions
 
Get ready, book besties—we’re stirring the pot in this episode! Kat and Amanda dive into bookish hot takes, from whether reading a bad book is worse than watching a bad movie to the eternal debate of paperback vs. hardcover. We’re also chatting about series vs. standalones, dog-earing pages (monstrous or practical?), and whether smut is really just… well, you’ll have to listen to find out.
 
Plus, we’re introducing Trope Talk! This week, we discuss meet-cutes and found family—two of our favorites!
Tell us your bookish hot take in the comments or tag us on social!
 
Books mentioned in the episode:
The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection (Kindle Unlimited): https://amzn.to/3XKvqy3
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: https://amzn.to/3DrSrit
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune: https://amzn.to/3Fk7lrH
 
📣 Follow us for updates, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here
 
Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
 
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.

Books and Cake and Costumes

Get ready cuz it's Episode Ten Plus One: Cake, Cozy Mysteries, and Bestie Book Swap Updates
We’re celebrating our 11th episode (or as we like to call it, "ten plus one") with some bookish chat about cozy mysteries, annotated book swaps, and our latest reads. Plus, we talk about the books that inspired us as kids, the joy of missing out, and Kat’s spirit week adventures.
 
📚 Books Mentioned:
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: https://amzn.to/3WL15Py
The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan: https://amzn.to/4aLeUTO 
Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight: https://amzn.to/3EgO5dO 
Baby Dragon Café by A.T. Qureshi: https://amzn.to/42Bfstq 
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: https://amzn.to/4iJzKGT 
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros: https://amzn.to/3WO1P6j 
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin: https://amzn.to/3CDQZsT 
Strangulation and Strawberry Cake by Nancy McGovern: https://amzn.to/4aMDNyh 
The Spell Shop by Sarah Beth Durst: https://amzn.to/3WO2bd9 
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride: https://amzn.to/4asTs5P 
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker: https://amzn.to/3W1HCtz 
Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics and Lore (ARC from NetGalley) available for preorder: https://amzn.to/3CrCvwe 
🎙 What’s Inside This Episode?✔️ Kat’s Free Little Library find – a Martha Stewart Baking Cookbook✔️ Do we ever actually make the recipes in cozy mysteries? Amanda says, “heck no!”✔️ Kat’s antisocial book club experience (snail mail annotations!)✔️ Bestie Book Swap updates: Den of Vipers & When the Moon Hatched✔️ Our thoughts on Four Thousand Weeks and the concept of JOMO (joy of missing out)✔️ February’s Selected Read: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store discussion date✔️ Celebrate Literacy Week & Kat’s Paul Bunyan cosplay✔️ Teachers who inspired our love of reading and writing✔️ Rapid-fire book questions: dust jackets, book boyfriends, and favorite villains
 
📢 Join the Club!Want to read along with us? Our next book discussion is happening on February 23rd at 3 PM EST. 
 
📣 Follow us for updates, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here
 
Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubBluesky: @canibringmybook.bsky.social
Mastodon: @canibringmybook Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
 
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.

Books and Dragons

Reading Relay, Bestie Book Swap, and Fourth Wing Love
Can I Bring My Book. The podcast where we, Kat and Amanda, will tangentially discuss books... and so much more.
In this episode, Kat and Amanda share their recent reads, including 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, and Murder and Marble Cake by Nancy McGovern. They also discuss their January Bestie Book Swap picks—Kat reflects on Maid by Stephanie Land, a moving memoir about resilience, poverty, and overcoming stigma, while Amanda gushes over Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, officially joining "Dragon Club."
The duo dives into the inspiration behind their virtual Reading Relay sessions, explaining how it’s the perfect alternative to traditional book clubs for introverts and busy readers alike. They also announce February’s selected read, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride, a mix of murder mystery and community storytelling.
Whether you’re a fan of dragons, reading relays, or just need an excuse to curl up with a good book, this episode has something for everyone.
Books mentioned in this episode:
4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: https://amzn.to/4iJzKGT 
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: https://amzn.to/3BZBOtO 
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land: https://amzn.to/3E5N7RR 
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: https://amzn.to/3Wqutud 
Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight: https://amzn.to/3EgO5dO 
Murder and Marble Cake by Nancy McGovern: https://amzn.to/3ZX5UWD 
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride: https://amzn.to/4asTs5P 
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai: https://amzn.to/3E0DhjY 
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah Parker: https://amzn.to/3W1HCtz 
Need a copy of the pacing guide for 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals? Grab a copy here.
📣 Follow us for updates, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here
Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.

Books and Author Convos

Behind the Book: A Conversation with Tamara Lemus, Author of Runaway Fae
 
*While we tried to limit any spoilers for Runaway Fae, we recommend you get a copy of the book and read before listening to the episode*
 
Can I Bring My Book. The podcast where we, Kat and Amanda, will tangentially discuss books... and so much more.
 
In this episode, we are joined by Tamara Lemus, the talented author of Runaway Fae. Tamara shares the journey that sparked her love of reading, the inspiration behind her debut novel, and what’s next for her as an indie author. She opens up about the joys and challenges of self-publishing, building authentic characters, and finding her voice in the world of fantasy writing.
 
The conversation dives into representation in fantasy, the importance of supportive communities, and the balance between passion projects and real-world responsibilities. Tamara also offers a sneak peek into her upcoming projects, including a highly anticipated sequel and a potential novella exploring untold backstories. 
 
Books mentioned in this episode:
4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: https://amzn.to/4iJzKGT 
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: https://amzn.to/3BZBOtO 
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior: https://amzn.to/3AOUcVs
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: https://amzn.to/3W6Az2J 
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: https://amzn.to/3W97aVB 
Murder and Marble Cake by Nancy McGovern: https://amzn.to/3ZX5UWD 
Runaway Fae by Tamara Lemus: https://amzn.to/49Fc6Ha
Sugar and Snow by Irene Davis: https://amzn.to/49ILTYq
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: https://amzn.to/40mweLa 
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah Parker: https://amzn.to/3W1HCtz 
 
Want to know when Book 2 comes out, make sure to follow Tamara Lemus on social media:
Instagram: @tamsreadsneats
 
📣 Follow us for updates, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here
 
Can I Bring My Book social links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
 
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.

Books and Reading Goals

Reading Goals, Bonus Books, and the Icelandic Book Flood
Can I Bring My Book. The podcast where we, Kat and Amanda, will tangentially discuss books... and so much more.
In this bonus episode, Kat and Amanda take advantage of December’s fifth Tuesday to reflect on their 2024 reading goals and look ahead to 2025. Kat discusses revising her 2024 goal to better fit her busy schedule and explores plans to read more nonfiction next year. Meanwhile, Amanda celebrates a massive reading year (134 books!) and outlines her goal for 2025: maintaining her reading momentum while creating a custom Can I Bring My Book bingo card for the community.
The duo also chats about Iceland’s charming “book flood” tradition, why book clubs inspire more reading, and their plans to launch a Can I Bring My Book 2025 reading challenge.
Everything mentioned in the episode:Books
Runaway Fae by Tamara Lemus: https://amzn.to/49Fc6Ha
Watchers by Dean Koontz: https://amzn.to/3Od7crh  
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah Parker: https://amzn.to/3W1HCtz 
Sugar and Snow by Irene Davis: https://amzn.to/49ILTYq
The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson: https://amzn.to/4a2lYv4 
Murder and Marble Cake by Nancy McGovern: https://amzn.to/3ZX5UWD 
📣 Follow us for updates, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here
Can I Bring My Book social links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.

Books and Einstein

Cracking Spines, Comfort Reads, and a Nutcracker Love Affair
 
Spoiler alert for The Other Einstein: skip 16:00–23:20 if you plan to read it
Can I Bring My Book. The podcast where we, Kat and Amanda, will tangentially discuss books... and so much more.
In Episode 7, Kat and Amanda dive into their current reads, share their thoughts on DNF’ing (Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies and Tarta Americana), and admit to unexpected reading detours. Kat reveals her frustration over The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict and gushes about the delightful chaos of Will You Prescribe Me a Cat? by Shu Ishida. Meanwhile, Amanda celebrates her love for The Nutcracker in all its forms—books, ballets, and retellings—while fiercely defending her impeccable treatment of books (no cracked spines here).
The duo debates rereading books, comfort reads, and whether Disney movies and Die Hard count as comfort rewatches. Amanda declares her love for unconventional bookmarks, from playing cards to hotel key holders, while Kat admits to sometimes memorizing page numbers like a chaos goblin. The pair cap things off with the exciting announcement of their January book club pick: 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.
Everything mentioned in the episode:
Books
24690 by A.A. Dark: https://amzn.to/41DuRZH 
4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: https://amzn.to/4iJzKGT 
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas: https://amzn.to/3ZWvrR1 
All the Women in My Brain by Betty Gilpin: https://amzn.to/4idCls9
Almond Sprinkle Murder by Rosie A. Point: https://amzn.to/49lzQjm
Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop: https://amzn.to/408hdgn 
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary: https://amzn.to/3ZIuudS
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett: https://amzn.to/3OWYGNv
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes: https://amzn.to/41DWD8l
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior: https://amzn.to/3AOUcVs
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: https://amzn.to/3UXK8R8
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict: https://amzn.to/3CckRfo
Runaway Fae by Tamara Lemus: https://amzn.to/49Fc6Ha 
Sugar and Snow by Irene Davis: https://amzn.to/49ILTYq 
Tarta Americana by J. Michael Martinez: https://amzn.to/3NT3hj2
We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida:https://amzn.to/3ZEIvco
You Like It Darker by Stephen King: https://amzn.to/4ikvbme 
Programs and Resources
Readwise: https://readwise.io/
🎉 Join us for our December book chat on How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior on December 29th at 3 PM EST!
 
📣 Follow us for updates, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. You can singup here
 
Can I Bring My Book social links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
 
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.

Books and Rating Our Reads

Can I Bring My Book. The podcast where we, Kat and Amanda, will tangentially discuss books... and so much more.
In Episode 6, Kat and Amanda dive into the world of rating books, debating their approaches to reviews and star ratings. Kat breaks down her firm five-star system and shares why she’s okay with rating books she didn’t finish (hot take alert!), while Amanda reveals her approach as a recovering people-pleaser and the inner conflict of rating anything less than a five.
The discussion takes a spicy turn as the duo explores whether readers should feel embarrassed about their book choices—spicy or otherwise. Kat shares her perspective as a teacher balancing reading life with classroom boundaries, while Amanda explains why she’s unapologetic about her choices, even when they include emotionally scarring deviled egg scenes.
The episode wraps up with encouragement to embrace your reading preferences, a reminder to check out the December book club pick, How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior, and some light banter about cute covers for hiding your guilty pleasure.
 
Everything mentioned in the episode:
Books
All the Women in My Brain by Betty Gilpin: https://amzn.to/4idCls9
Almond Sprinkle Murder by Rosie A. Point: https://amzn.to/49lzQjm
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: https://amzn.to/3Zic0kf
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White: https://amzn.to/3YB1rZ3 
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett: https://amzn.to/3OWYGNv
Ghost Cat by Alex Howard: https://amzn.to/4fTjHV7
Ghost Radio by Leopoldo Gout: https://amzn.to/4ieT8Lz
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior: https://amzn.to/3AOUcVs
Intelligence in Nature by Jeremy Narby: https://amzn.to/4hqIAIE 
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/4fQHxjM
Split or Swallow by Lindsay Straube: https://amzn.to/3A88zUK 
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict: https://amzn.to/3CckRfo
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore: https://amzn.to/3YQE8fh
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama: https://amzn.to/3NT4WoP
You Like It Darker by Stephen King: https://amzn.to/4ikvbme
Plus! For anyone curious about the deviled eggs, you can check out this short novella by Holly Wilde. https://amzn.to/3VjWdQw 
Join the conversation, follow us on social, and don’t forget to check out our book club on Fable! 📚✨
-Kat and Amanda
 
Can I Bring My Book social links:
Instagram: @canibringmybook_club
TikTok: @canibringmybook_club
Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
 
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.

Books and Where to Track Your Reading Activity

Books and Where to Track Your Reading Activity
Can I Bring My Book. The podcast where we, Kat and Amanda, will tangentially discuss books... and so much more.
In Episode 5, Kat and Amanda chat about their current reads, diving into cozy fall novels like The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore and Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, whimsical fantasies like The Fellowship of Bakers and Magic by J. Penner,  and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee, and more. Amanda raves about The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, while Kat shares her struggles with the overly descriptive writing in Watchers by Dean Koontz.
The duo also explores reading apps, with Kat loving Fable’s features like spoiler-free discussions, detailed graphs, and its book club capabilities, but also confessing to some creative library “extensions.” Amanda offers constructive criticism on Fable’s tracking system and functionality while comparing other apps like StoryGraph.
They wrap up with the announcement of December’s book club pick, How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior, and some friendly banter about Bestie Book Swap deadlines.
 
Everything mentioned in the episode:
Books
Berry Ripple Murder by Rosie A. Point: https://amzn.to/40UgJef 
The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee: https://amzn.to/4eDAs5h 
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior: https://amzn.to/3AOUcVs 
How to Sit by Thich Nhat Hanh: https://amzn.to/48SXzHD 
Limitless by Jim Kwik: https://amzn.to/3CvjN6y 
My Bookstore by Ronald Rice: https://amzn.to/3UaCtOG
The Fellowship of Bakers and Magic by J. Penner: https://amzn.to/3UWDURg 
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: https://amzn.to/3UXK8R8 
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict: https://amzn.to/3CckRfo
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore: https://amzn.to/3YQE8fh
Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc: https://amzn.to/3ZaJ12W 
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/4fQHxjM 
Tarta Americana by J. Michael Martinez: https://amzn.to/3NT3hj2
The Wild Robot by: https://amzn.to/3YNxNje  
Watchers by Dean Koontz: https://amzn.to/3Od7crh  
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama: https://amzn.to/3NT4WoP
Programs and Resources
Fable App: https://fable.co/ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ 
StoryGraph: https://www.thestorygraph.com/ 
Bookly: https://getbookly.com/ 
Bookmory: no website but can be found on App Store
BookBuddy: no website but can be found on App Store
 
Join the conversation, track your reads with us, and don’t forget to check out our book club on Fable! 📚✨
-Kat and Amanda
 
Can I Bring My Book social links:
Instagram: @canibringmybook_club
TikTok: @canibringmybook_club
Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
 
Disclaimer: Some of the links included may provide us with a small kickback. There’s no cost to you, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll earn enough in ten years to buy a book of our own.