Can I Bring My Book

The Night We Met: Emotional Chaos + What We’re Reading

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.
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Project Hail Mary: Book vs Movie + Bookish Drama & New Releases

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. 
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Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Princess Donut Supremacy: Your Book Besties Talk Dungeon Crawler Carl

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!
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Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

God of the Woods by Liz Moore: An In-Depth Chat with Your Book Besties

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_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Bestie Book Swap Extravaganza

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.
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Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy: An In-Depth Chat with Your Book Besties

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.
💙📚
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Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

Do You Owe a Book Your Time? Your Book Besties Talk DNFing & Reading Guilt

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.
💙📚
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Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

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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Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook

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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Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook