Can I Bring My Book

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