Alan Opts Out: Consumerism, Chaos + Trademark Drama

Alan Opts Out: Consumerism, Chaos + Trademark Drama

Your book besties are back, and this week we're discussing a book that asks an important question: What happens when the high-achieving ad executive who's built his entire identity around success suddenly... opts out? This week's Buddy Read Chat is Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum, a sharp, funny satire about consumerism, ambition, family, status, and what really matters when life doesn't go according to plan. We discuss talking-to-animals children, secret social clubs, doomsday communities, surprise betrayals, and why every member of this family desperately needed therapy (and maybe a hug). Buddy Read Chat * Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum This week we're talking: * consumerism and keeping up with the Joneses * career burnout and work-life balance * family dysfunction * suburban social politics * secret clubs and status symbols * talking-to-animals children * and one betrayal we absolutely did not see coming ⭐ Kat: 4.5 stars ⭐ Amanda: 5 stars What's On Our Shelf * When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy * Honey. by Imani Thompson * Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist by Jennifer Wright * The Wedding People by Alison Espach * Costalegre by Courtney Maum * The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower * Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman New Releases We're Adding to our TBR * Heather by Caitlin Mullen * Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer * Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See * Cat Love by Tomas Q. Morin * Lost in the Summer of '69 by Eliza Knight * Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver Bookish News and Other Tangents This week we're discussing the internet meltdown surrounding the attempted trademarking of the phrase "Hot Girls Read," the backlash from readers and small businesses, and the surprisingly long list of bookish phrases that are already trademarked. Spoiler: we have opinions. Plus! A... fun?! soda spiral!  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 [https://canibringmybook.kit.com/signup] Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook [http://www.facebook.com/canibringmybook]

The Ballad of Falling Dragons: Dragon Theories + Library Advocacy

This week, your book besties are wrapping up The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker, and we have thoughts. We're talking favorite characters, heartbreaking moments, confusing plot twists, dragon lore, family trees, theories for book three, and the many questions we're still trying to untangle. Plus, we discuss whether this series is best experienced in audio, ebook, or physical format, and why some fantasy books practically require a dedicated study guide. Then we shift into some book world news, including a viral discussion about Libby, libraries, and author compensation, why library users should never feel guilty about borrowing books, and a Goodreads post that has us questioning whether book covers and titles are all starting to look the same. Buddy Read Chat * The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker (Chapters 50-book completion) ⚠️ This episode contains spoilers forhe Ballad of Falling Dragons and When the Moon Hatched What's On Our Shelf * Credence by Penelope Douglas * Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn * The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth * On Looking by Alexandra Horowitz * A Cute Little Murder by Molly Harper New Releases We're Adding to our TBR * Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore * Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman  * Let’s Not Go Overboard Here by Erica Hendry * Marion by Leah Rowan * Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum 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 [https://canibringmybook.kit.com/signup] Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook [http://www.facebook.com/canibringmybook]

The Ballad of Falling Dragons: Dragons, Desire + Cliffhangers

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 [https://canibringmybook.kit.com/signup] Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook [http://www.facebook.com/canibringmybook]

The May House: Sister Drama + Bookish Conversations

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 [https://canibringmybook.kit.com/signup] Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook [http://www.facebook.com/canibringmybook]

Mothman Is My Boyfriend: Cryptid Romance + Queer Joy

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 [https://canibringmybook.kit.com/signup] Can I Bring My Book Social Links: Instagram: @canibringmybook_club TikTok: @canibringmybook_club Facebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook [http://www.facebook.com/canibringmybook]