Show Notes
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 Can I Bring My Book Social Links:Instagram: @canibringmybook_clubTikTok: @canibringmybook_clubFacebook: www.facebook.com/canibringmybook
More from Can I Bring My Book
This week your book besties are completely obsessed with Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry. After putting it off for months, we finally picked it up... and immediately wanted book two. We break down the biggest twists (without spoiling everything), compare it to Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, and ACOTAR, debate who the real villain might be, and share our completely unhinged dragon theories. Then we tackle a surprisingly heated question: What actually is the difference between romantasy and fantasy romance? Buddy Read Chat
This week your book besties celebrate Amanda's birthday by diving into Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy. And, let's just say we did not have the same reading experience. Amanda fell for the Nantucket setting, second-chance romance, and emotional family dynamics, while Kat couldn't get past the miscommunication, immature characters, and the "Gilmore Girls meets Jane Austen" comparison. We debate whether the marketing set impossible expectations, unpack the Persuasion inspiration behind the title, and somehow end up talking about Christopher from Gilmore Girls. Buddy Read Chat
This week your book besties are diving into Tropesick by Lauren Okie, a romance built around every trope imaginable. Did it work? Well... let's just say Amanda and Kat didn't exactly have the same reading experience. We discuss grief, second chances, childhood friends-to-lovers, ghostwriting, magical realism (or was it?), and whether a book can become a victim of its own premise. Along the way, Kat develops an unexpected vendetta against excessive description, Amanda defends the romance, and we both try to make sense of that ending. Buddy Read Chat
This week your book besties are diving into Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver, the second installment in the Cape Carnage series. And, we have thoughts. Lots of thoughts! We discuss shocking reveals, serial killer theories, Arthur's fate, Harper and Nolan's relationship, and whether that ending was genuinely shocking or just frustrating. Along the way, we speculate about who might secretly be a murderer, debate the future of Cape Carnage, and accidentally turn part of the episode into a public service announcement. Spoiler alert: we are not fans of the miscommunication trope. Buddy Read Chat
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