Show Notes
Can I Bring My Book: The podcast where besties meet books… and sometimes get emotionally derailed by magical realism. This week, Amanda and Kat dive deep into their bestie read of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown—and it’s anything but spoiler-free. NOTE: There are spoilers ahead. Proceed at your own caution. We’re talking magical realism, time travel, secret libraries, mysterious mentors, and a plot twist that hit us harder than we expected (seriously, we’re still recovering). We cover:
The Book of Doors and its time-bending powers
Wild fan theories (Is Mr. Webber secretly Hugo? Could Cassie have become the Woman?)
The emotional devastation of thinking Izzy was dead
Loopy time loops, unlocked fears, and questionable time-travel ethics
Favorite relationships (London + Izzy, Cassie + Drummond)
Our favorite magical books (The Book of Pain, Health, Illusion, and more)
A new scale: “More baby than Gandalf”
This book broke Kat in the best way and gave Amanda some notes—and it made for one of our most passionate book chats yet. 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