Bring Your Own: A Bookish Podcast for Romance Readers
Brandi, Kendra, & Kayla
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Bring Your Own is a bookish podcast hosted by three besties who met via the internet. Each week Brandi, Kendra, and Kayla chat (and sometimes fight) about their favorite books, authors, the bookish community, and more. The podcast focuses on romance readers and covers book recommendations, discussions, and community engagement.
Episódios
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The Best and Worst Books of 2026 So Far 23.07.2026 1h 8minMidyear check-in time! We're officially halfway through 2026, so we're looking back at the books that completely blew us away... and the ones we wish we could unread. From new favorites to biggest disappointments, we're sharing our best and worst reads of the year (so far), plus all the other media we've been obsessed with lately, from TV and movies to documentaries and more. Come see if your favorites made the list, add a few more titles to your TBR, and let us know in the comments: What's been your best (and worst) book of 2026 so far? Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Book Recs for Every Song on Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves 16.07.2026 1h 3minBaby, don't you know that you're my golden hour? 🦋 This week, Kayla is hosting a solo episode where she pairs every track from Golden Hour to a book that captures the same feeling, the same emotional beat, the same message. From the quiet dignity of letting someone go, to the giddy disorientation of falling in love, to the radical act of finally letting yourself be okay. There's a book for every moment on this record. Whether you're a longtime Kacey Musgraves devotee or just discovering it for the first time, this episode is for anyone who has ever finished a song or a book and thought: that's exactly it. That's exactly how it feels. If you'd like to avoid spoilers for a particular book recommendation or skip to a specific song, use the timestamps below: Slow Burn: 5:34 Lonely Weekend: 9:50 Butterflies: 13:33 Oh, What a World: 17:35 Mother: 21:46 Love Is a Wild Thing: 23:59 Space Cowboy: 28:40 Happy & Sad: 35:50 Velvet Elvis: 39:42 Wonder Woman: 43:28 High Horse: 47:07 Golden Hour: 50:37 Rainbow: 53:40 Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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They Opened The Bookish Khia Asylum! 09.07.2026 1h 31min🚨 Welcome to the Bookish Khia Asylum 🚨 We're following the iconic "7 Levels of…" trend, but make it bookish. From Level 1 to Level 5 in our case, we're deciding which authors, bookish things, concepts, opinions, ANYTHING- deserve each floor. Who's getting early release, and who's never seeing daylight again? Expect hot takes, and some ten-toes-down defending. Check yourself in and tell us: who are you sentencing to the Khia Asylum? Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Book Recs for the folklore Girlies 02.07.2026 1h 2minWhat if every song on Taylor Swift's folklore had the perfect book to match? This week, Brandi is hosting a solo episode where she pairs every track from folklore with a book recommendation that captures the song's atmosphere, themes, and emotional depth. From heartbreaking love stories to nostalgic coming-of-age tales, each recommendation is inspired by the world Taylor created on this iconic album. Whether you're a longtime Swiftie, a passionate reader, or just searching for your next great read, this episode has something for you. If you'd like to avoid spoilers for a particular book recommendation, use the timestamps below to skip ahead: 2:59 – the 16:11 – cardigan13:12 – the last great american dynasty16:41 – exile17:36 – my tears ricochet24:50 – mirrorball28:13 – seven32:17 – august35:55 – this is me trying40:01 – illicit affairs41:35 – invisible string45:00 – mad woman48:12 – epiphany51:20 – betty53:41 – peace56:15 – hoax Which folklore song would you pair with a book? Share your picks in the comments! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our July 2026 pick is Tropesick by Lauren Okie! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Hannah Brown Gets Real About Love, Heartbreak, and Her Most Personal Story Yet 25.06.2026 54minFormer Bachelorette and bestselling author Hannah Brown joins BYO to discuss her new book, Reasons to Be Loved By You. In this candid conversation, Hannah opens up about the inspiration behind the book, the personal experiences that shaped her writing, and the lessons she's learned about resilience, growth, and finding her own voice. We talk about the journey from reality TV to authorhood, what readers can expect from her latest work, and the message she hopes they'll take away. Whether you've followed Hannah's story for years or are discovering her for the first time, this episode offers an honest and insightful look at what has brought Hannah to the romance writing community, and how everything up to now has played a role. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, self-discovery, and the power of embracing life's unexpected chapters. Check out Reasons to Be Loved by You here! Follow Hannah here! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Queer Hades Retelling Everyone's Talking About | Chip Pons Interview 18.06.2026 58minYou'll come for the spicy Hades retelling and stay for Chip's incredible energy. We had an absolute BLAST talking with Chip Pons about Dearly Departed, the queer Hades retelling that's stealing readers' hearts. From writing swoon-worthy romance and irresistible tension to balancing humor, emotion, and mythology, Chip brought the behind-the-scenes scoop. Watch us tear up with emotion, then almost immediately switch to tears of laughter in this interview! If you're into queer joy, Greek mythology, lovable disasters, book boyfriends, or just watching a genuinely fun author interview, this episode is for you. Chip recommends these authors in the episode: -Julian Winters -Lyla Lee -Steven Rowley -Ben Alderson Follow Chip on Instagram @booksovrbros Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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We Need to Talk About Every Year After 16.06.2026 1h 18minSo we watched Every Year After... and we have thoughts. In this BONUS episode, we're diving into one of the most anticipated book-to-screen adaptations of the year. As huge fans of the novel, we went in ready to relive all the heartbreak, chemistry, and emotional depth that made us fall in love with the story. Join us as we break down what the show got wrong, why the adaptation missed the mark for us, and the key moments from the book that deserved so much better. We'll compare the characters, relationships, pacing, and emotional impact, & explain why the book still reigns supreme. If you've watched the series, read the book, or are trying to decide whether either is worth your time, this episode is for you. Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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BRUTALLY Honest Rankings of Our Book Club Picks 11.06.2026 54minBYO Book Club is officially 1 year old! To celebrate, we ranked every book club pick... and some of these takes toward the end might end friendships! From instant classics to books we wish we could un-read, we're giving our brutally honest rankings with zero mercy for every book we read this year. Which book do you think got robbed, and where did we go right? Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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2026 Books You Need to Add to Your Summer TBR 04.06.2026 1h 24minIn this episode we’re spotlighting the most anticipated romance, literary, and fantasy releases of the summer season. From heavy-hitting, big name romance releases, to debut authors we can’t wait to read, these are the books about to take over your TBR. Whether you’re here for romance, litfic, or romantasy recommendations, this Summer Book Release Radar has you covered. Get your calendar ready for authors like Olivie Blake, Sierra Simone, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Tarah DeWitt, Tia Williams, and more! Drop the title you’re most excited about in the comments, and let us know what we should read next! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our June 2026 pick is Score by Kennedy Ryan! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Everyone’s Losing It and Brooke Averick Explains Why 28.05.2026 43minBrooke Averick joins Bring Your Own to discuss her debut novel Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It and why modern life feels like one long emotional emergency. From existential crises to dating disasters, Brooke dives into the balance of chaos and sincerity, and why that combination makes the best stories. Known also for her hit show Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast, Brooke is no stranger to conversations about social anxiety, embarrassing moments, and being deeply online. This episode gets into all the messy, funny, painfully relatable details while unpacking Phoebe’s journey through sex, shame, adulthood, and trying not to feel “behind” while figuring life out. SPOILERS FROM 24:22 - 27:34 Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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We Have A Lot to Say About Cherry Baby… 21.05.2026 1h 15minDid Rainbow Rowell deliver with Cherry Baby? This week on Bring Your Own, Kayla, Kendra, and Brandi are doing a FULL deep dive into Cherry Baby. We talk about the relationships, the writing, the scenes that stuck with us, and why Cherry Baby feels a little different from some of her other books in the best way. We also get into our overall thoughts on Rainbow Rowell as one loyal longtime reader, a newer megafan, and a more casual reader, and how her stories hit so different for each of us. If you’ve read Cherry Baby, come hang out with us and tell us your thoughts because we have SO much to discuss. In this episode:• our honest Rainbow Rowell thoughts• favorite moments from Cherry Baby• what worked really well for us• the characters we got attached to immediately• why this book stayed on our minds after finishing it Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on TikTok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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We Need to Talk About Off Campus 20.05.2026 1h 17minWe couldn’t just NOT talk about Off Campus, so two episodes this week it is! We binged all of Off Campus, the brand-new TV adaptation inspired by the hockey romance book series that took BookTok by storm. Now, we’re breaking down our first impressions, favorite moments, casting choices, what worked (and what didn’t), and whether the show lives up to the hype of the original books. From iconic scenes to character chemistry, we’re discussing all the drama, romance, and adaptation choices fans are already talking about. Did Off Campus stay true to the books? Which characters stole the show? Are we officially obsessed? Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow us on Tiktok @BringYourOwnPod_ Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Tier Ranking Your Favorite Book Couples 14.05.2026 57min🚨 YOUR FAVORITE BOOK COUPLE IS BREAKING UP 🚨 Okay… maybe not literally… but we are tier ranking some of your favorite iconic romance book couples and making some VERY controversial decisions. From “together in every lifetime” to “not making it down the aisle,” we’re sorting your faves into tiers, defending our hot takes, and probably starting arguments along the way. Join us for chaos, romance discourse, and way too much emotional investment in fictional relationships on this week’s episode of BYO. Who’s S-tier and who’s getting dumped? Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Books to Define a Year: Celebrating Kendra 07.05.2026 1h 1minA year of reading, evolving, and growth! We’re celebrating Kendra the only way we know how: through love and stories. In this special episode, we look back on the reads and other media that defined Kendra’s past year, with books like Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Correspondent by Ann Patchett, Phoebe Beman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick, No Matter What by Cara Bastone, and more. We also revisit her old BookTok videos (RECEIPTS, PROOF, TIMELINES, etc., etc.), reflect on how her 27th year has shaped her, and look forward to more joy to come. Expect a mix of nostalgia, honest reactions, a little chaos, and plenty of book recommendations along the way. Come celebrate Kendra with us through the stories that shaped her year! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our May 2026 pick is Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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13 Going on 30: Revisiting Books We Loved as Tweens 30.04.2026 1h 15minIn this week's episode Kayla, Kendra, and Brandi take a nostalgic dive back into the books that shaped us during our tween years, and the stories we once obsessed over. Now that we’re older (and allegedly wiser), we’re revisiting these favorites with fresh eyes. Do they still hold up? Were they as deep as we remembered, or just dramatic in that perfectly middle-school way? We found a mix of heartfelt reflection, some light roasting, and even some “wait… why did no one question this??” Let us know, what book defined your tween years, and are you brave enough to reread it now? Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Reader Rot: Breaking Down the New York Times & Kindle Best-Sellers Lists 23.04.2026 1h 6minThis week, we’re launching the first edition of Reader Rot, and things got interesting fast. We got into the weeds with the NYT and Amazon Kindle best seller's lists and dissected them down to the smallest of details like subgenre, publishing houses, and page counts. The results weren’t what we expected. Join Kendra, Kayla, and Brandi as we dig into what’s actually dominating the charts right now, where trad and indie are showing up, and what these lists might say about reading trends overall. Plus a few moments where we couldn’t help but laugh. If you’re curious about what’s really selling (and why), this one’s worth a listen. Check out Lady Jane’s (Romancing the Data) Substack HERE. Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Reading 1-Star Review of our Favorite Books 16.04.2026 51minWe decided to hurt our own feelings this week. We went straight to the Goodreads 1-star reviews on our favorite books (AKA Hell on Earth) and pulled the meanest, funniest, most ridiculous takes we could find, then tried to guess the book based only on those (very incorrect, in our humble opinion) reviews. See if you can guess them before we do. Play along while you listen! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez Deep Dive 09.04.2026 1h 3minThree hosts, one book, and very different opinions. In this week’s episode of Bring Your Own, we break down The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez. What worked, what didn’t, and why we couldn’t agree - and don’t worry, we start spoiler free before we jump into the details! The conversation goes deeper than we expected, and the disagreements lead to great conversations. Whether you hate this book with a passion, feel meh, or liked The Night We Met, you’ll find an ally here! Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Romance Author Rose & Thorn 02.04.2026 1h 10minThis week we got REAL about our favorite romance authors. In this week’s episode, listeners called in to share their “roses and thorns,” the best and worst parts of authors they love. Some of these hot takes had us nodding our heads, others had us busting out laughing. Kendra, Kayla, and Brandi react LIVE to your submissions, share their own opinions, and dive into the highs, lows, and spicy debates happening in the romance book community right now. If you’ve ever loved an author but still had thoughts… this episode is for you. Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our April 2026 pick is The Name Game by Beth O'Leary! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Mismatched Book Comps 26.03.2026 59minWe’ve all seen those “For fans of…” and “Perfect for readers who love…” blurbs on romance novels, but what happens when the comps make absolutely no sense together? This week, Brandi, Kendra, and Kayla are putting that idea to the test. In this episode the girls take two books with completely different vibes and mash them up to imagine a story that somehow works for fans of both. Will it be a chaotic mess or a surprisingly perfect match? Tune in, play along, or just sit back and enjoy the ride. Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our March 2026 bookclub is No Matter What by Cara Bastone! Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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