Bring Your Own: A Bookish Podcast for Romance Readers

WELCOME TO BYO UNIVERSITY. CLASS IS OFFICIALLY IN SESSION.

Forget everything you thought you knew about school because at BYO University, the only thing on the syllabus is our book recs. In this episode, we’re handing out our very own book recommendations based on different school subjects. If you’re majoring in English, minoring in Biology, barely passing Math, or somehow enrolled in a class you absolutely did not sign up for, we have a book for you.

From history to science, art to math, we’re building the ultimate bookish class schedule and assigning the perfect reads to every subject. Consider this your back-to-school reading list, BYO edition.

So grab your backpack, find a seat, and get ready to take notes because class is in session at BYO University!

Join the BYO book club on Patreon! Our September 2026 pick is Married With Benefits by Ellie Palmer

Watch on YouTube

Follow us on Instagram @BringYourOwnPod

Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books

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Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf
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This week we're joined by the author of one of our favorite books of the year, Into the Blue, by the one and only Emma Brodie! We talk all things art, acting, fandom, and the kind of love story that feels almost impossible to explain.

Emma takes us behind the scenes of AJ and Noah’s years-spanning relationship, including the cosmic connection between them, the role of improv and trust in their romance, and how she kept the tension alive through years of separation. We also dig into AJ’s fandom obsession, the book’s Reylo and Wuthering Heights influences, and the surprising origins of Noah, who actually survived from one of Emma’s abandoned novels.

We have a small spoiler section starting at 55:37. Feel free to skip that section if you have not yet read Into the Blue, which you absolutely MUST!

Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our September 2026 pick is Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer!

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Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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The best fall 2026 book releases are almost here, and we’re breaking down all the most anticipated new books coming out this fall! From romance and fantasy to books we’ve been waiting YEARS to read, we’re sharing our complete fall book release radar and the upcoming releases currently at the top of our TBRs.

In this episode, we discuss The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig, Free Falling by Lyla Sage, Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, The Last King of Faerie by Cassandra Clare, Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison, Empire by Sabaa Tahir, and SO many more of the most anticipated Fall 2026 book releases.

If you’re looking for your next fall read, wondering which new romance books and new fantasy books are coming out this season, or just need an excuse to add even more books to your TBR, consider this your ultimate guide to the fall 2026 books we can’t wait to read.

What are your most anticipated books coming out this fall? Let us know in the comments!

Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our September 2026 pick is Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer!

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Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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In this special birthday episode, Brandi looks back on the past year, of course talks about the books that made the biggest impact on her, and spends a very healthy amount of time talking about Bravo. Then things take a turn when Kendra and Kayla get the chance to Bookishly roast Brandi on her birthday. Consider this her annual performance review, but with significantly more bullying.

In this episode:7:23–16:33 - Brandi’s year in review16:33–18:54 - The books that impacted her most18:54–38:40 - Bravo, obviously38:40–1:03:16 - The Bookish Brandi roast

Come celebrate Brandi’s birthday with us, and maybe learn a little more about what’s made her year (and what makes her roastable).

Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our August 2026 pick is Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt!

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Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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We asked you for your hottest bookish takes, and now we’re reacting to them completely blind. No context, no preparation, just our immediate thoughts on your most controversial opinions.

We’re bringing our own takes to the table too, and what started as a bunch of hot takes ended up sparking some surprisingly deep conversations about books, reading, and why we love the stories we do.

Watch the episode and let us know which take you’re defending with your whole chest. Drop your hot take in the comments.

Join the BYO book club ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Our August 2026 pick is Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt!

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Follow us on Tiktok @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BringYourOwnPod_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Brandi @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brandos.Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Kendra @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendra.Readz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Kayla @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kaylas.Bookshelf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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