13 Going on 30: Revisiting Books We Loved as Tweens

13 Going on 30: Revisiting Books We Loved as Tweens

Author: Brandi, Kendra, & Kayla April 30, 2026 Duration: 1:15:50
In 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

Tucked between the pages of your latest read, there's a conversation waiting to happen. Bring Your Own: A Bookish Podcast for Romance Readers is that conversation, hosted by three friends-Brandi, Kendra, and Kayla-who first connected online over a shared love of stories. This isn't a formal review show; it's the feeling of settling into a comfy chair with your most opinionated book-loving friends. Each episode captures their genuine, unfiltered dynamic as they dive into the books they adore, debate tropes and character choices, and pull back the curtain on the wider romance community. You'll hear them champion new authors, revisit old favorites, and share the unique joys and occasional frustrations that come with being dedicated readers. The charm of this podcast lies in its authentic camaraderie; the hosts' distinct personalities and deep passion for the genre make every discussion feel both personal and expansive. It's a space built for anyone who finishes a book and immediately needs to talk about it, offering thoughtful analysis, plenty of laughs, and the comforting sense that you've found your people. Tune in for a weekly dose of literary camaraderie that goes beyond the synopsis, straight to the heart of why we fall in love with stories in the first place.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Bring Your Own: A Bookish Podcast for Romance Readers
Podcast Episodes
2025 BookTok Drama Round-Up with Gracie (@grapiedeltaco) | S5E38 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:36
This week we’re joined by our friend Gracie (@grapiedeltaco on TikTok) to discuss her infamous BookTok Bingo Board and other notable drama that swept the bookish community by storm this year. As we know, the best kind of…
Bookish Naughty & Nice Lists | S5E37 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:52
This week we're leaning into the holiday vibes and putting together our Bookish Naughty & Nice Lists. Anything and everything from the book community is fair game, from authors and books to our favorite bookish activitie…
Winter Book Releases to Have On Your Radar in 2025/2026 | S5E36 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:58
Winter is near and so are new book releases. We share the romance and fantasy books everyone will be picking up from December 2025 to February 2026! Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠! This December, we're reading The Eve…
Thanksgiving Dinner with Book Heroes and Villains | Mini Ep [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:31
Happy Thanksgiving! We’re celebrating by presenting you with various Thanksgiving tables filled with our favorite and least favorite book characters. Pick your table and enjoy the feast! Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠⁠!…
Tier Ranking Popular 2025 Romance and Fantasy Books | S5E35 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:43
We’re back with another Tier Ranking! We’ve gathered 21 of the most popular romance and fantasy books released this year and rank them on how good they actually are. Join our book club on Patreon⁠⁠! This November, we’re…
Books We’ll Never Read | S5E34 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:51
This week, we reveal the books we refuse to read and why! These books include BookTok and Bookstagram favorites, and a few iconic classics. Think you can change our minds on any of these? Join our book club on Patreon⁠!…
Mate by Ali Hazelwood Deep Dive | S5E33 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:27
This week we discuss all things to do with Ali Hazelwood’s latest release Mate! We dive into our favorite (and least favorite) quotes, scenes, and spicy moments of the book and only fight a LITTLE bit. SPOILERS START AT…
Spooky Romances with Lyla Sage! | S5E32 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:58
NYT Best-selling author Lyla Sage returns to the pod to discuss her latest romance novel, Soul Searching. She also shares her top horror recommendations while playing fun Halloween-themed bookish games! Join our book clu…
Monster Romance Roundtable #3 | S5E31 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:02
This week, we’re back with our third annual Monster Romance Roundtable. We each read an outrageous monster romance novella and take turns describing the plots in great detail. Books mentioned: Jack by Layla Fae, A Little…