I'll Read What She's Reading
Episode: Our Booktok FYP (March 18, 2026)
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In this lively and chaotic episode, hosts Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy take listeners through the current trends dominating their BookTok For You Page (FYP). From anticipation for new book adaptations and the viral “hockey romance” craze to BookTok influencer discourse and casting rumors, the trio dives into what’s hot right now in the world of bookish social media. With their signature banter, they discuss recent drama, upcoming adaptations, bestsellers, and their own takes on reader community buzz.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. The Impact & Evolution of BookTok
[00:09–01:36]
- The hosts reflect on how much BookTok has grown since they started the podcast.
- BookTok’s role in shaping reading habits, launching careers, driving new adaptations, and expanding their personal TBRs.
- Quote: "Honestly, like, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for BookTok. We wouldn't have read certain books that have changed our lives if it wasn't for BookTok." — Reggie [00:54]
2. Sarah J. Maas & ACOTAR Fandom News
[01:36–04:24]
- Sarah J. Maas’s recent appearance on "Call Her Daddy" podcast (full recap in a previous episode).
- Eager anticipation for new ACOTAR book titles and speculation about the series' direction.
- Theories about books 6 and 7: same story, prequels, and potential main characters.
- Quote: “She said that this is unlike anything she's done before… I think the title will be very telling who it will be about.” — Reggie [02:49]
3. Movie Adaptation Hype: Project Hail Mary
[04:26–06:58]
- The trio’s excitement about an early screening, particularly for Ryan Gosling’s casting in the lead role.
- Discussion of positive early reviews, minimal CGI, and overall sky-high expectations.
- Quote: “When they announced that Ryan Gosling was playing Ryland Grace, it sparked my excitement to outer space.” — Kennedy [05:19]
- The group teases a future deep-dive episode on the adaptation.
4. The Rise of Hockey Romances
[07:00–12:03]
- Several hockey-based romance books and adaptations, including:
- "Off Campus" (and its upcoming adaptation, expected May 2026)
- "Heated Rivalry" and the surge in queer sports romance popularity
- "Windy City" series, especially following the release of "In Her Own League"
- The craze is fueled by both BookTok virality and real-world hockey events (e.g., US women’s hockey gold).
- Discussion of reading order, adaptation anticipation, and the unique appeal of sports/found family romance.
5. Deep Dive: Windy City Series
[12:03–17:37]
- Personal favorites, character attachment, and the importance of found family tropes.
- The appeal of sporting context vs. focus on romance.
- New book release ("In Her Own League") dominating BookTok FYPs.
- Series cover trivia: The original editions’ spines form the Chicago skyline.
- Quote: “When I tell you I cannot remember the last time I read a book and I reacted as much as I have reacted just to just a single word that was even said.” — Reggie [16:05]
6. Upcoming & Trending Sequels and Novellas
[17:42–22:19]
- Stephanie Garber news: "The Mirror of Infinite Endings" (a 3.5 novella in the Once Upon a Broken Heart/Caraval universe).
- Mixed feelings about the conclusion of “Once Upon a Broken Heart” and hopes for the novella.
- Curiosity about Garber’s "Alchemy of Secrets."
- Book whimsy and the desire for TV/adaptation: "I don’t feel like there’s a lot of fantasy books that achieve the same amount of whimsy as that little universe does.” — Kennedy [21:06]
7. Hunger Games Mania: "Sunrise on the Reaping"
[23:30–34:47]
- Reggie’s deep emotional investment in the Hunger Games universe; expectation for the upcoming adaptation.
- Teaser vs. full trailer rumors, speculation on timing, and the experience of seeing trailers in theaters vs. at home.
- Soundtrack hype and possible Noah Kahan involvement.
- Quote: “I have such an emotional attachment to it that I get teary when I talk about it… like, I have a special place in my heart.” — Reggie [23:52]
8. Book Adaptation Casting Rumors
[34:47–39:41]
- "Beach Read" adaptation: Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne from Bridgerton) cast as January, and potential Augustus Everett.
- Social media sleuthing after Fabian Frankel (of House of the Dragon) posts then deletes a script photo.
- The secrecy and timeline behind Hollywood casting/publicity.
- Fourth Wing adaptation: Speculation about Zaden casting and secretive filming.
- The hosts’ dreams of working on film sets—even just at craft services.
9. The “Red God” Delay and Book Release Humor
[39:41–43:15]
- "Red God" (Pierce Brown) officially not coming this summer, with rumors on Goodreads debunked.
- Popular memes satirizing delayed epic fantasy releases (Sarah J. Maas, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson).
- Quote: “The heart of the book just isn’t there anymore. It’s just not there yet. I’m working on the heart of the book.” — (Acting as Pierce) [40:49]
- Preference for staggered release schedules to avoid "book hangover" or reading burnout.
10. BookTok Algorithm and Community Reflection
[43:20–end]
- Observing how FYPs diverge and encouraging listeners to share what trends they’re seeing.
- Community engagement: Listeners are asked to DM or comment about their BookTok FYP news for future episodes.
- Appreciation of BookTok for feeding news, memes, and engagement—especially between big releases.
Notable Quotes
- On BookTok’s impact:
“It’s crazy the impact Booktok is making on the world—like on pop culture.” — Reggie [00:51] - On romance/found family books:
"If you are a lover of romance, I don’t see how you would not love these books… There’s this found family element, like friendship, and this group of friends that—I don’t feel like any other romance book can top that for me.” — Reggie [13:23] - On getting hooked on reactions:
“I cannot remember the last time I read a book and I reacted as much as I have reacted just to a single word that was even said.” — Reggie [16:05] - On adaptation hype:
“The reviews are so positive. Visually, it’s going to be so stunning… when they announced Ryan Gosling, it sparked my excitement to outer space.” — Kennedy [05:19] - On movie trailer temptation:
“I do hate how sometimes they share a little too much in movie trailers. But like, I just… I cannot look away.” — Reggie [28:39] - On book release delays:
“The heart of the book just isn’t there anymore. It’s just not there yet. I’m working on the heart of the book.” (meme, as Pierce Brown) [40:49]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:09–01:36: BookTok’s evolution and importance
- 01:36–04:24: Sarah J. Maas/ACOTAR speculation
- 04:26–06:58: Project Hail Mary adaptation anticipation
- 07:00–12:03: Hockey romance/adaptations trend
- 12:03–17:37: Windy City series deep-dive
- 17:42–22:19: Stephanie Garber/Caraval news
- 23:30–34:47: Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
- 34:47–39:41: Adaptation casting news (Beach Read, Fourth Wing, etc.)
- 39:41–43:15: Red God delay, book release memes
- 43:20–end: BookTok FYP algorithm, community engagement
Memorable & Fun Moments
- Ongoing Debate: Whether watching movie trailers enhances or spoils the adaptation experience (28:02+).
- Relatable Confession: Reggie comparing their emotional attachment to Hunger Games to family (“like, tell me about your dad—I’ll cry anytime I talk about my dad—that’s how I feel when I talk about Katniss and Peeta.”) [23:52]
- Cover Details: The original "Windy City" covers, when placed together, form the full Chicago skyline—cute Easter egg! [15:19]
- Adaptation Watch: Social media detective work on casting (“He posted the script and people screenshotted—it said January, Gus…then he deleted it.”) [35:38]
- Meta-Observation: Joke about authors' release pace in TikTok meme (Sarah J. Maas, Pierce Brown, and Brandon Sanderson). [40:43]
Listener Engagement
- The hosts encourage listeners to share what’s flooding their BookTok FYPs and what trends or news the algorithm is serving up so they can cover more community-driven content in the future.
This summary captures the episode’s energy, humor, and up-to-the-minute bookish discussions, making it ideal for staying in the BookTok loop—even if you missed the chaos!