Transcript

A (0:00)

Foreign.

B (0:09)

Hi, guys. Welcome back to I'll read what she's reading. I'm Kennedy. I'm Mikayla.

A (0:13)

And I'm Reggie.

B (0:13)

And today we are spilling some tea because you guys gave us your bookish confessions. And we're about to see what saucy stuff you guys submitted.

A (0:25)

I mean, I've only glanced at them, but some of these are, like, diabolical.

B (0:29)

Ooh.

C (0:30)

Yeah.

A (0:31)

I can't believe some of you.

C (0:33)

I haven't looked at a lot, but I've only looked at one, and I. My jaw's on the ground reading it.

B (0:38)

Do you guys have any bookish confessions?

A (0:40)

Maybe this isn't, like, in the realm of what people submitted.

B (0:44)

Oh, no.

A (0:46)

But I've never told you guys this, but it doesn't matter because I don't even remember.

B (0:51)

I'm scared.

A (0:52)

But when Mikaela first said on the podcast that she had read Manacold, I was like, I'm never gonna read that. And I went and read a whole synopsis of everything that happened in Manacold. Do not remember anything I read.

B (1:07)

Wait, so you did that before reading Manacled and then you read Manacold and you didn't remember any of it?

A (1:11)

Yeah. Isn't that weird?

B (1:12)

How did you not remember anything?

A (1:15)

I don't know. Isn't that so weird? Like, I just remember being like, I'll never read that. It's, like, so long. It's a fan fiction. Like, I'll never. And I went and read the, like, a whole synopsis of it, and it took me, like, 45 minutes to read it. And I just remember being like, eh, okay.

B (1:32)

Summary

Podcast Summary: I’ll Read What She’s Reading

Episode: SHOCKING Bookish Confessions
Date: November 26, 2025
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy

Main Theme

This episode dives into the "Bookish Confessions" submitted by listeners—those guilty, quirky, or shocking reading habits you might be too embarrassed to admit in public. The hosts candidly share their own confessions, react to listeners', and riff on the ways everyone experiences books differently, all while keeping the tone playful, light, and a little chaotic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hosts’ Own Bookish Confessions

Spoiling Books (and Forgetting It):
- Reggie admits to spoiling the fanfic Manacled for herself by reading a detailed synopsis, then forgetting all the details before eventually reading and loving the book.
  - “I spoiled Manacled for myself, and then I forgot about it.” (01:57, Reggie)
  - “So I am just so glad that my memory was wiped and I got to have a Hermione slash Helena moment.” (01:44, Reggie)
Reading Methods:
- Kennedy and Mikayla share they always try to go into books “blind.”
- Honest policy with book club picks—if they skip, they’d admit it.

2. Wild Listener Confessions & Reactions

a. Not Finishing or Delaying Books

Some listeners stop reading in the middle of the climax because they “don't want it to end.”
- “That’s wild to me…My brain could not do that.” (04:08, Reggie)
Others read books across multiple formats—physical, Kindle, audiobook—and buy multiple copies to read at night.

b. Spoiling Endings & Skipping

Skipping to the last page or Googling if a character dies:
- “I want the emotional pain!” (06:02, Kennedy)
- All hosts react with judgment and confusion but acknowledge some people just want to avoid attachment.
Skipping “spicy” (romantic) scenes, or reading only the spicy parts:
- “Sometimes it feels like I’m reading about two different people.” (10:19, Reggie)
Skimming or skipping inner dialogue or battle scenes.
- “I cannot relate because I love battle scenes!” (24:04, Mikayla)
- Some say they just skim “most battle scenes in fantasy.”

c. Peculiar Habits

Reading in social situations (Kindle at a sporting event during lulls).
- “What’s so different between you scrolling on your phone and me reading my book?” (08:07, Kennedy)
Stopping reading in the middle of paragraphs or pages:
- “That’s like, an itch I can’t scratch. I actually can’t stop reading until I finish a chapter.” (13:11, Kennedy)
Forgetting character names or entire book plots after finishing.
- “Girl, were you listening to it? Were you skimming it? I can’t imagine, like, physically reading it and forgetting everything!” (17:15, Reggie)

d. Practical Reader Confessions

Checking Libby wait times in Barnes & Noble before buying a book.
Suspending Libby holds for months if not in the mood.
Only reading books with a 4.0+ Goodreads rating (with caveats).
- “A good reads rating definitely…plays a part in my rating or if I’m gonna read the book…” (27:29, Reggie)

e. Petty Irritations

Skipping flashbacks, prequels, or epilogues; not liking non-linear storytelling.
- “As an earlier reader I hated those as well.” (28:05, Mikayla)
Nicknames between MMC and FMC (“main male character”/“main female character”) are a DNF trigger for some.
- “Sometimes they can be overused…sometimes they can feel a little cringey.” (26:08, Reggie)

f. Audiobook Speed Preferences

Some listeners only listen at 1x speed, which boggles the hosts.
- “It sounds like they’re talking in slow motion to me.” (30:02, Kennedy)

g. Book Smells

One listener creates theories about how her books smell a certain way.
- “Can you elaborate, please?” (22:42, Mikayla, amused and baffled)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“A lot of people would wish for that—a Hermione slash Helena moment.” (01:44, Reggie)
“I’m too nosy for that. I gotta know how things end.” (04:21, Kennedy)
“Sometimes when I’m in Barnes & Noble…I’ll go on the Libby app and see how long the wait is before I actually buy the book. That’s smart.” (05:36, Kennedy)
“I want the emotional pain!” (06:02, Kennedy, re: spoilers)
“What’s so different between you scrolling on your phone and me reading my book? Same thing—I just might look a little bit nerdier.” (08:07, Kennedy)
“If it feels too long, I just won’t read it.” (24:27, listener confession)
“My memory is just not there…there’s a million tabs open in my brain, and one of them cannot be what page I’m on.” (15:54, Mikayla)
“If the MMC and the FMC have nicknames for each other, I will usually DNF the book.” (25:46, listener confession)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:13 | Episode intro, bookish confessions premise | | 01:07 | Reggie’s Manacled confession | | 04:46 | First listener confession: stopping before climax | | 06:41 | Spoiling books by Googling characters | | 07:46 | Reading in social situations | | 09:19 | Skipping spicy scenes | | 11:04 | Skipping/skimming inner dialogue | | 13:11 | Not finishing at the end of a chapter | | 16:24 | Forgetting character names/book events | | 17:15 | Forgetting entire series’ plots | | 19:10 | Libby confession | | 20:13 | Getting bored after the couple gets together (romance) | | 22:18 | Book smells theory | | 23:01 | Skipping battle scenes | | 24:27 | Avoiding long books | | 26:01 | Nickname-triggered DNF | | 27:29 | Goodreads ratings influence reading choices | | 28:05 | Skipping flashbacks/prequels | | 30:02 | Audiobook speed talk | | 31:06 | Hosts’ “What We’re Currently Reading” segment |

Hosts’ Currently Reading & Noteworthy Reads (31:06–42:26)

Kennedy:

Reading The Bright Years by Sarah Demoff (sad, under 300pp)
Finished Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (nonfiction)—didn’t realize same author as The Fault in Our Stars and that he and Hank Green are brothers.
Continues Dungeon Crawler Carl—“outrageous, funny, cheesy, but can’t read it physically, only on audio.”

Mikayla:

DNF’ed Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson (63% in, just couldn’t finish)
Finished The Right Move and Rose Hill: Wild Card—enjoyed both, surprised by how “dad’s ex” trope was handled.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah: “emotional damage,” “not one good thing happens”; recommends only for the very stable.

Reggie:

Slanting Toward the Sea (sad romance set in Croatia)—“Not a rom com, kind of sad, some beautiful real moments.”
Started and enjoyed Windy City series, especially The Right Move and Play Along; DNFed the first in the series, found “Play Along” and “The Right Move” particularly compelling.
Considering a break from romance after binge reading.

Takeaways & Episode Tone

The episode is a safe, confessional space: “This is a safe space. No judgment!”
The hosts highlight how unique and personal every reader’s relationship to books is.
There’s laughter, some good-hearted roastings, and a lot of bookish relatability.
“You’re not alone—whatever your weird reader habits are, there’s at least one other person who does it, too.”

Final Words

Encouraging community: “Hopefully you feel a little less alone in your confessions...” (42:26)
Plug for merch and Patreon for extra bookish content.

This episode offers a hilarious, human look into the secret reading quirks of both the hosts and their listeners—a must-listen for anyone who has ever felt sheepish about their bookish habits!