I’ll Read What She’s Reading

Episode: Soul Searching by Lyla Sage | November Book Club

Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Reggie (B), Mikayla (A), Kennedy (C)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy, the voices behind the “I’ll Read What She’s Reading” podcast, gather for their November Book Club discussion on Soul Searching by Lyla Sage. The conversation weaves through initial book ratings, favorite and least favorite elements, the book's paranormal twist, character analysis, spicy scenes, and even dream movie adaptations. Throughout, they share their signature dynamic—warm, witty, and occasionally unhinged.

The episode opens with an important announcement: the Book Club format is evolving! Monthly book club picks and discussions are moving to Patreon for deeper, more interactive content, while the main podcast will switch to a seasonal focus, allowing listeners more time to read along.

Format Changes & Community Announcements

• Book Club Shift:
  • Monthly book club episodes will move to Patreon, offering exclusive content.
  • The main podcast will feature deep dives on seasonal books or series, giving listeners more time and enabling more comprehensive discussions.
  • Community polls and increased listener involvement will guide selections for seasonal book club reads.
    (01:00 – 02:00)

Quote:
"We will now be doing seasonal book club episodes, and we will be moving our monthly episodes over to our Patreon, which is a new thing which we're really excited about... lots more exclusive content over there and a chance for you guys to just be a little more heavily involved in the episodes." — Reggie (00:15)

Book Ratings & First Impressions

Kennedy:

• Rating: 3.75/5
• Applauded the unique paranormal romance premise.
• Loved Collins' witty sarcasm and Brady’s “cinnamon roll” personality.
• Felt the ending was rushed; conflict with the ex-fiancé arrived too late in the plot.
  (02:35 – 04:10)

Mikayla:

• Agreed with Kennedy; also gave 3.75/5.
• Noted the conflict arrives very late—her audiobook showed only 17 minutes left when the main drama hit.
• Found ghost encounters and trips around town a bit repetitive.
  (04:10 – 05:15)

Reggie:

• Gave a 3.5/5.
• Loved the paranormal aspect and character personalities.
• Felt romance only “clicked” later, and conflict’s late arrival made resolution too abrupt.
• Highlighted the rushed nature of several plot points, like the quick parental divorce resolution.
  (05:15 – 07:04)

Deep Dive: Plot, Characters, and Paranormal Elements

Ghosts & Paranormal Aspects

• All hosts appreciated the unique inclusion of ghosts, adding flavor to the romance.
• The “Lady in White” scene was called out as the spookiest (and funniest):
  (07:20 – 08:15)

Quote:
"The lady in white is just touching him, just obsessed with him, and she said something like, 'he's mine.' I just thought it was so funny." — Kennedy (07:20)

• They wished for more skepticism from Brady when Collins claimed to see ghosts; he accepted the supernatural reality a little too quickly.
• The unique premise (photographer who sees spirits) made for fresh reading, but some wished the ghost plotlines were more developed or interconnected.
• Random “happy ending for the ghosts” (Ernest and the ‘lady in white’ being paired off) felt abrupt and underdeveloped.
  (11:16 – 12:44)

Main Characters

• Collins: Celebrated for dry humor, sarcasm, relatability.
• Brady: Seen as a soft, nerdy, yet somewhat uncertain male lead—a refreshing twist on romance archetypes.
• The romantic chemistry worked, with adorkable moments like concussion checks and power outages.
• Some hosts found the tension between Collins and her sister confusing or thinly explained.
  (13:01 – 13:49)

Quote:
"I really liked Collins's character. I don't know what it was about her. I don't know if it was her dry humor... One of the things I remember vividly is her saying something like, 'that was very Bella Swan of me.'" — Kennedy (16:51)

Secondary Characters & Side Stories

• Interest was piqued for the next book on Collins’ sister.
• Side quests (like the ghost couple’s sudden “happy ending”) felt abrupt and disconnected.

Spicy Scenes, Epilogue, & Romance Critique

• “Spice” (romantic/sexual scenes) divide opinions:
  • Mikayla and Kennedy skip or skim spicy chapters, finding them distracting or “ruin(ing) the book.”
  • All agreed: “spicy epilogues” feel out of place—epilogues should be sweet, not sultry.

Quote:
"I do not like when the epilogue has spice. It is just completely not needed for an epilogue." — Kennedy (18:13)

• Despite some spicy chapters being too lengthy, hosts acknowledged the “yearning” and slow build-up was well done—a plus for romance readers.

Fan Casts & Movie Adaptation Dreams

(24:24 – 30:13)

• The hosts had fun casting potential film adaptations, riffing on who could play Collins and Brady.
  • Collins: Suggestions ranged from Lemonade Mouth’s “Stevie” to Rachel Bilson or Nina Dobrev.
  • Brady: Henry Cavill, Matt Bomer, and even Dennis Quaid (as Boone) were jokingly suggested.
• Kennedy compared the premise to the movie “Just Like Heaven” (Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo), imagining its ghostly romance as a Netflix or Amazon film—not a Hallmark movie.
• The consensus: A Netflix original would suit the quirky, slightly spooky small-town romance best.

Setting & Series Preferences

• The hosts compared Soul Searching's Sweetwater Peak to the Rebel Blue Ranch series.
• Kennedy and Reggie preferred Sweetwater Peak’s vibes (despite its ghosts); Mikayla remained loyal to the multi-book Rebel Blue Ranch.
• The concept of “small town but haunted” is cute in the abstract, less so in reality!
  • Lack of privacy (ghosts everywhere) was hilariously debated.

Quote:
"You would never have any privacy... ghost staring at you, showering in the corner, at the foot of the bed." — Kennedy (31:48)

Notable Memorable Moments

• “Bella Swan” reference for Collins’s awkwardness (16:51).
• Mikayla skipping the spicy chapters to “protect” her rating (22:02).
• Sauna story: Kennedy fast-forwards spicy audiobooks when not alone (22:12).
• Lively back-and-forth about whether accepting the supernatural too quickly is a romance-novel requirement or a missed opportunity for comedy (08:15 – 09:48).
• The group’s honest confusion about apartment blueprints and character relationships, leading to calls for author clarification (15:40 – 16:09).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Patreon and Book Club Announcement: 00:15–02:00
• Initial Book Ratings & Impressions: 02:35–05:15
• Discussion on Ending & Plot Structure: 05:15–07:04, 10:07–11:16
• Thoughts on Ghost Aspects and Spookiness: 07:20–09:48
• Favorite/Least Favorite Elements: 16:14–18:55
• Spicy Scenes & Epilogue Discussion: 18:05–23:42
• Fan Casting & Movie Adaptation: 24:24–30:13
• Setting and Series Preferences: 30:29–32:25

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

• The hosts enjoyed the book’s quirkiness, strong characters, and ghostly twist, but critique the rushed ending and pacing.
• Listeners are invited to submit their picks for the next book club read via Instagram stories, aligning with the new seasonal format.
• Plenty of good-natured chaos, relatable gripes, and bookish banter—hallmarks of the “I’ll Read What She’s Reading” club.

For New Listeners:

• This episode is quintessential “I’ll Read What She’s Reading”: honest reviews, lively debate, unexpected movie winks, and a distinctly chaotic (and cozy) book club vibe.
• You’ll walk away knowing if Soul Searching is for you—and perhaps, who you’d cast in the Netflix adaptation!

Happy reading, and see you next Wednesday!