I'll Read What She's Reading
Episode: SPOOKY Book Recs
Date: October 8, 2025
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy
Main Theme
In honor of October’s “spooky season,” the hosts trade recommendations for the scariest, most unsettling, and atmospheric thrillers and horror books they’ve read (or want to read). The episode is filled with personal stories about reading creepy books in eerie settings, strong opinions about what makes a book “spooky,” and a lively exchange of underrated gems and popular favorites—all delivered with the trio’s familiar chaotic and relatable bookish banter.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What’s the Spookiest Book You’ve Ever Read?
(00:43–08:55)
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Reggie’s Story:
- Not the scariest book, but the most scared she’d been reading was The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, read alone at night in a stormy hotel room.
- Quote:
“I was so spooked... people's footsteps in the hallway of the hotel... But I was dying to know what happened. Like, it was gonna kill me if I went to sleep without reading it.” (01:57 – Reggie)
- Emphasized that the setting amped up the fear factor, even if the book itself isn’t pure horror.
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Kennedy’s Pick:
- Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica—a body horror dystopian novel that left her feeling viscerally ill. She had to “DNF” (did not finish) it and looked up the ending online instead.
- Quote:
“I would not recommend this book to anybody... I’ve never felt so nauseous reading a book.” (05:39 – Kennedy)
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Mikayla’s Memory:
- Childhood terror from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps series.
- She hasn’t read many books as scary as the horror from childhood but noted The Only One Left by Riley Sager gave her chills as an adult.
2. Why Are Books Less Scary than Movies?
(11:48–13:04)
- Discussion about the lack of music/soundtrack making books less frightening than films.
- Kennedy and Reggie note their tastes for thrillers over horror, preferring suspense, mystery, and adrenaline while disliking being truly scared.
- Quote:
“Books in general aren’t as scary as movies... what makes scary movies so scary is the scores.” (11:48 – Kennedy)
3. Spooky & Thriller Book Recommendations
(13:20–34:45)
Reggie’s Recommendations:
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- A modern classic—fast-paced, unsettling, great both as a book and as a movie.
- Quote:
“There’s a lot that feels very unsettling... fun to try and figure out what is going on and what actually happened.” (13:39 – Reggie)
- Wayward Pines series by Blake Crouch
- A sci-fi/horror/thriller set in a mysterious small town in Idaho; praised for its plot twists and creepy atmosphere.
- Quote:
“I had to turn it [the audiobook] off because I got so creeped out.” (20:57 – Kennedy)
- The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
- Young Adult, dystopian, compared to Handmaid’s Tale meets Yellowjackets. Girls banished to the woods to “release their magic” with dire consequences; dark, emotional, and unsettling.
- Quote:
“I remember sobbing reading this book... It’s a pretty wild ride.” (32:03 – Kennedy)
Mikayla’s Recommendations:
- Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood
- Lesser-known thriller involving a father’s desperate search for his missing daughter and his unraveling mental state; dual timeline.
- Quote:
“The dad kind of had, like, a psychotic break... It was a good one. Pretty underrated.” (17:50 – Mikayla)
- A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
- Psychological thriller with cult-like village isolation; praised for its unique storytelling and twist.
- Quote:
“It was really interesting... By the end you’re like, oh my gosh, that was crazy.” (28:04 – Mikayla)
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- Favorite “OG” thriller for its shocking twist; keeps coming up as a recommendation for readers new to the genre.
- Quote:
“I chucked my book across the room... There’s not a book I’ve had that big of a reaction with.” (22:51 – Reggie talking about The Silent Patient)
Kennedy’s Additions:
- General plug for Blake Crouch:
- Any of his books are reliable for sci-fi thrillers with horror elements.
- Quote:
“Blake Crouch has got the sci-fi thriller recipe down.” (21:43)
4. Anticipated “Spooky Season” Reads:
(34:53–47:50)
-
The Ghost Writer by Julie Clark (Reggie)
- Thriller set in the '70s about a family tragedy and a daughter ghostwriting her infamous father’s final book—described as “brilliantly twisty.”
- Quote:
“She’s offered a job to ghostwrite her father’s last book... After 50 years of silence, her dad is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night.” (38:31 – Reggie)
-
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Mikayla)
- Experimental, horror classic; known for its unconventional and disorienting page layouts. The group jokes about reading it together, but Reggie bows out due to the child-centric horror.
- Quote:
“The writing doesn’t go like, from left to right—it’s spiraling... My brain will just be having a heyday with it.” (41:04–43:36 – Mikayla)
-
Strange Pictures by Yuketsu (Kennedy)
- Short, translated Japanese collection of interconnected horror stories, featuring illustrations and an interactive detective element; likened to Hidden Pictures.
- Quote:
“Features a series of interconnected, unsettling stories... that allows the reader to be the detective.” (45:24 – Kennedy)
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General consensus: thrillers and horror are often picked spur-of-the-moment, especially if they’re instantly available as audiobooks or on library apps. The October/November season inspires most of their spooky reading.
5. Honorable Mentions & Miscellaneous Recommendations
(47:50–49:57)
- Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
- Recommended for those who love audiobooks and podcast-style murder mysteries. Described as snarky, clever, and darkly funny.
- Quote:
“It was really fun. I rated it four stars... a good audiobook.” (49:28 – Mikayla)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Unsettling Books:
“I remember one certain part of the book that I was sitting in my car reading it and I had to, like, turn my Kindle off... turn a happy song on because it made me feel so gross.” (07:03 – Kennedy, on Tender Is the Flesh)
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On Childhood Terrors:
“Stories to Tell in the Dark, scarred me for life... even just the covers. I don’t know why I was feeling adventurous with my library checkout.” (08:24, 09:39 – Mikayla)
-
On Movie vs. Book Scare Factor:
“For some reason I feel like when I read a book I can separate myself from the story, whereas a movie just feels a little bit more immersive.” (12:50 – Kennedy)
-
On Reading Mood:
“I feel like thrillers, more so than any genre, we have all read different books... it’s not necessarily planned out.” (34:23 – Kennedy)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Opening Spooky Book Stories: 00:43–08:55
- Books vs. Movies (scariness): 11:48–13:04
- First Round Rec Lists: 13:20–29:08
- Discussion of “The Silent Patient”: 22:48–26:25
- Discussion: Finding Thrillers, Mood Reading: 34:23–34:45
- Books the Hosts Want to Read This Fall: 34:53–47:50
- The Ghost Writer (35:12)
- House of Leaves (40:10)
- Strange Pictures (44:49)
- Honorable Mentions & Audiobooks: 47:50–49:57
The Vibe
The hosts are playful, candid, and slightly “unhinged” as described in their intro, poking fun at each other’s reading habits and playfully debating what qualifies as “spooky.” There’s an emphasis on the group’s differing thresholds for fear, their love of a good twist, and their approach to reading thrillers as mood-driven and seasonal. The episode captures the feeling of a casual, bookish group chat-turned-podcast, making it very welcoming to any listener seeking authentic recs with plenty of personality.
Actionable Takeaways for Listeners
- For classic thrillers with big twists, try Gone Girl or The Silent Patient.
- Looking for something lesser-known? Finding Sophie and A History of Wild Places are praised as underrated.
- For visceral, disturbing horror, only the brave should try Tender is the Flesh.
- Fans of unique formats should check out Wayward Pines, House of Leaves, or Strange Pictures—especially if you like a side of creep factor with your literary experimentation.
- Prefer podcasts in your thrillers? Listen for the Lie offers a fun audio experience.
Connect
Listeners are encouraged to share their own spooky reads, thoughts, and reactions to these recommendations on TikTok and Instagram @WhatShesReadingPod.