Totally Booked with Zibby – Raegan Revord, RULES FOR FAKE GIRLFRIENDS (September 2, 2025)
Episode Overview
In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Zibby Owens welcomes actress, author, and philanthropist Raegan Revord to discuss her debut novel RULES FOR FAKE GIRLFRIENDS. The conversation explores the novel’s exploration of grief, found family, and the search for identity, delves into Raegan’s lifelong love of books, and reflects on her experiences as a young actor. Packed with warmth, candor, and literary enthusiasm, this episode is a treat for book lovers of all ages.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. About RULES FOR FAKE GIRLFRIENDS
(06:08 – 07:07)
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Plot Summary: The novel centers around Avery, a college-aged girl who, following her mother’s death, receives a scavenger hunt clue from her mom’s will, sending her to England for college. On the train, she meets Charlie, who offers to help with the scavenger hunt if Avery fake dates her to win back her ex. The story weaves together themes of love, loss, self-discovery, and a touch of mystery.
“It’s sad and happy and it has a little bit of mystery in it. And yeah, it’s just a fun, like, feel good little bit of sadness. Rom com.”
— Raegan Revord (06:34) -
Beyond a Rom-Com: Zibby emphasizes the book’s deeper emotional core, seeing it as a daughter’s search for her mother and herself, not merely a rom-com.
“I really feel like this is a girl in her search for her mom and to reclaim what’s lost. And obviously there’s so much else.”
— Zibby Owens (06:44)
2. Navigating Grief and Connection
(07:07 – 10:30)
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Writing through Grief: Raegan describes how the journey through Brighton helps Avery understand her mother:
“With Avery walking around Brighton and seeing the streets that her mom walked on… it really does help her connect with a mom that she never really understood.”
— Raegan Revord (07:21) -
Real-life Inspiration: While Raegan hasn’t experienced the profound loss Avery faces, she grounds the emotion in real human experience:
“There’s happy moments, there’s sad moments. Even though I was writing a rom com… I didn’t want it to just be that, because that’s not how life is.”
— Raegan Revord (08:44)
3. Empathy and Using Acting Tools in Writing
(10:30 – 12:15)
- Raegan talks about employing her acting skills to evoke emotions she hasn’t personally experienced:
“I would pull from sad situations that I’ve experienced… I also used the show ending [Young Sheldon] because that is a loss in itself. I kind of used that loss to portray the sadness for losing the dad. And so that is kind of what I did for the book as well.”
— Raegan Revord (10:50)
4. A Lifelong Book Lover
(12:51 – 16:44)
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Origins of a Bookworm: Raegan shares anecdotes about always having a book in hand, and jokes:
“I literally was brought home from the hospital when I was born with a book in my hand and haven’t let go of one since.”
— Raegan Revord (12:51) -
Book Club Journey: Her Read With Raegan book club blossomed from a desire to share her love of reading—she delights in people discovering new favorites through her recommendations.
“I just love having such a good community of readers and just sharing literature… is like my life goal, I feel like.”
— Raegan Revord (16:27) -
Adorable Library Ban Story: As a child, she spent so much time in the school library she was banned—only to discover later it was her mom’s idea to encourage socializing.
“I got banned from the library. It was one of the worst moments of my life.”
— Raegan Revord (14:06)
5. Book Recommending Philosophy
(21:19 – 23:01)
- Raegan curates her Book Club picks based on books she loves, books with meaningful messages, or relevant themes for a given month (e.g., Pride Month, Black History Month).
“I read probably any genre. I always say, I’ll give a book a first chance… my book club isn’t one specific genre. It’s YA, but… I’ll recommend anything I read how I write, which is really anything.”
— Raegan Revord (22:07)
6. Balancing Acting and Writing
(23:01 – 28:02)
- Accidental Acting Start: Raegan’s journey into acting was unexpected; her mom’s friend recruited her at age four.
- The Magic of Young Sheldon: She shares her love for the show, her cast “village,” and the support network that made her childhood acting experience positive.
“I said from the time I got the show to now that it never felt like going to work. It felt like coming home.”
— Raegan Revord (29:12)
7. Experiences as a Child Actor
(26:53 – 30:11)
- Raegan reflects on her fortunate, nurturing experience growing up on a TV set, in contrast to some child star stories.
“My village was the cast and crew of the show… If my actual mom was ever busy… I had 200 family members always on set that I could always go to and ask.”
— Raegan Revord (28:02)
8. Writing Dreams and What’s Next
(30:11 – 33:33)
- Early Passion: Raegan always wrote stories for fun, even distributing homemade books on set.
- Book Agent & Publishing: She signed with an agent at 12, and RULES FOR FAKE GIRLFRIENDS took about two years to bring to publication.
- Future Goals: She hopes to continue writing, including revisiting a fantasy series, and struggles to choose between writing and acting:
“I say that whenever you’re acting, you get to bring to life a character in someone else’s universe… but whenever you’re writing, you get to create that universe. And so there’s more freedom to writing a book.”
— Raegan Revord (32:57)
9. Universality of YA and Relating Across Ages
(34:08 – 35:30)
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Both host and guest agree YA fiction crosses generational lines:
“Even though it is about an 18, 19 year old, I feel like the book at its core is just about a person who’s trying to find their place in the world.”
— Raegan Revord (34:08) -
They discuss how adults can find resonance in stories about transition and self-discovery, especially those sending kids off to college.
“Anyone can really read YA. And I know so many people who do.”
— Raegan Revord (35:32)
10. Bookish Camaraderie
- Raegan and Zibby share cheerful competitiveness about loving books:
“I just think if you love a book, you love a book, and if someone loves reading a lot, then you’re an amazing person.”
— Raegan Revord (36:21)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Writing a Book with Weight:
“Even though I was writing a rom com… I didn’t want it to just be that, because that’s not how life is.”
— Raegan Revord (08:44) -
On Empathy & Acting:
“I would pull from sad situations that I’ve experienced to kind of compile all of that to the grief that you see…”
— Raegan Revord (10:50) -
On Book Community Impact:
“The book you recommended is now like one of my favorite books. And that’s so insane to me…”
— Raegan Revord (16:31) -
On the Joy of Storytelling (Both Acting & Writing):
“Even if it’s acting or writing, storytelling is very similar… you can kind of step into those shoes and feel for a character…”
— Raegan Revord (25:41) -
On The Supportive ‘Village’ of Young Sheldon:
“If my actual mom was ever busy and I couldn’t go to her for advice, I had 200 family members always on set that I could always go to and ask.”
— Raegan Revord (28:02) -
On the Universality of YA:
“Anyone can relate to that. So even if there are aspects… that make it seem like it’s for a teenager, there’s elements to it that you can relate to.”
— Raegan Revord (34:19)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 05:24–06:08 | Introduction & Praise for the Book | | 06:08–06:44 | Raegan describes the plot of "Rules for Fake Girlfriends"| | 07:07–08:44 | Exploration of grief, loss, and connecting with her mom | | 10:30–12:15 | Using acting techniques to write about grief | | 12:51–16:44 | Raegan’s lifelong love of reading | | 14:06–14:32 | The school library ban story | | 21:19–23:01 | How Raegan picks her book club selections | | 23:21–26:53 | Acting origins and Young Sheldon experiences | | 28:02–29:12 | Supportive environment on Young Sheldon | | 30:25–33:33 | How the book came together & what’s next in writing | | 34:08–35:32 | YA’s appeal across ages | | 36:21 | The joy—it’s not a competition! |
Tone & Language
- Warm, enthusiastic, and genuine throughout.
- Raegan and Zibby share their deep affection for books and genuine excitement about sharing stories.
- The discussion is candid, supportive, and often humorous—particularly about childhood book obsessions and the surprising crossover between acting and writing.
Summary for New Listeners
This episode is a delightful blend of literary discussion and personal storytelling, perfect for fans of heartfelt contemporary fiction, seekers of creative inspiration, or anyone interested in the intersections between books, grief, identity, and creative life. Raegan Revord’s passion for both acting and writing shines through, and her message about the universality of stories—the way they can connect readers of all ages—rings true throughout. Whether you’re a YA devotee, a parent, or simply a passionate reader, you’ll find laughter, insight, and plenty of book love in this Totally Booked conversation.