When Fake Spoilers Backfire: A Delicious Tale of Petty Literary Revenge
Have you ever had someone try to ruin your reading experience by pretending to spoil the ending—over and over again? For bookworms, few things sting like the threat of a plot twist ruined, even if it’s just a joke. But what happens when the tables turn, and the joker becomes the butt of his own prank? Buckle up, because this story from Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge is one for anyone who’s ever clutched a book a little tighter after a faux spoiler.
Meet our heroine: a high school book lover in the pre-Internet age, when spoilers weren’t lurking in every tweet and status update, but were still a weapon for the mischievous. Her boyfriend thought he was hilarious—until the day she served him a spoiler he’d never forget.
The Bookworm’s Bane: Faux Spoilers
Before we dive into the sweet, sweet comeuppance, let’s set the stage. Our protagonist was the kind of reader who’d call being grounded a vacation—as long as she had her books. Take away her phone? Sure. No TV? Whatever. No dinner? She’ll just savor her latest literary adventure. But threaten her books? Now you’re talking Armageddon.
Enter her high school boyfriend, whose idea of comedy was sidling up while she was nose-deep in a novel and declaring, “They die in the end.” Every. Single. Time. He hadn’t read the books—he just liked to see her squirm, unsure if this time he’d accidentally guessed the tragic twist. It was harmless… or so he thought.
Turning the Page: The Spoiler Strikes Back
Our story takes a delicious turn when the tables flip. One day, she spots her boyfriend engrossed in The Crucible for English class—a play she not only read, but had seen performed. Opportunity knocked, and she answered. Strolling up, she dropped his favorite phrase: “Oh. They die in the end,” and laughed it off, just as he always had.
His friends cracked up, assuming it was just playful tit-for-tat. But what none of them realized was that—spoiler alert!—the main characters in The Crucible actually do die in the end.
The Sweet Symphony of Petty Revenge
Two weeks later, the payoff arrived. Boyfriend, face flushed with indignation, confronted her: “THEY DIED!! WHY WOULD YOU TELL ME THE END!!?” He was genuinely upset, the irony completely lost on him. She pointed out she’d only done what he always did, never claiming she’d read the book, never confirming she knew the plot. Just the same old “They die in the end”—except this time, it was true.
Poetic justice, anyone? He never tried to “spoil” her books again.
Why This Hits Home for Every Book Lover
This story isn’t just a petty revenge masterpiece—it’s a cathartic journey for anyone who’s ever had a plot ruined by a careless friend, sibling, or partner. Faux spoilers are the “boy who cried wolf” of the literary world: they’re funny until they’re not. And when the tables turn, oh, how the mighty fall.
But beyond the laughs, there’s a poignant note here: the realization, years later, that this pattern of behavior wasn’t just annoying—it was a red flag. “Thirty years later I can see just how much of an emotionally abusive asshole he was,” the original poster reflects. This confession adds depth to the tale, reminding us that sometimes, the little things are symptoms of bigger problems.
Moral of the Story? Don’t Poke the Bookworm
If you’ve ever been tempted to mess with a reader’s sacred experience, consider this tale your warning. Bookworms may look quiet and harmless, but cross them, and you might just find yourself on the receiving end of the ultimate spoiler.
So the next time you see someone lost in a book, maybe just ask them how they’re enjoying it. Because as this story proves, revenge can be as satisfying as finishing the last page of a really good novel.
Have you ever had a spoiler war with a friend or partner? What’s your best (or worst) spoiler story? Share your tales of literary mischief in the comments below—and remember, play nice with your fellow readers!
Inspired by a true story from u/Azhchay on r/PettyRevenge. Read the original post here.
Original Reddit Post: Constantly pretend to spoil the end of every book I read? I'll do the same, but mine won't be fake.