I wonder Ali if it is not so much where you are reading her a book but more the fact that you are actually leaving her come sleep time? Alex is currently doing a similar thing and at around this age I do recall Gaby also becoming worked up when we left her - I believe it may be more along the lines of separation anxiety.

We never used to have an issue with putting Alex to bed (it was always the waking during the night that was the problem ), but now it can take us up to an hour putting him to bed - he wont let us leave the room without screaming the house down. In the end we are now having to rock him to sleep (which we havent had to do in the past) or we are lying on the floor next to his cot waiting for him to go to sleep - he keeps checking to see whether we are there too!

I know its not ideal but try waiting with her till she falls asleep.

Incidentally we dont have a structure about where we read the books - some nights it is on the couch and others we all pile onto Gabys bed and read. Actually come think about it we rarely read in Alex's room.

Ps - I see you are "in pain" - hope all is ok.