We began this episode of the Fully-Booked: Literary podcast with just the two of us, Meaghan and Shirin. Arthur wasn’t with us this time, and it felt like a return to our original format.
We joked about possibly rotating the lineup again soon, but encouraged listeners to speak up if they preferred the two-host dynamic. We even said they could let Arthur know in the loudest way possible. The tone was lighthearted as we poked fun at our evolving chemistry, especially how Shirin and Arthur now seem to share a kind of sibling energy. That dynamic, we agreed, might eventually lead to Meaghan getting pushed out of the mix entirely.
This conversation took us down memory lane, where we recalled a trip where Dan (Shirin’s husband) couldn’t come along. Meaghan was sure she’d feel like the third wheel, but it was the other way around. Shirin and Arthur bickered like siblings the entire day, leaving Meaghan feeling like an outsider.
That moment, among others, reminded us how long we’ve all known each other and how naturally our dynamic has evolved. Meaghan and Shirin have been friends for nearly fifteen years. Shirin has been with Arthur for eleven years. This long-standing familiarity shapes how we collaborate on the podcast, creating a casual and comfortable space for experimentation and banter.
Bringing Back the Game: Plot Guesses and Literary Curveballs
We leaned into a game we first played earlier in the year with Arthur. This time, Shirin joined in for her first round.
The game is simple.
One host reads a short passage from a book the other hasn’t read, and then the other person tries to guess what the book is about. We made it clear that the goal isn’t to identify the book title but to predict its plot based solely on a few opening lines. It’s a mix of deduction and humor, and we had a great time with it.
We started with The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden. Shirin read a monologue from the prologue, and Meaghan quickly assumed the narrator, Tom, was a stalker. She picked up on clues like his obsessive love for Daisy since childhood.
Meaghan predicted a story where he either kills her or becomes possessive and dangerous. Shirin revealed that the book has split perspectives and time jumps. The real plot follows a woman named Sydney who begins to suspect her boyfriend may be involved in a murder. Meaghan was given a five out of ten for capturing the general vibe, even though she missed key elements.
Next was The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. Shirin hadn’t read the book, but she guessed it involved people with psychic or magical abilities living in a mysterious house. Meaghan confirmed the premise and explained that Linus, a lonely social worker, is sent to assess magical children in a secluded home.
One of those children is the Antichrist. The book is both whimsical and heartwarming, and Linus undergoes major personal growth. The mood of the book reminded us of a gentler, more humorous version of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
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MLMs, Murder Mysteries, and Magical Mishaps
We continued with Death in the Downline by Maria Abrams. Meaghan read the opening lines, which didn’t give much away. However, Shirin picked up on subtle clues in the setting and the tone.
She correctly guessed it had something to do with MLMs and maybe a darker twist. Meaghan revealed that the main character, Drew, joins a shady MLM out of desperation after being laid off and moving back in with her dad. She is lured in by a glowing ex-friend, and things quickly spiral into something much more disturbing. Meaghan praised the book’s comedic edge and its criticism of exploitative business models. Shirin earned a high score for that guess.
Then came The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. Shirin had vague memories of the book and correctly guessed that Addie is immortal. Meaghan explained the twist.
Addie lives forever after making a deal with the devil, but everyone she meets forgets her instantly. That changes when she meets someone who remembers her. The story is more character-driven than plot-heavy, which made it a hit for some and slow for others. Still, Meaghan enjoyed its emotional weight and gave Shirin a seven out of ten for her solid instincts.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletterApartments, Vampires, and Fantasy Feasts
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager came next. The scene Meaghan read involved a character waking up disoriented in a hospital. Shirin guessed it was about someone attacked in their own home. That guess was partially right.
The story follows Jules, a woman hired to apartment-sit in a posh, historic New York building. She starts noticing strange behavior and uncovers a chilling mystery when another sitter goes missing. The thriller turns out to be less supernatural than expected, which surprised Meaghan in a good way. Shirin received a five out of ten for a reasonable but misdirected prediction.
Shirin brought out Quicksilver by Callie Hart, and Meaghan made some strong assumptions based on the cover and fantasy tropes. She guessed the protagonist had magical abilities and ended up in an enemies-to-lovers arc involving a mysterious man. She was right about most of it.
Seres, the main character, discovers she can manipulate metal, especially silver. This catches the attention of Kingfisher, a fae ruler searching for someone like her. He whisks her away to the fae realm, where a larger vampire war is underway. Shirin said she’d have to reread the book for all the details, but confirmed Meaghan’s guess was impressively close.
Next up was So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison. Meaghan guessed correctly that the story involved female friendship and vampires.
The main character, Sloane, is trapped in an unhappy marriage and joins her best friend Naomi for a birthday trip. They meet a suspicious group of people, and things take a dark, supernatural turn. The book blends horror and feminist themes, exploring messy yet meaningful female bonds. Meaghan shared how much she enjoys Harrison’s storytelling style, which centers female protagonists in paranormal scenarios.
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Secret Libraries, Teenage Witches, and Shadowy Worlds
Shirin read from The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake. The book opens with musings about the Library of Alexandria, and Meaghan admitted she had no idea what the actual plot was. Still, she correctly identified it as dark academia involving magic and a mysterious institution.
Shirin confirmed that six talented individuals are recruited by Atlas to protect ancient magical knowledge, and each character brings a unique power. The book is about power, secrets, and alliances within this elite group.
Meaghan introduced Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. Shirin guessed it was about a rebellious teen forced into a new environment, possibly where witchcraft becomes involved. That was pretty close.
The story follows a pregnant teenager in the 1970s who is sent to a home for unwed mothers. There, she bonds with other girls, and they begin exploring witchcraft through a mysterious librarian’s book. While the story slows in the middle, Meaghan praised Hendrix’s ability to create compelling female characters and write satisfying endings.
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To finish, Shirin brought out House of Earth and Blood from the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas. Meaghan didn’t know much about it beyond the genre but guessed it had fae and epic fantasy elements.
Shirin explained that the emotional core of the book centers on a strong female friendship. When Bryce’s best friend is murdered, the plot becomes a murder mystery wrapped in a modern fantasy world. Shirin prefers this series to ACOTAR for its stronger emotional resonance and more grounded character development.
Wrapping It Up: Books Swapped and Fun Had
As we wrapped up, we laughed about the growing pile of books sitting beside us. Meaghan ended up borrowing a few of Shirin’s picks, while Shirin promised to give some of Meaghan’s thrillers a shot.
We agreed this guessing game would be something to revisit. It not only highlights our reading differences but also reinforces how well we understand each other’s tastes. Whether you’re into fantasy epics or fast-paced mysteries, there’s always something worth discovering.
