The Viral Book Game That’s Wrecking Our TBRs

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.

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