Podcast Summary
Podcast: I'll Read What She's Reading
Episode: Bookmark the Odds!
Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: Kennedy, Mikayla, and Reggie
Episode Overview
The January 21, 2026 episode of I'll Read What She's Reading introduces a new bookish game, “Bookmark the Odds!” Instead of their usual book club pick or author interviews, Kennedy, Mikayla, and Reggie put their friendship to the test guessing how the podcast audience answered hot bookish “Would You Rather” scenarios. The game uses percentages à la Jackbox's “Guesspionage”—one host predicts what percent picked option A, the others guess if real answers are higher or lower. Correct predictors get two points if within 5%; closer guessers get one. Stakes are set for a year-long leaderboard: the ultimate loser will face a TBD punishment (and the winner gets a prize, possibly a Barnes & Noble gift card).
The result is a hilarious, revealing, and at times chaotic romp through the reading preferences of their fandom—and each other.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Rules & Setting the Stakes (00:13–03:09)
- Game explanation: Predict what percent of listeners picked each side of a bookish “Would You Rather” question.
- Scoring: 2 points for guessing the percentage within 5%, 1 point for a correct higher/lower guess, none for a miss.
- Year-long competition: Winner and loser at the end of the year, with fan-suggested punishments (e.g., reading a ridiculous book, NO audiobooks for a week).
- Sample suggestion for winner: “Barnes & Noble gift card, something like that.” (02:00)
2. Game in Action: Key Questions, Commentary, and Stand-out Moments
Below are highlights chronologically, including smart/funny commentary and audience consensus reveals.
A. “Would You Rather” Lightning Rounds
1. Last Page vs. Never Reading the Synopsis (03:31–04:36)
- Kennedy guesses “89% would rather never read the synopsis.”
- Actual: 85.5% would never read the synopsis.
- Kennedy: “I personally would choose to never read the synopsis…Over reading the last page.” (04:49)
2. Multiple POV vs. Single POV Books (05:20–06:44)
- Mikayla predicts only 42% want multiple POVs, but actual is 71.2%.
- Reggie insight: “People love multiple point of views… but sometimes a multiple point of view book can almost ruin the book.” (06:58)
- All three admit they’d ultimately choose multiple POV, though with some reservations.
3. Romance vs. Fantasy Forever (07:41–08:39)
- Reggie: “I want to say romance…but not everyone loves fantasy.” Guesses 64% for romance.
- Actual: 33.1% would pick romance, a landslide for fantasy.
- Kennedy: “That doesn’t necessarily surprise me with our audience because I feel like we read mostly fantasy.” (08:39)
4. Skipping Scenes: Spicy or Battle? (08:57–09:36)
- Kennedy predicts 84% would skip spicy scenes, but only 67.9% said so—spicier than she expected!
- Mikayla (losing): “I’m not good at trivia, guessing, numbers game. I’m good at strategic.” (09:47)
- The team admits they underestimated craving for spice.
5. Preference: Spice or No Spice (10:02–10:32)
- Mikayla guesses 65% want spice; actual is a split 51%—theme of assumptions being upended continues.
6. Live in Your Favorite (and Die) vs. Live Forever in Least Favorite (10:57–13:02)
- Reggie’s instinct: only 53% would risk dying in chapter 10 of their favorite book... Actual: 82% would!
- Kennedy: “My mindset is I’m gonna be a side character. Probably have no meaning, but you’re gonna have a good time. But you’re gonna be alive.” (13:32)
- The majority want a taste of their favorite world—even if brief.
7. Teeny Tiny Font vs. Long Chapters (14:05–15:23)
- Kennedy: 70% would prefer tiny font to long chapters; actual: only 36% agree.
- Reggie: “I’d rather read a long chapter.”—punctuated by a group confessional about how chapter length affects their reading habits. (15:02–16:08)
8. Emily Henry vs. Abby Jimenez (16:41–18:57)
- Mikayla: “I have a feeling people are going to say Emily Henry…”—Calls 60% for Henry; actual split at 53.5%.
- Whole crew struggles to truly choose; agree both are top-tier.
- Reggie: “There’s something about Emily Henry…she brings all those things, plus some vibe…doesn’t mean she’s better than Abby Jimenez.” (17:37)
9. Morally Gray Shadow Daddy vs. Golden Retriever Book Boyfriend (19:09–20:32)
- Reggie gives 66% for the shadow daddy; actual is 61.7%.
- Kennedy: “There’s rarely a male main character that is the funny golden retriever guy in a fantasy book…I would like to see that written.” (20:58)
10. Tamlin Redemption Arc? (ACOTAR Spoilers) (21:15–21:56)
- Kennedy bets 72% are open to it; actual is a perfect 50/50 split.
11. Friends to Lovers vs. Enemies to Lovers (22:19–23:13)
- Mikayla bets 62% for enemies to lovers; actual is 68%.
- Group solidarity in loving the “enemies” trope.
12. Reading Out Loud Spicy Scenes vs. Pee Your Pants Laughing (23:41–25:17)
- Reggie (31% predicted correctly): “If I knew I had to read [spicy scenes] out loud, I would just read…when there’s not people around me.” (24:18)
13. Physical Copy vs. Kindle (25:24–26:28)
- Mikayla estimates 67% choose physical; actual: 45% do, with Kindle edging out.
14. Audiobooks: Do They Count as Reading? (26:47–28:33)
- Mikayla: “I’m going to say 96%”—actual: 91% say yes.
- Kennedy: “I think it counts. So do 91% of you.” (27:39)
15. Assassin’s Blade First or Not (Throne of Glass Order) (28:33–31:12)
- Reggie calls 58% for “anywhere else but first”; actual is 55.8%.
- Thoughtful discussion about emotional payoff and story order.
16. Spoil Yourself or Never Know Ending (32:25–33:30)
- Kennedy: 83% would rather spoil; actual: 88% agree.
- Mikayla: “What good, what fun would reading be if you don’t know how the book ends?” (32:43)
17. ACOTAR vs. Throne of Glass (SJM Series Showdown) (33:41–36:15)
- Mikayla predicts 60% for ToG; actual is 68%.
- Insight: Acotar might be entry point, but ToG wins for those who’ve read both.
18. Sports Romance vs. Small Town Romance (36:52–38:36)
- Reggie: “I’m going to go 58% small town.” Actual: 68%.
- Small town romance dominates, perhaps due to broader definition.
19. Unlimited Free Ebooks vs. Audiobooks (39:03–39:35)
- Kennedy: 59% for audiobooks; actual: 59% say ebooks!
20. Only New Releases, or Only Already-Published Books (2025 and Earlier) (40:44–42:13)
- Mikayla: “63% pick new releases.” Actual: 81% would stick to already-published books only.
21. Only Series vs. Only Standalones Forever (43:25–44:52)
- Reggie: 79% say series; actual: 72%.
- The hosts recognize some people don’t like the commitment of series.
22. Goodreads vs. Fable (or Other Apps) (45:11–45:38)
- Kennedy: 80% vote Goodreads; actual: 77%.
23. Read on a Beach or in a Cozy Cabin (46:05–47:35)
- Mikayla: 56% choose beach; actual: 68% for cozy cabin.
- Mikayla, on beaches: “I’m boogie boarding, getting smashed by waves, snorkeling…” (46:28)
24. Rebecca Yarros: Romance or Fantasy Books Only (48:02–49:16)
- Reggie: 77% would pick fantasy; actual: 84%.
- “Fourth Wing has taken the world by storm.” (48:58)
25. The Housemaid: Book vs. Movie (49:47–50:33)
- Kennedy nails it at 77% for the book.
26. Meet Your Favorite Author or Favorite Character (51:07–51:38)
- Mikayla: 80% want to meet character; actual: 67%.
- Mikayla: “If I had a Zaden standing in front of me or Rebecca Yarros…Who you choosing? I’m choosing Zaden.” (52:01)
27. Final Showdown: Rhys (ACOTAR) or Zaden (Fourth Wing)? (53:25–55:00)
- Reggie: 62% for Zaden; actual: 54% Rhys, 45% Zaden.
- Kennedy: “I think a lot of people are very loyal to Rhys.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Kennedy (on competitive stakes): “A lot is on the line here. A lot is on the line.” (05:04)
- Mikayla: “I’m not good at trivia, guessing, numbers games. I’m good at strategic.” (09:47)
- Kennedy (on bookish preferences): “I like when books…have really long chapters, it makes me not want to continue reading.” (15:31)
- Reggie (on the emotional order of reading ToG): “Imagine if you just knew everybody’s trauma the first second you met them.” (32:10)
- Mikayla (on meeting characters): “If I had a Zaden standing in front of me or Rebecca Yarros…Who you choosing? I’m choosing Zaden…I’m sorry, Rebecca Yarros.” (52:01)
- Reggie (on Fourth Wing adaptation): “I think I can see Fourth Wing being a better movie than ACOTAR would be.” (55:54)
Scoreboard/Results Announcements (Ongoing)
- Regular updates on scores and competitive banter—by the final question, Reggie and Kennedy are tied, with Mikayla just one point behind.
- Final Winner: Kennedy, by a single point!
- Punishment/Winner Suggestion: Listeners are encouraged to submit suggestions; running joke of the “book report” or “no audiobooks” week.
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Rules & Intro to Game: 00:13–03:09
- First “Would You Rather”: 03:31 (“Would you rather read the last page or never read the synopsis?”)
- Emily Henry vs. Abby Jimenez: 16:41–18:57
- ACOTAR vs. Throne of Glass: 33:41–36:15
- Rebecca Yarros Books: 48:02–49:16
- Final Question (Rhys vs. Zaden): 53:25–55:00
- Winner Announced & Outro: 55:15–56:52
Episode Tone & Dynamics
- Chaotic, funny, and hyper-relatable: Hosts riff on personal preferences, overthink each question, and regularly surprise themselves with how their tastes do or don’t match their audience.
- Honest admissions: Each host struggles with the “projecting my own answer vs. thinking how others think” dilemma.
- Community engagement: Multiple calls-to-action to the audience for input on future punishments/rewards and game ideas.
Conclusion
This episode is a love letter to bookish friendship, readerly quirks, and the unpredictable opinions of the BookTok/Bookstagram/Book Club community. Even when they’re wrong, the hosts’ honesty and humor is infectious—making the episode both fun and insightful for anyone who loves talking about what (and how) we read.
Key takeaway: Preferences (spice, POV, favorite series, hero, adaptation dreams, etc.) run deep—but even avid readers are often surprised by where they fall in the bookish spectrum.
Next up: Kennedy claims the first win in the year-long series, but the competition promises future chaos, tough choices, and community-driven dares.