Guess the Book by the First Line

Summary

Podcast Summary: Guess the Book by the First Line

I’ll Read What She’s Reading

Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy
Episode Date: March 11, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the dynamic trio—Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy—turn their group chat into a chaotic and laughter-filled guessing game: "Guess the Book by the First Line." The hosts challenge each other (and listeners) to identify beloved and sometimes forgotten books using only their opening lines, competing for points and avoiding the looming threat of a yet-to-be-determined punishment for the overall loser (which may or may not involve reading Credence).

The episode is full of bookish banter, wild guesses, and hilarious moments as the friends tease, cheer, and out-strategize each other—all with tons of hints and friendly sabotage. If you love games, TBR chaos, and the delight of recognizing a favorite story by just a few words, this is a must-listen.

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Key Discussion Points & Notable Moments

1. Game Rules & Stakes (00:14–01:26)

• The competition is ongoing through the year, with points awarded for each correct guess.
• The punishment for losing remains undecided, but the stakes are real: “They hate us. They want us to suffer.” (Kennedy, 00:53)

2. First Lines: Chaos, Clues & Wild Guesses

Round Highlights

• The Favorites

  • First Line: “Today is the 10th anniversary of the worst day of my life...”
  • Hosts struggle; multiple clues are needed before Reggie nails it.
  • “Sorry, that was a really hard one.” (Kennedy, 03:44)

• The Will of the Money

  • Immediate, iconic recognition by Reggie.

• Poppy War

  • The infamous “Take your clothes off.” catches everyone off guard.
  • “That’s a wild first line in a fantasy book.” (Mikayla, 09:15)

• Not Quite Dead Yet

  • The hosts untangle a gory, thriller-esque opening line—eventually solved by Mikayla.

• Mindf*ck Series (Book 1)

  • Lots of clues about revenge, Einstein, and a point nearly lost to “cheating” by looking up Goodreads.
  • “No, that’s cheating. You lose a point.” (Reggie, 13:02)

• Where the Crawdads Sing

  • The most easily guessed: “Marsh is not a swamp.”
  • “I can only think of Shrek.” (Mikayla, 17:00)

• Morning Star

  • Vivid, evocative first lines; Reggie is quick on the draw.

• Project Hail Mary

  • “What’s two plus two?” launches a flurry of wild guesses until Mikayla lands the answer.
  • “Equals Project Hail Mary.” (Reggie, 26:38)

• A Court of Silver Flames

  • Kennedy's spot-on guess surprises everyone, herself included.
  • “Oh shut up, are you kidding me?” (Mikayla, 27:09)

• Housemaid

  • Another quick, confident guess by Reggie: “If you leave this house, it will be in handcuffs.”
  • “Maybe I did have really easy ones.” (Reggie, 27:32)

Recurring Struggles & Strategies

• Several openings require hints beyond the first sentence, morphing the game into “Guess the Book by the First Page.”
• The hosts rely heavily on context clues, book covers, and sometimes 20-questions-style queries.
• They laugh at themselves for drifting from the original rules: “Stay tuned, listening to us play guess a book by its first page, because we know we did not guess it by the first line.” (Kennedy, 40:09)

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3. Memorable Quotes

• “Punishment TBD. They hate us. They want us to suffer.”
  — Kennedy (00:53)
• “I already know I’m gonna suck at this game. Every year we've done this, I suck at this.”
  — Kennedy (01:33-01:41)
• “You guys would have gotten that really quick. Dang.”
  — Reggie, after nearly giving away “The Bull Rider” (05:13)
• “Whoever was listening was screaming when she said ‘Zavarian.’”
  — Mikayla, on the agonizingly close guess for quicksilver (21:51)
• “That’s a wild first line in a fantasy book.”
  — Mikayla on “Take your clothes off,” Poppy War (09:15)
• “I can only think of Shrek.”
  — Mikayla, on “Marsh is not a swamp” (Where the Crawdads Sing, 17:00)
• “I said rose. Roll back the tape!”
  — Kennedy, playfully disputing the title for “Six Scorched Roses” (37:03)

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4. Other Notable Books Guessed (with Timestamps)

• Malibu Rising (06:13)
• The Nightingale (07:01)
• Silver in the Bone (16:16)
• Caraval (23:26)
• The Other Side of Now (32:38)
• The Secret Life of Addie LaRue (39:08)

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Score Tracking & Winner Announcement

• The hosts keep a running score, with Reggie narrowly beating out Kennedy and Mikayla by the end.
• They clarify that it’s wins, not losses, that matter over the course of the year.
• “Maybe we don’t need to have a loser… it’s just win.” (Kennedy & Reggie, 34:45–34:56)

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Notable Patterns & Tone

• The episode is filled with self-deprecating humor, mutual encouragement, and gleeful exasperation.
• Each host brings a slightly different energy—Kennedy’s mock defeatism, Mikayla’s analytical approach, Reggie’s quick recalls and gentle teasing.
• The camaraderie is palpable, with running jokes about who’s “cheating” or bad at the game.
• The tone is informal, fun, and extremely relatable to any over-caffeinated book club group chat.

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Useful Segment Timestamps

• Rules, stakes & intros: 00:14–01:26
• First round – The Favorites: 02:04–03:36
• Romance & thrillers guessing: 05:00–09:15
• Housemaid and quickfire rounds: 27:31–28:06
• Score tally & winner reveal: 34:06–34:34
• Closing + social/Patreon calls: 40:09–end

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Conclusion

“Guess the Book by the First Line” is a showcase of the hosts’ deep reading history, sharp wit, and infectious energy. Even if you haven’t read every book mentioned, you’ll be swept up in the competition, camaraderie, and the unique challenge of connecting that perfect, tantalizing first line to a beloved (or forgotten) story.

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Listen If You Enjoy:

• Bookish games and challenges
• Frantic, funny group chat vibes
• Refilling the TBR with a blend of romance, fantasy, and thrillers
• Joining in on friendly rivalry and inside jokes

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Standout Quote

“You guys would have gotten that really quick. Dang.”
— Reggie (05:13, after nearly spoiling a book’s identity with a too-obvious clue)

Transcript

[A]

Foreign. Hello, guys. Welcome back to. I'll read what she's reading. I'm Kennedy. I'm Mikayla.

[B]

And I'm Reggie.

[A]

And today we're playing a very fun game. Guessing books based on their first line. We've played this in the past. I can't remember how long it's been since we've done this year. This is a very hard game, and if you missed out on our last game episode, it's called bookmarked the odds. We are doing a competition this year to see who can win the most of these bookish games. And whoever the loser is gets a punishment. Punishment tbd. Someone did say that the punishment should be they have to read credence, so that's an option.

[B]

But some of them were also really, like, terrible. Like, you can't.

[A]

They hate us. They want us to suffer.

[B]

I don't know. I'm trying to remember what they were. But some of them was like, whoa.

[A]

These are harsh punishments, punishment, tbd. So there's. There's some stakes in these games this year. Okay. There's going to be some competitiveness. All right. If there's a cat fight, I'm just kidding. But play along with us. See if you can guess what book this first line is from. They are books that all three of us have read. So if you follow us on Goodreads, maybe you'll have some lose. Who wants to start? I'm starting.

[B]

Oh, a. Nope.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So it's whoever can get it the quickest between Michaela and I. Yeah.

[A]

Who I. I already know I'm gonna suck at this game. Indeed. The last one.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I was good at that game.

[B]

This.

[A]

Every year we've done this, I. I suck at this. So I feel like Michaela's gonna win this game. Let's see. No. Let's see. Okay. I don't think so. Am I going first with the first prompt?

[B]

Yeah, go with the first prompt.

[A]

You get one point if you get it first. Yeah, yeah, Just. Let's just do one point. Okay. 1.4. We'll keep it simple.

[B]

All right.

[A]

I'm nervous. I don't want you guys to see the covers.

[B]

I'm not looking.

[A]

I'm not looking either. Sorry. All right, here it is. Today is the 10th anniversary of the worst day of my life. Oh, my. Oh.

[B]

I was confident for a second.

[A]

Then I was like, wait, 10th anniversary? It's really hard. I have some on my. That I have that are very easy. Okay. This has zero context clues. Yeah. Do you want me to keep going as If I could forget when millions of strangers have been so eager to remind me. Millions of strangers. I'm sure you've seen the news stories, the magazine covers, the social media posts. Is it me?

[B]

Luna?

[A]

No.

[B]

Oh, that's. What? My first.

[A]

Oh. Oh, my gosh.

[B]

My life.

[A]

It was a book club book. I don't know.

[B]

I'm so good at remembering.

[A]

Give me a genre. How about a genre?

[B]

I'm guessing it's romance.

[A]

Yes. Yeah. I think it is considered Malibu Rising. No, Go right ahead. Enjoy the show. But don't fool yourself into thinking you know me. By now, I've heard it all. Blank is a. A diva, a sore loser, a manipulate, manipulative, liar, cold blooded. A cheater, a criminal, an attention whore, an actual, even a murderous. Is this great big beautiful lie. Call me what you want. I don't give a damn anymore. My story is mine and I'll tell it the same way I. You're gonna get it after I say this. Skated.

[B]

Oh, the favorites.

[A]

The favorites. Sorry, that was a really hard one. D.

[B]

A lot of sense.

[A]

Sorry, that was a really hard one.

[B]

Yeah, you, like, just read us the whole chapter. First chapter.

[A]

I'm sor. Read it. No, that's okay.

[B]

Well, when I read mine, I did screenshots from, like, the previews on Goodreads because I felt like that was easier. I don't have. Some of them are literally. I only have the first line, so.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Oh, sorry. I'll give you clues, though. The favorites. Oh, that makes a lot of sense.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Especially like the way she's talking. Yep.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

I've been thinking about that book a lot because I've been. Olympics.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So great. All right.

[A]

Dang. I'm mad at myself.

[B]

Do you want me to go or. Michaela, you go.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I am dangling and it is only my father's blood slicked.

[A]

The will of money.

[B]

My wrist that stops me from falling.

[A]

You.

[B]

I. I wanted.

[A]

It's iconic.

[B]

From a very recent read.

[A]

Sorry, I suck.

[B]

I didn't. I wouldn't have known that that was the first line.

[A]

I did a video once of like, books that will sell you on the

[B]

first line on TikTok, and that was one of them. Oh, sorry, Michaela.

[A]

That's all right.

[B]

All right.

[A]

All right. This is a prologue. Okay. There's a name in the line, but I'm going to blank it. Got it.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Blank. Wondered sometimes if she still had eyes alchemized. Yep. Good job. Dang. Maybe I am good at this one. Just kidding. I literally am the only One that doesn't have a point. So you're gonna make a comeback. Okay, I'll go with an easy one. Okay, you guys ready for this? You got one angry mother effer here. Blank. You want me to keep going? You're gonna get it F you. Yeah, that was right. Oh, totally. Just guessed the next line was the bull rider. You guys would have gotten that really quick. Dang.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. I don't know why that was the first one.

[A]

That was really good. That was good. Oh, my gosh.

[B]

That was just a guess. I was like, it's got to be some sort of Western romance.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Okay. Good job.

[A]

Dang.

[B]

I did not feel confident in that at all.

[A]

That was good.

[B]

I'll take it. Let's do this one. A great photograph. Makes you think you know the subject even if you've never met.

[A]

Every summer after every golden summer. One golden summer. Dang it. That's what I meant to say. That's a good first line because, like, the context of the story. Yeah. Yeah, that was good. What'd you say? Every summer.

[B]

Raptor.

[A]

Yeah, I chose the wrong book. Yeah, I was like, same book, different font.

[B]

I thought Kennedy would get that one first.

[A]

Ah, dang. I don't know why.

[B]

Sorry, Mikayla.

[A]

But wait, is that right? If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this. In love, we find out who we want to be. In war, we find out who we are. No, I literally have a screenshot. I have a picture of this book, but I can't remember what one it is. You did it. I took a picture, but I can't remember what one it is. Is.

[B]

Wait. Say it one more time. Okay.

[A]

I remember thinking, this is a really good first line. If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this. In love, we find out who we want to be. In war, we find out who we are. Nightingale. Yes.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Nightingale. Spin Fire.

[B]

Good one.

[A]

That is a good one. Guys, my sister recently just read that and rated it five stars, and I was so surprised she rated it five stars. Why?

[B]

Because you don't think that's a book she likes? No, she likes, I guess, really weird books.

[A]

Hmm. Okay, it's my turn. Yes. Yeah. Okay, I'm in the middle, and you guys can see my phone.

[B]

I'm not looking.

[A]

Sorry, I'm. I'm not looking. Okay, this one's kind of hard. Okay. Take your clothes off. Oh, wow. Okay, well, we. We've read this. Yeah. Take your clothes off.

[B]

Out on a limb.

[A]

No, that's A great guess, actually. That is a good guess. I don't. Take your clothes off. I feel like it's got to be. Oop. Is it some kind of romance? No, it's got to be a second book in a series. No, it's a first book. Yes. Do you want me to keep going?

[B]

Sure.

[A]

This is giving you nothing. Blank blinked. What? You want me to keep going?

[B]

One more line.

[A]

Take your clothes off. You guys might get it with the next one. Maybe. The proctor glanced up from his booklet. Cheating prevention protocol. Cheating prevention. Oh, is it so relief? No, but it is a fantasy book. Proctor.

[B]

I was gonna say it's not Iron Flame.

[A]

No. Proctor. Oh, my gosh. Why am I struggling with this?

[B]

Proctor. Okay, trying to, like, look at my book.

[A]

Not so relieved you don't own it. I don't own it. Oh. Me and Michaela own it. I own it. You own it. Me and you own it.

[B]

Why does Kennedy know I don't own it?

[A]

It is a beautiful. Well, the one we own is very beautiful.

[B]

RF Kuang. The Poppy War.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Poppy War.

[A]

Dang. Yeah.

[B]

Okay, that's clocking now. Proctor.

[A]

Yeah. Dang. That was a good one.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Take your clothes off. That's a wild first line in a fantasy book. Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

All right. You ready?

[A]

I'm ready.

[B]

Dead gray skin rotted away to show off the stringy sinews of muscle below.

[A]

Dead crazy skin.

[B]

Sunken, rubbery sockets around sparkling hazel eyes. Ooh.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Why fantasy?

[B]

No.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

I'll continue with the next line I have because it's the only one I have left. Because then the screenshot ends. Those were actually hers, though they moved as she studied herself.

[A]

Genre.

[B]

Uh, thriller.

[A]

Cindy. She studied herself. Say it again. Say the whole thing again.

[B]

Dead gray skin rotted away to show off the stringy sinews of muscle. Blow sunken, rubbery sockets around sparkling hazel eyes. Those were actually hers, though they moved as she studied herself.

[A]

Whoa.

[B]

The next part says, decaying corn on the cob, and then it cuts off

[A]

decay corn on the cob. Okay. Oh, my gosh. Well, it's not. And she. You said thriller. It's not quite. It's not not quite dead yet, is it? Yes. Oh, hey, that was good. Dang.

[B]

Because it's Yo. It moves on because she's at the fair and something with that corn on the cob.

[A]

I see. I see it. I see. That's a good one. That's the only thing I could think of, but I was like, that doesn't sound right. Yeah, obviously I don't Remember that?

[B]

Decaying corn on the cob. Teeth with gore stuck in the spaces between. What did zombies eat again? Just brains. Other guts, too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then enjoy the candy apple. Anyways.

[A]

Dang. That one was kind of tricky. Yeah, that one was hard.

[B]

That was a tricky one.

[A]

Nice job. Okay, it's my turn, right? Yeah. Okay, this one is tricky. Great. So many names left to go. Do you guys want me to continue? Yeah. Einstein said that weak revenge and strong forgive the intelligent ignore. This is no longer guessing the book from the first line. It's guessing the book from the first page. F that. Einstein wasn't always right. So fantasy. No, I don't.

[B]

I wouldn't say it's.

[A]

Do you want me to answer? No. Einstein's not in Panasonic. Okay, so revenge. The next line. Revenge is dish best served cold. We've all read it. We've all read it.

[B]

Immortal consequences.

[A]

No, that's fantasies. I know, but not fantasy. So, a thriller. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Now, I agree with that. It means they forget you're coming for them. And their screams sound so much prettier. When the time finally comes, I'm gonna

[B]

just have to start spouting out Google's guide to murder.

[A]

No. As good as.

[B]

The Disappearance of Rachel Price.

[A]

It was one that you guys read a while ago. Free McFadden. No, no. To both of you guys. I don't have a second page. I can pull it up. A thriller. But what does the COVID look like?

[B]

Silent Patient.

[A]

No, I'm trying to think of a thriller I read forever ago. A long time. You guys read it way before I did Verity. No,

[B]

it's considered a thriller.

[A]

Okay, let me just open up my Goodreads really quick.

[B]

No, that's cheating. What?

[A]

You lose a point. You guys didn't tell me that was cheating. That was not established. You don't have it. No, none of you guys have it. You either listened to it or read it on Kindle Unlimited. And there are multiple books.

[B]

The Mind F series.

[A]

Book one. Yes. Dang, that. Oh, my gosh. That. Yeah. Yeah, duh.

[B]

Specifically, book one.

[A]

Duh. It was book one. Yes.

[B]

Okay. That was a good one.

[A]

That was a good. Sorry, that was kind of hard. No, but it's good. Now that I know what book it is. It's very good. Yeah, it's a good one. All right. Let me just lean back in here real quick. Don't. I feel really just.

[B]

I really promise. I'm not looking.

[A]

I'm not looking either.

[B]

I'm just getting my next.

[A]

Okay, this One's okay. My phone is upside down. Because I took the picture upside down. Apparently, there's an old saying about stories and how there are always three versions of them. Yn, yours, yours, mine.

[B]

And the truth never lie. Frida McFadden.

[A]

No. Is this a thriller? No.

[B]

Truth.

[A]

Say it one more time. There's an old saying about stories and how there's.

[B]

There are.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Let me. Great Big Beautiful Life. Yes. Yes.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

The bbl. I feel really great about that. I'm proud of you for that. I never would have gotten that one.

[B]

Well, I.

[A]

When I said, like. When you said stories, I was like, not thriller. Anyways, it just clicks my contacts closed, baby. I love it.

[B]

All right, here's mine. I grew up in pure, unceasing, suffocating darkness.

[A]

I mean, what I want to say is not. You haven't read this book? I want to say, shatter me, but that's not right.

[B]

I'm surprised we haven't had any duplicates yet. I thought one of you guys would have saved this one for some reason.

[A]

I grew up in Utter. Oh, is it Serpents in the Wings of Night?

[B]

Nope.

[A]

Is the second one.

[B]

Nope. I can continue. Yeah, I'd like to say that's an exaggeration, but it's not. The next line will totally give it away, but I can say it.

[A]

Wait. Just wait a second. Wait, wait, wait, wait. I grew up in utter darkness.

[B]

I can do the next line and blank some things out to make it a little tricky.

[A]

Okay, sure.

[B]

I was only five years old when my blank snuggled me out of the city and took me to live in the Blank, the place of children's nightmares.

[A]

What? I can't think of what it's called. Immortal consequences.

[B]

No.

[A]

Oh, no. Powerless. No. No. What is it? There's like a fog. I can't think of what it's called. One Dark window.

[B]

No. What?

[A]

A fall.

[B]

I'll finish the blank.

[A]

Thing of light.

[B]

I was only five years old when my uncle smuggled me out of the city and took me to live in the blank.

[A]

It's called.

[B]

Do you want me to tell you what the blank is called?

[A]

No, no, wait. No, I know this. I know this.

[B]

A forest of perpetual darkness.

[A]

Oh. Oh.

[B]

The ominous black mist rising.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. What is it called? It was a book club. You literally. Silverly. Yes, that's right.

[B]

To live in the Black Land.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Just.

[A]

Really? Dang it. I knew it.

[B]

I thought saying uncle would give it away.

[A]

I just thought. I just didn't think of the. What? The it was called. Oh, my God. I could picture it. I'm mad at myself. Are we ever gonna find out who that author actually is? I don't know. I don't know. It's your turn. Oh, it's my turn. Frick. I'm behind. What are the scores? 4, 4, 3. All right, it's a tight race, everybody. This one's so easy. So it's just gonna be whoever says it first. Marsh is not a swamp. Huh? Marsh is not a swamp.

[B]

Where the crawdads sing.

[A]

Yeah. Boo.

[B]

I can only think of Shrek.

[A]

Get out.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

That's, like, the only easy one I have.

[B]

Okay. How many more do you guys. Okay, real quick.

[A]

I'm gonna do this one, but if you guys. Hold on. I'm gonna do this one. Just do it. Okay. If you need to say stuff afterwards. Okay. Okay. Okay. This is either gonna be really hard or really easy. Deep in darkness, far from warmth and sun and moons I lie quiet as the stone that surrounds me imprisoning my hunched body in a dreadful womb. Is this the night and moth? Oh, no.

[B]

Morning star.

[A]

Yes. Oh, morning star.

[B]

All right. I can't decide if this one's going to be an easy one or not. There are very few reasons for a meeting between two cloaked figure figures in the dead of night.

[A]

I can only think of the traitors. I'm sorry? The traitors. Traitor. Cloaked figures.

[B]

There are very few reasons for a meeting between two cloaked figures in the dead of night. Heartless hunter. Let me know if you want me to keep going.

[A]

Yeah, keep going.

[B]

Unsurprisingly, the list is as short as it is unseemly. For some, it is love. For most, it is lust.

[A]

One dark window.

[B]

Lust for money, lust for purpose. Lust for revenge.

[A]

Shiloh Sparrows.

[B]

But in some cases, it is love that first spurs these lusts. Or rather, the loss of it.

[A]

Two twisted crowns. Why is it giving me Rachel Gillig vibes?

[B]

It's a prologue, I'll say that.

[A]

Is it the night in Moth? Frick. I don't know. Immoral consequences. Cloaked figures, they wear cloaks for revenge.

[B]

Okay. Two cloaked figures, they're meeting up and you're wondering, who are these cloaked figures and why do they need revenge? Why are they meeting? This conversation? When we first started this book, Cloaked Figures. Is it the last line?

[A]

I'll say tonight.

[B]

No, it's a second book. Odd contradictories are rare. They are consistently tragic.

[A]

I feel like that writing style is very specific. And when we find out what it is. I'm gonna feel stupid. I literally cannot think of anything right now. Too close.

[B]

I can try to find the rest of.

[A]

Read it one more time. Let me just really immerse myself in the. In the. In the line prologue.

[B]

There are very few reasons for a meeting between two cloaked figures in the dead of night. Unsurprisingly, the list is as short as it is unseemly. For some, it is love. For most, it is lust. I'm just gonna quote, it's not the first book, but it is in a fantasy series.

[A]

Is it? Do you own this? Divine Ravils. What's the second book? Ruthless Vows.

[B]

Nope. Frick.

[A]

Do you own this? Yeah. Okay, we just lean a little farther. The second Serpent. Wings in the net.

[B]

No.

[A]

Is it rose and chains? Not rose and chains.

[B]

Rose. Prick. I will give you a hint.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

It has something to do with flowers. In a sense.

[A]

Powerless. Fearless. Reckless.

[B]

You gonna take your final pick on which one?

[A]

Oh, Fearless.

[B]

Reckless.

[A]

I need to double check because I

[B]

vote Fearless, but I think it's actually. Wait, is Fearless the third one? Yeah, it's Fearless Piss. But I kind of feel like.

[A]

I don't know. You said it first. Okay, I said all three of them. That doesn't really count, but I feel like that probably actually counts.

[B]

I was just wanting you to have a final answer. Does that make sense now?

[A]

No.

[B]

Really?

[A]

No. Whose turn is it? Yours. Is it mine? I think so. Okay. Sorry. You know, there's really no need for all this violence. Okay, keep going. It was common knowledge in Blank City that to lie to a blank meant death.

[B]

Oh, is it. Wait, is it conform. No, to lie meant death.

[A]

I'll say. To lie to a Guardian meant death. Two of the sparrows. No, they're not a Guardian.

[B]

The Night Moth.

[A]

Who has guardians. Can you give me another hint, please?

[B]

Two twisted crowns.

[A]

No. I knew this in a firsthand painful way that most other Zavarians did not. Zavarian. What? Zavarian. I don't even recognize that in any way, shape or form.

[B]

You already said Shield of Sparrows.

[A]

Yeah, almost a year to the day, I watched one of the Queen's men, clad in beaten gold armor, got my neighbor for lying about quicksilver. Yeah. Oh, booyah.

[B]

Okay,

[A]

whoever was listening was screaming when she said Zavarian.

[B]

See, that tells you how much I remember.

[A]

I did not enjoy quicksilver.

[B]

Not either.

[A]

But I did say I'd probably like the second one better. It's been out for a while. We'll see if I ever get to it. Okay, I'm gonna give one. It's either gonna be really easy or really hard. Okay. And I have a feeling I know which one of you two is gonna get it first. It took seven years to get the letter right. That's all I know.

[B]

The things we leave unfinished.

[A]

No, that's all I have. There's nothing else on the page. That's it.

[B]

Seven years. Get a letter right?

[A]

We're always looking. I have a YouTube video. We're gonna be like, all looking over this way. They're like, what are they looking at? I thought Reggie had this, but maybe she'd. Seven years to get the letter, right?

[B]

Divine Rivals?

[A]

No, that's a good guess.

[B]

Oh, the second one.

[A]

No, great guess. I thought you had these, but maybe. What. What genre is it? Fantasy. Seven years to get the letter right? Who's sending the letter? Who's our female main character? Who? Who? That's all I have to give you. Is it a first? Yes. First book in a series. Oh, my gosh. Seven years together. Can't think right now.

[B]

I don't.

[A]

How else can I give you a letter right. Seven years ago.

[B]

Daughter of no worlds.

[A]

No serpents in the wings of night. No more whimsical Caraval. Yes. Oh, dang.

[B]

I do have those.

[A]

I can't see them over there.

[B]

Oh, I get it now. I get it now.

[A]

I see. It's been like six years since I've read that. Yeah, it has been a long time since you've read that. Huh.

[B]

All right, you ready for mine?

[A]

Si.

[B]

I can't fathom why you feel the need to go work at that dingy little hospital in the country.

[A]

Part of your world, Mother freaker. Oh, yours truly. I'm assuming it's romance.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Dingy little hospital in the country. It's Abbie Menace, but I can't think of what the book is.

[B]

I used to think Blank was a nice guy. Now I know better.

[A]

Oh, I don't know. I can't remember the names. Just for the summer. Yours truly.

[B]

I could say I could keep going, but I don't know if you'll get it, Dinky. Maybe I'll just keep going.

[A]

Well, Robert. I draw using his full name to

[B]

piss him off as I shove a final sweater into my Oprah pole suitcase. I'm not sure if you're aware, but there are humans, real live ones who live in the country, who are also in need of medical attention.

[A]

The only Abi Jimenez books that have doctors are a part of your world. And yours truly, or nurses, unless I'M forgetting one. I feel like I'm forgetting one because there's three. Is you just for the summer. The third one? Or is that start of a new one? Wait, isn't it part of your world? Yours truly, just for the summer. Oh, yeah.

[B]

We're missing one.

[A]

We're missing one. Yeah, it's not Happy Happily ever after.

[B]

Abby Jimenez. Oh, okay, we'll just say it's not Abby Jimenez. Robert.

[A]

I'll just think about.

[B]

Remember, Robert's a very important character.

[A]

Keep going. Or can you give us a different clue?

[B]

Use some contact text clues here. I can't fathom why you feel the need to work at that dingy little hospital in the country.

[A]

Oh, it's the Theo one. Reckless.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Thank Robert. Guys, I am losing so bad. I'm not gonna win. I'm gonna be the loser for all of these. I've lost two games. There's a lot of time left in the year. It's only February.

[B]

We got plenty of games to go,

[A]

my dear's Jameson.

[B]

The things we leave unfinished.

[A]

Oh, I wouldn't have gotten that. All right.

[B]

I don't even remember his name being

[A]

Jameson, but here we go. Guys, you ready? What's two plus two? Oh, my hell.

[B]

Two plus two.

[A]

Guys. Two plus two. This is a really hard one.

[B]

That is a really hard one.

[A]

What is? After that, something about the question irritates me. I'm tired. I drift back to sleep.

[B]

Project Hail Mary.

[A]

Yes. Oh. Oh, my gosh.

[B]

I didn't feel very confident in that, but I was like, two plus two must be a teacher.

[A]

Equals project Hail Mary.

[B]

Two plus two equals project Hail Mary. Oh, man, I cannot wait for that.

[A]

That movie's gonna be so good.

[B]

Can't wait.

[A]

I can't wait. We're doing an episode on it, so.

[B]

So make sure you read. Make sure you go see the movie. Oh, okay. Me. All right. The black water nipping at her thrashing hills was freezing.

[A]

I want to say, like, I can't remember the title of Nesta's book, but I don't think that's right. A Court of Silver Flames. Yeah. Oh, shut up. Are you kidding me?

[B]

I was trying so hard to hide my expression.

[A]

You get that point. You. You get the point for that. Oh, Free got a whopping four.

[B]

And that was easy.

[A]

But I mean, that makes sense. But dang. Oh, it's your turn. All right. This is a prologue. If you leave this house, it will be in handcuffs.

[B]

The housemaid.

[A]

Yep. Maybe I did have really easy ones. Okay, let's see which one Do I want to? Do I have not read this book. But you guys have. Blank tugged at the jacket of his stolen uniform.

[B]

You haven't read this one. But we have.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Rebel Witch.

[A]

Yep. Oh, dang. That was awesome. That was quick. Yeah.

[B]

I can't believe I haven't read that yet. It's pretty fun. Yeah, if you don't get to it's brain.

[A]

But I own it. I should read it.

[B]

Oh, it's my turn. Yeah, right, right. Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do for love?

[A]

Duffel. Oh, no, I was thinking quicksilver. I know. That's. That's where I went because. But then I was like, I've already done that. That's literally not it. Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do for love?

[B]

This is a hard one.

[A]

It's a little odd.

[B]

I can continue a little bit, but I don't know if you'll get it.

[A]

Is it immortal consequences?

[B]

No.

[A]

Can you please continue?

[B]

The woman knows the tower now. She knows every angle of its imposing shape as it rises from the surf. She knows the way the whorls carve into its surface. She knows the way the whorls carved into its surface feel beneath her palms.

[A]

Isn't that in moth?

[B]

She knows. No, she knows how the bone white stone looks smeared with her blood. She knows it's.

[A]

Oh. Serpent's Wings of Night. The second one. No. Is it the third? It's the. It's.

[B]

She knows it's scent. A krid and stagnant, like death itself. She knows everything except for how to break it.

[A]

It's Daughter of no Worlds. Oh, third one. Yeah, that. Yeah, that makes sense.

[B]

That makes sense.

[A]

I don't remember any of the names of those. Tisana. No, like the book names.

[B]

Death and Dawn.

[A]

Daughter of Death. I always struggle with Carissa Broadman's titles. I know her titles are lengthy and they're all similar.

[B]

Similar.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, I got a point. Right? I got that. You did get it. Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't say the title.

[B]

It's okay.

[A]

Does that still count? Yeah, because I wouldn't have gotten the title.

[B]

I was asking you guys to get the name.

[A]

I wouldn't have gotten the title. This one's really freaking hard. Great. I pull the trigger over and over and over as the increasingly feeble stream of water fails to propel my tiny horse as fast as I want it to go.

[B]

Trigger. Horse.

[A]

Triggering a horse.

[B]

Trigger.

[A]

My tiny horse. So, a pony.

[B]

Um. Say you'll remember me.

[A]

No, this is a. Oh, they're at a carnival. Okay. Mm.

[B]

Finale.

[A]

No romance. Not really. I don't think you have it. Can you keep going? Come on. Come on, I say, baring my teeth, which are still sore from today's orthodontist appointment, not taking my eyes off the bullseye for a moment. Orthodontist appointment. What's even crazier is, like, that's the prologue. And then when you go to chapter one, literally. Guys, I would never be able to get this. The chapter one says the first line is, the gun feels cold and hard where I hide it against the small of my back. But it's not a thriller. But you said it's, eh. About a romance. Yeah, I would say it's more like women's fiction that we've both read.

[B]

Malibu Rising. I'm trying to think of one we've read. I don't know if I even own it.

[A]

You're probably women's fiction. Like, it will not make sense to you once you. What does the COVID look like? The COVID It's colorful. We've all read it. Yeah.

[B]

Do I own it?

[A]

No. Did I cry? I'm actually not sure. I can't remember. Did I read it last year? 20 questions. We.

[B]

Can I phone a friend?

[A]

All read it last year. Not a book club book. No. Brick, do you have any other clues? I'll keep reading. Okay. Okay.

[B]

This is the chapter. First chapter.

[A]

The prologue. I'll do the first chapter because I feel like. Unless you guys want me to continue with the prologue. No, I got enough about the braces in the carnival. I lean on the roll top desk and watch Kim cross in front of me, her chiffon pantsuit hanging loosely around her frame. I will. I will the tears to come to my eyes. It'll be better if I look upset. Kim. Women's fiction.

[B]

You're gonna say it, and I'm gonna

[A]

be like, oh, no. You guys will probably be like, what the freak? I did not know that started like that. Do you have any other hints, Women's

[B]

fiction,

[A]

sponsorship for us? Oh. Oh, the Other side of now. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, is that wild? Yes.

[B]

Oh, dang.

[A]

Why does she have a gun? I don't know. Wait, you got that, Reggie? No, no, I did. Oh, Kennedy, you did. It's a great book. It's a good book. I. I know. I was like, this is the book I read. Interesting. Yeah, I never. Yeah, you're right. That does come out of left field. I never would have gotten that. Yeah, you are correct. You are correct. All of mine are very lackluster that I have left. Actually, let's do this one. Sure. You know this story, Blank, though you do not remember it.

[B]

I'm gonna go with Michaela's popular answer, the serpent in the Wings of Night.

[A]

No, that's just, like, what my brain goes to. I don't know why.

[B]

Remember.

[A]

You don't remember. I'll tell it to you as best I can and promise to be honest in my tale bearing. If I'm not, that's hardly my fault. To tell a story is in some path, some part to tell a lie, isn't it? It's fantasy. Right.

[B]

Wanna read that again?

[A]

I'll just keep going.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Once you came upon Blank's highest tour, where the wind whispered a minor tune. There the Goan flowers were white and the stones were gray. The night in the moth. Yes. Oh, you know the story Bartholomew?

[B]

Oh, yeah. I see. I see. What's the scoring?

[A]

That's why I didn't guess, because I knew what the first line was. I have six, Kennedy has eight, Reggie has 10.

[B]

Oh, and this is the last one, so I won't.

[A]

I have one. I can make a comeback. I could get two points.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, so you have to get the next two to win or tie.

[A]

All right? Yeah, well, I'm a loser either way.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Oh, are we keeping tally based on who loses or keeping tally on, like, who wins and then the person with the last points? I think it's who wins and loses. Right. Oh, okay. Got it. Okay.

[B]

The first time, just win. Maybe we don't need to have a loser.

[A]

It's just win. And whoever has the most wins, wins. And whoever doesn't have the most wins.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. Okay, okay, okay.

[B]

The first time I met death, it was in my first breaths. Or rather, the first breaths. I didn't take one dark window. Now, let me just say this.

[A]

No, wait, don't say it.

[B]

You gotta say the title of this one.

[A]

Oh, so it's a. It's not the first book in a series. I'm not gonna get it. Two twisted crowns. Start naming the tubes. All right.

[B]

I can keep reading.

[A]

Yeah, keep going.

[B]

I was born too small. Too sickly, too quiet. My father used to say, fourth wing, iron flame. That he'd never heard such a silence when I was born. Several terrible minutes in which no one said a word. And that when I finally started to wail, he'd never been so grateful to hear a scream.

[A]

Who is so tiny. Who's small, fragile. So. Ooh. How many books are in the series? Is it completed?

[B]

It's the series as a Whole is not completed, is it? Shill of Sparrows? Nope.

[A]

Oh. It's the second book.

[B]

You said Death never left. Though that became clear quickly, even before anyone wanted to acknowledge it. The truth came the second time I met Death. Eight years later when my sister was born. She, unlike me, screamed from the moment she came into the world. From some of the words I said, I'm just gonna, like, emphasize them. Sick. Death.

[A]

Yeah, I got that.

[B]

I try to think if there's a different word.

[A]

Sick. Death.

[B]

You both gave this book. I'm pretty certain you both gave this book five stars.

[A]

Let me. Let me go see. I'm pretty sure you did bad at misremembering the first.

[B]

You wolf. Did Michaela's review.

[A]

Chef's Kiss, Guys. That literally. That's how my reviews are. It gives me nothing. Oh. Oh. I can't think of what it's called. It's the novella of the serpents. Livings at Night. Yeah. The Rose.

[B]

Six Scorched Roses.

[A]

She. You said she had to have the exact title. That's a bunch of bull crap. Hey, did you know that? No.

[B]

Yeah, I'll take it.

[A]

I said rose. Roll back the tape. Roll back the tape. Just kidding. Sorry. You can have it if. You know. I don't want it. You can have it. I don't want it.

[B]

Nice job.

[A]

Okay. You ready? Yeah. A girl is running for her life. Basically any book, Every book on my shelf.

[B]

But it's written from the third person, probably.

[A]

Do you want me to keep going? Yeah, probably. This whole, like, first line thing is turned into the first page. Maybe we need to. Why were we so much better at it? I don't think we were. I think we just gave. We didn't continue. We just gave hints. The summer air burns in her back. At her back. Wow. At her back. But there are no torches, no angry mobs Only the distant lanterns of the wedding party. The reddish glow of the sun as it breaks against the horizon oh. Cracks and spills across the hills oh. And the girl runs.

[B]

I think I'm so. I'm probably wrong. What is? I don't. I don't want to say what I'm thinking it is unless Mikaela gives it to me.

[A]

Tangelin in the grass as she surges forward, forward in the woods Trying to beat the dying light Voices carry on the wind calling her name Blank, blank, blank. Oh, maybe I'm wrong.

[B]

Hold on. What is it called? I know.

[A]

I don't.

[B]

I don't think I own it. I can see I could tell you everything about the book, but I just cannot think of what it's called. Maybe I'm wrong, though.

[A]

I don't know. I can't remember. I don't. I feel like you did have the guest list. No. Is that it?

[B]

Mm.

[A]

Mm. It is not thriller. I was assuming it was fantasy. No. Sort of. Yeah. Yeah. Like magical realism. Ish. Fantasy. Ish. Okay. Can you read the Running Away from a Wedding? It's in France. Oh, Secret Life of Addie Larue. Yes. What is that? Is that fantasy or is that magical realism?

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

I don't know. I feel like it's a bends. Maybe fantasy, but sorry, if that. Magical realism. No, because it would say in the actual world. Yeah, like our world. Yeah. Yeah. And so that's a good one. That was fun.

[B]

How do we not have any duplicates? That was.

[A]

I tried so hard to not. I tried to pick really obscure, like, ones we hadn't read in a while or ones. Yeah. That's also probably why we didn't do as good, because we didn't choose, like, new ones. Acotar.

[B]

Yeah. Fourth week from Acotar.

[A]

You did? I did a course. Yeah. But it was like, you know.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, guys. All right. That was fun. Wait, so I won?

[A]

Yeah. You won by one. Oh. Who's keeping the tally? Well, so far, I've won one. Reggie's 1:1.

[B]

I don't know who lost.

[A]

I say we just keep track of the winner, and then whoever has the most amount of wins and then the least amount of wins. Yeah. So, Ken.

[B]

Yeah, that sounds like Reggie.

[A]

You guys got one. Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Well, guys, all right, thanks so much for tuning in, listening to us play guess a book by its first page, because we know we did not guess it by the first line. Stay tuned. This year, as we said at the beginning of the episode, because we are having a competition, and eventually you guys will vote for the punishment and the reward. It's gonna be for me. I'm scared. So please be nice. If you don't follow us on social media, feel free to follow us over there. We post lots of fun videos, lots of great content. You can follow us on TikTok and Instagram at what she's reading. Po. If you didn't know we sell merch, like what Michaela is currently wearing. We have some of that still in stock. She's beautiful. You can follow our shop count at what she's reading. Shop. Or go ahead and shop our merch at. I'll read what she's reading.com and if you can't get enough of us, we do have a Patreon where we do a monthly book club. We have vlogs on there, polls. We did a trivia night with our Patreon viewers a month ago. That was really fun. So if you want extra bonus content, go ahead and head over there. But in the meantime, thanks so much for listening and we'll see you next week.

[B]

Bye.