Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

Judith’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Judith's BOM Tracking

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 5- Now - end to the first line "Marcus's nose is bleeding..."

19. What were your thoughts of Addie and Dylan trying again? Was your triangle prediction accurate from the previuos days Q's?
I mean they should get back together instead of inflicting their train wrecks on nice, unsuspecting people. I'd read ahead so I knew where the 'triangle' ended up.

20. Did you feel Rodney's punishment of being tied up during the wedding was a good alternative to calling the police? What would you have done?
Once I realized he was a stalker I would of not brought him any further along the trip. WTH is wrong with these people. But I don't think answering one crime (stalking) with another crime (unlawful imprisonment), misdemeanors or not, is generally not the best solution.

21. While most of you disliked this BOM greatly, hopefully some enjoyed it. How did you Read the book, by Audio, physical book, electronic, or a mix of some?
physical book. I think I'm most annoyed because this could of gone in some interesting ways and the author just didn't take it to any of those places.

22. Was you happy to hear that although this book was addressing depression and spiraling out of control, they also addressed therapy and how it has helped? What was your reaction of hearing that Marcus and Dylan were no longer as close as they used to be after therapy?
I think that their friendship as it was previously was very unhealthy for both of them. Mentioning the therapy and how it helped was nice I guess. But I think the message was lost in the mess of everything else in the story. Like seriously, what was the point of Rodney? That whole storyline was 100% unnecessary and just distracting from whatever the author was trying to convey.

DQs Day 4- Now - Then first line "It's just a sprained ankle..." - last line "Don't contact me again."

15. Were over halfway through the book have your impressions of the characters change.
Downward spiral for all of them. I like none of them

16. Rodney’s motives now become clear, how do you see this plot line panning out.
Dumb. It will be very dumb, just like his character.

17. We learn more of Marcus’ issues and his apparent need to destroy Dylan and Addie’s relationship as well as destroy any chance of them getting back together. How do you predict this relationship triangle will be resolved.
I've finished the book (thank god) so I'm going to skip this one. But I will say it was predictable with the hot mess this book has been.

18. Etienne is chasing Addie for extra-curricular activities. What are your thoughts on this.
This book has a bunch of other randomly tossed into the mix, why not lecherous, rapey boss into the mix too.

Melissa wrote: "The BOM threads not up yet for The Spellshop to volunteer for DQs right? I just got it from the library so I’ll be reading too."

No, not yet. Cat tends to set those up closer to the end of the month after the nomination (for the next month's BOM voting) window closes. So around the 27th of the month.

One of the captains will try hard to remember to post when the threads are up for the Nov BOMs

Melissa wrote: "I’m so excited I just got The House at Watch Hill from the library! Can’t wait to read it 🤗"

That looks like a fun one for this time of year :) Let us know if you'd recommend it and it'll likely end up on my tbr

DQs Day 3: Then - Then 58%
first line "Marcus changes completely..."
last line "...serious chat about your future"

11. "The sound of teeth against a spoon when someone's eating soup, insects that scuttle, people who don't listen, RATS, and when uncle Terry says 'WOMEN!'" - what a random list of pet peeves (Are they even pet peeves? Rats?? And uncle Terry 'all on his own'???),,, What are some of yours?
My husband never squeezes the sponge out after doing the dishes so the container it goes in gets full of disgusting slime water. If I ever snap and murder him, this will likely be the reason. Another one lately is people paying zero attention to the directions/rules and then being super butthurt when they didn't do it correctly.

12. Dylan's (and Marcus') trip through Europe has become much more than just that, ending up in Asia, trying to figure out what to do with his life when he's already been handed it all on a silver platter. His dad is a douche and clearly wants to dictate Dylan's life while Dylan just keeps running away from his problems. Lucky he has all this money (his dad's I would assume) to just throw away. Can you relate to him in any way? Do you feel bad for him?
No, I can't. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family where all our needs were met and a couple wants. But I also got a job as soon as I was old enough to start saving for college and other expenses. I can understand the struggle to figure out what you want to do with your life. I feel bad his parents (dad especially) suck but seriously dude just get a job.

13. "Nowadays we date, we shop around. If we really like someone we spend more time with them. Then we move in with them a few years down the line. Then, maybe, if we've lost the will to live or whatever it is that compells people to settle down we marry them. We don't rearrange our lives because of a good shag."

"Addie, she's not right for you (...) Stop that! Don't you see what you're doing? You're turning her into something she's not. You don't understand her. She's not your beautiful muse, Dylan. She's messy and dark. And raw. She's a disaster waiting to happen. She's got power. And she doesn't even know it yet you know. She's like,,, she's untapped. (...) She's not right for you. Okay?"

Did Marcus already know something we didn't at this point? Did something happen between Marcus and Addie back in France? And then the way Marcus took care of Dylan after getting too high, in the bathroom.... Do you think he (not so?) secretely has feelings for Dylan? Or is he just jealous?
I think Marcus doesn't trust people stick around for the long haul and likes to leave before they do. If you have no expectations of people it's harder for them to disappoint you. I don't like he feel romantical towards Dylan just possessive. In that Marcus has been abandoned in some way or other by everyone else but Dylan is HIS person. And he's scared I think Dylan will abandon him too.

14. Rodney thinking Deb has drowned in the river and actually LOOKING FOR A BODY IN THE WATER!!! had me laugh out loud to be honest, but only because of how frickin ridiculous this book is. Definitely expected something more cutesie and wholesome for some reason. Being almost two thirds into the book now, how do you feel about it so far? Is it meeting your expectations?
No, it is not at all meeting my expectations. I'm not sure these people understand how a road trip works. They've been on the move all day and are somehow farther away? What? And all the characters are pretty bad. This is a far departure character wise from the other books I've read by this author.

It’s on my tbr so glad to hear it’s good!

We have our first completed spelling and on our way with the next one!

Our word is really long so to have one done already is great!

Happy reading everyone and as always let us know if there are any questions. Or more importantly great book recommendations :)

DQs - Day 2 - 17 Oct
Then - Now 38%
first line "Can't the girl find..."
last line "shitshow of a strategy"

6. The author goes for the switching POVs and timelines method. How do you like these in general? And do you think it is a good fit for this book?
I don't mind it and sometimes for second chance situations can be effective at understanding the "how it started" when reading about the "how it's going". I really don't like the 'Then' sections because of the characters so it's not really doing it for me.

7. We get to meet some more characters along the way in the "THEN" section: Dylan's uncle Terry, his brother, the mysterious Grace and other friends whose dynamics to Dylan and Marcus should shed some more light on their characters and motivation. But do they? Do you feel like you are getting to know them better? Or understand them? (Or care?)
I feel like the author is writing about characters she overheard discussing at a party or something and not about characters she actually knows anything about. Everything is just really shallow. And none of them seem like characters I'm all that interested in learning more about.

8. What do you think about Dylan's and Addie's past relationship in France? Do you like it/find it convincing? What about their sudden meeting in the present and the insta-lust after all the emotional baggage they seem to be dragging with them?
Not very believable. Overall this book so far isn't doing it for me. I feel like it was written by a different author than The Flatshare and The Switch.

9. I'm not really sure I'd call this book a "romance" though it certainly offers the trope of second-chance. Do you have any favourite romantic trope(s) or one that you especially dislike?
Insta-love, love triangles, and hidden pregnancy/secret child I hate. Enemies to lovers and fake dating/marriage.

10. Any guesses what part Rodney may play in the plot or do you think he's just some kind of "filler" character?
Filler? or to provide some distraction? A fifth person so it's not just 2 couples in the car? Hopefully it turns out to be something interesting. But not holding out too much hope.

DQs Day 1
Now - Now last line "...reach out and touch her."

1.) Is this your first book by O'Leary? Only reading for points and that lovely 'O' letter for Wheel-a-thon or was it already on your tbr list?
I've read her book The Flatshare and The Switch both of which I enjoyed so this was on my tbr. I did partially nominate this though because I knew it would be during wheels and the 'O' would likely be useful to my team if my nomination won.

2.) Road trips. Love them, hate them? If you've gone on a road trip before what are some must have for the journey?
I've enjoyed the road trips I've taken. Must haves are great music, a variety of yummy snacks and a chill attitude. The chill attitude is really the most important. Things can and will happen including traffic and bad weather, you just have to roll with it.

3.) Deb's comment about never having a baby obviously proved untrue. Do we think the baby daddy is going to make an appearance in the story? Or do you think it's a no name person who isn't relevant to the book?
For some reason my brain thinks the baby daddy is Marcus from a drunken one night stand with Deb he doesn't remember. Why do I think this? I don't know, partly because of how they interact? I'm probably wrong.

4.) The flagrant unconcern about money by half the characters is a bit gross. Do you think that's at the root of Dylan and Addie's split? Or do you think it's the mysterious Grace? Marcus especially seems to not know the whole breakup story. Any guesses to why Dylan didn't seem to tell him the truth?
People from this level of wealth with distance and indulgent parents I think are just built different. But I'm guessing it was a factor in whatever when down for their breakup. It seemed really bad from the snippets shared about the actual event. And I'm guessing Marcus assumed some things that Dylan never corrected.

5.) Initial impressions of the cast of characters?
Addie: seems like a free spirit or was anyway. I'm getting the impression she's a bit of a different person than she was in France.
Deb: independent person who is a good ride or die for Addie
Dylan: also seems to of become a different person after whatever happened from the breakup. But was a very spoiled person without a lot of life direction.
Marcus: honestly, seems like spoiled jerk-face. wondering how much of it is an act but not a person I'd want to spend time with.
Rodney: harmless wack-a-doodle. maybe. Or maybe this book takes a dark turn and he's a serial killer, it's always the quiet ones.

DQs Day 1
Now - Now last line "...reach out and touch her."

1.) Is this your first book by O'Leary? Only reading for points and that lovely 'O' letter for Wheel-a-thon or was it already on your tbr list?

2.) Road trips. Love them, hate them? If you've gone on a road trip before what are some must have for the journey?

3.) Deb's comment about never having a baby obviously proved untrue. Do we think the baby daddy is going to make an appearance in the story? Or do you think it's a no name person who isn't relevant to the book?

4.) The flagrant unconcern about money by half the characters is a bit gross. Do you think that's at the root of Dylan and Addie's split? Or do you think it's the mysterious Grace? Marcus especially seems to not know the whole breakup story. Any guesses to why Dylan didn't seem to tell him the truth?

5.) Initial impressions of the cast of characters?

Boo Louise, I hope the healing goes well and you can get the rest you need!

Judith's BOM Tracking

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 5: IX - Afterword

19. The last sections of the Artic story are hard reading. Why do you think Bradley included these sections, in general, and extended the story after Graham was abducted?
Closure maybe? And it's part of Graham's survivor's guilt I think and goes to why he was the way that he was and reacted to things in his new time.

20. What was your reaction to the big reveal and unveiling of what was going on?
It got a bit meta there. I wasn't expecting all of that but it was also not completely surprising.

21. The ending is ambiguous. What do you imagine happening? Would you read a sequel?
I'm not sure I'd read a sequel, I don't think it needs one. I like how it's ambiguous though. I'm hoping they all meet back up and enjoy Alaska.

22. In the vein of books being retold from another POV, who's POV would you want to read?
Knowing Graham's or Maggie's thoughts would of been nice.

You can use A, d add once that’s a sort of nickname but you can’t use the D for the title of Duke. Even if he’s referred to a lot as the Duke.

24hrs until we are underway!

Alright everyone here is the tracking sheet, Teddie made it look so pretty. Thank you for putting this together for the team!!

I'll also add it to the top post for easy reference, but here is the link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

There are a few books in there already and can be used as examples (including the first BOM for those planning to read it).

The main tab of interest is the R1-Book tab. You'll enter the relevant book information in columns D through V. Which may seem like a lot of columns but it's because we have a long word and each letter has it's own column.

The R1-Spellout tab is locked. As captains check and enter books we'll fill that out. It's connected to the Book tab via formulas, we locked it so nothing accidentally gets overwritten.

If you participate in the BOM, the tab is there to log your participation.

The member tab is fancier than normal and will allow people to track where they are in relation to their reading caps.

Let us know if you have any questions!

Yay! We have the whole team 😄

No shows make me sad.

We’ll get the tracking sheet out later tonight, promise!

I'm so glad everyone is excited and ready to start. There are a lot of fun things in store for this year's Wheels.

Just waiting on one more person and then we'll have our full team.

Teddie, Lexi, and I will have a tracking sheet out hopefully today and people can start entering books they plan on reading.

If anyone has questions, please just ask!