2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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ARCHIVE: Monthly Challenges
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Bonus Challenge - Rock the Vote
My preliminary scan through the nominees landed me with 12 books that caught my eye!I'd like to sign up for 4.
Kristin wrote: "I will most likely not be participating in this challenge due to already having most of my books planned for the year, but wow, what a great list of books this year! To be honest, in the past, I wa..."I read across lists because that's how I generally read. Too much in one genre, and I start going loopy:)
oshizu wrote: "Megan, as the challenge leader, how do you feel about write-in nominees?If I write in a nominee as my vote but it doesn't appear in Round 2 of the voting, may I still count it for this challenge ..."
I'm fine with adding a write-in nominee as long as it's one that you haven't previously read.
Welcome to the challenge, Catka, Jeannine, Lulu, SarahKat, and Megan! I've updated your goal, Dominique!
Welcome to the challenge, Nicole and Janine! Glad you're joining the voting this year, Lynn - I was pretty impressed with the diversity of selection this year as well! Ilona, I was super thrilled that almost all of the books I had on my TBR with a few of them I have already read!
Updated to here!
Megan wrote: "Welcome to the challenge, Catka, Jeannine, Lulu, SarahKat, and Megan! I've updated your goal, Dominique!"Thanks!
Megan wrote: "oshizu wrote: "Megan, as the challenge leader, how do you feel about write-in nominees?If I write in a nominee as my vote but it doesn't appear in Round 2 of the voting, may I still count it for ..."
Yay, thank you! I shamelessly did a write-in vote for A Brightness Long ago before I finished the last 40 pages, so I'm good.
By the way, I love the way you organized your original post.
I hope you don't mind if I copy you. :D
oshizu wrote: "Megan wrote: "oshizu wrote: "Megan, as the challenge leader, how do you feel about write-in nominees?If I write in a nominee as my vote but it doesn't appear in Round 2 of the voting, may I still..."
Copy away:)
Updated message #32. I'm changing my goal from 2 to 7. I'll use this challenge as an opportunity to stretch a bit and try some books I wouldn't usually read or books I want to read but don't tend to make it to the top of the TBR.
Margie wrote: "Updated message #32. I'm changing my goal from 2 to 7. I'll use this challenge as an opportunity to stretch a bit and try some books I wouldn't usually read or books I want to read but don't tend t..."I've updated your goal!
Just completed my first read for Mystery/Thriller - The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. I really enjoyed this book right up to the very end and then it just fell flat. As someone who lives in a partially-smart home, that whole aspect was terrifying. And I appreciated the reveals as they came through the letters to her barrister. But then, it just ended. Still worth reading. 4 starsNot voting for this one.
1/10
Updated msg 4Fantasy: A Brightness Long Ago 5 stars
Fantasy: Gods of Jade and Shadow 4 stars
My write-in nominee is A Brightness Long Ago.
Progress: 2/6
@MargieI'm so glad you've joined this challenge. I've already switched one of my books for this challenge due to your recommendation. :)
@Megan
I really appreciated your review of The Turn of the Key because I was going to try to make time to read it this month. Now I know that I can simply save it for post-voting.
Updated message 5:I finished Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, nominated for Best debut novel and Best romance. Looks super cheesy, but is actually really witty and cute.
Just completed my first pick for Humor - Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis. So many truths for us Southern Ladies in this book of essays! And I absolutely love her mother - she is fabulous! Lovely read with some insights tucked into the humor. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsAnd I voted for it!
2/10
An update to msg 48:Please change my total to 4. I found two more that I can read by Dec 10, including Ayesha At Last.
It was very charming and definitely had me devouring the book as fast as I can, but I found the writing style to be awkward at times. Not often, just enough for me to notice. Jalaludin is also a journalist and I think some of her matter-of-fact article style bled through here.
I'm not going to read any more in the romance section, but I'm also not sure I liked this one enough to vote for it.
Megan wrote: "An update to msg 48:Please change my total to 4. I found two more that I can read by Dec 10, including Ayesha At Last.
It was very charming and definitely had me devouring the b..."
Updated!
Updated message 5Finished my second book for this challenge, Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris, which I will write in for Best Historical Fiction. I don't think I'll vote for it in the next round, as I prefer Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly, but I would like to see it being nominated.
Megan, this challenge seems to have gotten me out of a reading slump, so I would like to increase my goal to 4 books.
Ilona wrote: "Updated message 5Finished my second book for this challenge, Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris, which I will write in for Best Historical Fiction. I don't think ..."
Yay for getting out of reading slumps!!! Updated your goal!
Just completed another selection for Mystery/Thriller - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Really enjoyed this book! I knew a twist was on the way but didn't suspect until close to the end. He did a great job of weaving everything together. Not a fan of the way women were portrayed in the book, but at least they weren't all dumb blondes. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsI voted for it!
3/10
Bit late joining in with this challenge but I've just picked up a nominee that I didn't think I'd get round to this year. So, I'm going to read one book please but also let you know what I voted for.COMPLETED FOR THIS CHALLENGE: 1/1
1. The Institute finished 14 November, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
********
Goodreads Choice Awards 2019
* Fantasy
Have read: The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book, The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Opening Round Vote (write-in): The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book
Semi Final Vote/Final Vote: The Priory of the Orange Tree
* Science Fiction
Have read: Dark Age
Opening Round Vote/Semi Final Vote/Final Vote: Dark Age
*Horror
Have read: The Institute
Opening Round Vote/Semi Final Vote/Final Vote: The Institute
* Debut Novel
Have read: The Harm Tree
Opening Round Vote (write-in): The Harm Tree
* Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction
Have read: The Secret Commonwealth
Opening Round Vote (write-in)/Semi Final Vote: The Secret Commonwealth
* Other categories: Not voting as I haven't read any of the nominees
Welcome to the challenge, Rachael! Great progress, Ilona!
Just completed my History selection - The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold. This book was a bit detail-forward for me, and I did struggle a touch with maintaining interest. However, her ambition in writing this book was amazing. To piece together the lives of five women who were not valued by society enough to chronicle their lives, even after they were brutally murdered, is impressive. The author is painstaking in her research. And I appreciated the lens through which she placed the "Ripperology" and the society at the time that led to the murderer being immortalized at the expense of the five women who died. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsI voted for it!
4/10
update msg 43: 3/5 doneFinished The Bride Test by Helen Hoang ★★★★☆ - while I have not enjoyed it as much as the Kiss Quotient, which was for me quite revelatory in introducing the out-of-"ordinary" characters and its sexiness, it was still a good fun and it also got my vote for the Awards, representing also the Kiss Quotient, which I only read at the beginning of this year, so for me it counts as this years book.
For the Humor section I listened to two books:
Riding the Elephant: A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations, and Observations by Craig Ferguson ★★★★★, which was funny, witty and wise and also had the added bonus of Scottish accent narration by the author himself. It got my vote.
Life Will Be the Death of Me: . . . and You Too! by Chelsea Handler, which I could not give a rating to, because I felt it was too personal and opinionated to be rated. She just fascinates me, as a hurricane or any other natural catastrophe would, as she has a completely opposite personality to mine. So it was fun to listen to, but not in the sense that it would actually belong to the Humor section - that is a wildly wrong misplacement actually. Her book is quite serious and deals with heavy personal stuff
Catka wrote: "update msg 43: 3/5 doneFinished The Bride Test by Helen Hoang ★★★★☆ - while I have not enjoyed it as much as the Kiss Quotient, which was for me quite revelatory..."
Great review, Catka!
Opening Round voting has closed!!! Semifinal round premiers in 13 hours:) Everyone's progress is fabulous!
Megan wrote: Opening Round voting has closed!!! Semifinal round premiers in 13 hours:) Everyone's progress is fabulous!"so what is the next round? all the books from the first one plus write-ins? or just those with highest votes from the first plus write-ins?
1/2Supernova by Marissa Meyer
5 stars but didn't vote for it in the first round. I'll see how much I like the other one I'm reading in the same category and then choose. Might be tough.
Catka wrote: "Megan wrote: Opening Round voting has closed!!! Semifinal round premiers in 13 hours:) Everyone's progress is fabulous!"so what is the next round? all the books from the first one plus write-ins?..."
Highest votes from the opening round factoring in the write-ins.
SarahKat wrote: "1/2Supernova by Marissa Meyer
5 stars but didn't vote for it in the first round. I'll see how much I like the other one I'm reading in the same category and then ..."
Good to know!
1 of 2Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I had a hold on this audiobook from my library and it just happened to come available. I am soooo glad it did. There is an interview with the author at the end of this one that I really enjoyed.
I have not yet taken the time to delve into Bardugo's Grishaverse but I certainly will now. Lauren Fortgang is such a great narrator that I will probably tackle those in audio as well. Michael David Axtell is the co-narrator on this one.
Update message #32: 3/7Opening round: I completed three books and all were winners. The first two aren't my go-to reading genres but I had heard good things from reader friends and I'm really glad I picked them up:
1. Mystery & Thriller: The Mother-in-Law - a thoughtful page-turner. There is a suspicious death but at heart this is a dysfunctional family drama. I can see why this was on all the summer reading lists and I'd definitely pick up another book by Sally Hepworth. Great on audio.
2. Romance: The Flatshare - This was a delightful rom-com. Good choice if you prefer your romance to be less explicit (this is not Kiss Quotient sexy). Great on audio.
3. Graphic Novel: Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations - I'm not a big GN reader but I enjoy memoir in this format. This timely book is both humorous and gut-wrenching. Highly recommend.
Voting - I lost track of time and only voted for Disappearing Earth in the Mystery & Thriller category. Will probably vote for the other two in their category for semi-finals.
Opening round update: 2/4Two books completed:
1. King of Scars - loved it. Perfect continuation of the Grishaverse. Very glad I re-read the Shadow and Bone trilogy recently, though.
2. Tunnel of Bones - great middle grade fiction, really enjoyable.
Updated msg 4Food & Cookbooks: Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
4.5 stars. This was the most delightful memoir. The author had been a hippy freelancer food writer in Berkeley, the food editor/restaurant critic for the LA Times, the restaurant critic for NY Times, and the editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine during its last 10 years. It contains only 5-7 recipes but so many wonderful anecdotes about the culinary celebrities (chefs, critics, writers, and photographers). It is just as much a book about food as it is about creative talent and the pursuit of happiness against the polar periods of the bubble economy and the post-bubble recession.
2 of 2Where The Forest Meets The Stars
by Glendy Vanderah
Quick and enjoyable debut novel.
Margie wrote: "Update message #32: 3/7Opening round: I completed three books and all were winners. The first two aren't my go-to reading genres but I had heard good things from reader friends and I'm really gla..."
Great progress, Margie! I'm reading The Flatshare right now and really enjoying it!
Janine wrote: "Opening round update: 2/4Two books completed:
1. King of Scars - loved it. Perfect continuation of the Grishaverse. Very glad I re-read the Shadow and Bone trilogy recently, thou..."
Oooh, King of Scars is on my immediate list! Great job!
oshizu wrote: "Updated msg 4Food & Cookbooks: Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
4.5 stars. This was the most delightful memoir. The author had been a hippy freelancer food writer in Berkeley..."
Cannot wait to read this one!
Tara wrote: "2 of 2Where The Forest Meets The Stars
by Glendy Vanderah
Quick and enjoyable debut novel."
Congrats on completing the challenge!!!
Still reading my book for this challenge but I have updated my original post (77) to show my semi final votes if anyone's interested
Rachael wrote: "Still reading my book for this challenge but I have updated my original post (77) to show my semi final votes if anyone's interested"I'm interested - we are in lock step re: Dark age for sci fi - Howlers unite!
Just completed a Romance selection - The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary. I really enjoyed this book! It started out quite simple and for a bit, I was annoyed that the main character seemed like the typical "heroine". But then it got interesting, a few different elements were introduced, then it got real. Loved it by the end! Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsIt couldn't quite edge out The Bride Test, but I wouldn't be sad if it won!
5/10
Megan wrote: "oshizu wrote: "Updated msg 4Food & Cookbooks: Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
Cannot wait to read this one!"
@Megan
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Updated msg 4Mystery: The Lost Man
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I didn't "enjoy" the book as much as I'd hoped. The protagonist and the other characters were very skillfully depicted; I found them very realistic and convincing. Just found the whole story a bit slow and dreary.
But I voted for it since I still thought its writing was better than My Sister, the Serial Killer. *shrugs
Progress: 4/6
Just finished The Institute - definitely worth voting for! 1/1 - challenge completed!
@Megan, Howlers unite indeed! I love the Red Rising saga
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2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
I Wish You All the Best (other topics)The Undefeated (other topics)
Pumpkinheads (other topics)
Southern Lady Code (other topics)
Miracle Creek (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Erin Morgenstern (other topics)Kelly Harms (other topics)
Jojo Moyes (other topics)
Candice Carty-Williams (other topics)
Kate Quinn (other topics)
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Duration: October 30, 2019-December 10, 2019
Uhm. I am not super-excited by a lot of these nominees that I haven't read. Since this challenge ends December 10th I'll only commit to reading 2 books for this one since I am trying to complete challenges before the end of the year! :)
*Book I own
0/2 as of November 5
From this list of possibilities:
*Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
*Daisy Jones & The Six
*Lost Roses
*The Huntress
*Miracle Creek
*The Lost Man
The Bridge Home
An Anonymous Girl
Hope Rides Again
The Winter of the Witch
The Bride Test
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive
The Fountains of Silence