Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2020 Challenge Archive
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2020 August Pick-It-For-Me Challenge
TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!Pickees
✱ To help your picker understand the type of books you like or are currently reading, please make sure your ‘read’ shelf is up to date. You can create shelves for books you DNFed (Did Not Finish) or authors that don’t work for you as well as favorite books and authors. In addition, you might consider updating your profile. You can include info about your favorite books, authors, genres, themes or tropes (or themes/tropes you dislike – i.e. secret baby).
✱ Please do not specify likes/dislikes in the sign-up thread. This information will not be included in the pairings and your pickee may not see your message and does not need to rely on that information when making picks.
Pickers
✱ Please remember this is primarily a romance readers group. Thus, most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are various sub genres within the romance category - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy. If your pickee reads a wide variety, you could add a non-romance as a choice.
✱ You will be using 8 picking rules to select books for you pickee. Choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These can be brand new to them (not found on any of their shelves) or a book found on their shelves if they've never read any of the author's work previously. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr, with a minimum of one from their preferred shelves if provided. Be sure to pick at least one book for each picking rule, but please limit your picks to no more than two books per rule as sometimes having too many options is worse than too few.
✱ Please remember when you are giving new recommendations, you are not limited to titles that you have read. You can choose books that are new releases, on your tbr, or titles you looked up on Goodreads or Amazon that you think your pickee would enjoy.
A few hints to help with book selection:
✱ Check the book’s publishing date. Select "date pub" from the checkbox selections and save.
✱ Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves. A personalized shelf is one the member has created. (e.g., 'to read next', 'favorites' ‘didn’t like’)
✱ Make sure the books you choose are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read.
✱ Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read or read the most. Reviewing their ‘read’ shelf might help you in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
✱ If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.) Contact the Mods or the month's organizer for guidance.
✱ Include a variety of books (e.g., shorter page count, new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, an older book on their 'to-read' shelf) This variety gives your pickee options when choosing the book or books they will be reading this month. Use the sort feature within their shelves to determine date a book was added, published or read; page numbers, ratings, etc.
If you want to volunteer to make repicks:
✱ We love that you want to help out, but please remember those who need picks have been waiting for a long time already. Please only volunteer if you are able to make the repicks within a few hours of the deadline. Thank you!
Picking RulesFebruary isn’t the only month that celebrates romance as August is considered Romance Awareness Month in an attempt to make sure people share the love all year long. Let’s explore the different romance subgenres this month to make sure everyone finds their perfect love story.
Contemporary
Recommend a book that either:
❤️ is labeled Contemporary or
❤️ has two people on the cover
❤️ has a surprise pregnancy or pretend relationship storyline
Historical
Recommend a book that either:
🧡 is labeled historical or
🧡 has just a woman on the cover
🧡 has a second chance storyline
LGBT (M/M, Lesbian Romance)
Recommend a book that either:
💛 is labeled LGBT, M/M, or Lesbian or
💛 has just a man on the cover
💛 has a best friends to lovers storyline
Paranormal
Recommend a book that either:
💚 is labeled paranormal, fantasy, or science fiction or
💚 has an animal on the cover or in the story
💚 has a creative or artistic cover (in your opinion)
Suspense
Recommend a book that either:
💙 is labeled suspense or
💙 has a character with secrets
💙 has a red or blue cover
Inspirational
Recommend a book that either:
💜 is labeled Inspirational or has a religious theme or
💜 has a cover with pastel colors
💜 has a sweet or wholesome character
Erotica
Recommend a book that either:
🖤 is labeled erotica or
🖤 has a cover that shows some skin
🖤 has an alpha male or enemies to lovers storyline
Western
Recommend a book that either:
💟 is labeled western or
💟 has a character the works outdoors
💟 has an orange, yellow, or tan cover
Pairings**Pick for the person below you on the list. If you are last, pick for the person in your section. For example, Elena K picks for Gabriella.
A - Contemporary
💖Gabriella - pifm
💖Carina - bookshelved
💖Laura - want to read
💖Fran - a pifm shelf (private)
💖Mary-Megan - pifm
💖MountainKat - to read asap
💖Mony - 3-5-pifm-rrrc
💖Kate - summer 2020 tbr
💖 KathyD - c-m-g-41
💖Becca da - augusttoread or augustkeywordchallenge
💖Nancy H - want to read
💖Elena K - want to read
B - Historical
Dlnia - want to read
💖Susan A - mf to read
💖Kindra - want to read
💖Sonja - pifm
💖Courtney - august
💖Rebecca - audio
C - Other
💖Nayara - pfm
💖 Carrie - mgp
💖Chaos Book Reviews - tbr-owned
💖Aminko - next up 2020
💖Leena - romance
💖ZaraS - mngc-augsep20
💖Carmen - meet-greet-picks
💖Laura - Want to Read
💖Suzanne - want to read
💖LaurLa - 04 pick me please
💖HeatherMarie - 0-picking
💖Aiswrya - want to read
Remember to pick four NEW books and four from your pickee's TBR or preferred shelf. Please limit your picks to no more than two for each rule, too many choices can be as bad as too few!
I've been waiting! LolA
Please pick from either shelves: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... & https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
C. Aside from my Urban Fantasy obsession most of the stuff I really enjoy doesn't typically fall under the contemporary banner but have contemporary elements so lets go with other. Please use my To-Be-Read-Owned
I try to read a little of every major romance genre every month, but the majority tend to be Contemporary.Please use my to-read-asap shelf that desperately needs to be updated - thanks!
Im in with C! I tend to read a variety of romance, but im a huge fan of fantasy.Use my tbr shelf, thank you 😊
I’m in! A for me :) (Private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me)PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Ooooh my favorite genre changes often LOL. I've been reading lots of historical romances, but need a break now. So, I'm going to pick C. Other :) Thanks!
Leena wrote: "would it help if I make a new shelf with all my tbrs eligible here"If you have a really big TBR list, then it helps to sort it down just for this challenge. But if you list is not too big, we can just use your TBR list.
Also, can you please pick one of the the categories? I need to know which group to put you in. For now I'm putting you in C with your TBR list.
Thanks!
Oh boy... I’ve been flipping between A and B a lot and I have a lot of As in my TBR. But... B is where I started so I think I’ll go with B.
If I’m the only one tho, I’m happy to go to the A group, Mary-Megan!
Sonja wrote: "Oh boy... I’ve been flipping between A and B a lot and I have a lot of As in my TBR. But... B is where I started so I think I’ll go with B.
If I’m the only one tho, I’m happy to go to the A grou..."
If you end up being the only one come the end of sign ups, I'll switch you to A.
A. I have a summer TBR which I’ve linked but my general TBR is fine too it’s just quite long! https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I'm in and I choose option C (I'm a little obsessed with Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance right now).Please, use my pfm shelve
I'll give this a go - it's been a long time since I've done this challenge.Definitely a Group A girl though I do read a ton of group C too. Group A it is!
My TBR is only list I have unread books on and honestly, anything on it is a good pick!
Historical - m-f to readBut if this shelf is too small, feel free to move to my larger to read shelf
I'm in for C other as fantasy is my preference, I do love historical though.Please use https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
hey. ive actually reshuffled all my books to a new shelf called romance, and added books i would love to read.
C please. Really digging scifi/paranormal lately. Tough question, Mary-Megan! Here's a good shelf: 0-picking
Dlnia wrote: "How do i sign in im new yo this?"On the first post there is a question. You answer the question and are put in a group which is just to decide who will pick books for you.
(✱✱ (What is your favorite Romance subgenre? ✱✱
A - Contemporary
B - Historical
C - Other)
If you have a specific shelf of books that you would like a person to choose books for, you say what list (include the web address). If you just want the picker to use your To Read list, you don't have to post a list, just tell us what group.
The first two posts of this discussion explain how things work from there.
Leena wrote: "Im game for any group. Romantic suspense would be great though 😉"Leena - I put you in Group c. Just to let you know, the group is not going to determine what type of books you will be given. It is just to pair you up with another person to do your picks.
Looks like there’s at least 3 of us Bs! Mary-Megan, I forgot to add the link to my PIFM shelf please!
I am in! I love Historical Romance. You can look at my "Read" shelf to see what I have read. I just really need some new ones so I would love some new picks to give me more choices.
Kindra wrote: "I am in! I love Historical Romance. You can look at my "Read" shelf to see what I have read. I just really need some new ones so I would love some new picks to give me more choices."Kindra - just to give you an idea of how this will work, your picker will look at you preferred shelf or "Want To Read" shelf to give you suggestions. At least four books will be from that shelf and at least four will be new to you. Most pickers give a pick from your shelf and a new pick for each of the picking rules which will be posted later today, so you will end up with 4-8 new to you books.
Courtney wrote: "B Historicalhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."
Courtney - your list only has one book on it, so please add to it asap. Picking begins in just a few hours. Thanks!
Mary-Megan wrote: "ParticipantsA - Contemporary
Mary-Megan - pifm
Becca da - augusttoread or augustkeywordchallenge
Carina - bookshelved
MountainKat - to read asap
Fran - a pifm shelf (private)
KathyD - c-m-g-41
Na..."
Hi Mary-Megan,
Link attached here is not the PIFM shelf I added below. here it is again. Thanks
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
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What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.
The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new-to-you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. You may not be interested in the new books recommended, which is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf.
You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge!
After signups are closed, your names and any extra info will go into the super secret PIFM randomizer and it will select someone for you to recommend books to and someone to give you recommendations. This list will be posted along with any specific picking rules for the month.
In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or friend the person giving you recommendations. PLEASE NOTE: if you choose to keep your profile private, it is your responsibility to send a friend request to the person picking for you as soon as possible after the matchups are posted. Whether your profile is private or not, it is also very important that your profile be set to receive Private Messages (PMs) in case anyone needs to reach out to you (mods, organizer etc.)
Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!
Repicks:
You can ask for repicks if:
✱ The books picked for you are not yet released.
✱ If you have already read the chosen book(s) and they are on your ‘read’ shelf.
✱ If you did not receive four picks from your ‘to-read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf.
You may NOT ask for repicks because:
✱ A book is not available at your library.
✱ A genre or author you don’t enjoy.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:
✱✱ (What is your favorite Romance subgenre? ✱✱
A - Contemporary
B - Historical
C - Other
✱✱ If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick! ✱✱
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until July 23 (6 pm US Central).
For your convenience a Time Zone Converter.
You’ll have until July 29 (7 pm US Central) to make your recommendations.
Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.
If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!
✱Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!✱